gingerkiss

The poster looks good!

In the drama, I think ML is supposed to be 5 to 7 years older based on my recollection. I'm not too sure of the number but am certain it's definitely not a decade. Also, I don't find FL looking older. She looks rather youthful.

I totally get what you're saying about the FL. I'm so irritated with her and she is the main reason I have put the show on halt. The other is the SML. I hate his ever constant smirking expression.

The drama started out interesting but has lost me round about ep 30 with the constant pulling and tugging between the leads. But I'll finish cos I've watched till ep 34. Quite a shame cos the production quality is pretty good.

I've stopped at ep 34. Will probably wait for the drama to end before watching the rest. The way the plot has developed, it is no longer compelling for me.

I don't really like how her character is being written...always acting smart and that's annoying. This drama started out as interesting but is now a drag. Hope it improves.

Glad there are many who liked his acting style. I don't mind him overall but I guess when I compare him with Jing Tian, there's a gap. I didn't read the novel so I was watching him from a drama perspective.

It's like I find this drama excellent but apparently, many don't, hence the low rating. It's the same with casts. Boils down to different interpretations and preferences.

It's not hating. I didn't use any strong words about his acting mind you. I just didn't find him excellent as all I see are his big eyes. Even then, they're not very expressive.

Some people criticized the FL acting. To me, it's fine. Everyone has their preference. Does not equate to hating.

Why the low rating? This drama is pretty good overall. The pacing for the last 2 episodes could be better but the plot is still intact. I enjoyed the storytelling and the cast (minus the ML) acted really well.

At first I didn't want to watch this cos of the FL...don't like her. But I caved in cos I like Xu Kai and also period dramas majoring on food. Watched till ep 5 and can I say I'm hooked? The pace is good and the plot is interesting. Am curious how the love line between ML and FL will develop. Oh...the crown prince (Xu Kai's father) looks much older than his father though. LOL. Am I the only one thinking this?

Interesting POV. I didn't see Si Teng in Shizhen. I thought Jing Tian played Shizhen very well. Her emotions for the ML are not overt but very naunced. I also thought she played out the torn emotions very well considering she started off as a spy and she obviously resented his dad.

I love Lovestruck and quite like Backstreet Rookie. Lovestruck was pretty good and Backstreet was entertaining. Not bad at all. The only one I didn't like was Melting.

Was just going through this site and realized The Long Ballad is rated 8.7 but this drama is 8.3. I watched both and personally thought this drama is more epic than The Long Ballad. TLB's battle scenes were animated and I didn't like that much.

TBH, I dislike teacher-disciple love stories. I never watched the others...I dropped One and Only after a few episodes. So I cringed a little when I realized this is the storyline for NPE. But somehow, I was drawn to the drama. For me, the big draw was both the FL and the ML, who are my favorites. And it turned out to be great. Now re-watching.

I've watched a couple of SHK's dramas and movies...up to DOTS. I gave Encounter a miss. She's not an exceptional actress but she's not too bad as well. I would rate her above average. But this one...I really don't know what happened. I watched 4 episodes and I have to say, something is amiss with her acting. I get this feel that everyone is being too respectful and as a result, just not giving their best and thus, the lack of chemistry. IDK. As for the drama, the earlier episodes that I watched were not too bad but I just wasn't motivated to continue.

William is a bigger star than the guy they cast opposite Yang Mi in Fuyao...at least in China. Anyway, cast and storylines are subjective. One man's meat is another man's poison. I like the cast and story.

I feel he is holding back out of respect for her, which isn't professional. I used to like him as an actor but sorry to say, he has not shown much range in the recent shows including this one. I don't know what's up with SHK cos she used to act better.

Right? He's rather charming. I really like him. And comparing him in Lost Love in Time, he played his role here rather aptly.

I've seen William in movies I think back when he was acting in Hong Kong. When he moved to the Chinese market, I watched him first in Mystic Nine. But since then, I haven't found anything amazing in his slate until NPL. I tried Only Side by Side With You but couldn't finish it. William's acting skills are not exactly exceptional but he has an irresistible charm.

For William Chan, I recommend Mystic Nine. I tried Lost Love in Time but it's just not great for me. For Yang Mi, Eternal Love and Fu Yao.

Thank you! Looks like it's true they have a child then. Likely all the time HS was telling FZ about having children, it was foreshadowing of this to come.