MJN

As much as I love this drama, because the first 12 episodes were so freaking awesome. I am waiting til the 1st half finishes. I can't take these long pauses in between and on top of the teasers. Especially I can't handle her being in the relationship with LY, I don't want to see it all drawn out. So I am going to go and watch previous ZLS dramas to sate my appetite while I wait. Then I will come back and make more comments :)

Well written review. Loved it.

I agree. I feel that instant chemistry, I mean like hot hot fire when Leo Wu and Zhao LuSi are together. I felt the chemistry between her and Yang Yang as well, but not near even close to what she has with Leo Wu. I don't think it is all about age, because in Dating in the Kitchen she had really good chemistry with Lin Yu Shen as well. She in a way is like Dilraba, in that they both always have great chemistry with their costars imo.

I agree about the guy following her. The thing I hate the most about most dramas be it modern or costume is how they have these characters who absolutely refuse to give up even when they are told no or its not going to happen. I get they do it for "drama" etc., but there is a point where it becomes overly annoying.

Agree, also want to add, it isn't that Niao Niao is uneducated, she is just illiterate and also doesn't know family history of the noble families (which she doesn't really care about). She has had or was not given rather a proper education. Niao Niao is very, very smart, she loves carpentry and she is very clever (example, when she discovered her grand uncle hiding in the haystack and also punching herself in the face to make the other girls look bad). I love Zhao LuSi's character in this and she does such a wonderful job at portraying this character.

I heard that was really good as well. I am definitely waiting til AoS finishes before I start watching it.

I first saw him in Nirvana in Fire and he was really good in that as well (supporting role, but great)

Yes and she also said she never wants to marry someone in the military, she doesn't want to go through that hardship and she wants a simple life. I understand why she goes to LY first. I know it will be growth for her. I personally from the stand point of not having read the novel or knowing the background that much (except what I have read here) do not see anything with LY, he acts to much like a puppy dog around her, I could see him being a great friend, but not marriage material. If she had to choose anyone right now (before she knows her feelings for LBY), I would have rather had her pick Yuan Shen over LY. He right now seems more compatible for her. LY is more like ok I am settling cause I don't want any hardships or difficulties. Although, she has yet to meet LY's family which we see that she will in the teasers.

I agree. I feel like LY is more of a brother/friend type character, I see no romance possibility at all.

As of right now, she is very aggravating and you just want to go through the screen and slap her. I understand partially about why she is doing this, but Niao Niao has already been put through so much and now her mother comes back after practically abandoning her, just to dig at her more, talk about needing therapy after this. Not only that, I was in tears after her mother had her guards beat Niao Niao and then sent her away, basically abandoning her again. "Worst Mom of the Year" award goes to.....

So finally finished the first 12 episodes and this drama is so good. I even hate to say it, it seems to be better than her WRTW drama, so far. Although, I am going to have to stop watching the spoilers though. I think they ruin to much of the drama for me. Also, I don't like seeing that she is going to be spending way to much time with Lou Yao in the next few episodes. I think he is so not challenging enough for her. (I know from everything I read and seen they don't end up together, but I hate seeing them together at all.) She is so headstrong, smart, and independent. He is so boring and just so blah! The whole story about why it took them so long to come back and "rescue" Niao Niao and her aunt, was so lame, lol.

OMG, I didn't even notice that. I see it now. Also, Lusi's 3rd uncle in LLTG was Yang Yang's older brother in WRTW.

Really?! They were a bit annoying, I mean the grandma is real annoying, but they were suppose to act or sound like that, to act pitiful and wanting sympathy, etc. I got past the voices and the "overacting" or "drama" they tended to show, because the story itself was so good and that is how their characters were written.

I thought the biggest signal for me was when he got his mom to help the FL's mom out of her depression and to stop harassing her daughter all the time. I loved his mom btw, she was so awesome.

I don't know if it is my TV or what. I am currently on episode five, and right now I am watching at least until episode 8 through VIKI, then will switch over to the Tencent video app on my phone. There seems to be sound issues. I don't know if it is the VIKI app or like I said my TV. When LBY's subordinates talk their voices are really really low and I have to turn the volume up to hear them. Also another instance, I am currently on episode 5 and when he confronts the Princess or rather when LBY is talking to her the drums in the background are extremely loud and kind of overpower the scene imo. Is anyone else getting this, does the Tencent app do this as well? Maybe I should switch over sooner.

I haven't watched ADOS yet, but from the very start of LLTG, I haven't been bored and haven't found the story lacking at all. The acting has been superb by all the cast. The sets, costumes and everything is so great so far. I love the story of the family in the first few episodes, it sets up why she is the way she is and how others treat her, etc.

I agree. I am surprised at how her mother is treating her after not seeing her for so long, I understand why, but I still think her mother could show some compassion like her father. It really aggravated me how Niao Niao's mother kept saying how she would treat her niece like her own daughter in front of Niao Niao, like the mother was purposely causing more angst with her own daughter.

Great article! I love recommending dramas to friends, family and others. I recently recommended one to even my husband and we watched it together although on different tvs, in different rooms ( he ended up finshing it before me), but he loved it. The only problem is he prefers dubbed where as I can't stand dubbed. I have to watch subbed. So when I find a good one that I think he will like, I always hope that it has a dubbed version. It doesnt happen very often. I understand when I recommend dramas, that people won't always like what I like. Just as I won't always like what others recommend, but I do at least give it a try.

I finally started watching this. I wasn't sure if I wanted to wait til it finished or start while it is ongoing. I decided on the latter cause I couldn't wait. Right now in the middle of episode 2 and I love Niao Niao's father. So far I am really liking this. The acting has been great and the support characters are very well done as well. I can't wait to see more. It definitely has pulled me in from the first moment. Will probably be binging all 12 episodes right now.

Depending on what you platform you use. I use Netflix, Viki, iQiyi, and Tencent/Wetv, there is a huge selection. I am not sure what you have watched. But here are a few of my favs if you haven't seen them.
1. Legend of Fuyao
2. Listening Snow Tower
3. Nirvana in Fire
4. Eternal Love (also known as Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms)
5. The story of Minglan
6. Novoland: Pearl Eclipse
7. The Sword and the Brocade
8. Under the Power
9. The Blooms at Ruyi Pavillion
10. Weaving a Tale of Love

Those are just 10 of my favorite costume dramas. There are several more I didn't add that I like as well. If you want modern dramas that would be a totally different list of course, but I think it would mostly have Korean dramas on it. I have fallen in love with modern Korean dramas lately.