T.S.Johnson

I really which the captions captured these nuances more. I was watching one drama and it took me several episodes before I realize the one of the secondary leads wasn't the bio daughter of the one of the matrons she called mother...she was the concubine's daughter.

Was he arrested b/c of his father? Or something else?

Well I'm assuming two episodes of marital bliss - and maybe a another episode or two of some side character stuff before we get the eventual war (I think there is a war coming) - so maybe 5-ish episodes to really get the Evil Teacher up out of there.

I have mixed feeling about this drama. There are so many good stories to tell and they aren't doing any of them enough justice minus the love story between the leads.

For example - why no more about the land reform? They were supposed to go into another town after the successful completion of Tongzhu (sp?). That's a great plot point for the rest of the story to be weaved through.

The family dynamics...I actually like that part of the story...that could be the main plot outside of the love story. The political machinations...they could have made that main plot outside of the love story.

Instead they are trying to do it all, and various plot points get dropped or half done and the only consistent thing is the love story. But after the marriage there is only 9 episodes to tie it all up and I beleive there is a war coming (another plat point) so...

HA!

First half is really good. Back half is meh. Biggest complaint is the ML is a bit of a Mary Sue and the female lead has a bit of Teflon to her - no scheming concubine's plot shall prosper against her. lol

Ya'll are too hard on Ye Xian.

He's a really good character overall. Played well by the actor.

He's not all good or bad. And they did a good job of building in legit reasons for why he is the way he is.

Also 9 episode left after the marriage episode. They taking the Evil teacher down in 9 episodes?

I enjoy the show but pacing has been questionable.

So court officials always crack me up in these dramas. There's a heavy distrust of military nobles...which is fair to a point. They (court officials and sometimes the Emperor himself) are always trying to take them out, but what happens when war breaks out (Fight for Love dealt with this)? Who is gonna protect you?

It looks like A Splendid Match is dealing with some of this. Taking out the Marquis. A war is clearly coming. The country being vulnerable b/c they've been taking out their military nobles. Same story all the time. Such short shortsightedness.

Ever watched the Rise of Ning?

Writers just wrote themselves into a corner IMO. Like don't sell me on a modern royal romance when what you want is to write a piece about the horrors of a monarchy. SMH.

It's such a stupid plot point.

Exactly The whole reason to watch the show is b/c of the monarchy. A modern monarchy is the whole selling point. Taking it away and it's just another modern romance/political drama between regular rich folk

SMH

First 8 episodes was so fun. SMH

Reading the comments - are the going the abolish the monarchy route?

lol

I'm too lazy to go find my comment where I called that ending - among other things.

Sigh.

Well, I'll always have the first eight episodes.

Hmm...is Ye Xian gonna lose his position?

There's an image of him in chains and stock at the end of Ep.. 25.

Oh can some one explain exactly what position was removed?

Captions said "Inspector" but some clarity would be nice.

These two have good chemistry, but it's not sexual in the least. It feels loving and sincere, but no sexual tension to speak of.

I know there's a lot of changes from the book, but does Chen manage to take down the Evil Teacher?

I had faith in the young emperor. But how is he gonna be talked into arresting the Marquis? I know the Evil Teacher was trying to make the title non-hereditary b/c Ye Xian is now a part of the Penal Guard..but still. C'mon young Emperor. Be better.

Seems like his mom would be the regent - I've been a bit confused by that as well.