Eleison

We know they kiss at some point, cause it's in the intro montage! 😉

He's very beautiful. Some of his acting mannerisms and expressions remind me of Cha Eun Woo.

I like that better!

The first few episodes are a hot mess, and they turned me off, too. 😆 Episode 3 on does get better, but it still isn't the most logical, well-written drama ever, even once it improves. Lots of suspension of disbelief necessary throughout. I'm still watching because some of these tropes are fun, some scenes and interactions are really nice, and the leads are fun/cute to watch together. Taken as a whole, hard not to poke holes right and left. 😬

It's a slowly rolled out revenge plot that's as intricate as they come. Chang Su uses people in the court and with politics to achieve his desired end, but keep the bigger picture in mind, and watch the masterpiece unfold.

I also love that, unlike other revenge stories, Chang Su does not set traps to cause/make characters suffer to "punish" them. He does not plot assassinations or plan BAD things to eliminate bad people (trying to make a right a wrong). He merely exposes bad people for who and what they are, and trips them up at their own game. He weaves their exposure into his plan, and slowly declaws everyone who is a threat to the prince he supports for the throne, while replacing them with goodhearted leaders who care about the right things. Pretty masterful, cool stuff, that. 😉

The ultimate revenge-master. Needs to teach a masterclass in plotting revenge without compromising one's own integrity in the process!

It's much slower and more subtle than JoL, but the writing is superior to JoL. Just got to settle in to the pace, and trust where it's taking you. All threads lead somewhere and will come to a head by the end or contribute to the climax in the last 1/3.

I was fully engrossed--hook, line and sinker--by Episode 30. 😅

I just love, love that so many people can see past the slow pace of this drama to appreciate the brilliant, beautiful, intricate writing! It makes me so happy. ☺️

Um, I think a way I would choose to put it instead is describe him as having a character arc, cause he GROWS as the episodes progress. 😏

I never thought he was a frustrating idiot, but he is not as brilliant as Chang Su in Season 1, sure (but no one is as brilliant as Chang Su). PJ certainly makes more mistakes, but he also does so many cool things. 😉 He's by no means a slouch!

I loved his character, and his bond with his older brother. Just the sweetest!

Agree with @Immortaltalking. I don't think it will ruin season 1 because all the characters are new in this season (but still connected/related to the characters in season 1). It's not illogical (in any poor writing sort of way, only maybe in the way Cdramas, as a type of media, are illogical 🤣). It's REALLY good. Highly recommend!

Yes, I agree with you!! This is a good way of describing the differences. :)

Though I never thought Pinjing was a brat. Just kind of wild and free and not super worried about conventions and rules since he wasn't carrying the responsibility of Changlin's power and influence.

Glad you liked it! Based on your description it seemed like you would. I tried to see if it was on your completed list so I wouldn't give a rec you'd already watched but maybe I missed it on your list. 🫣

Then try He Who Rules The World. :)

Will do! 😏

Thanks for the link to FoF. Maybe I'll have to give xianxia another shot. 😅

Hello!

I feel like FoF is on a platform I don't have access to last I checked? I will have to check again. I will look into it, though! I still haven't been able to get into any xianxia so far. 🫣

I watched Flourished Peony and In The Name Of Blossom and really liked them. I was thinking about some stuff from them for days. 😅 The way the leads' relationshop was depicted was very unique, so it gave me a lot of food for thought.

I need to finish Law and the City (which I liked so far!), and am not yet sold on Legend of the Female General. It's pretty cheesy so far, but I'm curious to see if it will get better since apparently they had to rush a bunch of reshooting in the beginning episodes. But I love the Mulan trope (it was done better by Disney (animated) so far. 😅 I enjoyed seeing Liu Yifei in Dream of Splendor, though! She was lovely.).

Anyway, I'm just dipping my toes here and there into a few things to see what sticks.

How about you?

Thank you!

Yes, I liked In The Name Of Blossom!

I love the screenwriter for Pinocchio, I Hear Your Voice, and While You Were Sleeping, and LJS was the lead for all three of those (the last two are definitely in my top ten of all time). That screenwriter in some ways really made his career what it is! He got so famous with her dramas. ☺️

Haha, they did do a good job making Hong Kong look inviting. It'd honestly be my first choice to visit as far as cities in China go. I've been to Vegas (each time I go the less I like it), so I'll skip Macau; not sure my asthma would like Beijing.

And tiny firm vs. a huge one (and clearly one with many ambitious lawyers). I doubt a firm that big would have many (or maybe any) lawyers who cared about integrity and compassion over making money, though. I don't think you can make it into a firm like that without being both brilliant AND cutthroat.