TaliaToo:
Totally agree! I wanted it to keep the dark tone that I signed on to from Episodes 1-5. There were many following scenes later that were well-done and, I think, probably written by Writer #1 because I could sense his/her style. Those are worth rewatching for me.
@TaliaToo
Yes, some scenes had the darker tone till the end. I also would have liked this tone to be displayed more. I don't really understand why the writer in charge of the team didn't unify the whole script's tone. I learned that, this drama was made by the same team as "The Double". Regarding TD, they took a lot of time to release the OST, so I imagine that it was the same from the writting. In KMLM's case, that would maybe mean that they rushed the process to release the product ASAP. But I am conjecturing.
sansoleil83:
@unbeliebubble
I’m enjoying the details you are drawing out from the episodes. Please keep going.
@TaliaToo
The pay off to Mei Lin’s revenge arc is critical, otherwise it just feels empty - makes all the conversations she and MJH had at the start seem hollow. Instead they decided to divert the CP revenge plot line to focus on CP and Loumei’s arc. I’m going to go out on a limb and make an excuse for the writers/directors and blame it on the Producer and TV Exec s - maybe they demanded the story to go a particular way, maybe some supporting actors contractually had to have a lot more screen time? Yeah, I’m frustrated and probably talking rubbish now LOL.
The tone change during episodes 7-9 is very obvious. Watching KMLM does feel like we are watching four - five different drama series.
But I am rewatching some scenes and there are some amazing individual segments. When KMLM is good it is so good. It’s just that the lows are also very low too.
@sansoleil83
Thank you I will :)
Yes, absolutly the drama changed tone from dark romance to romcom to comedy, to melodrama...Is it beceuse they dis not harmonize the work? Screen writers works as teams normally. I don't know what happenned. If they had kept the same tone and add sprinkle of romcom, comedy, or melodrama.... Viewers might have kept watching. Because the drama is great but at some point. Some questions wasn't answered. It's a pity. I still love the drama. But it could have been better.
Episode 5 - The revenge of Mei Lin - Slaying the culprit of Qingzhoun massacre.
Prince Jing softly whispers : « Undying ».
As he proudly contemplates the little bottle of « red coix seeds potion» he managed to snatch from the reluctant Luo Mei. Suddenly, Qin Yan, his bodyguard, shouts : « Zhang Yin went to Wenhua pavilion, so did Mei Lin. »
No time to spare, Prince Jing immediately mounts his horse and rides in the dark night.
In the lugubrious Wenhua palace, War Minister Zhang Yin is thoughtful. Tonight’s operation must be successful. He has had enough problems with Prince Jing in the past. Since the end of the battle of Qingzhou, when the latter dismissed him from his position, he has arbored resentment ever since. Thinking about it, the Crown Prince scolded him when he lost the assassin he sent to kill Prince Jing. He cannot afford another set back.
Crown Prince says : « The man you sent to kill her is now under Prince Jing’s control. The only option now is to loose something to survive. You can’t keep any of those Momai warriors. »
Zhang Yin opposes : « Your Highness. »
But he suddenly remembers the imperial flogging ceremony. When the Crown Prince belittled him saying :
« Minister Zhang it is not time to celebrate yet. Once a dead piece becomes a living one, it indicates that she has become useful in another way …
It’s nothing strange that Xiyan beauty can’t take the repeated punishment. Prince Jing wants to save her. I want to kill her. »
War Minister Zhang then realizes that, he should better stay silent and suffer the humiliation, once more.
Crown Prince continues : « Minister Zhang, I kept the second-rank official position for you. Why leave the others an opportunity to use those warriors against you? The battle in the court is a battle of public opinion. The method must be able to withstand public scrutiny.
If the Momai warrior are discovered. At most, I will be accused of misjudging my subordinates. But you, you committed arson in Qingzhou, and attempted to assassinate a Prince. Each is a capital offense punishable by the execution of all your clans. It’s for you own Good. Make a quick decision. »
Zhang Yin complies: « Thank you for reminding me your Highness. »
Yes, he plotted the Qingzhou massacre. But now that the situation is tense, His Highness wants to let him defenceless. He's been used and dropped ? No way!
After Miss Mei left promising to help him flee the city via the black market, 9 of the remaining Momai Warriors, all dressed in black, kneel before him.
Zhang Yin declares: « Prince Jing has discovered us. If the Qingzhou case is re-opened we will die. Everyone, abort the mission and go into hiding among the civilians. »
Momai Warriors say : « yes. »
Wang Qang is lurking in the shadows : «Tonight, No-one must be left alive at Wenhua pavilion. »
He then lets, black dressed eastern palace guards armed with bows and arrows, enter the premises.
Looking at War Minister Zhang from behind a pillard.
Mei Lin whispers : « So you are the true culprit of Qingzhou massacre. »
This is when the eastern palace guards launch a burning arrows strike.
The Momai warriors are set on fire like human torches.
Mei Lin recognises : « Phosphorus coated garment. Who did this? »
On impulse, Mei lin twirls a dagger, and jumps at War Minister Zhang from the 2nd floor.
Mei lin stabbs Zhang Yin by the heart against a wooden door.
Adrenalin is rushing through her body while she stabbs and subdues the culprit of Qingzhou great arson. The souls of the dead may rest in peace. As, the place is falling apart in flams. Minister Zhang takes advantage of the situation to escape through a secret passage.
Mei Lin looks at the bookshelf, she spots the « red cox seeds potion » boxe and have it.
A bookshelf falls over her. The pavilion is ablaze. Mei Lin is trapped under the « year of the goat » bookshelf.
Is it her destiny? Is she a scapegoat about to be burnt, like the inhabitants of Qingzhou were? Absolutely not, she must live.
She painfully pushes, and extracts herself crawling with great difficulty.
She stands up, nearly walks, a burning beam falls over her and propels her into the burning emptiness. Luckily, Prince Jing is down there, on horse back. He catches her, as a grey veil falls over them, safeguarding his forbidden attraction for Mei Lin. Prince Jing glares at her silently as Mei Lin looses consciousness.
Somewhere else, in Wenhua pavilion, Miss Mei gets burnt on the wrist, meanwhile she is fleeing.
At Zhanyue pavilion, Prince Jing aims at Mei Lin with his crossbow and slowly goes at her. He has to kill her. After suffering the bittings and sniffing of the hallucinating Mei Lin. She told him she found the Master of shadow works. He cannot let her recognize him and spoil his plan.
Mei Lin says : « I’ve got the « red coix seeds potion », you can’t make me kill anymore. I am not your killing machine. ( she continues ) You took advantage of the grudges in Qingzhou to kill innocent people. General Weibei was wronged. He shouldn’t die. The one who should die is you, the Master of shadow works. »
Prince Jing understands that she is still hallucinating and lowers his weapon.
Checking out if she sees his moving hand before her face. Mei Lin unexpectedly grabs Prince Jing’s arm and bites him forcefully. Prince Jing silently jumps to avoid screaming.
Mei Lin utters : « Does it hurt? (She giggles). You can’t feel pain in shadow works. You turned me into a killing machine. The first lesson in shadow works is : taking a beating. Which will never stop. It won’t stop. It won’t stop until you die in pain. Or no longer cry in pain. »
Mei Lin starts crying at the memories of the pain she felt becomes more and more vivid.
Prince Jing looks at her painfully. He feels compassion seeing her in such a tourment.
Mei Lin’s hallucination continues. Now, she is at a picnic with her father and her mother in a foggy glade. She joyfully promises to her parent that, after the Weibei army enters the city. Mother will open a fruit cake store and father will do stonework, and she will not get married.
Prince Jing glares at her curious then softened, before leaving.
As he walks out and sees « Undying Flowers ». He reminisces that moment and laconically utters : « A dead piece has some how made a way out. »
Yeah. And the writers did not fulfil this promise in the later episodes.
As a writer, this kind of dropped ball is what frustrates me and makes me gnash my teeth. And oh, besides the change of tone from these first five episodes. I have written dark anti-hero characters before, even sort of fake ones, and had at least stayed true to the tone of the story :). I have also always use any smoking gun I put in the beginning of my stories :).
But your analyses have been great. Carry on!
After re-watching episode 5. I am puzzled about the revenge of Mei Lin. It seems that the real culprit of Qinzhou massacre is Zhang Yin and the crown prince leveraged his grudge against Prince Jing to make him do it.
Like the crown prince always did. He utilized people as tools. But I wonder if he wanted to attack Qinzhou, and why. Or did he just take advantage of the situation?
I know that he wanted to discredit Prince Jing to keep him from becoming crown prince. But whose was the idea from ? Or did Crown Prince just give this choice t Zhang Yin, like he did here, when he asked him to choose to kill the 300 Momai Warriors.
I will have to watch further.
Or did Crown Prince just give this choice t Zhang Yin, like he did here, when he asked him to choose to kill the 300 Momai Warriors.unbeliebubble:
The Clown Prince might have given a "choice" but the result was still the death of the Momai Warriors, which was what the Clown Prince wanted. He didn't want Zhang surrounded by an army, albeit a small one.
The Clown Prince was a clever manipulative man, not very well shown in the drama. He made many great moves that caused our man JingHe a lot of problems. The game of GO, for him, was not just to win, but to cause as many sacrifices for the other side as he could.
In my rewatch opinion, he was the big fire's mastermind and actually, he won this game of GO in the drama because his brother lost two women at the end--Luo Mei to him and Mei Lin to GreenTeaPrince and death.
The Clown Prince might have given a "choice" but the result was still the death of the Momai Warriors, which was what the Clown Prince wanted. He didn't want Zhang surrounded by an army, albeit a small one.
The Clown Prince was a clever manipulative man, not very well shown in the drama. He made many great moves that caused our man JingHe a lot of problems. The game of GO, for him, was not just to win, but to cause as many sacrifices for the other side as he could.
In my rewatch opinion, he was the big fire's mastermind and actually, he won this game of GO in the drama because his brother lost two women at the end--Luo Mei to him and Mei Lin to GreenTeaPrince and death.
Yes the drama simplified all the schemes of Crown Prince and Yin Que. If they had been set up as evil and scheming as they should have been. The audience would have not believed that episode 24 was the last interesting episode of the series.
Of course Crown Prince offered a choice to War Minister Zhang like he did to Consorst Xu after the tea incident. The purpose of the choice was evidently part of his long pursued goal of protecting his position as a crown Prince. However, I just think that, if Minister Zhang wasn't in cahoots with the Crown Prince for the mass murder. CP would have needed to make an alliance with Xiyan ( maybe) . Because, it would have been hard for him to coordinate an attack with eastern palace guards only... by the border.
Episode 6 - Declaration of war, Master of Shadow Works vs Crown Prince - Mei Lin is the bait.
Prince Yue Qin stands before Zhanyue pavilion.
Will Prince Jing He be home?
He did his best to convince the Emperor that he was the only one who could teach all the Xiyan beauties the customs and etiquette in Yan. The sole purpose was to find a way to stall time, in order to keep Mei Lin from being assigned to a Yan Officer. He must keep her in the court of state ceremonial. This is the only way he could take action and take her to Xiyan without implicating Zi Gu or leave any trace.
He sighs as he remembers the warning of his personal attendant Shu Muo :
« You never discussed politics with the Emperor, yet now, you break that rule to save her. If this draws suspicion, you might never return to Xiyan. Your Highness, if I may speak, Mei Lin is not your fated match. She will always be one of the great Yan. And she has great enemies too. »
Did Shu Muo predicted that their plan would fail? No, he refuses that option. He wants to protect Mei Lin. He has been deceiving everyone in this palace for years now. There is no way he can’t have her.
He knocks. Prince Jing appears unwelcoming. After exposing the situation Prince Jing laughs « Study, You should go through so much, just to save her. »
He replies : « Yes I am here to save her. Since you’ve shown kindness please, see it through too the end. Don’t make it difficult for her. »
Prince Jing smiles : « Difficult… » And calls : « A’mei. Do you want to stay at my mansion, or go with Prince Yue Qin ? You have the choice. »
Mei Lin steps outside Prince Jing’s bedchamber.
Prince Yue Qin immediately loses his composure, would something be happening between those two ? He cannot believe things went this far in such a short period of time. He won’t accept it.
Mei Lin declares : « Your Highness, I’d like to go to the court of state ceremonial. Prince Jing stops his sweet gaze at Mei Lin. »
Prince Yue Qin continues : « Your Highness I am under an Imperial Mandate , please don’t interfere. »
Prince Jing coldly answers : « Very well, since this has come so suddenly, let her freshen up first. I will send her over myself. »
Prince Yue Qin persists : « I will wait here. Please take your time. »
Prince Jing adds : « suit yourself, then. »
As he closes the door Prince Yue Qin feels more and more angst.
Mei Lin exhales as Prince Jing is pushing her against the wall. Her head gets messed up. Prince Jing is strongly restraining her, why does it feel like a caress ?
He abruptly says : « So you want to work with him?
Let me remind you, since you left the imperial prison. whether dead or alive, you are mine. Relying on others will only hasten your death. The more you depend on them, the quick you’ll die.»
Mei Lin replies : « Don’t worry your Highness, I won’t rely on Prince Yue Qin. Zhang Yin plans to flee to Xiyan. And his female accomplice is hiding in the court of state ceremonial. Find her, and we’ll find Zhang Yin. »
Prince Jing is puzzled, Will he be able to work that way. Yes, if he sets the rules of the game.
He then adds : « From now on , follow orders strictly. What I say and do are all confidential. Do not disclose anything to anyone. »
Mei Lin asks joyfully : « You have agreed to collaborate with me? »
Prince Jing continues imperturbable : « One more thing. Don’t keep any secret from me. »
Now comes the time to face his brother the Crown Prince. He must keep hiding behind his subordinates. Confronting him might cause him to panic and make mistakes.
He will ask him to stop pretending the brotherly affection. Now that Zhang Yin is believed to be dead. The Crown Prince feels at ease. He has to unbalance his confidence. And lets him turn on his henchmen. Crown Prince will surely accuse him of being a mass murderer. And he will reply by incriminating him. This might suffice to give Mei Lin and him the time to find that mysterious Xiyan Lady, who is hiding in the Court of State Ceremonial.
The next day, A’Dai is found dead from poisoning in her bedchamber. Overwhelmed by grief and wrath, Mei Lin decides to burn her own wrist. That way, she would redirect all suspicion toward herself and no more innocent will die.
By doing so Mei Lin sets herself as a bait. A bait Prince Jing authorizes by saying : « You’ve been the Wenhua pavilion. You are indeed the perfect bait ».
Mei Lin exhales as Prince Jing is pushing her against the wall.
He abruptly says : « So you want to work with him?
Let me remind you, since you left the imperial prison. whether dead or alive, you are mine. Relying on others will only hasten your death. The more you depend on them, the quick you’ll die.»
Mei Lin replies : « Don’t worry your Highness, I won’t rely on Prince Yue Qin. Zhang Yin plans to flee to Xiyan. And his female accomplice is hiding in the court of state ceremonial. Find her, and we’ll find Zhang Yin. »
I also forgot to remark about this part in my "rewrite." To me, this was an important point where Mei Lin was smart enough to PUSH Jing He's buttons to get her to stay at his side (in my darker version, not this version). Maybe I'll borrow your words here and insert it there, hahaha.
I like your inserting this. He was so smart, yet so Green Tea about it! The Emperor knew it. Jing He knew it. Only silly Mei Ren Mei Lin didn't. WTheck. Heh heh.
Keep going!
HE HE HE . Thank you. This GreenTeaPrince was deceiving everybody. The Emperor knew he was manipulative. Yet, I don't know if he comprehended to what extent. He must have disregarded it as long as they did not speak about politics like he did with Crown Prince, because he did not have any other heir to rely on.
HE HE HE . Thank you. This GreenTeaPrince was deceiving everybody. The Emperor knew he was manipulative. Yet, I don't know if he comprehended to what extent. He must have disregarded it as long as they did not speak about politics like he did with Crown Prince, because he did not have any other heir to rely on.
I find it interesting that the Emperor did not mind GreenTeaPrince going home to get his position as Heir. They had played GO so many times, he figured he could trust the guy. In my story, that was why he awarded Mei Lin to him--he liked the guy and wanted to set a tone for peace and he figured JingHe would be rid of an assassin and could still marry stupid Luo Mei. LMAO. Regarding the latter, he thought wrong. LMAO some more.
I also forgot to remark about this part in my "rewrite." To me, this was an important point where Mei Lin was smart enough to PUSH Jing He's buttons to get her to stay at his side (in my darker version, not this version). Maybe I'll borrow your words here and insert it there, hahaha.
Ok feel free to borrow my words.
Yes, it was a clever move on Mei Lin's part. She was already smitten by Prince Jing here, because her exhale was sexualized. So, this part is also a little BDSM. I will have to modify a little the sentence with the sigh ( or to add one) to show the exhilaration she felt when JingHe pushed her against the wall.
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