u10146071

I think you're right. Nothing I've watched implies to me that he's the designated heir to the throne. 🤔

I'm only on ep 2 but the ML seems to be just as clever as the FL, in their own domains. Forensic knowledge was rare in this era so if FL has expertise in this area she WOULD know more than all the other characters on this topic - that's just logical. Doesn't mean she is the smartest person in the nation. It means she has subject matter expertise.

Ep 1 and 2 are so dense with information. This is a drama that seems to respect its audience. Good acting, good pacing so far. The characters we are intended to like are all likeable. So far I enjoy how the ML can be both hard and soft, depending on the situation- not 1 dimensional at all.

In the novel 2nd half imo we have an "internal vs external" issue where we see in his POV that he's obviously in love. But outwardly, towards her, he won't express these feelings. This grew progressively more frustrating for me as a reader. I feel like the drama screenwriter tried to address this by making him open up much earlier - except they keep her reticence. Which makes less sense, because this reticence in the novel was due to his behavior. Which has been altered. 🤔 Let's see if you have the same take as me. Maybe you'll think the opposite:) Good luck, hope you enjoy!

The novel is different. Whether it's better is personal taste. IMO both versions have an unequal dynamic which will frustrate the reader/viewer. In 2nd half of the novel, the ML withholds affection for a very long time. She's emotionally wounded and pining with no ACTIVE indication he has feelings and won't discard her. In the drama this dynamic is somewhat reversed, his affections are more clear and she is more withholding. I think the drama fixed some elements but also the novel has more consistent characterization. (Though tbh I stopped caring how true to character the ML's behavior was after it went on WAY too long that he wouldn't confess feelings and stop playing cold and emotionally unavailable. Like ok that's very "him" but IT'S ANNOYING.) Curious to see if you feel the same way.

you might start with "In Blossom" - happy ending and male lead role. Good reviews.

Your critique is valid and I think what you're trying to express is clear. To a reasonable person, you making a brief comparison to another drama is not a big deal. It's being blown out of proportion.

Moonlight Mystique gave me that as well. Once they link up, never faltered.

exactly! it's like a balenced scale. when you take weight off one side, need to adjust the other

agree! in the source material at this point he decides to eliminate her because she's a liability. feeds her a meal laced with deadly poison, watches her eat it, says it will take her an hour to die and then tells her he's got too much to do so he can't accompany her... then feels conflicted and decides he can't go thru with it and sends someone with the antidote, but she's already run off. oops. Not exactly a trust-inspiring guy LMAO (and then he's all pissed, omg HOW DARE U SHOW UP WITH ANOTHER MAN. like. bro. u tried to murder her. ?????????? 🤣🤣)

in all seriousness, do not real the source novel lol. I'm afraid you might have a stroke! stg they don't properly communicate until over 200 chapters in, at almost the very end of the novel. ML is constantly denying he cares about her until almost the end and then wondering why she doesn't open up to him. 😂😭 and she fakes & fakes that it doesn't bother her that she seems to be disposable to him. that novel was hard on my blood pressure fr.

This is just "adaptation weirdness". In the novel HE ABSOLUTELY TRIES TO KILL HER at this point (then regrets it afterwards). in the source text, FL not trusting him for most of the story is 100% rational based on both what he says to her AND his observed behavior. The drama characterizations just go a bit wonky/confused when they make the ML character a grade less dark. Constant cautious and distancing behavior from the fl makes less sense when you change the context. But that's not her being an idiot, That's a script problem due to incomplete novel to drama adaptation shifts.

20 years ago when american tv drama "Roswell" was airing, viewers kept feeling the vibes between 2 siblings were off and there was theories that they aren't related... and we learned later that the actor and actress were just dating in real life and it was bleeding over in the acting oops LOL It would be hilarious if this drama has the same problem.

MM didn't have a big understanding between the couple that dragged on, they get together midway and then always trust & believe in each other. With many embraces/hugs so you feel the affection. That aligns with my personal preference. I can watch a xanxia like Feud for the drama but my emotions don't get invested the same when there are these betrayals and cruelty and misunderstandings. 🤷‍♀️ Feud is entertaining and eventful, though!

That's just wrong. Look at the googled definition you pasted yourself. Read the dictionary definition of "unrequited". That's not what the word means! It just is not true. This is not a debate lmao. words MEAN THINGS. I have been speaking english for over 40 years and have a degree in english literature. I know what the word means. It does NOT mean "loved someone for a long time". I won't reply on this anymore because you are rejecting a basic fact. I feel like you have to be trolling at this point. I'm living out the "sharks are smooth" meme 🤣🤣

????? Your google results support what I am saying. Yes that's what it means. Nowhere at all does what you posted say it means STAYING IN LOVE. Nowhere does it say the love cannot stop. In fact, it explicitly says this can be overcome.

It means one sided.

Long time or short time. Start or stop. None of that is part of the definition- it can be unrequited no matter how long you loved.

Oxford dictionary:
adjective: unrequited
(of a feeling, especially love) not returned or rewarded

That's all. It's really not complex.

i don't even know what to say. Look up the word "unrequited" in the dictionary. It literally does NOT mean that. It just doesn't.

Maybe she has been in love for 20 years. Maybe not! I don't know. However, saying it's "unrequited" love does not mean anything to do with length. "Everlasting" love would imply that. Or other words! Many different terms could mean that. But it is simply not true that "unrequited" love means staying in love.

If the original words in korean do NOT translate to the english word "unrequited" then ok. Then whatever the real translation is.... then the dictionary definition of that accurate word can be retrieved. But if the word is "unrequited" then it's not up for debate. That word has a clear meaning.

"unrequited love" does not mean loved the whole time. It means "I love you and you don't feel the same". It is absolutely possible to love someone and it's an unrequited love, then move on completely with someone new, and then encounter that first love later on someday & catch feelings again... and if they don't fall in return, it's unrequited love yet again!
The term "Unrequited love" does not imply "fall in love forever and never get over it". It simply means one-sided feelings, for however long they last.

I know the archetype you mean and it annoys me too. imo this FL isn't that type. That archetype irritates me because those women are written with the feel of a 12 year old and they seem to have no concept of social conventions... it's not realistic and doesn't feel real. This FL feels like a sheltered & pampered 18 year old noble daughter, not a child. She is a naive in some ways, as a young woman who has mostly been exposed to household matters. And cheerfully shallow (at first). But she's not a kid - she expresses sexual attraction like a young woman, she understands social conventions and breaks them sometimes on purpose (as well as following them and guarding her reputation and the families' reputation at other times). She feels embarrassment when she messes up.

the empress dowager isn't the mom of either the emperor or the ml. (she was the reining empress when the former emperor died but not either of their moms )