Now that I've watched 12 episodes of this I can safely say that if they are able to maintain the momentum and quality of this right to the end, this will not just be one of the best C dramas but one of the best dramas I've ever seen. The non-linear storytelling is handled so well.
The problem with C dramas is usually the middle or the third act. If they survive those pitfalls relatively unscathed, the potential for greatness is there.
6 episodes in I adore this show. The leads have good chemistry and interactions. LGX's character is such a delightful beast. He's charming, glib, witty and funny. Not exactly your typical male lead. I'm also enjoying the Citizen Kane approach to the storytelling.
It's not a terrible show but I did use the FF facility quite a bit.The show has these flashes of good ideas and…
But the thing that really annoys me is why she leaves him at the 11th hour. It's because she develops a disability -- not an unfamiliar device to maintain the push and pull to the bitter end. The messaging and the optics of that are just awful.
It's not a terrible show but I did use the FF facility quite a bit. The show has these flashes of good ideas and intentions but in order to stretch what should really be nothing more than a 16-20 episode drama to 39 episodes it goes off into tangents of nuttiness. There's really far too much silliness after a while which does the leads a huge disservice. I hate this type of finale where the female lead takes off to "find herself" half an hour before it ends then a time jump before they reunite. It reminds me of why I don't watch these romantic dramas very often. I have to concur that this show doesn't show up the female lead in very good light.
I don't think the romance is a big deal in this drama, that's why it just doesn't work. The romance is honestly…
Incorporating a romance between the leads just to increase Wen Bai's role in this seems to me highly unnecessary. It's practically redundant. Besides the chemistry between the supposedly romantic parties comes off rather more like something else.
I'm keen to know your thoughts about this trend to translate "wang" here as "duke".
The reason why I asked is that traditionally in all the history books the word "duke" has been used to translate "gong" 公. It's normally a conferred title. My own view is that since they are all sons of emperors (even Xu Ping) "wang" should be translated "prince" in this context. It annoys me somewhat. I can accept "jun zhu" as "princess" because it has been used in different dynasties in that fashion but in the case of Screechy and Zhu'er, my preference is "duchess".
Thank you for responding so quickly. :D Appreciate you taking the time.
4 
But I've watched 17 episodes and it's a really good show. Genuinely intriguing.
The problem with C dramas is usually the middle or the third act. If they survive those pitfalls relatively unscathed, the potential for greatness is there.
I'm also enjoying the Citizen Kane approach to the storytelling.
The show has these flashes of good ideas and intentions but in order to stretch what should really be nothing more than a 16-20 episode drama to 39 episodes it goes off into tangents of nuttiness. There's really far too much silliness after a while which does the leads a huge disservice.
I hate this type of finale where the female lead takes off to "find herself" half an hour before it ends then a time jump before they reunite. It reminds me of why I don't watch these romantic dramas very often.
I have to concur that this show doesn't show up the female lead in very good light.
And that's being kind.
My own view is that since they are all sons of emperors (even Xu Ping) "wang" should be translated "prince" in this context. It annoys me somewhat. I can accept "jun zhu" as "princess" because it has been used in different dynasties in that fashion but in the case of Screechy and Zhu'er, my preference is "duchess".
Thank you for responding so quickly. :D Appreciate you taking the time.