DramaAjumma

I liked the first half of Mask more than the second.

From what I read of the subs, Sun Jin seems male. A brother or father maybe?

No doubt about it.

I will definitely be watching this especially because 1) it's wuxia 2) Liu Shishi and Fang Yilun are in it. And it gives me Si Da Ming Pu vibes ie. The Four.

He's related to the artist Sun Jin who committed suicide. That's why he liked the painting so much. Wicked witch must have cheated him too.

Theory why Secretary Kim helping the leads...

If all makjangs were this good, I'd be watching more of them.
This has got to be the best in-law family I've ever come across in a makjang.

I want a spin-off with Zhang Zhe having his own murder mystery show in the vein of Under the Skin.

Sounds like a good summation of many a K and C drama.

I wish this was a better show. Conceptually it should be. The actors are fine but it's really the script that lacks cohesion and the various elements don't blend that well. I am continually reminded of a show that did this kind of thing better: Mystic Pop-Up Bar. The humour landed better and overall it was more heartwarming. Frankly I just don't see much content for 14 episodes in Moon.
The Three Kingdoms tragic romance is what hooks me in and keeps me watching. The chemistry is stronger there and the writing of that relationship has consistent pathos. I'm sad that all we saw of the wedding night was Ri-ta touching Do-ha's face.

A second chance story with a Life on Mars reveal is not inherently bad but the problem is that all the investment of the first 35 episodes is rendered more or less meaningless. This was the same issue with the K drama Reborn Rich. when they changed the ending. A transmigration or a reset story that's just an extended comatose hallucination is ultimately not going to satisfy very many people. In fact, in all likelihood the script will end up throwing up more question than providing any proper answers.

This had an interesting concept but could have been better if there were fewer episodes or if let's say the ideas of the last episode was developed over the last 4-5 episodes especially because the finale more or less reframes the entire narrative and the theme and really needed more development for the romance to come to a more satisfying conclusion. I don't know if the female protagonist was just not that well written or that she was always going to be an unlikeable character because of her inherent unshakeable narcissism. Or the fact that she felt like a plot device for the most part.

If it weren't for the last 9 episodes I think I may have liked NiF2 better for the family dynamic.

Yes. That's the one. Sorry about the mistake.
I also recommend an older one called Vigilantes in Masks or Guai Xia Yi Zhi Mei. That's with Shi Shi and Wallace Chung. It's a lot like the US TV show Leverage but set in the Ming dynasty about a bunch of outlaws who help the poor. There's a fair bit of scheming in that one too.

Edit: Must be my day for making mistakes -- Wallace Huo not Wallace Chung in Vigilantes in Masks

That's one of my favourites too.

Yes, absolutely. 100%

It's a reverse harem. Similar to Boys Over Flowers or Hana Yori Dango. A few guys who like the same woman.
Edit: Or Love Like the Galaxy

Nirvana in Fire is arguably the greatest C drama ever made. I've seen it back to back 5 times. It's definitely worth a watch. But it's long. I also recommend Love Lost in Time. Similar concept different storyline to Story of Kunning Palace. Smart FL and ML.

Zhang Linghe is really good in this. He's a real standout. Very impressive performance.
He's fortunate too that he gets to play a kind of Mei Changsu in a decent script.
And why not? If you're going to copy, copy from the best.

It's also one of my favourites. I did think they dragged out the last few episodes though. But it is one of the few C dramas that I've rewatched.