Platinum Fox

That's good, then the story is doing its job. They want people to think about the morality of the law, not just the legal aspects of it. If DJX had wanted to, he could have dated SZ when she was 14 and even had a sexual relationship with her. But he is good guy, he doesn't really become interested in her until she turns 17, but the brother and another of his friends shut him down. Yet again, I am sure she would have consented at that time. However is it morally right for DJX to do that? In this drama they are saying, "NO". This is the discussion the roommates have. One said it was okay and another said no it isn't. Thus the controversy and the commentary. At 17 there is a moral gray area. Everything DJX does for her can either be interpreted as what a brother does or what a boyfriend would do. It is up to the viewer to decide. I commend the whole cast and crew for taking on this issue. It is such a powerful story especially the first three episodes.

There is a lot more going on in this story than just a simple love story. If you had them meet when she is in college, then the issue the writers wanted to address wouldn't have happened. Then, it would have been just a simple love story and anyone could play those parts. Zhao Lu Si would have never played the part. She makes sure the character she portrays goes against some societal belief of the time and the story is a social commentary.

Hollywood has been using movies and TV shows as a way to promote social change and question the morality of something for years. Why can't Asian dramas do the same? Happy pondering.

Actually, mom does try to understand and supports NN's dreams. Remember mom is a general. She observes the situation, gathers information, and then forms a plan. She does not discipline her daughter immediately. She observes her daughter's behavior and actions; gathers information from Lian Fang, SS's maid; and then forms a plan. When she whips her daughter the last time, she sacrifices her relationship with her daughter in order to make sure NN learns to accept responsibility for her actions. Mom gives SS a way out twice, but SS believes that she is in the right for her actions. If mom had not done what she did, Shao Shang would not have the relationship she does with the empress as the empress just allows her to do whatever she wants to. NN may or may not have been paddled more if she had gone to the palace before mom disciplined her as the empress would never have punished her.

Also, NN believes that she is being sent to Hua County as part of a military punishment. Actually, mom is trying to get NN out of the environment that causes her to act the way she does and supports her dream of traveling the world. Mom understands that NN doesn't want to stay at home, so why train her to take care of a household right now. There are more pressing issues on that front Yang Yang is the older of the two and should be married off before NN.

Is mom the perfect mother, no, but she does not deserve all the criticism she is receiving. Consort Yue does way worse to her children and everyone loves her.

When I first watched this drama, I felt the same way you did. However, as I started to analyze the story more and read other commenters, I realized that there was much more going on in the story than what I first thought. One thing that bothered me was Zhao Lu Si's character speaking like a child throughout the entire show, except at the end. Then I read the book, The End of Eternity, which was shown five times in the drama and realized the drama was a social commentary on the age of consent and the marriage laws in China. The age of consent is 14, but the marriage law is 21/22. These two laws are not compatible. People are trying to get the age of consent law changed but not having any luck. If you can't change a law, change people's mindset about the law. So when you say this seems like an educational film, it really is under the guise of being a love story.

It asks the question what is the magical age for boys and girls to begin their sexual journey and with whom?

I felt much like you and even commented about it to some commenters. However, after I read The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov (the book shown the first five minutes of drama), I realized this whole drama was a social commentary on the age of consent law in China which is 14. When you look at it from that mindset you begin to understand why ZLS's character acts young and speaks like a child even when she is 19. According to the law she is still not able to get married, yet she is still able to consent to a sexual relationship at the age of 14. The two laws are incompatible. People have been trying to get the age of consent raised, but no luck. So if you can't change a law, change people's mindset about the law.

The writers are also questioning what is the right age for a girl to start her sexual journey? When is a girl a woman?

Can you please explain the Chinese characters you describe? What are they actually calling each other because it may help me understand something.

Can you please explain the Chinese characters you describe? What are they actually calling each other because it may help me understand something.

You're right her voice bothered me as well. However, I learned the reason for that. This drama is a social commentary about the age of consent law in China which is 14. People are trying to get it changed but are not having any luck. If you can't change a law then change the people's mindset about the law. Her voice is just one way to demonstrate that even at 17 a girl is still too young to have a sexual relationship. She speaks this way up until she is 22 when she finally can get married and is considered an adult.

jk-gor, it is too bad that you did not catch what the people in this drama were actually trying to promote. The age of consent law is 14. People are trying to get it changed but are not having any luck. If you can't change a law, change people's mindset about the law. Even if it is legally okay, is it morally right to have sex with a 14 year old if you are 19? The drama is saying, "NO". It is also questioning whether it is right when she is 17. This drama is a social commentary on the very thing you are saying it is doing. They are saying it is not right and because it made you uncomfortable, then it is doing its job.

Just Cruisin, how can you write a review like the one you did based on one episode? Did you really understand the drama and what it was actually trying to say. There were reasons for Zhao Lu Si to have a childish voice and to act like a little child. There were reasons why the girl who played her at 14 looked like a child. This drama is actually a social commentary on the age of consent law in China. The age of consent is 14. People have tried to get it changed, but no luck. If you can't change a law, change people's mindset about the law or model for them how to act in that situation. The drama tells you within the first five minutes this is a social commentary.

Remember Yang Yang was raised by her Aunt Ge. She was brought up the "right" way. She would hardly do anything wrong because she is too timid. A good scolding would suffice with her if she were to cause trouble.

The boys were raised by mom. Shaogong talks about running away 10 times with mom only relenting twice. When the boys hang onto her legs to beg for mercy for SS, she kicks them to let go. I am sure she was rough on them as well growing up. We just don't see it as much because they are used to it. That is why SS asks the boys about how to deal with mom, but even they don't have any good advice.

NN, on the other hand, was raised by her greedy, manipulative, scheming Aunt Ge and illiterate, greedy, superstitious grandmother. Both of these women favor boys over girls. The uncle even says they just allowed her to do whatever she wanted and didn't really discipline her unless it was something major (the nephew with the honey gourd). They also didn't force her to learn to read and write. So when mom takes over these lessons, NN is resistant. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drank. Mom tries everything from withholding desserts (not survival food), keeping her in her room, not letting her go to the lantern festival, and NN is still resistant. For me, mom has been quite patient with her daughter. She has even written to the 3rd aunt about how clever and smart NN is. What mom is concerned about is NN's manipulative side and her wanting to get revenge for every little thing. Quite frankly, I was surprised NN wasn't paddled more. Which shows you mom is treating her quite differently than a soldier and her brothers. Mom is trying to find another way to discipline her.

When Yang Yang enters the picture, then mom can compare the two which seems like she is favoring Yang Yang because Yang Yang has already grown into a lady of the time. Mom is hoping that Yang Yang will rub off on NN. But if you notice before the desk incident, the brothers and NN are always together doing boy things. Yang Yang is by herself all day or with mom learning the ways of running the household because she is of marriageable age and the oldest of the girls and should be married off first. Also, the other three do not want to study all day. YY has very different interests. During the desk incident, SS realizes that they do not spend a lot of time with YY and that is why they invite her to the lantern festival. After that incident, Yang Yang has girl time with SS and QiQi. Mom is hoping that Yang Yang will rub off on NN and hoping the good side of NN will rub off on YY (be more outspoken).

In the end, is mom a perfect mom, no. No one is perfect.

Sambit, since you have finished the drama, I feel I can speak more about the mother from my perspective. The main thing we know about mom's past is she was divorced, most likely because of repatriation. First, she is a general in her own right. To be a general you must be literate, clever, intelligent, observant, a planner, flexible, and a disciplinarian. This leads me to suspect that she didn't listen to her previous husband and wouldn't just blindly go along with everything he decided for the family. Thus leading to many arguments and divorce. She even says as much when she says something to the effect, "In order for me to discipline NN, the husband will have to agree and help. So we know she has run into this situation before where the husband (past or present) did not support her in how she ran the household or when she made a decision.

Also, I think she was repatriated because her previous husband wanted to take a concubine, and she wouldn't let him. Instead of the previous husband giving in, he divorced her. We can infer this when mom was extremely angry with Lou Yao's mother for suggesting SS and the other girl both marry Lou Yao at equal status. Mom even says, "The Cheng family men only have one wife."

Finally, Mom obviously came from an educated household and before NN's dad was married to someone of the noble class as she knows what the noble girls will bully NN with (her illiteracy, lack of etiquette, and unruly behavior). These are the very things that the noble girls do bully NN about and this is NN's reputation among the nobles. Mom works to change this, but NN resists.

At the wedding proposal, mom only repeats NN's reputation among the nobles. Reputation is everything. Also, during that speech, mom says, "I would not allow a girl like NN to become a part of the family." Meaning she has been through this and knows what will happen if NN brings shame to the royal family. Remember the emperor has only heard about NN through LBY who is biased. The emperor and empress do not know her reputation among the higher ups.

I hope that I have given you some food for thought, but I do see where you are coming from shaming someone in front of everyone is pretty harsh, but is it really shaming if it is the truth?

There is a reason for that. The age of consent is 14 in China. People are trying to get it changed, but have had no luck. If you can't change a law, change people's mindset about the law. Zhao Lu Si could not play the part even though she usually plays a 14/15 year old all the time. She is too tall for the part. As I stated before, the actress who plays the role is only 11, and she has played a younger version of Zhao Lu Si's character in Who Rules the World. They needed her height to illustrate that even though the girl is 14, she still looks like a elementary student. Meaning that 14 year olds are still children, not adults. In fact, you are considered an adult at 21 and can get married.

The dialogue when they are standing in the doorway is very important to this social commentary. In fact, the whole drama is a social commentary on this issue.

I have encountered worse parents in present day society. Since I don't know how far you are in the drama, I don't want to say too much and spoil things for you. I have been watching this part again because, for me, the mother character is the most fascinating character in the drama. The audience has really criticized how she treats SS. When looking at her actions you need to look at them through a historical lens not a modern one. When you do this you see that mom is actually quite progressive for the era in trying to tame her "unruly" daughter.

As for the favoritism towards Yang Yang there is a reason for that. Favoritism and its harmful effects are themes throughout the drama.

Actually they do. Mom processes with the 3rd Aunt quite a bit and with Qing Cong, and you gradually see her softening her touch until SS collapses the bridge.

Usually Zhao Lu Si plays the character at that age, but this time she could not because she was too tall for the part. The first five minutes of the drama explain this. The actress who does play the role was in fact 11 and has played a younger version of Zhao Lu Si's character in Who Rules the World.

You are very welcome. I hope you are enjoying the drama.

That is a really good observation. Many people have criticized the mother for her treatment of SS, yet Consort Yue hits her children and calls them names in private and in front of the other children. She even slaps one of Shen'an's children which shocks the emperor and Shen'an. And everybody loves her.

The break up is a montage of things happening to LBY on the Northern Border where he has sentenced himself for 7 years. Within 5 years he is recalled to the palace due Shen'an health. There is more after that before the two get "back together" as a couple. You really do need to watch episode 50 to understand why they break up. The break up is the whole reason for her words in episode 1 at the very end.

Depends on what you think is important.

It is in the discussion posts under Realistic Expectations.