Throughout the entire series I felt that understanding of his character despite disagreeing with his ways. I think…
Omg like yes? He was talking to his brother, he was talking about how people view him and how no one ever ask how he is doing. I just love that. I also love that there is some complexity because usually, cdrama reduces these characters to just crazy obsessed that can't be reasoned with. He can be reason with (thus far, I just feel they will switch up!) and him being in support of his younger brother, I like that. I like how he covers up for him, how he is educating him, how he stops him from being rash, how he tells him what the implications he is missing, etc. He have bonds outside of his wife and I'm just glad to see something a little different than "I'm just crazy and I can't accept rejection."
I gotta give it to the actor who plays Prince Xin. Like his acting is actually moving me. He is twisted, a little bit creepy but also intelligent and delusional. It's the combination of being a dotting and loyal husband but also feel like a ghost. If he starts being obsessive and pursue her, I know I'll hate him more but I'm eating up the acting. He kinda leagues above everyone else. Perfect casting.
she remembers everything from her previous bodies life - like the maids etc. even her former husband
You mean she got the memories of the girl she is possessing her life? I know she remembers her life but I'm sure they never confirmed that she took the memories of the girl she is possessing. The only reason I thought she was winning because she is politically informed but that doesn't explain secret coding with the girl's father because this is more personal and require father - daughter dynamic which she would not have unless she got her memories?
Feel like I caught a plot hole. Like she was discussing her father will know her secret code when she never met him? I remember recently I saw a tiktok talk about how new dramas are adopting a style where they expect people to read the novel and just make sense of the plot holes. In this case, I'm going to assume she probably woke up three years ago when she passed away (because I was thinking it was strange there is a three year gap) and that's how her father knows her secret code otherwise this is not making sense. I still enjoy the drama regardless but I hope more dramas do not adopt this style.
The male lead is so manipulative. I like him. You would think he is a simp with the way he always just see her as perfect but he keeps using her to put himself in political advantages. His brothers are interested? He manipulates her into digging their wrong doings and you can't even hate it because he is just and righteous about it. A justified liar he is.
And the whole incense things... I'm starting to think it's a love language. He will start smelling like her invention and that's like a sign of affection that he keeps using her incense. Interesting. I've been bored from cdramas and I'm kinda digging this one.
I'm just remembering how much of a masterpiece this would have been if that second half of the drama wasn't messy. Baek Ah Jin, you will always be loved by me.
I saw a clip of them flying on an plane/helicopter and had to pause. This was one of my anticipated dramas because of the still images of them dancing and him carrying her...but everywhere I go, people are calling it cringe. I remember someone said that this drama will get PoJ attention but I said it won't because it's a republican drama but now, not even for the republican fans this will hit 🥲
I hate rewatching shows too but LITC is an exception. I have been rewatching it every new month 😠like some…
It's usually the opposite in here. People rewatch all the time so I thought I was the odd one because I really need a bit of an amnesia to want to rewatch a show. I can't watch a show that's still so fresh in my mind but this... I'm suddenly just remembering my favourite scenes and thinking, I want to rewatch it againnnnnnnn.
I understand you because I've watched so many times and every favourite scenes i repeat again and again recently…
I was just thinking of my favourite scene where they both trust each other and that music played in the background as they flew. And of course the steamy kiss on the bath. The walk on the bridge like that's my favourite couple right there. The chemistry was chemistrying!
I usually HATE rewatching shows. I already seen it, like why would I want to rewatch it again? Especially if it's not been even at least 2-5 years but I want to watch this again..I miss my parents. I'm actually shocked that I even want to rewatch this when it haven't even been a year. I need a friend to grab so they can watch this with me again.
I was on twitter when this first aired and the hate it was getting over there was excessive. I thought, how bad can it be? I watched it and the show was more enjoyable than I thought. It's very rom-com style. I think the problem lies with the fact it's very one dimensional.
So I guess I'll give a mini review on my thoughts so far:
[Plot]
The show takes a caricature of what a monarchy is, slapped modernization to it and called it a day. It shows in the politics. The reason why royal feuds are entertaining to watch it's because it's bloody. Siblings, uncles, etc will kill each other for power and to ensure there is no civil war. In here, there is no risk of death. If the nephew abidcated the throne nothing happens. You would think the motivation of the characters is power yet the show doesn't put any emphasis in it. The Queen Mother is fighting to keep the throne, her motivation? Not clear. From episode 10, it didn't even seem like she wanted power, she was just forced on that seat. So what exactly is the whole fight for power about? We don't know. It just exist for entertainment.
The same thing with the class system. They introduced that there are commoners and nobles (funny how they brushed aside the slave system). What are doing with it? Almost nothing. Again, another caricature.The female lead still gets an education, still gets to own a business, she is just there to be "I'm lower in rank" in special events. That's the only privilege (or should I call it luxury) that she gets stripped off. Oh poor you, oppressed by being the last to walk in royal events that even most nobles can't attend. The commoners are sooooo oppressed by not marrying some nobles maybe?
It's obvious the writer just wants to create Classism Hierarchy without the classism. It's just there to make you want to root for the female lead because she doesn't have any real issues. I mean that's very rom-coms writers style. They don't want to build a world with real consequences. They just want to use oppression to push romance somehow without there being any oppression. Nothing new here. I'm sure this will go around winning awards regardless of the lack of thought that went through it.
I would say the writer strength here is the romance. As long as the romance is refreshing and leans into cliches well, it will do well. It's the type of drama you can enjoy because you want light hearted drama and nothing serious. The script is very hollow otherwise. It doesn't explore motivation, other characters dynamics, or why are things are happening the way they are. They don't explore her dynamic with her father, her brother, etc. you can still enjoy the surface level characterisation they try to do however.
[Actors]
If anyone knows me, they would know I support BWS from back from Strong Woman Namsoon days. I even have a review speaking about him. However, the criticism is valid. The show doesn't allow for range. Really good actors, even with bad scripts, try to show range regardless. I feel like the criticism were harsh because his role geninuely sucks. But I hope he read the criticism he is getting from this show and improve his craft so people never tear him apart like this. And I hope he pick better scripts because he doesn't suit this roles at all.
IU, at the start, it was lackluster but you can see after 3 episodes she actually trying to bring a refreshing performance to this bland script. She was showing range and it was actually entertaining when the script is this bad.
And of course, Gong Seung Yeon gets all the praises. She is the example of an actress who's character also got no range. Her scenes are only crying and getting angry and she was putting in that work.
I'm rewatching and remembering that it took me a long time to get through this, the first time, precisely because…
I'm surprised to find more people who didn't like the male lead. Guess I was not as alone as I thought I would be. I thought because this is so popular, people would actually disagree more.
Exactly, he doesn't give any motivation, he just strict. Sometimes you want to understand why the female lead will like him so I was hoping the future episodes will be different but someone else said it doesn't get better so I'm keeping my expectations low.
I definitely already like Shawn Dao tbh. He just have more life to him so I want to see more of him and I believe we will.
Lol let me see this ending that had everyone sad. I'm going to try to catch up.
yeah tbh I don't find the ML interesting and I've already watched 40+ episodes. The main story falls around the…
I was hoping I will change my mind since I have 52 episodes to go too but I kinda already didn't like how he refuses to give the FL the praise she deserves knowing she is exceptional at every way. He would call her weak in his private moment (not even publicly) even when his bodyguard would point out how it took her mere days on training that took him a year. His personality is just too rigid.
I'm surprised to hear you say that they only end up together at the very end... I guess this is one of those frustrating storylines where there isn't any scenes to help support the romance and they expect you to accept the ending. This is kinda cursed.
With old production like this one, I like to see how much everything changed. 9 years later, there is such a big improvement in production, sound quality, CGI, make up, even the acting (not that much but I see more depth in terms of storytelling to help the acting) so it never bothers me that things are outdated. A good story will always exist even if it's old. But it's so interesting to reach a level where it's so noticeable.
Nah, I'm not dropping. A lot of older dramas had older actors and I want to see them. I also want to see Rebirth (even though it's getting torn apart by everyone lmao haven't heard anything good but I'll let myself be the judge) so I would like to catch up with this one and see what makes this show so beloved by older fans.
I don't like the male lead. I'm trying because I know Li Yun Rui will play him but he is just not doing it for me. The sound engineering really shows how outdated it used to be. It so interesting seeing the older dramas now because it's so obvious they are lipsync. I can genuinely see the improvement now in the sound and even the storytelling. It feels way different. I enjoy how much effort they used to put in the Wuxia scenes in almost every episode. However, the acting is kinda average. I've seen people say the acting is much better but I think nostalgia is blinding you guys.
Yes!!! Im beginning to believe star stone actually hold grudge on him because of the past.
It does feel like it but he was all like, "I never hated you." Okay then you know how much this meant for him? He wanted to kill himself knowing he was torturing his clan.
The male lead lawyer friend is hilarious! "I have two documents to sign." Just to mute the conversation for some advice because he doesn't know how to deal with the conversation. He was hilarious and the acting was really good because you can tell he immediate switched from naturally talking to it feeling like he was reading off a script.
What a cruel lie? I'm not sure exactly how did he think it's a good idea to lie to him by saying there is a way to undo the petrification spell??? It's one thing to tell lie if he was looking for a way to undo it himself but to know there isn't a way and still lie??? The cruelest punishment. Not sure how did he think this was mercy. Crazy! I actually can't wrap my head around that he thought this was a good thing. Tell me I'm not the only one who thought this was insane? It was better to tell him the truth and have Chi Wen destroy them from the start!
1 
I gotta give it to the actor who plays Prince Xin. Like his acting is actually moving me. He is twisted, a little bit creepy but also intelligent and delusional. It's the combination of being a dotting and loyal husband but also feel like a ghost. If he starts being obsessive and pursue her, I know I'll hate him more but I'm eating up the acting. He kinda leagues above everyone else. Perfect casting.
Feel like I caught a plot hole. Like she was discussing her father will know her secret code when she never met him? I remember recently I saw a tiktok talk about how new dramas are adopting a style where they expect people to read the novel and just make sense of the plot holes. In this case, I'm going to assume she probably woke up three years ago when she passed away (because I was thinking it was strange there is a three year gap) and that's how her father knows her secret code otherwise this is not making sense. I still enjoy the drama regardless but I hope more dramas do not adopt this style.
The male lead is so manipulative. I like him. You would think he is a simp with the way he always just see her as perfect but he keeps using her to put himself in political advantages. His brothers are interested? He manipulates her into digging their wrong doings and you can't even hate it because he is just and righteous about it. A justified liar he is.
And the whole incense things... I'm starting to think it's a love language. He will start smelling like her invention and that's like a sign of affection that he keeps using her incense. Interesting. I've been bored from cdramas and I'm kinda digging this one.
So I guess I'll give a mini review on my thoughts so far:
[Plot]
The show takes a caricature of what a monarchy is, slapped modernization to it and called it a day. It shows in the politics. The reason why royal feuds are entertaining to watch it's because it's bloody. Siblings, uncles, etc will kill each other for power and to ensure there is no civil war. In here, there is no risk of death. If the nephew abidcated the throne nothing happens. You would think the motivation of the characters is power yet the show doesn't put any emphasis in it. The Queen Mother is fighting to keep the throne, her motivation? Not clear. From episode 10, it didn't even seem like she wanted power, she was just forced on that seat. So what exactly is the whole fight for power about? We don't know. It just exist for entertainment.
The same thing with the class system. They introduced that there are commoners and nobles (funny how they brushed aside the slave system). What are doing with it? Almost nothing. Again, another caricature.The female lead still gets an education, still gets to own a business, she is just there to be "I'm lower in rank" in special events. That's the only privilege (or should I call it luxury) that she gets stripped off. Oh poor you, oppressed by being the last to walk in royal events that even most nobles can't attend. The commoners are sooooo oppressed by not marrying some nobles maybe?
It's obvious the writer just wants to create Classism Hierarchy without the classism. It's just there to make you want to root for the female lead because she doesn't have any real issues. I mean that's very rom-coms writers style. They don't want to build a world with real consequences. They just want to use oppression to push romance somehow without there being any oppression. Nothing new here. I'm sure this will go around winning awards regardless of the lack of thought that went through it.
I would say the writer strength here is the romance. As long as the romance is refreshing and leans into cliches well, it will do well. It's the type of drama you can enjoy because you want light hearted drama and nothing serious. The script is very hollow otherwise. It doesn't explore motivation, other characters dynamics, or why are things are happening the way they are. They don't explore her dynamic with her father, her brother, etc. you can still enjoy the surface level characterisation they try to do however.
[Actors]
If anyone knows me, they would know I support BWS from back from Strong Woman Namsoon days. I even have a review speaking about him. However, the criticism is valid. The show doesn't allow for range. Really good actors, even with bad scripts, try to show range regardless. I feel like the criticism were harsh because his role geninuely sucks. But I hope he read the criticism he is getting from this show and improve his craft so people never tear him apart like this. And I hope he pick better scripts because he doesn't suit this roles at all.
IU, at the start, it was lackluster but you can see after 3 episodes she actually trying to bring a refreshing performance to this bland script. She was showing range and it was actually entertaining when the script is this bad.
And of course, Gong Seung Yeon gets all the praises. She is the example of an actress who's character also got no range. Her scenes are only crying and getting angry and she was putting in that work.
Exactly, he doesn't give any motivation, he just strict. Sometimes you want to understand why the female lead will like him so I was hoping the future episodes will be different but someone else said it doesn't get better so I'm keeping my expectations low.
I definitely already like Shawn Dao tbh. He just have more life to him so I want to see more of him and I believe we will.
Lol let me see this ending that had everyone sad. I'm going to try to catch up.
I'm surprised to hear you say that they only end up together at the very end... I guess this is one of those frustrating storylines where there isn't any scenes to help support the romance and they expect you to accept the ending. This is kinda cursed.
With old production like this one, I like to see how much everything changed. 9 years later, there is such a big improvement in production, sound quality, CGI, make up, even the acting (not that much but I see more depth in terms of storytelling to help the acting) so it never bothers me that things are outdated. A good story will always exist even if it's old. But it's so interesting to reach a level where it's so noticeable.
Nah, I'm not dropping. A lot of older dramas had older actors and I want to see them. I also want to see Rebirth (even though it's getting torn apart by everyone lmao haven't heard anything good but I'll let myself be the judge) so I would like to catch up with this one and see what makes this show so beloved by older fans.
I don't like the male lead. I'm trying because I know Li Yun Rui will play him but he is just not doing it for me. The sound engineering really shows how outdated it used to be. It so interesting seeing the older dramas now because it's so obvious they are lipsync. I can genuinely see the improvement now in the sound and even the storytelling. It feels way different. I enjoy how much effort they used to put in the Wuxia scenes in almost every episode. However, the acting is kinda average. I've seen people say the acting is much better but I think nostalgia is blinding you guys.
The male lead lawyer friend is hilarious! "I have two documents to sign." Just to mute the conversation for some advice because he doesn't know how to deal with the conversation. He was hilarious and the acting was really good because you can tell he immediate switched from naturally talking to it feeling like he was reading off a script.
What a cruel lie? I'm not sure exactly how did he think it's a good idea to lie to him by saying there is a way to undo the petrification spell??? It's one thing to tell lie if he was looking for a way to undo it himself but to know there isn't a way and still lie??? The cruelest punishment. Not sure how did he think this was mercy. Crazy! I actually can't wrap my head around that he thought this was a good thing. Tell me I'm not the only one who thought this was insane? It was better to tell him the truth and have Chi Wen destroy them from the start!