AngelP

Entertaining but very busy. On its own it is okay series but when compared to strange tale (only because so many actors are from both series), it reduces into inferior product. What this series lacks is good writing. There is no historical context to ground this story or to provide rich background. It all depends on cases which are interesting but denoument not so much.

There is rarely any variation in case- each has female victim. The solution rely on genuis sniffing and co-incidence rather than good leg work and team work. Anyone who watches mystery like me can find answer easily. What is interesting is how case proceed. This is where this drama fails most.

It is too busy in establishing ML as center of the series. The man has to resolve the case, romance the coroner, has tragic background etc, Every one around him is reduced to being side actors including FL. Which is pity because teamwork is what makes stories like this interesting.

Poor actor who plays ML is reduced to idol, he acts like one, he is shown as one (shirtless scenes really) and is one note genuis. He is never given chance to grow. FL has mature face that suits scenes where she is helping ML but when she acts impulsive, politically naive, oh boy. It does not help there is very little chemistry between two.

Then we have possibly the most interesting character of the 4 who form main leads. A police man nearing retirement who has seen it all. If he had not been part of equation I might have left this story long time back. His presence grounded the story especially once you realize how many mistakes he made in past to how he is in present. If I was writer, I would have made better use of this experienced policeman. The last main lead is weakest of them all because he is literally not given anything to work with.

It is a popcorn series. Cases have that human interest tint that remind you of Strange Tale but they don't go beyond it. Which is pity because a little more depth and less ML worship would have anchored this series.

I agree but Budget rather than writing is villain. If they were given more mollah and episode, they could have focussed on things like what necessitated action in this drama. It is frustrating how producer don't pay attention to original script.

Simple thing like rather than focusing on personal vendetta, collective improvement is goal of this drama. The theme is overarching that it could have made for great series. That in itself puts it so above many series that I have seen this year. But the amount of episode and lack of money is so obvious. It hurts because actors are giving their all (except Riley).

Little things like how ML is written on lines of Wei Zheng called human mirror - a man who dared criticized Emperor, died poor but is still revered today- makes it so interesting. The man was visionary who always put his country first. On that theme, drama focused on how ML affected two ppl who could help him acheive goal of bringing country to peace.-FL and SML. FL was intelligent but lacked goal, SML understood goal but lacked power. After marriage FL understood invention has users and they can mis-use it. SML gained power suddenly but lacked anchor. He was thrown out to wolves without proper guidance. On other hand FL had ML's steady guidance. Question is will SML accept ML's guidance and become what FL has become or will he get swallowed by darkness.

Things like frustrate me because themes are so good. Action is good. I understand where you are coming from.

I feel opposite of you. It is very much writer's drama. The weakest link is the guy who plays Li Moa. If he was bit more charasmatic and better actor he could have been proper foil to our couple.

The story has bit more than romance. At its heart is kingdom that is a mess - there is fair bit of class war and power struggle. Power is good but if it is not tempered it becomes unrestricted. Be it Empress Dowager who is ready to hurt her son, Grand Tutor who wants to put his son on throne or Li Moa- they all have 1 thing in common -too much of ambition toward power. This desire twists them. Compare them to Emperor who sits on throne, ML or FL's mom- they desire to make good use of power and are ready to relinquish it when necessary. It makes them stronger.

There is also lesson in how proper guidance can train mind. FL and Li Moa start at same place -naive, good natured ppl but they take different route. FL walks good path because her mom never gave her easy way out, while Li Moa fell into his Master's trap because he was never taught to work for what he wanted. FL's mom taught her to work harder for what she wants which made her independent thinker. She takes responsibility for her action while Li Moa still needs our ML for guidance and yet blames things on him when it does not go his way.

Budget constrain was biggest villain of this drama. It had lot to say about life of poor ppl, saving nation, corrupt official. It just lacked substantial budget to make it into a longer drama.

It is there on you tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3vN5w77mk0

There are few choices set in this drama that are set in form of questions that guides this narrative -
FL Mama to FL- Are you ready to work for what you want and how hard are you ready to go for it? (Regarding Li Moa)
FL Mama to ML- what if your choice turns out to be wrong. What will be your action?(Regarding Li Moa)
Emperor to Li Moa- Do you wish to be manipulated by old men like I was (Regarding Grand Tutor)
Master to ML- What if she decides to make home and want family & children (regarding FL)

The question are asked by old generation who have experience to younger one. It is indication that ppl can and will change in future. There is nothing static. I have not been able to deep dive into this drama, but I find fascinating how the drama adds some depth to what should have been standard twist and turn story. Makes me wonder what if Production had some more money and given more episodes.

I don't think Ami was their first choice. They were desperate for fresh young face and she was last minute choice after ear-ring fiasco. With Ami they got experience and fresh face for FL. Unfortunately she was 17. Neo was already signed for role and had no way to exit. It is tightly budgeted production. Why Ami accepted this role, 22 episode should have given you a clue. It is age appropriate role for her. Late 20's and 30's playing teenager don't bring out similar kind of reaction. Do I wish she was little older. Answer is yes. It is what it is now.

FL is going to young widow and marry thrice. If I was Li Moa I would be very careful. She can be your widow too. Man he went down the drain too fast. He was always a mud, knew the moment he fell into CP trap designed by his dad. Only idiots like him think power received without actual hard work and no BG is easy to sustain. I am just wondering if his sister will atleast have any sense or will she die with her brother.

There is a theme in this drama. FL's mom set it in 2nd episode. Whatever decision you make it should be yours to make and you need to work for it. Even if FL wanted to elope, meet her sweet heart, it was her decision and she worked towards it. ML is the same. He knows what he wants and goes for it. Even if he sacrifices sometime, he still does what he wants to do.

SML on other hand is weak who never knew his mind. He was pulled and pushed by people who are stronger than him. Even FL who loved him wondered if he knew what he wanted. Such kind of ppl reach that point where they break. if he was stronger he might have bargained better with ppl in power for his sister, His poor deluded sister actually turned murderor because she knew guy was weak. If he was ambitious he would have planned everything better. He just thinks power will keep him safe. The only power that can keep him safe is one he achieved by his hand. He hardly has background where ppl will keep it safe for him. The only ppl who cared for him without expectation are already dropping out of his life.

Trailer is so good

Naha SML is dead weight. And with his daddy he will just be puppet. Might as well die.

I loved that shot so much. It is begining of end for Li Mao. He tried to hide his sister behind him and the girl he loved walked away alone but in direction of new life. Line is drawn between two teams - one authentic and another fake. If director and writer is old school, both siblings have bad ending.

You pick on weak person too much and they snap. The whole Eagle King marriage saga, receiving canning, her brother trying hard to survive politics is preying on her mind. She was candidate for breaking down. She is not strong girl and all these secrets pouring out and feeling helpless is doing number on her.
Her death is inevitable. Question is how will her so called brother take it.

Did she kill the person who had previously saved her life. Oh boy... Does she not suffer from rare illness.

The difference is he can't bring to series what is his USP- seductive charm. He is one of the few actors who can seduce audience very easily. Every series I have seen of him, he literally set screens on fire with his co-stars. FOF, Love in the Cloud are just few example. He has that impish energy. In a way muting his charm works for drama but for ppl used to seeing him it is bit jarring.

She is acting like actual 17 year old whose world view has taken few turns. It is refreshing to find human FL.

Key to Phoenix Heart feels more like script writer's series how POJ was director's series. It is seriously refreshing to see idol drama that is not resting heavily on stars but on ppl behind the scene. The way things roll feel more thought out. There is nothing new in the series but it still feels fresh. Things happen at pace that writers want. No one stands out but they all fit together.

For example - I love how both FL and SML start at similar place of Naivety but both are on seperate path. With FL, probably her mom's upbringing and being with ML has opened her eyes to what is going around in world, while SML's world is getting smaller all because his dad wants him on throne. Every step he takes is going to push him away from person he loves and his loss is going to compound. Like Fl says no one including himself knows what he really wants. What will he do if he gets power. Will he keep getting pushed around or become tryant because he has it. There is pain at his end.

Compared to him ML is world weary and underhanded. But he cherishes ppl he loves and that is his best character trait. Not the fact he is CP, wants to get rid of problem in kingdom or that he is great warrior. His best trait is he is a decent human who cares.

I love how every character is etched. Myopic dowager who will harm the kingdom than let go of power, Emperor who is weary of these old ppl running the show, tutor who wants power grab. Each has role to play in this world. They don't exist for ML and FL to vanquish. They have their own schemes going on.

It also plays really well with forbidden fruit syndrome. Because Ami is so young, there can be no real romance between them but it feels more like this is what drama wants from character and not because she is young. You can't hate her character for not having hots for ML because she is still dealing with puppy love. He can't make a move on person who loves another because he is decent. Small thing like that add up more than visual razzle dazzle.

Also Shout to makeup team. I can see pores. They feel real humans.

We are talking historical here. Girls got married young like when they were 16-18 years. The fact that she is young and sheltered is why she caused so much tragedy to ML's army. In her 20's she would be married and in her husband's house (and would not be so sheltered if that makes sense).

Romance is just a small part of this drama. It is what has caught everyone by suprise on how script is dealing with twist and turns rather than focusing on romance.

Ami is child actor. She has been exposed to filming environment since she was 10 year old. I don't think Production House was looking for underage newcomer. They needed younger girl to play 17 years old. With her they got someone who can act and is age appropriate is my guess why they took her.

ML is supposed to be older. he is not meant to be eye candy. He has 2 wives and a son. He has his hands ful with army, injury and politics. Romancing his new wife is not on his priority.

She is already child actress who is no longer child and was doing side roles. If production had taken new girl I would have said the same thing you say. But this role gives former child star a chance to move to next phase and have better control over her career. Do I think it would have been better if she had waited till 18, answer is yes. But it is rare to get to get age appropriate role where onus is on production to maintain no skinship. Once she turns little older she will have to do all the kissing and hugging scenes along with more strenous wire work. This story is more ML forward and has twist and turns keeping romance to minimum. It is win win situation. Neo gets to prove he doesn't need hot scenes (a huge part of why Unclouded soul was smash) to get hit and she gets to test her toes in smaller drama as FL. Large age gap shipping is problem. I just came across so many ppl shipping 19 year old (who could have been underage during filming) with FL of POJ (drama where ML is dreamy) but it is what it is.

She plays Chu Ying Tao in Strange Tale of Tang Dynasty- one of 5 main leads. Ever since that drama exploded, they have all become fan favorite. I guess she learnt comic timing from that series. It has many scenes of deadpan humor.

Destroying imperial edict even rumor of doing so could get people killed if it came to light. It was considered as highest level of treason. From what I learnt about history, every edict written had a corresponding record kept in royal library written by scribe. Not sure if it is true or false as I am not Chinese. Ppl were wary of destroying document that might have a copy somewhere.