THE SHORT VERDICT:
Show works out to be a solid homage to the xianxia genre, while still managing to be its own thing.
And, as its own thing, Show manages to stick to its internal mythology, while mixing its more dramatic arcs with spots of comedy and levity, and remains interesting and engaging, all through its 20 episodes. That in itself feels like a writing coup, credit to the Hong sisters.
Our cast is generally strong and varied, and I especially enjoyed the performances by Lee Jae Wook and Jung So Min, which I thought worked to ground the emotional beats in particular.
A very enjoyable ride from start to finish, and here’s hoping that Part 2 (review here!) will remain just as good.
