QAS

It felt to me like CP's role dragged. There were some scenes where he looked tense and manipulative, but he wasn't forceful. If he was conflicted, you did not see it. You could not tell if he was using Lou Mei's military family connection or if he was in love with her.

King Xian seems unscrupulous and shifty in episode 24, when Yu Qin and Mei Lin were presented to him. Who is the enemy in the war?

I started to play episode 24 on 2X speed, after sitting through 19 to 23 in real speed. Now that Que Yin is stepping forward, I feel that his marriage subplot will be predictable.

That book plot would have been a tough sell to viewers. The paraplegic ML might work as a movie plot, but not as a 30 to 40 episode drama.

The revamped drama plot is very effective and interesting, except for the Xiyan tribe. I would have liked if the writers had given Jing He's alter ego (aka secret identity) a broader storyline. He had three or four short scenes only.

I wrote a drama script, and it took me fifteen years to formulate the final plot. I might have had five iterations of the plot over time. It's sitting in my computer, resting. I probably could have attempted to convert it into a book, but I am not good at descriptive writing. Dialog writing was easier, but that does not capture the quirks and idiosyncrasies of the characters. If you have a germ of an idea, you could start writing. It was nice chatting with you today.

The book author wrote the happy ending, to give the main lead, redemption for his despicable actions.

His job title was CP Executive Assistant and Expert Assassin. He was beating up Jing He and Mei Lin (in separate scenes). I thought, "Can they just get rid of him?" I was worried that he would kill Jing He's Personal Assistant (Qingyan) during the coup.

When I read that they made many changes to the book plot, I got worried about the conclusion.

You would do very well, writing dramas. You have an eye for detail that the actors need to know, when molding their character performances.

Baron Chen's performance as a villain CP was average. It didn't look like he was capable of exterminating 100,000 soldiers. That number seems exaggerated. Did he wipe out an entire village and an army?

I have seen so many costume dramas, that they are a blur. I think there was a recent drama that had a a happy ending in the book. The writer and director conspired to make a BE (... bad ending).

Thanks, Regina. I remember your post. Emperor doesn't look guilty, but it's all an acting performance. Similar to Emperor in The Legend of Anle, who went off the rails.

The (love) triangle was officially drawn in episode 24. LOL Mei Lin is oblivious of her attraction to Yue Qin.

I was wondering why Mei Lin mentions the Undying Flower many times. Is it saying that their relationship will never die? Wa that the red fruit or flower that Jing He and she propagated in his garden? Why bother to create the triangle, JH, ML and YQ?

That scene was dull. At first I thought she was sharing the TEA with him. LOL It looked like she was dressed in her bridal outfit to follow him into the afterlife.

I have watched three or four dozen costume dramas, and I don't recall the emperor and concubine having such a big age gap. He looks 60, and she looks 15.

That was so silly. Her acting shows her youth and innocence.

I hope the production team read the feedback on the ending of Journey to Love and Double, and maybe a few more dramas that I can't remember the names.

Emperor needs more children? LOL

Does Emperor have other sons, or will his new affection for for Concubine Zi Gu produce the next heir?