Chen YanYun is the top character of this drama for me, and imo, the one with the best story and characterization.
It was only at the end, when his mother explained his childhood, that we get a picture of what made him the way he is. From the very first episode we get to see a distant, clever, and most of all a capable man. A politican, who, despite his sometimes ruthless tactis, only fights for the greater good.
As a child, he was a "mature" and a "sensible" boy, his mother recalls. And when his brothers fought with each other, his mother did not make the effort to find out who started the fight, but chose to scold CYY first - a pretty harsh way to treat your own son, imo. He got blamed for things he had no fault in by his own mother, when he was just a little kid. I guess, this unfair treatment is one of the main reasons, why he's so eager to be a upright and honorable man.
He grew up to be the "most accomplished" among his brothers, his mother further notes, but "grew distant" from her at the same time (That's one of the things I liked, because many characters would develope mummy issues or would become obsessed with making their mother proud), and I guess CYY was always smart enough to know, that his mother was not a bad person, just a mother with flaws, and that there's nothing he can do about it. But it's probably that part of her character - her harshness, misjudgement of others and prejudices, that stops him from trusting and forming a bond with her. Sadly, this didn't stop his mother to burdening him with family matters at an already young age, like managing his oldest brothers wedding, or dealing with the horrors his younger brother Yanwen committed. He accomplished so many things, and yet his own mother never had one word of praise for him.
Sadly, we have not much info about his father, but given that CYY handled family affairs already at a young age, I guess it's safe to say that his father died when he was still young.
Overall, despite grewing up into a household with many siblings, he's quite a lonely person. Born into a family, which is never quite pleased with him and only expecting things. There are moments where he has to make some little sacrifices, for the sake of the country, like not hosting a celebration party for CXQ and Yanwen exam test, and instead of understanding, he is met with judgment and annoyance, ending with his mother asking him to leave. And also the moment where he asked his sister to give GJZ an engagement gift from him, his sister refuses out of jealousy and envy, and only gives in when he bribes her with jewelry. How sad that actually was. He has no one in this family, who truly appreciates him and has his back, no matter what.
It also creates a fascinating contrast to Ye Xian, who may be a disappointment to his father and can never make him happy, but it's only because of his health conditions that stops him from being the son his father always wanted. CYY on the other hand, excels at everything and is a very good man and official, but despite all of that, his mother is still unsatisfied with him. He is literally in a no-win situation.
The only people who truly ever had praise for him, are his mentors and co-workers. He is good at his job as an official, because how could he not, he had take of his household at a young age, had to manage & "clean up" things that must have prepared him for whats to put up with as an politican.
At court he gets attacked for his plans to help his country's people, and at home get gets criticized for making the hard decisions that secures the family's reputation and security. No matter where he is, at home or at the office - he is isolated from anyone else. No one understands him or appreciates him, or making an effort to make his life easier.
There is Chen Yi and JiangYan, people who assist him and who he trusts in return, but at the end those relationships are more like "boss-employee". CYY appreciates and likes them, but both of those relationships lack equality.
Then we have the betrayals he faces:
1. His fourth brother Yanwen, who not only killed their younger brother when they were kids, but also abducted his wife, to get revenge on him
2. CQX, who not only was bothering GJZ, but also betrayed his adopted uncle when he accused him of treason in front of the emperor.
3. Fu Hulian, who was CYY's mentor, but also constantly manipulated him and used CYY as his pawn in his schemes against the country
Despite all of that, CYY's determation to stay an upright and moral official, who serves the realm, never wavers. He's willing to even give up his life for it, for it's safety, and not let his people down.
We started the drama with a fire, lit by the FL, that symbolizes her rebellion against her family and the chains of an unwanted/arranged marriage + her need for independence. And we end the drama with a fire that symbolizes CYY's rebellion against all the people who's selfishness and greed could bring the realm into chaos. It's his morality and determination to stay an upright and honorable memberof the court, that will shape his path as an official, that will serve the greater good.
I'm usally more interested in "morally grey" or flawed characters, so that's why I was surprised that the character who got me hooked and interested in the drama is actually CYY. I already saw people calling his character bland or too perfect, but that's just such a misinterpretation of his story and character. It's easy to root for an angry and pityful character, but to see an ML, who has to endure so much and has to face so many betrayals (from his own family) + to deal with so much pressure and responsibility... this takes an insane amount of mental and emotional strength, that I can't just help myself but have to admire him for.
i like that CYY was allowed to mourn CQX, because no matter how badly they disliked each other at the end, CYY helped raising him and saw CQX as family.
CQX's real problem wasn't that he couldn't be with GJZ, but that he has an inferior complex towards CYY. And because of that he became over ambitious - safe to say that if GJZ and CQX actually got together... girl would have regretted it very fast.
Ci Sha's acting was superb when his newphew accused him in the courtroom. You can see how deeply that betrayal hurts him.
i really liked the ending. We didn't need to see them happily married, because we already got those scenes after their wedding. They are alive, they are together, and will have a whole future ahead of them.
regarding the missing child as HE - I think it's good that the ending didn't show them having a kid, but chose to focus on CYY's vow to stay an upright person who does the right thing, no matter what, with his wife by his side and supporting him.
the drama is not without flaws, like the OST or pacing - they skipped too much, but I wonder if this has more to do with budget and the 40 episode limit..?
Ye Xian's death was moving, but it was fitting for his character arc. He was never the son his father wished to have, due to his heart illness, and that made him grow resentment towards the world, but despite all of this, he managed to not only make his father and family proud, but he also healed that broken part of himself through his decision to go to battle. It was a peaceful death, in the end.
CYY is my favorite character in the show, and the moment where his mother told GJZ about her regrets as a mother, sealed this for me.CYY (very much like GJZ) grew up lacking his mother's love, and I guess that this is the reason why he was like this at the beginning of the show: cold, distant, but morally on the right side. His mother is not a bad person, she's just flawed, like everyone else in the drama. I admire his devotion to be a good politician, even if he has to use some morally grey methods, because at the end, he never crosses a line and always makes sure to keep innocent people from harm.
overall, i like this drama very much. it could have been 45 episodes, but I'm alright with what we got.
I fear the writers forgot the fact that it was CYY who saved her from the water, and not CXQ... it seemed important in the beginning, but I suspect it will not be brought up again
Glad I'm not the only one who was not quite happy with the way the writers chose to resolve their conflict.
she should have told him about CXQ, right when he the nephew started bothering her. she claimed that she didn't told him becauseof his temper, but the truth is most likely that she feared his reaction towards her. she withhold that info about her past, because she's happy with him and her marriage, and didn't want any trouble to come between them.
People are here already calling ML a bad husband because he will get jealous when he learns about GJZ former crush with CXQ, but I get him. He told his brother in yesterday's episodes that him and his wife locked hearts when they first met, and then to learn that this was not quite the truth is probably a heartbreaking realization for him.
Rewatching the scene where GJZ first meets CYY (ep01) and I love how bluntly she stares at him, so long that even her cousin saw it and lead her away - it's evident that girl was in awe with CYY from the very beginning.
GJZ crying when talking with her grandmother before she marries was beautiful, imo.
her grandmother represents her childhood and safety space, and when she weds, she knows that she (to be part of a true marriage) has to leave her childhood (grandma) behind, because only an adult can can be a true wife/husband to their spouse.
and when she imagined her mother, it was in a way not only acknowledging her as her mother but also part of her life and childhood, something she struggled before.
i like that the writers understand what they are doing, for example:when CYY arrives at the Gu mansion, after he got informed about YX and him entering the Gu mansion without permission - CYY just kicks him to the ground. and that's it. no dialogue between them or any other kind of interaction. YX, despite his internal struggle, deserved that kick from CYY and he knows it, that's why we got that internal "goodbye" from him to GJZ at the end. Him not attacking CYY after the kick, and him lying defeated on the ground, shows us that the character understands that he has to let go of GJZ and move on.
a little advice: if you don't like the main couple, you should stop watching this show. GJZ only loves CYY, wants to marry and stay with him. She doesn't have any kind of romantic attraction towards SML, and that won't change til the end of the drama. It won't also help to twist certain scenes or moments and their meanings to fit your narrative.
It was only at the end, when his mother explained his childhood, that we get a picture of what made him the way he is.
From the very first episode we get to see a distant, clever, and most of all a capable man. A politican, who, despite his sometimes ruthless tactis, only fights for the greater good.
As a child, he was a "mature" and a "sensible" boy, his mother recalls. And when his brothers fought with each other, his mother did not make the effort to find out who started the fight, but chose to scold CYY first - a pretty harsh way to treat your own son, imo. He got blamed for things he had no fault in by his own mother, when he was just a little kid. I guess, this unfair treatment is one of the main reasons, why he's so eager to be a upright and honorable man.
He grew up to be the "most accomplished" among his brothers, his mother further notes, but "grew distant" from her at the same time (That's one of the things I liked, because many characters would develope mummy issues or would become obsessed with making their mother proud), and I guess CYY was always smart enough to know, that his mother was not a bad person, just a mother with flaws, and that there's nothing he can do about it. But it's probably that part of her character - her harshness, misjudgement of others and prejudices, that stops him from trusting and forming a bond with her. Sadly, this didn't stop his mother to burdening him with family matters at an already young age, like managing his oldest brothers wedding, or dealing with the horrors his younger brother Yanwen committed. He accomplished so many things, and yet his own mother never had one word of praise for him.
Sadly, we have not much info about his father, but given that CYY handled family affairs already at a young age, I guess it's safe to say that his father died when he was still young.
Overall, despite grewing up into a household with many siblings, he's quite a lonely person. Born into a family, which is never quite pleased with him and only expecting things. There are moments where he has to make some little sacrifices, for the sake of the country, like not hosting a celebration party for CXQ and Yanwen exam test, and instead of understanding, he is met with judgment and annoyance, ending with his mother asking him to leave. And also the moment where he asked his sister to give GJZ an engagement gift from him, his sister refuses out of jealousy and envy, and only gives in when he bribes her with jewelry. How sad that actually was. He has no one in this family, who truly appreciates him and has his back, no matter what.
It also creates a fascinating contrast to Ye Xian, who may be a disappointment to his father and can never make him happy, but it's only because of his health conditions that stops him from being the son his father always wanted. CYY on the other hand, excels at everything and is a very good man and official, but despite all of that, his mother is still unsatisfied with him. He is literally in a no-win situation.
The only people who truly ever had praise for him, are his mentors and co-workers. He is good at his job as an official, because how could he not, he had take of his household at a young age, had to manage & "clean up" things that must have prepared him for whats to put up with as an politican.
At court he gets attacked for his plans to help his country's people, and at home get gets criticized for making the hard decisions that secures the family's reputation and security. No matter where he is, at home or at the office - he is isolated from anyone else. No one understands him or appreciates him, or making an effort to make his life easier.
There is Chen Yi and JiangYan, people who assist him and who he trusts in return, but at the end those relationships are more like "boss-employee". CYY appreciates and likes them, but both of those relationships lack equality.
Then we have the betrayals he faces:
1. His fourth brother Yanwen, who not only killed their younger brother when they were kids, but also abducted his wife, to get revenge on him
2. CQX, who not only was bothering GJZ, but also betrayed his adopted uncle when he accused him of treason in front of the emperor.
3. Fu Hulian, who was CYY's mentor, but also constantly manipulated him and used CYY as his pawn in his schemes against the country
Despite all of that, CYY's determation to stay an upright and moral official, who serves the realm, never wavers. He's willing to even give up his life for it, for it's safety, and not let his people down.
We started the drama with a fire, lit by the FL, that symbolizes her rebellion against her family and the chains of an unwanted/arranged marriage + her need for independence. And we end the drama with a fire that symbolizes CYY's rebellion against all the people who's selfishness and greed could bring the realm into chaos. It's his morality and determination to stay an upright and honorable memberof the court, that will shape his path as an official, that will serve the greater good.
I'm usally more interested in "morally grey" or flawed characters, so that's why I was surprised that the character who got me hooked and interested in the drama is actually CYY. I already saw people calling his character bland or too perfect, but that's just such a misinterpretation of his story and character. It's easy to root for an angry and pityful character, but to see an ML, who has to endure so much and has to face so many betrayals (from his own family) + to deal with so much pressure and responsibility... this takes an insane amount of mental and emotional strength, that I can't just help myself but have to admire him for.
CQX's real problem wasn't that he couldn't be with GJZ, but that he has an inferior complex towards CYY. And because of that he became over ambitious - safe to say that if GJZ and CQX actually got together... girl would have regretted it very fast.
Ci Sha's acting was superb when his newphew accused him in the courtroom. You can see how deeply that betrayal hurts him.
regarding the missing child as HE - I think it's good that the ending didn't show them having a kid, but chose to focus on CYY's vow to stay an upright person who does the right thing, no matter what, with his wife by his side and supporting him.
the drama is not without flaws, like the OST or pacing - they skipped too much, but I wonder if this has more to do with budget and the 40 episode limit..?
Ye Xian's death was moving, but it was fitting for his character arc. He was never the son his father wished to have, due to his heart illness, and that made him grow resentment towards the world, but despite all of this, he managed to not only make his father and family proud, but he also healed that broken part of himself through his decision to go to battle. It was a peaceful death, in the end.
CYY is my favorite character in the show, and the moment where his mother told GJZ about her regrets as a mother, sealed this for me.CYY (very much like GJZ) grew up lacking his mother's love, and I guess that this is the reason why he was like this at the beginning of the show: cold, distant, but morally on the right side. His mother is not a bad person, she's just flawed, like everyone else in the drama. I admire his devotion to be a good politician, even if he has to use some morally grey methods, because at the end, he never crosses a line and always makes sure to keep innocent people from harm.
overall, i like this drama very much. it could have been 45 episodes, but I'm alright with what we got.
she should have told him about CXQ, right when he the nephew started bothering her. she claimed that she didn't told him becauseof his temper, but the truth is most likely that she feared his reaction towards her. she withhold that info about her past, because she's happy with him and her marriage, and didn't want any trouble to come between them.
she's the most emotional complex character of the show and deserves her flowers.
her grandmother represents her childhood and safety space, and when she weds, she knows that she (to be part of a true marriage) has to leave her childhood (grandma) behind, because only an adult can can be a true wife/husband to their spouse.
and when she imagined her mother, it was in a way not only acknowledging her as her mother but also part of her life and childhood, something she struggled before.