That grandma is the opposite of a good educator. The way she burdened the FL with all the business-, family- and…
But why should we agree to disagree if our opinions can converge through the exposition of reasonable arguments/facts to each other and so we can fully agree?😀
I'll immediately agree with one of your arguments. It's a fact that Grandma said "there are other girls in the family to be married" and that "one of them can take over the Shanbao's role" but I think you've misunderstood the meaning of those grandma's words. What grandma's said and implied are two things: 1. the competition is held bc there are also other girls in the family to be married, the competition is the chance also for them to look around for their own prospects and Shanbao has a responsibility to think of her sisters' marriages, not only of her own. 2. Shanbao's role can be taken away from her only if SB BREAKS certain family rule (and in that specific moment, Grandma implied: the rule you cannot break is that you must marry your husband MATRILOCALLY). What are the rules of the Rong family we know about? I. The tea business is always run by a female member who II. Possesses the "tea-bone" (a special gift connected with tea business, the knowledge of sorts, plantations, plant health etc) since the young age III. That person marries matrilocaly in order to manage the Rong family (beside the tea business), and to pass the family name on her descendants.
Things like "heiress because she is from the main branch, legitimate etc" were never mentioned in this story, all that are suppositions of some viewers (I've also read them) but have nothing to do with the real reason why she already runs the tea business and it was mentioned in the drama that she runs it "since she was a child". We still don't have a clear vision of the reasons for the lack of an entire generation between the grandma and her granddaughters (and I am sure we'll have them in the future eps), but we have a clear vision why Shanbao is running the family business (=her own capability other granddaughters do not have). So, I hope you'll agree she is more of a "general manager" than a "crown princess", while grandma is temporarily in charge of the family, education, respect of rules etc. As this family is actually falling apart - with sisters like that, who'll need enemies? - (and grandma blames a dead person for that, not herself and her incapacity to enforce the rules), is it wrong to see her as a hypocrite? Who failed in all her tasks (while Shanbao succeded in hers) and indirectly undermines Shanabao's authority as a breadwinner of the family.
If I were Shanbao, I'd already married matrilocally someone like Lu and kick them all out of the family, leaving with me the smart Shen cousin and mentally impaired sister and sending the grandma to the tea-plantation so she can grasp the meaning of hard work. Alternatively, I'd marry so. like Lu, take my cousin and dependant sister with me, and start my own tea business, leaving the crazy Rong remnants and the grandma to their schemes and infightings.
That grandma is the opposite of a good educator. The way she burdened the FL with all the business-, family- and…
There are two things we agree upon: 1. "it s palace intrigue coded" and 2. that "her favoristism" is a trigger for their unruliness. But I still can't agree with your analysis of their relations and your evaluation of grandma's role bc. your interpretation mixes things which are in the plot with things which are not there at all. 1. Family, especially at the time (when family meant "enlarged family"), is based on sc. "roles and rules". Its members are not "equals", their roles differ, a family is a HIERARCHICAL (not democratical) cluster in order to insure the necessary homogeneity and avoid mess. At the top is always a breadwinner, a person whose work is fundamental for the sustenance of all the members. That breadwinner is not the grandma, it is Shanbao and her role is additionally supported by the (ancient family) rule that the family chief also possesses this mythical tea-bone. 2. Ok, they all know it's a myth, but it isn't a complete invention either: it's only logical that the tea business is run by a person who knows the most about the tea (acquired knowledge). And the FL already proved she knows the most about the tea, they were all unable to distinguish a HQ tea when FL returned home after being kidnapped. Pressing the FL by using this myth again at the tea tree worship ceremony was pure insubordination to the de facto leader/breadwinner (encouraged by the fact grandma will seriously punish only the dumb grandson), they challenge her only bc her role is challangeable until she gets married, not bc. one of them is more capable or can suddenly become a "heiress" (the thing which doesn't exist in this story) taking over the FL's role bc more gifted or capable. 3. Grandma's role is of an elder and the only one in the family, too. She is in charge of the respect of family rules, education and passing on the traditional values. I am sorry you can't see she failed in all these tasks.
I don't find her an hypocrite though. They are a matriarchal family, so she may have fought the same way with…
You are right, when attacked from the outside, they tend to unite. But being united only when directly attacked is insufficient for a cohesion of such a family and maintenance of their peculiar femminist values. In their constant challenging FL's authority, they often collude, plot and scheme with the outsiders (they even hired the bandits who abducted the FL intending to sell her), how can they know they won't unintentionally end up in colluding with their family and business enemy? I agree, it's an exciting drama
I don't find her an hypocrite though. They are a matriarchal family, so she may have fought the same way with…
the only opinion I can share with you is that the drama reminds us of pallace fighting dramas. Which never end up with bonding ups (except when they unite to take down one of them). They are rivals, they fight until the rival is taken down, period.
i don't like the grandma. it's mostly her own fault that their family is already falling apart but she thinks…
That grandma is the opposite of a good educator. The way she burdened the FL with all the business-, family- and household-related problems while inciting the jealousy of other granddaughters with the pretence she is "the apple of her eyes" making them think FL's authority is undeserved is disgusting, not only hypocritical. She always has justifications for her (in)decisions and overall inaction. In her view, FL isn't burdened bc she's doing nothing as an old matron, but bc FL's "useless mother passed away leaving a mess to her daughter". Weird, and were was she to help her clean the mess? Instead of punishing or even casting out disloyal members of the family, she pours oil into the fire by spoiling them and even supporting them in their mischieves as to "toughen" the FL. Oh, right, she has chosen an "ideal husband" to help her, "a monk with hair" as one of them called him, a person who prefers to observe things from a side than to intervene directly, as in a Chinese proverb "just sit patiently by the river, sooner or later you'll see your enemy's corpse floating". Great help indeed. Besides, Shanbao is already a matron of that family, having a tea-bone (and it doesn't matter if this talent is innate or acquired through learning) and being de facto in charge of the family and family business. Instead of behaving like a "retired elder" who supports the chief's authority against all the odds, she is often there to undermine her authority.
The drama is painfully slow. At times, it feels as if the screenwriter was half asleep while writing—or perhaps…
I disagree. 1. Whoever wrote this (original) drama is a pro in story-telling. There's a great balance between its multiple genres. The core plot - consisting of actions related to the investigation of a cold case and progression of a pivotal relationship between the leads - is masterfully fragmented into parts and filled with twists and subplots: ML's amnesia, toxic family and power dynamics, tea plantation business, selection-competition of a husband in a matriarchal environment, investigation of a fresh murder case, local authority corruption and related entanglements...Each subplot contains smth original, refreshing and functional to explain and deepen the (mainly grey) characters, including the side characters, making Glory an ensemble drama, too. What you feel as "nobody stands out" is a normal effect of the ensemble genre drama with a focus on dynamics and interconnections between multiple characters, multiple perspectives and multiple arcs. Don't worry, someone will stand out in the end, we've seen only 1/3 of the story. 2. I don't know what do you mean with "slow". If it is a pacing... the fault is with the director, not the screenwriter. I don't feel anything wrong with the pacing, I'm watching it at normal speed. If it is a slow solution of an issue, it is called: suspense. Normal in investigation genre dramas and Glory can be counted as such, too. 3. I agree that the backstage, music and props are great and the costumes are stunning, but where you don't see any flaw, an eye distinguishing different dynasties' fashion styles is pierced each time a vest, a coat and decoration from Qing period appears on the screen and it didn't occur once. Even the overall aesthetics is tendentially mixing the Ming style with Tingqua 19th century style (even the poster is more Tingqua than Ming) 4. ML. I don't see any difference in his beahviour before and druing the amnesia: he was smart and cunning before and is smart and cunning during his amnesia. 5. I wonder which narrative choices would you have made to tell this story. I think we are all here inpatiently awaiting for ep 13 to air because the narrative choice here totally hooked us.
did it get any better from ep 18? i stopped After 17 & hesitating to drop
I've endured till the mid ep 22. Really can't take any more. I won't downrate this drama, there were interesting things in the story which... isn't written properly. The FL is written fine, and even performed better, the SML is also written as an interesting character (and performed by an outstanding actor), ML is written so, so, but all the support characters are written badly or hm, except the Cat demon. The plot also has its high and low peaks, but at this point, the lows outnumber the highs, so I'll drop it here
Mrs Yang, "Lan", is Yang DC's relative, probably his aunt. She was probably abused by her husband (surnamed Wei), but she wasn't killed by him. Someone fabricated that story she was killed showing (false, male) bones as a proof. Highly probably the Yangs, bc they could have legitimately claim Wei's tea plantation as a compensation for the crime. Mrs Yang was more useful to them dead than alive, so that's probably the reason why she hid elsewhere. This false-murder story could have not been fabricated without the help of the authorities (the fatty prefect and maybe even the governor). As Wei committed suicide in jail stating his innocence, the emperor ordered a retrial and the case was assigned to Lu.
1. it seems we can rule out only the leads (they've got better things to do that night, like sleeping in the same…
No, Yang suitor was Yang the bull, considered "outstanding". His younger twin bro, YY, adopted by his uncle, just wanted him dead as he can prove he's outstanding. He has a chance for that now, as he (and probably his "father", too) know RSB hid their relative, her top secret discovered by the "bull" and the reason why he blackmailed her to marry him. His exact appearence as his twin bro may have smth to do with the murder (the exact hour and the way how he was murdered), but we still don't have details about it
1. it seems we can rule out only the leads (they've got better things to do that night, like sleeping in the same…
well, we suppose it was Uncle Yang who called the official. Alternatively, the authority could have been early called even by some of the sisters/suitors, people from B) option, who happened to discover the murder while plotting smth else, thinking it was RBS who ordered his killing or, even if she didn't, she'll get into trouble because of it. If it was Uncle Yang, then their collusion with the prefect is the only logical explanation. What they've got from the "cold case" was a material interest: Wei's tea plantations (supposedly as a form of compensation for the death of Mrs Yang). Wei probably abused his wife (the reason why RSB gave her shelter giving her an identity of Yanwan's nanny , they've both lived in her courtyard and were totally ignored by the rest of the household), but he didn't kill her. So, they've fabricated the corpse/bones (which belonged to a male) and the entire story having the prefect and his corrupted underlings as their backing. As Lu was reinvestigating the whole thing, the prefect ought to liquidate him, hiding the fact he was killed under their territorial competence and stating he was urgently called in the capital with the help of Lu's sidekick who entered the new role and approached the prefect who didn't know this guy was instructed to do so by Lu. Now, when the Yang family knows it was RSB who sheltered Mrs Yang (and who probably asked the only reliable person for help, bc maybe even the members of her own family were after her life, given the fact she was more useful to them dead than alive), they can wrap up the whole thing
I also suspect Yangs the most. But if they did it, why would they call the public authority so soon? Unless they are in some sort of collusion with the prefect, the risk of revealing the secret is very high.
1. it seems we can rule out only the leads (they've got better things to do that night, like sleeping in the same…
It could be C) case, indeed. But there's a problem with this hypothesis, bc. the person who killed kim most likely took the beads bracelet. RSB's person didn't find the bracelet. That's why I suspect people around Yang (servants or family) the most (A case). Ofc., even this hypothesis has a problem: people who called the authority were the Yangs. Unless they are in a collusion with the fatty prefect, would they dare to risk the truth about the cold case being exposed with the intervention of public authority?
3 
1 
I'll immediately agree with one of your arguments. It's a fact that Grandma said "there are other girls in the family to be married" and that "one of them can take over the Shanbao's role" but I think you've misunderstood the meaning of those grandma's words. What grandma's said and implied are two things:
1. the competition is held bc there are also other girls in the family to be married, the competition is the chance also for them to look around for their own prospects and Shanbao has a responsibility to think of her sisters' marriages, not only of her own.
2. Shanbao's role can be taken away from her only if SB BREAKS certain family rule (and in that specific moment, Grandma implied: the rule you cannot break is that you must marry your husband MATRILOCALLY).
What are the rules of the Rong family we know about?
I. The tea business is always run by a female member who
II. Possesses the "tea-bone" (a special gift connected with tea business, the knowledge of sorts, plantations, plant health etc) since the young age
III. That person marries matrilocaly in order to manage the Rong family (beside the tea business), and to pass the family name on her descendants.
Things like "heiress because she is from the main branch, legitimate etc" were never mentioned in this story, all that are suppositions of some viewers (I've also read them) but have nothing to do with the real reason why she already runs the tea business and it was mentioned in the drama that she runs it "since she was a child". We still don't have a clear vision of the reasons for the lack of an entire generation between the grandma and her granddaughters (and I am sure we'll have them in the future eps), but we have a clear vision why Shanbao is running the family business (=her own capability other granddaughters do not have). So, I hope you'll agree she is more of a "general manager" than a "crown princess", while grandma is temporarily in charge of the family, education, respect of rules etc. As this family is actually falling apart - with sisters like that, who'll need enemies? - (and grandma blames a dead person for that, not herself and her incapacity to enforce the rules), is it wrong to see her as a hypocrite? Who failed in all her tasks (while Shanbao succeded in hers) and indirectly undermines Shanabao's authority as a breadwinner of the family.
If I were Shanbao, I'd already married matrilocally someone like Lu and kick them all out of the family, leaving with me the smart Shen cousin and mentally impaired sister and sending the grandma to the tea-plantation so she can grasp the meaning of hard work. Alternatively, I'd marry so. like Lu, take my cousin and dependant sister with me, and start my own tea business, leaving the crazy Rong remnants and the grandma to their schemes and infightings.
But I still can't agree with your analysis of their relations and your evaluation of grandma's role bc. your interpretation mixes things which are in the plot with things which are not there at all.
1. Family, especially at the time (when family meant "enlarged family"), is based on sc. "roles and rules". Its members are not "equals", their roles differ, a family is a HIERARCHICAL (not democratical) cluster in order to insure the necessary homogeneity and avoid mess. At the top is always a breadwinner, a person whose work is fundamental for the sustenance of all the members. That breadwinner is not the grandma, it is Shanbao and her role is additionally supported by the (ancient family) rule that the family chief also possesses this mythical tea-bone.
2. Ok, they all know it's a myth, but it isn't a complete invention either: it's only logical that the tea business is run by a person who knows the most about the tea (acquired knowledge). And the FL already proved she knows the most about the tea, they were all unable to distinguish a HQ tea when FL returned home after being kidnapped. Pressing the FL by using this myth again at the tea tree worship ceremony was pure insubordination to the de facto leader/breadwinner (encouraged by the fact grandma will seriously punish only the dumb grandson), they challenge her only bc her role is challangeable until she gets married, not bc. one of them is more capable or can suddenly become a "heiress" (the thing which doesn't exist in this story) taking over the FL's role bc more gifted or capable.
3. Grandma's role is of an elder and the only one in the family, too. She is in charge of the respect of family rules, education and passing on the traditional values. I am sorry you can't see she failed in all these tasks.
In their constant challenging FL's authority, they often collude, plot and scheme with the outsiders (they even hired the bandits who abducted the FL intending to sell her), how can they know they won't unintentionally end up in colluding with their family and business enemy?
I agree, it's an exciting drama
She always has justifications for her (in)decisions and overall inaction. In her view, FL isn't burdened bc she's doing nothing as an old matron, but bc FL's "useless mother passed away leaving a mess to her daughter". Weird, and were was she to help her clean the mess? Instead of punishing or even casting out disloyal members of the family, she pours oil into the fire by spoiling them and even supporting them in their mischieves as to "toughen" the FL. Oh, right, she has chosen an "ideal husband" to help her, "a monk with hair" as one of them called him, a person who prefers to observe things from a side than to intervene directly, as in a Chinese proverb "just sit patiently by the river, sooner or later you'll see your enemy's corpse floating". Great help indeed.
Besides, Shanbao is already a matron of that family, having a tea-bone (and it doesn't matter if this talent is innate or acquired through learning) and being de facto in charge of the family and family business. Instead of behaving like a "retired elder" who supports the chief's authority against all the odds, she is often there to undermine her authority.
1. Whoever wrote this (original) drama is a pro in story-telling. There's a great balance between its multiple genres. The core plot - consisting of actions related to the investigation of a cold case and progression of a pivotal relationship between the leads - is masterfully fragmented into parts and filled with twists and subplots: ML's amnesia, toxic family and power dynamics, tea plantation business, selection-competition of a husband in a matriarchal environment, investigation of a fresh murder case, local authority corruption and related entanglements...Each subplot contains smth original, refreshing and functional to explain and deepen the (mainly grey) characters, including the side characters, making Glory an ensemble drama, too. What you feel as "nobody stands out" is a normal effect of the ensemble genre drama with a focus on dynamics and interconnections between multiple characters, multiple perspectives and multiple arcs. Don't worry, someone will stand out in the end, we've seen only 1/3 of the story.
2. I don't know what do you mean with "slow". If it is a pacing... the fault is with the director, not the screenwriter. I don't feel anything wrong with the pacing, I'm watching it at normal speed. If it is a slow solution of an issue, it is called: suspense. Normal in investigation genre dramas and Glory can be counted as such, too.
3. I agree that the backstage, music and props are great and the costumes are stunning, but where you don't see any flaw, an eye distinguishing different dynasties' fashion styles is pierced each time a vest, a coat and decoration from Qing period appears on the screen and it didn't occur once. Even the overall aesthetics is tendentially mixing the Ming style with Tingqua 19th century style (even the poster is more Tingqua than Ming)
4. ML. I don't see any difference in his beahviour before and druing the amnesia: he was smart and cunning before and is smart and cunning during his amnesia.
5. I wonder which narrative choices would you have made to tell this story. I think we are all here inpatiently awaiting for ep 13 to air because the narrative choice here totally hooked us.
I won't downrate this drama, there were interesting things in the story which... isn't written properly. The FL is written fine, and even performed better, the SML is also written as an interesting character (and performed by an outstanding actor), ML is written so, so, but all the support characters are written badly or hm, except the Cat demon.
The plot also has its high and low peaks, but at this point, the lows outnumber the highs, so I'll drop it here
She was probably abused by her husband (surnamed Wei), but she wasn't killed by him. Someone fabricated that story she was killed showing (false, male) bones as a proof. Highly probably the Yangs, bc they could have legitimately claim Wei's tea plantation as a compensation for the crime. Mrs Yang was more useful to them dead than alive, so that's probably the reason why she hid elsewhere.
This false-murder story could have not been fabricated without the help of the authorities (the fatty prefect and maybe even the governor).
As Wei committed suicide in jail stating his innocence, the emperor ordered a retrial and the case was assigned to Lu.
His exact appearence as his twin bro may have smth to do with the murder (the exact hour and the way how he was murdered), but we still don't have details about it
If it was Uncle Yang, then their collusion with the prefect is the only logical explanation. What they've got from the "cold case" was a material interest: Wei's tea plantations (supposedly as a form of compensation for the death of Mrs Yang). Wei probably abused his wife (the reason why RSB gave her shelter giving her an identity of Yanwan's nanny , they've both lived in her courtyard and were totally ignored by the rest of the household), but he didn't kill her. So, they've fabricated the corpse/bones (which belonged to a male) and the entire story having the prefect and his corrupted underlings as their backing. As Lu was reinvestigating the whole thing, the prefect ought to liquidate him, hiding the fact he was killed under their territorial competence and stating he was urgently called in the capital with the help of Lu's sidekick who entered the new role and approached the prefect who didn't know this guy was instructed to do so by Lu.
Now, when the Yang family knows it was RSB who sheltered Mrs Yang (and who probably asked the only reliable person for help, bc maybe even the members of her own family were after her life, given the fact she was more useful to them dead than alive), they can wrap up the whole thing
That's why I suspect people around Yang (servants or family) the most (A case). Ofc., even this hypothesis has a problem: people who called the authority were the Yangs. Unless they are in a collusion with the fatty prefect, would they dare to risk the truth about the cold case being exposed with the intervention of public authority?