This drama is an amalgamation of all the tropes and outcomes that grind my gears. Even more so when a story like this is in the hands of creatives who are just not as adept at handling such a story successfully.
ā¢ The majority of the characters are vile (this could be an unreliable narrator device being used but if any of it turns out to be the reality, itās going to be extremely difficult to properly redeem these characters).
ā¢ Why do they always go so far in making characters despicable if they know theyāll need them to be seen in a positive light later on? Iām sorry but most k-drama directors and writers have not mastered the skill of well executed grey characters yet.
ā¢ Is it just me or are k-dramas and c-dramas adopting the bleakness and disaster pile on of Japanese dramas?? Itās not enough to have the ML lose the thing he was most passionate about, but to his younger brother of all people, as his parents immediately put him as a stand in for the ML; but then to pile on that, he also loses his āfirst loveā to that same brother. Itās an unnecessary hurdle to put on the brother character considering (whether they are able to or not), theyāll expect us to root for the brother later on. The problem is that a lot of these sorts of plots rely on audience amnesia. Sure they make things out to be misunderstandings but they always forget the things that still happened ā that the audience saw these things happen.
ā¢ All of this is bad enough but you just KNOW, that they will contort the story line at the end to show that actually, the FL was the āfirst loveā all along.
Iām so tired. I donāt like complaining but Iām so eternally tired of this unsatisfying-ness of Asian dramas. I sincerely hope (truly with all my heart) that the viewers who are currently enjoying this will continue to enjoy it. I want that for you.
The Unexpected Marriage. It might not be to everyoneās tastes but I have found it hard to get into Chinese costume dramas. I donāt know why this is because I love Chinese period and costume based movies.
I might be jinxing this by commenting and speaking this early, but Iām absolutely loving this so far. For the first time in ever, Iām watching two ongoing C-Dramas and one of them is a costume drama ā And Iām enjoying both of them. It must be snowing in August. š
I checked it with zero expectations and didnāt even know it was coming. 4 episodes in and I am sitting basking…
Same. Iām also pleasantly surprised. I love the leads and how their relationship is set out and is being played out. Thereās also something about this one that feels more mature overall. How the workplace is shot and portrayed feels a bit more realistic in terms of the everyday 9-5 systematic feel. Itās giving me The Fearless office vibes, thatās probably why I like it. Itās already a high 8 for me so far. If it continues this way to the end, Iām tempted to rate it a 9/10.
P.S. the FLās parents might be my favourite parental love as well as parent couple portrayal. Usually you love the parents in a drama because they support their child so well but I seriously am falling for how much I like the parents as individual people/characters and I love them as a couple. Their relationship is so down to earth, loving and full of chemistry.
As much as I love all the screen time of the main coupleās love story, I think itās a bit weird that weāre over half way through and we havenāt gotten to the āloveā part of the second coupleās love story yet. Are we sure itās only 8 episodes? Like really, really sure?? That canāt be right. Right? I feel like itāll be 12 episodes. Whatās the official line from the studio?
*actually, I hope theyāll split the difference and make it 10.
They picked a great airing date for this. The only other good date would have been in July. Iām stoked. Itās the year of the sequels and Iām already on cloud 9 from Sweet Home Season 3 dropping last month (I still need to carve out some time to binge this). š¤
I just have a feeling this is either going to be a very strong performance from her or a lacklustre one. I donāt see it being in between . Itās why Iām so intrigued, because it has all the potential to be a very powerful performance and Iām fully prepared to be bowled over if it is.
This was my original thinking too but BLs these days like to add a twist, so now Iām not so sure. They might…
I concur with your logic. All the signs/logic point to Vee but Iām used to BLs these days throwing in a twist that may or may not line up with the logical outcome.
Listen wee is the reincarnation because that prince guy likes him.. simple..if am wrong then I will get retired…
This was my original thinking too but BLs these days like to add a twist, so now Iām not so sure. They might be going the āMs Wad is whomever San has in his heartā angle (as in, itās a test of true love and the right person will be the person he truly loves).
For any novel readers has the series missed out much from the source novel? i know cdrama's are usually 30-40+…
Yes, the series is condensed and āreworkedā in many aspects compared to the novel, but I think the essence and the important parts remain.
Because of said reworking, I donāt think theyāre missing context per se. Had they not reworked it to fit the 12 episode structure, then perhaps the context may have been off.
The novel is more fleshed out, a LOT darker and far more explicit. It kinda felt like a different story in some ways and at the same time not (if that makes any sense).
If you are having a feeling to read the novel, you should go ahead.
Iām ready to be surprised by her in this drama. Itās these kinds of actors that will either show their great potential when given a great role or they donāt.
1 
ā¢ The majority of the characters are vile (this could be an unreliable narrator device being used but if any of it turns out to be the reality, itās going to be extremely difficult to properly redeem these characters).
ā¢ Why do they always go so far in making characters despicable if they know theyāll need them to be seen in a positive light later on? Iām sorry but most k-drama directors and writers have not mastered the skill of well executed grey characters yet.
ā¢ Is it just me or are k-dramas and c-dramas adopting the bleakness and disaster pile on of Japanese dramas?? Itās not enough to have the ML lose the thing he was most passionate about, but to his younger brother of all people, as his parents immediately put him as a stand in for the ML; but then to pile on that, he also loses his āfirst loveā to that same brother. Itās an unnecessary hurdle to put on the brother character considering (whether they are able to or not), theyāll expect us to root for the brother later on. The problem is that a lot of these sorts of plots rely on audience amnesia. Sure they make things out to be misunderstandings but they always forget the things that still happened ā that the audience saw these things happen.
ā¢ All of this is bad enough but you just KNOW, that they will contort the story line at the end to show that actually, the FL was the āfirst loveā all along.
Iām so tired. I donāt like complaining but Iām so eternally tired of this unsatisfying-ness of Asian dramas. I sincerely hope (truly with all my heart) that the viewers who are currently enjoying this will continue to enjoy it. I want that for you.
P.S. the FLās parents might be my favourite parental love as well as parent couple portrayal. Usually you love the parents in a drama because they support their child so well but I seriously am falling for how much I like the parents as individual people/characters and I love them as a couple. Their relationship is so down to earth, loving and full of chemistry.
*actually, I hope theyāll split the difference and make it 10.
Because of said reworking, I donāt think theyāre missing context per se. Had they not reworked it to fit the 12 episode structure, then perhaps the context may have been off.
The novel is more fleshed out, a LOT darker and far more explicit. It kinda felt like a different story in some ways and at the same time not (if that makes any sense).
If you are having a feeling to read the novel, you should go ahead.