I'm happy since RJL is back with his usual quality script so I've been enjoying this drama to the fullest. So many things I love so far in the drama:
First, I love Republican drama in general. If it made right, it's usually full of conflicts and angst, different kind of angst but the ones where the stakes are always so high. I love the aesthetic during this era - - esp the buildings, decors and also the costumes.
Second, I love the conflicts! Everyone has their own worries, goals, and objectives. He Xian has his own worries that he faced with ensuring the survival of his family to staying true to his principles for clients that invest in his small bank. Then we have the brotherhood gang with their own goal to capture their traitors and He Xian seemed to unintentionally assist the said traitor. Then the officer who took bribes and was caught and his own way of seeking justice. Then we have the espionage side of the whole political sides of the Chinese people. Then add to the mixed of the neutral Portuguese government who in charge of Macau. And this didn't include the Japanese who is the biggest enemy of them all. While I understand He Xian, I also can't hate the brotherhood people as well. This is indeed a very good conflicts since it didn't involve black and white people but grey and complex people who are forced to be 'not nice' for their own legit reasons.
Third, I love how everything just seamlessly woven together between all these parties. The drama opens with He Xian applying for banking license at Macau and how his lives intertwined with all these people later. I like how the drama established from the first episode how brilliant is He Xian with the Forex Exchange scene since we need to know that and understand why he is able to open his own bank despite his unprevileged background. And I feel bad for him regarding the US dollar plot since it did paint him in bad light esp among his peers and all that efforts means nothing at the end. Then add the destruction of his bank which makes him penniless at the end with 4 mouths to feed. So many thing happened yet there are silver lining in all these conflicts since he touched people everywhere with his kind and good hearts. And the scene where the boat dweller people comes and saved them, how awesome is that scene? This is usually a very good indication of well written dramas where the writer mixed happiness and tragedy equally that made watching experience highly satisfying.
Fourth, I like how they show us the brutality of war and how it affect different people. Everytime I watch this drama, I keep getting new information about WW2. Like how the British people used prisoners to do really dangerous stuffs. Or how the banking people cope with the Japanese takeover of Hong Kong and their failure in destroying all the notes and it ended up with Japanese getting 100 millions of cash for free just like that. 😅 And how useless is the Portugal government when they supposed to be neutral. Then add the foreign businessman that only interested to get more profit in the war.
Fifth, I like how the women are written here. Okay, the main characters are still men but despite that, they are not written as simply in support roles but active roles. Whether it's FL; Ms Qiao and her help in getting funds for the war to He Xian's wife which is written as more than simply his backbone. Her worries, her attempt to ask him not to go for the last day to hand over the last deposits, to asking him to help her in preparing to move to Macau to stop him from going to work made her simply human with her own thoughts despite her lovely and supportive nature as a wife. And how she has her own money, it made sense why He Xian can affort to be 'reckless' since he has a really reliable wife to support him emotionally and financially.
I have more to write but I just stop here lol. But I think seeing this drama from Macau's POV is definitely very interesting. I love how open are the Chinese people in gathering war funds and their political parties even when Japanese is in the open. I used to see how they always have to hide their political standing so this perspective is definitely eye opening.
And the symbolism used in the drama made me laugh a bit like the revelation of the doctor and his code name 'Buddha Hand' with a literal Buddha hand painting and the back? 😆
We start with Ren Jialun as Wei Zhou. Wei Zhou is not really cold or aloof since he has no problem showing his emotions. He is calm, ruthless and very confident. But if you ask me one aspect that define him would be how restrained he is and Ren Jialun plays this to perfection. I never notice this but its more apparent as the drama progressed on how much he actually hide his feelings. He is so calm to a point that even Pei Yan can’t guess what's inside his head since no matter what is the situations, despite he's being caught red-handed, he never shows any emotion -- he is always calm and steadfast. Take example even when he is having nightmares, all he did is just grab his blanket tightly. It becomes more apparent esp at Yueluo arc when he needs to make many difficult decisions and while he is making that decision, he is cold and emotionless but we know how he really feels when he is alone -- just like when he is putting the names of his fallen people in the box -- how heartbroken and lifeless he is in those scenes -- the bottomless grief and sadness was portrayed marvellously. He only truly cried when he is alone where you can actually see tears falling down from his cheeks. He did let his guard down during the swing scene when Jiang Ci caught him crying but for the rest of the show, you can see how restrained he is, ALWAYS. Like he wanted to stop her from going to Pei Yan but he only clutched his fist in that scene. Or after her master's death, we know how much he wanted to visit her but he only visits her secretly since he knew she didn’t want to see him thus he's giving her space that she needed. He could hug her very tightly (like when he said sorry to her after capturing her master) when she reconciled with him during the last arc but knowing how he could die after the war, he always careful in showing his feelings towards her -- which very aligned with how the character is written in the whole drama. Notice how the many thoughtful things he did for Jiang Ci is secretly -- like taking care of her when she's sick, help her with her hiking equipment, the clay cat, bring Cui to visit her during her grief, the Lingjiu flowers or the house that he prepared for her where he remembers every details that she told him. Then you remember that even during his unhinged phase, how restrained he is -- he could make new wound on her but he didn’t. He just poked on the same wound to remind her. All these restrained qualities made his character more heartbreaking somehow. Like the only shocked face he did is when Jiang Ci hugged him at the reunion scene or when she saved him during the war -- its like his life has always been full of disappointments but she surprised him in ways that show him the beauty of life which made him wanting to live even more. Ren Jialun brought this character to life through this subtle and heartbreaking portrayal that hits deep into your souls. I love how he grew out from his prejudice and how he is forced to keep making difficult decisions each time -- by the time the drama reach its end, I probably never wanted a more happy ending for a character -- the writer shows it all in these little details.
Then we have Li Landi as Jiang Ci. While Wei Zhou barely shows his feelings, Jiang Ci is the complete opposite. She wears her feelings on her sleeve. That is why Wei Zhou can read her as early as Episode 3 while she took 10 episodes to finally understand him. What I love the most about her character is that she did what she believes in her heart regardless of anything or anyone even when in reality she is being used as a pawn by these 2 male leads. But what made her great is despite she is being used as a pawn, she proved again & again how no one can control her as she will take control of her own destiny. The 2 male leads figured out the hard way how they can’t use her and she proved them wrong every single time. Take example when she figured out Wei Zhou's deceit, she did not buy his excuse at all and left him even without saying goodbye. And she only comes back when she wants to save the Yueluo people -- her own decision -- not driven by 'love' but her own free will. The message of the drama is very clear, you can be used as a pawn, but it depends on whether you really a pawn or you move like a 'Queen' in a chess game. And Jiang Ci, until the last episode, even when Wei Zhou sent her away to protect her, she comes back to him regardless of that -- still doing what’s her heart tell her to despite knowing his good intention. Her character arc is consistent and until the end the writer emphasis how she’s in control of her own destiny. The writer made her character such a kick-ass that she achieved all these using her intelligent, wits and her iron-clad determinations. Her kindness also knows no bound that she touched the lives of everyone that she met.
Then we have Jeremy Tsui as Pei Yan, from his tragic childhood to his conflict of filial duty to his family and loyalty to his country, we have this complicated man that is full of layers. What I find very interesting about him is that while he is using Jiang Ci, he knew how wrong it is, yet he still doing it while caring for her genuinely. The only ‘love’ he knew is from his mother so he is trying to use the same 'love' towards Jiang Ci which is trying to control her and clipped her wings. I also like how he always turned the table each time no matter how at disadvantage is his situations. If he wants something, he will get it on his own and he doesn’t need his family support or anyone else to do it. Then we see how low can he go during the war at Yueluo, it adds to the depth of his character that he himself I believe do not know he's capable of. And since this drama like to do show instead of tell, during the stabbing scene on the boat, he is actually killing 3 birds at the same time. While we audiences see him as a man selfishly using Jiang Ci to further his political ambitions, he is actually did those act to save Jiang Ci from his mother -- to prove that she only pawn to him so his mother will lay off Jiang Ci. I find it brilliant on how he turned such an unfavorable situation around with that just 'one act' while achieving 3 goals which satisfy the Emperor, his mother and also protecting Jiang Ci at the same time. Then his amazing development during the last arc, I knew why Jeremy decided to act in this drama despite he is only a 2nd lead here -- this character gives him justice to his acting abilities and what he is actually capable of doing.
The sweets that Wei Zhou always carries in his pocket -- it is to remind him the 'sweetness' in life since his life is just full of tragedies. So, he carries them everywhere -- the fact he has to do that since he can't experience those feeling physically what made the whole thing so tragic. That is why he also offered the same sweet to Jiang Ci when Jiang Ci is having a hard time during Nanling sexual assaults case.
Aside from that, leaf and flowers are used as symbolism for foreshadowing of relationship between Jiang Ci with Wei Zhou and Pei Yan. How a leaf fall down on Jiang Ci's head when he is with Pei Yan but it is a flower when he is with Wei Zhou -- this is as foreshadowing of their relationships in the future. Also, Pei Yan constantly gives Jiang Ci his jacket to wear but the one that she didnt take off is when Wei Zhou offered his' -- where we can see her wearing Wei Zhou's white fur jacket for days.
Or the 'blindfold' Jiang Ci put on Wei Zhou at Yueluo. Its not simply to prevent him from seeing the surprise gift she had for him but also a point of time when Wei Zhou completely wear his guard down around her to indicate how now, he trust her fully. Then we have the next scene of him handling the Yueluo Jade Hairpin under her care.
The 'dagger' also served as a symbolism of protection when Wei Zhou gifted Jiang Ci the same dagger that he once stabbed her. The irony of the whole thing that the dagger that used to hurt her is now served as her protection showing how his heart has completely changed now after he met her. During this Yueluo arc as well, he can see Wei Zhou healed slowly from wanting to burn like a Phoenix for his revenge to actually wanted to live and survive this whole thing.
And the most important part is the Phoenix symbolism used in this drama to portrayed Wei Zhou's inner development and state of mind. Wei Zhou is written as the real life Phoenix Emperor in China history so the Phoenix is used constantly in the drama. At the beginning, Wei Zhou is ready to crash and burn for his revenge and you can see it clearly but later, the same Phoenix theme is used how he will burn and live a new life instead just like Jiang Ci suggested when she drew 'Phoenix' on his mask at Yueluo. Also, the same Phoenix reference is used at the end on how he revived and become immortal for his people. 💔
The drama also has so many subtexts in the script that once you got it, it just make everything extra heartbreaking. They cannot say I love you to each other so all they did are exchanged of gifts to convey their feelings -- they are the couple with the most gifts exchanged between them (around 11 gifts in total: Guanming guard token, cat shaped candy, pink pouch, Jiang Ci clay cat, sweets, dagger, kite, small red flowers, Lingjiu flowers, Wei Zhou masked clay cat, house prepared by Wei Zhou for Jiang Ci 😢). He enjoys her company so put more logs into the fire so she can continue her puppet show. He cant hugs her to console her so he gave her sweets to comfort her just like eating sweets did to him. Also, same food tasted different without her. And he cant show his feelings since he has big responsibilities on his shoulder so he did all the things to her silently -- hoping she didnt know it was from him.
For anyone wondering why they kept Qing alive when he supposed to die when Zhong Lin died -- due to their blood binding. It is because keeping him alive is more tragic for him rather than he died. This is the poor writing that got me the most -- the defy of logic that keep flopping -- also, the insistence of making everything so tragic and hopeless for the good characters. The writer is so nice towards her evil characters and always give them redemption arcs but not towards her good characters that suffers so much.
The climax happened in the middle of last episode so they actually dedicated another half of episode for the ending and resolution. Usually in other dramas, it is shown twist where it shows the ML actually survive and come back due to magical antidote or secret plan he has prepared or etc but no, not this drama. Here, they made sure it was made clear everyone tragic ending are explored to the max. So, instead of feeling sad about the ending, the overly insistence that the characters deserved the worst made you laugh and roll eyes instead. 🙄 This drama has achieved this kind of low with this ending.
The writer did the same in Bloody Romance. And its indeed a gift for being able to write something terrible like this over and over again. She also the one who wrote Song of the Moon and Sword & Beloved -- another terrible dramas.
The writer is crazy putting all this in the last 4 episodes of the drama. I'm too distraught that that I dont even feel sad. 😂 The insistence to make everything to be so tragic really something else. 😑 The funny thing is, I kind of predicting this ending thats why I was dreading it so much. My hate for Huanrui script continue for eternity lol. I'm so happy RJL doesnt have to be forced to film this kind of script anymore now he has left his agency.
But I truly enjoy the reunion scene between Xiao Huan and his mother. That scene is great and those tears and heartfelt conversations pull my heartstring. Xiao Huan is just too tragic and his mother just feel so sad for him and ask him 'What about yourself?' 😢 I knew he will give the ice lotus to Cang Cang again. 🤣 Ohh and our couple only has like 3 minutes screen time together in this last 5 episodes lol
The actors truly made this drama watchable with their amazing performance. They put substance & depth into their characters in otherwise a weak and incoherent scripts and production.
I think Cangcang character is quite realistic and rational considering her circumstances, but she is not a character…
Actually, to me it kinda make sense that she run away since she still deosnt know the whole truth despite knowing his silent devotion. But they should put reconciliation scene to address they after all did reconcile properly rather than skip that scene and show they already start flirting with each other.
I know this drama are made to promote Huanrui's young actors, that's why RJL and PXR's scenes are sacrificed to give to them. I don't mind actually since I always know how shady is the company but I didn't expect them to do it at the expense of an important scene lol. The most important one imo. Since that's the root of their misunderstanding. And they were just like Nah!! and move on to different arc. 😂
And they already one team after that. We saw how unbreakable their trust into each other now. So, it doesn't make sense for the writer to make viewers hate Cang Cang. In the latest st episodes, we saw how she runs to save him despite he is sending her away to protect her. Even when she has to stab him later during the climax, it is due to him asking her not because she hates him. She did it with tears in her eyes. I wonder if we are going to see that scene in today's episode lol - - the ploy that Xiao Huan wanted to die dignified at Phoenix Terrace. Its too early imo since we have 5 more episodes.
Empress dowager did so much evil things still didn't get the throne is satisfying
I never thought she is that evil. She gets away with many things for more than 10 years. And here we thought she is the most stupid villain in the drama lol.
I think Cangcang character is quite realistic and rational considering her circumstances, but she is not a character…
Yeah, to cut that kind of scene say so much about the writing. The drama focus on other couple's relationship while totally overlook the main couple when they put so much angst for them in the earlier episodes. They took our loyalty for nothing but treating the angst that supposed to stem from something resonable and make sense to something with no weight. They never address him having to lie to protect her or her telling him that she finally understood his devotion and agreed to face everything together now.
I don't think the post station is their reconciliation scene since she run away without telling him after he recovered haha.
It's okay, I understand what you meant actually. I just wish the drama is better written.
We don't know that yet. His last scene is him with the Princess at the river. I don't think it will happen. He know the ML all too well. Just like Qing'er know that Xioa Huan is a good guy despite his mother keep saying other things to him.
I think Cangcang character is quite realistic and rational considering her circumstances, but she is not a character…
I agree with your analysis 100%. I thought Cang Cang response is very realistic since it was so traumatic for her at the Palace that she can't even see anything clearly. We call that 'trauma response' and audiences are not able to relate to her when it's a real life situation when caught in such gaslighting environment when you are being lied by everyone and it was traumatic after traumatic incidents for her. It's normal for your judgement to be clouded. Audiences are so used to perfect FLs and flawed FLs like this are frawned upon.
I thought she didn't even prioritise her family lol. Her husband kept hurting her so it's normal not to go to him. Yet her automatic response to always smile when he told her good news is just so funny. It must be so confusing to love a man so much despite your head keeps saying you need to get away from this relationship. 😅
But the writing is indeed messy. While the angst are great and so heartbreakingly tragic to watch, they didn't even put reconciliation scene between the leads which further paint Cang Cang in bad light to the audiences. They just moved past that and just show the leads already flirting and sleeping with each other. It was bizarre that there is no payoff after all the 15 episodes of angst.
PXR lack fo screen time when most of the screen times being given to supporting casts are another reasons. I feel bad for her.
The plot twists for today episode is just so amazing. I did not expect that at all: 1) Empress Dowager killed the former Emperor. 2) Empress Dowager killed Xiao Huan's mother. 3) Empress Dowager had a hand in Xiao Huan's cold disease since birth. 4) Ying'er fire incident actually not to kill Xiao Huan but Ying'er since she happened to witness the killing of the Emperor by Empress Dowager. She seriously keep using her children as pawns SMH. 5) Du's trick for Empress Dowager to buried alive since she killed her mother. 😬
I can't believe they gave us this 5 revelations in 2 episodes lol.
Anyway, I'm positive this is just Xiao Huan's scheme to bring Preceptor Du down. It seemed he join hand with Qing'er to do that. I love how the brothers always work together since the beginning right until the end. We really need positive sibling relationship like this in Cdramas.
Anyway, I want this drama to be more dramatic and I certainly got that. 😆
I just want to say my appreciation of Cang Cang as a character in this episode. I know some viewers hated her guts before but I can't seemed to dislike her since she was kept in the dark most of the times no matter how much she wants the truth and kept asking. And most of her reaction at the Palace are trauma response that clouded most of her judgements from seeing things clearly.
But once she's out of the Palace starting episode 15, you can see how clear headed she has becomes. Then after learning the truth, no matter what happened after that, she never the same again no matter how much her Dad wants to manipulate her.
In this episode, while most dramas like to use the miscarriage plot to drive the couple apart from each other, you can see how she didn't blame anyone, not even the Princess for it. Instead of feeling being with Xiao Huan makes her constantly in danger, she adamantly want to go through this with him and even asked him to rationally punish Princess Ying and Qing'er despite you know how heartbroken she is from losing the baby. And that is her true personality when no one kept secrets from her and we can see how rational she is.
Even when Xiao Huan didn't say who is the mastermind behind the whole thing, she knew it's her Dad right away since she can connect the dots herself. And I like her even more in the coming episodes as she truly become his strength instead of his weakness and he started to see it too than just trying to actively protect her from everything.
But rumour has it that Youku will give this drama a happy ending. I hope! XDI dont want to trust just hearsay…
Agreed. The ending is beautifully done and make sense that I can't even hate it. But, I never have the courage to watch it again. One & Only is the same for me as well. At least Love of Nirvana, I can still rewatch it but One & Only, I can't even rewatch it anymore - - not even the beginning part of the drama. That's how much the drama hurts me lol.
Im confident that this time around, it's gonna be a HEA for Love & Crown. 😁 Let's hope it's really a HEA. I don't mind if it's a forced happy ending, I'm too starved for a HEA for RJL drama. 🤣
If they would have given us proper reconciliation scene and some sweet scenes after that how nice it would have…
His acting has always been magnificent. Despite this weak script, he managed to put depth into his character with his nuance potrayal of Xiao Huan. I'm just amazed. :D
If they would have given us proper reconciliation scene and some sweet scenes after that how nice it would have…
I don't mind the want to focus on the other characters, do all of that. But not at the expense of the story. Like are we supposed to expect they reconcile on their own without showing it at all? After all the angst. It's insulting to viewers who waited this long for Cang Cang to finally truly understand Xiao Huan - - that all his devotion towards her actually reciprocal by her as well. They really did her dirty by skipping that scene. Now viewers will hated her even more. Poor PXR.
They forget to add their reconciliation moment, and you are right I hope this time Xiao huan also plan something…
It's just bad writing at this point. See, how other couples get flash out relationship and how all the screen time are given to them. The main couple are just being used for angst and for people to watch the drama. But after everything, they didn't even want to give us a proper scenes between them. In this 3 episodes after she learning out the truth, the only get 5 minutes of scene together. 😂 Gosh, my hate for Huanrui dramas continue for eternity. 🙃
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First, I love Republican drama in general. If it made right, it's usually full of conflicts and angst, different kind of angst but the ones where the stakes are always so high. I love the aesthetic during this era - - esp the buildings, decors and also the costumes.
Second, I love the conflicts! Everyone has their own worries, goals, and objectives. He Xian has his own worries that he faced with ensuring the survival of his family to staying true to his principles for clients that invest in his small bank. Then we have the brotherhood gang with their own goal to capture their traitors and He Xian seemed to unintentionally assist the said traitor. Then the officer who took bribes and was caught and his own way of seeking justice. Then we have the espionage side of the whole political sides of the Chinese people. Then add to the mixed of the neutral Portuguese government who in charge of Macau. And this didn't include the Japanese who is the biggest enemy of them all. While I understand He Xian, I also can't hate the brotherhood people as well. This is indeed a very good conflicts since it didn't involve black and white people but grey and complex people who are forced to be 'not nice' for their own legit reasons.
Third, I love how everything just seamlessly woven together between all these parties. The drama opens with He Xian applying for banking license at Macau and how his lives intertwined with all these people later. I like how the drama established from the first episode how brilliant is He Xian with the Forex Exchange scene since we need to know that and understand why he is able to open his own bank despite his unprevileged background. And I feel bad for him regarding the US dollar plot since it did paint him in bad light esp among his peers and all that efforts means nothing at the end. Then add the destruction of his bank which makes him penniless at the end with 4 mouths to feed. So many thing happened yet there are silver lining in all these conflicts since he touched people everywhere with his kind and good hearts. And the scene where the boat dweller people comes and saved them, how awesome is that scene? This is usually a very good indication of well written dramas where the writer mixed happiness and tragedy equally that made watching experience highly satisfying.
Fourth, I like how they show us the brutality of war and how it affect different people. Everytime I watch this drama, I keep getting new information about WW2. Like how the British people used prisoners to do really dangerous stuffs. Or how the banking people cope with the Japanese takeover of Hong Kong and their failure in destroying all the notes and it ended up with Japanese getting 100 millions of cash for free just like that. 😅 And how useless is the Portugal government when they supposed to be neutral. Then add the foreign businessman that only interested to get more profit in the war.
Fifth, I like how the women are written here. Okay, the main characters are still men but despite that, they are not written as simply in support roles but active roles. Whether it's FL; Ms Qiao and her help in getting funds for the war to He Xian's wife which is written as more than simply his backbone. Her worries, her attempt to ask him not to go for the last day to hand over the last deposits, to asking him to help her in preparing to move to Macau to stop him from going to work made her simply human with her own thoughts despite her lovely and supportive nature as a wife. And how she has her own money, it made sense why He Xian can affort to be 'reckless' since he has a really reliable wife to support him emotionally and financially.
I have more to write but I just stop here lol. But I think seeing this drama from Macau's POV is definitely very interesting. I love how open are the Chinese people in gathering war funds and their political parties even when Japanese is in the open. I used to see how they always have to hide their political standing so this perspective is definitely eye opening.
And the symbolism used in the drama made me laugh a bit like the revelation of the doctor and his code name 'Buddha Hand' with a literal Buddha hand painting and the back? 😆
We start with Ren Jialun as Wei Zhou. Wei Zhou is not really cold or aloof since he has no problem showing his emotions. He is calm, ruthless and very confident. But if you ask me one aspect that define him would be how restrained he is and Ren Jialun plays this to perfection. I never notice this but its more apparent as the drama progressed on how much he actually hide his feelings. He is so calm to a point that even Pei Yan can’t guess what's inside his head since no matter what is the situations, despite he's being caught red-handed, he never shows any emotion -- he is always calm and steadfast. Take example even when he is having nightmares, all he did is just grab his blanket tightly. It becomes more apparent esp at Yueluo arc when he needs to make many difficult decisions and while he is making that decision, he is cold and emotionless but we know how he really feels when he is alone -- just like when he is putting the names of his fallen people in the box -- how heartbroken and lifeless he is in those scenes -- the bottomless grief and sadness was portrayed marvellously. He only truly cried when he is alone where you can actually see tears falling down from his cheeks. He did let his guard down during the swing scene when Jiang Ci caught him crying but for the rest of the show, you can see how restrained he is, ALWAYS. Like he wanted to stop her from going to Pei Yan but he only clutched his fist in that scene. Or after her master's death, we know how much he wanted to visit her but he only visits her secretly since he knew she didn’t want to see him thus he's giving her space that she needed. He could hug her very tightly (like when he said sorry to her after capturing her master) when she reconciled with him during the last arc but knowing how he could die after the war, he always careful in showing his feelings towards her -- which very aligned with how the character is written in the whole drama. Notice how the many thoughtful things he did for Jiang Ci is secretly -- like taking care of her when she's sick, help her with her hiking equipment, the clay cat, bring Cui to visit her during her grief, the Lingjiu flowers or the house that he prepared for her where he remembers every details that she told him. Then you remember that even during his unhinged phase, how restrained he is -- he could make new wound on her but he didn’t. He just poked on the same wound to remind her. All these restrained qualities made his character more heartbreaking somehow. Like the only shocked face he did is when Jiang Ci hugged him at the reunion scene or when she saved him during the war -- its like his life has always been full of disappointments but she surprised him in ways that show him the beauty of life which made him wanting to live even more. Ren Jialun brought this character to life through this subtle and heartbreaking portrayal that hits deep into your souls. I love how he grew out from his prejudice and how he is forced to keep making difficult decisions each time -- by the time the drama reach its end, I probably never wanted a more happy ending for a character -- the writer shows it all in these little details.
Then we have Li Landi as Jiang Ci. While Wei Zhou barely shows his feelings, Jiang Ci is the complete opposite. She wears her feelings on her sleeve. That is why Wei Zhou can read her as early as Episode 3 while she took 10 episodes to finally understand him. What I love the most about her character is that she did what she believes in her heart regardless of anything or anyone even when in reality she is being used as a pawn by these 2 male leads. But what made her great is despite she is being used as a pawn, she proved again & again how no one can control her as she will take control of her own destiny. The 2 male leads figured out the hard way how they can’t use her and she proved them wrong every single time. Take example when she figured out Wei Zhou's deceit, she did not buy his excuse at all and left him even without saying goodbye. And she only comes back when she wants to save the Yueluo people -- her own decision -- not driven by 'love' but her own free will. The message of the drama is very clear, you can be used as a pawn, but it depends on whether you really a pawn or you move like a 'Queen' in a chess game. And Jiang Ci, until the last episode, even when Wei Zhou sent her away to protect her, she comes back to him regardless of that -- still doing what’s her heart tell her to despite knowing his good intention. Her character arc is consistent and until the end the writer emphasis how she’s in control of her own destiny. The writer made her character such a kick-ass that she achieved all these using her intelligent, wits and her iron-clad determinations. Her kindness also knows no bound that she touched the lives of everyone that she met.
Then we have Jeremy Tsui as Pei Yan, from his tragic childhood to his conflict of filial duty to his family and loyalty to his country, we have this complicated man that is full of layers. What I find very interesting about him is that while he is using Jiang Ci, he knew how wrong it is, yet he still doing it while caring for her genuinely. The only ‘love’ he knew is from his mother so he is trying to use the same 'love' towards Jiang Ci which is trying to control her and clipped her wings. I also like how he always turned the table each time no matter how at disadvantage is his situations. If he wants something, he will get it on his own and he doesn’t need his family support or anyone else to do it. Then we see how low can he go during the war at Yueluo, it adds to the depth of his character that he himself I believe do not know he's capable of. And since this drama like to do show instead of tell, during the stabbing scene on the boat, he is actually killing 3 birds at the same time. While we audiences see him as a man selfishly using Jiang Ci to further his political ambitions, he is actually did those act to save Jiang Ci from his mother -- to prove that she only pawn to him so his mother will lay off Jiang Ci. I find it brilliant on how he turned such an unfavorable situation around with that just 'one act' while achieving 3 goals which satisfy the Emperor, his mother and also protecting Jiang Ci at the same time. Then his amazing development during the last arc, I knew why Jeremy decided to act in this drama despite he is only a 2nd lead here -- this character gives him justice to his acting abilities and what he is actually capable of doing.
The sweets that Wei Zhou always carries in his pocket -- it is to remind him the 'sweetness' in life since his life is just full of tragedies. So, he carries them everywhere -- the fact he has to do that since he can't experience those feeling physically what made the whole thing so tragic. That is why he also offered the same sweet to Jiang Ci when Jiang Ci is having a hard time during Nanling sexual assaults case.
Aside from that, leaf and flowers are used as symbolism for foreshadowing of relationship between Jiang Ci with Wei Zhou and Pei Yan. How a leaf fall down on Jiang Ci's head when he is with Pei Yan but it is a flower when he is with Wei Zhou -- this is as foreshadowing of their relationships in the future. Also, Pei Yan constantly gives Jiang Ci his jacket to wear but the one that she didnt take off is when Wei Zhou offered his' -- where we can see her wearing Wei Zhou's white fur jacket for days.
Or the 'blindfold' Jiang Ci put on Wei Zhou at Yueluo. Its not simply to prevent him from seeing the surprise gift she had for him but also a point of time when Wei Zhou completely wear his guard down around her to indicate how now, he trust her fully. Then we have the next scene of him handling the Yueluo Jade Hairpin under her care.
The 'dagger' also served as a symbolism of protection when Wei Zhou gifted Jiang Ci the same dagger that he once stabbed her. The irony of the whole thing that the dagger that used to hurt her is now served as her protection showing how his heart has completely changed now after he met her. During this Yueluo arc as well, he can see Wei Zhou healed slowly from wanting to burn like a Phoenix for his revenge to actually wanted to live and survive this whole thing.
And the most important part is the Phoenix symbolism used in this drama to portrayed Wei Zhou's inner development and state of mind. Wei Zhou is written as the real life Phoenix Emperor in China history so the Phoenix is used constantly in the drama. At the beginning, Wei Zhou is ready to crash and burn for his revenge and you can see it clearly but later, the same Phoenix theme is used how he will burn and live a new life instead just like Jiang Ci suggested when she drew 'Phoenix' on his mask at Yueluo. Also, the same Phoenix reference is used at the end on how he revived and become immortal for his people. 💔
The drama also has so many subtexts in the script that once you got it, it just make everything extra heartbreaking. They cannot say I love you to each other so all they did are exchanged of gifts to convey their feelings -- they are the couple with the most gifts exchanged between them (around 11 gifts in total: Guanming guard token, cat shaped candy, pink pouch, Jiang Ci clay cat, sweets, dagger, kite, small red flowers, Lingjiu flowers, Wei Zhou masked clay cat, house prepared by Wei Zhou for Jiang Ci 😢). He enjoys her company so put more logs into the fire so she can continue her puppet show. He cant hugs her to console her so he gave her sweets to comfort her just like eating sweets did to him. Also, same food tasted different without her. And he cant show his feelings since he has big responsibilities on his shoulder so he did all the things to her silently -- hoping she didnt know it was from him.
The climax happened in the middle of last episode so they actually dedicated another half of episode for the ending and resolution. Usually in other dramas, it is shown twist where it shows the ML actually survive and come back due to magical antidote or secret plan he has prepared or etc but no, not this drama. Here, they made sure it was made clear everyone tragic ending are explored to the max. So, instead of feeling sad about the ending, the overly insistence that the characters deserved the worst made you laugh and roll eyes instead. 🙄 This drama has achieved this kind of low with this ending.
The writer did the same in Bloody Romance. And its indeed a gift for being able to write something terrible like this over and over again. She also the one who wrote Song of the Moon and Sword & Beloved -- another terrible dramas.
But I truly enjoy the reunion scene between Xiao Huan and his mother. That scene is great and those tears and heartfelt conversations pull my heartstring. Xiao Huan is just too tragic and his mother just feel so sad for him and ask him 'What about yourself?' 😢 I knew he will give the ice lotus to Cang Cang again. 🤣 Ohh and our couple only has like 3 minutes screen time together in this last 5 episodes lol
The actors truly made this drama watchable with their amazing performance. They put substance & depth into their characters in otherwise a weak and incoherent scripts and production.
I know this drama are made to promote Huanrui's young actors, that's why RJL and PXR's scenes are sacrificed to give to them. I don't mind actually since I always know how shady is the company but I didn't expect them to do it at the expense of an important scene lol. The most important one imo. Since that's the root of their misunderstanding. And they were just like Nah!! and move on to different arc. 😂
And they already one team after that. We saw how unbreakable their trust into each other now. So, it doesn't make sense for the writer to make viewers hate Cang Cang. In the latest st episodes, we saw how she runs to save him despite he is sending her away to protect her. Even when she has to stab him later during the climax, it is due to him asking her not because she hates him. She did it with tears in her eyes. I wonder if we are going to see that scene in today's episode lol - - the ploy that Xiao Huan wanted to die dignified at Phoenix Terrace. Its too early imo since we have 5 more episodes.
I don't think the post station is their reconciliation scene since she run away without telling him after he recovered haha.
It's okay, I understand what you meant actually. I just wish the drama is better written.
I thought she didn't even prioritise her family lol. Her husband kept hurting her so it's normal not to go to him. Yet her automatic response to always smile when he told her good news is just so funny. It must be so confusing to love a man so much despite your head keeps saying you need to get away from this relationship. 😅
But the writing is indeed messy. While the angst are great and so heartbreakingly tragic to watch, they didn't even put reconciliation scene between the leads which further paint Cang Cang in bad light to the audiences. They just moved past that and just show the leads already flirting and sleeping with each other. It was bizarre that there is no payoff after all the 15 episodes of angst.
PXR lack fo screen time when most of the screen times being given to supporting casts are another reasons. I feel bad for her.
1) Empress Dowager killed the former Emperor.
2) Empress Dowager killed Xiao Huan's mother.
3) Empress Dowager had a hand in Xiao Huan's cold disease since birth.
4) Ying'er fire incident actually not to kill Xiao Huan but Ying'er since she happened to witness the killing of the Emperor by Empress Dowager. She seriously keep using her children as pawns SMH.
5) Du's trick for Empress Dowager to buried alive since she killed her mother. 😬
I can't believe they gave us this 5 revelations in 2 episodes lol.
Anyway, I'm positive this is just Xiao Huan's scheme to bring Preceptor Du down. It seemed he join hand with Qing'er to do that. I love how the brothers always work together since the beginning right until the end. We really need positive sibling relationship like this in Cdramas.
Anyway, I want this drama to be more dramatic and I certainly got that. 😆
But once she's out of the Palace starting episode 15, you can see how clear headed she has becomes. Then after learning the truth, no matter what happened after that, she never the same again no matter how much her Dad wants to manipulate her.
In this episode, while most dramas like to use the miscarriage plot to drive the couple apart from each other, you can see how she didn't blame anyone, not even the Princess for it. Instead of feeling being with Xiao Huan makes her constantly in danger, she adamantly want to go through this with him and even asked him to rationally punish Princess Ying and Qing'er despite you know how heartbroken she is from losing the baby. And that is her true personality when no one kept secrets from her and we can see how rational she is.
Even when Xiao Huan didn't say who is the mastermind behind the whole thing, she knew it's her Dad right away since she can connect the dots herself. And I like her even more in the coming episodes as she truly become his strength instead of his weakness and he started to see it too than just trying to actively protect her from everything.
Im confident that this time around, it's gonna be a HEA for Love & Crown. 😁 Let's hope it's really a HEA. I don't mind if it's a forced happy ending, I'm too starved for a HEA for RJL drama. 🤣