Would someone mind explaining the significance of the “Four Arches of Chastity”? In all of the historical Cdramas I’ve watched I’ve never heard of it. I am gathering that they’re connected to the family reputation, but were they built by the family or a gift by the Emperor or something? What are they supposed to commemorate? And what all needed to happen for one to get built? The WeTV subtitles go sooo fast I could have missed something.
The makeup and costumes are stunning, the music is gorgeous, the cinematography is stellar. I am also loving how the characters are being developed, and am interested in most of them which is not the norm for me and side characters. I love seeing all of the familiar faces, especially Wu Hao Chen, as TPoB is my all time favorite Cdrama. I’m so thrilled with the crew of this drama.
My only complaint is that for a synopsis that includes the ML and tags about the ML, he had hardly any screen time at all in the first three episodes. I wonder if this is going to be the norm. I really hope this won’t turn into a drama that sidelines and marginalizes the ML’s character and role within the story. I’m so, so tired of seeing that happen in most of the historical dramas in the last year. Can we please have two leads who are given equal screen time and purpose within the narrative? 😩
I was very excited about this one, but three episodes in and I can’t pinpoint what’s wrong with it. I’m not a fan of the FL because it seems like the writers are… trying too hard to push that she’s a Strong Female Lead instead of just… chilling out and letting their characters tell the story? I wasn’t a fan of how she treated him in episode 1 after he saved her and her friend from the funeral envoy (throwing him in front of the enemy axe, threatening to out him after he escaped to her room, etc.) She keeps foolishly pissing off powerful people and then acts surprised and devastated when they destroy her dossier? The daughter of the governor is horrible, but do we even know why? She seems over the top bad??? There’s an awful lot of aura farming?? Idk what it is that isn’t landing for me. And the Emperor is terrified of snakes???? lol. It’s quite ridiculous and not in a good way. I don’t think the humor is landing for me, either.
😢 It makes me so sad to read this. I have been desperate for a cdrama with balanced and equal lead development…
I haven’t picked it up just yet, but soon. I’m finishing up my Minglan rewatch (omg it’s one of the best 😭). It sucks that they changed the romantic development from the novel, but does the ML at least have good development and screen time? Or is he downplayed / dismissed / dumbed down in order to boost the other characters? If he is, then that is probably a deal breaker for me.
Who trapped CZY in this drama production? He's a wonderful actor and portrayed the young emperor very well, but…
😢 It makes me so sad to read this. I have been desperate for a cdrama with balanced and equal lead development and romance. I had high hopes for this one but now… I’m just discouraged. Are all Cdramas now going to push the GirlBoss agenda and have poorly developed MLs and romances? Is this going to be the new norm? 😔 It’s especially disheartening that they actually changed the novel to make the ML fall first, and keep the FL aloof and distant. Whyyyyyyyyyy
I find most recent Cdramas find it hard to portray a genuine balanced love story between ML and FL. They usually…
Damn… so they did all this with this drama? 😭I’ve been looking forward to this one because it seemed like it would be more balanced 😔Did they really turn this into a one-sided GirlBoss drama with an absent, underdeveloped ML? Nooooooo
I refuse to watch this on Mango, so I have been banking episodes on Viki. Perhaps now is a good time for me to start it 🤩If I start it now, then I can watch it while I bank Road to Splendor episodes… How is the romance in this one? I know it’s not a romance-centered drama, but I’m assuming the chemistry is there? The leads are equally capable with equal screen time and character development?
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My only complaint is that for a synopsis that includes the ML and tags about the ML, he had hardly any screen time at all in the first three episodes. I wonder if this is going to be the norm. I really hope this won’t turn into a drama that sidelines and marginalizes the ML’s character and role within the story. I’m so, so tired of seeing that happen in most of the historical dramas in the last year. Can we please have two leads who are given equal screen time and purpose within the narrative? 😩