Between The Lines

I agree, after an intriguing introduction to LTG, he went downhill pretty fast. I was expecting someone with at least some qualities on par with Ning, and yet he has fallen well short. It feels like a missed opportunity and is perhaps one of the few disappointments I have with this drama.
Any relationship with CY feels a little contrived at this point, but I'm ok with it. Perhaps because he has been relegated as a possible rival and is now a likely ally. As you said if we avoid further temper tantrum then it can oly be a good thing.

The fatality rate for Emperors from cough related illness is a serious problem! And yet here we have 2 Emperors and no coughs........ so disappointing!.... I guess I can still hope though....

I do wonder if LTG has multipole personality disorder? His 180 switches between child and grown up with completely different behaviour is starting to give me whiplash.

I also think I perhaps gave him more credit than he deserved based on early episodes. He obviously has his strengths, but the gap between him and Ning is significant. As Ning said, LTG is easily replaceable.
In the end LTG seems more like a pawn in Ning's game.

Then we have the two Emperors, or as i affectionally call them Jackass 1 and Jackass 2. This is one of the rare occasions that I would like a well used trope, Could they both start coughing? Could they both start coughing a little blood? Could we get a cough with sudden blood splatter? I'm not asking for much and they both deserve it......

Consistent storytelling and character behaviour is another element that I've enjoyed through this drama.

I personally don't like unexpected character changes, it's weak story telling. It's like suddenly giving Batman superpowers or sending the Hulk to anger management.

In this drama the characters remain true to who they are and this is reflective in their behaviour. Mo Qing Cheng is a giver, he naturally looks to help all those around him, in his relationships with Gu Sheng and his friends there are clear examples of this. He is always looking to make their lives better, even just by cooking a meal.
Gu Sheng has been sheltered all her life and that at times is reflective in her relationship with Mo Qing Cheng, but whilst she clearly admires him, she has recognised he is more than just a voice to be listened too. Her growth, is not profound but it is there in an understated way.

Consistent is not a very sexy word when describing a drama, but by remaining consistent in both storytelling and character, it's made me appreciate this feel good drama.

As you say the plot is valid, and whilst it is a simple storyline that's why I've enjoyed it. Misunderstanding are the basis of pretty much every drama I normally watch, so this is so refreshing because they don't create conflict unnecessarily. I understand it won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I feel slightly happier having watched each episode, so for me its a good drama.

For a drama that isn't breaking any new ground, that at its core is a simple boy meets girl story, I've found this a breath of fresh air.

Its's a drama that is more than the sum of its parts.

Maybe because most of the other drama's I tend to watch, have other elements to them, this drama feels just feels different.

It feels kind of innocent. Untouched by reality perhaps.

Indeed. It feels a little out of place in todays world. It feels slightly old fashioned, but in a good way.

The absence of drama in a drama sounds kind of stupid, but in this case its so refreshing. The focus on a developing relationship without misunderstandings or angst could be rather dull and yet they continue to deliver pleasantly honeyed moments seamlessly.
I didn't have huge expectation's going into this drama, but it has been a surprising delight and a welcome form of escapism from the daily grind.

It was always a stretch as to why/how the leads liked each other, apparently wrapping a scarf round a dog is enough for some people???? Really???
At this point the FL just continues to take and take from the relationship with everything seemingly on her terms.
The ML is not much better because he just accepts everything! Grow a pair dude!
If this was meant to be a funny, cute romantic comedy, could someone point out the funny and cute parts to me please?

I will give this drama some credit as its managed to fit in so many tropes and has avoided anything remotely original.

I hate dropping a drama, so I'll keep going to the end, but this is a bit of a mess...

Sometimes I just need a drama, where i don't have to think to much, where I'm not filled with angst over a stupid misunderstandings that would be solved with one honest conversation.

Thankfully, this drama has provided exactly that, the characters are likable and there's no unnecessary misunderstandings (so far).

So, I'll leave the thinking too much and the angst for another drama, because this drama is sweet and simple and that is just enough

I turn to left and I'm slapped in the face by a trope, I turn to the right and I'm kicked in the ass by a cliché....
Sometime tropes are ok, sometimes cliché work, here though its made more difficult by leads that are hard to route for. I see glimpse's of what they could be but its quickly covered over by a returning trope.
I'm clinging to the hope there will be better communication between them moving forward. Please!

The worst part of LGT behaviour today was that it dominated the episode. It overwhelmed the nicer parts. All I'm going to remember is his stupid, creepy mancave.....

Its amazing, how the character arc's of LTG and Yang Ying have completely swapped. LTG has regressed and his continued obsession makes a much more one dimensional character. The qualities that made him interesting at the beginning are now overridden by extreme attachment he holds for Ruyi. It makes him much weaker as a character.

Yang Ying has gone the opposite way, from a weak, naïve girl, she has grown into a real person who has started to develop her own strengths. Rather than being cargo to be delivered, she is now as much a part of the team as anyone. This makes her a much more interesting character.

I still have some hope they can save LTG character, maybe start by burning down his Ruyi cave, it's just creepy. All that was missing was a doll made from her hair......ugh!

I think one of the most surprising things I've enjoyed is Yu Shi San or more precisely Alen Fang, I've found him pretty forgettable in previous drama's, he's been kind of beige, he just blended in to the background.
Not this time though.
At time's in this drama he's been a scene steeler, he did a little dance in front of Ning a few episodes ago that just made me belly laugh!
He's a bit like this entire drama, an unexpected delight.

An excellent drama manages to make the smaller moments into big moments

An excellent drama manages to make the big moments into memorable ones.

When I can watch a drama and enjoy the small and big moments equally as much, then as a drama it enters into rare numbers for me. All I can ask is for more of the same....

You should! I honestly went from this 😭😭😭to this 😁😁😁and then finished with 😎😎😎.

If a drama is supposed to make you feel something, any kind of emotion, good or bad, then ep 21 did that for me. Watching Ruyi in the opening scenes was moving because of its simplicity and yet powerful imagery. She might be one of the most stoic, mentally strong characters that I can recall but watching her let out her emotions in such simple yet natural way, was powerful.

On the opposite end of the scale is the drama's ability to make me laugh. To then watch LTG suffer death by 1000 cuts was just hilarious, between Ning and the team they landed blow after blow. The fact the that Qian Zhao delivered the knock out punch just made it perfect. 1.2.3.4.5.6.7 was just funny.

Finally, just after LTG had recovered from the first knock out, Ning proceeded to deliver yet further punishment. What I loved about this, it was done with pure intelligence, this was reminding LTG that the gap between them is significant and that gap can't be narrowed just because LTG says so. I've said before that LTG has reminded me at times of a petulant child, today LTG metaphorically had his backside smacked and was then sent to his room.

For an episode that was low on action, I still loved it because it moved me, happy, sad, funny or serious it was simply just good.

Side Note. I'm liking the direction that LGT might be headed, Lets hope for less stupid obsession and more of what made him interesting in the earlier episodes.

Isn't time that actors should just be judged on their talent? Not to get all preachy but some of these actors spend years developing and honing their craft, and yet for some this is dismissed and they are just weighed and measured based on their looks alone. These actors are more than the sum of their face. Its sad some people judge talented individuals in such a superficial way. I wonder if these same people complain about other actors for being too good looking???

I'm loving this drama as well, and for anyone not watching because of issues overs Liu Yu Ning looks are missing out on something good.

I mentioned before that I didn't like the direction that Ling Tong Guang character has taken, and I still don't like the obsessive, possessive nature of his misguided feelings for Ruyi. His behaviour at times reminded me more of a petulant child who couldn't have his favourite toy.

Despite this, I also find him a mix of contradictions that make him interesting to watch. He has shown such a wide range of behaviours, both good and bad that he is never dull. Obsessive, cruel, loyal and brave were all on display to some degree in these episodes. He is the a man of contradictions that i actually quite like his screentime at some level.

TBH I'm not sure there's much more I can say about Ning & Ruyi, I can't recall many partnerships that show the best of what a relationship should be. Respect, honesty, support, equality and love. This is something I think should simply be appreciated for what they are. A true partnership.

Regardless, of what happens in the rest of this drama, Ruyi & Ning are one of my favourite drama couples. Its as simple as that for me.

I haven't had an issue with the low key moments/episodes so far, in part because they have helped set up the more impactful scenes/episodes. Cliché or tropes in C/Drama's are just a given, I'm just waiting for one of the Emperors to start coughing up blood! I'm perhaps higher on this drama because i didn't have huge expectations , and some of the drama's that i was really looking forward to haven't hit the heights i was hoping for. This drama has been a very pleasant surprise.