Olive4213

You're right, but the whole "bread and circuses" thing is not unique to China. Every country's government--some more so than others, of course--tries to distract its citizens from paying attention to what they're doing. This has been going on since ancient times. The trick is, the government gets its citizens to cry over or fight about meaningless, useless things (in the US, it's "culture" wars, among other things) so they won't notice that their individual rights and personal freedoms are collapsing while the government also empties people's wallets.

Yes. Always styled like this.

I'ma try to keep watching this, but the FL's big, red lips keep distracting the hell out of me. Even when she's half drowned and then pulled out of the water--eyeliner and red lips still in place. When she talks, nothing on her face moves.

Years ago, say like before 2015--before you were born, we took the word "retarded" out of our vocabulary because we thought this was no way to speak to each other. We were kinder to each other then, and capable of grace.

Well, okay, but I didn't say any of that. He can have any and all political views he wants and he's free to write them somewhere. Other people are free to decide, based on what he writes, that he's a dick. In the US, that's just typical Twitter crap. In S Korea, he can sue. I don't think it's more complicated than that, is it?

I can respect that speech laws vary, depending on country of origin--more strict or less so. South Korea's speech laws are stricter than the United States, although the enforcing of them tends to depend a lot on how much money someone has to go after people who libel them online (or elsewhere, of course).

That said, he's sort of a giant weenie if he uses the law and his money to protect himself from being called out for being a dick.

You can never be sure why a character is wearing something--you have to consider the stylist (and whatever bribes the stylist may have taken), the producer(s), the director, the budget, and other factors that may not be related to the character, the story or anything else. This is true of every drama, not just Cdramas, but especially Cdramas.

This is the silliest non story I think I've ever read. She used a stand-in? For tea drinking scene? How fucking dare she?

It's charming, but her hairstyle is . . . something worse than . . . holy shit, it's really horrible.

So much fun. And so satisfying. I'll wait a bit and then watch the whole thing again.

This is a drama that might have been a favorite re-watch, but it sort of kills itself after the leads get together. I'm at episode 30, and the subplots aren't contributing anything. Every time I que the show up to finish it, I'm like . . . . nah.

Drama is not so much slow as measured, taking its time (perhaps too much of it) to tell a fairly interesting story about an extended family torn apart by an old trauma. And it's also about ink making, which is best understood or appreciated by understanding the importance of the industry in ancient China. Whether or not it delivers on the historicity of the both the industry and the dynastic context is best determined by historians.

Which is my best way to say I can almost forgive the complete--and by complete, I mean absolute zero--absence of chemistry between the leads, who aren't even believable as friends, let alone romantic partners. Their relationship has about as much energy as a flat tire.

No wonder it's been irking me. You're absolutely right.

I can't imagine why this has been rated so low, and we'll all be better off waiting until it ends to rate it. As is always true. Always. But having said that, the rating the show has right now is complete dog wash. I recommend watching this. It may end absolutely awful--always a potential with a cdrama, but this is definitely worth watching as it airs.

What an interesting show so far. This is so detailed, from the setting to the hairstyles to the family relationships. This looks like one of those shows that's like the Story of Ming Lan, and I couldn't be happier about it.

Why, oh why, do they take a perfectly charming, perfectly romantic fairy tale story like this and stick political intrigue all over it? They spoiled Princess Hours this way, too.

Made the mistake of watching this before it wrapped up so now it's wait every day for the next episode dammit.

Stylish, engaging noir with plot holes the size of craters. Watch it because it's entertaining as all get out, but turn off your critical faculties first.

Aw. It's so cute. It ended a bit abruptly, but 8 episodes was enough for this story. A lovely way to spend a few evenings.

TTR-The Truth Review's review above is outstanding. They manage to highlight every thing I despise in a FL. I'll be avoiding this drama like it's radioactive.