Brilliant drama. Characterisation, story, acting, cinematography all absolutely brilliant.
Just wish they'd paced to give us even ten minutes more to come to terms with it all and get together again - I wanted to see the Ji and Chen Grandmas finally enjoying some happiness at the very least, but maybe they are planning on a part 2....
That said I have two gripes, First, I do wish Chinese dramas would get over their Hamletitis and leave a few more characters alive at the end (though at least our main leads survived this time).
The death of mentor and wife was brilliantly done, and I guess Ye Xian's made sense (though personally would have preferred him to live , the Emperor needs good men, and his character growth suggested he might have outgrown his earlier issues). But death of the two bodyguards in particular was totally unnecessary.
Other problem was the music - not sure if the music director was going for a K drama feel, but it really didn't work and continued to be quite jarring even in the final episodes.
He knew that she was in danger, and instead of immediately sending word to his uncle, he tried to play hero, and…
Maybe, but he didn't even ask the price for both or show any sign of concern at her welfare. And if he was genuinely trying to rescue her, why did he panic and run away when the soldiers arrived - would have been far simpler just to explain he was attempting to rescue her and didn't want to delay because of danger she was in!
There seems to me to be no explanation at all for why he didn't tell cyy as soon as he knew fourth uncle was involved...
It was a lovely scene, but I read it as her talking him down primarily. Although her explanation was quite compelling,…
When I said talking him down I did indeed mean calming him down. But I disagree that the violence wasn't the primary reason.
Her explanation of how they both similar in some ways has the ring of truth about her own self and his personality, but I don't actually think its the reasons she rejected him (or rather never really considered him as a serious prospect): people who understand each other can also potentially heal each other. The problem in his case, as she says several times is that despite his more endearing characteristics, he is a lunatic.
He repeatedly DID do things that resulted in physical injury to her, starting from shooting at her horse and making her carriage crash, hurting or threatening to hurt her and other people's reputation (like the unfortunate scholar with the book). And he kept pointing weapons at people, sought out a job that involves torturing people. The idea that she would ever choose to marry such a person given the abuse she grew up with is ludicrous imo.
Found this last night and just finished binging.I really love how they ended Ye Xian's loveline in episode 28.…
It was a lovely scene, but I read it as her talking him down primarily.
Although her explanation was quite compelling, she surely also omitted the real issue, viz his violence and temper. This is a woman who is reluctant to get married at all given her torrid family background to the point of needing a get out of jail free cared (in the form of a pre-signed divorce letter) to persuade her - there is no way on any planet she would ever marry someone who randomly points weapons at people, and had even gone as far as whipping her when he didn't get his way. As she has said a few times, he's a psycho - perhaps for understandable reasons but a nutter nonetheless.
Understandable that she wouldn't actually say that to him though, as we all know exactly how that would have gone down...
He knew that she was in danger, and instead of immediately sending word to his uncle, he tried to play hero, and…
Its worse than that I think - why didn't he also try and buy her maid? Looked suspiciously like he would have taken her prisoner and tried to keep for himself...
Its available undubbed with subtitles in multiple places - try Viki
I'm not sure I'd describe the use of voice actors as 'dubbing' per se - the voice actors are creating the 'original' soundtrack as it were! But I admit it is an oddity of chinese dramas that is sometimes quite jarring when you've seen the same actor in something else but a completely different voice comes out. But there are sometimes good reasons for it I think, with different regional accents etc.
Kateoz... Looks like I also need to rewatch the earlier episode because I can't recall the scene of a case of…
Its where they go into the cavern staffed by mutes, with crates of documents that are allegedly potential blackmail material on various leading officials...
I just have to say this is shaping up to be my favourite of the year so far.
The acting level , not just of the two leads, but virtually everyone, far surpasses that of pretty much everything else I've seen; the script is beautifully balanced; and some of the set piece scenes (most notably the coming of age ceremony at the very beginning) are just fabulous. Pursuit of Jade probably surpasses it in emotional content (making us love that village and then...,) but this one quietly builds our empathy with the two leads and makes us want them to succeed in both their personal and broader ambitions, and looks to have a lot fewer plotholes!
I've started rewatching the earlier episodes which is helping me understand the court plot rather better (and there are some early hints I'd missed that may prove important, not least a case of documents devoted to Chancellor Fu in grandma's secret basement that look like they are going to come in handy at some point soon...) but also reminded me of the sizzle between the two at pretty much their first meeting. Only let down really is the music - some of it (the opera performances for example) is fabulous, but the western classical stuff is often quite jarring.
First few episodes seemed a bit hackneyed plot-wise, but as it goes on, this is really gaining depth and momentum and proving very watchable indeed (especially in the absence of anything much else around at the moment) - I've binged to episode 9 and waiting for net dollops.
I actually like that the two leads don't have generic looks and voices, and they certainly have chemistry.
I really do hope though that this won't prove to be the third drama this year where ZWY ends out losing out romantically, this time because of the (fake) sibling connection - though I'm betting on that actually all coming out. And I actually wonder if he too is going to prove to be unrelated to the Luo family - if this was a k drama his love of learning would tag him as a long lost crown prince, but I'm guessing that would be ideologically offensive in modern China, so perhaps not!
I don't think the amnesia LMT was any way near submissive to CJ. She literally told him he's not her type, to…
Lol, please don't rely on dr google for assessments of the effect of amnesia on how you act!
First, while injuries causing amnesia don't automatically also affect the brain's personality centres, they can.
Secondly, and more importantly in this context, totally unsurprisingly, even when basic personality isn't affected, amnesia does affect the sense of self, and continuity with past and future - someone who has no memories has no identity in effect. And that inevitably affects behaviour.
Add to that the effective prison she was in - 'guided' in correct behaviour by Nannie and carefully watched over and rewarded for doing what he wanted her to do (viz brainwashing, or coercive control). So it is unsurprising that she behaves and sees things rather differently after she regains her memories.
If she handled CJ's faults graciously, it was because she was aware of the power imbalance: she thought he was her husband and courts could enforce that; he had to grant her a divorce, it wasn't up to her.
That said, I take your point that she did at times push at the limits of her situation.
But the fact that CXZ is a arguably a good catch, and that she likes him does not mean she has to marry him - consent requires two to tango!
Talk about pandering to male entitlement - just because he loves and wants to marry her doesn't mean she has to…
You wake up not remembering anything, brain damaged, and so adapt to the environment in order to survive. And he supplied one of his housekeepers as a guard and instructor, plus had spies set up all around the house both to stop her escaping and to try and catch her putative partner, the bandit chief.
So she wasn't in her normal state of mind, where we know she was fiercely independent (enough to lead a large band of men on the Mountain!) and not super soft and loving to anyone, even her grandfather with whom she has the closest relationship.
Moreover, if you don't know what your options are, how can you make free decisions? She is told she is married to him, which in that society meant a whole lot of duties.
And no, if she marries the Prince, as a Princess historically she wouldn't be able to run her own businesses etc - there were strict rules about what each class could and couldn't do, and in essence, nobles could not be merchants.
there is no overall plot though. this drama is romance thru and thru
The novel actually does have an underlying plot, albeit very much in the background (it's all linked to the iron smuggling thing), and there have been indications that it is meant to be there in the tv version, with very token appearances of the key protagonists (Prince Sui, wheelchair brother). Just not developed at al...
Have to say, the show really is dragging this out - while the slow path to forgiveness might be realistic, watching it is pretty excruciating, especially given the lack of any advance in the overall plot (admittedly the source material of the novel doesn't bother with that much either, just strings the conclusion on us at the end) , and the also ultra slow burn of the other side romances, viz Emperor and Empress and Marquess and Ms He.
The drama might have been better for going the traditional route of making more of the potential love triangle with the Emperor. But given they didn't ever show her with him, or giving serious consideration to him.
Or it could have decided to flesh out the novel's underlying plot that ties the whole story together.
Alas, it did neither, and the result is a very very slow moving, making it all hang on the acting of the two mains. They are both pretty and engaging, but there is a limit!
dropping this sh1t from my rate 10 will give it 1 fck the FL for dragging it for so long she's likable till ep…
Talk about pandering to male entitlement - just because he loves and wants to marry her doesn't mean she has to agree!
Marriage for her means sacrificing her freedom, and that would be especially true if she married a prince. Yes she cares about him, and possibly even loves him. But there is no law that says she should forgive him and sacrifice her own ambitions just because he likes her.
She's happy having set up her own household and running her business - why can't he just accept that no means no!
Dont be delusional...come out of your fantasy and check the reality....faking your appearance and telling lie…
Yes he pulled her out of the water and got her a doctor. But then even when thinking that she was married to the bandit leader, he pretended to be her husband. How can that ever be morally right? He could have just captured her and set her up in a situation to be rescued - instead, if she really had been married he ruined her life.
Prince of Huaiyang has a different surname to the Imperial family ie he is not a member of the royal family, but the Prince of fiefdom.
Child Emperor was presumably youngest, with CP much much older brother, certainly not impossible for older brother to have his own grown sons with an 'uncle' much younger than them, if the previous Emperor lived long enough. Chinese clans often had such situations, not lest due to multiple wives/concubines etc.
Just wish they'd paced to give us even ten minutes more to come to terms with it all and get together again - I wanted to see the Ji and Chen Grandmas finally enjoying some happiness at the very least, but maybe they are planning on a part 2....
That said I have two gripes, First, I do wish Chinese dramas would get over their Hamletitis and leave a few more characters alive at the end (though at least our main leads survived this time).
The death of mentor and wife was brilliantly done, and I guess Ye Xian's made sense (though personally would have preferred him to live , the Emperor needs good men, and his character growth suggested he might have outgrown his earlier issues). But death of the two bodyguards in particular was totally unnecessary.
Other problem was the music - not sure if the music director was going for a K drama feel, but it really didn't work and continued to be quite jarring even in the final episodes.
All that said, I will be watching again,
There seems to me to be no explanation at all for why he didn't tell cyy as soon as he knew fourth uncle was involved...
Her explanation of how they both similar in some ways has the ring of truth about her own self and his personality, but I don't actually think its the reasons she rejected him (or rather never really considered him as a serious prospect): people who understand each other can also potentially heal each other. The problem in his case, as she says several times is that despite his more endearing characteristics, he is a lunatic.
He repeatedly DID do things that resulted in physical injury to her, starting from shooting at her horse and making her carriage crash, hurting or threatening to hurt her and other people's reputation (like the unfortunate scholar with the book). And he kept pointing weapons at people, sought out a job that involves torturing people. The idea that she would ever choose to marry such a person given the abuse she grew up with is ludicrous imo.
Although her explanation was quite compelling, she surely also omitted the real issue, viz his violence and temper. This is a woman who is reluctant to get married at all given her torrid family background to the point of needing a get out of jail free cared (in the form of a pre-signed divorce letter) to persuade her - there is no way on any planet she would ever marry someone who randomly points weapons at people, and had even gone as far as whipping her when he didn't get his way. As she has said a few times, he's a psycho - perhaps for understandable reasons but a nutter nonetheless.
Understandable that she wouldn't actually say that to him though, as we all know exactly how that would have gone down...
The acting level , not just of the two leads, but virtually everyone, far surpasses that of pretty much everything else I've seen; the script is beautifully balanced; and some of the set piece scenes (most notably the coming of age ceremony at the very beginning) are just fabulous. Pursuit of Jade probably surpasses it in emotional content (making us love that village and then...,) but this one quietly builds our empathy with the two leads and makes us want them to succeed in both their personal and broader ambitions, and looks to have a lot fewer plotholes!
I've started rewatching the earlier episodes which is helping me understand the court plot rather better (and there are some early hints I'd missed that may prove important, not least a case of documents devoted to Chancellor Fu in grandma's secret basement that look like they are going to come in handy at some point soon...) but also reminded me of the sizzle between the two at pretty much their first meeting. Only let down really is the music - some of it (the opera performances for example) is fabulous, but the western classical stuff is often quite jarring.
I actually like that the two leads don't have generic looks and voices, and they certainly have chemistry.
I really do hope though that this won't prove to be the third drama this year where ZWY ends out losing out romantically, this time because of the (fake) sibling connection - though I'm betting on that actually all coming out. And I actually wonder if he too is going to prove to be unrelated to the Luo family - if this was a k drama his love of learning would tag him as a long lost crown prince, but I'm guessing that would be ideologically offensive in modern China, so perhaps not!
First, while injuries causing amnesia don't automatically also affect the brain's personality centres, they can.
Secondly, and more importantly in this context, totally unsurprisingly, even when basic personality isn't affected, amnesia does affect the sense of self, and continuity with past and future - someone who has no memories has no identity in effect. And that inevitably affects behaviour.
Add to that the effective prison she was in - 'guided' in correct behaviour by Nannie and carefully watched over and rewarded for doing what he wanted her to do (viz brainwashing, or coercive control). So it is unsurprising that she behaves and sees things rather differently after she regains her memories.
If she handled CJ's faults graciously, it was because she was aware of the power imbalance: she thought he was her husband and courts could enforce that; he had to grant her a divorce, it wasn't up to her.
That said, I take your point that she did at times push at the limits of her situation.
But the fact that CXZ is a arguably a good catch, and that she likes him does not mean she has to marry him - consent requires two to tango!
So she wasn't in her normal state of mind, where we know she was fiercely independent (enough to lead a large band of men on the Mountain!) and not super soft and loving to anyone, even her grandfather with whom she has the closest relationship.
Moreover, if you don't know what your options are, how can you make free decisions? She is told she is married to him, which in that society meant a whole lot of duties.
And no, if she marries the Prince, as a Princess historically she wouldn't be able to run her own businesses etc - there were strict rules about what each class could and couldn't do, and in essence, nobles could not be merchants.
The drama might have been better for going the traditional route of making more of the potential love triangle with the Emperor. But given they didn't ever show her with him, or giving serious consideration to him.
Or it could have decided to flesh out the novel's underlying plot that ties the whole story together.
Alas, it did neither, and the result is a very very slow moving, making it all hang on the acting of the two mains. They are both pretty and engaging, but there is a limit!
Marriage for her means sacrificing her freedom, and that would be especially true if she married a prince. Yes she cares about him, and possibly even loves him. But there is no law that says she should forgive him and sacrifice her own ambitions just because he likes her.
She's happy having set up her own household and running her business - why can't he just accept that no means no!
Child Emperor was presumably youngest, with CP much much older brother, certainly not impossible for older brother to have his own grown sons with an 'uncle' much younger than them, if the previous Emperor lived long enough. Chinese clans often had such situations, not lest due to multiple wives/concubines etc.