Who Rules the World is exciting mixture of martial arts, political intrigue and a forbidden love that fascinates till the end. The show itself is carefully intertwining gory action as well as soft scenes, and the result is a story that is epic in scale and intimate at the same time. It sets the audiences in a frantic, war-stricken realm where two conflicting but compatible characters- Hei Feng Xi and Bai Feng Xi navigate through deceiving political territories without knowing of their own blossomed romance. The pace of the show is rapid but does not contain too many urgencies and it does not forego the emotions, which is why the viewer is glued to the screen, but at the same time is able to take some time to think about notions of loyalty, justice and sacrifice being present throughout the show.
I was most impressed by the insuperable contrast between the leads, whose character and fighting verse is a representative of their worlds one of exquisite beauties and another one of mighty ferocity. The couple has got chemistry which helps their love to be genuine and moving through the mayhem. Something about series left me wanting a lot – some hope and some bittersweet tenderness. To the eye, it is breathtaking; each shot is painstakingly designed, its cinematography lush, its production value immaculate, its fight choreography action-packed, with the score creating a great emotional investment. The characters are not as easy as combined actions which lead to depth in the personal lives, making both the internal and the external danger equally interesting.
Although atmosphere and the emotional hits were all done brilliantly, I sometimes felt like certain characters would have benefited thoroughly from more insight into their backstories. The various plotlines occasionally undermine the flow, but this is more or less minor imperfections of an otherwise-riveting story. In sum, Who Rules the World moved me–telling me of the power of love and the inner strength of hope and integrity. It is a must watch to people who like watching martial arts dramas that sparks the heart and intellect as well.
