In the recent drama landscape, there's nothing like this. A mature romance that gets a lot of screentime and development, rather than the leads getting together in the second to last episode because the screenwriter doesn't know how to write relationship post getting together (other than creating drama through forced breakup).
I love all the little moments that are unique to this drama. That's when the drama shines the brightest. Like RRY picking clothes and jewelry for NYZ. The squad watching every romantic scene between our leads and giving advice to both of them (which makes perfect sense, they are forced to spend 99% of their time on a very limited space!). RRY not hiding her identity at all from NYZ (even though if could serve as 'you lied to me, I can't be with you' later on, classic trope in most dramas). RRY coming back right away after she was attacked by the squad. RRY being a badass lead, but embracing her feelings and femininity at the same time - it's not like she was written like a male character, which tends to be the case when writing strong females. Flirting, so much flirting! There was no unnecesary, forced drama between the characters for the majority of the drama.
I definitely don't want to say that it doesn't have any flaws. I wish it wasn't crammed up, it needed those 10 eps more. I am very very salty about it. But when I think about refreshing dramas, that take well-established tropes and reverse them, this one comes to mind. This year was mediocre for dramas, and this is definitela a stand-out.
Just back to say Princess Yang Ying character is an awesome young actress He Lan Dou. Watching her character development from beginning to to end seem like 2 different people "who she was VS who she became" I pray this is her breakout role because NOT many of the young "Traffic stars" today can display this type of A Grade acting, She has so much POTENTIAL as a REAL ACTRESS, I really hope they don't water her acting down by given her these cheesy cutesy diluted IDOL roles that so many popular actresses take to keep a zombie like fandom. I'm really hoping directors and produces are taking her serious as an Actress, I was BLOWN AWAY!!! by her performance.
finished the drama and wow i have cried so much the last few episodes, my eyes are all red and swollen.
Now my take on the ending, i don't think it's as crappy as some people say it is, it's definitely not a happy happy ending where everyone is alive and well. So for me it takes a very realistic turn, because everyone is still human and with the fights and war, it's not possible to go unscathed. the last scene were Chu yue meets Ning Shisan was so emotional but to me it felt very dreamlike. I definitely don't think they're still alive and faked their death, thats just not possible with how horrible the last few fights went.
But i think chu yue also somehow passed away so she met everyone and was happy to go to Ning Shisan's house because thats where her Shisan is and thats her ending. She could have passed away ebcause of the war, because of other things or just from heartbreak.
So to me, its not a bad ending, it's jsut a different one. A happy ending isn't always the good ending imo.
I avoided all spoilers and MDL while watching the last 14 episodes. I'm glad I did because nothing affected me while I finished the drama.
Ning Yuanzhou and Ruyi survived. That was my thought as I finished the last episode. 😎
Why didn't they based on the stuff in the last 5 to 10 minutes? They survived or fake their deaths and "dying" during the war make the most sense if they truly want to be free from everything.
If CY was dying and dreaming of them, it should be Shisan she saw. Not a child named Ning Shisan who also happened to fit the 10 year gap from last event. And if they were dead, why named their kids Shisan and Lu? Why not named Ying who's still alive and would consider as missing her? CY isn't that close to any of the squad, especially RY and NYZ. It just doesn't make sense otherwise. There was also no need to show the school scene or the village if so.
Then, CY seemed genuinely happy that they survived and got emotional. The scene of everyone is CY hoping everyone in their squad is happy / carefree somewhere.
So the main leads survived and lived on with their children as an ordinary family.
The producers / directors shot themselves in the foot when they decided to go for that bad cgi at the end, making people think differently of the ending than as intended, imo. 😂
This should have been a 60 episode drama to flesh out a bunch of stuff. Or they could have killed off LTG, 2nd prince and the An emperor earlier like all others and this would have been a better 40 episode drama.
Anyhow, this is still a worthy watch (and rewatch) just for the squad. I, for sure, will miss the squad, especially Ning Yuanzhou. ❤️
I'm really loving Yang Ying's story and character development so far. The actress playing her is also so talented. Really looking forward to see her growth by the end of the series
2 
I love all the little moments that are unique to this drama. That's when the drama shines the brightest. Like RRY picking clothes and jewelry for NYZ. The squad watching every romantic scene between our leads and giving advice to both of them (which makes perfect sense, they are forced to spend 99% of their time on a very limited space!). RRY not hiding her identity at all from NYZ (even though if could serve as 'you lied to me, I can't be with you' later on, classic trope in most dramas). RRY coming back right away after she was attacked by the squad. RRY being a badass lead, but embracing her feelings and femininity at the same time - it's not like she was written like a male character, which tends to be the case when writing strong females. Flirting, so much flirting! There was no unnecesary, forced drama between the characters for the majority of the drama.
I definitely don't want to say that it doesn't have any flaws. I wish it wasn't crammed up, it needed those 10 eps more. I am very very salty about it. But when I think about refreshing dramas, that take well-established tropes and reverse them, this one comes to mind. This year was mediocre for dramas, and this is definitela a stand-out.
Now my take on the ending, i don't think it's as crappy as some people say it is, it's definitely not a happy happy ending where everyone is alive and well. So for me it takes a very realistic turn, because everyone is still human and with the fights and war, it's not possible to go unscathed.
the last scene were Chu yue meets Ning Shisan was so emotional but to me it felt very dreamlike. I definitely don't think they're still alive and faked their death, thats just not possible with how horrible the last few fights went.
But i think chu yue also somehow passed away so she met everyone and was happy to go to Ning Shisan's house because thats where her Shisan is and thats her ending. She could have passed away ebcause of the war, because of other things or just from heartbreak.
So to me, its not a bad ending, it's jsut a different one. A happy ending isn't always the good ending imo.
My name is Ning Shi San
Ning Yuanzhou and Ruyi survived. That was my thought as I finished the last episode. 😎
Why didn't they based on the stuff in the last 5 to 10 minutes? They survived or fake their deaths and "dying" during the war make the most sense if they truly want to be free from everything.
If CY was dying and dreaming of them, it should be Shisan she saw. Not a child named Ning Shisan who also happened to fit the 10 year gap from last event. And if they were dead, why named their kids Shisan and Lu? Why not named Ying who's still alive and would consider as missing her? CY isn't that close to any of the squad, especially RY and NYZ. It just doesn't make sense otherwise. There was also no need to show the school scene or the village if so.
Then, CY seemed genuinely happy that they survived and got emotional. The scene of everyone is CY hoping everyone in their squad is happy / carefree somewhere.
So the main leads survived and lived on with their children as an ordinary family.
The producers / directors shot themselves in the foot when they decided to go for that bad cgi at the end, making people think differently of the ending than as intended, imo. 😂
This should have been a 60 episode drama to flesh out a bunch of stuff. Or they could have killed off LTG, 2nd prince and the An emperor earlier like all others and this would have been a better 40 episode drama.
Anyhow, this is still a worthy watch (and rewatch) just for the squad. I, for sure, will miss the squad, especially Ning Yuanzhou. ❤️
https://weibo.com/5456865382/NxmtpBFPT or
https://youtu.be/wOp0x4MHP2g?si=YZCKfxOQd8wTuEqH