Cesia Aozora

As this story happens in 1928, some old folks are still frozen in time. For example the Qing royal troupe, the old dynasty group, even the Five Meridians.

Long Qin is the remaining Qing prince. There's nothing good about him except bringing comedy to the drama. He's a loser, coward, pathetic, brainless. He asked Yicheng's help to protect his good name and his treasures.

Lan'er's father is a delusional man. He refuses to accept that Qing dynasty is over. He forces Lan'er to marry Long Qin bcs he thinks if she marries that loser, she will be the happiest woman. Her dad doesn't care about what happens to the world, doesn't care about her dream nor thoughts. For him, Lan'er is shaming the ancestors for accepting the modern culture, especially bcs she loves Yicheng. He also despises the modern medications. He worships the ancestors and Long Qin so much. Talking to a wall is much better bcs walls have ears and they will absorb our words. Lan'er's father refuses to listen to everything Lan'er says, as if you're talking to a TV.

The old dynasty group consists the people from previous dynasty. Wang Yuheng is a royal blood who has the ability to duplicate treasures. He made them exactly the same and almost impossible to find their flaws. He faked his identity and gathered people who hate the Five Meridians and challenged them on competition about treasures. But Yicheng skillfully shamed them all.

The Five Meridians still holds some traditional rules, but they're not unreasonable like the Qing royal troupe.

Five Meridians were originally Six Meridians. But the Purple Sect which consists the people from the old dynasty betrayed the other five. The previous leader of the old dynasty trapped Yicheng's dad and his friend with Chuan Guoyu jade seal. Mr. Xu confirmed it's a fake seal, but he couldn't tell which part is fake. His friend was shot dead and Mr. Xu was poisoned on the spot. Since then his health dropped and he died the next year. Now the new leader of the old dynasty, Wang Yuheng, works with the Japanese for a conspiracy to get the antiques.

Have you watched both seasons (16 eps)? I read some people said season 3 will be out in 2023.

Can't believe Chen Yuqi and Chen Xiaoyun act in the same drama! I've been a fan of Yuqi and I like Xiaoyun on NPE. Hopefully their characters are not enemies.
This will be Yuqi's second republican drama since MOA3.

Bcs Su Mo learned Mirror Technique which is a forbidden dark magic.

I don't know if you have finished watching, but it was an assassin who cut his tendons, and NOT Qingli (Mianwan's twin sister). That assassin is a maid in Lord Zhao's palace as well as working for Lord Ye of Yong country (the second prince). She was sent by Lord Zhao to hurt Jing Ci. So she drugged their tea during Mianwan's wedding day. In the end, Mianwan, Qingli and Jing Ci went to speak with Lord Zhao to retreat his troops bcs he declared a war against Yong country.

I just found out that Li Yifeng is also from Chengdu like Yuqi. I can see why they're comfortable with e/o as she even calls him Feng ge 🤭

That's why I said it's just a matter of taste. Some people simply don't like. I like NPE too and their chemistry. If you watch the donghua version of MATOTC you'll see there is no romance between the main couple or how Bai Ying is exactly the same in either versions. The problem in this drama is bad directing and bad editing. That is why some people feel bored, but some others like it. But I can say this: the donghua explains some parts of the history in details, but the romance is much better shown in the drama. If you read my review below or Israt's review above you'll understand what we meant. But in the end, if you really don't like MATOTC stay away from it 😅

I believe it's the novel's characters that is hard to interpret. I also believe that it's harder to show chemistry bcs it's an animation, not real humans. However currently the couple in the donghua really has no romance. The 3 years they spent were shown differently that it makes me wonder if Bai Ying's seal was broken simply bcs he kissed her forehead. Bcs it's clear she thought of him as her only friend. But in the drama they had more mature interactions, how she tried to avoid him. Her seal was broken bcs she fell in love with him and she actually wanted to be with him. And how Su Mo didn't deny his feelings to her is actually a nice change from the novel. Like you said, watching both versions confirmed many things.

Same problem also happened in NPE. Some people complained that there is no chemistry between Yang Mi and William. They also complained about William's stiff acting. It's really just a matter of taste bcs honestly I don't see any problems with NPE and MATOTC regarding chemistry or acting bcs I've seen way worse. If you don't feel like it, don't force yourself. You'll end up hating it even more. 😥

😂 brother, I have the same thoughts with you. I wrote a review of the donghua just right at the comment below. Perhaps you have read it? For me in the donghua they were more of childhood friends to old acquaintances. I do hope they will show more chemistry and love story of the couple in next season, bcs I ridiculously hope for Bai Ying and Zhen Lan as a couple instead 😂

I really want her to act with these actors: Zhang Binbin, Xu Kai, Ding Yuxi.
For a reunion: Qu Chuxiao, Hu Yutian, Zheng Yecheng.
Perhaps: Wei Zheming, Xu Zhengxi, Zhang Linghe.

I prefer an actor around her age or someone with bright energy bcs she laughs a lot. I'm not familiar with c-actors, only by names.

If you want those type of romance or couple, then you'll be disappointed bcs this couple has their duties and responsibilities while trying to protect each other. They don't flirt, don't cling, don't whine. It's more mature and restrained.

Phew finally after turning twitter upside down I finally found the pictures you posted 😆 I love their chemistry. They're not the lovey dovey couple who flirt to each other or clinging inseparable. It's more subtle bcs of their personalities and duty. But this actually makes us want them to be happy more than anything.

They have chemistry and the romance is the sad type bcs at first she tried to push him away, but there are some sweet moments. The drama has more romance than the donghua though.

Haven't found this one on twitter 😥

Okay, after creating a ruckus on twitter I found this pic! I'm collecting our couple's pictures, but the ones you posted I haven't seen them 😭 this one and the next one (Su Mo in water bath).

Where did you find this pic? I can't find it 😭

I finished watching the donghua version.
1. Su Mo is cold and ruthless. It's cool.
2. Bai Ying is the same, except she gets to ride a pegasus 👍🏻
3. Zhen Lan is the same, but stronger and useful.
4. Na Sheng is more reasonable and not clingy.
5. Yan Xi is gentle and friendly.
6. The battle reminds me of Soul Calibur.

What I don't like:
1. There's no romance between Su Mo and Bai Ying. 100 years ago, they were childhood friends (unlike in the drama where they had more mature relationships although she tried to avoid him before she finally accepted him). 100 years later, they're more like old acquaintances which he owes her an apology while she thinks of him as friend. Instead there are sparks and understanding between Bai Ying and Zhen Lan.
2. It's lacking Chinese elements. The Cangliu are like medieval knights, Athena Bai Wei and Ares Lang Gan, a tiger riding Greek goddess, while Ruyi is a mixture of Hinoe (Natsume Yuujinchou) and Yuuko (xxxHolic).
3. I hate Xiao in the drama, but I hate her even more in the donghua. She's just a bitch who wishes to be Yun Huan's concubine/slave. She's drooling over him.

They said the next season is around 2023. I feel lonely watching the donghua 😭 Even Xi Jing and Ting's story is more romantic and tragic. I hope in the next season the romance between Su Mo and Bai Ying will blossom or visible. I'm glad the drama made Su Mo as a romantic man and passionate towards Bai Ying.

All 8 songs of this drama are beautiful. you should listen to them all 😊