Jk_adramaobssessed

I started watching this after The Prisoner of Beauty because those last few episodes had me crying and I needed something light to wash it down. (Highly recommend, just get the tissues- it ends happily though, thankfully- that’s all I’ll say about it on another drama’s comment thread, I just didn’t want people to think the tears means it was a sad ending and decide not to watch based on this comment alone).

Maybe I’m just spoiled from all the period Cdramas I’ve watched, but I found so many faults with the script and the behaviors of the characters. I understand it’s low budget, so I won’t fault the editing, makeup artists, continuity details, or editing (yes, I said that twice in purpose). The way nobility behaves around each other and talks to each other doesn’t follow historical customs at all. It’s like people who slept through every history lesson and got their historical knowledge from a random person from a western country far removed from Eastern customs and history wrote this script and someone equally ignorant directed it. Servants don’t act like servants. Guards don’t act like guards- especially IMPERIAL guards. No observed propriety between opposite genders- especially NOBILITY. Only a cursory nod at the highest nobility, especially the emperor (this part had my brain short-circuiting). What do you mean you can just say whatever, whenever, in front of the empire without permission and receive no punishment for such disrespect and disregard for someone who is historically supposed to be the Son of Heaven and having a direct line to divinity! I’m from a Western country and even I know this.

As a person who respects and values history and accurate portrayals of customs and culture, I am repeatedly annoyed by this lack of attention to detail by both the scriptwriter and the director. It’s like they watched other time period pieces and decided “nope- nobility will be treated like commoners- who cares about authentic representation in our story? It’s about LOVE, even if we chose to set it entirely amongst the nobility of a nation that highly values filial piety and Confucianism, Taoism, and Bhuddaism. To hell with the details!” A simple internet search would have helped significantly to quickly educate the ignorant. This is lazy writing. (I acknowledge that writing period pieces is immensely difficult because of all the research involved, which is why those who can’t take on that extra work should just write modern pieces.) Maybe they are Chinese but Western born and raised? That may explain it- a little. I won’t fault the actors. For what they had to work with, they did really well. I’m looking forward to seeing them in more mainstream drama in the future.

I will say that the casting was really well done. Jesus but Lin Ze Hui is gorgeous. Wang Xing Wei too. Like, really good looking, these two. Everytime they hit the screen, I’m like 😍- then you but them together?! Nope 💘I can’t take it (but I will).

I will commend the hair stylist though for the wigs/extensions. The hairlines of the men look way more natural than most high budget production I’ve seen where nobility is concerned.

I can appreciate the potential if it had a better screenwriter and budget. I like the FL and ML dynamic. I will be finishing it because LZH and WXW are gorgeous and I’m enjoying them on screen thoroughly (yes, I am that shallow- life is short and I’m not dead yet). But I really wish the screenwriter had done even a little bit of research- or paid even a little bit of attention in history classes and applied that knowledge. It does a disservice to the rich and vibrant culture of ancient China and the rich customs, values, and belief systems that have been passed down for centuries.

I know, I know. It’s just a drama- a low budget one at that. I shouldn’t take it so seriously. And I won’t from here on out. I just had to vent. Maybe someone will get me.

(I just looked and saw that both the director nd screenwriter are both founders of this small production company, producing many other short dramas. I feel like I should watch another one of theirs to see if it’s just a one-off with the history accuracy. Which is why I put this as a spoiler.)

My comments below are not really spoilers, but they do contain criticisms I didn’t want to be seen without fellow commenters making the choice.

My eyes are still burning from the tears in the last few episodes. They didn’t have to do me like that. Yes, it’s a HE for anyone who reads this, but damn. What a ride this was. I need a silly and happy one after this just to recover.

Then I’ll definitely skip this one.

I’m Western- not sure if this is something I can generalize to the West, but it is definitely something I can’t handle.

Can I just say how much I despise E Huang? She may be a woman “trapped” by circumstances, but many of them were of her own making. I really, really want her to get hers- in a brutally fatal way. I also want Liu Yan to get his in the same fashion. Both of them deserve to die. Soon. I know they probably won’t until episode 35 or even 36, but still. I can’t stand either of them- especially peony forehead. Like, how is everyone fooled by her painted on forehead mark? It looks nothing like a birthmark. At least women who get close enough to her should realize it since they use paints themselves. And she managed to keep this hidden from EVERYONE?! Her family? Her husband? Her maids? Uh huh. She can just wipe it off (one wipe clean with a dry cloth-red paint on light skin too- what a feat!) and her brother is all shocked? My level of suspicion and caution out of an abundance of self-preservation would spike if I were him. She’s gonna get him killed within the next 8-10 episodes fo sure. She’ll shed a few tears and quickly bolster herself for the sake of her greater purpose or whatever. Because she’s truly a heartless human.

Seriously. Now she’s on the way to Lianyu in a desperate search for power. I hope Mr. Insecure kills her. She’s poison. He recognized it at first, but fell for her words because she plays on his insecurities. He thinks he’s smart and cunning, but if she can sway him, he needs to die after losing everything right before his eyes. Preferably shortly after past-tensing her.

I almost want to fast forward a few episodes just to see it happen tbh. Almost.

I’m on episode 25 and just needed to take a moment to come here and vent. Spoilers below.

It’s an app I downloaded so I don’t know if the link works. 【日腐《对比的我和你》EP1-EP8 中字（完）-哔哩哔哩】 https://b23.tv/TTswBNY

I know it’s the directors who want her to be all childlike because of her big eyes and pouty lips, but it’s hella annoying. I was chatting with a person in the Love Between a Fairy and a Devil and they insist it is something you “get used to”. No thanks. Life is short and there are plenty of other amazing drama out there. I did start to enjoy this one though- if I hadn’t discovered the unfinished ending…

I watched on Bilibili- there are no English subtitles though

I know this episode is gonna end with me frustrated at having to wait a week, despite having seen the whole series on Bilibili- without subtitles. It’s gonna hit differently when I know what they’re saying, so I think I’ll wait until next week’s episode…or the one after that, based on my memories of this series. Hell, perhaps I should just wait until the whole thing is done airing. 😭😭😭

I remember trying to watch it a couple years ago and not being able to get through it then, either. It’s the voice. Is her voice like this all the way through?

I tried because I’m a HMH fan, but nope. This isn’t for me. I couldn’t make it past 15 minutes into episode 2. Don’t worry though. I didn’t rate it. It’s my policy not to rate if I’ve watched less than 5 episodes in a cdrama.

I think there are a lot of people who wait to rate like me. I usually wait until a show is done or almost done to rate it unless I really feel some kind of way from early on. This is no different. I’m not sure how I feel, so I’m holding rating until more episodes.

This isn’t the same. It’s slow-moving so far, though. Maybe wait until it’s done- or almost done- airing so you can binge to the happy ending.

I tried watching Love Between a Demon and a Fairy but the voice used for Esther made me want to gouge my ears out because of how pouty and childish it was. It’s too bad because I had high hopes for it since I like the genre. I don’t think I can survive more than 2 minutes of that voice. But her voice in this drama is way more natural, as in other drama of hers I’ve watched. Bonus that so many actors I enjoy watching are also cast in this drama. Yay me!

EDIT: I’m now on episode 6 and man is it dragging. I feel for ZiYu and want there to be a reason he’s so weak- like the secret weapon the Gong family holds so dear can only be wielded by him because of his supposed weakness or something. Also, I feel like Weishan’s identity has to be/should be more complex than a girl from an assassin sect who yearns for freedom. I’m curious about Yue (my guy from FoF) and his role in all this. But again, the slow pacing… I kept telling myself it’s only 24 episodes, but then I’m reading that the ending is open? And not likely to get a second season to close it? Not my favorite kind of dram. I usually drop dramas with open endings that have no chance of closing. Too bad. I really love all of our mains in this cast. But I haven’t invested enough time to feel like I need to finish this drama- yet.

Did they use a different voice actor for Esther in this? Because her voice is hard to like. I’m struggling to get through the first episode. It’s hot this pouty, immature helpless female vibe I dislike. Please tell me it gets better or I’ll have to give up on this drama.

I enjoyed this drama quite a bit. The acting, the story, the cinematography- all well-done. I was truly entertained. I like the theme of strong women in their own rights all throughout the drama. They refused to stay in society’s mold for them and as a result, changed their fate and the fates of many. Also, I like that them finding love doesn’t then automatically render their efforts useless. They maintain this integrity throughout and even continue to grow as the story develops. Overall, worth the watch.

Also, the interesting add of an alternate reality really was enjoyable.

Wow. Pretending your unnecessary hateful comments are worth anything of value- what a sad individual you are. Postering like YOU have something to do with your “favorite actors and actresses” achieving these so-called high ratings. Envy, jealousy, “assessment”- whatever word you prefer to use to describe the hate that fuels your heart. Not only posting once, but then having the hubris to post again for fresh catches for your ragebating to fuel this false sense of superiority... You’re truly a sad individual. I’m not mad at you- I actually just pity you.

Well said. This person’s rage-bating for their own sene of superiority. Sad, really.