SerenityShimikaBlack

Lol Yicheng is such a flawed and ineffective villain. She is the mastermind of a lot of terrible things and it feels like they were trying to build her up to the final villain in the story but maybe it is the actress' acting or just the way the character is written she just doesn't deliver enough of that charismatic presence of a villainess. The endings lack of a climax is very much in part due to this shortage in her villainy and not terribly good screenwriting.

I think it's not just the supporting characters acting, but the lack of fleshing out of their characters in the script that keeps them rather 2 dimensional, instead of catapulting them to 3D. I personally found She'er acting to be relatively on point. But She'er's scenes with Mimi, did unfortunately feel a bit forced and contrived. I don't think the actors for She'er was completely able to immerse himself in the role of harassing love sick She'er. Also Mimi and Mujin, just didn't live up to our other fabulous characters, their acting in some scenes always felt a bit off for some reason to me.

I start watching it awhile ago, but have not gone back to finish it. I love criminal investigative/detective shows. I got to like episode 14 or 15, so past half way lol. I might go back and pick it up in the future as I didn't realise until you mentioned it that Li Xian is the 2nd ml detective. I liked it overall but Li Xian's performance in their wasn't as memorable to me as Zhang Rou Yun. I really like Zhao Rouyun's acting as well. Loved him in Joy of Life and looking forward to his role in the Fated General!

Did they time him?!!!!! XD That would have been a nice behind the scenes moment to see

Goodbye my princess' ending was so well written though and lol really not the directors fault as the books ended the same. I don't think there was anyway really out of her dying for country and love.

'total dipstick who came up with the idea of fire rescue scene' good one Noway! XD Truly the worst directing and production of a scene in drama I have seen in a long time

Li Xian was epic in Tientsin Mystics, this is why I keep hesitating to watch the 2nd season... I've seen him in Go go squid, which I dropped cause of the FL's characterisation and cliched subpar plot, so didn't really have much of a positive perception of him. Thankfully was hugely and pleasantly surprised by his character and performance in Tientsin Mystics. I hope he gets more interesting parts in the future.

The trope genre is unfortunately not to my taste at all either. :/ I get the appeal of a mature man, but it's going a bit too fair when the prospective partner's age is that of a child in comparison. Also doesn't help when the prospective partner just doesn't live up to being the mature man's equal. It's a rather highly unbalanced and uncomfortable relationship dynamic to watch.
If you like cool female leads, that you might like to watch Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo. It has a somewhat similar plot line and has some nice comedy too. Apparently it's getting a Chinese remake called So It's You.

I'll have to try it for sure then. Although no promises as my obsession with historical dramas might sidetrack me a bit :)

Also Princess Yicheng's obsession with restoring the Sui Dynasty is tied to her inferiority complex as her princess title is a political manoeuvre to fulfil the requirements of a marriage alliance. She needs the Sui Dynasty to validate her existence and power her role as the Khatun; without the Sui backing her she becomes nothing more than another woman and relic of a past dynasty to be down trodden on and forgotten. Coming out of being married off at a young age and passed around from husband to husband, she seeks power as a measure of control over her life and by extension the future of her son as the Khan.

Lol it's always the quiet ones that you have to watch out for. XD The actor that plays Shuyu has such a different personality from his character. I hope to see him in some good projects in the future that are less wimpy and lacking resolve.
The KHAN!!! *slay my heart* the man knows how to dance ;)

Quick thinking there for LYN! Also why did the presented have to ask such a dumb question, truly unnecessary. These people need to start asking more in-depth and interesting questions than just fan servicing.

I don't think he really liked Leyan at the start, especially since she was terrified of him. I believe Haodu only really begins to like Leyan when he gets to know her as a person and not just the girl from that circle of friends. At first, he might have felt something because she was a woman that he was ordered by imperial decree to protect and is beautiful. His protective instincts were engaged out of both duty and attraction. However, his true love for her is a much less instantaneous progression as it is once he sees the enormous change in the strength/maturity of her character and her struggles to be a better princess of Tang after the tragedies and bitter realities she's faced that he begins to fall for her really badly. Admittedly we don't have a lot of screen time between the two, so a lot of the relationship development between the two over time is condensed into only the few scenes shown.

Nirvana in Fire is my #1 favourite drama! <3 Joy of Life is also a really good one. I'm waiting for season 2 as well. You have really similar tastes to me. You could also maybe try Tientsin Mystic (2017) and its 2nd season (Although the actor that plays the ML is changed, I have heard it is still really good.). It's also a rather well written storyline with excellent acting.

Yicheng is a princess based on the fact that she was a distant relative of the imperial family and designated to form a marriage alliance with the Turks. The Xiao Empress was the last Sui Emperor's wife and the Crown Prince is the grandson of both the last Sui Emperor and Xiao Empress' bloodline. Xiao Empress historically never tried to rebel against the Tangs and is well known for being intelligent and benevolent. Here in the drama she is portray is just wanting to peacefully raise her grandson and not be involved in court politics. The plot to topple the Tang Dynasty is a mechanism created purely by YiCheng, thus she held them hostage as pawns in her grand scheme against their will.

Haha I remember fast forwarding in a great many scenes in the King's Women just to get past all the toxicity, but I absolutely loved how the wrapped up everything in the end. I stuck with it cause I rather liked the chemistry between Dilraba and Vin Zhang. I also dropped Sweet Dreams too. It was way too sugary sweet for me! I have heard Love Designer is good, but haven't felt the urge to watch it cause I don't like modern dramas as much. Also my mourning for TLB has made me numb towards starting other dramas lately. TLB is truly a good start to Dilraba's new chapter in her career. I'm certainly excited to see where things will lead for her. :)

I have promised myself as a reward to rewatch TLB after all assignments and exams are over.

LOL the action in that scene was terribly reminiscent of LOTR and the Hobbit, especially with the camera view from above following Shiba and XF all over the place

Yes I did! Thanks for asking. Now I just have one more paper due in the coming week and two exams. My thesis is hanging over me like a shadow of ill omen. -_- *too tired to even cry*

I just got tired of seeing the same cliched and stereotyped innocent, naive, bubbly girl romance storyline. She also has done much of the same type of roles in pervious dramas that I just couldn't make myself watch her in Flame Daughter. Also didn't watch her in Eternal Love of Dream. I quite liked her in the King's Woman even though the relationship was toxic.
Lol one of my friends said she couldn't get into Flame Daughter cause the ML's hairstyle was terrible