Groovykid

Current status: Watching episodes 32 & 33
Past status: Fan of Princess Agents (& desperate for the story to be continued)
Future status: Will pay to watch express tomorrow, despite all the misgivings

In more than the first 2/3rds of Rebirth, I believe CQ mostly just talked tough. Almost at every point, she needed LC or ZY to do the saving (ZY for most parts). Even when CQ ‘saved’ ZY when he was near death in Ximeng, it was with ‘facilities/connections’ already made and put in place by ZY. Only in later episodes is CQ seen actually leading. With the novel (and not shown past) in mind, we do know that she led the Quili army independently, so she does have experience. But as female centric as the drama is portrayed as, it really was an all rounder for me. Especially when compared to a CD like LoTFG.

Someone in a post I saw compared ZY to FSG of Fated Hearts in his disregard for power and authority, despite his upbringing. I think the more suitable connection is CQ and FYX of Fated Hearts. They were both born and raised as slaves and killing machines, lied to by the person they trusted the most and then became their own person when they saw more of the world.

Well put. I saw him as a cowardly psycho.
With all the time and power he had, he did not do anything to change the world but just festered in his distress. Their insistence of 'honouring' CPS as their goal just pissed me off constantly.

I think what he hates in Lingbo is himself. He was defeated ‘mentally’ when he had to marry his wife and have a child with her, when that was against his desires. He is defo a psycho.

Well summarised. They dragged some subplots but overall it was a good portrayal by the actors. Definitely obsessed ML. And the innocent smartness of FL. Every time he would lie to her, but she will soon figure out his schemes. And on second thoughts, she would reflect and see his views. She stayed true to her heart and convictions. And I liked that about her.

IMO, it has been a rollercoaster series. At some point, I got fed up with the previous generation never really dealing with their business, but always insisting that the current generation forget about it and move on. The aunt and uncle plot was patchy in its delivery, but it kept me going for most of the series. I was so curious about their lives. Just wish ML got to grow up with his uncle just like FL did with her aunt.

ML had a one-track mind. He is vengeful and will die to get his revenge. Until he fell in love with FL. His character of obsessed but true lover was real to me. He had early on disregarded his life and survival, but upon falling for her, he decided, and showed in every way, he loved her and will live for her. What else can a girl ask for?

FL’s character fell flat on many counts, but 2 strong character traits stood out to me.
1. Her doggedness in the face of right and wrong. She was raised amongst the “good guys” but upon her adventures, she was very quick to adapt and not castigate all others as “bad”. I enjoyed her openness during her interactions and adventures.
2. Her struggle with re-learning about the evilness of humans. She grew up secluded but with so much love from her family and her aunt’s friends. You could see her struggle in coming to terms with the evilness of the Six Sects members (up onto her master) every step of the way. It just wasn’t how she was raised. She could not believe it. Her strength came in facing the facts, albeit slowly.

Facts she faced squarely and consistently:
1. She would never abandon her family for anything or anyone
2. She loves MQY and will protect him as she had promised
3. She will not stand by evil, whoever it may be that commits it.
Not bad for a FL, I must say. There has been more worse portrayals of strong FL characters.

I really love the ML and FL together on screen (with Ningning and the Zhaos ofc). So much so that I am becoming uninterested in understanding the very many factions and other story plots. The initial section focusing on ML and FL was really nice and engaging.

I agree. I did think the parallels were a stretch. He is more educated and aware than any other character portrayed. And very smart but level-headed, unlike Fei Ni in the earlier episodes who was always very emotional. IMO, he only decided to remain simple and good-hearted, and focus on living a good life with his loved ones and changing what he can.
The historical facts was nice to know, though.

He has! Cannot wait to see Lingbo’s face.
She is lazy and bratty and then turns around and complained that Zhaozhao is more independent and treated better.

The arrogance of the Yun ladies - disliking Zhaozhao because Yuzhi likes her.
Ladies, she does not care. She is pinning for someone else. You cannot pay her to marry Song Y. The only reason she is not fighting tooth and nail against Zhou Y is because she respects the memory of her aunt who arranged the match. Why she did, I personally cannot what to find out there is a lie in the reason!

Am I just weird or is Uncle Yunke weird? Why is he hellbent on making FL hate ML? I can understand asking her not to associate with him, but I feel like there is more to his persistence. Much more than his hate/dislike from seeing FL’s aunt fall in love with a ‘demon’.
I am happy to be spoiled, btw.

Here I am spoiling myself. I have just finished ep. 2 and I am liking the FL. The fact that she does not want to fight does not mean that she cannot fight. And not gullibly or stupidly accepting everything ML says, makes me just want to clap for her. She has a brain and is very happy to use it. I just hope the writer gods keep it that way.
And what is it about the ML? I do not mind spoilers. He seems to have many many secrets. He always need and has an explanation for everything!!

P.S: From the synopsis, I kind of chose to watch because its martial arts plot line as those can be interesting and suspenseful when done very well, fight scenes and all. I am getting sceptical already though of the many secrets and obvious falsehoods. I just hope the ‘infighting’ makes the plot richer.
Ref: The wife of that uncle, mother of the useless bully (Don’t know their names yet) - I cannot understand how giving two young ones who have been attacked in your home, gold and treasures make any sense. Materialistic and lackadaisical at best, evil and demeaning at worst.

Thanks for explaining this. It makes better sense now, especially to a non-novel reader like myself. So concluding points for me:
1. So this emperor was emperor when Prince Duan died. And he just folded his arms when his older brother's family's clan almost got annihilated!!!
2. Still not sure how old the CP is, but Minister Cui was his tutor at the time of the massacre so it is possible CP was old enough to have orchestrated everything.
3. If CP was really the mastermind from the start, it makes even more sense that he now wants to get rid of the Cui family and the right Chancellor's vast network. But to then use Prince Duan's commander as the scapegoat just depicts profound evilness.
4. The Emperor probably 'knew', or had an inkling. But he is so spineless and prefers status quo, which just means the powerful became even more powerful. And he became even more cowardly, always choosing to either cover things up or choose the easy way out. (Case in point: His explanation to Consort Shu about why he could have executed her. Imagine the audacity!!)

I do not know if to wish for season 2. I guess it will be good if it delves into the CP arch of the story as it was quite truncated in the final 2 or so episodes with very little links formed. Even though LPY 'raised a glass' to him when she thwarted his plan, we still do not know to what she knows about the CP's involvement in the whole plot.

P.S.: Is it my modern mind but why are most of the CPs mad? The throne is going to be yours and literally no one is fighting you for it, so what is your problem?
Special shoutout to my favourite C-drama Emperor and Crown Prince in 'Love Like the Galaxy'. Both the initial and the latter CP were good hearted in their own way. Their father, the emperor brought them up well, like he did Ling BuYi.

Well written. This was my opinion too. They both were right and wrong. You only have to look at the scenarios in both of their perspectives.
LPY who is desperate for and consumed with vengeance, and does love XHJ and wants him safe.
XHJ who fearlessly loves PY and wants more than anything for her to be in peace and get justice for the past deeds.
Their 'life' before now just means they have to 'prioritise' different things and they 'think' in different ways. It is sad to see them this way, but hope they get past it soon.

Valid points made.
And I fervently agree about the useless emperor. At this point it is sad that the best foot he can put forward is that he is a useless coward. Notice him telling ML he is emotionless in today's ep. At least ML has emotions to forego!!
I personally dislike prolong angst especially with characters that are sold as smart or strong. Let's hope they both cease their "stupid noble idiocy" (in your words) soon and get on with making a good plan to bring down the villain (and the useless emperor).

It really would make no sense. Not to me anyways if she really was the mastermind. I mean, maybe that is looking at this from the 'current' time. Which is when she does not have a child of her own and has now raised FL for 15 years.
From the outset (as in 15 years ago), if she was as power mad as her brother, who knows, I guess it is feasible!
From the start to finish of my small comment, I have a complete U-turn. We shall see!

I assumed most of the cases were unrelated. And their only common theme was that they all occurred in or around the palace, so the Palace Investigation Bureau, hence LPY, had to be in charge.
I think it is okay for the main plot to be separate, at least from most of the plots. This way, we can see FL as a character whose parents raised to be strong and kind, and she maintained that despite the tragedy that occurred which then became her drive. Thats the way I see her anyways.

I’m sorry but this Emperor always came off ‘evil’ to me. The way he picked up and discarded women nilly willy just felt wrong to me - didn’t portray a ‘loving’ man. And his ‘benevolence’ in committing his daughter - FL’s best friend (whom he had only seen 3 times in her life) to the same fate twice in quite blatant disregard and driving her to her death made it even more obvious.
These were his ‘closest’ relatives. I remained sceptical of his ‘love’ for FL when these portrayals kept repeating itself, and I still do. He is definitely not a family man. Everyone can agree to that. So why ‘favour’ FL so much?
Best case scenario is that he is one of those cowardly Emperors who just like to turn a blind eye when something horrible that may implicate them happens.

I thought FL’s father is older brother to the current emperor

I started to have the same thought - FL being too self-reliant and not utilising the partner she’d found. But quickly reprimanded myself.
I am certain it is very uncommon to have a FL this independent and self-reliant and it appears we, as viewers, have been conditioned to expect some dependence or interdependence with the ML, even for the strong and independent FL roles.

ML did stay muddle-headed for most of the story arc in the capital. Too emotional about the family drama especially his brother’s attitude and violence. But if we cast our mind back to FL’s initial approach to her sisters. She was also kinda muddled with her approach to them - just let them be until they did something very wrong. In both situations, they both subtly pointed out what the other was failing or refusing to see.

I think I liked their interdependence. They also, in their own way, always reassured each other even when they didn't fully carry each other along.

For all the theories about Steward Cheng, he was just a jealous bystander that cowardly bullied ML with the random bits of info his position allowed him access to.
How frustrating his life will get (if it were real life, I can imagine LJL continually poking fun at him 😄)!