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Curley Gao for Layla. At least, I hope they get her powerhouse western-style vocals for Layla's songs, even if she doesn't star ^^

Too old? Although she can pass off for characters 10 years younger than her age....
How about 95-00 liners? (although, its emotionally heavy.. don't think the younger idols can do justice) :P

Fun facts:
(sorry if it has been posted before... but I did some research around Cheoljong and the history around him)
>> Turns out, Grand Queen Dowager (granny from Kim-clan who is picky about food) is the Mother-in-Law of Queen Dowager (the cult-practicing widow from the Jo clan)
>> Queen Dowager's character is played by Chae Soo-bin in 'Love in Moonlight'.
>> Her husband, who is not shown here (only via flashbacks) is none other than Park BoGum's character in LIM.
>> Park Bogum's character was the crown prince, and also the only son of Granny 'picky about food'
>> Park Bogum's character dies at age 20, leaving his wife (cult-lady) a widow. T_T
>> Their son eventually takes up throne, as he is the grandson of Picky Granny and her husband, the previous King.... after Picky Granny's husband dies.
>> This son eventually dies as well, leaving cult-lady as the Queen Mother (note, she herself was never the Queen, unlike Picky Granny.... she was the wife of the prev King)
>> The universe of 'Love in Moonlight' is basically a younger version of Mr. Queen (by a generation and half)
>> Also, Cheoljong is not related directly to any of these dowager ladies.

Correct, and correct!

'Adolescent twigs' is what I call the breed you're describing! :P

He's Tibetan ^^
(and if I'm not mistaken, he's Liang Jie's fiance... the leading lady from Eternal Love 1,2 & 3)

Okay, wow, that was a long read! :P
What I got from your references, is that when the plot revolves solely around our leads, and it is not for the purpose of story-telling, but to amp up the Mary Sue-ness of the characters... that's when it's a problem.
I casually watch 'Hollywood' content, and don't superanalyze, so I wont comment on that.
It isn't just Yanxi Palace, that was 'written as anti Mary-Sue' and ended up becoming one. I distinctly remember Quippe Quest's video on Bai Qian (the apparently non-Mary Sue, but completely a Mary-Sue FL) from Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. She is given these 'negative qualities' to justify that she isn't a Mary Sue (like she's evasive, non-confrontational, petty, bratty and loud-mouthed, slightly spiteful, jealous, and wouldn't mind showing others their true place, she's haughty and has a drinking problem).... so all of that are genuine 'character weaknesses' she suffers from. However, instead of being a challenge to her character growth, she is 'praised' for them, has a 'mad cult following', and somehow 'every guy who meets her, is smitten because of this "rebellious" streak in her'. Character weaknesses that seek to 'endear you more' to the viewers/ others in the story, aren't weaknesses at all, and she very much IS a Mary Sue.
TRP suffers from something similar. While our leads in the novel are supposedly more 'morally grey', and jump in willingly at a point into the 'game of thrones', I heard they did away with this aspect (because of the country's policy on content that 'glorified overthrowing a dynasty/ government') and they will instead 'unwillingly get dragged into it'. Ah, there we go, that's the first amp-ing up of the Mary Sue-ness; getting rid of their 'grey side'. Secondly, dumbing down all other characters to show the leads in a more favorable light.... I think they are guilty of this too. Next is the heavy 'plot-armour' on them: they are 'good', thus the 'universe intervenes to always save them'... is also very lazy writing.
You're right. It isn't the problem with Mary-Sue as a stock character per se. Rather it's how the story and other characters are done AROUND them, that makes it annoying. :P :P
However, I still hope the trend of 'overbearing CEO' and 'Tsundere ML' dies first xD xD

That is an excellent suggestion. And with the team ZZY has assembled, they should have given something 'revolutionary' like this a try. Ah, only if!....
You're right, it isn't the story per se (which is tired, old, and tropey, and we have seen pieces of it, via older drama adaptations of newer webnovels....) It's the execution that is lacking, and I very much agree. The 'old' could have been repackaged as 'new'. Afterall, the 'superhero' movies you speak of from Hollywood, are much, much older in concept.... it's just that a modern superhero movie won't be directed/ executed the same way as in the 80's. And that's where things could have substantially gone better for TRP. :( :(

Ditto, there are some moments/ angles where he looks alarmingly younger than her, and I wonder if it was done to remind us, that he indeed is younger than her (by 3years?) IRL? :P :P

Absolutely agreed. I didn't touch upon this aspect that you speak of, only because people (like critics, reviewers, and genuine enthusiasts) who have dissected these Mary Sue characters have found them to be incredibly one-dimensional, flat, almost cookie-cutter, and certainly an indicator of 'bad/ immature writing'. Morally grey, complex characters with questionable morals and ethics always make for a more compelling watch, and are agreed upon as 'nuanced writing'. But this entire concept is very subjective, because 'writing quality' differs from person to person and a 'Mary Sue' shouldn't hinder a great majority's enjoyment of the story.
My only complaint is, okay, we got a stock-character... fine. Mary Sues are stock-characters like any other, but they end up getting more hate than they deserve. Nobody is complaining about megastar actors picking a 'Tsundere-ML', or a 'rich obnoxious CEO' for the umpteenth time. Those are even MORE dated than the Mary Sue trend. The attack on Mary Sues appears to be a tad sexist imo, and shouldn't be made into such a big deal.

I'm liking the fact that Xiao Qi isn't a hero burdened by some tortured angst or emotional trauma, despite having lived through real horror on earth (warfield). He isn't a damaged human who needs to be salvaged and fixed by the heroine. Thank heavens for this. Awu, you found yourself a solid man. This one's a keeper.
Also, I'm loving how nobody schooled her into being a military wife, and she isn't even consciously doing it to fulfill her wifely duties. It's just her character to *always* step up and rise to the occasion. I'm pretty sure, she doesn't even realise deep-down, the kind of circumstances she has to steel herself to face, should the day come. But you know, when the day does come, she'll live by the code of honor. Salute to her!!

Yup, it's not acting when your range consists of two and a half expressions, *all* the time xD

Absolutely, as ZZY's first choice was Chang Chen (and quite rightly so, for that fear-inducing General who never smiles)... but I think I like this interpretation more, as it hasn't been done too many times before :)

Excellent point. There are times when he looks like japanese actor Oguri Shun, other times when he looks like korean actor Yoo Ji Tae (healer)... and on the recent Happy Camp episode, he looked like Jack Ma. This man is an acting as well as appearance-chaneleon.

Sujin was a snake in TMOPB, and a wannabe side-hoe. She is still one, in True Beauty.
What's up with characters named Sujin?! They never get the hint?! :/ :/

This man has superb eye-acting skills. I am 100 percent convinced he's in love with ZZY's character. Also, seasoned actors who have traditionally been casted as romantic MLs.... hmm, why are they always overshadowed by actors taking these roles for the first time? I have recently been following 'filmography trajectory' of 3 such actors (who are post mid-30's and have done a variety of supporting roles, villains, shady characters...you name it)... we had all been waiting for a romantic ML role. And these guys finally got it, and blew the experienced-ones out of the park. Guess that's called real-talent. *_*

Ugh you know what's so unique about Xiao Qi?! Usually such comparable men you speak of, from c-drama land, are usually emotionally distant, taciturn, asutere and possessing of some sort of emotional constipation, and each of them require the FL to bring them out of their shells, transform them for the better and teach them to love. But not Xiao Qi. He is what he is. He is capable of immense love since Day 1, and despite a sad and difficult childhood, he hasn't let it affect him. He is expressive and assertive when he needs to be, when others need him to rise to the occassion.... yet he is conscious enough not to let it violate others' space. He is a war-hero, but he can very well fade into the background, and lead from the back, if necessary. There is an undercurrent of self-confidence in himself and in his own worth, and he doesnt always feel the need to hog the limelight. There is something SO charming about this, I can't explain! *_*

On a purely superficial note, his broad shoulders and back look so reliable. Just like a General's should. Something about his unshakeable presence is so comforting. He also looks like somebody who gives tight, warm hugs, and I melt every single time. Gosh, I'm a puddle of goo T_T

I haven't reached the badass-Awu bits yet... But yeah, she reminds me of Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With the Wind. Rando comparison, but yeah. Both these women are GOAL! *_*

You know what, since 'readers/viewers' of such content are mostly female, hence a FL is more likely to be recognized as a Mary Sue, as opposed to the ML being recognized as a Gary Stu, because 'women' are more critical towards other females, real or fictional.
Aside from Xiao Qi coming to save our heroine/ AND save the city/ save the day all the time...there are other reasons too why he's a Gary Stu. And he isn't getting half the hate the FL is. In fact, his 'perfection' is seen as swoony!! (and i am SOLIDLY on that camp... he's such a dreamboat); whereas the FL being a Mary Sue, is seen as annoying. Why this hypocrisy? T_T