Also I don't think this drama needs to be another Hidden Love or The First Frost. A lot of people keep comparing it to those two, which only creates unnecessary expectations. People should give it a chance to shine in its own way instead of putting so much pressure on it.
I just read an online comment saying this series is flopping because of "low" viewership. Well, my thoughts…
I think people are being a little too quick to judge this drama based on viewership numbers alone. Mango TV has never consistently competed with Tencent, iQIYI, or Youku in terms of viewership, so expectations should be put into context. That doesn't necessarily mean a drama is underperforming or isn't worth watching. Besides, Netflix has also picked up the international distribution rights, giving the drama an opportunity to reach a much wider audience beyond China. I'm more interested in seeing how the story develops and whether it can find its audience over time. Not every good drama needs to be a massive commercial hit.
Based on your own MDL ratings, shouldn't "Where the Mask Ends" be in 3rd place? You've listed the other…
I think it's based more on their popularity overseas rather than MDL ratings. Things like international audience reach, streaming performance, and overall attention from international viewers are probably more relevant here.
I just came across Yang Chaoyue life story, and honestly, I was quite surprised by how much she went through before becoming an actress. Now I can understand why people say she's so similar to Zheng Yu. Both have experienced financial struggles and hardships from a young age, having to grow up quickly and become independent earlier than they should have. Their stories aren't exactly the same, ofc but there are some striking parallels. Knowing more about Yang Chaoyue's background makes her portrayal of Zheng Yu even more interesting to me.
lmao... there are many great korean dramas in recent years... what western saturation? if you mean adult scenes,…
Yeah, I think streaming platforms play a big part in this. Their preferences and market strategies can influence which projects get greenlit and how much creative freedom writers have.
Another thing worth considering is that South Korea seems to be at a disadvantage compared to China when it comes to producing large-scale historical dramas. China has Hengdian World Studios, which provides extensive facilities and sets for historical productions, while Korea's production infrastructure for this kind of drama is still relatively limited.
It's a shame because Korean history and mythology have so much untapped potential. I'd love to see more productions like Six Flying Dragons or even something completely original like Alchemy of Souls. There's still so much room for creativity if the industry is willing to explore it.
lmao... there are many great korean dramas in recent years... what western saturation? if you mean adult scenes,…
Agree that's actually my point. Joseon and Goryeo stories have their own cultural depth and historical appeal. I wasn't saying Western inspired settings are inherently bad, but I do wish Korean dramas would explore their own history and mythology more often instead of repeatedly relying on simplified European style monarchies and fantasy tropes. Or they could try something like Alchemy of Souls, which created its own fictional world, mythology, and magic system while still retaining a distinct Korean identity. I'd love to see more dramas take that kind of creative approach.
Pursuit of Jade is undoubtedly one of the biggest Cdrama hits of 2026. Its success across multiple platforms, both domestically and internationally, shows that its popularity goes far beyond the actors fanbases.
why she is chosen by Qris, because she is female lead right
Yeah, if we go by logic, the reason is pretty obvious because she's the FL lol. But I think there's actually a reason behind his choice. Song has a really refined sense of taste. Remember their training session where they had to identify the different levels of food? That's probably why he chose her this round.
Isabel Dominguez is played by Hayley. (Her full name is Hayley Leah Campbell.)
I had such a hard time finding her profile until I finally came across it on AsianWiki lol. She's actually a 2002 liner! I thought she was in her 30s because of her pairing with an older male actor. She's still pretty much a rookie, so I hope this drama opens more doors for her. She's gorgeous, and I'm already fond of her.
MDL really needs to add the romance tag at this point. 6 eps in, and there's clearly going to be romance between the ML and FL. And it looks like the SML and SFL are getting their own romantic storyline too 🤭
I'm so curious about how things between Crish and his mother got so complicated. From what we've seen, it seems Crish and his father left her because of their differences, leaving her with neither her dreams nor her family, just as she said. The highlight of this episode for me was definitely the moment the chairwoman began to suspect that Crish was his son, Kang Han. I'm really excited to see how their story develops from here, especially when they meet again.
And Joshua and Isabel... they had only just met and were already sleeping together. Such an American thing, lol. I'm just too Asian for this 😂
there were a lot of moments when they were interacting in a friendly way and laughing. Linghe wasn't "rough"…
Let's not pretend this is simply about having different opinions. I have no problem with genuine criticism or people expressing their thoughts about the drama. What I take issue with is the suspicious behavior, baseless accusations, and attempts to provoke unnecessary conflict between fandoms. There's a difference between being a genuine viewer with an opinion and deliberately stirring up trouble. Don't twist my words into something they're not.
And honestly, how can you confidently conclude that the leads have no chemistry when the drama hasn't even aired yet? Judging their entire chemistry based on trailers and the reuters seems rather premature. At least give the drama a chance before making such definitive judgments.
So please stop shifting the argument as if you're simply being silenced for having an opinion. There's a difference between genuine criticism and deliberately stirring up fandom conflicts.
News 
Aww, look at them! They're so cute. I need the next episode already😍
https://youtube.com/shorts/n6Snpu0a-Qw?si=1toHb1F_mtZjs5Mm
https://x.com/soompi/status/2119686427055194443/video/1?a=XroekDmnltM_8ok-b6c&s=19
Another thing worth considering is that South Korea seems to be at a disadvantage compared to China when it comes to producing large-scale historical dramas. China has Hengdian World Studios, which provides extensive facilities and sets for historical productions, while Korea's production infrastructure for this kind of drama is still relatively limited.
It's a shame because Korean history and mythology have so much untapped potential. I'd love to see more productions like Six Flying Dragons or even something completely original like Alchemy of Souls. There's still so much room for creativity if the industry is willing to explore it.
And Joshua and Isabel... they had only just met and were already sleeping together. Such an American thing, lol. I'm just too Asian for this 😂
And honestly, how can you confidently conclude that the leads have no chemistry when the drama hasn't even aired yet? Judging their entire chemistry based on trailers and the reuters seems rather premature. At least give the drama a chance before making such definitive judgments.
So please stop shifting the argument as if you're simply being silenced for having an opinion. There's a difference between genuine criticism and deliberately stirring up fandom conflicts.
https://x.com/jinyoungiese/status/2117848343401623990?a=1X5TCQ49-LJX_VjbG1w&s=19