PeachBlossomGoddess

You are right - it is impossible to tell what was censored and self-censored. I only guessed it was cut because the transition was so awkward I assumed Jackie Chan would not do something so gauche but as you point out he could just be playing it safe as well. Every show faces different censors who are all just people so sometimes some shows get away with more than others. Ultimately it is just luck. I am usually sympathetic to the production teams because they put in so much effort and there is no real consistency in treatment. To me a loss of a few minutes is nothing to cry over considering I have watched shows that have lost 12+ entire episodes.

So far no and I doubt.

It was largely produced and acted by students at the academy. Its quite obvious from the choppy editing, cgi and props/costumes.

He isn't really a main character, he just takes up space in the beginning and then appears again a bit closer to the end.

I believe it was extra credit.

Normally I am not a binge watcher either but it is so rare to get proper mysteries like this where you get enough clues as the viewer to try to figure out what happened. So just for this I find watching at least one whole arc at a time is better because my train of thought/speculation gets broken while waiting for the next episodes. I also don't know why it is so low key.

I was thinking exactly the same thing - like something Dumas would have written but applied to Chinese history rather than French. Sadly I think it is unlikely that more shows like this get made anytime soon since censorship has cracked down on "distortion of actual Chinese history"".

Yes - weTV is owned by Tencent, one of the biggest Chinese internet companies. They will never do anything to upset the Chinese authorities.

18 episodes are out already only 6 more till the end. I decided to wait and binge them all together but I may not be able to hold back.

I think there is no way to do that because the uncensored version will find its way back into China and create a lot of problems for the production companies. There is no upside to them to do that as China is their dominant and most important market. Most of the time they can't even monetize the international viewership.

So lucky - totally love Beijing. Haven't been to the hutongs (or the opera) in years but I will make a detour next I am there... if we ever get to travel again.

That was an odd transition - I think it probably got censored.

It was great -I replayed that scene a few times.

Yeah I am still hoping for some good politics and an unusual love story from this but it seems like there is a giant harem obstacle course in the beginning... If it weren't so pedestrian and and full of tired harem stereotypes or even just a bit humorous it wouldn't be so painful and suffocating. The worst part is it is making the emperor look like the villain of the show.

The sister is the worst - I just take a deep breath and sigh every time she comes on.

LMAO - Tang Fan is such a pretty boy!!!

Thanks - wow seems I've got a lot of walking uphill ahead! Since they were childhood sweethearts their love story probably begins well before she gets married though, no? I would guess by the time she is married off it is probably closer to the end rather than the beginning of her love story...

This one allows more audience participation in the mysteries than this year's Sleuth of Ming Dynasty, Under the Power and to a lesser extent Miss Truth so it is much, much more interesting. I dunno what Sleuth really is but I don't consider it in the detective genre. Under the Power is more of a wuxia - still good but not really a true detective show either. This one has strong wuxia elements but it is at is core a really good mystery. I didn't watch the others you mentioned.

Trying to continue with this but neither the emperor nor the empress is that interesting to me. He may be quite a moral and benevolent emperor but appears to be joyless and has few interests outside of his harem and possibly calligraphy. And while the empress is a strong character I don't know why they had to saddle her with the helplessly silently lovesick trope which not only somewhat contradicts her character but is just so, so painful to watch. When do we get into the princess's story? I may just have to skip ahead to that before I die of frustration.

Old age and neck folds from loose skin will probably take care of it over time! LOL!