WandereR

Darn it, it's Mango TV :(

Thank you for writing such a detailed and insightful article on this drama, I truly appreciate it. Well done! :)
Judging from the comments, this isn't going to be an easy watch and the storyline appears to be filled with much angst. But the cast looks great though, I mean it's Li Yi Tong after all.
I've got this on-hold at the moment, maybe when I'm in the mood for angst I'll give this a go in the future :D

Sure thing :)

Lee Seung Gi (9.6) - The reason it's not a perfect 10 is because he was only warming up in the beginning and his performance progressively went up a few notches as the drama progressed.

Lee Hee Joon (9.3) - I think there were quite a number of powerful scenes but there were also moments where he reverted to type.

Park Joo Hyun (8.5) - Aside from a few crucial points in the drama where she projected strong raw emotions, I felt for the most part she was just a supporting role to elevate the ML.

Kyung Soo Jin (8.2) - She was really quiet here. There weren't many moments where she could have showcased her range or added more depth to her character. It was consistently understated throughout.

Hmmm, my mental state is too fragile to handle heartbreaks lol

Looks like my best option for now is Minning Town and either Longest Day in Chang'an or Secret of Three Kingdoms. Disguiser will be next. All of them I've added to my Classic Watch Project customized list for all the past hits that I missed out on :)

Lol. Tell me about it xD

Hehe, you made a good point :D

Very insightful and intimate account of your viewing experience. I like the references too :)
Till this day, although I never completed this drama, the opening theme still haunts me. It's deeply enthralling.

Hehe, 5 years omg! Wkw is part of the reason that I'm looking forward to Blossoms Shanghai.

Winter Begonia is one drama I've been hearing and seeing a lot about but what makes me hesitate is not because of the era but the trauma I got from Farewell My Concubine. Leslie and Peking opera did my emotions in so hard that I fear WB would do the same to my soul lol

I don't mind HXM's acting but I haven't seen much of him in recent years. No wonder the drama looks epic - 60 episodes of CCP history :D

Totally agree. This one was very nicely done so you can enjoy the rest of it with a peace of mind :D

Yes, indeed it does. It's a very comprehensive closure and you're right about the romance. Personally for me, the romantic overtures never got in the way of the plot and the way it's depicted blends seamlessly and organically into the storytelling :)

Nice, more reasons to watch Disguiser! Speaking of Hu Ge, I'm also waiting for Blossoms Shanghai, that's another one I'm looking forward to.
The Rebel? I'll go check that out. I read somewhere the epic CCP drama of the year is Dreams and Glory, with Huang Xiao Ming. The synopsis actually sounds pretty interesting.

Another 6 months at least for Luoyang? Dang, I was really psyched up when I saw the teaser, it looked soooo good!
Glad to hear that the others have passed NRTA. If only Zhao Ge could be rescued from limbo too.

You're right, I haven't seen Disguiser because I was kind of averse to Republican era content back then. But I'm slowly getting used to it so will give that a try. I've just completed Decoded last month and I still have Fearless Whispers on-hold.

I love Advisors' Alliance and Growling Tiger, Roaring Dragon. I'm a fan of the screenwriter as well, which is why Secret of the Three Kingdoms is on my PTW. I'll go check out Awakening Age!

Uff, sounds like we need to brace ourselves for the famine! Fortunately I've got so much content on my on-hold lol
Minning Town's opening episode already looks quite compelling, it seems to be a very well-made production. Added to my watch list :)

Yikes, still no sight of s2? That was why JoL is still on my on-hold lol
I miss watching Jin Dong but Going Rural put me off in the first episode..
Yes! Until today I still can't find a worthy successor to NiF :(
I've been anticipating a few historicals but I don't know when they'll ever be released. With the propaganda content coming up, I guess they'll be pushed further back. I'm waiting for Luoyang, Ancient Love Poetry, Golden Hairpin and Immortality. Rebel Princess didn't do it for me in the end but The Long Ballad was quite alright for me. Thank goodness for this one at least :D

I didn't realise Daylight Entertainment produced so many good stuff. I think I've seen 4 or 5 dramas from them. I saw a lil bit of Minning Town on the YT link, it looks way better than Going Rural.
JoL has been on my list for the longest time lol
Ok, I'll take your advice on those 2. Thanks, Skibbies! It's nice to hear from you again btw :)

I just checked it out and realized, it's not my cup of tea either lol. I'm a fan of Jin Dong but this one's too wholesome and slice-of-life. Actually the premise reminds me of Minning Town. Maybe I should check out that one instead.

Yikes, shortage of popular content? Hmmm, I guess this would be a good time to pick up stuff from my on-hold. I've got Secret of Three Kingdoms, Longest Day in Chang'an, and Joy of Life to choose from. Hmmm...

I feel you. I'm running out of C-dramas to watch as well, which is why I'm watching HK and K-dramas now.
But, I'm going to check this one out:
https://kisskh.at/51209-going-rural
Somehow I don't think it's your cup of tea though lol

Sure thing! Enjoy the binge over the weekend :D

I didn't find the ending rushed either, it was nicely wrapped up. Maybe folks wanted some kissing scenes with / without parrots, who knows lol
But I loved the closure :)

Thank you :)
I know how you feel since I did drop it too at one point, but I'm glad I found the inspiration to complete it. It's a wild ride, that's for sure :D