MadelineMaureen

I will check out the directors/writers/producers when I start seeing familiar patterns to other things I've seen. I was watching a Chinese drama and the Emperor was the same actor I had seen play the Emperor in like 4 other shows...which were produced by the same people. Looked up the show's producers and low and behold I was right. Also noticed that they used the same locations and I think they had recycled some of the costumes/set dressing with a bit of editing. I was like....ooookaaayy, I guess yall only know how to do one story in different fonts. All the stories had an arraigned marriage with a fisty FL and a cold but beautiful ML who is either a prince or closely related to the royal family. So I wasn't shocked to see that show being the last thing they've done. (putting this in spoiler tag because I did not expect to yap that much)

Love to Hate You(Netflix k-drama, adult rom-com) well...you've already seen that one....hummmm Pretty much all the ones I've seen that are similar to this show you've already watched. Seriously I had like 10ish on deck to rec only to go through your watch list and be like oh twin, where have you been?

It's not really in the same vibe but 'Love Me, Love My Voice' is a cotton candy sweet, no drama, slow-burn romance. It's about music and voice actors in China. If it's too slow for you personally I still think the music is amazing in this one.
I will also recommend 'Amidst a Snowstorm of Love' like Cherrymotion. It is a more "adult" slow-burn with billiards/snooker players the esthetic is S tier...so pretty. You WILL go down a rabbit hole when you see this cast...not a single declined face-card.
Get well soon! Truly hope you check out ASoL.

hahaha. I just think that the money is produced differently on period dramas. I'm honestly not sure how the funding goes for period dramas come to think of it.

Preach!

Yeah, I loved everything that you listed as well. I'm just personally frustrated with writers who leave main points(storylines) of the drama to the wayside in the last 5-10 episodes only to not actually wrap anything up(other than a few confirmed deaths that sometimes overshadow the main leads stories). I don't mind open ended shows(Scent of Time wrecked me, but it was so good). I mind sequel bait endings that will most likely go nowhere because of how booked and busy the cast and crew/staff are. (Looking at you 'My Journey to You' LOOKING AT YOU)

There are a few(read as 'a lot') that I've watched recently that were amazing and then in the last 2-3 hours became "meh". This one just happens to be like the 7th or 8th show that has left me feeling "meh" after being so into the show for like 95% of it's episodes.

I don't just keep track of my shows on MDL, but keep journals of everything that I watch. I have notes and annotations to remember why I liked or didn't like a show. I can only blame myself for not looking deeper into some of the shows before starting, but I just need at least one period drama to end on the same level as 'Story of Kunning Palace'. Or if it's a slow burn like 'The Double'

All the actors in this show had amazing chemistry with each other and were able to make even the most basic stuff dynamic and interesting to watch. I just wish that the last episode had the leads post trauma for more than 5 minutes. Yes I timed it. They have less than 5 minutes of screen time alone together in the last episode. That to me is unsatisfactory for even a sub-genera romance(aka where romance isn't the lead plot point). If this show gets a season two I will be the first one sat and ready.
Spoiler tag because of the amount of other shows mentioned....no one really likes to read about other shows in a comment section of a show they are trying to watch/talk about. Also sorry for the long comment, but I figure of all people the way you responded seems like you actually enjoy talking about the shows you watch. If you have any recommendations please send them my way.

I'm not kidding when I say this...99.9% of the spoken guest roles are actors who have worked with the director or writer prior. They are either going by their government name or going by their previous character's name. Like the women and their secretaries from SGGNS and Her Private Life. My brain will see then and spin off into "wait a minute....what are you doing here?"

okay, imma say it. I didn't think subs could be worse than Netflix, but Prime....what are you doing? Thank God my Hangul is more up to snuff now cause I would be missing a lot of context because they aren't translating for nuance.

Subway, Kopiko, a coffee house, popcorn brand, & possibly a tteokbokki place maybe even the jellies...the amount of sponsors always make me giggle. I've only been watching period dramas recently so I forgot how big it is in modern/contemporary dramas.

Took me to the second episode to look at the director. I was trying to figure out why almost every actor from Strong Girl Gang Nam Soon was making cameos in this. Same director so this checks.

Thank you!

Just finished episode 33....So we all agree that shit's about to go down, right? Cause all those happy people in a mystery...from experience this is the final calm before the storm.
Also, girly-pop(2FL), maybe keep your new relationship on the DL as Mr. Gold Ring is a bit obsessive. Will be shock if our little homeboy survives till the end in one piece. Also, where the heck is the FL's little apprentice?

Did they end up cutting all of the scenes shot with the late Emperor? I haven't seen him yet and I'm on episode 31. I thought that he(the actor) was going to have a much larger role in this show, but it's almost over and he hasn't even made an appearance.

The cinematography is trying so hard and sometimes gets it and then i'm like....well...there was at least some thought behind the choice...

They might have switched the site again. Do you have a VPN? try (asian c dot ch)

I'm honestly curious how they will adapt it to fit Chinese mythology/history. Also they better bring the costuming and cinematography for this one. Casting wise I have no thoughts as there is such a large pool to choose from that could do the characters justice. They just need to get the chemistry right with the four main leads and they will be fine. As the sisterhood and brotherhood(bromance is what I want to say but that means something different to Cdrama watchers) are really important to the story.

Tonally the show is all over the place actually.

Is it mean to want her(FL) friend to die and leave us in peace? I'm only 7 minutes into episode 22 and once again I am reminded of want an inconsiderate airhead she is. She is going to get someone killed because she doesn't have two functioning braincells to rub together. She doesn't think about anyone but herself and it's driving me crazy. At first I was like awww how cute the little boy who she fed became a civil servant and wants to be friends with her. Then she goes for the creepy guy in the graveyard and even after finding out who he is, doesn't tell anyone and just la di da's her way along. I really hate stupid characters that are supposedly smart(she was a high ranking civil servant than the FL).

You have to understand. I also recently watched 'My Journey to You'🤦🏻‍♀️ so the open ending, using the same sets/locations, plus the lead couple regulated to the sidelines in favor of furthering the second couple's story toward the end hit a little too close to home.
With how long any show(not just cdramas) take to make a sequel or season 2 it would be years before we get any kind of closure.

One of the things that got me into Asian dramas was the one season story arches. I like a conclusion. I'm a millennial aka I grew up in the age of failed YA movie franchises that ended on cliffhangers and a promise for a sequel that never came to pass.

Both shows had great performances and the overall set design and production quality were there. Just toward the end they sacrificed the connection that brought people in for the mystery and then left an axe hanging over their heads.

Spoiler tag because this is a more negative rant that I just need to get off my chest. And I truly don't want to yuck someone else's yum, so if you are enjoying the show skip this comment.

I feel like a lot of the time the supporting actors are not on the same page as the leads when it comes to acting. The OTT acting from the supporting characters is so bad that it takes me out of the show in an instant. I want to love this show, but the low production quality is showing in more ways than one. The camera work is at least trying to do something interesting at least once an episode. The two leads are the only ones other than a few in the royal family who are able to balance their character's sides. The second leads are giving me whiplash every time they show up on screen. They kill whatever is happening dead. I'm having to watch the show at 2x the speed just to power through their scenes. I would completely skip them, but am afraid to miss plot relevant context.

can't tell how serious you are or if you just want attention/interaction.
either way. I too sometimes don't find a lead attractive at first through still shots, but once the actor/actress is on screen & interacting with their co-actors the charisma and "it" factor come into play. Sometimes it's how they sound, or move, or look at their love interest that pulls you in.
I will see a very attractive person & then get to see their personality & they go from a 10 to 2 so quick. The same is true for the 2 switching to a 10.
To each their own, but objectively these are all attractive people.