Heya unbeliebubble! Long time no see, hope you've been well!Arclei:
I am fine thank you :) I am trying to resume my watching habit, and I stumbled upon "Learning to love" and "cinderella closet" and I liked them especially :
-"Learning to love" : A grandiose host with learning disability and a seamingly reserved but strong FL whose been hurt in the past, are basically walking together on the road of healling. Episode 6 was the cutest. And the se*ual tension was at its pinnacle. I am enjoying it very much. Because although the setting seems very flirtacious, the real power flurting begun and I love it.
- Regarding "cinderella closet" : I like the cross-dressed Leads. And I like the story. The only minus point I find is that FL is to weak to my personal taste, although she gets strong when it is needed. And I am happy about that. overall, I still find this interesting and I am waiting for episode 10 to air this week.
So yes, I find both the shows entertaining.
Learning to loveunbeliebubble:
I'm literally so eager for this to finish airing so I can watch it! It looks like a delightful watch! Noona, RR vibes and a good story? Sign me the hell up!
The only minus point I find is that FL is to weak to my personal taste
Ugh, that's bit of a shame. Was hoping we could get a different kind of FL in a crossdressing story but it seems like that once again won't be the case :(
Ok thank you, I am going to resume the episodes based on the chat history. :)
Okidokiii!
| Finally got around to watching Scent of New Dawn because I was craving something moody to fill the A Dream like the True Love shaped hole in my heart and it was an experience. The beginning is good though admittedly very angsty (which I still enjoyed). After that it shifted focus and started losing me. Especially with the consistent it-gets-worse-ism that is so prevalent in the drama (it's a very dark and heavy watch, beware of the TWs), but that's not why I'm here... xD I watched it for both LZH who I loved in Secrets of the Shadow Sect last year and also because @unbeliebubble sang its praises back when it aired. As far as the role reversal goes, it reminded me a bit of Dong Lan Xue minus the steamyness but maybe equally as intimate in other ways. FL is ML's maid but is the one taking the lead in both the relationship and their revenge plan... | |
| Due to his disability also she ends up leading him quite literally sometimes. I do have my reservations about whether or not this drama would've been as RR if ML hadn't been disabled but maybe that's me just nitpicking, haha. I loved how gentlewoman-coded FL was, something that we see in servant MLs but not so much in servant FLs. ML was also so cute and delightfully in peril (and clingy). FL also surprised me in how badass and cold she was, she didn't even pretend to be demure. |  The gentlewomancore has me giddy, omg |
Ultimately it didn't rank too high in my RR list because the relationship is more secondary to the revenge plot and the graphic violence. | |
| I also rewatched Secrets of the Shadow Sect to get cleanse myself from SoND's ending and see Lin Ze Hui in his best role and yup, I still love it! I admittedly did fast forward through the tedious scenes, especially the ending is mostly skippable but the beginning? 10/10 and the leads, their dynamic, and the overall sensual themes of the drama are *chefs kiss* | |
| I think this ML is probably my favourite of the aloof guard kinds out there, maybe because he's not really aloof but more so judgmental and the moment that melts away he's a shy flustered mess (or maybe I really like LZH's portrayal, lol). His styling in this is also immaculate, that braided hairstyle is lovely Not that FL is any less amazing. Her styling is also stunning and I love how she actually carries herself as a sect leader rather than a demure princess. Once again Hu Yi Yao killed it as a provocative girlboss, the role is quite similar to hers in Bound by Sin but I believe this one has more depth. |  I love the blatant Zhang Gong Zhu Zai Shang visual ripoff of this scene. Gif by Hi on tumbr. |
  househusbandcore~ | I forgot just how chaotic this drama is, though- Like ML taking a drug that binds him to FL as essentially her slave but said drug is made using FL's blood and... this causes the drug to have an aphrodisiac effect on him which she then proceeds to relieve him of... I'm crying, it's so unserious but I love it. Though the drama does suffer from the cdrama cliches (like FL being bridal carried more often than would ever be necessary and reverse harem nonsense) I still find it to be of the more RR dramas out there. We even got a lovely scene where ML takes care of FL while she's unconscious (for a soldier, he sure is malewife coded) and I could go on and on... Can't recommend this drama enough (though maybe not the last couple of episodes, yikes) |
| Got a lot of clips of both dramas but my internet has been so bad lately that idk how or when I'll be able to make them all into GIFS... for now I made a couple | |
Finally got around to watching Scent of New Dawn because I was craving something moody to fill the A Dream like the True Love shaped hole in my heart and it was an experience.
YaY, you finally watched "Scent of New Dawn". I totally agree with you. ML and FL's relationship is overshadowed by the ugly situations surroundding them. Their sweet romance is so beautiful, regardless of the die situations they face. This is why, I am in love with the couple. And their touching was mouving to me too, because of the disability and the body language it implies.
You spoke about the "Secrets of the Shadow Sect", well this one is my all time favorite, especially for the relationship (RR) Shifu - studend interaction as well as the enormous push and pull and se*ual tension.
I would like more drama like this to aire more often. Thanks for the recommendation @arclei
Bound by Sin - Episode 7
The only thing the GIFs are "spoilering" are the outfits.
- poor miss Zhou :( she's doing so much and it still isn't enough for that man
- Why is the narrator omniscient now? 😭 I thought he was only talking about the ML and FL, why is he suddenly talking about miss Zhou and Shen Dongyang?
- "The purer someone is, the more it makes others want to corrupt them." And the hand grab and pull ahhh!
- His shocked face at the photos lol
- I appreciate the way their positions changed in the photo room to show that Fu Cheng was consenting/wanted to kiss her too.
- "And then they ruin it with them switching positions... Can't have a dang nice thing without it being frigging ruined..." - I didn't mind it this time bc it was kinda in the dubious consent territory but you're so right, it keeps happening so many times (in other dramas too) that the FL is first seen being dominant like that and then they always change it uhh
- Third eldest granduncle - damn, just write his name, it will be easier to remember xD
- "Not sure if it was intentional or yet another mistake of production" - I think it was intentional! He was giving me weird vibes lol. Like he was only pretending to be weak and that he has something on Yingxian.
- Yingxian's white outfit! 😍 And I also love her hairstyle!
- Aww her little thankful smile at Fu Cheng when he caught the falling documents.
Okay I hate Dongyang with burning passion but that golden outfit with the dragonfly brooch? Slayyyy!
- but Yingxian's dress looks atrocious I'm sorry I absolutely hate it with the spaghetti straps and its cheap looking fabric😭
- Why did Dongyang's actor look straight into the camera at 14:03 lmaoo
- Another piggyback ride? Not gonna lie, it's kind of cute
Finally got around to watch it too! I enjoyed it quite a lot actually. Maybe because it was my first episode after like two months of not watching anything ahh. Although I feel like not much happened in this ep.
Alex:
Finally posted the RR Club Member Recommendation List! Feel free to write more recs using the template at the end of this post.
WAAHOOOO!!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to make and manage this, Alex!! It looks great!
Y'all better put it to good use before I start spamming it with my own reccs XD
YaY, you finally watched "Scent of New Dawn"
Completely agree with what you said! That sad ending was NOT necessary!! ToT Couldn't they have just cut it when they move in together and just leave us with the know that he doesn't have much time left? Actually diabolical.
You spoke about the "Secrets of the Shadow Sect", well this one is my all time favorite
Yeesssss, a fellow SotSS stan!!! I'm glad you loved it as much as I did!
I would like more drama like this to aire more often. Thanks for the recommendation @arclei
Completely agree! They don't make them like SotSS often... we get only 1 per year!
2022: Zhang Gong Zhu Zai Shang
2023: Dong Lan Xue
2024: Secrets of the Shadow Sect
2025: Bound by Sin
But we've been getting more RR in general lately so really I can't complain too much.
Bound by Sin - Episode 7
- "Why is the narrator omniscient now?" - imma kill that narrator one day ToT Like bro gtfo
- "I didn't mind it this time bc it was kinda in the dubious consent territory" - I mean, I get it but there are other ways to show consent that isn't ML being on top, god knows that doesn't happen the other way around. I actually went and rewatched the scene for a refresh (FOR SCIENCE) and idk, the fact that everything she does takes like a billion years kinda implies that she's giving him an out if he wants to take it. But idk I also appreciate women in mens fields even if it is kinda messed up so 💀🤡
- "that golden outfit with the dragonfly brooch? Slayyyy!" - At least bro can do something right
- "but Yingxian's dress looks atrocious" - You're right. It's very unflattering
Glad you were able to get around to watch it and that you enjoyed it so much!
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