ramblingromantic

DNFing *stopped at start of episode 4*

I realllly wanted to like this. I thought it was going to be a lot more comedic. I KNOW the start has to be sad with them ending up with the baby, but the overall tone of the show is more *drama than comedy.* I also seem to really hate Woo Hyeon Jin’s character - I usually give fmls more grace because life is hard for women and that extends even to this realm, but they really made her annoying and just ungrateful. Some are saying it matches with the fact that she was raised by her very much also a child of a sister, but unfortunately it doesn't change that fact that it's hard to watch lol

ugh yeah it def was but at least they gave a specialty ending. im still traumatized by a splendid match...THAT was an incomplete as heck ending lool

yeah! someone said shes supposed to be a merge of 2 souls - Gu and Shen...but I don't feel they did a good job portraying that and it does hold her character back by not really delving into it a bit more or at least setting us up to see her from this more "dynamic" lens.

ahah same and it was so good!! I gave it a 9.7/10

yesss on the second part....I guess I was just viewing her personality as "growth" and "change" rather than "see-sawing" between the two souls *and* growth. Maybe it's more clear in the novel. Thanks for the insight though, bc I was feeling sad that the soul of Shen Xihe just died lol

He was *literally* obsessed with her? He would trick her into talking/being alone. She was never really aggressive with men and he would grab her, what is she supposed to do? She could fight back but she was always playing a longer game with him and everyone else. It's also *CLEAR* that part of her growth is being kinder to others, that kindness *does* extend to the man she was forced to marry and never loved BUT she could see that despite his flaws he was a decent guy, just not the man she *loved*.

I am *shocked* at how many people are calling the FML a slut bc of how she was with her ex-husband. SHE NEVER did anything wrong???

I didn't really get that she was both souls, it played out in the show that she is Gu Qingzhi in Shen Xihe's body (and retained memories). I *prefer* your assessment of both souls as one new one, but if that was the case, the show did a weak job of implying it.

I will say male views hate a "cold" woman and "simp" man combo. I loved it and I think Shen Xihe was a great FML. I felt that her tears for Prince Xin was part of her growth at just having emotions and caring for people in shades rather than all or nothing.

I almost agree. I don't think the memories were a plot hole, I think the *emotions* tied to them are...she is p cold and unfeeling and we are eluded to her pretty harsh past so ig those memories, even though someone else's, prompted emotions, but I still found it a bit befuddling that she cared so much about a father and brother and the Shen name that are *now* hers but really had nothing to do with her. Like on their wedding day, she hasn't committed to loving the crown prince, but she cries and thanks her dad for raising her. If it was just a platitude, sure, but she was clearly emotional about it in a why that didn't really make sense to me.

the extra ep is cute but there are still other characters we never get satisfying ending of -- they just barely tie some of the lose ends

I def agree - the MML was def much stronger of a character than the FML but I think her hesitancy to love and growth in the end were enough to still make the show work.

Not to stop you from your opinion but every story *has* already been told, the fun of it is the *slight* "fresh new tropes" that the writers/directors use. Every romance novel is going to have the same beats, but that's why I turn to them every time. A thriller is going to be similar almost every time in overall concept for the same reason. Even just general fiction (no romance) will follow 9.9/10 the "hero's journey".

I would say this is similar to a lot of historical romances in the way they are all similar to each other, but I think there were aspects that felt new and fresh to it.

If you mean Bu and Cui...then yes, but I will say I wish they showed us more of them near the end

Annoying ☹️ ty

Am I tripping or is this very much not on Viki (US)?

They have 2x speed on desktop but not mobile and it's driving me crazy. I have noticed this year they have invested WAY more in C dramas bc last year and before that i remember i could only find like 5 c dramas at all and had to get iQ and even turn to netflix for some so I am curious to see how they handle the boom of c dramas.

how far are you into the show? At the start she is wary of him -- for good/fair reasons. She likes someone else and she thinks he's some evil and deadly man. After knowing him, I wouldn't call her cold hearted but she is stubborn overall as a character.

I def hope they don't keep doing this. The only reason it kinda worked is because for the most part the plot isn't too romantic.

I don't understand why they didn't pick someone slightly older though. In fact they could have swapped her as *any other* character in this show lol. She's a good actress but to have a 16 year old be the romantic interest with a 27 year old is more than unnecessary.

it gets explained as you watch...but i will say this show's flaw is it throws A LOT at you and you have to really keep up lol

Yes!! I totally agree. It could have easily been a 9 if they stayed “on track” with the first half of the show