Boadicea

I was waiting until I finished Ep. 22 but yeah, I think this is my least favorite Xu Kai CP. For reasons I've long since stated in other comments. Xu Kai is a good kisser, so it's something to watch when he does it 👀, but I'm not feeling the CP.

Which is okay, because thankfully, the drama isn't reliant on the romance and the plot doesn’t ride on it. If it was, like idol dramas and rom-coms, then I would have had an issue.

That's why I'm not really that annoyed by Feng Ling either. Certain people are acting out cause she's trying to "get in the way", but considering I'm not even attached to the CP, I don't feel any type of way about it, lmao. As long as she doesn't do anything that's going too far it should be fine, because then it's a question of her morals as a character.

I love Yun Qi's humblebragging. It gets stronger with each passing episode, lol. But it's good to see more of his defects despite the amount of good qualities he has. He publicly announced the disband of Penta-sect and that he's getting the Soul Pursuits to fish out other enemies but there's no way he didn’t also know it might cause some killing on the way. He's not as righteous as first perceived. Which is fine by me considering it was implied before and I actually want him flawed.

And by that, I mean that he said he can't control or dictate other people's actions and decisions, so it's on them rather than on him.

I'm sorry, who are you to tell me what to do? What, you're going to scold me on a free comment section?

Furthermore, you stated not to separate Asian and Western dramas, despite that they are, you know, different. But then go on to say not to put everything under the same bowl.

Based on the rankings I've seen, VLinkage, Yunhe, and at one point Maoyan, it's doing really well. Not at the veeeeeery top, but well.

It's faaar from a "flop", lmao.

Nah, you're not the only one. Although it's mostly been aimed at the ML's outfits.

This drama keeps getting better. I'm thoroughly entertained by everyone's distrust and attempts to one up each other. Especially now that the focus is mostly on Yun Qi. We had to get introduced to the characters, their backgrounds, their motivations, and what drives them first, as I have no doubt it will materialize in their actions in the future. Those expecting an idol drama or a quick fix or their usual dash of rom-com instead of a steady build up to a solid narrative, as it SHOULD be done in a story, are better off not being here. And I personally prefer it that way. If there is arrogance to believe that what isn't your preference means it's automatically "bad", it presents the level of mental maturity they are in. Worst if you haven't gotten past two episodes and can claim anything about it.

It's a different genre and one that Xu Kai took on that contrasts from his usual work, aiming at a section of an audience that's more...erm. Can't find the right word. Nevertheless, it's probably not for the type of followers or age ranges he's accumulated thus far with his previous dramas, which is, frankly, quite a risky move on his end. He's there with veteran actors and majority of them are older. Some I haven't seen before because they probably don't to xianxia or rom-coms or idol dramas. Even I wouldn't have dabbed into this genre if it wasn't for him. In a way, I'm not quite used to the tone with him in it.

I hope to see him take on more of this type of category. Not that I'm saying it's completely perfect (no, I'm not talking about CGI and other superfluous nonsense), but it's the first time I feel quality from a CDrama aside from Legally Romance. The acting is on point on multiple fronts other than Xu Kai himself. I was surprised to find the actress that plays Feng Ling a sort of newbie, she doesn't have much credits, but she's also doing well. And the drama is fun in its own way due to the bunch of knuckleheads knuckling, so it provides breathers. Now it's a matter of it handling itself well for the rest of the episodes.

With that said, Xu Kai looked hella gorgeous when he recently put on that white robe again for that scene. I had to pause to marvel at his face. It should be illegal. It's hard to focus on the feeling of the situation when I get hit by pretty. I'm caught up though 🤟.

You have to let users be.

There was nothing going on with the FL and ML the first few episodes. And even now, it's just starting to make progress. If they are not willing to watch and judge quickly, and are negative about it, it's their opinion. They more than likely didn't watch long enough.

Then there shouldn't be any more issues with my perspective.

I think by change, is that Feng Ling seems to be also following her brother's need for revenge. You can see it when she went to her second brother's "burial" and stated her piece. And when she spoke to YQ about waiting in the yard to be shot being the most humiliating moment in her life. Her brother is dismissed from his position, she feels it is her duty now to uphold the family. Among other things. I think it's Fatty Hu that needs to be concerned about her, lol. Maybe Her Ladyship, but that's too big a bridge for Feng Ling to cross.

All of this may or may not consume her. Which is what Yun Qi is most likely concerned about. They have the same goal, ultimately, that doesn't mean they have to go about it the same way.

Really? Because your focus is on who she likes and why, how she's supposedly "stressing" two male characters in the drama, etc. Why is it bad that she talks about a person of interest in front of He Biao or her brother? This has NOTHING to do with why the ML would not trust her. But there you are.

He can't read her, and that's fine, but her motives do not go against Yun Qi's at the moment. We've seen Feng Ling in private and in front of others.

Now, if something happens that goes against her finding the Kunlun Mountains or it puts her family in a risky position, then things may change. She's learned just how cruel the world is.

But whether or not Fen Ling, or Cui Yan Zhi or any other female existed in this drama, I still don't think the ML and FL fit where the story is now. They'll have their cute moments and all, that's to be expected, but I'm not convinced on the CP. And just because the FL has reasons to be how she is, that doesn't change the fact that she is how she is. I don't want to keep feeling like the ML is placating her and babysitting and pampering. What I need is for her to become strong in mind and evolve from thinking like a juvenile.

I don't need to read you defending her actions/behaviors with him or this CP. If anything, that's a telltale sign that they are not compatible and you need to convince other people of them due to not being on board. Let the drama do that by itself. They're going to end up together anyway via Asian drama rule, so you'll be satisfied regardless.

I'll be satisfied because there are more things going on in the story than those two being fed a romance and because I live for Yun Song and Yun Qi as characters. For them being tsunderes as well, which is what I've come to be interested in about in terms of Yun Qi's relationships in general at this point in time.

Loool. I have no problem with the FL. I just don't like her with the ML. That's all. Since when do those two things correlate?

I know you and SnowWhite are very pro-FL along with her pairing based on all your comments. Now you are questioning Fengling when she's been acting this way from the second she was introduced, but I guess now her behavior is an issue because she may or may not have an interest in the ML. Hmm. Mind you, there is zero motivation for her to betray Yun Qi considering they are after the same thing for the same goal -- give it to the country. He also wants to disband the sects. She lives in a nice house and has a career, has traveled abroad. Yun Qi presents no danger to her brother.

And sure, there is no general rule, but the FL is childish in the sense of a pre-teen. The drama hasn't shown anything aside from childhood attachment from six years ago that he apparently still has because...we don't know, it just IS, and that she's safe. Much like FL wanting to marry him because she wants a home so badly, that's not a good basis for a relationship. It's merely convenience.

And why must he follow them? You're not answering the actual question here.

There are rules that can be abolished and newly christined ones. Nothing is stopping Yun Qi from changing them except...no one.

Burial isn't that much a point of contention. Cremation is prevalent everywhere and every country has their own way to bury people. That's not an issue.

The whole Mound-digging females only being able to marry the Heaven Official or having to sacrifice mothers, along other similar stuf, THAT can be do away with. The sects already scattered and transitioned to other businesses with the shift of the times.

That's really all this CP relies on. Wu Shuang is too pure, so she's the only one that Yun Qi can trust 100% because she's easy to dissect. That, and childhood friends. She's simply safe. That doesn't make for a compelling pair.

Other than that, there's no real compatibility. I would understand why a woman would drop for Yun Qi, but beauty on the back burner, I can't say why a man would fall for a woman with a young mindset. At least Yun Qi's type. That's why I can't see it with the ML and FL. I don't get swayed by romance or a kiss because there is romance and a kiss. I need to buy that these two would genuinely be into each other if not ruled by the narrative.

Honestly, I wouldn't mind. She has a similar childishness to FL in terms of being spoiled, but she has a hidden, more cunning/smart side despite it and knows how to manipulate her brother, which is what I wish FL was. She's also ambitious, conscious, and has the independency to pursue her interests instead of complying with her brother on everything.

I have to accept the ML and FL as a CP because that's how it inevitably goes in Asian dramas (unlike the West). But I wouldn't have generally shipped them together if there was an option otherwise. They don't fit to me, but that's beating a dead horse.

Who knows.

I mean, Wu Shuang did ask her "if it were you, wouldn't you marry him?" and she's all..."well...not necessarily".

That's what I mean. Why does he have to continue doing them? Who's enforcing those regulations? He can get rid of them.

He's clearly sweet on her.

The question mark is her, lol.

A shower thought for me was that Yun Qi as Heaven Official can just revamp Penta-Sect while keeping intact its positive core values and abolishing the ancient traditions. Clearly these people are loyal to him or his title, they'll do as he says. And he's not doing anything bad.

Whose keeping these old age traditions alive anyway aside from geezer Zhou. All the members seem to be of the younger generation (oldest being on the late 30s range at most) and the sect leaders have vanished. It's a sensible transition as time changes. But he can continue to be a hot doctor too, works as well.

Also, a part of me wants the Kunlun Mountains to not be treasures and where the "fantasy" bit comes in, lol. All that greed for no valuables.

I just don't know where these people come, state something, and do not provide sources. I've seen ranks and it's either in Top 5 or Top 3. If that's not what I'm supposed to be looking at, then where did their unnecessary comment come from?

What, did that info come out of their butts?

I was looking at the numbers and it seems to continuously be in Top 5?

That's why I don't take MDL seriously.

Per episode basis, fine. But a full evaluation should be blocked until the drama finishes airing.