Frost_edelweiss

TWOT was tough... Not for every random c-drama watchers, should come with a watchers advisory notice for violence (like Drifting Away).

If you are curious about background stuff, I did illustrated companion pieces for both TWOT and Northward, and also two profiles for Vanda Margraf and Bai Lu who play in Northward. There are sections in the companion pieces for the music with details about singers, composers, etc, and links to listen, including the music that came in as non OST, and the bgm.
The pieces are organized with links to a Table of contents, so readers can skip to the section they are interested in, and go back and forth along the development of the story in the illustrated "characters and cast" with micro bios of actors when available. There is a section about when and where these dramas were filmed, what was notable in shooting. There is also a section showing how they were received chronologically, with the Douban rating, and the standing among 10 most watched along the weeks + testimonies, and farewell messages from some cast members.

If you want a good drama, watch Northward. But don't expect sizzling hot kisses throughout : it is a realistic slice-of-life period piece of the years 2000-2017; lauded by Nobel prize winner Mo Yan, no less!!
Or, if you want to laugh... watch Filter: very good drama with Looney Tunes vibes, and yet some serious contents on top of sweetness. It was my laughs pill while I was watching more heavy stuff (The White Olive Tree). Ah, you watched it already :) It can be re-watched...

You can have a look at my (very long) companion piece for Northward in the Discussion section of Northward page; there is also a short illustrated independent profile of the actress who plays Siyi (Vanda Margraf), and a longer one for Bai Lu (which I may come back to tinker with). Northward is a very good drama. It is no wonder Nobel prize winner Mo Yan mentioned he had enjoyed watching it !

I paused for almost two days before watching last three episodes. With another stupid but more fluffy and quick one on the side (My Boyfriend, not really recommendable though). That helped finding the last episodes more watchable.
ERL, after due consideration will get a 7.5 from me, leniently.

Then you'd better forget c-dramas in general. Scriptwriters there are overwhelmingly female, even if original novel was written by a man.
But not all are awful. After all, Nobel prize winner of literature Mo Yan did praise Northward...

hmm. I clicked on The Demon Hunter's Romance, but that's not Youku: it's iQIYI/WeTV. I have subscribed to the three major platforms, viciously addicted to c-dramas... Just clicking randomly, sampling, staying for a story (Northward, after Filter) or an actor/actress (here, yes, bc of CFY and good memories from L&P).

yes nerdboy Wang Yi was fun and sweet.
I am less with Mr Qin : he's just another Gan Yang type and I don't even find him handsome, opposite to Gan Yang, despite GY hair plastered down to eyebrows.

not extraordinarily well done, to be sure. Standing and staring from a distance a little too long. But she did run 10 km before, so sweaty hugs just after .... ugh.

lol

1: FL and ML get together progressively since she wants to protect her financial independence, pushing away gifts and favors, convinced that ML is "too rich for her"
2-3: The breakup lasts far too long after an incident when ML suddenly leaves with no clear explanation and FL got convinced he had lied to her and toyed with her.About 10 episodes. And there is a long years time skip too.
4: about episode 27 although some mellowing in episodes just before
5-6 : No exes, but 2 guys who would like the spot and a pretension; the 2 guys are very annoying
7 : married in the end, not really rushed ending, just a conclusion that had been waited overlong; visually satisfying wedding

Not a masterpiece, but watchable, with ff and jump from breakup till last 3-4 episodes. What comes in between is pretty stupid. The FL appears very cold and self centered for most of the drama ; the ML feels not very present in episodes from their meeting again after time skip, except in the end. The first episodes are nice enough, for CFY. Hearts will likely not beat much for Sabrina who looks too stony faced.

yes, very visually satisfying.

9: they marry in the end --that's not a bad ending !
8: two other couples end up together
5: 2FL Mingmei did support FL separation until she turned around with new evidence (she was not venomous, only mostly self centered)
3: there are two annoying love triangles in first half one, and in episodes towards 24-25 another one although both feel less "in love" than wanting to secure an asset
1: FL and ML get together progressively since she wants to protect her financial independence, pushing away gifts and favors, convinced that ML is "too rich for her"
2: The breakup lasts far too long after an incident when ML suddenly leaves with no clear explanation and FL got convinced he had lied to her and toyed with her.

9: they marry in the end --that's not a bad ending !
8: two other couples end up together
5: 2FL Mingmei did support FL separation until she turned around with new evidence (she was not venomous, only mostly self centered)
3: there are two annoying love triangles in first half one, and in episodes towards 24-25 another one although both feel less "in love" than wanting to secure an asset
1: FL and ML get together progressively since she wants to protect her financial independence, pushing away gifts and favors, convinced that ML is "too rich for her"
2: The breakup lasts far too long after an incident when ML suddenly leaves with no clear explanation and FL got convinced he had lied to her and toyed with her.

That's true. ERL is not a masterpiece. ...... Still watchable, if a big jump is made over about 10 episodes of unnecessary stupidity.

Agree. A Beautiful Lie was left by me, not to return, indefinitely on hold since I dislike putting in dropped category, after 22 episodes of patience.
I almost did same here, but the last episodes did redeem the drama, vindicating my policy to stick it out till end before deciding how I liked it or hated it.
Perhaps, for new audience, it will be advisable to just make a huge jump from the breakup episode until episode 24, to avoid unnecessary annoyance.

This space is more designed to comment about ERL. Therefore I answered her under "spoilers" since that recom request was unrelated directly to present drama (which Suhnitha does not watch? or is she like me, disappointed and unwilling to include and rate in her watch list?) and Suhnitha already mentioned L&P among her faves, together with other romances.
How do you like ERL? I'll admit to disappointment at time of writing, but that won't keep me from watching ... upcoming season 13 of Keep Running, lol

umm, I did ? besides which Suhnitha already watched it but perhaps got bored with the space stuff (which I liked as well as the game parts and the fluffy romance "I can make it lower", lol!) so it did not impress her so much as to quote title in her selection of faves. Me, as I wrote, I found it more re-watchable completely than Love020, which still has some nice parts to re-watch.

Ok to friend me in comments - but my friends list on MDL is empty on purpose... Hope you did or can enjoy my companion piece for The Tale of Rose - look for link through my page's special list.

4.5 ?

that's a good comment ! lol