Acrobit12

I think the term "chemistry" gets thrown around, but like everything else, it's acting. There are plenty of actors in the history of cinema that couldn't stand each other off-screen or had nothing in common IRL but still lit the screen on fire because they could act and the script called for it. I haven't watched anything with JX before but I know WXY can do chemistry (although yes, there are some famous actors that can't do chemistry to save their lives, but they can't do chemistry with anyone). I think both actors are doing enough to show people who love each other but... for whom their relationship isn't a priority right now. Besides the ML thinks he is going to die and needs to solve the case and clear his name. What are the characters supposed to do, throw themselves at each other? Besides, this is a 30-something episode c-drama not focused on romance, if anything happens before ep. 18, I would be surprised. So I am keeping an open mind and waiting to see if anything happens later in the story chemistry-wise. JMO, of course.

@PeachBae Haven't seen Love of Nirvana - heard it's really good but I probably won't watch it because of the BE. Nirvana in Fire is truly one of the best shows I have seen and I have seen many in three languages. But again, BE (well, it's not BE in a sense that the main character accomplished what he set out to do and could go in peace, sort of, but his life was stolen from him and that could not be undone).

@Megumi-H didn't they say that the massacre took place while the old emperor was still alive but very ill? Unless the current emperor was the crown prince or something, since he clearly new about it - MLs master tried to bring it up in the first episode but the emperor shut him up.

Ugh, yes, I can see a Nirvana in Fire type ending - serve revenge, clear his name and die.

Yep, I think this is where the story is going - that the ML is one of the child survivors and his master was at the massacre when he was a soldier and rescued him. I wouldn't be surprised if the Yesha mastermind is ultimately trying to drive him toward something drastic like overthrowing the government as an ultimate act of revenge.

Thank you!

Does anyone have a link to the novel in English? TIA

KMLM traumatized me too. I suffered through The Glory and in the end it wasn't worth it, but I learned from that and dropped The Princess Gambit halfway (I did watch the last 5 minutes of the last episode when it came out and it made me happy I dropped it). Yes, Blossom was good.

I heard it's good, it's on my list to watch when there is a drama drought.

I actually think the FL is just fine - as a tough cop chick she is great. That said, so far I am with those who say that the ML has more chemistry with the coroner guy and his assistant - but then, the romance is only a side plot in this story and from what little is shown the FL clearly does have feelings for the ML. "Chemistry" is in the plot - will just have to see how it develops.

Seriously, please no repeat of KLML, the Glory or Princess Gambit, enough is enough. And I am sorry, Nirvana in Fire this is not. I am sure there others I have forgotten (or was not aware of). Oh, right, Blossom.

@RayDPT, yep, Yang Yang is... not plain-looking ;).

Interesting, I thought it was a joke!

The Spirit Beast Mountain mole guy called Han Li "plain-looking" lol.

The last episode had a Hunger Games vibe. I kept waiting for the Panem anthem to play while Han Li was hiding inside that tree.

Isn't it kind of the point? Nice job by the make-up team.

He looked young/different enough that I wasn't sure. Whatever potion they gave him for those 1 1/2 episodes, I want some! ;)

That was Yang Yang? Wow, I thought for sure it was a younger actor (I actually thought finally a c-drama has a teenager that looks like a teenager;))!

It's interesting enough so far and not too gimmicky for someone like me who isn't much into xianxia. We'll see how it develops.

I thought this was a really good watch overall.

Must give a shout-out to the actor who played Prince Chang - I had no idea it was the same person that played Wei Xiao in TPOB, he carried himself so completely different, great job!

I am probably the only person who thought that the body count in the end was too high, especially compared to the novel. There was no reason for the harmless Crown Prince to die. JMO, of course.