April 25, 2020

Legend of Awakening | Recap and Review

A group of six with various circumstances hang out together. 
Notable Actors/Actresses
Chen Fei Yu: Lu Ping
Xiong Zi Qi: Yan Xi Fan
Cheng Xiao: Qin Sang
Deng En XiSu Tang
Yu Yi Jie: Mo Lin
Director
Scriptwriter
Chinese Title
天醒之路
GenresQihuanRomanceTeam
NetworkiQIYIMangoTV
Year2020
Episodes: 33/48
First Impression: 3.75/5

Mini Recaps


[Ep1]
→ Cheng Xiao impresses. Beautiful entrance showcasing her flexibility and athleticism. Her acting isn't overdone. Her eyes are expressive. Well done. 

[Ep2]
→ Lu Ping is a masked man with otherworldly stellar powers. I like masked men.
→ There's an almost kiss scene between Lu Ping (Arthur) and Yan Xi Fan (Dylan).
Arthur gets another sister-like character (referring to Evernight)

[Ep3]
→ Mo Lin, operating under Qin Sang, is plotting to take Lu Ping's life only his attempts are hilariously curtailed each time.
→ In Qin Sang's first encounter with Lu Ping she ends up tied to a tree. In her second encounter she's tied to a chair. Is this the show's way of foreshadowing they'll be tied together forever? 


[Ep4]
→ Su Tang's power looks really cool even though I don't know what it is. A fiery fist?
→ Lu Ping pretends to be selfish when he's just as heroic as Yan Xi Fan
→ Somehow, someway Lu Ping has befriended his assassin, Mo Lin. 

[Ep5]
Did I mention how much I love Su Tang's strength? So cool.
→ Qin Sang's third encounter with Lu Ping: they fall into a deadly pit.
[Ep6]
Let's be frank here. I don't understand all the hijinks that went on in that dungeon but everything just looked so cool. I need more scenes of everyone together and more glowing eyes moments.
→ Qin Sang isn't your typical weak female lead. She's smart and forgiving. And pretty.

[Ep7]
→ The master isn't your typical fool. He's a conniving old man who's still your adorable fool.
→ Yan Xi Fang has an inferiority complex (especially with his broken foot) and refuses to join the four-man squad but master tells him that Lu Ping is just a whiff of fart compared to him, heh.  
That scene with the master pulling the wheelchair and Lu Ping lazing off was cute.

[Ep8]
→ There's romance in the air for two pairs: Mo Lin likes Su Tang; Lu Ping apologizes to Su Tang and she can't believe her ears.

[Ep9]
Chu Min pits her four auditionees (to be her disciple) to a near impossible task. Qin Sang and her maid, Lin Zi Yang, are also pulled in. They lose all their powers and one of their five senses. Now that Qin Sang no longer has her sight, she has to completely rely on Lu Ping's instructions. But she can't.
→ All four of them have succeeded her mission and Chu Min, a woman of her words, accepts them as her disciple. Their powers and senses were recovered once they have the urge to protect others. For example Su Tang got hers back when she protected Mo Lin. Qin Sang and Lu Ping regained theirs when they wanted to protect each other.

[Ep10]
→ Lu Ping sneaks into Qin Sang's manor to give her a present. He tore her dress last time so he gives her a new red dress. But when he tells her he's actually here to ask for information her mood immediately sours.
→ Seems like Lin Zi Yang has a crush on Lu Ping too. Except Lu Ping thinks she's a prefect match for Yan Xi Fan instead. So that rounds out our third pair.
→ Lu Ping is in search of Wen Ge Cheng. This guy is the man who saved Lu Ping (and Su Tang) from the the dungeon and his chains three years ago. Lu Ping was enslaved for thirteen years prior by the Shan Hai Tower. I'm skeptical of this Wen Ge Cheng. This reunion happened away too fast and way too easy. A random man barges into your room and you just tell the guy a random story?
I absolutely love Su Tang's prowess. Brute strength, heh.
[Ep11]
→ Qin Sang wears the dress Lu Ping gave her and seeing her wear it so beautifully makes him smile very sweetly.
→ Lu Ping gives QS another present: his precious starry sky, the sky that has consoled him many times. He thanks her for letting him know that there exists something just as precious as his starry sky: her. It's a confession. Already? She smiles to the sky and tells him he's such thief; he spent only ten pennies to steal the most beautiful scenery (and her heart). Although it's a confession, it's also a farewell. He still needs to unlock his iron shackles that has chained him for thirteen years in order to live like a normal being just like her.
→ Yan Xi Fan trades in his precious jade to buy new clothes for his teammates but Lu Ping heartlessly throws his to the ground calling quits on the four-man squad. Aww, YXF heart breaks.
→ Su Tang knows her brother very well. She tells him that she won't leave with him (to find Wen Ge Cheng to unlock his shackles) instead she'll stay and protect the teammates he cares about.
→ A heartbroken YXF is now flabbergasted. Master tells him to give up the competition to help Lu Ping instead. Apparently that was the purpose all along. Lol, what.

[Ep12]
→ Qin Sang went to chase after the Lu Ping. When an arrow is aimed at him but accidentally endangers QS, he's quick to protect her and blocks it with his baggage. Inside there's the new clothes that Yan Xi Fan had brought him.
→ With QS to convince him to stay for his team, how can Lu Ping leave?
→ Now that everyone knows of Lu Ping's past and his current dangers of staying, his entire team and QS persuade him to leave. When he wants to leave, everyone wants him to stay. When he wants to stay, everyone wants him to leave. He's loved.
→ Lu Ping is suspicious of master for betraying him and revealing his meeting with Wen Ge Cheng. Su Tang, without being told explicitly, perfectly deducts everything as well. The master is suspicious but I don't think he's the bad guy.

[Ep13]
→ Off topic. The beginning OST sounds quite dissonant with how modern it is versus the setting of this drama. However, it's growing on me
→ Qin Sang and Lu Ping are the final competitors. When Qin Sang had the upper hand, Lin Zi Yang flies in to protect Lu Ping. Her maid was able to block Qin's family all powerful move. That apparently deserves death as punishment. Lu Ping proposes that they continue their battle and Qin Sang agrees. Winner takes Lin Zi Yang. Qin Sang loses.
→ Lu Ping knew that Qin Sang didn't want to kill Lin Zi Yang which is why he proposed the deal. Qin Sang lost to save Lu Ping on purpose. The uptight Qin Sang won't lose a competition even if it meant harming Lu Ping, but she would lose to save her maid.
→ Lu Ping asks her to go to his hometown with him when he's free of his shackles. Why would she even bother going there is exactly what she said. However, before she can accept him, he disappears from her room again.
 Qin Sang and Lu Ping are so pretty

[Ep14]
→ Wen Ge Cheng is the evil one. He's part of Shan Hai Tower. However, it's too late. Lu Ping attacks his master who obviously is still acting suspiciously because of drama. Lu Ping has fallen perfectly in Wen Ge Cheng's trap. Psyche. Lu Ping and master have infinite trust in each other and the one who's trapped is Wen Ge Cheng. Still Wen Ge Cheng finds a way to capture Lu Ping.
→ Yan Xi Fan overcomes his inner demons to yield swords again in order to save Lu Ping. He's a top top swordsman apparently.
→ Mo Lin and Su Tang have a bet. If there's an even number of nuts she will be his disciple; if there's an odd number he'll stop bothering her. With the help of Chu Min who smashes one of the nuts, Mo Lin gets what he wants: he's her master. Lol.

[Ep15]
→ Master left...and a masked man appears to save them from Qin Qi (brother of Qin Sang). Qin Qi manages to kill Lin Zi Yang. Hmmmm does she really die? Qin Qi has to kill them because they know about Wen Ge Cheng. Although Qin Qi isn't part of Shan Hai Tower, he's the one who recommended WGC. He can't escape punishment if WGC's identity is revealed. His survival plan is to sabotage Lu Ping and accuse him of being part of Shan Hai Tower instead.
→ Lu Ping doesn't want to bring harm to anyone so he decides to travel alone. However, how can the righteous Yan Xi Fan leave his brother behind? And so they travel together. Until the disciples of their clan are held hostage by Qin Qi's soldiers.

[Ep16]
→ The masked man's identity is revealed: it's the master. Guo You Dao. He's the one who saved Lu Ping and Su Tang three years ago, not that farce Wen Ge Cheng. He saves Lu Ping once again and they fall off a cliff to escape danger. That was one of the longest cliff fall that lasted at least five minutes. There's a ton of flashback. And what do flashbacks mean? Death. The master's death. During the fall, he's given all his cultivation to Lu Ping. His last advice to his disciple: always look forward. I'm teary.
→ Lu Ping is alone once again: no master, no sister, no brother, no love. He's got one mission: revenge.
→ There's one happy news: Lin Zi Yang isn't dead. she was saved by the master and now cared for by Chu Min. I guess that's why Gu You Dao sent his disciples to Chu Min, he probably had a feeling his days were numbered.

[Ep17]
→ Lu Ping and Yan Xi Fan reunite with pretty music to boot. However, Yan Xi Fan stabs him with his sword. The cool Chu Min shows her prowess and whips her chains to save Lu Ping.
→ Don't worry, Yan Xi Fan didn't turn evil in a split second. His sword precisely pierced just near the fatal artery and avoids killing Lu Ping. With just that hint, it's enough for Lu Ping to know his buddy is protecting him and taking his place to enter Shan Hai Tower.
→ The master is gone, but he's living in the hearts of everyone, especially Chu Min.

[Ep18]
→ The master is alive.... Nope. The lookalike dude is Guo Wu Shu. He's the younger brother of Guo You Dao. He's got a burning inferiority complex against Guo You Dao. His hate for his brother (for not fulfilling his end of the promise to battle him) is transferred onto the innocent Lu Ping. It was the master's wish for Lu Ping to be brought to Guo Wu Shu. I'm not sure if it's the right decision (yet) because this Guo Wu Shu is pretty adamant on beating Guo You Dao (even in death). He's purposely training someone who hates Lu Ping so that his disciple can beat Guo You Dao's disciple (Lu Ping). His disciple needs to learn how to withstand pain first so he slaps him, ha.

[Ep19]
→ Mo Lin is able to use a needle to detect if Lu Ping has been in the area...
→ Mo Lin and Su Tang are quite cute this episode. Especially when Mo Lin tells himself to not fall in love with her so easily.
→ Lin Zi Yang confesses to Lu Ping but is rejected. She reaches out for his hand but this is stopped by a jealous Qin Sang.
→ The moment Lu Ping looks for her, Qin Sang has immediately forgiven him
[Ep20]
→ Qin Sang and Lu Ping are practically together. She buys him dessert and he'll feed her the dessert. They're working together to find this "Chui Qiao Lian Ying" (a hand armour) which is the mission Lu Ping's master left for him. The master had masterfully predicted everything.
When Lu Ping successfully retrieves the armour, I love that arrogant stare he gave Qin Sang.
[Ep21]
→ Su Tang and Mo Lin reunite with Lu Ping
→ Mo Lin is going to have a bit of competition (Xu Wei Feng) for Su Tang.
→ Yan Xi Fan is a traitor but I highly doubt it. He seemingly betrays Lu Ping who I don't know yet if he believes him or not but Lu Ping is ready to fight as he preps his Transformers Hand Armour.

[Ep22]
→ Lu Ping thinks Yan Xi Fan is controlled.
→ Lu Ping also finds out his parents' death isn't just the result of Shan Hai Lou's murder but also Bei Dou's negligence. Apparently, it may have to do with Chu Min's dead lover too. Thus Lu Ping nullifies all relationship with Bei Dou and Chu Min. However, the man who revealed everything to him, Yan Xi Fan's dad, has an agenda of his own. He wants to stimulate Lu Ping enough so his son won't have to sacrifice for him.
→ Qin Sang is there to comfort a devastated Lu Ping. So many people he's loved has sacrificed / is sacrificing for him.

[Ep23]
→ Mo Lin is onto something: Xu Wei Feng is fishy. Initially no one had believed him but luckily Su Tang isn't an idiot. Except she is caught by Xu Wei Feng. He's formed an alliance with Shan Hai Lou. Now Lu Ping and Qin Sang are caught in his trap.

[Ep24]
→ I like how Chu Min and Guo Wu Shu help Lu Ping without any hesitation (even after those harsh words he said to them)
→ Lu Ping has to eat his own words about cutting ties with Bei Dou, heh. Chu Min makes it worse by rubbing it in.
→ After all that effort to escape, Lu Ping willingly gives himself to his enemies again.
→ Lin Zi Yang shows up again and offers to help Qin Sang save Su Tang. Let's hope she stays good.

[Ep25]
→ Qin Qi and Lu Ping work together to capture Xu Wei Feng and Shan Hai Lou's master meanwhile the rest of the team save Su Tang. What I like: Qin Qi and Lu Ping working together. What I really like: Qin Qi and Lu Ping's new relationship because of Qin Sang. 
→ Lu Ping un-brainwashes Yan Xi Fan. I honestly thought he was just pretending to be controlled...

[Ep26]
→ I like Lu Ping's smile when he had to admit he was happy while staring at Qin Sang (and Xi Fan). 
→ He's got his two favourite people beside him (Qin Sang and Xi Fan). But what about sis? 
→ Although Shan Hai Lou's leader is captured, there's a bigger and badder leader lurking and so the drama continues with a new evil leader as the target.

[Ep27]
→ Hul, so Chu Min's ex-lover is Shan Hai Lou's real leader. He's Liu Song
→ Wow, Lu Ping is asking Qin Qi for Qin Sang's hand in marriage. 

[Ep28]
→ It doesn't matter what brother thinks, Qin Sang's heart is already with Lu Ping. His engagement present to her is a sword with a charm on it. It's a safety charm. I had zero anticipation for that almost kiss. The way it was filmed it was so obvious they weren't going to.
→ I like the new relationship between Su Tang and Guo Wu Shu (her new Shi Fu)

[Ep30]
→ A brother risking everything to save his sister but the sister doesn't need protecting. And actually the brother knows just how capable his sister is. 

[Ep32]
→ This Emperor...purposely separating our tight group of six. Planting doubtful seeds in Lin Zi Yang, betrothing Qin Sang to Yan Xi Fan... 

[Ep33]
[Ep34]
[Ep35]
[Ep36]
[Ep37]
[Ep38]
[Ep39]
[Ep40]
[Ep41]
[Ep42]
[Ep43]
[Ep44]
[Ep45]
[Ep46]
[Ep47]
[Ep48]

Remarks


[First Impression (Ep1-10)] To my surprise, it's good. I did skim the first few episodes so I can't say I understand everything. But whenever the screen has captured my attention, it's fun, really fun, especially by Episode 4 when things start to make more sense and characters are collaborating more. This is a long journey but count me in for the ride. I hope there's more cool quests before they throw in a bunch of romance.

[Actors/Actresses] Frankly, a drama with this type of cast makes me wary: high profile young actors who are still green(ish) in the field known more for their looks than for their acting. I always find that it's a production company's way of hiding mediocre writing. So far I'm impressed with the acting and the story. 

[By Episode 25/26] I'm not watching this as closely but I'm getting bored. A huge chapter has completed: the capture of Shan Hai Lou's leader. However, it doesn't feel like a big feat was accomplished at all. 

[BTS] I saw a scene of Chen Fei Yu pinching Cheng Xiao's cheeks, it was pretty cute. Chen Fei Yu seems like quite the rascal on set. He plays with her hair, or more specifically the bun on her head. She gets back a him by braiding his locks and creating all sorts of female hairstyles. At one point, Xiong Xi Qi joins in to play with his hair.

[Dropped] I really liked this up until Episode 16. I don't think the producers have a knack for storytelling. I'm no longer invested in the characters or conflicts. Drama looks great, but lacks depth. 



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