But, why, in ep18 does he see ZL in the street and then ignore him? I thought for sure he would suddenly come…
Probably bc Ah Sen knows that ZL is being somewhat of a noble idiot for not coming home yet. And I say "somewhat" because here, I think ZL is being reasonable; he's keeping his distance to legitimately protect her in these circumstances.
Re: them working together, I think it's that FL put two and two together. She already knew that Advisor Li was in cahoots with Yu family, which is the ultimate enemy for both her and ML. Then, when she found out that the house used to belong to Advisor Li (which means he probably got arrested) and that the deed was forged (meaning his backer, Yu family, is involved), she figured ML was probably either responsible for the arrest or would be able to get the deed to the right people, given that his position is in court now. Or that, perhaps, even if he wasn't part of some investigation, the both of them are set on bringing the Yu family down and he'd make good use of the evidence in some cunning way. That's my guess. Maybe someone else has more insight.
They did such a great job introducing the Yake character. I was fooled by the pure and innocent beauty. I was…
Covert narcissist. The narcissism stems from deep insecurity and typically doesn't show itself until the narcissist's own desires and self-worth are threatened and the other person is no longer "useful" to them. They won't outright boast like overt narcissists but will do many things, including lying, to craft or uphold their supposed "image," like Ya Ke doing these teachings/readings when she's pawned off her father's books/dowry multiple times w/o a thought and lying about how her and her husband's story.
I like the metaphorical poetry of the fact that both people who ended up with the Narcissus flower (the giver and the ultimate recipient) would probably both be clinically tested as narcissists. Ya Ke a covert narcissist and YJX an overt one.
I'm on ep 3 - can someone help me understand why Zuo Shi (the cray cray widow) is so set on getting the FL married to her brother? How does it benefit/free her?
I wonder what ZY whispered in the Sanjiangkou chief's ear at the end?? Really appreciated this drama - such a refreshing change of pace, really well-written characters, and made me laugh out loud.
I think the ending was perfect. This is one of the only dramas which was (1) absolutely hilarious, (2) had really great romance that didn't fall into tropes or cheesy lines but anchored in real feelings and what actual people would say, and (3) had logic that made sense.
As much as we want FL to stay in ancient times, something I appreciate so much about this drama is that, despite the wacky premise, the logic is pretty solid throughout in terms of how characters will act and what they'll say and how the story unfolds. Given that, I'm glad that the writer and director let logic flow through the entire drama from beginning until the end. For the FL to stay in ancient times will have been a gaping logic hole (which I know is what a lot of dramas resort to anyways).
Yes, it's sad that ancient Lin Yan lived out his days without her, but it also made for some great television - I hadn't cried so hard in a long time because the drama gave us amazing characters and story. I call that a win. The fact that they both remembered their "dreams" deeply in modern times, is just *chef's kiss* to me. It's not ambiguous. They're both clearly on the same page and their love can continue, in spirit, in essence, and in the physical modern world, from there.
Not the popular opinion, but I loved the ending and the entire drama overall. It will be one of the rare ones that I will watch again.
1. I am so over MLs acting emotionally immature as a way to "get the FL back." This is not a high school…
Sure, we can say that this is what's happening in his psychology.
The crux of my frustration lies in this: It's one thing to love someone. It's another to actually show it in constructive, healthy ways. If someone cannot show their love in healthy ways, is it really love? My Asian mother constantly criticizes my body because she says that this is how she shows love. Men control women all the time under the pretense of "love." The list goes on.
Shen Hao Ming, as of ep. 22, has not shown me that his actions match his supposed love. Over and over again, he undermines and disrespects her. Respect is the foundation of love. Ladies, let's not gaslight ourselves into believing that a man loves us without seeing the actions to match.
This drama had so much promise and then just took a dive with ep 19.... My venting below with spoilers:
1. I am so over MLs acting emotionally immature as a way to "get the FL back." This is not a high school story or a story of 20-somethings. Shen Haoming is a grown ass man. Instead of communicating and acting in earnest ways to win her back, he is effectively a grown man pulling a grown woman's pigtails - it's disrespectful to her and mind-numbingly immature. Ladies, are we seriously finding this kind of immaturity acceptable or, God forbid, cute? You know what would've been so refreshing to see on camera? Shen Haoming respecting her wishes for a divorce instead of using childish tactics to drag it out; they get divorced and then he earnestly reflects on himself and how to win her back from ground zero. THAT is the drama I want to see. Not this middle school shit.
2. Ep. 22 - WTF. Fang Lei needs to go. And then her "bodyguard/Shen Haoming's lawyer" kissing her when she's drunk and vulnerable? And then she goes along with it? So effed up on so many levels.
3. At ep. 22, I still have no solid sense that Shen Haoming actually loves Yan Yan. It's just all ego, games, manipulation, petty jealousy, and head-to-toe immaturity from his end at this point still. BLARGHHH.
Sorry but I give episode 19 and 20 a 2 rating. The cosplaying was so fake. How would it reflect on the one billion…
I agree. These episodes are ridiculous and a total 180 from the tone of the drama thus far. It took a very disappointing turn into tropeland. I don’t know anyone who would smile, much less clap, if a couple made out like that right in front of them and it’s not a wedding.
He’s not a psychopath technically but he’s definitely unhinged with some narcissistic traits, right now I…
Interesting, thanks for sharing. But, if he’s got some level of narcissism and willingly controls/manipulates, does any level of groveling redeem him?
I’m always so concerned by the lack of healthy MLs portrayed in dramaland - it’s like the industry is trying to gaslight women into believing that abusive, controlling, or manipulative behavior is romantic or “oh look how cute he is that he makes her clean and cook for him because he likes her so much that he just can’t express himself” (this is like Moonlight, My Boss, and countless other dramas). Like, gurl, no, he’s emotionally stunted and this is just a preview of how much he respects you, your well-being, and your time that he would rather manipulate you to clean and cook for him than just communicate his feelings like a mature adult. Okay, I went on a mini rant there - just hate having young women buying into this kind of subtle brainwashing, which is not just limited to this drama but soooooo many other dramas out there, where women are subtly taught to endure what is essentially abusive behavior or bad treatment or, worse, made to believe that it’s romantic and forgivable or redeemable. Respect is the foundation of true love.
Love the storytelling so far and love that Lusi is getting to show more of her acting range, not just the typical cutesy, gutsy character type!
Hilarious that PF Chang’s got a call out - but no Chinese person worth their salt would eat there and find it good, haha.
And, a personal gripe: I am a fan of Zhao Lusi but I also am a trained actor. I wish the Chinese entertainment industry actually cared about acting skills and that actors should have or have better acting coaches. Zhao Lusi is one of the better C-actors and has so much potential, but she acts too much with her mouth in serious roles. Ever since I noticed it Who Rules the World, she tends to purse her lips in an unnatural way when she’s playing a more serious character, and it would be something that an acting coach would correct. Drives me crazy but I love her nonetheless.
Enjoyed watching this. I left with a very high opinion of Kwak Dong Yeon - capable, direct, confident, eager to engage and learn, respectful of their host and living conditions, and knows how to enjoy the moment and life. And I left with a lower opinion of the other three. 🤣
I came here to exactly vent on this. You said it all point for point. FL's persistent "Nan Heng = Super, duper…
I do understand your point - the same thought crossed my mind. But my thought ultimately is that he's the God of Death, for god's sake. If he really wanted to make her listen or communicate clearly, you don't think he couldn't?
For me, it comes down to lazy writing... When will dramaland learn that audiences are largely over angsty plotlines built on miscommunication or lack of communication (I'm also looking at you, In the Name of Blossom)? Gimme two leads who are mature and actually communicate and make it them against the world not them against each other. It can be just as juicy while being filled with deeper intimacy and connection between the leads. Scriptwriters, please hear my plea!
Re: them working together, I think it's that FL put two and two together. She already knew that Advisor Li was in cahoots with Yu family, which is the ultimate enemy for both her and ML. Then, when she found out that the house used to belong to Advisor Li (which means he probably got arrested) and that the deed was forged (meaning his backer, Yu family, is involved), she figured ML was probably either responsible for the arrest or would be able to get the deed to the right people, given that his position is in court now. Or that, perhaps, even if he wasn't part of some investigation, the both of them are set on bringing the Yu family down and he'd make good use of the evidence in some cunning way. That's my guess. Maybe someone else has more insight.
As much as we want FL to stay in ancient times, something I appreciate so much about this drama is that, despite the wacky premise, the logic is pretty solid throughout in terms of how characters will act and what they'll say and how the story unfolds. Given that, I'm glad that the writer and director let logic flow through the entire drama from beginning until the end. For the FL to stay in ancient times will have been a gaping logic hole (which I know is what a lot of dramas resort to anyways).
Yes, it's sad that ancient Lin Yan lived out his days without her, but it also made for some great television - I hadn't cried so hard in a long time because the drama gave us amazing characters and story. I call that a win. The fact that they both remembered their "dreams" deeply in modern times, is just *chef's kiss* to me. It's not ambiguous. They're both clearly on the same page and their love can continue, in spirit, in essence, and in the physical modern world, from there.
Not the popular opinion, but I loved the ending and the entire drama overall. It will be one of the rare ones that I will watch again.
The crux of my frustration lies in this: It's one thing to love someone. It's another to actually show it in constructive, healthy ways. If someone cannot show their love in healthy ways, is it really love? My Asian mother constantly criticizes my body because she says that this is how she shows love. Men control women all the time under the pretense of "love." The list goes on.
Shen Hao Ming, as of ep. 22, has not shown me that his actions match his supposed love. Over and over again, he undermines and disrespects her. Respect is the foundation of love. Ladies, let's not gaslight ourselves into believing that a man loves us without seeing the actions to match.
2. Ep. 22 - WTF. Fang Lei needs to go. And then her "bodyguard/Shen Haoming's lawyer" kissing her when she's drunk and vulnerable? And then she goes along with it? So effed up on so many levels.
3. At ep. 22, I still have no solid sense that Shen Haoming actually loves Yan Yan. It's just all ego, games, manipulation, petty jealousy, and head-to-toe immaturity from his end at this point still. BLARGHHH.
I’m always so concerned by the lack of healthy MLs portrayed in dramaland - it’s like the industry is trying to gaslight women into believing that abusive, controlling, or manipulative behavior is romantic or “oh look how cute he is that he makes her clean and cook for him because he likes her so much that he just can’t express himself” (this is like Moonlight, My Boss, and countless other dramas). Like, gurl, no, he’s emotionally stunted and this is just a preview of how much he respects you, your well-being, and your time that he would rather manipulate you to clean and cook for him than just communicate his feelings like a mature adult. Okay, I went on a mini rant there - just hate having young women buying into this kind of subtle brainwashing, which is not just limited to this drama but soooooo many other dramas out there, where women are subtly taught to endure what is essentially abusive behavior or bad treatment or, worse, made to believe that it’s romantic and forgivable or redeemable. Respect is the foundation of true love.
Hilarious that PF Chang’s got a call out - but no Chinese person worth their salt would eat there and find it good, haha.
And, a personal gripe: I am a fan of Zhao Lusi but I also am a trained actor. I wish the Chinese entertainment industry actually cared about acting skills and that actors should have or have better acting coaches. Zhao Lusi is one of the better C-actors and has so much potential, but she acts too much with her mouth in serious roles. Ever since I noticed it Who Rules the World, she tends to purse her lips in an unnatural way when she’s playing a more serious character, and it would be something that an acting coach would correct. Drives me crazy but I love her nonetheless.
Third prince is effing tragic and deeply disturbed. Groomed, obsessed. Seemingly cunning but actually a deeply misled and weak romantic at heart.
For me, it comes down to lazy writing... When will dramaland learn that audiences are largely over angsty plotlines built on miscommunication or lack of communication (I'm also looking at you, In the Name of Blossom)? Gimme two leads who are mature and actually communicate and make it them against the world not them against each other. It can be just as juicy while being filled with deeper intimacy and connection between the leads. Scriptwriters, please hear my plea!