Klio

So I ended up finishing it even though I thought about dropping it around episode 5. It was okay, disappointing but not unwatchable. I liked the fighting scenes and the whole ninja/shinobi family concept, but everything else was mid. The soundtrack was horrible, unfitting and distracting, and the whole Fuma storyline was just underwhelming. I couldn't understand their motivation until the last episode, and even then a lot of it was left obscure. Also, the whole Gaku storyline could've been more polished. His motivation was also ???

The soundtrack in this is seriously pissing me off, lol. There's an amazing fight scene and then some lame-ass song in the background that ruins the whole mood 😒

You could describe their love as platonic in this (drama) version and since there is no sexual or romantic interactions (you can consider their longing gazes romantic, but they can be interpreted in other ways too) people just consider it bromance. Platonic love is stronger than friendship, but it's not sexual/romantic. When I watch BLs I expect some kind of romantic relationship that involves kisses/skinship etc. that you find in straight romance dramas as well, but all of that is missing here.

I personally don't care whether someone sees it as BL or bromance, but I don't think it's strange that people see platonic instead of romantic love in this specific case.

No problem, I'm glad I could help. I was also very confused after completing My Dearest and dissatisfied with Ryang Eum's fate, but then I accidentally came upon some clip where he was out of that prison and it motivated me to dig through comments and find the explanation, haha. They should've released only that extended episode, it makes things so much clearer.

I haven't watched the whole extended episode, just clips, but I read some comments explaining it and basically he was captured after ML disappeared & his version of the story about Crown Prince, ML and rebels (that they didn't plot against the king but just wanted to return home to Joseon) was dangerous for the new king (Crown Prince's brother) because he got the throne thanks to the whole rebellion issue, so they removed him (Ryang Eum) and proclaimed him crazy. He was later released, before FL found ML, but I don't know how that happened exactly.

I hope that helps 😅

He was so good as Ryang Eum in My Dearest, now I'm even more excited for Begins Youth!

Hmm, I just saw the extended (?) scene where Gil Chae and Ryang Eum meet and talk and now I'm confused about the timeline. His hair is grey so it must be after he left that prison, but it seems like Gil Chae hasn't found Jang Hyun yet so it's super confusing considering the timeline they showed in the first episode 🥴

This was such a journey and I enjoyed every second of it. It's one of my favourite historical dramas and one of the reasons is its authenticity. I missed watching "serious" historicals. The ending was also beautiful and I like how they wrapped everything up. I do have one complaint tho and it's regarding Ryang Eum's fate. I wish he got a better ending.

FL? She thought ML died so she accepted another man's proposal. Once she received his gifts, the marriage was a done deal so it was hard for her to break it off or to run away with ML (after he returned) because it would mean leaving her family and friends and being ostracized by society.

After 34 episodes I can say that there is one thing that frustrates me to no end and it's Yunshen's inability to stand up to his mother. He's so spineless and it's pissing me off. Someone needs to rein in that bit*h.

I've been rewatching some parts of this series and I just absolutely love how it's full of prehistoric and historic references. It's ingenious how they managed to make a concise story by mixing everything with fantasy. Like, primitive hunter gatherer societies, first civilizations and consequential rise of slavery, genocide of natives, transition from bronze to iron age etc. - there are so many examples to be found and as someone who loves history I find it so interesting!

Okay, thank you for explaining. It helps a lot 🙏😊

I enjoyed it in the beginning, but waiting for new episodes every week killed the excitement and the story went in the direction that didn't really do it for me. It felt rather sloppy and rushed, especially towards the ending, and emotional scenes didn't make me feel anything at all.

I do have to praise Pavel, his acting was very good. I also like how comfortable Pavel and Pooh were with each other.

Okay. Thanks!

Hmm, can part 3 be understood without watching part 1 & 2? That's what's important to me 😅

Thanks!

What is the relation between 3 parts? Are the stories connected?

I love their chemistry!

I'm only on episode 18 but so far so good. There's nothing that bothers me, except weird editing (?) in some scenes and the fact that they're in Germany but for some reason everyone speaks English instead of German 🤣

EDIT (after completing it): I must be in the minority because I really liked this as a whole, despite some annoying characters who at times made my blood boil. I loved the main couple and their story, and the family drama was also done well. ML's brother and mother were "evil", but both of them were also victims and while I couldn't excuse his mother's actions I actually felt sympathy for his brother and I'm glad he eventually came around, abandoned his revenge plan and managed to get a happy ending.
All in all, I think it was good. I don't understand the low rating 🤔

You're welcome, I hope you'll like them.

As for TTEOTM, yeah, it kinda is similar to this one, and the story mostly revolves around romance. I love morally grey characters so I enjoyed watching it, but there's a good chance you would not like it.

I see.
You may like Nirvana in Fire, it has a really good story (revenge & scheming). The first few episodes are hard to follow but it becomes really good after that. Almost everyone who watched it ended up liking it.

The Long Ballad also has a good story. There is romance but it's not too fluffy.

The Rise of Phoenixes also has a good political story with some romance (it's not very fluffy but the chemistry is definitely there).

Mysterious Lotus Casebook is another good one. There is no romance but there is bromance between the 3 MLs and really good fighting scenes.

Love Like The Galaxy is slowburn romance but there is some mystery as well.

The Untamed has a really good story (+bromance) that keeps you glued to the screen. A lot of people point out the bromance, but it's basically a story about Wei Wuxian and his fall from grace. Character development and story progression are top-notch, but CGI/special effects aren't the best.

Till The End Of The Moon is fantasy and romance but it's not fluffy, more like enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers 😂, if you like that type of spicier romance it's really good.