Aramintai

Her being allowed to execute the villain in the end is both contradictory and proves the point of this whole drama.

Why add that divisive emotional ML's argument in episode 29 only to still allow FL to do it? Sure, there were also other arguments that she had no evidence back then and wouldn't be able to restore her father's name, maybe even get severly punished. But that point about turning into a monster and having more nightmares really got everyone's attention. Then they showed that little boy in whom she saw herself and understood that revenge is not the right path to live for. But then when the villain royally fked up and the emperor gave a decree to execute him, it was FL who went to do the deed. I mean, where's the public execution? You may hate the emperor, but he coddled FL even here. And sure, the villain should have died for FL to move on with her life, but did it have to be her hand that executed him? I guess the script writers got lost in the sauce somewhere down the line. At least they added lines with FL telling ML about a dream she had later with her parents sort of saying farewells to her, so here's hoping her nightmares will end too.

As for the point of this whole drama - there's no justice to be found in the palace, the emperor upholds the law on a whim when it's beneficial to him, nobody gets justice when they should. So yeah, it was just right when FL threw these accusations at the emperor and quit. However, him coddling her by not properly punishing her either for poisoning the nobles, or trying to kill the chancellor the first time, and then allowing her to execute him in the end in private just again proves this point. And she herself was often bending laws when it suited her to seek her revenge and solve cases. Lots of self-righteous people here with flawed logic. I guess, it's what makes this drama a charming memorable mess.

The one about the cult babies and father's revenge - Auspicious Time Secret. Absolutely fked up what that family did to his daughter. The crazy cult exploiting people for money is also so so relevant today, reminds me of scientologists and the like.
The girl in the wall is the runner up - the case started small, but blew up into a whole other big case with a devastating follow-up resolution.
And while the White Asura case wasn't as interesting as some other cases, the crazy ghost woman was very memorable. She fked up her health to an absolutely devastating result. It's good that she got a nice closure ending at the end, with other concubines starting visiting her lonely house.

Just like all the rest of those cliche arrogant megalomaniac villains...he's gonna get served.

If you mean the main villain, I guess it's ok now that she's got evidence and the emperor's permission. Either way he should have been killed for FL to move on, but her doing it herself it did look contradictory to the point made in episode 29. The villain should have just gotten a public execution.

He wasn't, it was all the main villain's work back then. At least, nowhere in the drama is it stated that he was involved. He also looks to young to have been involved. He's only involved in the last case and unknowingly played into FL's hands with his schemes.

The leads got criminally short closure scenes in the last episode.
Where's the normal reconcilliation talk? Apologies? ML commenting on FL killing the chancellor? He had very strong opinion about that in episode 29. Saying farewells to ML's family? Implied wedding? Where are they going in those frilly costumes and no baggage?

There's a thought 🤔.

Different leads is, like, an immediate epic fail, lol. Most of this drama's success rode on FL's charisma and cool character concept.

They can perhaps drag FL into this again if she won't have to fight, but they'll have to invent something story wise as to why. Or make heavy use of doubles.

I'm fine with role reversal and FL having a more dominant role. But I think he should have been less stiff here, I don't know if his character was supposed to be like that or he's got acting problems, but it just felt off at times.

If both leads won't be in it I ain't watching.

Exactly. Just pretend that extra scene isn't canon and put it to rest for now.
Also, what a shitty way from the showrunners to sour a happy ending...

I dunno, how fast do they film dramas there in China? Gotta cook it while it's hot. Nobody would care a few years later. So I think either they'll confirm season 2 soon, or it ain't gonna happen at all.

Maybe they'll do some extra episodes at most. Like a mini-series. But I dunno, I'm not holding my breath.
And the novel was written by a talented writer and got popular enough to warrant an adaptation. Some script writer coming up with same quality season 2 is highly unlikely. Probably gonna be s*it. And if they manage to do it, but some of the main actors won't be in it's also gonna be s*it.

I dunno, I've read FL doesn't want to do this hard fighting s*it no more, as she got some injuries. Maybe if they paid her a s*it ton of money, but it's still not gonna happen anytime soon - there's no novel, no script and actors' schedules are probably booked for the forseeable future. And did the drama do well in China? Judging by MDL's scores, it's not looking promising.

Yea, they def did right by omitting all this. This drama's focused on investigations, dark themes behind them and sweet revenge. Shoving dynasty wars into this would have overstuffed the plot. Maybe they can explore it in season 2, but I somehow doubt it's gonna happen.

Meh, def liking it better in the drama.
FL being the sole survivor with survivor's guilt and being called a cursed lone star is way more impactful.
And ML being a prince with some contention to the throne would just be too cliche and overcomplicate the plot, imho.

Crown Prince.

You should start worrying about it only if season 2 gets confirmed. So far it looks like a wishful thinking from greedy showrunners.
You can head canon they kick his butt too for now.

Oh, so the novel's CP was not the emperor's son?

Why the ef the prince would work as an astronomer though? Or he wasn't an astronomer?
FL being the prime minister's daughter is some crazy role reversal. The guy's the main villain here, lol.

I like what we got in the drama. Though the emperor not lifting a finger because of the prime minister's death is more believable than the royal's prince's death.

Also, did they deal with CP? Was it the same as in the drama with the chancellor? Or did he live in the end?