Nepeta 22

Regarding MJTY, I'm persisting but am finding that drama very hard going. I'm practically limping along to get to the next part. But, it's not to do with this particular character. It's the whole stillness, and samey pace and lack of variety that makes it ploddy. Her sninedy behaviour is in keeping with the direction that's expected of her for the role.

Here, she's in a more junior role and perhaps the director has not given her as much light in her scenes as they want to put it on the other characters. This is common practice. You seen one actor/actress looking dull in another drama, but then very bright and good looking on another.

Possibly you mean they are rating per episode. Some users are then hitting complete. Not sure how it works but I suspect MDL are not separating the two but making it look like rating per episode and rating once completed are really the same.

Either way, I feel it limits people putting so much emphasis on ratings and more on people's comments "after" the drama is completed. Reason I say this is it's usually ratings on first impressions here, usually only first 5-6 episodes. That means some dramas may falter due to this type of rating.

MDL comments will usually have the initial airing type comments and then ones after the airing. Usually, the latter tends to be more true, offering a quick reference for the drama. I think comments are more accurate than overall ratings.

Most seasoned MDL users know that ratings are inconsistent to those that are not in the know. Generally, idol-led stars in dramas automatically guarantee high ratings regardless. Dramas without them will have more honest ratings. Sadly in some cases, not all, the lower ratings are more real/true to the drama.

I have seen some users that have voted 10 and then 1 on others. I guess, this could be mimicking some toxic fandoms seen in China. Personally, I think MDL shouldn't allow any ratings until the drama has officially ended.

OK, thanks for the teeny spoiler there. Hopefully I will watch it all to the end and aim to give my final verdict!

Looks interesting, hope to see this soon.

Thanks for understanding as a passer-by's opinion. Yes, I don't have any interest in any of the actors/actresses. I saw the trailer and it looked impressive. I hope the tempo changes and also hope the cliched honey trap story line doesn't drag on for much longer. Seeing GSJ turning is a bit sad and too much for me as of all characters, the character design would tell me he is the least likely one to fall for the obvious. So let's see.

No probs. I do hope the plot ties up further down the line.

Thanks for reassuring me. I tend to read comments after a drama has finished around 3 months to a year. I tend to find more honest independent opinions rather than when a drama is airing as there tends to be some type of echo chamber going on after a while and that can sometimes affect my judgement on the story. As for the scoring on MDL, I take that as a pinch of salt!

I will continue and hopefully it will pick up. But generally by after 10 parts, if a drama has not shifted from my initial feelings, it's normally not likely to change.

I wish the drama to be more punchy and more mean. In that, I feel that the so-called assassins are too weak and only in there for the full plot line of tugging at the heart strings. This then becomes unrealistic as trust between couples are inconsistent.

There is no way Jin Fan would suddenly trust YWS to go unaccompanied to the back hill at such an important time. Considering he's just had a battle with her and can see she is skilled in martial arts. The first 5 parts have been telling us how tough it is for would-be brides to survive let alone gain their trust. Anyway, let's see...

Thanks for responding. Maybe I didn't make it clear enough. I know this lady (Jin Jing) is a well known comedian and her "brand" has been ported into this drama which I felt mismatched. Nothing to do with anyone making fun of her. Her existence and her side plot is (I'm assuming) light relief but her character is too much and I feel doesn't work in a drama like this.

But again, this is just personal opinion and I can see lots of people like her and I know she in her own right is a capable actress. As I mentioned before, I will persist and see how it goes, but may take a while to get through as each episode. It feels strung out and the pacing is so still and plodding.

I hope to give my final thoughts on the drama once finished as right now, there are some odd unrealistic things that happened which felt like it was done just to get the story into the way it should be, and it's at odds with the characters that have been built. But we'll see.

Try Love in Between. May not have all the "traffic stars" but has great quality fight scenes and quality visuals. Not to mention great drama.

OK, thanks. I will persist to see because I genuinely want to know who killed the father and elder.

Thanks for honest response. Sometimes, I don't comment too much on MDL, especially whilst the drama is airing. I find the group mentality can sway people's perception at the time which is why I try not to read comments when I'm watching. But, this is the first drama where I found it so hard to push on and then relented by reading comments here. and to my surprise, people seem to be happy.

It has an interesting storyline, but the emphasis on the main male leads and the two ladies are taking too much time and at times too soppy and unrealistic. The story teller is trying too hard to convince us on the humanistic side... we all know it will end in tears in some way or other or why bother with a story like this. There should be more time given to the rival sect and the elders and their characters. It's how the story is told and the monotonous pace and hushed talks makes for its blandness.

I'm now mainly motivated to watch to the end because I'm only interested in who killed the father and elder.

As Jin Jing, her brand is misplaced in this drama. If this is her usual act, fair enough, but to bring it into this drama, it's over-bearing and insulting to certain types of characters and actually amplifying stereotypical characters. In this day and age, it's quite un-refreshing.

Thanks, I will carry on, but finding it hard to binge watch which I tend to do with other drama. It doesn't have that page-turn effect. I too hope JingJin's character will grow on me, but right now, I feel the send-up is jarring dare-I-say insulting to say the least. I wonder whose idea it was to draw two tiny dots between her nose...

OK, thanks. Yes, I was told she's a comedian, but if they feel they need to bring in her "brand" into the drama, I feel it's quite over-bearing. That's my opinion. Perhaps I'm out of step with what's appealing.

I will carry on, and hope the drama offers more than show moving scenes and people speaking in hushed tones. I also hope there is more about the ladies' handlers (I find that bit is more interesting), their backgrounds along with the elders and their individual characters and how they are mysteriously elected suddenly. The brothers and their friction and rivalry is done to death, and the interactions with their future wives are taking too much time from an overall balanced costume drama.

Well, I'm 11 parts in and think 6 is about right. It's ploddy, soppy and very drawn out. The tempo is samey and that Jin Jolie's character is insulting to anyone that's not a size zero and conforming to v-line face shape. That's so dated and I thought we're well past this type of stereotyping. The trailer looks nice, cinematography nice, but beyond that, it's too slow and at times filled with plot-lines that are just not logical.

Well, I'm 11 parts in and think 6 is about right. It's ploddy, soppy and very drawn out. The tempo is samey and that Jin Jolin's character is insulting to anyone that's not a size zero and conforming to v-line face shape. That's so dated and I thought we're well past this type of stereotyping. The trailer looks nice, cinematography nice, but beyond that, it's too slow and at times filled with plot-lines that are just not logical.

Is it just me, I haven't watched a drama so ploddy. Everything is so drawn out, slow and soppy. The tempo is the same throughout. Punctuated by this Gonzi Shang character - such an insulting filler. Amplifying her behaviour is just cringey. I thought we're done with these types of stereotypical characters since the 90s. I feel for actresses that are not a size zero and conform to v-line shapes, they're relegated to side plots that are supposed to offer light relief. It's a disappointment against great cinematography. I've struggled to 11 episodes. Does the tempo change beyond this?

It's not playing safe. It's what some makers think people like. There's so much variety, yet, you end up choosing a classic with Johnny Huang, which to be honest, is just a Yang Yang mark two. What could you honestly expect?

Not that whiny fandom that can't join up the dots to work out, it's the fandom that causes all the issues. But, all so easy to blame in on it on censorship. That kind of reply is just as stock as the tropey stories others are moaning about.

I don't want to comment into another person's tax affairs because I don't know about their details. I hope you are aware that the person/star is totally responsible for their own tax affairs, and that includes others handling it for them. This applies in the UK and many EU countries. In the case of Song Zuer, she may be too busy, but it is ultimately still her responsibility to make sure "all" details are matching and correct at the time of filing.

The message is simple. They are in a unique position, so set a good example and follow the law and pay all taxes accordingly. You may be more emotional about this because she happens to be affecting some drama that you may be looking forward to seeing, but apart from that, she should not be getting any preferential treatment, especially with their above average wage compared with the common folk in China.