Saffy88

It's compounded by the fact that Chinese guys & women generally look youngish anyway - look at Tony Leung - for the longest time he just looked like he was not aging at all. But I just feel like this year aside from some bright spots like Miss Truth (which also had a young lead actress whose acting was not always up to snuff), Joy of Life (more 2019 than 2020), Sleuth of Ming Dynasty, Under the Power, the rest have just been so-so - harmless fluff plus some downright disappointments like Sword Dynasty (that's one of those c-dramas which drops the audience in a hole towards the end). I tend to watch less modern c-drama - but if you like Qin Hao in this you will be blown away by The Bad Kids where he's the inadvertent serial killer.............

Love, love, love British period dramas and Spanish telenovelas and period dramas help me retain some Spanish. Have not watched Turkish dramas yet although I see them pop up on Netflix every now and then. Must try.

Yes, am pretty sure the positive reax to this drama is an indication of way too many fluffy period dramas this year with new idol stars who all look like they're still in high school. While this drama is not perfect, the depth of people's reaction to it on the forum here shows that we've been waiting far too long for something really meaty. Picking apart the details like not bloody enough clothes or the failure to recognize the other person misses this point I think. After all we're not dissecting a Zhang Yimou film here - this is a web drama which for some of us, stands out amongst this year's offerings. BTW - SoG was apparently the top web drama a week ago and now no 2 based on people watching, social media comments etc.

Actually that was probably just to set up the hairpin escape scene, another super hilarious and rather suggestive scene..............

this drama does stretch it to the max with their near misses in realizing who they really are. but all is forgiven cos when the audience just about couldn't take it any more there was ep 22 - the big reveal which was a pretty fantastic ep.

yup - it was like dude, she looks exactly the same as she did in her own clothes.................

We do see Shen Zhi suspecting her initially but since she managed to cover up her disappearance (by bending space and time or maybe buying some takeaway osmanthus cakes after mission - LOL) I suppose he felt disloyal to her especially when she's obviously making their mum happy.

Anyone watching c-dramas just gets used to these conventions of thinly/barely disguised characters. Lost count of the many dramas where women dressed as men are never recognized until it's convenient for the plot (something Shakespeare also used quite a bit). See Once Upon A Time in Lingjian Mountain where they make fun of precisely these conventions - like sticking a mole on your face magically makes you unrecognizable..........Also as discussed in earlier comments, in this story they do take great pains to emphasize she never really gets to see his face fully throughout the assassination attempt.

I think everyone views chemistry differently and actually it's quite refreshing to see a relationship which is very steady and firm once they get over the big stabbing reveal. This isn't an angsty Romeo and Juliet couple, this is a couple that could actually grow old together (if they're given a chance), work together and support each other in all aspects. I think Qin Hao plays it very calm and cool and that's just his character in the drama - I mean who reacts so calmly when an unknown female assassin turns up in his boat? But that's precisely why I loved that scene because it was so unexpected and funny.

Hmmm, 3 episodes seems to be very low threshold for the average c-drama - even with things like Eternal Love or Love and Destiny, the first maybe 10 episodes or so were not exactly gripping and then finally one's patience pays off and the story really starts taking off. If you watch further you will actually see Lige's character develop as she starts to listen to the Pengcheng Prince as he challenges her to think of solutions beyond just being a La Femme Nikita and slaying everyone. She also changes and matures as a result of being accepted into the Shen family. And actually at the start of the story she is a teenager; moreover a teenager who's been brainwashed by a dodgy shifu to carry out a suicide mission. So there's that to take into account.
I've enjoyed this right from the beginning probably because this year's offerings have mostly been so fluffy and full of new teeny-bopper stars who just haven't seen enough of life yet to bring depth to the screen. So far this drama hasn't fizzled out yet like so many c-dramas which start so very promisingly and then lose the plot quickly. Stay with it - you might also be rewarded for your patience.

It's on both viki and iqiyi

I know right! But luckily productive procrastinator has kindly subbed the whole drama: https://productiveprocrastination.site/category/Miss-Truth/

Oh yes, also Miss Truth which is very underrated but really quite enjoyable.

Ok someone else just wrote a message to me asking about this so I'm gonna paste it here and put it in spoiler in case iQiyi decides to plug this loophole as well..........
Below is what works for me. I use ExpressVPN .
1. Set your VPN server location to somewhere in Asia - so far India/Singapore works. Probably other places in Asia too ex Japan.
2. Then using the links that have been posted for the episodes just click on them and log into to your VIP account on iqiyi to watch. You only need VIP to watch the 6 latest episodes - earlier episodes should be free.
3. If you need to get the links for the episodes, you have to clear your cache so your browser doesn't remember your login. Then using VPN but without logging into your account search for SoG on iqiyi and all the episodes should come up enabling you to get their links and save them for later. Only then do you log into your VIP account to watch the latest episodes.

Using VPN and alternating server locations can fix most of these issues. SoG was originally on iQiyi for the first 12 episodes and then got pulled in certain regions like USA due to licensing issues. However there is a way to continue watching as VIP - I've posted guidelines earlier in this discussion board.

As others have said this definitely falls into your second category. It's got its hilarious and sweet moments but also palace intrigue, corrupt aristocrats, dastardly villains and evil sibling. If that's not your cup of tea you may not be hooked. You could also check out Dance of Sky Empire or Fake Princess for eg. which are more like Tiger and Rose.

So far we haven't seen the Emperor at all but he's in the background for eg there's discussion about how Pengcheng spent the night taking care of his brother ie the Emperor Wen. Pengcheng is most definitely just a Prince - no one calls him "Your Majesty". Historically he was the Prime Minister and I suppose here you can see him almost as a kind of regent for his brother, the Emperor.

Thanks! Saw some of these already - unfortunately their translations are a little weird for some of the lyrics - iQiyi seems to have done better and gone to the heart of the meaning rather than literally translating every word for the snippets of OST so far. Ah well, maybe some kind soul out there will eventually post a better translated version.

BTW - have you seen any good translations of the OST - the one on iQiyi last night was the best so far but only partial - haven't seen what viki will put up. The ones on YT are all a little off. Really like the OST which hasn't intruded very much on the drama till now.

Could be. In real historical life apparently Emperor Wen was a control freak with battles and one of the reasons his troops would lose cos generals could not act independently on the ground. So perhaps the sons of W were killed in one of those loser battles - they seemed to have been falsely accused of being traitors in the little flashback. Or as speculated - could it be that the father of evil sis is alive? Is the poison slow-acting? Previews show him going into a coma and Xia Nu has to beg her shi xiong to give him the antidote.