Da-mimi

I watched few episodes of 'the ideal city, there is one common theme running in both "the ideal city and "A better life" -

if someone wishes to live 'idealistically" or "pure" (or live as a leech) untainted by corruption of the society , some one else close to them has to do the heavy lifting.

In "the ideal city" FL's fiance says this dialogue to her before she breaks up with him , saying she is able to be pure and innocent because he is bearing the burden , and in this drama , that's the underlying theme, since her conflict hating/stupid/heavy-lifting hating leech of a husband survived because he was hiding behind her , and Xiao Zhou was drowning(though Wu Ya did support this idiot to some extent) ,since no one was supporting his idiotic noble nature life like Man Li was doing for her husband , till she took him under her wing

True. Given Lu family's lack of social status and Jian family 's (her own family's) alleged connection with bandits , the chances of her getting married into a Duke's family with close family relations with Royal family is almost nil. if she gets married , it would be only if SML goes all out in insisting in marrying her . If his family accepts his request, they would only accept her as concubine and not as main wife. Given FL nature - smart , independent and free natured , would she accept to marry as concubine? Even if she does, assuming she falls deeply in love with SML , would she be subservient to SML family and to the main wife ,when main wife arrives.

Any veteran chinese drama watcher (period dramas) would know how such a marriage would end. Also, we have all seen how SML's uncle prince Rui had put in so much effort to investigate if his fiancée had any issues in her virtue . Given SML is the only son and from that same family, would his family not investigate her entire past.

Even i am shipping SML more than ML at this point , but SML marrying FL is impossible given the nature of soceity in those days. its just his wishful thinking, which will never come to fruitify instead it would put her in danger if his family comes to know of his affection for her.

i have watched only ep23/24 trailers , and comment is based on that , sorry if it sounded misleading. in one of the snippets i watched both Ex husband and Xiao Zhou are vying to contribute when Man Li;s father is hospitalized. the way XZ was competiting didnt seem innoculous , more like someone fighting for Man Li;s attention in competion with Ex Husband..lets see if that is correct when the episodes release

too many actors to my liking! sigh.. wont know whom to ship ..

yes yes... am really looking forward for it. I'm curious if the writers who have woven such a fabulous drama for us have it in them to weave a romance between such disparate characters in a convincing manner .. what a fun it would be to watch ! such brilliance from these writers , am eagerly waiting to see if it happens..

i think xiao zhou has enough reasons by now (esp 23/24) to start falling for her given the way she has cared for him when he is at his lowest and fight for him in the case of Ai Liang Jiang and Tang Ling ... she fought like a tigress on his behalf.. We all need such a person (like Man Li) in our lives .. how can he not fall for her ...

The real trick is to make Man Li fall for him... i would think she is too matured to fall for an younger immatured guy .. this is where am watching how writers will make it convincing... if they convince me , i will watch all their works till now .. :):)

hollywood is not what it used to be, its better she work in kdramas or K movies for better roles and quality output

this drama deserves much higher rating !

i took me some time warming up to Sun Li as well. but i totally love her performance now

True! there is so much to learn from this series , esp from Man li and Wu Ya. I really love Wu Ya listened to her parents and broke up with Xiao Zhou. It might come across as a very cold decision , It is apparent she had internal conflict with her own decision but realises she needs to make that decision , this is where Man Li lost 10+ years of her life spent on an ungrateful person , the only positive outcome of that bad decision is her Son. what a wonderful son she raised.
In a later episode Man Li reflects on similarities between her and Wu Ya's life trajectory (similarities between her ex husband and Xiao Zhou) and remembers Wu Ya's words on why she broke up with Xiao Zhou)

it would be interesting to watch if Xiao Zhou learns from Man Li on how to lead a better life ..

thanks for the recommendations , will checkout

actually am enjoying the drama. not original story line - but there is something charming about the drama. not a bad drama to watch.

Not a fan of lu yu xiao. I didn't like her in 'My Journey to you' , and couldn't appreciate her as a main lead in perfect match and dropped the drama . for some reason I thought she had a body language of antogonist and not main female lead. but she won me over with this drama. am enjoying her as main lead for the 1st time..

hmm.. interesting start to the drama ... definetely made me go immediately to ep2 .. what the FL's father has done is outrageous, and every reason for ML to misunderstand FL but ML could have explained whatever he wanted to say more politely given their background , and not with disgust ..., I hate what her father attempted , nevertheless i feel very bad for her. .. such a beautiful , talented girl , and smart enough to know she shouldn't force anyone to do anything against their wishes..at this point am Team FL

Man Li is the medicine that Xiao Zhou needs to make him wiser.. if he learns .. Her husband didnt learn anything , though .. and instead started hating on her and her capability . Hope Xiao Zhou turns better

Man Li does more than people deserve for people she considers her own. still she is considered domineering and arrogant by the very people benefitting her. I think her and Wu Ya are similar where it comes to their loved ones , its just Wu Ya's parents made her see reason and got her off the opium called Xiao Zhou. She did all she could for Xiao Zhou, and if he were trying not to self sabotage himself and others and carried himself more wisely , she could have supported him/ but he is too much a noble idealistic idiot that it was pretty much sure he would have dragged her down and some day when she took matters into her hands to better their lives , am sure he would called her domineering and arrogant just like Man Li's ex husband did.. WY and XZ's life trajectory was going same way as Manli and her Ex's .. good that her parents saved her

hmm.. this is the first Sun li drama am watching .... saw few snippets of her dramas here and there , but this one totally captivated me . She is such a brilliant actress - will watch her The Ideal City now..

i dont know but it would be interesting if the writers take the romance route. they have to be very creative to make 2 very different people -who dont match in any way to fall in love , and to convince the audience of its genuinity , .. that would be fun if they could accomplish it..

i didnt think i will like this show. but this will remain one of my favorite shows that I will watch again and again - for sun li... what an actress

xiao zhou seems equally bad , atleast till ep16- no appreciation of her talent , or see that underneath all that supposed arrogant personality lies a warm person who deeply cares about people she meets , even if they are relatives of her scum bag ex . wonder why her niceness is not evident to her colleagues , ex or xiao zhou

Man li is really a super woman - with no great academic credentials , but to rise in such a competitive field , and ace it , what a talented woman!- am surprised there are not enough people on the show who are appreciating her talent or success - her son and father are the only ones who are her genuine admirers . Her Ex , though a doctorate , may have reached pinnacle in his area of study and a rising star in his field , netherthe less he is nothing before her.. if thrown in a desert , she will make kimchi out of cactus and not just survive but create an oasis for people around her. Her ex, will just wither , wont survive even if left near an oasis..