TheMoonEmpress

His cheekbones and jaw can easily slice through things. I became a big fan of his because of A River Runs Through it which has quickly become my favorite drama of 2021 and in which he is the ML. i was checking out some of his work to watch but I think I'll pass this one. The original Sungkyunkwan Scandal is one of my fave kdramas and I don't want to tarnish that memory

Actually she is pretty helpful to me because there's just too much content in chinese dramaland. So many dramas are being churned out in China (most of them are not even worth my time, iI have started so many chinese dramas but have only finished a handful) I would've missed many hidden gems if it were not for her channel because a lot of dramas don't even get proper promotion and really mediocre ones get a lot pf hype. (Like AFSAAIC was such a hyped amd anticipated release) So channels like AvenueX and Marcus Here are ver helpful to non native speakers like me.

But I've seen that this always happens when she disses a drama with the so called 'traffic' popular stars (egs Ancient Love Poetry, Court Lady, Blooms at Ruyi Pavillion, to name a few) . Her credibility is always called into question in such instances so I am used to seeing that. For this drama, i couldn't watch past ep 2. I get that it's supposed to be a brainless comedy, but I guess it was just too brainless for me.

I follow her and do rely on her opinions and recommendations because I have found that we have similar tastes. I end up loving the dramas she has recommended (not all but most) and find myself agreeing with her rants too. It is definitely subjective and dependent on your preferences. She has said several times in her videos that her reviews are subjective and based on her personal opinions, she has not set herself up as an objective point of reference, as far as I can tell. But I definitely agreed with her about this drama.

Yes, definitely helps. Thanks! And I can understand. As I said, I can sense you really wanted this drama to deliver till the very end and it's unfortunate, for sure. (And yes, I have been visiting this comment section since it started airing so I guess that's when I saw those discussions) I have watched Reply 1988 and it's my favorite of the Reply series (although I don't like the canon couple so the ending was disappointing for me, I'm Team DdeokHwan forever) l haven't watched Lovely Us....might check that out next. I will finish watching ARRTI today due to VIP subscription. So I might finally write my first review on MDL, who knows. I did enjoy reading your review, it's very thorough and I agree with a lot of things.

Hehe, you seem really fixated kn this point. I've seen so many similar comments of yours in this section. I can sense how you really wanted this drama to be perfect but the last two episodes didn't deliver for you. Aah I can understand your frustration then. I actually saw you had made a similar comment yesterday on thread where I had also responded. But I don't see that comment anymore, can you tell me how you delete it? I wanted to do so because I make so many embarrassing typos when typing fast.

Same, I've been waiting to see her in period styling again. She did a lot pf those before but this year, she has mostly been in contemporary dramas. I can't wait to see her in period costume again, she looks so cute in it. <3

They have both nailed their characters. I realised midway, that the biggest reason I like Xiaoju's character is because of HYX. She has injected so much natural warmth and detail in her character development that I don't find her frustrating even when the story takes that turn. I would've been annoyed with a character like Xiaoju long before if it had been played by anyone other than HYX. It's so surprising to me that this drama was filmed before The Sleepless Princess and Unforgettable Love because I think her acting is the best in ARRTI out of all three. And WRC just completely made LSY his own. It doesn't even feel like he's acting, i saw some of his interviews and he's so different from his character, it was mindboggling to me to see him as anything other than LSY. Hats off to these two actors, they've done a mighty fine job in this drama. Even the supporting cast is excellent.

Yes, she had begun to explain it but Shiyi misunderstood her meaning and interrupted. Of course, it's a drama so nothing will happen so smoothly :(

Yes, she had begun to explain it but Shiyi misunderstood her meaning and interrupted. Of course, it's a drama so nothing will happen so smoothly :(

I do agree that it's too late for her to feel this way and she admits that as well in ep 34. I think that's the point/message of this drama. That you realise what you had only when you lose it. In a way, I am glad that Shiyi left. But I will say, they both need CL to sort out their feelings and relationship, even Shiyi. I find that funny but I've rewatched the episodes and I realised that if it weren't for CL, many of their misunderstandings wouldn't be solved. Also, after Shiyi confessed, he had definitely tried very hard to win her, to the point of being pushy. Xiaoju's character is very hesitant from the beginning, second guessing everything before taking a step. And Shiyi , on the other hand, is completely opposite, very impatient with a strong, forceful personality. Hence, I kind of get why the whole Shiyi chasing her phase made her uncomfortable and even more confused (plus she was lying to her best friends and that guilt definitely didn't help) From her perspective, it was so sudden and unbelievable for her. If she hadn't taken this much time to sort out her feelings, I personally would've felt that she is treating Shiyi as a second choice or using him to get over CL, kinda like what Lin You did with her ex and CL. Hence, if you look at it from storytelling and character development perspective, the logic checks out. But you're right, it's quite frustrating with all the misunderstandings.

I have loved all the dramas I've seen of HYX. She has been giving explosive CPs one after the other. I loved her chemistry with Zheng Ye Cheng in the Sleepless Princess (best couple of 2020 for me) and, especially, with Wang Rui Chang in A River Runs Through it (best couple of 2021 huhu) . She was also amazing in Unforgettable Love. All these 3 dramas are my favorite and HYX is a big reason for it.

Hehe yeah. Their chemistry is out of this world (best cp of 2021 for me) and I love their banter. It keeps getting more interesting as the episodes progress. ARRTI and TLB are probably the best chinese dramas I have seen this year. Hence, I can't wait to see both these ladies again and together this time. One of their bts clips were released where they're talking to each other between takes, made me so excited lol.

Hmm you're right. I just get very iffy vibe from her, like even before she was so clingy, clinging to Shiyi's arm even when he didn't like/want it. And she out and out lied that they're going out (as we find out later) That is a mark of a scheming person to me.
I wish Xiaoju had been brave for once, I wish she had fought for him. I don't like how easily she gave up when she found out he has a gf. I understand that's how she's always been, she has always lacked courage and she even gave up on CL when he got a gf. Gaaah these misunderstandings are frustrating but I understand that they do it for dramatic tension.

So, even though I was prepared and had braced myself for it, episode 34 sucker punched me. There are so many things I wish had happened differently. I wish Shiyi hadn't taken such a small misunderstanding to heart, I wish Xiaoju had clarified about the dog earlier itself, I wish Xiaoju would've been braver and tried again, even after the whole Shen Duo debacle (what a bitch btw! She not only stole Shiyi's first kiss but also created such a huge misunderstanding between them by lying to Xiaoju)....but I guess, this is a drama and the characters' personality have been written that way since the beginning. I am just so invested in these characters that I can't help but be affected by their story. HYX really made me cry in this one. :"(

It's not a sweet and fluffy romance. They have realistic motivations and real struggles. There is love in it but it's not the artificial romance that's so popular in chinese dramas, with eye contact and slow motion and all. I found that it's worth it to wait because I like these kind of dramas. This is a youth drama with a very specific message and philosophy. If you're looking for something like that, then it's worth the wait.

Yes, I've been impressed with everything I've seen from her so far. I think having all these resources and working with popular, experienced actors would make her shine even more. I am really looking forwards to all her future CPs. Some of my most favorite couples in chinese dramas have her in it.

Hehe thank you, that definitely helps. It also helps that I am not the most discerning viewer, I've been watching asian dramas for years so I know how to manage my expectations lol.

I don't mind that it's a support role because it's the first time she's going to be a part of such a big budget production. She mostly has been doing low budget web dramas and I think this one is an S+ project. So i am very excited for her.

That's what i meant, it was impossible to avoid spoilers because of the clips and even the comment section here. Anyway, it's nearing the end of the drama so I'm trying not to be too salty about it. I know for a fact that, whatever I think about the end, I will never forget this drama and this couple. If I hadn't been spoiled, maybe I wouldn't be so guarded about the end and might've been even open and receptive to it, who knows.