Reviews

This tv series is exceptional. The cast, the characters, the storyline, the musics... Everything is perfect.

Nonetheless, I understand why some people would not like this. Not only we aren't used to "slow" (and trust me this one is not slow) storylines development anymore, but it requires the viewer to think and not just passively watch.

Every "dreams" is a step further in finding the characters trauma and healing process but you'll need to actively watch, otherwise it won't make sense and you'll be bored out of your mind.

Thus, I would not recommend this tv series if you want to chill and relax or if you have a habit to watch your smartphone every 5mn.

If you can do 30-40mn focus per episode, then you'll love this show. And trust me (or don't, who the f am I?), you won't regret it.

I beg, do not get fooled by the first episode that seems to appear as a very old and badly made tv series!

Most of Chinese TV series will require some knowledge about Chinese ways and culture.

Not this one, it is very approachable while giving an insanely good description of what China looked like ~300 years B. C.

Learn more about the events happening 2 generations before the unification of China, which would have not be possible otherwise.

Outside of the historical part of this show, I was moved by the actors. They played delightfully well and I've rarely seen such true emotions being displayed. Especially for an "old" tv series such as this one.

I wish it were more popular!

As usual for an apple tv series, it's very well filmed, well directed and a set of actors finely chosen.

But the script is so so. I didn't read the book but I fail to see how you can go to the final episode in this manner.

Like character psychology development have been forgotten.

My understanding from people who read the book is that we are seeing the story in the eyes of Andy, which would make the story very much interesting if it were narrated better.

They want us to understand that it is narrated by Andy but it's too clumsy to make sense.

I'm not sure if I would recommend this show or not, sadly there is nothing (for me) to remember about it.

Black Bird is way better if you haven't tried yet!

I had a hard time finding the episode 1 interesting, but the episode confirmed my fears: Characters, also quite well played, are dumb and they have dumb lines. The story isn't well revealed so, in the end it's difficult to want to know more.

I'll probably watch the episode 3 to give it a bit more opportunities, also because I don't have anything else left to watch, but I'm really not hooked.

On the good side, it's well filmed, the atmosphere is dark but not scary and having many characters talking in multiple langues isn't unpleasant and quite a good picture of the 19th century.

The musics and audio is quite good as well.

But that's pretty much it...

If you didn't read the book and like Sci-Fi, go for it - interesting TV series, quite good actors (especially the emperors) and very nice & polished effects.

If you liked the books, this series is NOT for you.

Although it started well, after the first 2 episodes my eyes couldn't help getting wide open in surprise and discomfort. The final episode got me really mitigated while showing that this series doesn't intend on following the books.

I think going into Foundation without narrating the Prelude is quite a gamble but well.

Change the genders, ethnicity or whatever else you have to do in order to fit 2021 (sigh...) but don't change character true nature / story.

Change the story slightly to make it more visually appealing because you want to target a larger audience.

But, oh gosh, don't spoil in the first season the 3 most important "discoveries" that made the book so appealing!

This shows is inspired by the novels but shouldn't be named Foundation and is not the story told by Isaac Asimov. It should be named "a parallel story in a parallel universe to Foundation".

The first 2 episodes are great / ok as they are somehow following the novel despite few non sense (fearing the cross in ep 2 and not caring much about it in ep1)

But still enjoyable.

And then ep3 which doesn't have any base storyline to follow so writers did put non sense after non sense.

Feels like there was a LOT of potential at the beginning of the ep and something at some point ruined it. Thanks to the actor for keeping the roles until the end.