In 2018 there were some Chinese novel that adapted into drama, Ever Night (将夜) perhaps was one the best adapted Chinese drama from visual aspects, the casts and the flow of the story from my point of view. I haven’t read its novel thus my opinion would be purely based on my experienced watching the drama.
So the story is started with narration:
There was a legend spreading in this world, about the eternal night that would be coming over, which caused a catastrophe for human-being. Ning Que (Arthur Chen Fei Yu) is a border patrol soldier of Tang dynasty, he brought his maid-servant Sang Sang (Irene Song Yi Ren) to Capital city of Tang in order to revenge to those people who killed his entire family fifteen years ago. When he was still in border, Ning Que has made his name as the best fighter who killed many criminal such as mountain robber in the borderline where he stationed. He also liked by his fellow soldiers and even being taken good care by the General. But, Ning Que didn’t have plan to stay forever in border since he still needed to find those people who killed his family and revenged at them.
Tang Dynasty Princess, Li Yu (Tong Yao) was chasing by the assassins but she succeed to escape until the soldiers camp. In order to guarantee Princess Li Yu safety, the general commanded Ning Que to go along with Princess Li Yu to the capital city of Tang. Along the way, there were still many assassins that kept on chasing them and because of Ning Que fighting skill and the big black umbrella which carried by Sang Sang whenever she goes, they arrived at the capital city safely.
Princess Li Yu offered Ning Que and Sang Sang to follow her but refused by Ning Que because he wanted to enter Shu Yuan (the academy), princess Li Yu didn’t force him but tell him that he could come to find her if he needs anything. First thing that Ning Que and Sang Sang did when they arrived in Capital city, both of them were exploring the capital city and then they went to Lin Mansion, Ning Que old house. At there they met Xiao Hei Zi AKA Zhuo Er (Lin Xin Ze), their childhood friend who also shared same fate with them. Zhuo Er’s parent and his clan were massacred by the same people who killed Ning Que’s family. At the time when Zhuo Er and Ning Que were on their running, they found an infant crying among the dead body covered with black umbrella. This infant was Sang Sang.
Ning Que wanted to join the academy because he wanted to study skills that would help him to be stronger and able to fight his enemies and the most important to protect Sang Sang and stay survive. It wasn’t easy for Ning Que to get into the academy because he almost didn’t have any basic skill except his fighting skill. Moreover when he was aiming to get into highest study level in the academy and become Fu Zi (Zheng Shao Qiu) direct students, he almost killed himself but at the end he still succeeded to be come Fu Zi’s 13th student.
My Impressions:
The cinematography is epic, it really filmed beautifully, the dessert, the scenery just real good. As seen, this drama really high-budgeted. The casts superb (in term of visual) especially Arthur Chen as Ning Que and Irene Song as Sang Sang, the chemistry are so good, although in this drama, Arthur Chen could be called as newbie moreover this is his first time played as main lead, his acting just out of my expectation for newbie although I believe he still has many space to better his acting (of course in very positive way). He has look and even quite good acting skill.
As for Irene Song, she just perfectly fit as Sang Sang moreover her acting just so natural, along the way watching this drama, I even thought Sang Sang is Irene and Irene as Sang Sang. The character just feel real.
The story plot, judging from the drama, I pretty impressed with the flow. The two main characters (Ning Que and Sang Sang) have quite good development story. But, I didn’t really like with the side story. I even felt uninterested with Long Qing and Lu Chen Jia ‘love story’ to the point I better watching Long Qing and Ning Que fighting scene.
I don’t know whether this is good or bad, Ning Que and Sang Sang characters are too perfect on screen and even looked such ‘real and natural’ while the other characters seemed too flat and sometimes tended to be so boring, honestly I skipped some.
Since I just ended session one, I really hope session two going to be better and impressed me more. Although Arthur wouldn’t play as Ning Que in session two, as rumored, Dylan Wang He Di would take the lead as Ning Que, If he really would play as Ning Que, I think he is quite good.
My favorite quotes:
废柴 Fei Chai. this is the words that spoken almost in every episodes, LOLS
My sword is used to protect Sang Sang.
Have you watched this drama? What do you think? Share your thought in comment box.
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