MagnoliaCream

This is one of the funniest dramas I've watched! I know Dylan Wang is innately funny so I was not surprised when the funny scenes came. But Yukee Chen is a revelation. She matches his naughtiness. I was doubtful about this pairing at first but now I'm sold.

This is not just comedy though. Qiao Duo's history itself is dark, his thirst for revenge pours out of his being. The bit about the tribute ladies is disturbing. Bu Yinlou's family life is tragic. I cried with her for her mom. And of course, palace politics would always involve wicked schemes and violence.

So I'm glad to have these laugh-out-loud moments as respite from, most probably, even heavier dramatic scenes to come.

I'll be re-watching episodes 1 to 18 while waiting for new ones to arrive.

One of my favorite things in the drama is the slow-burn romance. I love how the Marquis waited patiently for Shiyi to grow up. She was about 16 years old when they got married. He was probably around 30. It will be noted that during that time, this age difference was common, especially in marriages of powerful families. A lecherous man would have forced a young girl into submission. The Marquis showed his gentle and caring side by not forcing his young bride to do something she was not ready for. And she did grow up and saw his noble character while dealing with her bewildering status as a Marquis' wife, his concubines' schemes and mysteries to solve. At the same time, he also noted her intelligence as well as her gentle and sensible nature. They got together when they had both fallen in love with each other and were ready for a mature relationship. It was perfect and worth the wait.

Another accolade, this time from New York Times:
The Best TV Episodes of 2022
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/21/arts/television/best-tv-episodes-2022.html

‘Pachinko’ (Apple TV+)
Season 1, Episode 7
The penultimate episode of this Min Jin Lee novel adaptation, set in and around the 1923 Yokohama earthquake, is staggering in its scope and rendering of cataclysm. But it’s equally, quietly devastating in how its expands the depiction of a key character: Koh Hansu (Lee Minho), introduced in the series as a menacing, charismatic gangster. Laying out how he began as a young math tutor with hopes for a legitimate life, then fell onto his path through disaster and circumstance, “Chapter 7” connects him to the series’s other Korean exiles making hard choices in an unwelcoming Japan. (Streaming on Apple TV+.) PONIEWOZIK

Especially when things get dark, one way to keep one's belief in humanity is through humor. I guess this is why violent films like Deadpool, Hot Fuzz and Pulp Fiction are made funny. In Unchained Love, I find Chen Yu Qi's character, Bu Yin Lou, ridiculously silly and funny, though as Xiao Duo suspects, she might be really smart.

"Richard Roeper’s best TV of 2022.
‘Pachinko,’ a deeply memorable depiction of several generations of a Korean family, tops the list."

Lee Min Ho won Best Drama Actor and Breakthrough Performer of the Year in Gold Derby Awards.

The list of awards Pachinko got may be found in:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachinko_(TV_series)

i'm finding this drama hilarious. Dylan Wang's innate playfulness and great acting chops help his dramas successfully straddle the line between comedy and serious drama, a really hard thing to pull off. It seems his forte is making bad boys loveable, showing how behind the bad boy facade, there is a good boy just waiting to be woken up by the right girl

Yes, I recommend the novel especially if you're strongly distraught over how the drama ends and wish to know what happens afterwards. There are a lot of differences between the drama and the novel, for example Chu Qiao's origin, but the main gist - Chu Qiao's revenge and her relationship with Yuwen Yue and Yan Xun - is pretty much the same

evil god

I think his hellfire is less powerful than it used to be. hellfire is most powerful when he is bereft of all emotions but his emotions keep getting stronger. That was why he started using the evil power (his eyes turned black and his sword was enveloped by black smoke). Being a lackey of the evil god is the worst thing that could happen to him. Not participating in the war is much, much better. I think the most compelling message of episode 31 is that Orchid saved him from the worst fate ever.

I'm happy that the war ended as it did, showing how awesome Orchid/the Goddess was. I was so afraid of DFQC using evil power and becoming evil like Rong Hao and so relieved Orchid was able to stop that from happening. Instead of fighting each other, I would prefer that the Moon Tribe and the fairies would unite against the evil god.

Arbiter later said that DFQC carries a bit of Orchid's primordial spirit in him. So I think it was the real Orchid with him in the dream. I also question Orchid's threat, "If you save me, I'll marry someone else". I've been wondering if it was a translation issue and should be "If you leave me, I'll marry someone else"

I just read an article where Zhao Liying said Lin Gengxin did not like re-shooting kissing scenes. 'Wonder if this is one reason season 2 is a no-go, as the second part of the novel has a lot of steamy scenes between Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue (or Zhuge Yue in the novel), ha ha!

In any case, with Deng Lun's situation, would he still be able to play Li Ce? Would there be anybody else who can play Li Ce with as much aplomb?

The novel makes it clear how incompatible Chu Qiao and Yan Xun are, in terms of beliefs. She puts the common good above herself, while Yan Xun puts himself, i.e. his revenge and love, above anything else, with no consideration for how his actions would affect others. As Yan Xun would muse over in the later part of the novel, she wanted hope and peace, he wanted bloodshed.

I love the slow-burn and realistic depiction of romance in this drama. The gorgeous ML has personality issues, thus he does not realize he likes the FL and tries to keep her as his secretary, sabotaging her attempts to advance her career. Eventually, his feelings for the sensible FL help him grow as a person.

I applaud Lin Gengxin for making an obnoxious character lovable enough for viewers to root for him and patiently await his growth. It greatly helps that he is super handsome!

it ends very happily for Chu Qiao and her beloved

The whole novel may be found here:
https://www.webnovel.com/book/princess-agents_10176031205004305

Here's my 2 cents on why I'm satisfied with season 1 ending:
One of the main differences between the drama and the novel is Chu Qiao's origin. The drama shows her having this Cold Ice Skill superpower, the Fengyun Order marked by a red spider lily, that is just waiting to be fully developed. The novel does not have this story line. The drama ending shows the red spider lily finally appearing at the end, meaning her superpower got fully developed. This in turns means she can save whoever she needs to save from the frozen lake right there and then, i.e. no need to wait for two years to find out what happens to Yuwen Yue as in the novel.

Because of her superpower. the drama ending foretells of a happy ending for them. I also like it better that she would be the one to save him instead of his servant as in the novel, since he got into trouble for her sake, in the first place.

I was one of those clamoring for a second season but after reading the novel, I'm okay with season 1 ending as it did. Suffice it to say that in the novel, Chu Qiao has a very happy ending with a very loving husband.

Please see the spoiler comment below for my 2 cents on why I'm okay with not having a second season. Of course I would be thrilled if a second season drops, but I'm not obsessing about it anymore.

Hollywood is raving about Lee Min Ho, even considering him for Emmy Awards. This puts to rest any doubts about his acting ability. Whether he gets nominated or not does not anymore matter. He has more than proven himself.

Lee Min Ho is listed in 2022 Emmy Predictions: Lead Actor (Drama Series)
https://www.goldderby.com/gallery/2022-emmy-predictions-lead-actor-drama-series/9-lee-pachinko/

“... Korean superstar #LeeMinHo, who is dashing & dastardly as Koh Hansu”
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2022-05-12/the-2022-emmys-buzzmeter-here-comes-the-buzz

"Lee Min Ho Receives Rave Reviews For His Stunning Performance in Apple TV+’s ‘Pachinko’"
https://zapzee.net/2022/05/02/lee-min-ho-receives-rave-reviews-for-his-stunning-performance-in-apple-tvs-pachinko/

The book is based on stories of real people and real events. And the drama did justice to the book by not being fluffy. The emotions are raw and deep. This is why it made a profound impression on critics and discerning viewers.

i found the discussion in Twitter to be much more satisfying, complete with screenshots from the drama and comments from critics, writers and celebrities who have more substantial things to say than trivialities like product placements as what TKEM haters kept nagging about