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 Arclei:
Hope you like it more than me!

Whaaaaaaaaat I thought you liked it big time!!!

Also side note........... The Judge from Hell.........Girl be slayin' (literally and figuratively)!!! Where was I that this show completely missed my radar. It is such a perfect RR.......Morally ambiguous and tough as nails FL, who can really fight, gives the bad guys a serious dose of whoopazz, doesn't give a flying F for anyone or anything including the ML in the beginning, then goes all protective. The ML is such a puppy even though he is a cop. 

Cannot wait for season 2. 

 Arclei:
The Killer Is Also Romantic

I've heard about this one! Will add it to The Buffet if it's not there already.

 Arclei:
My SO Has Got Depression

Wow. Sometimes I forget how much live action Japanese media I used to consume. I remember this actress from Heavenly Forest and Virgin Snow. I'll check it out!


 Arclei:
In the 1990s

Another one I've been trying to find with full audio 😭


 Arclei:
I feel like they all had decent chemistry, but I'm sure you might think otherwise xD

Hey, if it's there, it's there 😂 


 Arclei:
I agree on the AO3 thing... I keep seeing everywhere people begging readers to leave even a single comment at all! It's so bleak... I wish there was some kinda middle-ground where a comment section could be relatively active but not so nasty. 

Agreed!

I know people are shy, but I'm baffled at why readers are so reluctant to comment on AO3.



 Arclei:
can you imagine this dynamic unfolding over 8-12 eps?

Yes, but I don't think the general public would be ready for it. I can see it getting so much hate. 

 Arclei:
I would've been good with this too. She looks ridiculously good in that pic,

Thank you for understanding my inner struggle. Because I do want more media that allows women to be less than perfect. Lee Hye Young just happens to be hot lol.

 Arclei:
I watched Remember where the ML is 80 and can kick ass just fine

I never think stuff like that makes sense either smh. 

From what you said, I figured the movie was trying to be realistic, but not so much so that FL would be dead because then they wouldn’t get to tell the story 😭 You're right about the double standards though. 


 Arclei:
uses other tactics to his advantage, like, idk, not charging in head first against an opponent that's 3 times his size and 1/4th his age? 

Ahh...okay, that is disappointing. I can understand her barely keeping up with fights against younger opponents (even younger female ones), but it's sad they'd make her reckless too. 

I'll try and watch it soon!


Currently binging You Are My Lover Friend! A solid friends to lovers egalitarian dynamic with slight RR leanings. 

I can see why you like Wang Yu Wen because she's super talented, and totally stealing the show. She's so naturally expressive! (What was that drama you watched her in again?)

 Arclei:
Good luck indeed! Hope you like it more than me!

LOLLLLLLL.

Phew! You make me feel sane <3

 Arclei:

Makes sense. I just lose interest and drop it xD

Good luck indeed! Hope you like it more than me!

I’m also waiting for the ending .. I had enough trauma deom

Cdramas rubbish endings 😭

 amdream_weaver:
Whaaaaaaaaat I thought you liked it big time!!!

I diiiiiidddd 😭 It went so downhill for me. Started out really cute, fresh, and offbeat with pretty cute RR but then the repetition starts to hit bad (felt a bit like a vertical, lol) and by ep 15 it started to seriously lose me despite the plot picking up. Full of misunderstandings, separation, disgusting villains (yeah the rapey kind) with the world's THICKEST plot armor, tedious and over convoluted politics, endless mourning scenes, etc, etc. I started skipping most of episodes 16-21 and at this point I just don't care enough to continue. Especially after checking reviews that give it less than a 9 all of which say it goes seriously downhill and never recovers. 

I am slightly curious to see it unfold, so maybe one day I'll pick it back up for it's a drop for now. I don't have the energy to invest time into something I like less than a 50%

Not really any actual spoilers but tagged just in case. ^^

 potatocouch:
Phew! You make me feel sane <3

😂😂😂 Are you proud? 

 didichan:
Cdramas rubbish endings 😭

and middles

Like I keep saying, it's like they're allergic to a high rating 😭 I know censorship doesn't help but a lot of them DON'T get to blame censors for that crap. 

 Arclei:
I started skipping most of episodes 16-21 and at this point I just don't care enough to continue.

Oh snap, I didn't realize you completely dropped it! Thought you were gonna keep fast-forwarding.


 Arclei:
Especially after checking reviews that give it less than a 9 all of which say it goes seriously downhill and never recovers. 

That's interesting. I didn't know other people were feeling the decline. I just kept seeing the glowing, effusive reviews. I've read that a chunk of Chinese netizens feel the same way we do, though. It's funny how my views generally align with theirs over international viewers.


 Arclei:
😂😂😂 Are you proud? 

Not proud per se because you know I love ZLH, and have been looking forward to this drama for months, but surprised at how sensitive my drama intuition is becoming. 

 potatocouch:
Hey, if it's there, it's there 😂 

Who knows? Nobody Knows 

 potatocouch:
I know people are shy, but I'm baffled at why readers are so reluctant to comment on AO3.

I heard that AO3 was invaded by non-freaky folks who don't understand nor care for fandom etiquette. Might be partially to blame, but people are always reluctant to comment on writing, fsr (I'm also people, lol, I'm so used to lurking everywhere but I'm working on it, lol).


 potatocouch:
I can see it getting so much hate. 

Yeah... Couldn't help but notice that no one in the comments took note of the dynamic at all, which is crazy because the movie is NOT subtle... 😂 Maybe for the best that only I picked up on the scrumptious blossoming romance. 

 potatocouch:
Lee Hye Young just happens to be hot lol.

Wholeheartedly agree! 

 potatocouch:
I never think stuff like that makes sense either smh.

I mean, idk, I feel like action flicks are SO detached from any semblance of realism that a grandma/pa kicking butt isn't that much further of a stretch for me. It kinda goes back to the selective realism authors cherry pick and those always somehow being misogyny and ageism (and others, ofc, but these we were/are discussion). Of course ML can fly and survive a 20 story fall with barely a scratch, but a woman??? A grandpa??? Nah, too unrealistic.

But I also am of the belief that a huge impact to aging is state of mind (basically the "you are as old as you feel" thing) so I don't think it's all that weird for elderly people of ANY age to do 'young people' stuff 🤷‍♂️ The elders around me were always fitter than me & my peers, lol! As for trained pros? That goes without saying! They should easily be able to kick butts (either by brute-forcing it or by finding a workaround for whatever deterioration they do have). Is 80 a bit more on the absurd side? Sure, but 60 isn't.

I'm frankly exhausted of old age being portrayed as such a miserable existance... it's so bleak and untrue. You can still do cool shit as an elder and why not have some power fantasies about it? Make growing old something to look forward to instead of only dread! 

Sorry not sorry for the semi rant xD Just something that bothers me... especially with media glazing tf out of youth and making every old person out to basically be a living corpse. 

 potatocouch:
I figured the movie was trying to be realistic, but not so much so that FL would be dead because then they wouldn’t get to tell the story

Selective realism strikes yet again. Because she gets her ass beat because she's 'old' (I guess?? Idk, she just doesn't seem very good tbh. It's funny because we keep getting TOLD that she's good but she only gets her ass kicked, lol) but then survives like 20 stabbings. The skill is something she could easily still have as an elder but bouncing back from injury no problem? Now that I agree gets tougher the older you are. But what do I know- 

 potatocouch:
I'll try and watch it soon!

Yippiiieee!!! 🎉


 potatocouch:
Currently binging You Are My Lover Friend! A solid friends to lovers egalitarian dynamic with slight RR leanings. 

We love our egalitarian with RR leanings. Every time I read that title I think of Mr Loverman by Ricky Montgomery- idk why

 potatocouch:
I can see why you like Wang Yu Wen because she's super talented, and totally stealing the show. She's so naturally expressive! (What was that drama you watched her in again?)

She's ADORABLE, glad she's getting lead roles! I love both the leads of that drama, tbh. Them being in a cute friends-to-lovers drama together makes perfect sense. 

And she a fairly prominent and compelling character in Secret of Three Kingdoms. Seeing her mature as the drama progressed was really nice. (Speaking of political historicals with lots of women, this one had quite a few and all were legends)

Oh god, it's just a little bit colder outside and I'm getting the urge to rewatch it... someone hold me back

@zhouszishu on Tumblr
 potatocouch:
Thought you were gonna keep fast-forwarding.

I was and still might but later. Thinking about the drama only irritates me rn xD

 potatocouch:
I didn't know other people were feeling the decline.

There's always at least one review that'll share one's criticism. It's how I stay sane. Obviously the overwhelming majority do still seem to love it, lol. But it's ZLH so kind of a given- A lot of folks brought up interesting takes on their dislike but the consensus seemed to be that it was very flashy but ultimately shallow. I don't think anyone seemed as bothered with it as I seem to be with those atrocious middle eps but that's prolly just me and my hatred for red flag men lol 

 potatocouch:
but surprised at how sensitive my drama intuition is becoming. 

Girl saw the warning signs and fled, I clung to the illusion of what could be. The realist and the optimist

 Arclei:

Does anyone know if Phantom Lawyer is RR? The synopsis is giving me RR, but the trailer is not at all so I'm conflicted. It seems to have the slight romance tag but idk if that's for the leads but regardless, there could be subtext- anyone watching?

Watching it does have RR vibe …. 

 Arclei:

and middles

Like I keep saying, it's like they're allergic to a high rating 😭 I know censorship doesn't help but a lot of them DON'T get to blame censors for that crap. 

I think they give up half way like .. let’s just kill everyone 🤣

 Arclei:

Makes sense. I just lose interest and drop it xD

Good luck indeed! Hope you like it more than me!

So pursuit of jade is not it then ? I was already feeling like it won’t live up to the hype ! 

 didichan:
So pursuit of jade is not it then ? I was already feeling like it won’t live up to the hype ! 

Thats the vibe I am getting too. Honestly afraid to dip my toe into these red flag, rapey men dramas. Cdramas haven't been serving anything good lately (imho). And the whole sagging middle episodes to kill off everyone and have a grand wrap up at the end.....Even the big names this year were loose and just yawn worthy............why can't we get tight plots with great characters, good visuals, interesting supporting cast, awesome actors, mind blowing OSTs and great cinematography and editing???? Am I asking for too much??? 

 amdream_weaver:

Thats the vibe I am getting too. Honestly afraid to dip my toe into these red flag, rapey men dramas. Cdramas haven't been serving anything good lately (imho). And the whole sagging middle episodes to kill off everyone and have a grand wrap up at the end.....Even the big names this year were loose and just yawn worthy............why can't we get tight plots with great characters, good visuals, interesting supporting cast, awesome actors, mind blowing OSTs and great cinematography and editing???? Am I asking for too much??? 

I notice this rapey energy in many of the vertical dramas which I find painful to watch the music always grates my ears and the acting just the worst thing … but it’s the rapey thing I done understand all the women love it and I’m just like why !!!! 

 didichan:
I think they give up half way like .. let’s just kill everyone 🤣

Right? And for what? ToT At this point I just skip all death scenes- I refuse to be milked for my tears!

 didichan:
So pursuit of jade is not it then ? I was already feeling like it won’t live up to the hype ! 

I mean, yeah. Anything super popular won't be all that great... The beginning is cute and offbeat with a showcase of peasant lives and relatively good execution of plot with a very unique fairytale-esque aesthetic, but it gets rather tedious not too long in and then just derails into absolute clownery 😭


 amdream_weaver:
Honestly afraid to dip my toe into these red flag, rapey men dramas.

Yeah, that's why I mentioned it cuz I was caught off guard, especially with how relatively RR the drama had been until that point. It's giving "only FL can protect herself because she's special, everyone else can suffer" which is not a vibe I like at all (she's actually the only woman that remains somewhat safe, it's crazy). These men also just hog the screentime, like bro MOVE

The drama seems to struggle with its feminist messaging in general. I kept getting mixed signals and feeling weird about it, and I apparently wasn't the only one. Because it seems fine and even great on paper, so I thought I was being a sour puss because FL is still obvi extremely conventionally attractive, cutesy, and only strong because of basically superpowers which gets super old, but no, it's in the way they frame her being atypical that feels off. It feels as if, sure, that's how she is, rowdy and strong, but it's still kinda bad and she does crave to be the typical woman, her circumstances just forced her to be otherwise, which frankly... can we not already. I'm also tired of the super competent ML that's good at everything and FL that has like 1 skill and that's it... Idk maybe I AM still being overly harsh but it's not serving for me like it was for everyone else, lol. She's good for what she is, and probably very good for a cdrama FL in general, but that's it... God forbid we get an actual tomboy FL (the only reason I even consider continuing is because she becomes a general later on but apparently the circumstances for this development are kinda mid so...)

And then of course the blatant violence against women, which, sure, the men are very clearly framed as villains... but we still see it at length. And giving them steamy scenes is NOT helping their case 😭 They frankly do not have the writing skill to execute this in an interesting way and it shows

But yeah, maybe that's thoroughly discouraging. I just don't want you to go in with false hope. The first couple of episodes ARE really cute and she's very protective of ML and piggyback carries him twice <3 and he marries her as a matrilocal husband. Just be aware of what comes later

 amdream_weaver:
Cdramas haven't been serving anything good lately (imho).

You're completely right, tho. There's always something super glaring that just ruins it and that's the best case scenario, usually it's multiple things like you said. Dramas keep getting lower and lower quality with less and less effort put into them, especially bad in the writing department (like how???)... I'm growing so, so tired. I keep starting dramas only to put them on-hold or drop them about halfway through- I'm never gonna finish my MDL challenge this way!!! I should go back to my usual scheduling of watching dramas that aired before... 

I'm being kept afloat by minis at this point 😭 Gonna check out some of the historical thrillers that aired recently and see if those are any good 


Also forgot to answer to this

 amdream_weaver:
Morally ambiguous and tough as nails FL, who can really fight, gives the bad guys a serious dose of whoopazz, doesn't give a flying F for anyone or anything including the ML in the beginning, then goes all protective. The ML is such a puppy even though he is a cop. 

I tried watching this one but the first ep did nothing for me 😭 I was clearly not in the mood because it sounds RIGHT up my lane and I wanna watch it so bad. I'm glad you loved it 💓 Can't wait to watch it too. I love fierce red-flag protective women, plssss