Love like the Galaxy

Hello, Asian Drama Fans.

I have completed both seasons of Love like the Galaxy. I watched some of the episodes more than once. The intricate relationships between the noble families required my full attention. Billed as a romantic drama in some places, this is more of a battle-oriented show. Blood splatters home screens or house side panels as a lawbreaking, unethical family is eliminated by one man - the God of War - our male lead Ling Buyi. If blood being slung off a blade bothers you, this is not the drama for you. There are numerous battle scenes where legions of men are violently killed with close-ups of throat cuttings and gut stabbings.

Wu Lei as Ling Buyi cuts an imposing figure, believable as an unstoppable killing machine. He often wipes out 5, 10, to 20 men by himself. With his two prominent supporters and blackguard, he is a force to be reckoned with all over the kingdom. The actor Wu Lei has won an impressive list of the young actor and newcomer awards. I will be watching his career with great interest. The Emperor and his royal family consider the character Ling Buyi, an adopted son. At only 23 years old, Wu Lei’s General spouts an imposing stare, lightning-quick reflexes, considerable skills appropriate to a field general, and a cold, intense demeanor. Most characters just avoid him in fear.

Chane Shao Shang (Zhao Lusi) is raised in a military household but neglected by her warrior parents. An abusive aunt and a silly grandmother are her main companions growing up. She is tough, resourceful, and stubborn. Lacking many skills required by young ladies, she is often scorned and bullied by peers in court. Her intelligence and cold and aloof nature naturally attract men who seek a challenge. One who fell in love with her at first sight, is our awesome God of War, Ling Buyi.

There are so many secrets around Ling Buyi. Some he knows about and some unknown. He makes some terrible choices with ShaoShang, who is bold and honest. She emotionally withdraws when she finds out how much Buyi did not tell her. She gave him several opportunities to tell her. The Emperor ships the two more than I have ever seen in any drama. Usually, the royal family promotes political matches, but our Emperor Wen (Bao Jianfeng) sees the pair as a true love match. The lengths he goes to push them together bring some of the more humorous moments. He deliberately punishes Buyi with 100 strokes of beating so that Shaoshang throws a tantrum to protect him as one example. Many times, the Emperor created circumstances to bond the two.

One very different aspect of this drama involving the royal family was the relationship between the Empress and the head concubine, the love of Emperor Wan’s life. They supported each other completely, had no scheming, and were affectionate. Both treated the Empress more like an older sister, making her sad as she was in love with the Emperor. But Wan only had eyes for the concubines. The Empress became a mother figure to both Buyi and Shaoshang and promoted their union.

The costumes were glorious, and the music soared. The skill set of all warriors was impressive. Wu Lei and Zhao Lusi handle horses well. The stunts were believable, with last-minute saves of our leads. The swordplay exhibited by Wu Lei convinces me that he is the future action star of China. He has this baby face that transforms into a world-weary warrior with micro-expressions.

Zhao Lusi has had several shows back-to-back in the past few years. She often plays the same character in different circumstances. She is young and also moves well in action scenes. I plan to follow her career as well.

To me, Bao Jianfeng, as Emperor Wen, stole every scene. He was the wise ruler yet was often ruled and manipulated by his second wife. He spied on the main leads and followed their relationships like he was their grandmother. He was warm and compassionate yet firm in his tones. I hope to see more royal families in future dramas that share the relationships exhibited in this show.

Check out more of my Asian drama reviews on my blog at www.asiandramaqueen.com.

Thanks for reading!