I totally get where youāre coming from, and I actually agree that heās a very realistic character shaped by his upbringing and the pressure around him. That part makes sense to me too.
At the same time, characters like him are also why a lot of girls end up with terrible self-esteem, thinking theyāre the problem when theyāre not. He clearly knows she has feelings for him, yet he neither acknowledges them properly nor shuts them down. Instead, he kind of benefits from her attention while also staying vague and non-committal with the other girl, and thatās where I personally struggle with him.
For me, that behavior is worse than a clean rejection. If a guy has issues or doesnāt return my feelings, Iād rather he say it plainly instead of going in circles and being emotionally messy while dragging others along. Yes, we can explain this with pressure and expectations, but at the end of the day, actions matter more than intentions.
What really seals it for me is the contrast with the ML. He also comes from a disadvantaged background, had heavy family pressure, and even lost the career that meant everything to himāyet we see a completely different pattern of behavior and accountability.
Iām not saying this to argue or invalidate your take at all, just to explain why so many viewers (myself included) feel frustrated with the second lead despite understanding where heās coming from.
Just finished ep. 23 and you're probably right, lmao they always make the emperors evil bro, out of several hundreds…
No worries, I already saw some comment about the ending ;) I was thinking of going 7.5 and higher but idk, I'm staying till the end solely for the actors š so it stays a 7ā for me
Just finished ep. 23 and you're probably right, lmao they always make the emperors evil bro, out of several hundreds…
Yes, I agree and noticed these points as well. Until episode 20 this drama was going pretty solid despite some hiccups from time to time. But after that it starting dragging too much and now the interest of continuing to watch it has dissipated completely. The FL is smarter than the villains yet she keeps letting them get away and dragged into ridiculous situations...the chemistry is okay but the kisses are not that good, idk, I agree, I have watched this FL in her mini republican with Ryan Ren and it was much better, also the vertical How dare you - she did good. I like the ML actor a lot, but here he's playing pretty much the same script as the one in ''The rebel empress'' and I liked that one more lol. I guess I'll rate this a 7, depending on the ending but I will need to rethink my initial review since my opinion about this drama changed drastically.
Iād say this is very much a comfort watch. I personally enjoy the visuals overall, even if some of the MLās…
š«¶ Same, I clicked on a whim on this drama and ended up so invested I already read the novel š¤£š¤£ surprisingly they are keeping it VERY close to the source material.
The show really failed to sell why the fml was so hung up on the 2ml. They never dated, never slept together,…
I actually think thatās kind of the point the show is trying to make. Her attachment to the 2ML isnāt meant to be a great love story, but a one-sided, unresolved infatuationāand thatās exactly why it feels so flimsy. It helps highlight the contrast with the ML later on.
The 2ML is very much that type of guy who enjoys the attention without ever fully accepting or clearly rejecting it. He stays in this comfortable gray zoneāhalf encouraging, half dismissiveāwhich can be confusing and emotionally sticky for someone on the receiving end. Add in her own idealization, and you get a connection that exists more in her head than in reality.
Weāve seen plenty of delusional, one-sided love arcs in dramas, and while theyāre not always satisfying to watch, they do reflect a certain emotional immaturity or lack of closure rather than a deep romance. In this case, I think itās less about āhistoryā and more about what she thought it was, and why she needs to unlearn that.
Iād say this is very much a comfort watch. I personally enjoy the visuals overall, even if some of the MLās…
Exactlyāthatās the best way to approach it. Slow-paced doesnāt mean bad, it just means mood-specific. This one definitely works better when you want something light and cozy rather than full angst and emotional damage š I love that too, honestlyāthereās a drama for every phase and feeling, depending on what youāre in the mood for.
Hey fellow cdrama fans, just a question and I hope this doesnāt offend anyone:Looking for a modern drama with…
Iād say this is very much a comfort watch. I personally enjoy the visuals overall, even if some of the MLās styling feels a bit off at timesāit hasnāt really taken me out of the story so far. This drama isnāt trying to reinvent the genre, and it knows it. There are no jaw-dropping twists or high-stakes chaos. It moves at its own unhurried pace, and yes, some viewers will probably find it slow or even boringāand thatās perfectly fine because there is no one size fits all even in fiction I suppose š
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At the same time, characters like him are also why a lot of girls end up with terrible self-esteem, thinking theyāre the problem when theyāre not. He clearly knows she has feelings for him, yet he neither acknowledges them properly nor shuts them down. Instead, he kind of benefits from her attention while also staying vague and non-committal with the other girl, and thatās where I personally struggle with him.
For me, that behavior is worse than a clean rejection. If a guy has issues or doesnāt return my feelings, Iād rather he say it plainly instead of going in circles and being emotionally messy while dragging others along. Yes, we can explain this with pressure and expectations, but at the end of the day, actions matter more than intentions.
What really seals it for me is the contrast with the ML. He also comes from a disadvantaged background, had heavy family pressure, and even lost the career that meant everything to himāyet we see a completely different pattern of behavior and accountability.
Iām not saying this to argue or invalidate your take at all, just to explain why so many viewers (myself included) feel frustrated with the second lead despite understanding where heās coming from.
I was thinking of going 7.5 and higher but idk, I'm staying till the end solely for the actors š so it stays a 7ā for me
I guess I'll rate this a 7, depending on the ending but I will need to rethink my initial review since my opinion about this drama changed drastically.
Same, I clicked on a whim on this drama and ended up so invested I already read the novel š¤£š¤£ surprisingly they are keeping it VERY close to the source material.
Haha I believe you, sometimes I'm hesitant to leave comments too because a lot of viewers gets way too aggressive, and outright bully everyone who don't share the same view, but in my opinion, one of the good parts about the comment section - discussing certain aspects and issues, and (especially) if we don't agree or see the same perspective it's okay as long as we're civil š
The 2ML is very much that type of guy who enjoys the attention without ever fully accepting or clearly rejecting it. He stays in this comfortable gray zoneāhalf encouraging, half dismissiveāwhich can be confusing and emotionally sticky for someone on the receiving end. Add in her own idealization, and you get a connection that exists more in her head than in reality.
Weāve seen plenty of delusional, one-sided love arcs in dramas, and while theyāre not always satisfying to watch, they do reflect a certain emotional immaturity or lack of closure rather than a deep romance. In this case, I think itās less about āhistoryā and more about what she thought it was, and why she needs to unlearn that.