HelenAce

Yeah since this is the first episode, it is fair to say that I am making an early judgement. The key aspect is if she is supposed to be an unlikeable character - then the first episode would have benefitted from removing scenes that already trying to tell the viewer - "oh see, pity her." - instead establish more firmly that she has a difficult personality, an opportunist clout chaser that is ruthless about moving forward in society because she is insecure about her origins. Like those villainsque secondary characters in other dramas. However at least in this episode the narrative shys away from giving her a proper unattractive personality and tries to rosy it up.

One of two things - either it has to show she is majorly meant to have an annoying personality or must show that she is a bit of both- equally competent but has some temper issues, arrogance etc., that is worked on in future episodes. The direction feels like the latter- they dont want to present her an unlikeable character but also show some of her motivations.
But as the first episode I felt it failed to establish couple of things like the class system - it just feels casually done- I felt like I was told to feel sorry for her even before I could feel any real losses through her about this hierarchical gap. And its supposed to be one of her biggest motivations or hurdle to her ambitions.

I know it's only the first episode and my complaint is not even about her acting, but the way her character has been written, I dont see anything that can be defined as extraordinary intellect till now. If the drama wants to portray the FL as competent or someone with ability they need to first start by displaying that. But we just see her being snarky with her managers, do some attention grab at the royal event and emphasize that she's Seong Huiju...and just her saying oh Im more competent than my brother, you all know Im competent than my brother...but girl where? Ive known you like 30 minutes and in 30 minutes I havent seen anything that sets her apart from her brother... In fact it would have been just better for the drama to start with her being a chronic clout chaser like one reporter mentioned and slowly show case her competence through the episodes instead of trying to shove the idea down our throats right in the first episode. Also her struggle with illegitimacy- I can't relate to that because apart from couple of people making snide comments at her there is nothing else-- am I supposed to feel some kind of sympathy?

What? Nooooo! I cant stand that...why?

How long will the one episode a day drought last? Is it just tomorrow?

Yes and I believe he also has had freedom to express himself more in this character than other roles. His previous roles it felt like he was boxed in to the common ML formula without much freedom of expression, but in this one he feels more human, his emotions feel more real. FL and other characters too they feel more human.

One scene that sticks with me is when he our little ning'er goes to find him in that Li's place and he walks out and then carries her back home- that was a shot of a very mundane thing, but so very beautiful and warm!

Its all the director bringing out his good talents. Dude had bad luck on most of his previous works. This is the one of the few works that he gets to shine in

1st one, pure logistics (Xie Zheng is not a viewer he doesn't know Chang yu is fighting in the town) - its faster to trash the stronghold and the most efficient way to combat it - one to prevent reinforcements from that lair, two to quickly save Changyu and her meimei if they had been taken there. If he had gone to the town first only to realize the bandits had already left with the captives it would be wasted trip and wasted time.
2. No the news would not reach faster. A soldier travelling on ground through horse would take longer than a gyrfalcon that can fly uninterrupted through the sky. Also he does have spies to look over Changyu. How else could he have gotten information on the bandit stronghold so fast. unless I m issed something. The gyrfalcon merely coming back injured could not have been enough information for him to go trashing a stronghold.

Does anyone know when Huang Hao Yue's other dramas are dramas where she is main lead coming out?

Yes! Yes! So many people hating on her just because she has a crush on ZX. In these dramas they usually tend to leave the SML forever pining after the FL so I have no hopes. He better not hurt my poor Chris.

Chris! I love her too. I am watching the drama for her. Huang Hao Yue! If anyone has any spoilers on her character please give. ZX better stay far away from her character if he's just going to break her heart.

Does anyone have any spoilers on Chris? Is she in the novel? Any idea how her story turns out. I don't care even if she is a minor minor character. Please give me.

Oh I really hope she has another serious role! I feel like she has capacity to do it. Its just a difference of whether she wants to or not! Chen Duling also got bullied saying she could not act, but look at her now she is rocking in all kinds of roles and she is just up and coming compared to ShuXin

WTF? Really? MJTY was one of her best roles! I felt like for the first time in forever she finally broke away from her cutesy roles and it was so awesome! Sure, her acting might not have been on par with the others but for an actor who always does just one kind of role she rocked that role. As long as she keeps at it and keeps doing different roles I have no doubt she can rock any type of role!

I honestly dont have hopes. They do this in most of her dramas and like OP said, in some dramas like Love Game it works, but even in most dramas where she is already supposed to be an adult they make her sound like a 5 year old!

Her voice! Oh My God! Why do they always do her dirty with that infantile voice! I know she has a naturally childish sort of "cutesy" voice but I have seen her in other non-drama shows and its not annoying to hear when she talks normally, but every time I hear in her dramas its like either they make her voice ultra childish and its so cringe!

Her acting is good, visuals are good, but that voice- For the love of God just get her a voice actor or a different dubbing artist who can sound young and cute without sounding like a five year old! She already has a naturally childish voice and its like these dramas amplify it!
The only drama that I can think of that that did not screw her up in the voice section is journey to you

I think the OP Poster is a little confused. I don't think they recognize that the person in the poster and GJ are the same person and hence the dissatisfaction?

Uh...It is his face on the main poster. I don't know if you saw a different one. BTW I wouldn't say GJ lacks acting skills. Its just that when he excels he excels very much like in (WOH) and I don't know if it is his management or him picking the shitty roles but the trend with GJ is - if the writing is good he is able to act decently, on the other hand if the role and writing is some shit drama he sucks as much as the writing and its basically just his face carrying the rest of the show.

I don't know if it is his personal choice or management choice but GJ has a habit of picking a standard safe romantic lead role and experimentation is low unlike his counterpart CHS who is experimenting with different type of roles. Well, CHS doesn't really have a choice since he is starting out, but as far as I know WOH, one other and Blood River are the only ones GJ has diverted a little.

I think what OP meant was Gong Jun's face is too pretty boy for the role of a top assassin. And I honestly I think I might start feeling the same way in a couple of episodes if I dont see a few different looks. He can be good looking, but at least they should have roughed up his face a little bit more since his character setting is a calm type to give him a bit of that dark vibe.

He doesn't have to look like the traditional assassin type we immediately think of but a little bit off roughing up - I mean come on he is assassin at the end of the day... There is no way he is stocking up on face cream to look that clean.

For Su Chang He it works out because CHS is bringing out the sharp edges, the callousness through the acting.

But Su Mu Yu's character is different. Although he is an assassin he is also a calm, gentle, one not to have too many emotions appear on his face type character, but still a dark character who has taken many lives. He needs to have that vibe a little bit apart from his clothes. If you give such a character a clean look - I wont have anything to complain the first few episodes but then I feel like I'll get bored

But then again this is mostly a face con drama, but I wish make up or whoever had put a little bit more effort into Su Mu Yu's look.

He should get what he deserves. I even wish Yixiao or Ning fei confront him about the death camps. I want a confrontation and meaningful character development whether he doubles down or changes. Whether it is getting betrayed by Weiran or killed by Weiran for the lies or manipulation. It has to be meaningful. Otherwise it is just an unsatisfactory tie out to his story. He has a compelling story line. I want the drama to make use of it.

Due for what is due. Credit where credit counts.
Like I said he is a 70% asshole 30% sincere.

To go even further, he also seems like a younger parallel to Feng Pingchen. You can see that in the drama Yixiao is said/shown to have a similar spirit to Wei Qingyu. Prince Zhennan+three heroes of Jinxiu and Feng Pingchen's early group consisting of Murong, PM and his late wife. The settings are similar yet different. The main one ofcourse being that Yixiao managed to walk out despite being stabbed in the back, but Wei Qingyu did not get to.

I don't believe his fate will get played out same way, but I am hoping the drama gives him a meaningful end. Not some dished out cliche

Just to clarify. Not excusing any of his actions. Like I mentioned in a previous comment. I understand where he is coming from, but I dont excuse them. Just as I dont excuse XJY or Queen Dowager for their actions.

There was sincerity. It can co-exist even if he manipulated them. There just wasn't enough towards Yixiao and even perhaps the others when he was in a desperate situation. He wasn't all the time pretending. He did deceive them though. People can do both. But he is a well written character I hope he has more development.

As an Emperor, unless he has a change in viewing people as disposable pawns I am not keen on seeing him. I much prefer FCY ruling over both countries. He was unexpected but the best fit for Emperor I have seen so far in the series.