BukuBukuChagma

Ah at first I thought maybe this wasn't to your taste, but after reading this, I'd say you didn't really understand a single character in the drama.

The male lead is suppose to be a noble character who has sacrificed his own childhood to protect his country and has vowed to protect it till his last breath without marrying. He isn't just someone who once in love can take the women and run away. He has thousand of soldiers under his care and probably millions of people living in his part of country. If he tries to do anything he isn't suppose to do, those people will have to suffer because of him. Imagine having such a big responsibility on your shoulders. And its not like he can just give away this responsibility, as the royal family will not let him get away no matter wherever he is, not to mention all the peace truces done by him will become void.

I haven't even mentioned the point that the female lead was engaged from start to end(except in the middle few episode). What did you want the male lead to do, Have romance with someone else's bothered? Thats why this is called a sad love story. because both can't be with each other despite loving each other.

You mentioned that you didn't feel any chemistry between two. This is the point I'll have to highly disagree with. But ofcourse you are entitled to your opinion.

2nd male lead was basically cheating. If male lead started using underhand methods like his what would be the difference between protagonist and antagonist?

Well that's understandable if you don't like modern setting. Everyone has different taste.

It's up to you. Even if you don't watch "One and Only" you will still pretty much get everything in this drama. But I'd strongly suggest you to watch "One and Only", that drama is a 9/10 from me on its own. Also watching that before this one will surely make you admire this one more.

thats exactly what I said

You probably already know but still wanted to let you know that this is just the prequel(more like a backstory) to the main storyline which is "Forever and Ever". In the end they do get Happy Ending. So I wouldn't say its anti happiness. It would had been one single drama if there wasn't ban on reincarnation plot on China's TV.

Actually none of the peeps here answered it right. The Arrangement was that Shi Yi will marry the Crown Prince, it didn't mention any person. Her marrying the Emperor would have granted the Cui family a lot of Power, The Empress and the Ministers took advantage of that and found the loophole in the arrangement and made her become engaged to the new Crown Prince(the person next to the current Emperor, Since he was a crown prince just in name).

I must say, the Crown Prince surely redeemed himself in this part. I can let go of that hate from the prequel

can't say I disagree. His dramas does have some fluffy scenes but overall didn't sit well with me.

Most of peeps don't hate it just coz its was light hearted and didn't have plot twists, its hated because it didn't portray the message it was suppose to portray very well. The drama was suppose to focus more on finding your true self, inner beauty and coming to peace with it, but instead got dragged around love triangles. For me personally, love triangle was a letdown(since I'm not a big fan of love triangles). But all this doesn't mean that drama shouldn't be liked by other. As a matter of fact, it has 80% 8.0+ ratings. Meaning majority of peeps did find it to their taste. Do I find it overrated? Yes, but that just my opinion. Doesn't necessarily means its overrated for everyone.

I haven't really seen anyone comparing it to penthouse, but if they actually were then I'd say they surely need an appointment with a doctor coz there isn't even a comparison between two to begin with. Both are different genre.

In the end it all comes down to difference in taste and preferences. So we should all respect each other opinions.

For me, I started and put it on hold after watching episode 1, then watched it again few days later and watched till episode 4. I started liking it from there. Maybe you try it too till episode 4 since we pretty much get the hang of story at that point.. If it still doesn't peek your interest then its possible its not to your taste. And to answer you question I myself really liked it from episode 12 onwards. (cried at few scenes too xD)

ah, thanks for pointing that out. Corrected it >-<

And it ended with an emotional banger finale once again. It's like writers saved up all the sad moments from the whole show just to throw it in the end episode. :(

Alot of people wonder from episode 1 if they should continue it or not, I did the same. But luckily I gave it a go and it turned out to be a masterpiece. Before even I knew it, the story had pulled me in deep that I couldn't just stop watching. Finished it in two days.

The thing I liked the most about this season is redemption for most of the characters we hated back in season 1. Han Yoon Chul, Kang Ma-ri, Jenny, Seok Kyung, Seok Hoon, and Eun Byol.

I really loved how at the end they showed Seok Kyung doing part time job, teaching kids and trying to live independently (giving us reference to Min Seol A back in season 1)

It just shows how with a little care and good parenting a child can come out as good. Tbh most of them turned rotten because of bad parenting in their childhood.

you should sleep instead of kicking me out....heck if you embrace me(aka corona) I'll put you to such a nice and deep sleep, no one will be able to disturb you....hehe *winky face* ;)

sad face :(

Man, its sad she isn't working on any new dramas atm...Would love to see her in some new dramas

Yeah thats a fair point ngl.
Read the news few days ago about ban on Vicky Zhao. She and her husband have always been fighting battles in court for years but this time she got shut down pretty bad(since the Chinese government is involved). So, I wouldn't be very surprised if what you said turns out to be true.

Agreed with everything you said.
Also I mentioned this in another reply too that most of the drama solely focusing around romance usually are very overrated. Reason: as previously mentioned people rating just because of actors and actress meanwhile the drama is full of cringy storyline

yeah well said.
Most of the top rated romance drama, even tho I loved them, I find em too overrated. People vote just because it gave them butterflies in the stomach lol but hey thats what rating is. So your words "concept of ratings (on the whole) can be bit flawed" is pretty accurate.

i'm a sucker for romance drama but in my opinion no drama solely focused on romance deserve rating any higher then 8