VaticVulpine

That's what makes a hobby a hobby versus an unhealthy obsession: it doesn't intrude into yours or another's life. Wasting your own life to try to obsess on another complete stranger's is Yike-- if youre 13 and obsessed over a boy band, that's one thing. But full grown adults? Please. But it's not much different than the gossip columns or shitty hollywood rumor mags. There's a market for it and while its died comparatively in the States, it's Big Bucks for Asian Drama, particularly SK. Kudos for the marketing, less brownie points for encouraging bad mental health practices.

Replying here because I wanna know, too. Damn.

You mean like classic fluff-slaps that are rife within asian drama? Or do you mean proper forceful slaps meant to physically damage? Big difference. The former is a given in much of romantic asian drama's-- basically depicts inherent childish tendencies (esp in regards to puppy love versus mature love) and when those actions drop away its a visual cue that the FL has matured in her romance. It isnt a brilliant choice, but it is what it is.

You're a gem, thanks!

Also: big thank you for the clarification in your OG, I was a bit confused between "legends" and "romance" to know which was first in the trilogy...so many adaptions, indeed. Which I hope means the adapted content is good to begin with.

Gonna be 'That Person' and ask which you recommend highest for good plot and romance?

Thank you! Skipping this

Thanks, now I know to skip it if it has such little compelling content.

woof

waiting for their noodles to cool

As far as Palace Drama's and Harem Drama's go this is definitely one of the best ones out there, considering the difficult setting (historical, deeply engrained misogyny and the rooted and all encompassing pains of classism). However, aside from all that, we are given a strong FL in Yinglou that we can continually root for, no matter the depths of her schemes, because the audience can understand the subtext of her hidden and very warm and loyal heart. And as strong and intelligent she is, she is ignorant and flawed in her ability to really know her own emotions: she can read most everyone around her, but hardly her own self: she lives to burn herself alive for others, and is propelled to action by a need to protect the few that have given her unconditional love-- love earned, too. I have written a few general notes as I've been watching it this past week in my TBD list if you want to see some comments on it. By far the strengths of the show is the cinematography, understanding when to switch settings to avoid killing the audience in boredom, how lovely the sets are (why I miss the embroidery workshop so much, I'll never know), and the FL. I'm about 10 episodes from ending, but I was made to believe its a happy ending (as far as being a slave in the Forbidden Palace's Imperial Harem, that is).

flashbacks is actually often good narrative, it's only bad if it's not done well. CDrama suffers in general from poor transitions, which make scene cuts not only awful, but confusing as you described. And if they're bad at that, the likelihood of knowing when and how to use narrative devices is probably devoid as well, so you get a pile of hot garbage. -- Gotta defend art (not against your opinion by any means,.)

Thanks so much for getting back to me! I prefer more mature romances, if it's well acted you don't need fluff scenes, I just want those well acted scenes and subtext. I'll have to give this one a shot then. Thanks again. (:

Was sad to find it doesn't have romance. ): I need the relief during such long ep counts. Womp.

Even when its on netflix, no matter the VPN, I can never watch any of the damn shows. ): Streaming services have caught on and it pains me. But Youtube and Viki are your go-to's, my dude.

I hope you're right because Im gonna give this a go due to your comment. I'm all about the journey seeing as history is tragic in and of itself and one can only take the good with the bad. I just need proper chemistry and TENSION, I want to feel things, I want a purpose to drive me through a fucking slog. I want real romance because a real connection is felt, not necessarily heard. w00f. Also, sass and spice is definitely my go-to's for being 27, but I quite like your use of "flounce," why can that come back? :P

^ this

I've got a penchant for historical shows no matter the country of origin, but I definitely enjoy romance and need it to be there for relief purposes-- particularly, believable romance that encourages you to care and follow through. I'm aware its unfortunately a tragic romance (if only we got more realistic romantic portrayals with their lives left intact at the end)-- I just wanna know if there is enough romance and FL/ML character development to make the slog and inevitable knife in my heart worth it. Would you recommend the show to someone like me? Thanks :')

Romance is literally listed in it's genre tags. I really do not get folks. It's. Literally. Right. There. Woe is me.

I'm not sure how similar it is plot wise by any means, as I just started, but "The Wolf Princess" rides that similar line of, "this story could be considered important, if not for how fluffy it's told." I'm only on episode 2, but it's on Youtube with subs, so I'd give it a shot if you have the time. The biggest difference is that it's fantasy.