Taino

It doesn't matter... someone who hasn't watched the show doesn't know this...

One of the many problems is that the second male lead was everywhere! He was present from episode 1 and whenever the story was not about him pursuing the female lead or creating issues that could ruin her reputation, the plot suddenly pulled him and his family at the center of the plot. We believe we finally get a break from him when the nephew comes back, but he is not gone when the second male lead is back, and maybe not actively pursuing the female lead anymore, but definitely still getting to much screen and attention even after death. For example, one of the most disrespectful scenes I've ever seen is when he dies in the battlefield and the male lead brings his body back, and then his body is brought to the female lead who crashes and cries her heart out for this man and when her husband faints due to exhaustion and multiple wounds she doesn't even look his way and the show itself doesn't prioritizes him because the scene goes black immediately and then transitions to the female lead and the second male lead again, but this time she is sitting with his corpse reading a long letter while reminiscing their "relationship" with romantic music and we never see her tending to her wounded husband, but instead get two very long extended scenes all about the second male lead. If you asked me, the could have cut his love triangle short and develop a rivalry with the male lead and then a deep friendship that is not about the female lead anymore, but these two men being true friends... Unfortunately, the obsession with that character was obvious since that is time that could have been used to develop the plot better and not end the story in a hurry without proper resolution, or even showing us how the good ones were winning until they finally defeat the evil people... This love triangles were so annoying that I think I developed some immunity to love triangles so maybe I can tolerate some less annoying love triangles now...

I might give this one a try later.

Thank you!

Ouch!

What else do you expect from a "Romance" drama..? 🤔

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What bothers me about this kind of break up is that they come from situations that could have been addressed before the main couple got together in the first place. It depends on how good writers are, but in too many cases this feels like a device to introduce a break up into the story more than a natural event... Fortunately, the break up seems to be pretty short on this one.

Ouch...

I was able to finish this one, but even the amazing chemistry and lot of scenes of the main couple together couldn't save the mess they made with this show... the story felt more than "A Splendid Match" like "The Story of Ye Xian... oh, and sometimes the main couple, but let's go back to Ye Xian"

For me, it doesn't require mutual feelings from all sides. If the story gives significant focus to a third person's romantic feelings and presents them as an obstacle or source of tension for the main couple, I consider that a love triangle.

Gu Jin Zhao had an early crush on Chen Xuan Qing, and later Ye Xian spent a large part of the story pursuing and obsessing over her. After that, Chen Xuan Qing returned and became another romantic obstacle despite her being married.

First, Gu Jin Zhao had a genuine crush on Chen Xuan Qing early in the story. He also had feelings for her, but chose duty over pursuing them. That dynamic was short-lived, but it was still there.

Then we have Ye Xian, whose feelings for Gu Jin Zhao drove a huge portion of the story. Whether she loved him or not is beside the point for me. The show repeatedly focused on his pursuit, jealousy, heartbreak, and obsession. It gave those moments emotional weight through long scenes, close-ups, dramatic dialogue, and even romantic framing. That is absolutely a love-triangle dynamic in my eyes.

The main couple was always the endgame, but a lot of screen time was devoted to these romantic rivalries while the political plot and main romance were developing.

So yes, from my perspective, the drama definitely has love triangles, even if Gu Jin Zhao never seriously considered anyone other than Chen Yan Yun.

I assume you're trolling, but I will reply anyway. A romance drama is always about the main female lead and male lead getting together, and there is a love triangle whenever one of the main leads like somebody else or somebody else like one of the main leads. Another definition of Love Triangle (Google): a romantic dynamic or relationship involving three people.

This story has at least two prominent love triangles involving the female lead; one is present throughout the whole story and the other one starts during the initial episodes is put on hold and returns in the last stretch of the show.

It is undeniable that there are love triangles in this show.

The love triangles ruined this show... what a waste of potential

That's fine... whenever I figure out what is going to happen in the scene, I just skip it... but somehow it doesn't remove the annoyance completely anyway

Finished episode 15 and I am starting to see what you meant with the female lead not rejecting the 2ML harder earlier on. I know that the female lead is grieving, but this delusional dude is already making grand gestures that can only bring rumors that could harm her reputation, but on episode 15 specifically, not only he goes out of his way to send guards to accompany her but even says something like: "You were going to leave without telling me, even after everything that has happened between us". I am sorry but nothing has happened between them, and that was a perfect chance for her to reject him once again and in a harsher way even.

The only way how I am able to watch this is ready to skip or fast forward. I have not skipped anything by episode 11, but I don't plan to waste my time on things that are annoying and that I already know will happen.

I am on episode 11 now, and right when you feel like you get a break now that she moved on from her crush, then the 2ML dominates the screen for some reason.

I blame people like you for writers to insist in overusing love triangle tropes in Dramaland

Our only hope is for a special episode