Living Tribunal

Ah, the paranoia is real, isn’t it? Truly, I must applaud your wild imagination—it’s almost impressive how you’ve spun a conspiracy theory about multiple accounts and mysterious alliances over a drama discussion. Are we writing a crime thriller now? Because honestly, this plotline is already more thrilling than the one in the actual drama.

For your information, I don’t find you or your opinions important enough to waste my precious sleep over. Unlike you, I have better things to do than sit here concocting baseless accusations about people who dare to disagree with me. Hate to break it to you, but you’re not the main character in this story, despite how hard you seem to be trying.

But hey, keep entertaining yourself with these baseless theories if it makes you feel better. Just don’t forget to add a twist ending—like realizing you’ve wasted all this energy defending a drama when all I did was express my opinion. Drama on-screen is great; drama off-screen? Not so much.

Ah, how perceptive of you to completely misunderstand my point! Clap, clap. Let me spell it out for you since nuance seems to have taken a vacation. I’m not asking for a copy-paste love triangle with the ML and SFL to manufacture drama. What I’m pointing out is the lopsided narrative focus—a deliberate imbalance in the dynamics. When the FL and SML get so many ‘chummy’ moments that are borderline romantic in tone, while the ML is left with... well, nothing comparable with the SFL, it’s not about demanding symmetry in relationships—it’s about asking for fair treatment in storytelling.

And since you’re so adamant about there being no love triangle, let me remind you: a one-sided obsession is still part of the dynamic. The SML’s jealousy, aggressiveness, and constant competition with the ML over the FL absolutely creates a love triangle-like tension, even if it’s one-sided. But maybe that detail slipped by you while you were busy trying to defend the writer's choices.

Also, calling this point 'weird' doesn't make it any less valid—it just shows you didn't take the time to consider the larger context of why audiences like me find this pattern frustrating. But I get it, critical thinking isn't for everyone.

So no, I'm not asking for a drama checklist where every ML gets a second FL. I'm asking for balanced dynamics that don’t rely on outdated tropes like ‘chummy FL and SML moments’ to artificially stir tension while giving the ML zero comparable interactions. If that’s too complicated for you to grasp, well, I don’t know what to tell you—maybe watch more than the surface level next time.

Oh, so this is your first time seeing an SML waiting around for the FL for years without confessing but suddenly becoming aggressive and competitive the moment the ML enters her life? Let me introduce you to the entire trope of second male leads in dramas—you know, the ones who pine endlessly but only seem to spring into action when there’s a perceived threat from the ML. If you’d taken a moment from defending this drama like it’s a masterpiece to actually reflect on recurring patterns in storytelling, you’d notice this isn’t exactly groundbreaking.

Also, where did I call a serial killer a 'decent, ideal human being'? Oh, wait—I didn’t. I said that most SMLs are often portrayed that way, especially early on in dramas. And guess what? In this drama, the SML wasn’t immediately painted as a villain either. For a good chunk of the show, he was a supportive senior to the FL, without the FL suspecting anything. If his dark side is suddenly revealed at the end, it doesn’t erase the initial portrayal, nor does it invalidate my point about the imbalance in scenes between the ML and the SFL compared to the FL and SML.

And yes, the SFL existed—but she barely had any impactful moments with the ML before being killed off. The writers could have created another SFL or fleshed out the dynamics to balance the story better, but nope, they stuck to the trope of focusing on the SML-FL bond to create unnecessary tension. But hey, if you’re too busy licking your screen every time the SML shows up, I don’t expect you to notice the lack of storytelling balance.

So no, I’m not here to blindly agree with you or pretend the drama’s choices were flawless. I’m pointing out legitimate frustrations as a viewer, and if that bothers you so much, maybe consider taking a step back and watching dramas with an open mind instead of defending every aspect like it’s the holy grail of writing.

Yes, I did watch the drama, and no, I’m not here to sugarcoat my opinion just because it doesn’t align with yours. Let me clarify a few things since it seems like my words were either misread or deliberately twisted.

First, I never said the FL crossed a line with the SML. My point was about the way the writer chose to portray their dynamic—plenty of scenes where they’re chummy and overly comfortable, creating unnecessary drama and frustrating the viewers. It’s a trope that’s becoming far too common in recent dramas, and it’s tiresome.

As for the SML, yes, by the end, he’s revealed as creepy and unstable, but for the majority of the drama, he’s portrayed as a good, supportive guy with no suspicion from the FL. If anything, his darker traits felt like an afterthought—something thrown in for shock value rather than being well-developed throughout the story.

And let’s talk about balance. The frustration isn’t just about this drama but a pattern across many recent ones. Writers give us SMLs who get these close, borderline intimate moments with the FL, but the ML rarely gets anything similar with an SFL. If that dynamic doesn’t bother you, fine, but it annoys me and plenty of other viewers who notice these recurring patterns.

Dramas are subjective; what annoys one person might not bother another. But twisting my words to fit your narrative doesn’t make your argument stronger—it just shows you didn’t really understand what I was saying. If you don’t find it annoying, that’s your opinion. Mine stands: these writing choices are frustrating, repetitive, and make for an imbalanced viewing experience.

Pathetic, you say? That’s rich coming from someone who has spent this much time obsessing over my comments just to defend a drama like it’s a personal crusade. Here’s a reality check: calling someone names because you don’t have the wit or evidence to refute their points is the textbook definition of pathetic.

You’re so desperate to discredit me that you’ve resorted to wild accusations about me using another account. Is it really that hard for you to accept that others might share my frustrations? Judging by the flood of negative comments on this drama, it’s clear I’m not alone. But sure, keep telling yourself it’s just me if it helps you sleep at night.

And let’s not forget—you were the one who replied to my comment in the first place. I was just expressing my thoughts, yet here you are, taking it personally and spiraling into baseless insults. If anyone’s behavior here screams 'pathetic,' it’s yours. But hey, keep entertaining me with your tantrums—at least they’re more amusing than the drama you’re so fiercely defending.

Oh, so now I’m really annoying? Well, I suppose that’s what happens when you try to point out the flaws in something and you’re met with someone who’s too invested in defending a series with more plot holes than a Swiss cheese. But hey, if I’m ‘annoying’ for having a conversation about a drama in a public domain, then I guess that’s just my role here, huh?

And about SFL’s confession during university—yes, we get it. She was in love with ML, and since she confessed, I guess we’re supposed to believe she can’t be a friend after that. But, really, is it some unwritten rule that ML can only have one SFL? If SFL already confessed and got rejected, are we supposed to just write her off and not give her any more purpose? But the writers, of course, can create another character to serve as the next complication, right? SML was just the ‘right fit’ because, hey, who doesn’t love a random love triangle to spice things up?

And as for SML 'not being in love' and 'incapable of it'—well, how convenient. That’s such a neat little excuse to just explain away everything. But tell me this—why was there so much jealousy from SML’s side every time FL and ML were close? Remember the dinner with Wang Qian Qian? SML was practically seething with competitiveness and jealousy, but we’re supposed to ignore all that? You can’t just throw those scenes in and expect them to magically have no meaning when the writer decides at the end that SML is ‘incapable of love.’ So, let’s just pretend the entire build-up of jealousy and aggression didn’t happen, and then call it a day. It’s almost like the writer’s trying to have it both ways—give us some drama-filled moments with SML and then, at the end, give us this neat, lazy explanation for his entire character arc.

And just to clarify, you’re the one replying to my comment when all I was doing was expressing my frustrated thoughts about the drama in a public space. But I guess that makes me 'annoying' because I didn’t just sit back and accept everything the writers served up without question. Interesting how that works.

Oh, now I’m ‘lazy’ because I’m not accepting the drama’s answers as gospel truth? That’s rich. Just because I’m not blindly following the story doesn’t mean I’m lazy; it just means I’m actually paying attention. If you're telling me that the drama gives me all the answers 'in a round and closed manner,' then please, do enlighten me where exactly these answers are. I’m still waiting for the so-called ‘closure.’ You say SFL’s death solves everything, but isn’t it a little too convenient that they just kill off a character to avoid dealing with a complex love triangle? Yeah, no further complications needed, just sweep it under the rug, right?

And this whole ‘no romance in a crime drama’ thing—so because there’s a crime element, I’m supposed to just forget the romance and pretend that’s not part of the genre? You’re telling me I’m the one with the skewed sense of proportion? This drama markets itself as both a romance and a crime drama. So, forgive me if I expect both elements to be handled well. You know, like a drama is supposed to, especially if it’s sold as a romance. But I guess I’m just too dumb to understand how to enjoy it properly, huh? Should I get a manual on how to watch dramas based on your opinions?

Oh, and ‘ML figured it out,’ you say? Great, I’m sure his soft, non-committal lines about 'handling things badly' are the magical fix for everything. Sure, because when FL broke up with him twice without giving him a real explanation, he was totally fine with just saying, ‘Okay, I get it.’ Really? That’s all it takes? No, it’s not his fault, but he sure let FL off easy without demanding any real answers. And, oh yeah, don’t forget about him stalking her to ‘protect’ her. Very noble, very heroic.

Let’s not forget that you were the one commenting on my post where I was pointing out the writers’ mistakes, but now I’m the one being selective? Interesting how that works. I guess I’m the one supposed to just accept it because it’s what the drama gave me, right? Well, thanks, but I’ll keep watching with my own perspective, and you can enjoy the story exactly as the writers intended—no questions, no expectations, no real character development.

Really? You think I watched this series with 'great leaps' just to piss myself off? Why would I skip a drama that I was supposed to watch for entertainment? Yes, the drama frustrated me at times, but there were also moments I genuinely enjoyed. Huang Jingyu, the actor playing ML, is one of my favorites. I’ve loved most of his dramas, and the synopsis of this show sounded right up my alley, especially with the second-chance romance angle. But, unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. I wasn’t looking for a perfect drama, but I was hoping for a much more balanced and satisfying dynamic than what we got.

Oh, I see, we’re playing selective memory now, huh? Sure, ML softly asked about the breakup a couple of times, but with no real insistence. When FL gave him vague answers, he just accepted it and moved on. How convenient that the SML wiping her phone gives FL a free pass, right? Classic move by the writers to make SML all emotionally unstable while FL gets a guilt-free pass.

You mentioned FL being careful with SML’s feelings because he’s emotionally unstable. Oh, but what about ML? Apparently, he doesn’t deserve the same consideration. FL can tiptoe around SML, but breaking up with ML twice with zero real explanation? That’s totally fine, apparently. And about FL running after him during their university days—sure, that was understandable because they weren’t together at the time and ML wasn’t sure about his future. But shouldn’t the initiative have shifted to FL after both breakups, which were on her side? But no surprise, it’s always ML taking the lead, while FL only reacts when it suits her.

Also, where are the answers to the specific questions I’ve raised? Why didn’t the writers balance the dynamics and create more moments between ML and SFL? Why was FL all chummy with SML, but we never got similar moments between ML and SFL to balance it out? The constant buddy-buddy scenes between FL and SML were clearly designed to annoy ML and the viewers, but ML and SFL? Nothing. Why did ML tail FL like a creepy stalker—even changing her streetlight—when she never told him where she lives? How is that not creepy? And let’s not forget how he just ignored the whole illegal investigation thing. Nice job, ML.

And as for spinelessness, moving in next door after she rejects you, pretending it’s for her 'protection'—now that’s the definition of desperate, not noble. FL running after him in airport? Sure, but where was her initiative after that? Oh, wait, she didn’t really have any.

So, if you think the dynamic was balanced, maybe you’re seeing things through some very rose-colored glasses. But feel free to answer my questions—maybe that will change my mind. Until then, it’s pretty clear the writers didn’t bother putting any real effort into this.

Ah, so FL saved the SML’s life, and that automatically makes him an eligible contender, huh? Let me remind you that while she did save him, what was he doing during the eight long years they were apart? Twiddling his thumbs? Did it never occur to him to confess or do anything meaningful until the ML showed up? His sudden aggression only when the ML returned says a lot about his priorities.

And let’s not twist my words—I never claimed FL and SML had 'sweet moments.' I specifically said the writers made her unnecessarily chummy with him, creating scenes solely to irritate us and the ML, while giving no such moments between the ML and SFL. If you compare the dynamics, you’ll notice the imbalance. Even when the ML was jealous, he took action—he fought for her, made efforts to win her back. Meanwhile, FL’s jealousy just led to her sulking. Did she do anything proactive? Nope. Again, a flaw in the writing.

And yes, the ML was tailing her—don’t sugarcoat it as ‘protection.’ Following her around to the point of changing the light bulb on her street, when she never even told him where she lived? Creepy. That’s not how you earn trust; that’s how you make people uncomfortable.

Calling him spineless has nothing to do with him doing his duty as a policeman. It’s about how he accepted two breakups without a fight, never seriously questioning her reasons, and yet kept pining after her like a lost puppy. Moving in next door after being rejected, under the guise of protecting her? Desperate, not noble. And where was this so-called protective policeman when FL was carrying out her illegal investigation into the death matter? Conveniently silent, I suppose.

So, before defending these characters, maybe compare the scenes like I did. You’ll see that the imbalance is entirely the writers’ fault. They’ve normalized these frustrating dynamics, prioritizing one-sided storytelling under the guise of emotional depth. Now, if you’ve got stronger arguments to change my mind, go ahead. I’m all ears—really, enlighten me.

Sure, go ahead and give me some enlightening instances from the drama where you think I’ve been wrong. Who knows, maybe your examples will be so compelling they’ll magically change my opinion. I’m all ears—really.

This drama has the most simp-like ML I’ve ever seen in my entire drama-watching journey. Come on, bro, at least try to be a man and stop following the FL around like a dog wagging its tail. The writers turned him into a completely spineless character whose every thought revolves around the FL.

To make matters worse, they threw in an annoying SML just to irritate us further, but didn’t bother to give the ML anyone like that to balance things out. And, of course, they include plenty of scenes between the SML and FL where they’re super chummy and comfortable with each other, just to annoy the ML and, honestly, us as viewers. But do we get anything similar with the SFL and ML? Of course not! That’s apparently off-limits.

These writers seem to be the real villains here, hiding behind the banner of feminism while creating such biased dynamics. They portray SFLs as scheming and evil in the ML-FL dynamic, with minimal moments of jealousy from the FL. Meanwhile, SMLs are always attractive, decent, or portrayed as ideal human beings for the FL, with plenty of jealousy scenes from the ML.

At least try to create some balance! If you’re going to give us this dynamic, make it fair for both genders. Let us see similar interactions and conflicts on both sides—it’s not that hard!

Wan Peng and Jiang Chengyi again in a new drama. I hope they are not a part of love triangle again 😂

No, there are many dramas coming in January too. I just told you about First Frost because there were rumours that it will air after The Blossoming Love. White Olive Tree is also airing frok the end of Feb as per the rumours

How is the ending guys?

First Frost is coming soon

Yep they are

How can you classify these as hate comments? I’ve gone through most of the comments on this page, and the majority of them seem to be offering constructive criticism about the story, the actors' performances, and the portrayal of the FL and ML characters. It’s important to distinguish between genuine criticism and hate comments. These appear to fall more into the category of critique rather than outright hate.

If you don’t agree with other viewers’ opinions, why bother coming here to read them? You can simply watch the drama and enjoy it as you like. Drama preferences are highly subjective, and everyone is entitled to their own perspective. Just because someone has a negative opinion doesn’t mean they shouldn’t post a comment on a public platform. Isn’t the whole point of discussions to share diverse thoughts, even if they don’t align with yours? Dismissing others’ opinions outright only discourages open dialogue and makes the community less inclusive.

S+ tier dramas are the ones with massive budgets, where a lot of money is poured into things like costumes, CGI, set design, and actors' fees. These projects are usually handed to famous actors who don’t even need to audition. Their star power alone can increase the drama’s budget because producers are confident that their name will draw enough attention to recover the investment. These actors are often called “traffic stars.” While they might not always be the best in terms of acting, their popularity guarantees high viewership, making them a safe bet for producers.

Platforms like iQIYI, Tencent, and Youku only produce a limited number of S+ tier dramas. Dramas are categorized into tiers like A, B, C, S, and S+, with S+ being the most resource-intensive. That doesn’t mean A or B-tier dramas are bad; it just means their budgets are more modest, and they’re easier to profit from. S tier dramas are often led by younger actors because the stories tend to focus more on the characters and their romantic relationships.