I started watching this drama from a friend’s recommendation.
First of, the storyline is well written, we can really feel the main leads develop their characters through out the different arcs. All of the casts also played their roles very well and especially both ML and FL, both of them had amazing chemistry together, not just in TTEOTM but also in Love is Sweet. ML is supposed to play a cold character with no feelings, and with his micro expressions from eyes and eyebrows, we can feel as audience how he actually starts to have feelings as the story develops. Many fans complain about how thin the ML looks, well in the novel his character is also supposedly thin and pale and so his appearance is very fitting for the role.
Back to the storyline, it actually develops pretty quickly which is why i am able to be kept engrossed in it. Its a love-hate relationship so there are lots of sweet romantic moments between both leads while FL actually hates him. My favourite arc was the one that TTJ took over Jin Kingdom as King and YXW kept all sorts of ways and means to make him love her because thats where most of the sweet moments are. After my 4th run through, I have come to realise that FL also doesnt truly understand the feeling of love at the beginning before driving the spikes into his heart. However, from her actions I have come to a conclusion that she actually loved him because there was a scene which she was folding clothes and she said TTJ clothes are getting loose and she should start cooking more nutritious meals for him which meant that while she was scheming with little tricks to make him fall for her, she also really love him. She was an immortal and she had to practise the heartless way before so she couldnt have feelings of love before that either to understand it. There were lots of cry-worthing scenes as well, and the ML portrayed his emotions across as though he was really TTJ. If you watch the bts clips, the leads also teared up during the shoots because they were overwhelmed with the sad scenes, LYX even once said he felt like giving BL a hug to comfort her.
The BGM and OSTs are also tastefully done and are chosen fittingly for the scenes. And can we also take a moment to admire their elaborate costumes and looks for all the different arcs?! There is seriously extreme effort in the attention to details for this drama, from the music, CGI, costumes, makeup looks, accessories etc.
I am actually surprised by myself that I am able to watch the entire series 4 times through and each time I discover something new.
The only negative thing I had to say is that from last few episodes onwards the story line seems rushed and choppy, this is due to the china laws for censorship and ruling for 40 episodes max, hence they had to cut off many scenes to fit everything from originally 56 episodes into 40. Many negative reviews are because of the lack of cohesiveness in the scenes and abrupt ending, however please bear this in mind that this is not the fault of the production team at all and I am sure if there was no such ruling, this drama would have soared higher on the ratings. How I wish we could have a season 2 to satisfy all of us viewers who want the leads to have a happy ending.