I agree with this. The 2ML, while beautiful and noble, couldn't compare to the ML as a character. He just wasn't…
Of course, I get that women were marginalized and not seen as equals back then, etc. and I get what he does and why he does it and why the story can portray him as noble despite lying to her over and over, but it's still my issue with him as a character and the only thing that annoyed me. The drama was already super anachronisitc in other ways, so I think they could have pulled off the anachronism of a respected and equal partnership just fine, and it would have demonstrated a healthier relationship dynamic. Just my opinion!
I sort of see what you mean about Mulan, but she was disguised once (not multiple times), and I have less of an issue with this deceit because she was protecting her disabled father who was old and would 100% have died in battle. He was helpless and weak, and he shouldn't have been called to war. Our FL was not helpless and weak, and was choosing to aid and help the ML the whole time. I would have liked to see him honor her agency and choice in the relationship, even if he didn't like the consequences. I do understand that that would be anachronistic and "modern," but I think truly healthy relationships, if and when they've existed (even in the past), have always operated that way.
For instance, in Rebel: Thief Who Stole The People, the ML has to choose between saving his people or his wife, and his wife begs him to allow herself to be sacrificed for the people's freedom and safety; he decides to risk her well-being to save the people and honors her request. I like that kind of "teaming up" and "partnership" better. The FL in this was always so capable and adept at handling things--I wish the ML had trusted her to be a partner in this rather than taking away her agency and choice to support her even if it meant risking her safety. That's all. I really did like him overall, this part of his character just grated on me.
I agree with this. The 2ML, while beautiful and noble, couldn't compare to the ML as a character. He just wasn't…
True, but your partner/spouse is not your child. I don't think they should be treated the same because parents and children are not equals (as children are being raised), but spouses are (and certainly the MC in this drama is). I understand why he keeps doing it, but I think it was ultimately disrespecting her wishes. We overlook it because it's romantic and noble but at the end of the day he's still lying to her. It means he's willing to lie to her if he has a good enough reason, and I just struggle with that slippery slope. Instead of changing his behavior, he just apologizes for the same thing over and over with, "I just wanted to protect you." Accept that she will face the same fate as you if you want to be together, or leave her alone and don't "partner" with her in life. I suppose you could say he pays for it (with Shangue'r's death, for instance), to some extent, but I don't think that was what the drama wanted you to take away from his "protective lying."
The 2ML is a great man, but fundamentally he doesn’t understand the FL. He doesn’t see her real self, only…
I agree with this. The 2ML, while beautiful and noble, couldn't compare to the ML as a character. He just wasn't in Wanqing's or Xuanlin's league.
My only issue with the ML is he kept hiding stuff from the FL to "protect her." I know they do it in dramas to make the ML look noble and self-sacrificing, but in a real relationship this is still deceit. After the first time, when she communicates she does not appreciate the deceit and doesn't ever want it to happen again, he should have honored her wishes as his equal. Instead, he opts to "protect" her every time she's potentially in danger, contrary to her wishes. How Wanqing put up with this THREE times I still wonder at. 🤔
Happy ending. Everyone joins the liberty army / communist. And their old warlord fathers are left for "expiring".
So the "Revolutionary Army" became the Communist Party? I was wondering, since they portrayed them so well. Figures they'd make them the "good guys" by the end. Pro Chinese Government propoganda by the end, for sure.
It's not on the same level as the higher rated Cdramas I've seen, and while it's impressive they have so many sets that attempt to replicate the time period, they were still very clearly sets (especially Shanghai), and the clothing/hair/styling was super anachronistic, too, which made it feel a bit like everyone was playing dress up (Xuanlin's sister seemed to be the closest in accuracy, to me). Sometimes it really just felt more like a massive stage play than an immersive cinematic experience.
That said, I loved how brilliant Tan Xuanlin was, always three steps ahead of his enemy. I also enjoyed how he and Wanqing worked as a team throughout, though she felt a bit flat as a character after seeing FLs like Zhao Lusi's Shaoshang in LLTG. And it took some time for Xuanlin to grow on me, but grow on me he did, and he ended up being the most interesting character to watch by far (though Tan Si was one of my favorites, too!).
The dynamics and friendships between all the young people had the potential to be great, but for most of the drama they felt like extra clutter to the plot rather than central to the movement of the story and character arcs. Xu Guangyao was beautiful and smoldery, but a bit bland for me as a character, especially when juxtaposed against Xuanlin's cunning and intelligence.
I think it was a bold attempt, and still a fascinating time in history, though the ending felt very... nationalistic (maybe even propoganda-y)? I don't know, Xuanlin made all these choices to "save" lives and I was still asking myself at the end if he truly succeeded, yet his actions were framed FOR us as noble and admirable...
She broke up with her ex because she saw him making out with another girl. But in the last episode she said that…
SK's ex was also so adamant he hadn't cheated on her and didn't seem guilty at all when SK's mom asked him point blank. Of course, he still could have been lying, but I thought that was a bit odd that he seemed so relaxed about that question.
They should put Life in the genre, so people would not complain so much that it’s slow and boring. For me this…
I agree! Definitely has slice of life vibes. Whenever they focus more on the family and screentime is shared between the leads and their parents' stories or the people/friends near them it is more slice of life than mere rom-com or melodrama.
I'm confused with all the complaints about it being "predictable" lol. Y'all know there's nothing wrong with being…
YES. It always confuses me when people complain about Kdramas being predictable and having all the same tropes and cliches. Kdramas are just written that way, just like when you watch a horror movie you sign up to get scared. If you don't want/like predictable then don't watch Kdramas. 😅 Don't expect something from the genre it doesn't give.
That said, if you do want new, spicy, fresh and completely different and unexpected, stick with Western-made "Kdramas" (i.e. Netflix, Disney +, Prime, etc.) and you'll likely get much less "predictable" stuff.
he did such a good job at pissing me off in wedding impossible that I got annoyed when I first saw him in this…
Try Under The Queen's Umbrella if you haven't seen it; he's lovable and someone you wholeheartedly root for in that drama. It'll reset your perspective of him. 😂
1. I think @biased pointed out that South Korea's prosecutors ARE like detectives. They can investigate and do…
I'm sorry if I came across like I was upset or defensive, because I didn't feel that way at all. Sorry! I just wanted to point out some other perspectives because I don't see it the way you do. And of course, I respect your opinion. Just offering another take! ☺️
I sort of see what you mean about Mulan, but she was disguised once (not multiple times), and I have less of an issue with this deceit because she was protecting her disabled father who was old and would 100% have died in battle. He was helpless and weak, and he shouldn't have been called to war. Our FL was not helpless and weak, and was choosing to aid and help the ML the whole time. I would have liked to see him honor her agency and choice in the relationship, even if he didn't like the consequences. I do understand that that would be anachronistic and "modern," but I think truly healthy relationships, if and when they've existed (even in the past), have always operated that way.
For instance, in Rebel: Thief Who Stole The People, the ML has to choose between saving his people or his wife, and his wife begs him to allow herself to be sacrificed for the people's freedom and safety; he decides to risk her well-being to save the people and honors her request. I like that kind of "teaming up" and "partnership" better. The FL in this was always so capable and adept at handling things--I wish the ML had trusted her to be a partner in this rather than taking away her agency and choice to support her even if it meant risking her safety. That's all. I really did like him overall, this part of his character just grated on me.
My only issue with the ML is he kept hiding stuff from the FL to "protect her." I know they do it in dramas to make the ML look noble and self-sacrificing, but in a real relationship this is still deceit. After the first time, when she communicates she does not appreciate the deceit and doesn't ever want it to happen again, he should have honored her wishes as his equal. Instead, he opts to "protect" her every time she's potentially in danger, contrary to her wishes. How Wanqing put up with this THREE times I still wonder at. 🤔
That said, I loved how brilliant Tan Xuanlin was, always three steps ahead of his enemy. I also enjoyed how he and Wanqing worked as a team throughout, though she felt a bit flat as a character after seeing FLs like Zhao Lusi's Shaoshang in LLTG. And it took some time for Xuanlin to grow on me, but grow on me he did, and he ended up being the most interesting character to watch by far (though Tan Si was one of my favorites, too!).
The dynamics and friendships between all the young people had the potential to be great, but for most of the drama they felt like extra clutter to the plot rather than central to the movement of the story and character arcs. Xu Guangyao was beautiful and smoldery, but a bit bland for me as a character, especially when juxtaposed against Xuanlin's cunning and intelligence.
I think it was a bold attempt, and still a fascinating time in history, though the ending felt very... nationalistic (maybe even propoganda-y)? I don't know, Xuanlin made all these choices to "save" lives and I was still asking myself at the end if he truly succeeded, yet his actions were framed FOR us as noble and admirable...
That said, if you do want new, spicy, fresh and completely different and unexpected, stick with Western-made "Kdramas" (i.e. Netflix, Disney +, Prime, etc.) and you'll likely get much less "predictable" stuff.