Nepeta 22

I agree with you there. Playing self righteous is never an easy task for fear it can backfire when, as you said over-acting or forced acting happens. There's a fine line of trying to portray idealistic verging onto naivety. Bai Yu seems to be going with the affected route and it doesn't suit with the scenes. Makes him look ever more smaller. Not sure if that's the intention & later he grows. But, the two other MLs are very accomplished actors in their own right.

Haven't put me off yet but I find some MLs are simply not the most important characters like in Ripe Town or Fearless Blood. It's the support characters that pick the drama up.

That's my observations anyway. FL got a lot of hate and deemed stupid because she hated ML and behaved stupidly apparently!No doubt this drama may get that type of criticism for the FL as viewers are being given the all seeing eye.

I liked how the twist in the end of ADWAD sort of gave those that simply missed the point of the drama the middle finger. The drama makers probably had the last laugh. And yes in China they have a good sense of humour and drama has done really well there.

It's ok I saw your other comments.

That's because part of them felt the laugh was on them when the final few episodes came out on the twist. Those that don't enjoy it are so deep into the idol fandom culture in China that they have become so stressy & miserable. They simply missed all the punchlines.

FL characters are often overly scrutinised to the point of mother inspecting future daughter in law proportions. They are threatened and annoyed with assertive FLs. The ML is under their protection like an embarrassing mother at the school gates.

Hey, don't waste your time with those that populate these dramas to criticise. MDL is just a glorified fan site for idol romance dramas. They are fully sold with all this CP stuff. They don't watch a drama as a whole rather micro pick cuts to insert themselves into. They are unaware of it but those on the outside can see it. Signs are possessiveness with ML moving onto another drama and being overly critical of FL characters past & present.

I find a larger portion of international audiences display all the classic traits of a pick me. They can't help themselves. They are deep in another world that is not with the present. So as the ratings go, take that with a pinch of salt.😉

Ok thank you for responding. I'll see if I can continue as there are clearly flaws to the drama as you noticed.

I would like to respond to this aspect of the story for the FL. Your observations are right but and I mean a big but.

Generally females have been conditioned to be meek and accommodating to all in life. This is fed from childhood upwards and very often in a male dominated world they find it sociably uncomfortable to speak up even if deep down they know they don't want something or sense something that's not right all out of fear of upsetting them. It is a very complex area which as you say, she needs to be firm or assertive,

As for being more firm with ML, I think in her mind she wants to set stiff standards early on to close out any possible pain he may put her through. It's like a coping mechanism because the one you love most may also be the one that can hurt you the most.

It's interesting you mentioned filial. If you applied that same logic for SML I would guess a large portion of viewers would have none of it. So would this mean it's luck? Or is the writer lazy and unwilling or unable to see how hypocritical or ironic it all is?

To be leads you just require luck in life and those decisions made by the leads are only awarded to them because they just so happen to derive from good parents. What of bad parents? Are those people expected to have a very miserable future?

She did get time off during that period. But judging from later episodes it sounds like they never apologise? Please can you spoil me on the ending with step brother & father if you have watched to the end as I cannot bring myself to see the rest after episode 25.

He's not the cold CEO but ironically a cold personality not at work but warm personality at work which is why through work FL & ML click.

I missed that one as I was very busy when that came out but I may check it out when there is a quieter period. As for this one, it's nearing the end, and I am more stressed than usual, maybe because of the very real life events. Edward Zhang's character breaks my heart. The sacrifice he has already made to get to this point...

Yes she did as a quick reaction, but it never really happened. This space between the 2 happened less than a full episode. I don't regard that as a break up. Certainly the ML never accepted it.

No problem. Hope you get to watch Spy Game maybe just 1 episode to see if it's for you. There is even a potential for a second season.

I also came here because of the tag! I'm ok with it and just stayed. But that part really doesn't figure much and it does have some plot holes in it too. It's often rushed and I didn't even understand some of it because it was rushed.😉

Not a break up. FL on receiving shocking news needed a bit of time to take stock. She just needed a bit of space to clear her head.

I'm on episode 25 & it really doesn't figure much in the drama. I would say it's only making up 15% of drama. If you don't want as much romance but light romance with more VR experience I recommend Spy Game might be more for you.

I'm not making excuses for him. I'm telling you the reasons why a character ends up this way. The drama is literally telling you.

He is isolated. In that time he only wants to get his father's approval. Even in Stockholm syndrome many are not their own parents. Some have been badly abused by strangers. But they still admire and care for their abuser.

He's clearly damaged here. Had no affection for his upbringing. How can he possibly know the value or understanding of other's feelings? Anyone that shows slight affection or care, he laps it up. Scary I know, but that's how it is. Can you imagine if you don't think what you do to others is deemed evil? That's him. And every day people think just like him oblivous to the fact they're actually harming or scaring someone.

Yes it completely does not make sense. That includes the whole arc with the rest of the drama. If you haven't already, I recommend Spy Game. Much more realistic.

Some people don't judge people in black and white? Some know he is a product of his upbringing where his parent had emotionally abused and used him. In life, early shaping is from those you are supposed to trust. Just like the ML. You could argue ML had privileges like having a solid father just like FL.

In this story it is the FL who is the hero that brings ML to his senses & it's looking like her magic might slowly work on SML.

😉I wish they make more dramas like that for republican era dramas. The makers must have thought, there must be another way to tell the story that's been re-told so many times in the past. Loved the intro music too. It sets you up for the sublime to the ridiculous!

What an interesting view. I have not seen anything in the drama to suggest she was distant to him. She may not be vocal but she may be a soft personality. Just because her son is unhappy or suspicious of his father's death it does not automatically mean she's the issue.

If anything, the drama has shown her to try to get close to her son. He has shown to be rejecting her, and I understand that, but it is natural in his position. He's just uncomfortable with her now with another family. Also standard stuff. Her comments about losing another member of family is in keeping with how she views things from her viewpoint. I don't think it's insensitive at all. If you are, then you must be viewing it from ML's point of view.