Lush

I don't think He Rufei was forced to dress and act as a woman, because they did show when Xu Jingfu went to the temple once and offered him a cure in exchange of seizing his sister's identity as General Feihong, it showed that He Rufei was 100% dressing and acting like a man. Maybe there was only a few loyal He butlers/subordinates who knew about this fact and take care of him all this time, the temple was also quite isolated and difficult to reach so there's no need for Rufei to dress as Yan because I don't think there'd be many visitors. I don't know if they killed off all the temple staffs but I think some would definitely be still alive for Yan and Xiao Jue to be able to get information about Xu Jingfu visiting Rufei once during his stay in the temple. Something that irks me is how amazing they can kept secret of Rufei's and Yan's identity swap so tightly but Xu Jingfu only visited Rufei once, and it's easily leaked to outsiders.

EPISODE 5 IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SATISFYING!!!!!!!
Halfway of the show I was so irritated I almost wrote a comment due to heightened emotion. I can't stand watching Hyomin stuttering and confused, but dang they wrap it up so perfectly and satisfyingly I have no protest at all, instead I'M IN AWE!!!!!

And I totally love how Hyomin's colleagues are so supportive of each other. No office drama needed at all, instead the drama is between the older attorneys. Woah, I love this drama so much! Such a satisfying 'backscratcher'.

regarding this, I knew that the He family was so afraid of losing the heir that when a prophecy / diagnosis showed that Rufei's life wouldn't last long, the family made He Yan became Rufei's stand in and Rufei under the identity of He Yan, was sent to the temple to recuperate (or, rather to die alone). It's all because of their father's greed imo. Well, to defy fate, turns out Rufei survived all these years and was given a cure by Xu Jingfu. There was one point in the episodes that the father explained, Rufei was taught everything Yan was taught: how she writes, how she fights, even her habit and hobbies, to make Rufei and Yan the same person, so that one day they can be seamlessly swapped had the need arises. That's why I hope the drama shed some light on his backstory. Maybe his grievances due to being born sickly and having to use his sister's identity to recuperate or something. It's too abrupt for him to suddenly show up and become an evil villain.

while I'm typing this reply, I actually kind of understand why he turns out like this. Rufei and He Yan are on the same situation. Both of them are forced to live under other identity, they were forcibly molded to feed their father's ego and selfishness. They just grew to be two very different people: one was petty and selfish, the other courageous and selfless. I just want the drama to focus a bit on He Rufei's childhood on the temple, not to gain the viewer's sympathy but to show a clear motive on his character.

yes! it breaks my heart that I can see how light has completely been snuffed out of her eyes the moment she heard about the death of her 7 generals.

I hope they will explain the reason behind He Rufei's antagonism, maybe his past, his motives. It just feels weird to see such evil villain to become evil without a clear reason. And he's also not the smartest, he just feels like killing all the time! For Xu Jingfu, he probably just wants to eliminate Xiao due to his military influence, and he's just a corrupt official that already exists for centuries and centuries. But He Rufei? His actions are just unexcusably evil and bloody.

I think most of the budget went to battle scenes because I think the battle scenes are impressive! Well shot and very detailed, almost feels like a battle movie. Unfortunately, I think the Jiyang battle is rather unconclusive, they just suddenly end the battle abruptly after He Yan drowned, it made me wonder how could Xiao Jue suddenly rescued her? I thought the riverbank was quite far or at least out of Xiao Jue's sight, how can he detected that He Yan had finished the fight with Heyatu?

Yes!! I'm so glad they found younger casts instead of forcing old actors to play teens

Now I know why they put so much effort on Liu Buwang and Mu Hongjin's past, even getting them younger cast to play the past. I didn't have much emotional attachment to his character but dang his death made me cry a river!

I'm a bit disappointed by ep 18, 90% of the episode is only about Princess Jiyang's backstory which I'm not interested the slightest bit :/

I need more of my Xiao Jue and He Yan :(

I love how each episode has its own story, and every story concludes very well, like they tie the knot perfectly and somehow it gives me a good scratch on my soul.

Even tho the cases are heartbreaking, it gives me comfort that every evil guy got what they deserve. I love this drama so much, it doesn't leave me with the ache of curiosity but still leave me anticipating the next stories.

After browsing through TikTok and X, I found that the viewers of this drama are divided into two opposite extremes: either they like it very much for how it turned out or they really dislike it for how it turned out. some love it for being a light, rom-com watch with chemistry oozing off the screen between the leads, some hate it for that. some love the charismatic Zhou Ye, some hate that her physique and attitude defy logics. and somehow i find it really funny that some are bashing this drama while the others defend it like a pious worshipper, not many dramas can generate such opposite viewers 😭🤣

You know how I feel about this drama? It feels like something you would stumble upon AO3 after finishing a more serious drama with thirst for the romance that the show can't satisfy, then someone chose to write full length fanfiction on both leads that still stay true to the initial story, but with way more romantic scenes. It feels exactly like that, and tbh I'm not protesting one bit.

I see! No wonder it gets very comedic after episode 1! Her past in the drama is less angsty compared than in the novel and if it aligns with the novel, then it stays true to its core. I do think some scenes get very serious, like when He Yan got her revenge on Ding Yi.

I do agree that this drama delivers something that divert so much from what I initially imagined it to be. I'm not a novel reader, but from the tids bits I get from Tiktok way before it aired, I got the impression that this drama would be angsty and heart-wrenching. Tbh, it's way less serious than what I expected it to be. I imagined it to somewhat be like The Long Ballad, but it differed so much from my expectations... but not in a bad way.

I enjoy how fast paced it is with the story (although with tons of plot holes in the beginning) and the chemistry between the leads. I honestly try to forget details such as He Yan's physique and smooth hand despite her being a seasoned general so I can enjoy it to the fullest. I do agree that such overlooked details decrease my enjoyment a bit, but still I think this drama is well-executed. And if the director had chosen to lean more into romantic-comedic side, he/she has achieved his/her goal.

YESSSSSS!!!!!! He's supposed to be this scary general, feared by all. Someone cold and unfeeling, but HE'S SO GENTLE WITH OUR HE YAN MY HEART JUST CAN'T!!!!! I just love their dynamics so much!

EPISODE 9 IS LIT!!!!!!

The fight scene is absolutely mesmerizing, captivating! I love the set with statues, candles and cloths hanging, giving it such classic eerie scene from early 99s-00s chinese fight scenes in cinemas.
I love how the drama shows tons of He Yan's fighting scenes, she moves gracefully and stealthily I love her scenes so much!!

And dang the bathtub scene! Every episode always makes me wiggling my toes and grinning from ear to ear like a fool! I love this drama so much! And the chemistry between He Yan and Xiao Jue is just soooooooooooooooooooo good!!!!!! Also, I love how the leads are not shy around each other, and they get so comfortable physically too! Words can't describe how I root for this drama!!!! It totally worth the wait <3

I really love the camera angles. Cinematic, warm, and beautiful, it made the drama feels like a movie. I also love the blue-ish tone for the drama. For the characters, I love that Yoon Seok Hoon is not a 'God'. Despite his competence, he is still flawed as a human, makes him feel more relatable. I also love how this drama portrays the female lead, Kang Hyo Min, as someone who is competent, witty, yet still emotional and empathetic, and comes from privileged background which is something that is usually preserved for the male leads.

The cases are not complicated, easy to watch, and very fast-paced. I sometimes detest slow and over-complicated cases in law dramas, so Beyond the Bar feels very refreshing! The age difference concerns me a bit, but I slowly come to enjoy the mature slow-building of the romance part.

Yeah, I agree with all your points! I think because they need to condense the past into a single episode it felt so rushed and filled with plotholes.

How come I didn't know the second season already aired?!

Oh right! I remembered. I think I missed it among all the fight scenes and as dubbed by Netflix 'Gi-jun's weary breathing' lol