Nepeta 22

I'm afraid I gave that a miss because I don't like dramas with those themes. I'm sure she was good as I heard a lot of good comments on the drama.

There is a saying: Hurt people hurt people. This is how far fandom has got to. I have seen far too many losing their central core and have gone so defensive they are offensive. This must be the downside of online activity that has mushroomed within the entertainment industry, especially China.

We're already seeing this playing out onto the real-life streets where scuffles and skirmishes happen because of online spats between fandoms. Very sad and stars are sometimes unable to say anything because their agencies tell them to look the other way. I think something is going to give soon... the toxicity is expanding to new levels.

I think the issue is this fixation with pacing. But at the cost of developing breathing space between scenes. Like Queen Dongxia's death, ZZX's scenes during battle to when he was demoted and sent away, there is very little given in the reflective moments.

The obsession is just with "surface" instant visuals and less on humanity and where ML's thoughts are. This makes it very hard to engage with him on any of his actions. From the jovial master that we know so little of to the many that are just mere collaterals in his narrow mindset of revenge. In the end, you start to feel for the villains more than his single minded need for revenge and then truth.

The FL's role is lovely for the drama, and possibly the only humanistic side to a one sided thirst for revenge, but sadly, the directors show their dated vision of utilising a female for that role. It's as if only a woman can be designated to put breaks on him or sacrifice herself for him if need be. She's written as a vulnerable person that had put on a brave hard face exterior to mask her loneliness and situation. But ML's role was never given enough of this. Only when he's with her we see the next layer of him.

I don't know what the title of this drama is in Chinese, but the English version using the word legend at this moment in time is just not fitting in my view. He's just a wounded person that has fallen into the hands of handlers and is just a tool for them. I hope the last 7 episodes prove the title right.

I'm not romance crazy but think the love line here in this drama is the best thing about it. Lifts the whole drama, otherwise it would be just another bog standard revenge drama set in whatever dynasty. She fancies him, and why not? These things happen, it doesn't need to be complex and grows etc. She was not nice to him but he just feels something for her. He can't help himself. This is natural, and there is no reason. That's not forced, that's how nature can be. Unpredictable and impossible to pin down.

OK, we'll have to agree to disagree on Wallace Chung. He looks really creepy I'm afraid! Let's see if he's a good man or a shady one 😉!

😂

Well it could go a lot of ways, so let's see. Yes, Cao is still instrumental so there's lots of twists and turns to go. Master Eight's father will also figure somewhere. Maybe he's the mask man...

Your last sentence, I feel might be something near the end. A twist maybe? Who knows, it's been very topsy-turvy watching this drama. It's dramatic for sure, but then there are some weird actions on characters and ML's flashes of brilliance punctuated with rookie errors seems to not flow. But I hope the last 10 episodes will be more well formed for him. At the moment, I can't seem to even understand the ML!

OK, we just have different opinions. I'm not getting this kind hearted vibe. Maybe because he wears this dodgy looking mustache! Since this is a mystery drama, the father is also suspect in my opinion. Trying to run away because he knows two others will want him dead? Giving her a book that showcase his country's great secrets in architecture? I don't know, it doesn't make sense. Either she's lying or he's working with Dong Xia.

We'll just have to see with ZZX. I believe it's not the end of him. But, I would be surprised if they don't have him come back scheming to do ML harm. FL's character, I don't know if she changes but right now, I can't see that. I see her being used as a reason to cause ZH stress and have that inner conflict of whether to give up. However, he should be thinking about who that mask man is!

Regarding your last sentence, I feel it's not the case now. He has done all that he needs to do, but this Gui Seal arc is more they needing him. He has been brain washed into thinking it's his business. Not only that, he has probably inadvertently caused a new issue with ZZX later on. I don't think that arc is over.

I think he's suspicious of the mask man and his "handlers" by now considering how calculated and cynical he has become. we'll see.

He's a very versatile actor. He played a kind hearted rich gay guy in Regeneration recently, and he played it brilliantly.

Yes, this is what's making this drama very interesting and watchable. Those that kept saying there's no love or romantic scenes, it's all male centric... well they come in different ways. It's this storyline that keeps Weibo chattering and director knows that. Without it, the drama is a bog standard revenge drama that is already quite saturated.

The outcome is ZZX is worse off compared with ML. ZH may have lost his family, but he got promoted. ZZH has the trauma of having his father stab himself in front of him using his own sword. Had a messed up life dealing with his mother's death. Then finding out who killed his mother and going through the revenge only to be cast aside and demoted.

Sorry, but if ZH has not learnt anything from this, he's very flawed or turning fast into a cold-blooded villain. He's already used the love of his life as a pawn to draw her mother out. Then we have FL love-brain, willing to cast her family away because she fancies him so much unintelligently. It's very messy.

I'm side eye-ing all those that kept telling everyone in the early days there is 'no romance', FL doesn't figure that much. Well she doesn't, but when she does, she's fawning and lusting after the ML. He has a soft spot for her and if I'm to guess, the classic FL will soften the ML into abandoning or pulling him away from all this Gui Seal plot. If that doesn't work, she'll put him in danger trying to save him!

Stockholm Syndrome needs to show that those caring are quite outwardly abusive or toxic in the first place. I am seeing just good nurturing. Let's be honest, the big elephant in the room is why hasn't ML asked why the mask needs to be on all the time? This is the main issue. I get he's indebted to them for his life first and foremost, but the rest just doesn't sit right.

I disagree with that assessment. It's well documented that when children reach teenage years they start to think independently. Even how manipulative, I hope to see ML character doing a 360 degrees and going against the mask man. If this doesn't happen, again, this is a big flaw in this whole drama.

This ZZX situation is most likely going to come back to bite ML. If I'm wrong, then there is a serious issue with the direction and scriptwriting.

Firstly, ML needs to go through realisation that what he had been doing was all wrong, and he's just been egged on by others that utilised his vulnerability go get this Gui Seal. It's obvious, it's moved on. Originally, it's to kill Duke Pingjing for his family's death, but then it's now about some seal which is more a moral or curiosity question, but those around him have pushed this seal as something so important, he must pursue its origin and powers.

That's where he will go through his arc of saving the nation. But at what cost. This is where the FL is for I think. She's reduced to a love brain individual who just wants ML to run away with her to have a quiet life together. Will he do that? That's the bit that may be more important than the Gui Seal.

I think the way the direction is going, that is what they will paint him as until he sees the light. He's going through a journey. It's obvious he's flawed, has blinkered vision and motivated by blind hate and emotions. What he saw on the day of his father's death is no doubt one side of the story and he will slowly find out, what he was told or what he thought is not what it's all about. He may be betrayed along the way to make him learn the hard way.

The ending will be something like The League of Nobleman where the bigger picture is more important than a personal grudge and the FL's character is meant to soften him and make him realise her simplistic quest for happiness and cast away past hatred is better in the long run than play the power game that as seen will soon corrupt you. He may create history repeating itself through ruinging ZZX mindset, and realise was this the right path.

Like most idol dramas, there is a very strong moral code that is rooted from one extreme to the other.

I understand, but the whole hugging scene was too forced, just to bring about this kind of reaction. But it does not take away the fact that they are implying both have feelings with each other.

What I want to know is whether Kuai Duo kept all this from his family, in particular his wife, because I think it could have gone into low-key unfaithfulness if he kept such a big thing as saving someone like her. Also, why the director did not choose to show the ML's face as she recounts the past, even if she's questionable. I would have like to see how the director wanted to edit that. Where are they going with this?

I don't think it's that. The role she is playing is very two dimensional and this actress usually plays upright righteous characters and this is not suited to her demeanor and face.

She's playing against type. Some actors just do not suit certain roles. Not all actors can play everything and everyone. JJY suites in self righteous roles or roles where she's contemplating and depressed. Playing arrogant, spoilt and hopelessly in love but not intelligently makes her seem unnatural. Her love for him seems devoted but also a bit empty kind of way. She just fancies him.