Dramaqueen

Please let this be passably good. no more disappointments. I am tired!

For how much I was hyped for this, I wasn't expecting to drop it this soon. But I think time has come. I find myself cringing at so many scenes. My issues with the FL's characterization are becoming bigger each episode while ML is a non entity for me even . Sad to do this cuz there is literally nothing else to watch .
It's august ffs. Release more dramas! 😅

I agree and I would go further than just saying her build , gravitas or physical presence aren't that of a former general . I can say now that FL isn't doing a good job acting wise even to make me believe she was ever one. especially a general who was betrayed and almost murdered by her own family but that I think could also be more of a script problem.

"and 2) she needs to be of high rank/standing if she is to have a chance of getting her revenge on He Ru Fei and her family,"
I actually agree 100% with this BUT my problem is that I need this explicitly stated and emphasized . Because contrary to a novel we aren't constantly in her and we are only seeing her easily fitting in her new role and aiming to reclaim her previous status without linking it to her past tragedies .
I think this is the major disconnect I have with her character.
It is not that I am against her being bubbly I am just astonished that she could be that way very easily without PTSD scenes , or revenge/justice centering her identity.
I don't know if it's also part of her deception as you day. cuz from my understanding she is good natured from the get go and she was that way even before so she is just being more her true self right now.
I guess what I would like to see for me to be sold on her character is not suddenly to become austere and be cold and standoffish like the ML, I would just like us to have multiple scenes explaining the repercussions of her past on her (moments of melancholy, investigating past wrongs) and her future plans being heavily tied to that.
Crossing fingers we get more of that in the future.

I guess what I'm expecting is that she makes it clear that the status that she is looking to reclaim is ALSO is vehicle for revenge for her.
with novels you get inner monologues etc so even if she was bubbly in the novel as well, but you read also of what she thinks about namely her family , her revenge or whatever ( I haven't read the novel but I am assuming that's case when you are talking about good at hiding)
Drama adaptations get tricky and for now the way the story is told on it is that she recovers in record time and is back to being a happy person .
I am glad you are saying we'll see more of her inner struggles in the future though

Not enjoying this as much as I would have thought .
It is just so out of bounds unrealistic. and I am not even talking about FL being too feminine or whatever cuz watching cdramas , you expect that.
But FL exhibits no trauma from what happened to her and is, in record time , a back to being a bubbly happy heroine. she is a seasoned general who has seen so many deaths, made tough decisions , was betrayed by her own family and was almost murdered, but she isn't talking about revenge , isn't investigating what happened in her last mission . But she is focused on personal fame and getting back her past glory and that's it...I am thankful she at least seems to retain her wits. but I just don't understand her character.
ML is just your standard stiff broody hero with who can do no wrong.
Again, I like these kind of stories so i'll prolly continue watching . but I'm hoping for better characterization in the next episodes.

with that cliff fall I couldn't help but think of dream within a dream and the plot armor thing. they were right, no one dies from falling from cliffs in cdramas 🤣🤣🤣

If I didn't already know this was high budget, I wouldn't have guessed . Editing is sloppy and aged cinematography.
I like what the FL did with the role though. and this is kinda my lane story wise . I hope I will be seeing more of her internal struggles in the future with everything happening to her. And I didn't read the novel so please god let her revenge be real and not lamely forgive her family lmao

FINALLY! I am hungry for a badass FL. we had a string of disappointments lately so I am going in cautiously.

in addition to having actual smart leads. I appreciate that the villains are not dumb. which is not usually the case

He is THE best in my eyes. I can't think of a more complex and incredible ML in c-dramas

Episode 19 was epic in every sense of the word. I love jiang chang yang so much omg. if there weren't 5 episodes still ahead of me I would have starting cursing in this comment section already lmao.

I don't think so because the normal ending established that it was a script within a script already so nothing was actually eal. it could 100% pass censorship. so idk the rationale behind the postcredit. maybe they wanted a cute moment with the modern actor. I just found it nonsensical. so in my head it ended with the credits

I liked the ending very much before I realized there was a post credit scene that made no sense. choosing to ignore it completely...

NOW THIS IS WHAT I CALL AN ENDING!!!!
Loved every second of the last episodes.kept being engaging till the very end.

I think Jiang chang yang might just be my favorite ML EVER?
Like seriously, he is a dream partner. Chill, funny af, drop dead gorgeous and actually stands for something. most importantly he immensely respects FL.
Anyway, swoon worthy!

oh my bad! an oversight. I am very stupid

she is a delight to watch ! great comedic timing

I have trouble with these points because they center around the FL frame of mind NOT actions which could be controlled by script. The FL being a real human being with independant thoughts from script . and especially an awareness of the clichés in the genre making those choices.
My problem is that there is an inconsistency on which parts FL is aware about and which parts she isn't . and there is no explanation for that as of now. maybe there will be in the future.
and I fully agree with your conclusion though. ultimately, this will be about finally obtaining free will especially the ML who I believe will demonstrate that when we go to the chosing who dies scene.

Lol I know it's parody as I well stated it in my comment .
I'm saying it doesn't do that very well with certain points. cuz what I mentioned doesn't seem to be part of the inside joke with the audience.
The clichés of perfect ML , with a tragic backstory , love triangle, FL is literally AWARE of so many genre pitfalls and is walking the audience through it all like when she avoided falling into bed with ML. From episode 1 FL establishes a contract with the audience that she knows of the patterns of the romance genre and makes choices accordingly.
BUT She is oblivious to many plot devices for the sake of the story progressing and that's where I stop enjoying it because it's an inconsistency that makes the clichés not feel deliberate.
So for now , I am bothered by these points unless FL acknowledges the absurdity of it all later on.