HardTruth

"So who do you think you are to try and police people’s voices here just because you don’t like their opinion? This isn't your bedroom or private chat box. It's a PUBLIC FORUM'"

I cannot believe you wrote all that load of nonsense when I have effin spelled it out here. Your attempt at acting smart ended up embarrassing yourself. Learn to READ lmao

But it's also entirely reasonable/possible for people to feel uneasy about a much younger actress being paired with someone 15+ years older. Personally I don't care about agegaps in my shows at all but that doesn't have to be the case for everyone else? Add to that it's an actor with a past sexual assault case. yes, he was cleared later but in a country where misogyny runs deep, how the justice system often shields powerful men & predators frequently walk free with much lesser punishments while victims are known to get the raw deal, feeling discomfort over this romance angle is more than understandable unless you are some hardcore fanatic of a celeb. If any of that doesn't bother you, you are free to post swooning comments about your 'Ahjussi's romance' all you want. No one here is stopping you from doing that, right? Then why do you ask the critics to stop posting their views? That's glaring hypocrisy which you don't seem to realize yourself with that condescending tone you just used.

So who do you think you are to try and police people’s voices here just because you don’t like their opinion about the show or plot or a lead? This isn't your bedroom or private chat box. It's a public forum. I mean if something is bothering about the show they are watching, they are LITERALLY free to post that here just like how you are free to post what makes you enjoy it. That's what this forum is for. If you have valid counter arguments, feel free to post that to have a civil convo instead of asking them to suppress their thoughts altogether.

I cannot believe I have to spell it out loud for you all who keep asking people to shut up for simply voicing their displeasures. This forum isn't meant to post ONLY raving praises about your favorites. Get a grip.

Fair enough

Like i said, I genuinely detest passive aggressive tones way more than straight up aggressive ones. Yours felt like one. I apologize if i have got that wrong taking your word for it. Cheers

I choose to believe you then. I have seen plenty of passive aggressive dismissive tone comments like that here. So I will take your word for it. cheers & have a good day.

Coz it was.. I am always game for all serious discussions but I will never appreciate a dismissive tone from anybody here. lol

I hate it when people start their convos in a dismissive, superior tone. Simple. If you had been more polite in your original reply, this could have been a good discussion. Hope that's clear too

It's not just 'some' as in a cherry picking numbers. The link I gave you in the other comment literally proves there's a reasonable section who thinks that way & that's what I mentioned. This was there even before the drama aired. Your comment was as if there were literally no criticisms like that at all & as if my comment was entirely fabricated. The underlying tone warranted that reply. Sorry

Lol, in your own words, I’ll give you a candy if you can point to a single comment of mine where I said the negative consensus about his looks was “in masse.” My original comment, the one you replied to, literally starts with “a section of viewers" 😂

Stop playing innocent, bruv. I’ve seen enough people here in MDL like you to know exactly the intention behind a comment like that & understand the tone intended. We both know what you tried to do here.

Since you’ve been harping on about “source,” here’s just one for sample: a post (link below) where the SML is overwhelmingly praised over the ML especially for looks. Check how many likes the comments bashing the ML’s appearance are pulling in & there are many more like it on all of xhs, douyin, weibo etc. Next time, if you’re actually curious, learn to word your comment more politely instead of acting like the other person is making up some narrative & dismissive about it. Cheers, goodbye.

http://xhslink.com/m/9NZ7PyqXBeb

When you reply with “Where do you see the criticism about his looks and acting skills?” after I’ve already explained it’s from a section of viewers, it reads less like genuine curiosity & more like disbelief as if you’re implying I’m making it up unless I “show receipts.” That’s why I said your tone came off borderline condescending. You didn’t acknowledge what I said, you dismissed it by listing every other type of criticism you’ve seen except the one I mentioned which indirectly frames it as non-existent. If you want sources, I can share them but it’s the way it was worded that gives that tone & I don't like entertaining such people. Hope I have made it clear.

Another user literally confirms the same above here. Would that satisfy you or you would still claim that you want to see actual posts before believing? It's literally facts that Ryan received plenty of criticisms before & after airing for his looks. There are many posts on XHS and DY attesting for this.. Even weibo. Your tone was deffo dismissive in a way to try & act like you have seen nothing of that sort insinuating as if the other person is lying. Do better or word better.

https://kisskh.at/754387-legend-of-the-female-general#comment-23009978

Why are you so aggressive lmao? So you will believe it if I link some posts? Lol, what would I gain by lying weirdo. I will share it if that stops you from acting like a doofus here.

I’ve seen it myself on DY & XHS , even weibo where comments criticizing his looks getting plenty of likes as agreement. Just yesterday, I even saw a post questioning what connections he must have to land the ML role in this project where people were agreeing about MJTY popularity is the only reason & not his acting. And for the record, I’d already said it’s only a section of viewers, not some overwhelmingly negative consensus. Your borderline condescending or dismissive tone, as if I’m making this up, is unnecessary. I gain nothing by lying about it.

Maybe it’s the styling or the makeup, I guess?? coz if you see him in modern outfits or even at the promo event he attended, he’s actually an extremely handsome man & it’s not like the criticism is overwhelmingly one way tho.. like I said before, it seems to be a section of viewers , likely novel readers, who imagined their ML in a certain way and felt disappointed with what they saw on screen. But I see some truth reg makeup or styling.. I think they could have done a better job with his styling regardless.. Par for the course I guess.

Just to be clear wrt my original question, Chu zhao indeed liked the FL genuinely & his feelings for her was real. And he was sure FL won't get implicated by exposing her identity infront of the emperor as part of his scheme to take out ML which he didn't expect to backfire. Did I get this right?

Yeah, I understood it now. Also as you said, the emperor already knew from ML about her being a woman before this situation right? That chu zhao plan backfiring would be so cool to watch on screen haha. Thanks a lot :)

Sorry, I deleted my previous comment coz I misread. I understood the plot now. Thank you.

That's crazy. Now I am so eager to watch this unfold on TV haha. Thank you :)

The drama is very popular but I’ve noticed two main points of criticism in many forums. One is from a section of viewers who are very unhappy with the ML criticizing his looks and acting (This shocked me coz I wonder what's their yardstick for good looking??? There is narrative that the SML playing Chu zhao & FL's villain brother are better looking than ML. I don't get it coz cheng lei is very good looking for me. But his acting is indeed average or below average, so that I can accept coz I feel he is just too stiff).

The other is from novel readers who are disappointed with the details of adaptation which we have seen here as well. However, speaking purely from a drama-only perspective, it's indeed extremely popular. It was a very anticipated drama & having Zhou ye as FL is also hard carrying the popularity tbh.