Chibi

Well, you know why CC as xiao qi wouldn't have worked? Because there is NO way CC appears in front of a 15-y.o. marriageable girl, and she doesn't fall for him *right* then and there, irrespective of the fact that she is love with a young prince. Whereas, ZYW takes his own sweet time to 'grow' on the viewers, thus our gradual warming up to him is at a similar pace to Awu's journey of slowly falling for him, and is fitting, because the story is seen through Awu's lens.
You're right.... NiNi, YM and ZZY are absolute goddesses in their respective age-range/ genre. Compared to them, the actors are definitely more low-key (other than CC maybe). Most female audience started with heart-eyes for these girl-crushes. And then, as we know.... the Male Leads happened. Lmao! There are scenes in ALL three of these productions, where during certain emotional scenes, the actors ended up overshadowing their costars SO much. Fo' sure, all 3 men will go down in history as some of the swooniest c-drama men! <3

I admit, a re-collab from ZZY and CC in their near 40's would have been absolutely explosive! But ZYW has sealed the deal for me ^^

Both actors naturally have a very 'breathy', 'whispery' natural voice...
So when they talk like that, it seems extra intimate, like they are whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears....
Its extra cute seeing a fierce general, and battle-hero do that! ^^

Or like Jaime Lannister's Hand of Gold, lmao xD

Haha, this reminded me of Mark Chao when he was casted as Yehua/ Moyuan in TMOPB. Netz called him 'too-ugly' and 'too-old' to play the role. There were mini-petitions online. Mark Chao jokes to this day, that the director thought he was 'ugly', had hired him only on trial basis, but later his 'non-conventional appearance' grew on her, and she was blown by his talent, and the rest as we know... is history. Funnily ZYW, CC and MC all three aren't considered 'flower-boys', haven't done 'idol-ish' dramas before, and aren't the first people you think of when 'romantic ML' is brought up. Interestingly enough, all three convinced us HOW besotted they are in love for their respective women, and wouldn't entertain the idea of taking concubines, ever. Even more funnily, L&D and TRP were supposed to start shooting earlier, and Chan Chen was offered the ML role in both, but he picked the former.
I don't care whoever call these men 'ugly and too old', but I find them to be perfect *dreamboats*. Their respective characters are an added cherry on my fangirling-cake! *_* <3

Absolutely, she would be relieved to secure ZYW. Firstly, her prev costar Chang Chen dropped the script and she wasn't sure who to cast instead for a long time. Secondly, she was smitten with ZYW's acting in a movie that she watched for Chang Chen. And thirdly, she first-hand witnessed HOW talented this man can be. Fourthly, if to remove any doubts in her mind, (and I dont care if people call it rigged), a winner is a winner, and he won the finale. In her mind, she couldn't have found a more perfect Xiao Qi (not even considering the wide portfolio of roles XYW has already done, he's honestly such a chameleon!) <3
Yes you're right, her handmaid was also in the acting show, altho she didnt end up on the finale top 3, and to be fair, was in the other mentor's team (so i don't also see 'nepotism' as people are accusing her of!). :p

What a disaster.. xD

I think the reality show had already declared the winner, before ZYW was casted as the ML here, which goes onto show since ZZY was on the lookout for a ML actor since a loooong time, she ended up cherry-picking ZYW after the reality show. Acting with him during the scene of the Rouge, probably confirmed to her the great chemistry that they would share on TRP.

Interesting to note that, ZZY brought up Brotherhood of the Blades for talking about Chang Chen and ZYW. At that point Chang Chen had already been offered the role of a General in TWO parallel productions (Love & Destiny, and the Rebel Princess), and he turned down the latter. Ever since, ZZY had been on lookout for a ML. Brotherhood of the Blades might have been where she was first impressed with ZYW, and finally, the reality show, where she mentally finalized on him, before he was officially declared as the ML for TRP. So, her bias towards him was obvious, not because he was already her ML, but because she has an eye for talent, and knew she'd pick him in the future as Xiao Qi.

Infact, since it's ZZY's investment money, I have zero problem with her using a talent variety show as a mini-audition/ screen-test to pick her costars for her own project. Especially, if the result works out to be as successful as this (honestly, I'm convinced nobody can play Xiao Qi other than ZYW....not even Chang Chen) :D :D

Hasn't been casted yet.... (Ah-yi)

The artwork, imagery and the setting definitely has fantasy-vibes! :)
But nothing could be farther from the truth! :P

Here you go! ^^
https://manhuascan.com/manga-annarasumanara.html
Since it's a webtoon, each chapter appears as a single spread and you have to scroll down to read the full spread! :D

I know exactly who you're talking about xD xD xD

-Dalmi not choosing to fulfill Dad's dreams of food business. She'd rock with her own Korean Uber-Eats! I mean, why stress specifically that Halmeoni had a corn-dog shop, then Dad almost started his own *food-delivery* business? So that Dalmi could build self-drive cars?
-The point of the handwriting-analysis AI algo. Wasn't that supposed to reveal the author of the letters? Esp since NoonGil was connected to Grandma's blindness, it was logical to have the handwriting algo connected to the letters.
-Dosan always feeling like a fraud, and when he snaps (as was foreshadowed multiple times with his whole fidgety nervousness, pent-up rage issues and the ironic 'Living Buddha' moniker).... he either resorts to violence. Or goes and blurts out about the Math Olympiad fiasco all those years back. Instead of having Dalmi being the instigator in his life, for him to come clean once and for all, on his own, because he *loves* her. And this confession setting him free, absolving him of any of his self-imposed guilt, and Dosan finally overcoming his inferiority and Imposter Syndrome.
-Random countless parallels between Dalmi x JiPyeong.... like writer-nim, what was the point exactly?

I remembered this incident from back in the school days. It was lit class, and students were theorizing what was the hidden reason behind the phrase 'blue skies'? Some wondered if that signified an apparent depression, or perhaps a sliver of hope towards a better future, etc, etc. Then our teacher walked in after a coffee-break and said, 'He just meant BLUE SKIES, people! Get over it, next line please.'
T_T
101 Bamboozling.

What a dis-service to the existence and the memory of Dad. He never embodied such cheap sentiments of rivalry, and much less, among his own family members. (He always wanted to get his wife back, but never dreamt of one-upping the second husband of his ex-wife)... :/
Thus SDM's memories of Dad, inspiring her to fulfill his dreams rather than getting herself involved in sibling rivalry, feels like 'good-writing' :3

This is SO beautiful. Not only does it branch off from the writer's story at quite the last minute (thus, minimal changes)... it also completes *every* character arc. Dosan's arc wasn't about the romance (it was about him getting over his insecurity and have faith in himself to establish a successful business); Dalmi's arc wasn't about smart-cars and finding a rich husband (but rather being a successful entrepreneur & fulfilling her dad's dream), JP's arc was never about him playing second fiddle to an immature romance or being a mentor stuck to thankless children (but rather the theme of 'found' family); InJae's arc was never being a hot-shot self-made CEO (partly yes, but her great character arc fulfillment was always finding her way back to Halmeoni, and realizing that both sisters were loved and cherishes equally, despite her having ditched them earlier on).
And finally, the letters had a purpose. They brought together the two writers of them, much like Dalmi's parents were pen-pals, while also bringing an underconfident and insecure kid called NDS (the 'pseudonym' used on the letters) out of his shell, giving him friends and people who will bring him confidence and support all throughout his life, people who he otherwise would never have met! :D
Beautiful indeed! <3

BURN!!! xD xD

Not to mention the violence bit, not once, but twice, is such a red-flag for me. DM had seen witnessed it once before, that jeopardizes their future as a start-up; and the second, well if she has any brains, she can anticipate who took the first hit. So yeah, the fact that this is glossed over, is problematic. What's even more problematic is his violent behaviour is 'rewarded' oft-times by her. :/ :/ :/

Regarding the whole big-reveal on the letters-bit, I was wondering with what characterization they had planned on for our leads (esp a non-confrontational DM), wouldn't it have made more narrative sense for the expose to come *after* the acq-hire contract? Because DM was going to be a doormat about this, and shove the whole matter underneath a rug, it would have been better if she got pissed at the deceit, and decided to let NDS go away, instead of being all sacrificial about it. The acq-hire would have been a blessing in disguise for her, them not contacting each other over 3 years would have made more sense, she would have 3 years to calm down (because the shenanigan went on for *far* more than that, 18 to be exact), she wouldn't have to resort to 'noble idiocy' to push him away [being pissed enough would have been a legitimate reason not to want to see DS again], and her initial discovery of the fact would have had her deal with HJP, without the hovering presence of NDS and his constant need to be baby-sit, over the three-years. The 'starting point' of JP x DM would have made sense if it fell towards the 3-year gap as well.....

Yeah, Mary Boleyn was such a dishrag in that, with zero personality, although I guess that was the point! xD

Wolf Hall is definitely more politically intriguing, kinda like if GoT was told from the p.o.v. of Littlefinger, or the multiple 'hand (s ) of the King'... whereas Philippa Greogory's series is definitely a more romance heavy re-telling of the entire Dynasty!

The existence of Wolf Hall (s1), although it's a rival series adaptation; and the Other Boleyn girl (movie), makes me sad and wonder if they will continue adapting PG's series, after the Spanish Princess. I guess Henry's life get only more exciting *after* his first marriage till the point he contracts gout, and is left ineffective. His court politics PLUS his relationship with the Church is also quite interesting! :D

ps. Will sound shallow, but King Henry in the 'Spanish Princess' (young-adult version, is SO beautiful to look at! Kind of like a Caucasian k-pop idol) ^^

Eric Bana in 'the Other Boleyn Girl' is still my favorite (and historically more accurate) portrayal of Henry the VIII. In fact I found Johnathan Rhys Myer's version kinda Americanized, with all the inaccurate outfits, styling and sets... a lot like Reign (which seemed like a medieval-era Gossip Girl tbh, and an elaborate disservice to Mary, Queen of Scots)
The 'Plantagenet & Tudors' series by Philippa Gregory (a series of novels) and their mini-series adaptations by BBC One/ Starz (their third series has finished airing) are far more intellectually satisfying than 'the Tudors'... highly recommended to anyone remotely interested in this Dynasty! :D

Omygod yes! Falling in love with XYZ-da... and still calling him that. That's very common, and I wouldn't have realised Bengali's do it all the time, had you not spelled it out. It's such a subconscious thing! 'Da' afterall is a term-of-endearment or respect, for not just your own brothers, but older men, not old enough to be 'kaku-s'. xD
'Da' outside of your family could be platonic, or could be romantic, just used to indicate seniority, and age-respect.
And here, I was like : 'hmm, Bengali's don't have this problem!' xD xD