The potential of this drama was so great that it deserves 10/10. The acting of all the cast was so convincing, and the motivation to tell this compelling story was definitely high and palpalpable. The problem was with a storytelling, almost half of the drama was wasted in a sort of a low budget comedy to recall erotic taste of the time.
I like how the scriptwriter explained the perspective of all the main leads: the money/success oriented producer, talented director, an artist, but subject to the producer's orders, the aggrieved female star, the newcomer, but all these povs would fit into a movie lenght and it would be great enough. For a drama, the script lacked a little bit of depth, the only reason why I can't rate this great watch (I've enjoyed a lot) more than 8,5.
once i thought it was the woman in white. now i think it is that restaurant owner
we can exclude poets, they are too famous and real historical figures. Troupe members are interesting. The one arrested who pretended to be a chief is a thief, another "line of work". The other one, dressed as a woman, could be, but we had a similar cross dressed villain in one of the previous seasons, I don't think they'll repeat the pattern. So, these 2 are ruled out. Maybe one of the girls or the real troupe chief who was in the stolen coffin? Yeah, we can leave open this option, too
once i thought it was the woman in white. now i think it is that restaurant owner
Nu Jiao was too obvious to me to be a sus. Misterious veil, wearing sword, but wearing white. Black Fire should wear black at least during his/her "worktime" lol. She still wore white and her moves were not much convincing for an assassin. But... she got married so suddenly to a LLF's friend (from S1) and has an old teacher of martial arts "whose life she saved" and he repaid her with sword lessons. Q 1.: why was he wounded in the first place? Q2: How did she get into this "line of assassination business" at all, was her teacher the assassin "clients" wanted to hire in the first place? LLF-SWM ought to interrogate that manager but feared to expose themselves... I exclude the restaurant owner, both him and his manager are native Chang'anese and the intel was Black Fire was coming from the outside.
P.S did you know that S2 had an extra case that didn't make it into the drama? They should consider putting that…
thank you. I was already panicking when we reached ep 20, aww, half eps flew so quickly 😱😱, what then? Having 20 eps x 20 min to look forward in December is so... calming 😌
Read your review. Supportive parents. ZJ was the 1st boy from their poor village to enter university. Secondly…
Hm. I didn't want to spoil much of the story in the review, I'll put my answers under the spoiler tag here. 1. Parents. I disagree with your appreciation of his parents' brains. Being poor and illiterate doesn't mean being devoid of basic moral compass almost all mentally healthy humans possess (and poor and illiterate often even more than rich and sofisticated). I agree they've strongly believed in the exceptionality of their son and pressed him in "doing whatever it takes" to obtain success but here they've induced him to commit a heavy crime, both parents advised him to "get rid" of his first wife "as a burden" which blocks his carrier. They were not accomplices, but they were (worse!) indirect instigators of a murder, practically leaving him with no other options, and it is very different from FL's "supportive father" who indeed was an accomplice in an attempted murder, but that crime was totally his daughter's choice. I'd actually accept his familiar background and his parents' coarse personalities if they were not in such a contrast with ZJ's later perfectionism and obsessive image-crafting: such parents were his major "blemish flows" (NB. he tended to destroy anything imperfect), by at least opposing their distorted perceptions in such an open clash with his new ego and sofisticated views. ZJ's character had inevitably had to undergo a process of transformation and "sofistication", and I think the writer could have exploit more the impact of the rich older lady in this change making this passage more logical. 2. Censorship. I'm actually fine with both endings, if they don't clash with logics and what would be a realistic outcome. Actually, in the 2nd ending FL and her father did commit the crime of attempted murder, because: a) there was an intent (mens rea) and b) substantial steps to commit it (actus reus), ie., an elaborated plan to kill. What you imply in their defence is "renounciation to commit it" (indeed, FL drops the knife), but this factor doesn't absolve from guilt in all countries/judicial systems of the world, at most it may be considered as "mitigating factor" (as it is actually in her and her dad's sentence). What is totally inconsistent is DHH's (and the lawyer's) sentence, because he (they) never manipulated public opinion in the 2nd outcome, only in the 1st, but in the 1st FL committed a murder and would get way harsher punishment, so this reasoning about censorship requiring them, doesn't stand imo. It's an error of so, who didn't do sufficient legal research.
Love to read your review. Very well discourse on ZJ’s character and his underlying struggles. Hence I can’t…
I loved yours a lot, too. Yes, I can't hate him either. His parents and poverty ruined him. And was so well embodied by WD, it was pure pleasure watching such a great acting... Maybe, with time, even international viewers may appreciate. It scored high on Douban. Fingers crossed
I've watched and rewatched. This drama will remain with me. Here's my review with a little rant in the end. Atually a verdict for people making nonsensical verdicts. Next time, consult a legal advisor! https://kisskh.at/profile/11598319/review/511716
If I try to imagine them in bed I can only see two wooden trunks lying next to each other. XJ may be brave enough…
Oh, thank you but the clip is a bit short: I only see he saves her from falling, she is in his arms, their eye-lock.., it's difficult to understand the situation and the dimension of danger. The other one is from the temple, before they've lighted the candles and stopped birds from crying, isn't it? Well, I actually like their relationship: those little things in life are genuine expressions of love and care, I'm not in a hurry to see them in bed at all (also because if I try to imagine them now, I'll see the scene as above 😁🤦♀️), just trying to analyse "the current stage" of their romantic relation. He respects her a lot, but he seems to forget they are living under the same roof as a family, after she followed him during his travelling period, people recognize them as "a family" (even in a form of rude remarks, like those made by imperial guards: "LLF, are you going to investigate under the emperor's orders or are you taking your family on an outing"), his mother recognizes her as her son's woman, helping her with her business etc., but she still doesn't have an official respectful status of his wife and this isn't in line with LLF's formalistic character and respectful and protective attitude towards her. Now they are settled down in the capital and must formalize their relation and protect their (her in particular) status from gossips.
I think the writer of SToTD is a romantic person. We get these doses of heartfelt love stories in every season.…
If I try to imagine them in bed I can only see two wooden trunks lying next to each other. XJ may be brave enough to take the initiative but LLF may refuse out of fear to hurt her. On LLF only hard methods can work: her being in danger, eg. abducted or wounded or drowning or smth like that which will trigger (greater) fear of loosing her and... draw their bodies closer...
I knew Hongyao should stick with Meng Buyi. He isn't handsome but is very interesting and nice to her. And smart enough to befriend LLF's team, hear of their cases and shape them into the stories. I hope we'll see this (real) writer's avatar again in some future cases. Also because he and his lovely wife positively influence LLF&XJ couple.
This Hongyao, a sly woman. I don’t believe a word she said. She duped the two other men; I don’t think she…
They are all pretenders who deserve to be duped. Meng Shi and his servant inverted their roles, because he cannot directly take official position/power (and I think the reason why he cannot do that is not only because he is a merchant), Meng Buyi (I wonder if her husband is related to the rich merchant) lies to her about his status in the ministry of revenue and she is a pro enchantress. Yes, she may be after Meng Shi's money but certainly has no feelings for this preening & arrogant mint-eater. But she is an artist and may have feelings for her husband. Who knows, maybe she faked her suicide attempt only to be "saved" by Meng Buyi...
What's weird for me is I don't like ANY of the drama's main characters. Didn't like them in the first two seasons…
I think mothers unconsciously "lure" us into their "fields of interest" and we unconsciously accept to fall into such traps because we perceive them as... challenges. An approximate idea of the right answer is sufficient to us to fall in that trap as it happened to me recently, betting (and loosing 50 euros) Melanie Griffith's mum was Kim Novak against my mother who knew it was Tippi Hedren... I had a vague idea her mom was one of Hitchcock's favourite actresses and among them, Novak's facial traits seemed to be the most similar to Melanie's face, ofc. I had no idea of her family (except two famous husbands and her daughter Dakota from 50 Shades...). My mother will never challenge my brother on movies and movie actors topics - my bro is a consecutive winner of quizes involving the matter for so many years, when I've asked him later "who's Melanie Griffith's mother?" he immediately knew the right answer, but she (my mom) challenges him on other topics "within her domain" (royalties from all around the world are her specialty) and he also fails hard against her. My mother would not know who became the UK's prime minister in 1964, but if you ask her "who was the UK's prime minister suspected to be a Soviet spy?" she may remember H. Wilson because she watched The Crown ofc, containing this (badly) fictionalized subplot story... But, you know what? With your knowledge of actors and acting, my mom would certainly loose her ground if you were her daughter. And your mom may loose her ground to me - I'm a political scientist with solid knowledge of contemporary history and international relations, lets' exchange them, lol. Joking aside, "being always right" comes with motherhood. My son probably thinks the same of me. although I try my best not to "lure him" in "my trap".... sometimes, the thrill of winning the argument is too big and I can't resist. 😁
Anyone else rewinding scenes just to oggle the gorgeous sets? :) I have a thing about books too, and when a character…
my fave is the stage with many lanterns on which Hong Yao plays her pipa. The melody is very captivating as well. No wonder all men present fell for her
K-Drama 
4 
1 
I like how the scriptwriter explained the perspective of all the main leads: the money/success oriented producer, talented director, an artist, but subject to the producer's orders, the aggrieved female star, the newcomer, but all these povs would fit into a movie lenght and it would be great enough. For a drama, the script lacked a little bit of depth, the only reason why I can't rate this great watch (I've enjoyed a lot) more than 8,5.
Troupe members are interesting. The one arrested who pretended to be a chief is a thief, another "line of work". The other one, dressed as a woman, could be, but we had a similar cross dressed villain in one of the previous seasons, I don't think they'll repeat the pattern. So, these 2 are ruled out.
Maybe one of the girls or the real troupe chief who was in the stolen coffin? Yeah, we can leave open this option, too
I exclude the restaurant owner, both him and his manager are native Chang'anese and the intel was Black Fire was coming from the outside.
1. Parents. I disagree with your appreciation of his parents' brains. Being poor and illiterate doesn't mean being devoid of basic moral compass almost all mentally healthy humans possess (and poor and illiterate often even more than rich and sofisticated). I agree they've strongly believed in the exceptionality of their son and pressed him in "doing whatever it takes" to obtain success but here they've induced him to commit a heavy crime, both parents advised him to "get rid" of his first wife "as a burden" which blocks his carrier. They were not accomplices, but they were (worse!) indirect instigators of a murder, practically leaving him with no other options, and it is very different from FL's "supportive father" who indeed was an accomplice in an attempted murder, but that crime was totally his daughter's choice. I'd actually accept his familiar background and his parents' coarse personalities if they were not in such a contrast with ZJ's later perfectionism and obsessive image-crafting: such parents were his major "blemish flows" (NB. he tended to destroy anything imperfect), by at least opposing their distorted perceptions in such an open clash with his new ego and sofisticated views. ZJ's character had inevitably had to undergo a process of transformation and "sofistication", and I think the writer could have exploit more the impact of the rich older lady in this change making this passage more logical.
2. Censorship. I'm actually fine with both endings, if they don't clash with logics and what would be a realistic outcome. Actually, in the 2nd ending FL and her father did commit the crime of attempted murder, because: a) there was an intent (mens rea) and b) substantial steps to commit it (actus reus), ie., an elaborated plan to kill. What you imply in their defence is "renounciation to commit it" (indeed, FL drops the knife), but this factor doesn't absolve from guilt in all countries/judicial systems of the world, at most it may be considered as "mitigating factor" (as it is actually in her and her dad's sentence). What is totally inconsistent is DHH's (and the lawyer's) sentence, because he (they) never manipulated public opinion in the 2nd outcome, only in the 1st, but in the 1st FL committed a murder and would get way harsher punishment, so this reasoning about censorship requiring them, doesn't stand imo. It's an error of so, who didn't do sufficient legal research.
Yes, I can't hate him either. His parents and poverty ruined him. And was so well embodied by WD, it was pure pleasure watching such a great acting...
Maybe, with time, even international viewers may appreciate. It scored high on Douban. Fingers crossed
It was a nanosecond, what an eye you have! 👍👍
Well, I actually like their relationship: those little things in life are genuine expressions of love and care, I'm not in a hurry to see them in bed at all (also because if I try to imagine them now, I'll see the scene as above 😁🤦♀️), just trying to analyse "the current stage" of their romantic relation. He respects her a lot, but he seems to forget they are living under the same roof as a family, after she followed him during his travelling period, people recognize them as "a family" (even in a form of rude remarks, like those made by imperial guards: "LLF, are you going to investigate under the emperor's orders or are you taking your family on an outing"), his mother recognizes her as her son's woman, helping her with her business etc., but she still doesn't have an official respectful status of his wife and this isn't in line with LLF's formalistic character and respectful and protective attitude towards her. Now they are settled down in the capital and must formalize their relation and protect their (her in particular) status from gossips.
I hope we'll see this (real) writer's avatar again in some future cases. Also because he and his lovely wife positively influence LLF&XJ couple.
Yes, she may be after Meng Shi's money but certainly has no feelings for this preening & arrogant mint-eater. But she is an artist and may have feelings for her husband. Who knows, maybe she faked her suicide attempt only to be "saved" by Meng Buyi...
My mother would not know who became the UK's prime minister in 1964, but if you ask her "who was the UK's prime minister suspected to be a Soviet spy?" she may remember H. Wilson because she watched The Crown ofc, containing this (badly) fictionalized subplot story...
But, you know what? With your knowledge of actors and acting, my mom would certainly loose her ground if you were her daughter. And your mom may loose her ground to me - I'm a political scientist with solid knowledge of contemporary history and international relations, lets' exchange them, lol.
Joking aside, "being always right" comes with motherhood. My son probably thinks the same of me. although I try my best not to "lure him" in "my trap".... sometimes, the thrill of winning the argument is too big and I can't resist. 😁