AleksandraSucur

Well, several people here couldn't continue because of the time switch and I think it's normal: there's a huge societal, cultural and environmental gap between late Republican and early Communist era even in real history, just 20 years feel like 200. Previous attempts to bridge this period of time in a drama regularly failed. Even the HQ production such as The War of Faith failed in the second arc because it glorified CCP ideals, actions etc., it felt like propaganda with nothing wrong about their bad actions (the fault was always with the "reactionary forces") and the narrative logically suffered because individual struggles and pains come after the "greater good", sacrifices are almost taken for granted.

Probably for the first time (as far as I know), we have a (female) INDIVIDUAL struggling because of the new society, which is objectified, with its positive and negative aspects and which is neither good nor bad and is both good and bad at the same time, but the perspective is focused on the FL and on other characters as PERSONS with their problems, pains, inner worlds... juxtaposed to an intrusion, an all-pervasiveness of the "organisation" (CCP) in their lives, frequently adding troubles to their toils. That's why it feels so realistic. The cinematography remained great in the second arc and the narrative made sense all the time. I liked the romance in it, as well, its poiesis and subtleness. Hope you'll like it, too

Tnx for sharing your profi opinion on the industry in Shanghai. I've noticed smth similar: objects, decorations and props in the house testifying the change of times like... footprints in the title.
I think this drama will remain very decent and well-thought till the very end.

we already know what happened to them: they've emigrated before the Liberation (probably after the Japanese occupation of Shanghai in 1937), presumably living happily ever after in another country. He had money and connections, she had a medical profession, experienced even in managing a hospital, she had lived abroad before etc.
What wasn't explained in the drama is how the've get to such a choice... so, I think we should just take it generically as a life choice. We know about them through Yi Yi's story on them, it makes sense she didn't know the reason for this decision also because she lived in Chongqing at the time.
Life stories of this trilogy are mainly anchored to a place, to this house which was a wealthy family residence first, then a hospital, a factory (with small residential area) turned into shabby premises for small businesses (with small residential area as well). Ofc., the stories are also connected through the female family connection of different generation, time and challenges.

Hi, darling, glad we watch smth together again. 🤓

I've caught up. I liked the 2nd arc as well

I caught up to ep 21 and must say I loved the 2nd arc exactly as the 1st. The script is well written to fit into 10 eps per arc, there was no drop in the overall production quality (narrative, acting, directing, camerawork, music...) as it happened in the War of Faith when the story turned from Republican to Communist era in Shanghai.
The plot and dialogues, although simplified and some times overdramatised to fit into the format, are credible and sufficient both to characterise persons involved and realistically depict the time and the environment. Probably, the story in the 2nd arc is closest to real historical setting I've seen of this period in a Chinese drama (also because it avoided to deepen certain events and purges in the first 5 years of Communist takeover, while how the Cultural Revolution impacted the story was only hinted and not particularly deepened).
Two actresses impersonating Yi Yi are both great and physically alike. Directing and the camerawork in particular mantain the aestethics and shooting frames (which give retro vibes) from the previous arc.
If the 3rd arc connects well with the rest, I'll rate this drama at least 9

I agree, there was a sort of "brotherhood" between them

Exactly. Besides, throughout the 2nd arc, it was sufficiently hinted he he had a heavy OCD, combined probably with other mental issues. We don't need to see what (kind of sh*t) exactly he caused, his obsessions naturally isolated him (we see he was disliked by everybody except by Mrs Fang even before) and his state of mind was furtherly aggravated by alcolhol abuse. YQ was checking on him from time to time, out of pity.
There are other things in the plot that were maybe oversimplified or remained unexplained because of the short format (10 eps cca per arc), but we've got a sufficient (satisfactory and logical) explanation on his downhill trajectory and how he ended up.
This short insert/dialogue with YQ was even a sort of extra, maybe the scriptwriter wanted to explain he was not connected directly with the cultural revolution events which caused hardships to Wen and Yi Yi

Thank you again. I'll try to catch up and then we can discuss it together. In the first arc, I also like the dynamics among "three brothers", their peculiar entanglement with politics of the time and, although the story is not about politics, I am curious how the different political times/issues impact the overall plot and narrative.

Oh, I see, thank you very much.
Indeed, they make an interesting couple. Could be other actors fall behind as leads, but how's the story in the next arc?

I'm watching ep 7 and find the story very captivating. Why the rating is so low, does it get so much worse later?

It's a piece of cake for this actor to play Annan, his usual roles were all such cold, detached, even cruel personalities. The real surprise here is how he convincingly delivered Jin'an's sweet and playful character and "wolverine" black man transformation, both characters out of his comfort zone. His acting skills truly shine in SL

Me too. Only this one and Bon appetit keep me engaged

A pathetic death for a pathetic man he has been

It looks like the last 10 eps will also be the most interesting ones. I'm definitely curious how he will dispute the classical "battle over a girl" with CP. Given Jin'an's re(g)al identity, CP risks not only to lose the girl, but his kingdom as well

Jin'an will rule over both reigns, there are no other royal alternatives, one is more freak than the other

I don't have a hyperacusis but agree with you she was miscasted. She is a proper actress in every sense but isn't inherently fit for every role and the problem is not in her physical constituition, recently we've seen even tinier Zhou Ye in LoFG being more convincing as such, not in acute tone of her voice and neither in line delivery (imo) but in her performance of the "female" side of this character: those traits are too convincing (too normal and in the range of our expectations for a woman) to be combined with her "military side", so this side of the character constantly prevails making the other unbelievable. I suspect this thing isn't even the actress's fault, the script is confusingly written when it comes to several characterisations and she is just the most noticeable.

And I also agree Sandra Ma excellently embodied a female general, with good balance of military roughness and female tenderness (towards her husband in particular), the natural low tone of her voice certainly helped in that endeavour but it wasn't the determining factor

Yup, and it's a pity bc. a few departments put a certain effort in their job and the original story did not contain nonsensical details distracting our attention.

Good there are men like you. Bravo, be always this way

can't agree more. It's really annoying