Pledge of Allegiance

The first half of this series was well done. The introduction to the characters and how they were connected was explained well but it's like they changed writers and directors for the rest of the series.

It was hard to keep up if you just watched it. Meaning, if you cared to understand the constant twists you would have to look up reviews and come to a conclusion. But if you watched for it's entertainment value then it's fine.

The relationship between the two leads was random to me. I am not sure why Li Wu felt indebted to Lu Zheng when IMO Zheng did not return the favour. Sure he helped him. Maybe communication was an issue but he never stopped to think how he got off the first time when his adopted father stood outside begging for his sons mercy. .

When Lu Wi sacrificed his relationship with Zheng, Zheng acted irrationally towards Lu Wi but gave grace to Zhang Jun Qing. Zheng had the street smarts but when it came to those he really cared about reasoning was thrown out.

I kind of wanted Li Wu to leave with Shu Tang. She was more loyal to him than Zheng ever was. She was not mad at him when he left her countless times. She understood he did it for her. Shu Tang might have been dependent and loyal to fault but at least she took the time to see things from Lu Wi's point of view.

Lastly, the chemistry between Shu Tang and Lu Wi kept me tuned in. The ending almost made me cry. Their relationship saved the series for me.

Good production, good promise, but plagued with childish behavior, bad director, convoluted turns and dragging out too long. I got confused after a while, not knowing what was going on and watched it while i did other things...just wanted to see the ending goes. In other words, if you got nothing to do and are not afraid to waste your time, then watch it. Another thing is sometimes i felt like I'm watching a chinese opera on stage. The main characters have a strange love hate relationship that just does not make any sense like you would normally see. I think either the director or the write of this tries to make it an important point, but just did not look natural.

Too bad, again, not too many good Chinese period dramas anymore. There are a few better ones on prime.

Great drama. And for me, much more interesting than Xianxia and Wuxia dramas with their good and boring demon hunters in white clothes flying around. Even the fight scenes are better and moreThe women are more beautiful and the men are more believable. They also act better. And the film has real people with their vices and hopes and problems. And no one is a perfect demigod with a flowing robe and eyes that roll with justiceThe art work, cinematography, and everything else that accompanies the film is excellent. Just the right amount of romance and not an ounce of excess..A fast-paced, attention-grabbing, cruel, tender and beautiful film.....