I don't want them to drag out the Jundai plot otherwise it will get boring... So far I'm really enjoying the show! I hope LZ realizes the truth soon... He is already suspicious but WR keeps emotionally manipulating him. They should take at most 9 to 10 eps (6 would be perf counting ep 11) to wrap up everything with JD and WR
Me too! I can't believe there isn't very long saeguks anymore... Have you watched The King's Daughter, Soo Baek-hyang?…
No, I haven't watched 'The King's Daughter, Soo Baek hyang" yet! Thank you for the recommendation... I'll surely give it a try! ❤️ I'm currently watching "The Red Sleeve" but it's on hold for now. It's SO good and I'm finally getting to understand the characters and the dynamics between them so I really want to savour it properly. I've paused it to catch up on ongoing dramas (100 days of deception, make me tingle, where the mask ends etc) and I'll go back to it when I run out of things to watch lol...but ig we have plenty good ones to catch up lol with Love in Disguise, Dead End Job, Remarried Empress etc ahhaha
I have this habit of saving even the classics for later so I always have something amazing waiting for me when there's nothing else to watch. 😭😂 I still haven't watched "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Six Flying Dragons, Under the Queen's Umbrella etc " .....I swear sometimes I feel like I'm deliberately keeping the best ones in reserve. 😂 But seriously I miss those long, immersive dramas so much ..these days everything is 8 ep, 10 ep 12 ep..... also somewhere I feel quality of work has been hit with the fast production and launching sadly :(
This is the fastest I’ve ever completed a show 😂 Saw a random reel on insta saying Against the Current is such a great show, checked MDL, saw Liu Xueyi in the cast and started it for him and somehow finished it in 5 days lol. Now I’m catching it live :( . I’m really enjoying his performance as Lin Jinqi and somehow ended up loving almost every character. The writing has been such a pleasant surprise too. I love how witty some of the dialogues are and how much is left between the lines, where a look or a seemingly simple exchange can mean so much more. It’s one of those dramas that makes you pay attention rather than spoon feed everything and I think that’s a big part of why I got so hooked. Why is it ending so soon.. I wanted it to be more than 47 episodes and I do have my complaints with skips and everything but nvm still loving it ❤️❤️
Good! I feel tired of this drama, I want to give it up but I tell myself that there are only a few episodes left…
I actually understand what u mean esp about the time skips. I also wish the drama were longer and gave us more time with Nanke, Xiaolian and the other side characters. And honestly I would have loved more moments showing ML and FL becoming closer rather than having many imp developments happen through ellipses. Sometimes it feels like the story is asking us to fill in emotional gaps that I wish they had actually shown us. (BUT I UNDERSTAND THE CENSORSHIP THINGY!)
And your frustration with the romance tag and poster.. I’m also waiting to see Lanxiang soften towards him and I genuinely don’t know if we’re ever going to get the kind of romantic development we’re expecting....I actually feel quite sad for the ML because he has realised his mistakes, understands what he did wrong and now seems completely devoted to her. Watching him love her while she may only ever have respect and affection for him is painful.
But at the same time I think their relationship is very different from the usual C-drama romance and that's probably why I'm still interested in seeing where the writers take it. I came across a comment here that described it as “another kind of romance" and the more I think about it the more I feel that might be what the drama is trying to do.
There are these Chinese ideas of 命 (mìng), 运 (yùn), and 势 (shì) that I think connect quite well to their story. Very roughly, 命 is the circumstances or fate you're given, 运 is the changing opportunities and trials that come with life, and 势 is the direction those circumstances are moving in. The wisdom isn't necessarily in controlling all of those things but in how you respond to them.
And I think that's what we've been watching with XLX and LJ. Both of them go through experiences that challenge the way they previously understood life. Their suffering, mistakes and conflicts force them to change BUT "simply experiencing hardship doesn't automatically make someone better. What matters is what they choose to do with that experience... whether they become bitter or whether they allow it to change them."
That makes their relationship feel less like a conventional “they fall in love, overcome obstacles and get their happily ever after” romance to me. Their relationship seems tied to their individual growth and the way they learn to respond to each other and to everything life throws at them. In that sense, maybe the journey itself is the romance.
Of course, that doesn't mean I wouldn't LOVE to see Lanxiang's heart soften 😂 I absolutely want that too. I’m still waiting for it and if we never get it... I’ll probably be disappointed as well. I just don't know yet whether the writers are deliberately giving us a one sided love story or whether her feelings are developing in a much slower and quieter way. I would happily watch several more episodes just to see Nanke, Xiaolian, Yunchan, ML and FL actually live through those transitions.
Also don't feel bad about your friend not liking this kind of drama 😂 Everyone has different tastes and I don't think you need to force yourself to keep loving it just because you loved the earlier episodes. Maybe lower the expectations a little and let the drama take its own course. Not every story has to give us the ending or relationship we imagined at the beginning. Most end with children and adult get together or battle victory ifykyk.
For me I'm trying to appreciate the character development and where these people end up rather than deciding beforehand what their relationship has to become. Though if Lanxiang finally softens and gives this poor man some proper affection, I will absolutely be celebrating with you 😂
The third sister never intended for a divorce. The show was her maternal family showing support and pressuring…
Didnt she say "I would not like you to have concubine but it doesnt matter whether I want or not ...." So I thought she did love him, at least to some extent. She didn't want him to take a concubine but given the situation she realized that her feelings alone weren't going to change his decision. Once the Marquis chose to give in to his mother's pressure.... Xiuru had to think practically about herself and more imp her daughters.
I also don't think the Marquis is greedy GREEDY but he does prioritise his title, his family line and status. That's where I think the tragedy of their relationship lies: he seems to believe he can compromise with his mother, fulfill his duty and still keep the loving relationship he has with Xiuru BUT by agreeing to the concubine he ends up showing her that when forced to choose, he won't put their marriage first (this doesnt mean he'll divorce her but he would rather have filal and submissive wife)
And him crying at the end was because he was so taken aback by her response as he realized that his compromise had completely shattered her trust. He thought he could have best of both worlds.
Choi Jun-Kyung she has such commanding presence/aura. 💓 💓 Utterly in love with her acting! Weird she hasn't bagged any other major projects....sad to see talent get wasted :(
Choi Jun-Kyung she has such commanding presence/aura. 💓 💓 Utterly in love with her acting! Weird she hasn't bagged any other major projects....sad to see talent get wasted :(
likewise..recently saw light shop and everything in show was perfect-the casting, the acting, plot etc. underrated gem! btw i like your dp its my pfp on other social...loved their chem cute couple ..such a good show! (one of my favs)
Really well said. I also absolutely hated when he sent her flowers as an apology, because if i was in Zhitao’s…
but I think bc of their 'only friday ' rule she wouldnt go at his house n he cant go at her house either bc she doesnt like it much...and eithe wouldnt say it loud lol....quite complicated
they def seemed more than that...like a potential couple ..its sad shen didnt get his happy ending ...but nvm…
I honestly thought she was in 11th–12th or something 😭 So i was thinking maybe like "Hidden Love" they could just wait and start dating after she joins college.. when she’s older and can be sure about everything herself....And see that’s why I said "potential" ....it would have been nicer to see them together after a time skip.
Btw she was soooo pretty 😭 I just checked out her other works and she seems like a rookie but she actually acted really well!
I actually think Hu Yitian fits Jiang Yubai quite well. Jiang Yubai isn't just another version of his old cold, aloof male leads rather he is reserved, calm and not particularly loud or expressive, but that is part of his character. His feelings are shown more subtly through his actions, quiet concern and the way he gradually opens up and Hu Yitian captures that understated side of him well....like I said not every actor has to play a character in the loudest or most exaggerated way for the performance to work.
The criticism of Hu Yitian seems to come largely from viewers who feel that he doesn't match their image of Jiang Yubai while others simply don't connect with his acting style in this drama. And that's completely fair ...you don't have to like his portrayal. But I honestly think the criticism has been exaggerated. Hu Yitian is a good actor and did a nice job with Jiang Yubai. The decision to cast him was made by the production team not by Hu Yitian himself. He accepted the role and gave us his interpretation of the character and I think he did that well imo.
What frustrates me much more is the larger industry pattern. There are SO many talented actors yet whenever a major project comes around we keep seeing the same small pool of famous, conventionally handsome, commercially safe names being recycled over and over. Zhang Linghe is one example and there are several others too. And before anyone misunderstands me - YES, I like these actors. I watch their dramas and enjoy them too. But there is a limit to everything. 😭
At some point, I want to see new faces. We literally have examples of lesser known actors proving that they can hold their own when someone finally gives them the opportunity. Deng Kai in 'Pursuit of Jade" is one example (SL) who genuinely stood out and gained a lot of attention ...even Lin Muran who played Sui Yuanqing...CRAZYYY! he was only 19 yet viewers were impressed by how well he handled that role. **That is exactly why I want more casting risks.**
And I don't want Zhang Linghe or others to disappear. I just want the industry to stop acting as though there are only 4–5 men capable of carrying a drama. 😭 Give them a break....and most importantly give someone else a chance.
It is completely fair to discuss whether HY's characterisation, styling, script or direction worked for us. What bothers me is how quickly a difference in preference turns into hate. "We can dislike a performance without declaring an actor talentless, and we can question casting without blaming the actor who accepted the role."
IMO HY was one of the reasons JYB remained watchable and he deserves credit for taking on a role that is somewhat different from the image people have of him rather than being attacked simply because some viewers imagined the character differently. 😔
they def seemed more than that...like a potential couple ..its sad shen didnt get his happy ending ...but nvm…
yes i agree with you...their has to be some realism ..everything cant be picture perfect and its the subtle imperfections in the show that made it realistc slice of life and comforting drama to me :")
It was cutesy slow burn I enjoyed the chemistry between Jiang Yu Bai and Lin Zhi Xia ...After POJ I knew Tian Xi Wei will be grt but honestly I'm awestruck with Hu Yi Tian ..they looked so grt together 😍😍 I'll miss this drama n their friendship :(
Hi. To show KBS how much we want to see this drama, please consider signing this petition on the official KBS…
Hey ! You can try these if it helps - "My Bias, My Boss", "A Bonafide Killer", or "Flex x Cop S2". There are also upcoming shows like "Four Hands, Two Sonatas" and "A Love Other Than Yours" that seem to be getting attention since both are highly anticipated and the lead actors are quite popular so it might help get more attention !😊
Also, you can do one more thing check out the day they release new eps ...on that day their will be multiple discussions going on so it will help more.
try pasting this : 📢 PLEASE HELP SUPPORT THIS DRAMA! 📢
📝 KBS OFFICIAL PETITION — EVERY SIGNATURE COUNTS!
If you want to see this drama happen, please consider signing the petition on the official KBS Viewer Center:
It only takes a moment after logging in with Facebook, Google, X, or another account.
❤️ Please sign if you can, and feel free to share it with others who may be interested. The more people who see it, the better chance we have of getting KBS's attention!
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I have this habit of saving even the classics for later so I always have something amazing waiting for me when there's nothing else to watch. 😭😂 I still haven't watched "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Six Flying Dragons, Under the Queen's Umbrella etc " .....I swear sometimes I feel like I'm deliberately keeping the best ones in reserve. 😂 But seriously I miss those long, immersive dramas so much ..these days everything is 8 ep, 10 ep 12 ep..... also somewhere I feel quality of work has been hit with the fast production and launching sadly :(
And your frustration with the romance tag and poster.. I’m also waiting to see Lanxiang soften towards him and I genuinely don’t know if we’re ever going to get the kind of romantic development we’re expecting....I actually feel quite sad for the ML because he has realised his mistakes, understands what he did wrong and now seems completely devoted to her. Watching him love her while she may only ever have respect and affection for him is painful.
But at the same time I think their relationship is very different from the usual C-drama romance and that's probably why I'm still interested in seeing where the writers take it. I came across a comment here that described it as “another kind of romance" and the more I think about it the more I feel that might be what the drama is trying to do.
There are these Chinese ideas of 命 (mìng), 运 (yùn), and 势 (shì) that I think connect quite well to their story. Very roughly, 命 is the circumstances or fate you're given, 运 is the changing opportunities and trials that come with life, and 势 is the direction those circumstances are moving in. The wisdom isn't necessarily in controlling all of those things but in how you respond to them.
And I think that's what we've been watching with XLX and LJ. Both of them go through experiences that challenge the way they previously understood life. Their suffering, mistakes and conflicts force them to change BUT "simply experiencing hardship doesn't automatically make someone better. What matters is what they choose to do with that experience... whether they become bitter or whether they allow it to change them."
That makes their relationship feel less like a conventional “they fall in love, overcome obstacles and get their happily ever after” romance to me. Their relationship seems tied to their individual growth and the way they learn to respond to each other and to everything life throws at them. In that sense, maybe the journey itself is the romance.
Of course, that doesn't mean I wouldn't LOVE to see Lanxiang's heart soften 😂 I absolutely want that too. I’m still waiting for it and if we never get it... I’ll probably be disappointed as well. I just don't know yet whether the writers are deliberately giving us a one sided love story or whether her feelings are developing in a much slower and quieter way. I would happily watch several more episodes just to see Nanke, Xiaolian, Yunchan, ML and FL actually live through those transitions.
Also don't feel bad about your friend not liking this kind of drama 😂 Everyone has different tastes and I don't think you need to force yourself to keep loving it just because you loved the earlier episodes. Maybe lower the expectations a little and let the drama take its own course. Not every story has to give us the ending or relationship we imagined at the beginning. Most end with children and adult get together or battle victory ifykyk.
For me I'm trying to appreciate the character development and where these people end up rather than deciding beforehand what their relationship has to become. Though if Lanxiang finally softens and gives this poor man some proper affection, I will absolutely be celebrating with you 😂
I also don't think the Marquis is greedy GREEDY but he does prioritise his title, his family line and status. That's where I think the tragedy of their relationship lies: he seems to believe he can compromise with his mother, fulfill his duty and still keep the loving relationship he has with Xiuru BUT by agreeing to the concubine he ends up showing her that when forced to choose, he won't put their marriage first (this doesnt mean he'll divorce her but he would rather have filal and submissive wife)
And him crying at the end was because he was so taken aback by her response as he realized that his compromise had completely shattered her trust. He thought he could have best of both worlds.
Btw she was soooo pretty 😭 I just checked out her other works and she seems like a rookie but she actually acted really well!
The criticism of Hu Yitian seems to come largely from viewers who feel that he doesn't match their image of Jiang Yubai while others simply don't connect with his acting style in this drama. And that's completely fair ...you don't have to like his portrayal. But I honestly think the criticism has been exaggerated. Hu Yitian is a good actor and did a nice job with Jiang Yubai. The decision to cast him was made by the production team not by Hu Yitian himself. He accepted the role and gave us his interpretation of the character and I think he did that well imo.
What frustrates me much more is the larger industry pattern. There are SO many talented actors yet whenever a major project comes around we keep seeing the same small pool of famous, conventionally handsome, commercially safe names being recycled over and over. Zhang Linghe is one example and there are several others too. And before anyone misunderstands me - YES, I like these actors. I watch their dramas and enjoy them too. But there is a limit to everything. 😭
At some point, I want to see new faces. We literally have examples of lesser known actors proving that they can hold their own when someone finally gives them the opportunity. Deng Kai in 'Pursuit of Jade" is one example (SL) who genuinely stood out and gained a lot of attention ...even Lin Muran who played Sui Yuanqing...CRAZYYY! he was only 19 yet viewers were impressed by how well he handled that role. **That is exactly why I want more casting risks.**
And I don't want Zhang Linghe or others to disappear. I just want the industry to stop acting as though there are only 4–5 men capable of carrying a drama. 😭 Give them a break....and most importantly give someone else a chance.
It is completely fair to discuss whether HY's characterisation, styling, script or direction worked for us. What bothers me is how quickly a difference in preference turns into hate. "We can dislike a performance without declaring an actor talentless, and we can question casting without blaming the actor who accepted the role."
IMO HY was one of the reasons JYB remained watchable and he deserves credit for taking on a role that is somewhat different from the image people have of him rather than being attacked simply because some viewers imagined the character differently. 😔
Also, you can do one more thing check out the day they release new eps ...on that day their will be multiple discussions going on so it will help more.
try pasting this :
📢 PLEASE HELP SUPPORT THIS DRAMA! 📢
📝 KBS OFFICIAL PETITION — EVERY SIGNATURE COUNTS!
If you want to see this drama happen, please consider signing the petition on the official KBS Viewer Center:
👉 https://audiencecenter.kbs.co.kr/cheongwon/petitionDetail?searchPetitionIdx=20868
It only takes a moment after logging in with Facebook, Google, X, or another account.
❤️ Please sign if you can, and feel free to share it with others who may be interested. The more people who see it, the better chance we have of getting KBS's attention!
Thank you! 🙏