Reviews

Episode 29: The estranged now all reunited.

This episode is so nice to see Shen Zai Ye and Jiang Tao Hua start to understand each other and work together as a team. Shen Zai Ye with his heroism, Jiang Tao Hua with his intelligence. That moment of the arrows when JTZ passed the bow to SZY. The moment when Qingtai also showed her skill and helped Shen Zai Ye. The meeting of JTH and her brother was sweet. The quick friendship and partnership between JTH's brother and SZY was pretty cool. The meeting between the third prince and his beloved (it was a bit disappointing for him). And now they all unite together to save the city. Will the fireworks explode so easily? Who will die, who will live? (I'm now going to watch episode 30).PS: Shen Zai Ye, I want to see you with the braids in your hair. The two cousins will look very similar in this outfit.🥰🥰🥰👏👏👏😶‍🌫️Of course, the female lead's behavior has some similarity with the book (improving a lot of things in relation to the book, but "maybe" making something worse in relation to the first 19 episodes of the drama). She continues to be impulsive, audacious, as in the book. She uses men to (without them realizing they do what she wants), in the book her behavior is less acceptable than in the drama. In drama she sets limits for herself more than in the book (this is undoubtedly better in drama). Shen Zai Ye makes a lot more sense in the drama as well (because his attitude towards those women, for not wanting them, was a little difficult to assimilate in the book. Use a stunt double?). In the drama he divorces them (it's much more coherent), since he didn't live with them (in fact).The princess's move (in the drama, as much as JTH is impulsive and sometimes not as smart and practical as "maybe" she should be, but she goes far in her goals) and the move, it's actually hers (the title of the drama is shown all the time. Maybe not so well executed, but it's hers.). SZY and her move together as a set was more in the first 19 episodes.PS: I see some saying that the screenwriter hates heroine and gave primacy to the male lead. I think that's not true. In the first 19 episodes, until JTH's cliff fall, both shone equally in their respective styles in the story. But after episode 19 it's as if the writer wanted to give her more space, and how that unbalanced the drama (and it backfired), making SZY most of the time just run after JTH who prioritizing her move pushed SZY away. All the conflicts in the first 19 episodes were very interesting: JTH and the other women. SZY and his enemies. The moments of flirtation, passion, comedy, political conflict, adventure. All of these were better in the first 19 episodes. I see that now episode 29 starts to balance everything again and making the participation of the main couple (JTH and SZY) more interesting.

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So this is what love looks like

The empress had a full proof plan for the signal to ignite the incendiaries so everybody tried to get people to evacuate. She got outside of the city and gave third prince all of ten mins to get out.😝 whatever the time actually was, she opted to leave him there and lockdown the city. Their plot was heinous because in addition to fire they had a row of imperial archers to mow down people trying to escape. Third Prince thought he had it wrapped up with Princess as prisoner until they ignored him at the gate and refused to open. The one surprise element was commander and men showing up to help the people. We still don’t really know much about the Beiyuan prince, but he doesn’t lack courage. Sis earned her keep this episode with the spot on flame arrows. They beat them with their own plan and blew them up. Many caught fire but I couldn’t feel sorry for them. They were just preparing for their next life.😝The chancellor was a bit surprised seeing sis and 4th prince. For better or worse they are all together and usually in groups of two helping or fighting. Third prince noticed and said “ so this is what love looks like. “ The empress’ actions fell into place and perspective as the princess enlightened him. In her own way, she did try to give him a chance but when her time limit was done she went on with her plans and had no worries of whether he would survive or not. She wanted them dead more than her prince alive. That made a significant statement even to him in his deluded state. Watching him sit in the corner lost to the world sums him up. He was a shell that did her bidding and empty if the puppet master removed. I am not sure if he will move on from this or not and I am ambivalent about it. He is a pitiful thing since groomed at such a tender age to truly believe in someone. She was his angel sister and then idol and he really hasn’t cared about anything else. The princess did well on the drum beating. In her state, that was really the best option to gain attention and get people moving. The 4th prince is chatting with the sis and learned chancellor’s history. She is the daughter of his master so I guess they have lived as siblings but aren’t blood related. He has put it together who the chancellor really is. He remembers the idealistic child that inspired his beliefs. Now he can compare that to the man that fights like a demon and smarter than most around him. I think he is seeing what he lacks and while the pen is often mightier than the sword, he might need to toughen his hands up to be adept with both as needed. The princess has now collapsed from the poison and the chancellor actually found the dropped antidote box. He is very disappointed that a single antidote pill is inside. Unfortunately the flames found the bucket of explosives before he could exit the building. He has pushed his friend out in time and the building explodes as the episode ends.

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took a while to finish this ep, cause i didn't…

took a while to finish this ep, cause i didn't really enjoy how this was unfolding. Zi Rui continuing to mess with Jiang Ye was f*cked-up & anyone in Jiang Ye's place would've told him to f*ck-off, not ask him for some hot noodle soup. **********************sorry, but as big of a player Jiang Ye was he opened his house to a stranger, that he f*ked once. yeah he tried to make it more then "once" but when Zi Rui said "no" & moved into another room, he didn't continue to press him. he moved on. ****************************************************************************************************************************************the conclusion was whack IMO, after what Zi Rui did most people would wonder if he's "ok in the head" & getting into a relationship with someone like him, would be worrisome as he might be a bit crazy. so the happily ever after, i don't buy it. but cute while it lasted & it was short so didn't have to suffer through a toxic relationship.

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Siblings reunited

The empress is waiting for all the mice to gather together to blow them up. Such a pleasant ruler to plant combustible material throughout the area planned to be used for lantern festival. The chancellor knowingly enters the city in his rank’s robes so that friend or foe will know where he is. The prince is more incognito than his sister. The 4th Prince wants to play hero. If he knew the area or urban fighting techniques this would be a worthwhile venture. Unfortunately he only has a rough number to go by and no clue who these people are or men to women ratio for getting them to safety. Seems the chancellor is going to have his hands full dealing with the variables. I don’t think he is aware his sis or 4th Prince in vicinity but I am sure he will hear her soon. She tends to make a stir wherever she goes. The princess and bodyguard are together which is a good thing. Third prince has shown up to fawn over his ‘Hua’. I think she really is fond of him. As much as a viper can be. They have the emperor down to 6 mths of expected survival after the elixirs he’s been eating like candy. They know a signal is to be sent but not what it is. They have taken out one bomber and have ? to go. Time is running out as the festivities begin. The prince has gone to his commander to have city evacuated, but the news is not being received as credible. The prince is now more in harm’s way than helping counter the bomb plot.

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One Stars

the BTS was fun & the ep it's was funny, if u disregard common sense. cause sorry but Zi Rui might have felt betrayed, but in actuality he wasn't - as he & Jiang Ye were never in any type of committed relationship. Jiang Ye never once confessed or offered Zi Rui anything but a good time. *********************************************************************************************the fact Zi Rui was attracted & wanted to give in to Jiang Ye, the 1st time he came to massage him, doesn't mean him giving in after Jiang Ye's cooking for him suddenly turned into a promise of sorts. ***********************************************************i get him convincing himself, to justify giving in to his own desire's & then feeling angry that he gave in to a player that didn't change his ways, the sec he slept with him. as if sleeping with Zi Rui should've made Jiang Ye change into a loyal man, that just wanted one man. life doesn't work like that -

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THE CINEMATOGRAPHY

To be honest I was a bit disappointed that she went shopping with Reina, but the parent meetup did NOT disappoint god. Her fit was fire and so was her attitude, obviously nothing tops the flip from the KDrama but the actress still nailed it. I love how they played it off as them immediately seeing Reina as the perfect bride over Misa after the lunch. Reina's face was priceless. I was so happy that the allergy firing thing happened here too. Lastly but not the least, but the BEST part was her pregnancy announcement. They showed it so perfectly and the scene transition into the auditorium and him looking at her. PERFECT way of showing it. The way they both said I won oh my god- hands down best scene of the show. I was cheesing at his smile when she did the thumbs up.

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