Oh, I see! So it's not androgynous, but rather more like a 'tomboy' for women or a feminine man.Simi_Tutu:
Yeah, it's the upgraded version of tomboy and femboy (known as virago (tomboy) and mollis (femboy)). It's a whole thing, but that's the tldr of it ^^
I would happily spend hours swimming and biking — another favorite pastime.
Yooooo, I love swimming and biking too!!!
As spring approaches, I can't wait to buy a bike and spend countless hours wandering along the waterfront. Perhaps I'll even venture out to go fishing, something I haven't done in quite some time.
Sounds like a ton of fun! Very picturesque, I imagine.
Fluffy historical romances aren't usually my thing. I confess I prefer a bit of distance, and a strong female lead is exactly what I enjoy.
I'm the same! Hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think of it so far ^^ I actually went ahead and continued two eps of it today due to our convo, haha
While I do enjoy certain violent moments, I primarily watch the series as a form of escape, not to be abruptly reminded of reality.
I feel the same about this. I'm very tired of mystery/thrillers crutching so heavily on violence against women to tell heartfelt stories. Just feels like being milked for tears and fear, and I'm a firm hater of that approach to storytelling. As far as these kinda stories go, I think this drama is handling them fairly tastefully and isn't cutting it too thick, but I also find that that being the ONLY kinda case gets boring very fast, which... this drama is kinda giving me.
Sure, it’s on my watchlist, but I’m really not sure how I’ll feel about the female lead.
@Potato and I were just talking about this one. From what I've seen, she's definitely delivering in the RR department. I'll check it out later and let you know my thoughts ^^
One thing’s for sure, I can’t stand historical dramas with a submissive female lead.
You're in the safest place to say this. I can't stand submissive and/or pathetic FLs in anything either. As for those three dramas you mentioned... Yeah, there's a reason they're no longer on my PTW list despite having been there pre-airing. *shudders*
but I disagree the only thing strong about her was her plot armor!
LMFAAAOOOOO, yeah- they rely on this kinda 'strength' a LOT in dramas. Especially historical ones, because the MLs just have to be good at everything, leaving the FL like this to make him stand out in any capacity
I adore the backstory. The scheming? Love it. The tension? Absolutely! And don’t even get me started on the morally gray twists in these plots. But , their lost me at 70
LMFAAAOOOO, okay, but this is a rare instance where the drama is absurdly long and I'm only considering it because it's a trusted recc!! Most aren't that long!!! Give Secret of Three Kingdoms a shot!!! (half kidding) Idk, I find that 40 ep dramas tend to not rlly bother with interesting and well-done politics? Which is crazy because Korea out here doing pretty good politics in 16 or less
But , their lost me at 70— I’m with you Potato on this one. There’s no way I’m sitting through all thoughts episodes, my attention span could ever, 40 episodes at most and that's it . LMAO
The best I could do was a 56-episode drama called East of Eden 😭
And I watched it, like, a decade ago when both my attention span and brain were better.
Hahaha. Glad you're enjoying the gifs! Sometimes I need them to really get my point across, ya know? 🤣
I feel like me becoming a regular in the club was inevitable like Thanos. It's just so fun here! I have found my people after decades of loving RR alone.
I remember watching a version of this shitstorm of a story for a challenge two years back. Some decisions I am not proud of, and that is one of them. I remember liking SML more, too. He seemed softArclei:
Which version did you watch? I've seen most of them. It's kind of an emotional self-flagellating tradition at this point 😂😩 But I have dropped adaptations that were especially bad like the Korean one and the Chinese remake from 2018. It's one of the few things I hate-watch because the original Meteor Garden is what opened me up to the world of Asian dramas (even though I'd seen a show or two from Hong Kong). Plus I want to be able to say I've seen all the adaptations :p Or at least watch enough of them to give my opinion and make comparisons.
(2049－The Hedgehog Effect)
What a coincidence! I was on this drama's MDL the other day because the FL from Love Is Science? also stars in it!
But yikes! All of that sounds jarring. No wonder you're scared of Taiwanese dramas! I think you just came across an intense batch. I grew up with T-dramas, and never saw what you described. However, I know some of them can be a little out there because they're China's liberal sibling.
How did you end up watching AotC but none of the others, tho?
I mentioned giving up on the franchise, but I actually saw quite a few of the movies. I saw The Phantom Menace, but if you held a gun up to my head, and asked me to tell you what it was about (aside from fuzzy memories of Anakin and Padme meeting) I'd be dead. Loved Attack of the Clones. Was moderately entertained by Revenge of the Sith ("You were the chosen one!" The dramaaaa~!). Tried to watch A New Hope multiple times and failed. Tried to watch The Empire Strikes Back to see the iconic "Luke, I am your father scene", but got bored before I made it there.
As for the newer movies, I saw The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi in theaters at the behest of friends, and promptly forgot them afterward. I also saw Rogue One, and didn't like it. After Rogue One, I made the decision to stop trying to like Star Wars. By that point, I'd been trying for over a decade, and it still wasn't clicking. It's the same thing with the Lord of the Rings franchise. I don't know why I can't connect with the characters or get invested in what they're trying to accomplish.
My closest guess is I don't like plot-driven sci-fi or fantasy. I've noticed I tend to like more character-driven stuff from those genres (Dark Angel TV series and The Cruel Prince).
I like plot-driven action and suspense/thrillers though.
Oh, this twinning thing is getting to creepy lvls /lh xD
I've been trying to push back my sleep schedule a bit cuz it got to absurd times, and I think it's messing with my mood and energy lvls rn...
It's been creepy, bestie!
How has pushing back your sleep schedule been working for you?
I'm fine with comedy, but romcoms on their own don't tend to be my scene, because then it usually waters down the romance for the comedy, and then the comedy isn't funny, and that's the entire plot for an unholy amount of hours.
I like romcoms, but there haven't been any good American/Western ones since the mid 2000s, and no good Asian ones since around 2016. The only exception in recent years has been Love to Hate You (You can tell it's good because there are comments about hating the FL 😌).
I did hear about this one p much everywhere, but I kept being hesitant because it was giving me... the kinda RR and femdom that I wouldn't like. But since you recommend it, I think I'll enjoy it just fine 😏👌
I was afraid of the same thing, but the FL is a gentle giant 🥹 (just don't mess with her).
Ooooooh, I see- I would never have even bothered to check this one with a cover like that, LMAO
I usually skip right over covers like this too, but I trust Talia Hibbert lol. She's working on her first romantasy as we speak, and it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling!!! Guess who's the beast?? 😏 (Hint: it's the FL).
I keep getting RR vibes, but at the same time not.
It's basically faedom (faeries dominating humans 💀) that becomes femdom that becomes egalitarian (but still femdom-leaning, and you can see that in their first kiss: FL holding a scared/lustful ML at knifepoint LOL; and their first love scene...I'll leave that to your imagination, although it's not explicit because it's YA). The writing is soooo good. Holly Black is genuinely talented.
Idk if it's just the fandom that keeps spinning things trad or what.
It can't be 😧 The ML is widely known as the FL's WIFE or bbg in the fandom.
It must be a fringe group of people who can't see past trad dynamics no matter how RR the author makes their work. I mean, we talked about how people will write Wednesday to be the submissive one in fanfics even though her character couldn't be further from it.
Anyway, here's some lovely Cruel Prince artwork the author herself commissioned:
Do they look traditional to you? 😏 (Also, look at his cute, silly tail!)
Fanart by others:
Bro is a pretty peacock who likes partying, fancy clothing, eye shadow (faerie Sephora must have everything), and jewelry because he's vain and sad, while my girl is power hungry and a better fighter. (She really does wear her hair like horns in the books. It's cool).
Literally how their first kiss went:
https://youtube.com/shorts/mDqxQkPbPRw?si=NM5ACDSWeEJC7MWh
Sorry, I can talk about them for hours.
The shit we used to endure just cuz we were young... ugh...
I knoooowwww! Some of the stuff I watched almost gave me heartburn because I hated the ML so much, but I was just discovering Asian dramas and I didn't know where else to go T . T
It's funny how I still had the same mindset back then though LOL. I would get into arguments with my friends about them liking abusive men. (I was too outspoken back then and had zero tact. Now I just let people enjoy what they enjoy even if it's not for me).
Didn't really hear a lot about the relationship in this show 👀 But that rlly is a good dynamic frrr
#Wyler didn't get popular until it was revealed that Tyler (the ML) was actually a powerful, murderous monster 😩 Then, of course, the fics started rolling in.
But for most of that first season, we had RR black cat x golden retriever that no one cared about except me and a few others. Now the pairing is dark romance coded and all over tumblr and AO3. (Tbh, the dynamic would be hot if people made Wednesday and Tyler alpha x alpha/dominant x dominant, but not many do).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eXZVkuijpY (People were dying over this scene in season 2)
How's the rest of the drama? Like, what's it about? C'mon, wall-of-text me !!
Sweet and eventful!
It starts off with Prince Sui Ge (ML) getting shot by an arrow through the chest by Yi Xiao (FL) during an important battle between their kingdoms. Her triumphant face is the last thing he sees as he goes down. His men are able to save him, but he's livid because no one's ever almost killed him before. He's a general and a beast on the battlefield. He vows to find her and kill her. Meanwhile, things aren't going well for the FL even though she just helped her prince/kingdom secure the war. She overhears something she's not supposed to, and someone she trusts shoots her with an arrow and she falls off a cliff. Then they send assassins after her to make sure she's dead. Yi Xiao miraculously survives, but has amnesia, so she doesn't remember who she is/who betrayed her. I usually hate the amnesia trope, but it works in this context. It's not a last minute conflict shoe-horned into the drama to stretch the episode count (*coughcough* Flower of Evil *coughcough*).
Anyway, Yi Xiao ends up saving a doctor, so the doctor takes her to her medical pavilion, which is supposed to be a neutral safe space for injured soldiers from both kingdoms. Guess who also decides to show up and get treatment? Sui Ge. He sees her, and takes her as his prisoner of war back to his kingdom. They both torture each other and bicker endlessly, but he ends up striking a deal with her because it's in both of their best interests to figure out what she overheard that almost got her killed. It's not really smart for her to go back to her own kingdom since someone's trying to kill her. The prince from Yi Xiao's kingdom + her friends who'd been worried about her disappearance hear she's behind enemy lines, and rush over to save her, but homegirl doesn't need to be saved.
It's soooo good. It's the most egalitarian relationship I've ever witnessed on screen, and both Sui Ge and Yi Xiao are alphas. They have a common goal, he saves her, she saves him...etc (I think she ends up saving him more). And once they trust each other, their bond is beautiful. He falls first and harder, and becomes vulnerable and bratty with her, and she stops shouldering everything by herself and relies on him after getting betrayed by her own kingdom. And she initiates their first kiss. I love that they're both strong, and he's not smarter than her. He often asks her for advice if it's a subject she would know more about like archery. She vows to kill anyone who hurts him and he's like, "I've always been the protector. No one's ever protected me before..." 🥹 Ugh, I just love them.
The villains are over the top, but entertaining lol. I think you'd like 80% of the drama, but as usual, they tried to stretch the end, so a little fast-forwarding's going to come into play. The ending is pretty satisfying though.
Whelp...you asked for a wall of text and I gave you a wall of text lol.
But I never noticed and wouldn't have unless you pointed it out xD
It was the first thing my eyes went to XD
I love when shows get creative with the wigs, but a hairline is not something you wanna get creative with 😂 It's a small, but impactful thing.
I'm just happy we got a literal malewife catboy
His cat form was cute : 3
According to a mutual my brother, yes. I'm still watching it, so I'll keep you posted... unless you end up starting it yourself rn xD
Girl, I'm 60% through ep 1, and I'm having a good time. I love the FL!
The beginning feels like it's missing an ENTIRE arc, and we just are kinda thrown into the near end of it, so the pacing at first is atrocious (I kept making the joke of "yeah, because why would they show it to us when they can just tell us" about literally everything. It was that bad).
Yeahhhh...I immediately noticed the exposition dump, but the fight scenes successfully distracted me (mentally, I am still the little girl who grew up watching Dragonball Z and Rurouni Kenshin💀) and I like FL + ML's dynamic. I'm bummed it has pacing problems so freaking early (ughhhhh this is my issue with xianxias and historicals in general), but I'll see if I can make it through.
As a political enthusiast tho? Yaaaaaawn
Lowkey good news for me LOL. Are they gonna fight some more? 😁
So far, the drama suffers from the "FL is the only actually competent woman despite there being a lot of women in power".
Well...at least we have the FL 😩
https://64.media.tumblr.com/347f0f2d2eafac9b6ff421acc612f8cc/5de7825eeba7ddcf-01/s2048x3072/b8ba95e7de82e42a1a010c317a30f76dc346cc7d.jpg
She is soooo flirtyyyy 🙈 It's her mission to fluster ML, and it starts fifteen minutes into the first episode, and I see that it never stops. That's comforting.
Well... It's technically a sad ending, BUT HEAR ME OUT!!!!! It's so good 🥺 SPOILER: their timelines are reversed, so the first time he meets her is the last time she meets him and vice versa... Getting goosebumps remembering them, omg... This is an instance where I'm SO glad I watched it despite the ending, cause it was so worth it.
First you throw your fruits and homemade guac and popcorn in my face, and now you're trying to ruin my mental health? 🤨 I thought we were friends, Arclei?
Okay, it's 3AM...let's see if I can get to bed before sunrise. Will respond to your other post tomorrow. I am having a lazyyyy Saturday and I'm excited about it.
This is not a manga to be read in public or around family or even friends🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣didichan:
No worries, this lady is living solo with her furry companion, so she can dive into all the R-rated manga her heart desires, tehe!
A sneak peek of me on my days off:
Folks asking if I’m free to meet up.
Me being "busy" LMAO
PS: That’s not me in this. haha
No worries, this lady is living solo with her furry companion, so she can dive into all the R-rated manga her heart desires, tehe!
A sneak peek of me on my days off:
Folks asking if I’m free to meet up.
Me being "busy" LMAO
PS: That’s not me in this. haha
Hahahha this is me too …. I live alone but I had to check his tin case because the is a scene where she wears a trap 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.. I was like Que ? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Sounds like a ton of fun!
It's incredibly soothing and perfect for meditation. That's a fact! However, there was this one time I rented a boat, I wasn't on it for more than 20 minutes before I started feeling really sick and had to head back. I discovered that I suffer from seasickness. Small boats are a no-go for me, so I thought I'd try larger boats and go deep-sea fishing.
Spoiler alert: It turned out to be even worse! I went with my mom and siblings, and my face turned a shade of green that would make Kermit envious. I couldn't turn back because we were on a boat with strangers who were also eager to do the same activities we were, so I just lay there on the boat, waiting for my feet to touch solid ground again. At that moment, I decided, 'Never again! I'm done with fishing trips on boats.'
This is probably why I can't go on a cruise; I'm terrified of being out in deep waters and not being able to return. There goes my Alaska trip! LMAO. Still, I really love fishing on land, but it's quite rare to find people who share this hobby. Not many enjoy the idea of touching bait. Haha.
continued two eps of it today due to our convo, haha
Meanwhile:
I think this drama is handling them fairly tastefully and isn't cutting it too thick,
OK, so I have a question because I'm feeling a bit confused. I'm not sure if you covered this or not, but is this series focused on just one case, or does it feature a new case every few episodes? I actually prefer it the latter way, as you mentioned, it can get tedious if the same case drags on for too long.
For instance, I think the best example I can provide is from the coroner's diary, where there was a new case every few episodes, but they all connected to a larger storyline by the end of the series. It was enjoyable to see how each case was resolved, the motivations behind each culprits' actions, and how the families or those close to the victims responded to the unfolding events.
However, right now, I'm watching a drama called The Art of Sarah, and it's driving me up the wall because there are only about eight episodes, and we're already on episode four or five, yet they're still stuck on the same case. It's so frustrating because the plot has become so convoluted at this point that I'm just thinking, can we please wrap this up already? LMAO
Especially historical ones, because the MLs just have to be good at everything,
But Fan Yue wasn't nearly as intimidating as they were trying to make him seem. They wanted the audience to believe he was this cold, relentless, and menacing figure, but honestly? He was just quiet. Sure, he gave orders, but most of the time, he was just sitting there, all broody and unapproachable.
And then, poof! He loses his memory and suddenly he's chasing after the female lead like a lovesick puppy, ready to do anything for her. What really irked me was how she totally exploited that situation. She knew he was vulnerable, and the only reason she could pull off her antics was that he was lacking the willpower and memories to seek the revenge he should have had.
That's what I would like to know!
They were not my favorite couple anyway; it was the second couple. They totally did my wifey Dai Lu Wa dirty, lol ! ૮₍˶ ╥ ‸ ╥ ⑅₎ა Even the bodyguard, with her little fox boy, had more charm in the brief time we saw them together than our main couple.
The writers picked the wrong leads! I mean, sure, he was popular for his looks because Ao Rui Peng nails that aloof yet cute manly vibe, but I've got mixed feelings about Bai Lu as an actress. I can practically hear the angry screams as I say that, but hear me out! I haven't watched any of her dramas except for Moonlight Mystique, so maybe my opinion will change after I check out Unveil: Jadewind.
Give Secret of Three Kingdoms a shot!!! (half kidding)
Remember when you tried to push this one for the MDL BINGO Friend edition challenge and I shot you down?
You had to pick something else, and I'm not even a little bit sorry about it! LMAO
PS, while I was typing this, I totally wasnt humming the tune B-I-N-G-O and bingo was his name in my head... Send help!
Which is crazy because Korea out here doing pretty good politics in 16 or less
I'm so excited to finally watch The Devil Judge this year! My husband is not just sexy, he's a total talent powerhouse, and everything he does makes me want to devour it—and no, it's not because it has a hint of BL.
Alright, fine, I'm totally fibbing—it is absolutely the BL that has me the most intrigued! Don't judge me; that job is exclusively for Mr. Ji Sung himself.
I was wondering if you'd notice that my family is crunchy and that I'm definitely allergic to something xD AHAHAHA
Dw, I still snack on the goodies (or baddies?), but I'm allergic to lactose, so my options are quite limited. Especially where I live 😢 I did find a brand of flavored chips that don't contain lactose, so I'm enjoying the mustard ones 😋
How many times are you gonna make me say "Me too?" 😭
1. But wow, this is hilarious! When I read you were allergic to something, I thought it was gonna be gluten or some other food allergy. NOT the allergy I also have, but eat like I don't 😂🙈 We have the same issue, but are living totally different lives with food.
2. This is the trusty little pill that helps me pretend I'm not lactose intolerant:
To be honest, I should be living a crunchier life too, but I just can't help myself. My stomach would certainly appreciate it...
Your intuition is improving too!!
It's something I've been honing for decades 😁
I do hear he basically becomes her househusband, which is SOOOO tempting. Especially after his role in Moonlit Reunion... Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike- I have him as my desktop bg
What happened with your watch? Why did you drop? Tell, tell!
It's been a while, but I remember not feeling it because the actors didn't have much chemistry, and even though his character was younger, he was always several steps ahead of the FL. I wasn't really impressed with his lack of vulnerability. Of course, that could've developed later, but the plot itself wasn't that interesting so I saw no need to continue.
You should still give it a try though. You might like it! Xu Kai is very easy on the eyes.
Bro, his face when he leans into her to catch her kiss, lips parted and eyes downcast?
It was perfect 🥹 SUCH a good scene. I will be watching the drama just for this + more.
Hyper analyzing this kinda stuff is fantastic
I hyper-analyze everything...sometimes to my own detriment😩
We might need to buddy-rewatch Dong Lan Xue.... for research reasons ofc.
I'm soooo down!
Her aura is AMAZING!!!
It is! Has she been in anything RR?
I feel like actresses playing domineering women should be required to study her dramas before the start of filming.
Thank you for asking >:)
Ah, several of these were on my radar.
Siren's Kiss
I was on the fence about this. It looks good, but for the life of me, I can never finish any Park Min Young dramas (except for Sungkyunkwan Scandal). I don't think she's picked good projects since 2014.
But I'm happy to be wrong!
Portraits of Delusion
I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS ONE!! Suzy has definitely been on a RR kick too. I wonder if her and IU get together and laugh about it.
Night of Heaven - Rich heiress FL and host ML? Augh- they could serve such great sugar mommy x sugar baby vibes with this one, but I fear that Korea will fumble the bag.
Never heard of this, but interesting premise—especially if good leads with chemistry are cast.
I hope Korea doesn't fumble the bag. It'll be good if the screenwriter actually makes the host character vulnerable and not in control of everything all the time.
Men of the Harem - I mean, it's adapted from a LITERAL reverse harem story, which you already know about :P Like, I can't believe Korea is FINALLY joining the matriarchy/matriarchal scene- they're SO far behind!!!
I knew about this one because I used to read the webtoon. It started off good. I liked how ruthless the FL was, but I think I got bored. A lot of webtoons tend to go on for years, not because they have a complicated plot to unfold, but because the webtoon gets popular and the webtoon artist doesn't want to stop a guaranteed stream of income. Which is fair, but I prefer webtoons that are around 50-100 episodes long. Anything more than that is usually being dragged out.
I hope the drama is good, and they don't mess it up like they did with one of my favorite webtoons "Marry My Husband" (starring Park Min Young 💀).
Love in Disguise - Bodyguard FL but in disguise 👀 I'm hesitant. I feel like women crossdressing stories are usually ass, but if they do this good, then I think it'll absolutely devour. So far, FL doesn't look too bad as a boy and kinda even... convincing???? And Yim Si Wan <3 Side note: Have you watched Run On?
Haven't heard of this one, but I'm excited! I love the gender-bending trope because of Hana Kimi, Ouran High School Host Club, You're Beautiful, and W Juliet. They were another way I tried to get my RR fix while growing up. Although, you're right, the stories aren't necessarily handled well.
I really like Yim Si Wan as an actor though. He tends to pick unique, challenging projects even though I don't necessarily watch or like all of them. So the fact that he chose this script makes me optimistic.
I am sad to report I ended up dropping Run On 😭 You don't know how bad I wanted to love it!!! I adored ML. The fact that he always wanted to do what's right and flat out didn't understand some social norms was so refreshing! Was he coded to be on the spectrum? I can't remember. The secondary couple's dynamic also looked promising, but I just didn't click with the drama overall.
Well, this might be a bit generous of a statement for this drama xD It's no Hong Luan Yin so far.
Whelp LOLLLLL. A girl can dream. I'm still excited to watch it. I haven't had time to look for more uploads with audio, but I'll send you the link if I find something.
I guess XZQ likes having men on her lap and girl same
She must because this is the second time in a span of months that it's happened lol.
I've only seen more bold scenes in dramas that weren't like... made to be popular, if that makes sense. And I feel like with this one, they're going down that route (made to be popular, that is).
That makes total sense. If a drama is aimed at the masses instead of a niche group, then the writer/director is going to take less liberties.
I do know about it, but I never could figure out which one I was 'cause I get wildly different results every time I take it xD If you have a link, idm taking it again and at least seeing what it is now
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
Really? That can happen, but I'm surprised. I've gotten the same result every time I took it over a span of years.
It actually helped me feel less alone because for a long time I wondered why my mindset was the way it was, and why I balked at so many traditional norms. Then I took the MBTI, and went beyond that and read about Carl Jung's (the psychiatrist the test was modeled after) works, and so many things suddenly made sense.
Let me know what you get. And what did you get in the past?
Let's discuss our results when you get yours!
Which version did you watch?potatocouch:
Hana Yori Dango. The best part was the retro aesthetic and the fact that it ended.
It's kind of an emotional self-flagellating tradition at this point 😂😩
Bruuuuhhh 😭 what's this masochistic behavior? At least my masochism is mid matriarchy dramas
What a coincidence!
Bruh, what are the odds?!?
No wonder you're scared of Taiwanese dramas! I think you just came across an intense batch.
Yeah, must be, but I've been weary ever since... They don't do historicals, their romcoms are eternal and rarely RR, and their thrillers are too much, which leaves me kinda wondering what I can watch from Taiwan, lol
Was moderately entertained by Revenge of the Sith
I'm crying- why are all my friends so indifferent about this franchise 😭😭😭😭
Tried to watch A New Hope multiple times and failed.
Did you watch them in chronological order or release order?
I also saw Rogue One, and didn't like it.
That's the only Disney SW movie or series that I actually mildly liked. Everything else has been a shitstorm cringefest *shudders*
I'm also admittedly quite a big fan of a different era of SW, lol. Old Republic is my bread and butter (video games mostly). Also, Cal Kestis is a cutie patootie... maybe the one good thing Disney SW produced...
How has pushing back your sleep schedule been working for you?
Not as wonderfully blissful as I was hoping it would. Still going to sleep late (just earlier than before) and feeling groggy and moody most of the time... but I AM making progress, so I can't even be too bitter about it, lol
The only exception in recent years has been Love to Hate You (You can tell it's good because there are comments about hating the FL 😌).
Keep getting this drama recommended to me xD
I was afraid of the same thing, but the FL is a gentle giant 🥹 (just don't mess with her).
Sounds like my kinda FL
and it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling!!! Guess who's the beast?? 😏
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG- Good for her! Sounds promising!
in their first kiss: FL holding a scared/lustful ML at knifepoint LOL
Sheeeeeesh 🥵
It can't be 😧 The ML is widely known as the FL's WIFE or bbg in the fandom.
Yeah, but it feels like it has a lot of trad undertones if that makes sense. More like "malewife" as a joke, rather than genuinely liking it? Kinda got the vibes of "omg he's her malewife but he still doms her in the bedroom 😈"
The series is also very popular, which I guess makes me hesitant about how good the role reversal can be if everyone is liking the romance so much... Role reversal tends to not really be mainstream for a reason. But you mentioned it being more egalitarian with RR leaning, which I guess makes more sense. Tends to be as much RR as the general public can handle (that way they can also comfortably project trad onto the characters and it not feel too out of place).
Anyway, here's some lovely Cruel Prince artwork the author herself commissioned:
Ooo, that's indeed very beautiful artwork~ <3 Especially that first one is making me feel some kinda way
https://youtube.com/shorts/mDqxQkPbPRw?si=NM5ACDSWeEJC7MWh
LMFAO, adorable xD
Bro is a pretty peacock who likes partying, fancy clothing, eye shadow (faerie Sephora must have everything), and jewelry because he's vain and sad, while my girl is power hungry and a better fighter. (She really does wear her hair like horns in the books. It's cool).
Peacock man x Bloodthirsty woman is a pretty peak pairing, I'm ngl
I would get into arguments with my friends about them liking abusive men.
You're so real for that. Feels like a canon RR-lover event.
I used to always feel awkward and left out when my friends were gushing about their dom daddy husbandos, and I was there, liking the cute side character everyone shipped with a dude and feeling weird about it xD
we had RR black cat x golden retriever that no one cared about except me and a few others. Now the pairing is dark romance coded and all over tumblr and AO3.
*deep sigh* At least there's s1. I hear s2 is bad anyway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eXZVkuijpY
I think I threw up a lil bit... Wow, it's been a while since I cringed THAT hard at something... Good to know I'm not missing anything in the western landscape
Her triumphant face is the last thing he sees as he goes down.
Delightful, we love to see it >:)
I usually hate the amnesia trope, but it works in this context. It's not a last minute conflict shoe-horned into the drama to stretch the episode count (*coughcough* Flower of Evil *coughcough*).
Not the FoE shade (I agree). I hate amnesia in romance. As in, for dramatics and to extend the drama. This seems like it actually serves the plot, so I'm fine with it. I tend to be fine with amnesia otherwise. Even if 9/10 times it's comedically stupid
They both torture each other and bicker endlessly
How long does the torturing last? And does he torture her in a cool way or in a misogynistic way? It sound silly, but there's a difference 😭 Debating watching this with my mum, and she's even more particular about this sorta thing than I am, lol
but homegirl doesn't need to be saved.
and both Sui Ge and Yi Xiao are alphas
That does sound quite atypical, I will say... Finally, a worthy battle for dominance... Similars attract dynamics are SO rare
He falls first and harder, and becomes vulnerable and bratty with her, and she stops shouldering everything by herself and relies on him after getting betrayed by her own kingdom
Sounds kinda yummyyyyyy 😋😩
I love that they're both strong, and he's not smarter than her. He often asks her for advice if it's a subject she would know more about like archery. She vows to kill anyone who hurts him and he's like, "I've always been the protector. No one's ever protected me before..."
Wow, TRUE egalitarian? Now THAT'S rare!
FL is a warrior, right? Does she go into 'pretending to be demure' territory for long, or does the drama actually let her remain warrior-looking?
The villains are over the top, but entertaining lol. I think you'd like 80% of the drama, but as usual, they tried to stretch the end, so a little fast-forwarding's going to come into play. The ending is pretty satisfying though.
I love dramatic villains xD I was expecting a draggy middle and/or a mid ending, it's a cdrama at the end xD But a satisfying ending does sound promising. Is it happy?
Whelp...you asked for a wall of text and I gave you a wall of text lol.
Appreciated, thank you ^^
Girl, I'm 60% through ep 1, and I'm having a good time. I love the FL!
YAAAYYYY!!! Isn't she incredible?! The cheeky bastard
I like FL + ML's dynamic. I'm bummed it has pacing problems so freaking early (ughhhhh this is my issue with xianxias and historicals in general), but I'll see if I can make it through.
Yeah, but this one is bad even for xianxia and historicals. Like most, do the "here's the tldr of everything that happened up to this point, now let's get to the story" but this drama does this throughout the story about shit that we should be seeing
Are they gonna fight some more? 😁
No, they're gonna stand around and talk a whole bunch xD It's a 40ep cdrama, what do you expect?
She is soooo flirtyyyy 🙈 It's her mission to fluster ML, and it starts fifteen minutes into the first episode, and I see that it never stops.
See what I mean? Isn't it exquisite to have such an unapologetically shameless FL on a mission? And it doesn't just feel like her only goal is "man", there's more going on, he's just important to her.
I thought we were friends, Arclei?
I am having a lazyyyy Saturday and I'm excited about it.
That's so awesome~ Finally some time to relax!
NOT the allergy I also have, but eat like I don't 😂🙈 We have the same issue, but are living totally different lives with food.
Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh you're mcfucking kidding me rn?!?! did the universe just produce the same person type and just put us in diff places? TF? 😭
This is the trusty little pill that helps me pretend I'm not lactose intolerant:
Interestiiiiiiing, I've been meaning to try something like this for some time... I mostly avoid dairy altogether because it affects my breathing, which is not a cash-money good-time, let me tell u
he was always several steps ahead of the FL.
Yaaaayyy, my least favorite noona trope, maybe second to FL being utterly incompetent and childish!
I'm ngl, if you, the contemp romcom lover wasn't invested, I don't think I'll be getting hooked either... But Xu Kai is easy on the eyes... you are right.
Talk about another actor that has too many coincidental RR projects (but sadly none on the horizon... Why is bro doing so many buddy-cop thrillers? Is this a phase?)
I will be watching the drama just for this + more.
Curious what you'll think of it 😌
I'm soooo down!
😏 Now we just gotta not forget
It is! Has she been in anything RR?
Aside of The Blue Whisper.... I heard Qingchuan's Veil of Vengeance had some RR subtext, but idk if the leads actually got together or not. She defs plays a badass tho
I was on the fence about this. It looks good, but for the life of me, I can never finish any Park Min Young dramas (except for Sungkyunkwan Scandal).
Never seen her in anything, so I'm ignorantly optimistic xD
I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS ONE!! Suzy has definitely been on a RR kick too.
YES ME TOO!!!! I think it'll rlly deliver!
It'll be good if the screenwriter actually makes the host character vulnerable and not in control of everything all the time.
Yes, thoooo- 🙏 I can't stand another "should've been RR but sike" drama, pls
A lot of webtoons tend to go on for years, not because they have a complicated plot to unfold, but because the webtoon gets popular
Yeah, I used to follow webtoons back in the day, but not anymore. I heard quite mixed reviews about this webtoon in particularly so I've yet to check it out.
I hope the drama is good, and they don't mess it up like they did with one of my favorite webtoons "Marry My Husband" (starring Park Min Young 💀).
Oop-... bad blood
They were another way I tried to get my RR fix while growing up. Although, you're right, the stories aren't necessarily handled well.
Completely get it, I had the same feeling but I kept being extra disappointed because FL's seemed like they'd be more masculine/atypical and ended up being way worse 😭 and the "haha, he's kinda bi, get it?" doesn't really tickle my funny bone as much as it does for others. Haruhi was a pleasant surprise
I really like Yim Si Wan as an actor though. He tends to pick unique, challenging projects even though I don't necessarily watch or like all of them. So the fact that he chose this script makes me optimistic.
Yes, me too! He's one of the few actors I do actually kinda follow because his acting is really solid and his projects are interesting (and he has a tendency to play softspoken love interests <333).
Was he coded to be on the spectrum?
Absolutely!!! He was genuinely so frigging cute and I loved how assertive FL was and how the communicated so thoroughly- augh
Tbh, I don't think any other contemp drama has made me feel the way this drama did (one of my earlier dramas too, which defs helps, lol). But I'm scared to rewatch it because I remember it being slow and kinda tedious, but omg... And the theme song? SO GOOD
 |  |
MY POOKIES!!! | |
But fsr, I did not really fuck with the secondary couple at all????? Idk why cuz they're the more blatantly RR couple, but I found them more irritating than anything else.
I'm still excited to watch it.
You'll still like it, methinks!
Really? That can happen, but I'm surprised. I've gotten the same result every time I took it over a span of years.
Oh, wow, really? I wonder why mine differ so much...
I ended up getting INFP-A. I don't remember the other times, but I got ENFP twice in a row back in 2021
Big differences seem to be in extroversion levels. Is it cuz I thought of myself as/used to be way more extroverted before than I've been these last couple of years? I feel like I'm more of an ambivert than I initially thought myself to be, but how much is that personality and how much is that other things?
It actually helped me feel less alone because for a long time I wondered why my mindset was the way it was, and why I balked at so many traditional norms.
Oh, really? That's an interesting development. I tend to not really vibe much with these kinda things (same as zodiacs). I can appreciate them as a fun thing that exists, but I really dislike being put in a box, haha, especially when that box keeps shoving "soft", "sensitive", and "emotional" down my throat. Curious to know more of your experiences with it, though, if you wanna share, maybe we can move it into dms if you prefer.
At that moment, I decided, 'Never again! I'm done with fishing trips on boats.'
Oh my god, I can only imagine how horrible that must've been 😭😭😭 Better safe than sorry, tbh- that sounds like a very miserable experience
Better stick to fishing on land
is this series focused on just one case, or does it feature a new case every few episodes?
Multiple cases. So far (ep 17) there's been 4. I think there'll be an overarching plot in the end, but I don't think it'll have too much to do with the other cases, tbh. More like Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty, if I had to guess.
I'm the opposite of you and really dislike episodic-type mysteries. I get so irritated by them for so many reasons.
The writers picked the wrong leads!
I heard this a lot about this drama. Heard way more about the secondary couple than the leads haha
I've got mixed feelings about Bai Lu as an actress. I can practically hear the angry screams as I say that, but hear me out! I haven't watched any of her dramas except for Moonlight Mystique, so maybe my opinion will change after I check out Unveil: Jadewind.
Again, you're in the right place because I don't like her either (couldn't get past two eps of Till the End of the Moon because she's such a nothing-burger actress, and it was bothering me). I wouldn't go in expecting to love her in Unveil: Jadewind either; her acting leaves a lot to be desired, but it's serviceable enough to not click off the drama, I guess. Dare I say, I think the leads' nothing-burger acting has been the worst part of the drama thus far. I feel nothing.
and no, it's not because it has a hint of BL.
I'm CW it and let me tell you, it's not a hint at all 💀 It's a... hm... how to say this... a unique dynamic 💀 I'm team SML and his tomboy not-yet-GF tho, but of course I am
that sounds like a very miserable experience
It was even more embarrassing because I was stuck there with my family, and they kept saying, "If you feel sick, just lean over the boat! Fish love it when people are sick!"
And I'm just like
Better stick to fishing on land
Gladly! 100%
really dislike episodic-type mysteries
I understand your perspective! For me, it really depends on how the cases are interconnected. I enjoy it when everything comes together at the end, unveiling that exciting link.
Four episodes? That's not too bad out of 17! I mean, it's a reasonable amount of time to distribute each case without making them so short that you’re left questioning why you should even care. It drives me crazy when there are just too many victims in a series; I end up thinking, 'Why should I even care about these characters?' Their cases have no effect on the main storyline.
And those characters whose actions are so terrible that I can't find any gray area to empathize with! Honestly, if they’re completely evil, I’m thinking, 'Go take a flight, I hope your glider is poorly configured!'
However, it’s the whole complex narrative where the actions of the perpetrator are so convoluted that you find yourself confused, wondering, 'Why go through all that trouble for this? It makes no sense whatsoever!' It feels like the writers are just trying too hard, and it ruins the story!
Heard way more about the secondary couple
Not to be mischievous, but I found it incredibly entertaining to observe the comments from the start of airing to the end. Initially, there were viewers desperately clinging to their opinions, insisting that the series deserved a perfect 10 out of 10. Meanwhile, others with a more rational perspective were passionately arguing, providing reasons why the female lead was anything but a heroine.
I sat back, thinking, at least I'm not alone in feeling this animosity. It genuinely frustrated me that the second female lead wasn't receiving enough appreciation. However, I realized I might have overlooked the comments where she was being celebrated, as they may have been overshadowed by the war happening in the comment section ,it was a bloodbath. LOL
her acting leaves a lot to be desired, but it's serviceable enough to not click off the drama
I thought you said her acting was giving nothing bigger :P
a unique dynamic
I'm literally howling
Sitting here with a gluten and dairy allergy
Hana Yori Dango. The best part was the retro aesthetic and the fact that it ended
Fair 🤣🤣🤣
And that was one of the better adaptations (but also one of the worst-behaved Doumyoujis).
Bruuuuhhh 😭 what's this masochistic behavior?
Not you "Pooja, what is this behavior"-ing me hahahaha.
It's one of the few things I'm masochistic about 😩 But in a way, it's strangely comforting since it's something I'm sooo familiar with. It's a psychology thing lol.
The Thai adaptation that came out a few years ago did something miraculous and unprecedented though...it made me kind of like the ML (his name's Thyme in this version). I don't think anyone understands how impressive that is because I've hated this man and rooted for the SML in every single adaptation for almost TWENTY FREAKING YEARS.
I watched the Thai version on a whim with my friend, thinking she was going to swoon and I was going to continue my self-flagellating tradition + ridicule it, then found myself getting caught up in a way I've never gotten caught up before! So kudos to the writing in the Thai adaptation. I'd still never be with someone like Thyme, but it was the first time I was rooting for his character and the FL instead of shipping her with SML. What a feat. I think it's because this version actually made him reflect on his actions and the way he treated people, so FL didn't have to do as much emotional labor. He was also more vulnerable (my favorite word today lol) and unsure of himself. It was such a good portrayal of a bratty, rich jerk with the potential to be likable instead of the sociopath all the other versions tried to present as a viable love interest.
I still don't think you'd like it, but it was a cool example of how far society's come + good writing.
which leaves me kinda wondering what I can watch from Taiwan, lol
If Love Is Science? stays good, then maybe that.
Or Lesson in Love if you're in the mood for a twisty, soapy noona romance, and maybe Someday or One Day, but I'll hold off on recommending that until I actually finish it.
Did you watch them in chronological order or release order?
Tried both.
but I AM making progress, so I can't even be too bitter about it, lol
Hey, that's something!
Meanwhile, I'm going to bed later and later T . T
Keep getting this drama recommended to me xD
I actually think you'd enjoy it. The FL is super likable...to US. LOL.
Yeah, but it feels like it has a lot of trad undertones if that makes sense. More like "malewife" as a joke, rather than genuinely liking it? Kinda got the vibes of "omg he's her malewife but he still doms her in the bedroom 😈"
Sometimes talking to you is so trippy because it feels like talking to myself XD
These are the exact questions, concerns, and reservations I had about Cruel Prince when people were trying to get me to read it. I avoided it for yeaaaaarrrrrrssss because I also didn't trust the mainstream endorsement, but after reading it I was like...dang. They were right this one time.
Okay, so lemme be brutally honest with you:
- You can't go into the book thinking it's a romance. People who did were disappointed because there's actually not a ton of romance. It's political intrigue with a romance subplot. Which should actually make it more appealing to you hahaha. Now, that's usually not my jam, but I was invested because Jude's characterization was great, and I wanted to see her go from being this girl who masked her fear with anger to someone the fae were truly terrified of.
- You will hate ML for 90% of the first book—or maybe the entire thing. (I hated him for most of the book then started finding him kind of cute toward the end). He is admittedly a cruel bully just like the title signifies. I won't downplay that just to get you to read it. The reason I kept reading is because I love how angry and scrappy Jude is. She doesn't cower, and gets physical right back. The only person she's weak for is her twin sister. (She eventually ends up killing one of the ML's friends and by the end of the series, she also kills someone in the royal family. She is the YA heroine of my dreams). By book two, I started liking the ML more, then I hated him again, and by book three I was smitten. It's a proper enemies to lovers.
- The book's undertones are actually more RR than the actual content, not trad. Especially in the second and third books. I strongly suspect the author wanted to make the FL even more dominant, but her editor advised her against it because they would lose a lot of readers.
- The FL is on top the first time they sleep together. ML is the one who's desperate to please her, so he asks her what she wants, and the book essentially describes her as wanting to be in control (😏) so she stays on top and controls the pace. So ML is definitely not domming in the bedroom.
- The last thing I want to point out is: I love that the FL is one step ahead of the ML multiple times. This is something most hardcore RRs don't even do. There are a couple big schemes the FL pulls off that totally catch the ML by surprise, and it's so cool to read. He doesn't get to go, "Well, actually I had a feeling you would...☝️🤓" or smirk knowingly because he's as in the dark as everyone else. It even leads to him trying to trick her at the end of the series because he thinks it will impress her since she's always plotting.
I used to always feel awkward and left out when my friends were gushing about their dom daddy husbandos, and I was there, liking the cute side character everyone shipped with a dude and feeling weird about it xD
Been there too. Another canon event lol.
I hear s2 is bad anyway
It was awful. I'm probably not gonna watch season 3. It's one of those shows that should've just been a limited series.
I think I threw up a lil bit... Wow, it's been a while since I cringed THAT hard at something... Good to know I'm not missing anything in the western landscape
He's shirtless and in chains...how did they manage to mess that up?? The writing is soooooo bad. And the acting isn't great either despite Jenna Ortega being talented.
Now that you mention it, I don't even know if I've ever seen any Western RR dramas/movies 🤔 Any Western RR content I've consumed has been novels.
Maybe a very old movie called Cutthroat Island? FL is a pirate and ML is a physician she usually has to save. But yeah, I think that's it. Sad. Possibly Dark Angel since FL is genetically modified and ML is in a wheelchair?
How long does the torturing last? And does he torture her in a cool way or in a misogynistic way? It sound silly, but there's a difference 😭 Debating watching this with my mum, and she's even more particular about this sorta thing than I am, lol
Omg, it'd be a perfect watch for you and your mom! I watched it with my mom! LOL. It has something for the whole family. You can drool over Sui Ge and Yi Xiao while your mom swoons over Sui Ge's little sister's love interest(s).
Regarding the torture, hers lasts a minute or two? And his lasts two or three because my girl is gonna make sure you don't cross her again.
He definitely tortures her in a cool, non-misogynistic way. I know exactly what you mean. He doesn't try to humiliate her by stripping off her clothes or acting like he's going to assault her. He tortured her like she was a grown man LOL. She's actually the one who trails a bamboo stick down the side of his face and says he'd make a nice boy toy before she tortures him.
The way he's looking at her during this scene is crazzzzyyyyy. (Also, he and Daniel have the best lips in the biz). But he's not smug for long 😂
That does sound quite atypical, I will say... Finally, a worthy battle for dominance... Similars attract dynamics are SO rare
Yes! That's why I ate it up! But in order to help you manage your expectations, I must point out that they team up pretty quickly. It's enemies to begrudging allies to friends to lovers. The begrudging allies and friends phases are probably the longest.
Sounds kinda yummyyyyyy 😋😩
It's nice to see two competent people just be there for each other, ya know?
Wow, TRUE egalitarian? Now THAT'S rare!
One of my favorite scenes. I was a mess 😩❤️
FL is a warrior, right? Does she go into 'pretending to be demure' territory for long, or does the drama actually let her remain warrior-looking?
Yes, she's a high-ranking military commander, and she never pretends to be demure. She's herself the whole time—even when she has no memories.
I wouldn't say she or ML remain warrior-looking throughout the series though. Aside from the first episode and a couple skirmishes, they don't spend a ton of time on the battlefield. A lot of their fights are impromptu, so they're usually wearing decent palace clothing. FL's not dolled-up though. Her clothing is practical and allows her to fight.
I love dramatic villains xD I was expecting a draggy middle and/or a mid ending, it's a cdrama at the end xD But a satisfying ending does sound promising. Is it happy?
I'll take dramatic villains over boring ones any day 👌
The pacing is consistent in the beginning and most of the middle, then starts to get draggy for the last 20 or 30%? It picks up again for the last few episodes then delivers a happy ending.
This was me sitting through the credits of the last episode:
I couldn't believe I'd made it through a historical C-drama. (Meanwhile, I make it through historical K-dramas all the time LOL.)
No, they're gonna stand around and talk a whole bunch xD It's a 40ep cdrama, what do you expect?
Movement 🥲
And it doesn't just feel like her only goal is "man", there's more going on, he's just important to her.
That's really refreshing.
That's so awesome~ Finally some time to relax!
Joke's on me! I had to drive my mom around town so she could complete her errands.
At least she made it up to me by making me a nice steak 😊
