This drama has some promising opening scenes. But after that, things kind of fall hard into the world of tropes.
EPISODE 1 RECAP
The episode begins with a voice introducing us to this world of immortals and humans, just like you see in all Fantasy Romance dramas. But the lecture gets cut off by a cheeky flying creature who declares that no one ever pays attention to these back histories speeches. I’m with you, talking fairy. Also, at this point, all these supposed “histories” are the same. War, demons, some guy/girl sacrifices, 1000+ years later, etc.
Now, what kind of creature this is, I have no idea. He looks like an axolotl who tried to trim his own hair.
He flies to a clinic and hangs around a healer lady who runs this clinic — Nan Yan. She is the tough kind of doctor. Like, she keeps her patients prisoner and locks them in jars until their illness is cured. Despite being called all kinds of names, her spirit is always all-time high.
Next, we move on to a restaurant somewhere in this world. It looks like it’s the realm of mortals, but not really. Strange things are going on and there are hints of magic too.
But those things aren’t important. What’s important is our leading man is sitting in this restaurant — Shao Cang, being very moody. He is haunted by a bad memory and is on an adventure to find a magic manual.
It rains.
And what are the odds, Nan Yan the healer also happens to be here. I don’t know if these two are magically attached or what but we get a scene of them both opening their umbrellas and then walking in different directions. Is all of this just to say that they are the lead couple?
Shao Cang travels to various places and as he goes, we get to know more about his tragic backstory. He got kicked out of school for a crime he did not commit.
His master, who looks like a jerk the minute he appears, accused Shao Cang of using dark magic and murdering his classmates. I don’t know about you but it’s just not believable to me when a character played by Zhang Linghe is said to be evil. That man looks way too benign to be anything but a misunderstood golden boy. Anyway, it works in his favor in this drama.
Shao Cang leaves his sect because of this and his goal is to clear his name.
One day, Nan Yan is out collecting herbs. She finds something she wants but there’s some blood on the leaves. She takes it anyway. Ew, what? I’m never going to this girl for medicine.
There is some commotion nearby and Nan Yan soon finds herself caught in a fight between a priest and some demons. The demon leader wants to kill her too but luckily Shao Cang is nearby.
He saves her but ends up injuring himself. Aww, what’s gonna happen next? Don’t tell me.
Nan Yan takes Shao Cang home and heals him. Here is when we discover that Nan Yan didn’t just become a healer for fun: her mother has some heart issues. Nan Yan wants to find a way to save her mother.
This is why Nan Yan is so unprofessional with her patients. She hasn’t just been healing them, she’s been testing stuff on them too. Er… ok, can’t say I’m not impressed.
When Shao Cang wakes up and is allowed to walk about, he finds out that Nan Yan keeps a venomous snake in a basket. It’s not even a tightly closed basket. Like, the snake can knock off the lid and crawl out anytime. What’s this girl’s problem?
Shao Cang tells her to get rid of it, but she doesn’t want to. She needs its venom.
When Nan Yan gets close to the snake, she is possessed by it and starts speaking in a strange chipmunk voice.
Shao Cang has to penetrate her mind to see what’s going on. And he finds an axolotl in there, seemingly controlling her. Is this the same axolotl we see in the beginning or an evil twin?
COMMENTS
So this is just another day in Fantasy Romance dramaland, I guess. If you like these two actors, you’ll have no problem getting into this drama. While Jing Tian and Zhang Linghe aren’t the best out there, they are not terrible, either. They belong well in the “watchable” range.
The one thing I have to note here is the cliched writing. The character of Nan Yan is yet another attempt at the “strong” female lead who turns out to be overbearing; her humour is forced. The scenarios in which the lead couple interact feel blatantly staged and so the relationship has no natural development. And with that comes unnatural dialogues. If we had a pair of veteran actors, maybe they could have spun these dialogues into something charming. But Jing Tian and Zhang Linghe are not at that level yet so instead of helping them, the lines they have to speak only reduce their chemistry.
Love’s Rebellion is still watchable as a fun drama with a new pairing and a simple premise, but I wouldn’t say it’s something I’m excited to follow.