I'm sure Ruan ruan means to divorce Xizhou but really she comes across as child throwing a tantrum rather than an adult dealing with issues head on. Silent treatment is a terrible response to the situation. She's still so immature and has learnt nothing from this entire experience. There's realisation but no growth at all. I'm not unsympathetic to her point of view but she chose to marry Xizhou after going after him for years. She knows his backstory and why he's emotionally closed off. Yet she was fixated on him. Perhaps her mother spoiled her but her mother also warned her about marrying Xizhou. Bluster aside, her dad was wrong also for encouraging this union when he knew that it was a mismatch. Right now he's only concerned about losing face which isn't helping matters. He is right about one thing though -- choices have consequences and she's trying to dodge them. She's also unilaterally asking for divorce without trying to talk him into seeing her perspective.
I don't think the relationship is unsalvageable if both sides are willing to thrash it out and accommodate. But it will be fun to watch Xizhou jump through hoops this time to get the girl. It's only right that he has to work hard to win her back -- only then will he have skin in the game. The man needs to do this otherwise the woman will not feel secure ever.
The leads on the other hand are doing heaps better. They are both making the effort despite their hectic schedules. This is what commitment looks like and they're accommodating each other because they prioritize the relationship.
I know this is a soap opera but why do some of these women behave like they're living in the Qing dynasty indulging in harem politics still? I already have a hard time connecting to Zhizhi. Her mother has to come along and add fuel to the fire. This behind the scenes manipulation is getting tiresome. It's short-term thinking.
I agree with you, this novel is pretty much carbon copy of the novel, INCLUDING pacing. I've been told the novel…
As I said earlier, I don't mind the romance especially because the leads have got good chemistry but if I had to choose between romance and world building in a show like this, I prefer they work on world building. It's the same thing in a police procedural. If I had to pick between a tightly plotted intriguing mystery and a romance, no prizes guessing which one will win out. Again, romance isn't needed to humanise Ye Liuxi. Being with other people in the team and experiencing life and death moments with them can do that just as well. Or more efficiently.
Ultimately the issue rests on the writer's skill and how well they are able to combine the genres.
I agree with you, this novel is pretty much carbon copy of the novel, INCLUDING pacing. I've been told the novel…
I suspected that the show was just pretty much doing a scene by scene of the novel. It feels like it. Thanks for confirming it for me. :D
When I say the romance isn't necessary what I mean is that if there were no romance between Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi, it wouldn't make a single difference to their character arcs or to the plot itself. They could be a platonic duo and still achieve the same things together leading the team. In Bai Yu's previous drama with Yang Mi for instance, the romance is kind of important because it changes him and makes him a doctor with better bedside manners. Here the leads are already smart, strong, and they command other people's respect.
I really like the leads and I'm not just talking about the Cheng Yi and Zhang Yuxi chemistry. The way they are handling obstacles to their relationships and difficulties shows deep mutual commitment. They both seemed determined about staying together.
I'm sorry about Grandma but honestly there's no point in postponing the bad news. Sooner or later she has to find out about her condition. Ultimately too it is her choice too whether she accepts treatment. She may not want to because of her age. In fact in some countries, younger people who are put on the waiting list for transplants are prioritized over the elderly.
I suppose Ruanruan and Xizhou is meant to serve as a contrast. Two people who got into marriage IMO for all the wrong reasons. It's a trainwreck waiting to happen. They aren't really committed to the relationship because they come to it with so much baggage. Xizhou wants her dad's support. She's been after him all of her youth and adult life. It was the thrill of the chase and the prize she wanted. But now that she's got him, it feels like the shiny toy she's been wanting is not the prince she thought he was. She wants him essentially to be like what Fu Yunshen is to Zhu Jiu. Attentive, thoughtful and someone who prioritizes her fully. She wants him to be that guy but he isn't. She wanted him to change for her but he wouldn't because he didn't love her. Xizhou never had to do the hard work of pursuing her so he doesn't value her as much. He assumes (consciously or unconsciously) that she will stay with him no matter what because she has been on his case for years. She did all the heavy lifting. He has no emotional investment in their relationship because it was handed to him on a platter. For a relationship to work both parties need to be equally invested otherwise it will wither and die. He has no good role models. However, although Yunshen doesn't have good role models either, he learnt the right thing from the failure of his parents' marriage. When there's an imbalance in priorities and no emotional investment from one side, it usually ends in tears.
As someone who has watched much k-noir in my days, does this bring something new to the table (so far)? I am worried…
Unless you watch it, you're not going to know how you feel about it. For me at least the wife knowing the mob boss from their childhood days while the husband goes undercover seems like a different approach.
He likes her and is waiting for his opportunity incase things don't work out between Yushen and ZJ.
Don't disagree. That is just a sorry pathetic motive to be around a woman. To live in hope that something bad happens to her so you can step in and be her saviour.
I want to know what Dr Ji is doing back in Shanghai working in the same hospital as her. Is he trying his luck? Does she somehow remind him of his ex? It's rather stalkery to my mind the way he's always around.
I love Park Sung-hoon's detective character here. But there's no doubt that Yoon Kye-sang is putting in a fantastic performance. The show takes a turn for the better at the end of Episode 4.
I actually like the romance bit and don't find it detrimental to the plot or pacing. Their love for each other…
It's not to me about liking or disliking the romance. I like it although it isn't actually necessary to the big story but what the script does is slow down the narrative building in other areas. I just don't think the integration between the romance and the adventure side of things is as cohesive as it could be. The characters are interesting, the backdrop is certainly a selling point but all the moving parts feel like they're grinding towards something.
Commenters here are wondering why this show isn't as popular as it should be considering its unique premise and I'm offering a reason. What the show does is certainly interesting but it doesn't have broad appeal. Why is that despite the fact that the romance is such a key component? It has to be some aspect of the storytelling that's not working. The show is covering a lot of lore. A lot -- almost an entire history of a country but it takes 10 episodes for them to get to the other side after puzzling through where the gateway is. I realise they are only half hour episodes but it still feels really long.
At the end of the day we know that this is about them stretching things out to 40 episodes or thereabouts.
4 
I don't think the relationship is unsalvageable if both sides are willing to thrash it out and accommodate. But it will be fun to watch Xizhou jump through hoops this time to get the girl. It's only right that he has to work hard to win her back -- only then will he have skin in the game. The man needs to do this otherwise the woman will not feel secure ever.
The leads on the other hand are doing heaps better. They are both making the effort despite their hectic schedules. This is what commitment looks like and they're accommodating each other because they prioritize the relationship.
I know this is a soap opera but why do some of these women behave like they're living in the Qing dynasty indulging in harem politics still? I already have a hard time connecting to Zhizhi. Her mother has to come along and add fuel to the fire. This behind the scenes manipulation is getting tiresome. It's short-term thinking.
https://40somethingahjumma.substack.com/p/the-worst-of-evil-2023-first-impressions
https://40somethingahjumma.substack.com/p/my-dearest-2023-episodes-7-10
Ultimately the issue rests on the writer's skill and how well they are able to combine the genres.
When I say the romance isn't necessary what I mean is that if there were no romance between Chang Dong and Ye Liuxi, it wouldn't make a single difference to their character arcs or to the plot itself. They could be a platonic duo and still achieve the same things together leading the team. In Bai Yu's previous drama with Yang Mi for instance, the romance is kind of important because it changes him and makes him a doctor with better bedside manners. Here the leads are already smart, strong, and they command other people's respect.
I'm sorry about Grandma but honestly there's no point in postponing the bad news. Sooner or later she has to find out about her condition. Ultimately too it is her choice too whether she accepts treatment. She may not want to because of her age. In fact in some countries, younger people who are put on the waiting list for transplants are prioritized over the elderly.
I suppose Ruanruan and Xizhou is meant to serve as a contrast. Two people who got into marriage IMO for all the wrong reasons. It's a trainwreck waiting to happen. They aren't really committed to the relationship because they come to it with so much baggage. Xizhou wants her dad's support. She's been after him all of her youth and adult life. It was the thrill of the chase and the prize she wanted. But now that she's got him, it feels like the shiny toy she's been wanting is not the prince she thought he was. She wants him essentially to be like what Fu Yunshen is to Zhu Jiu. Attentive, thoughtful and someone who prioritizes her fully. She wants him to be that guy but he isn't. She wanted him to change for her but he wouldn't because he didn't love her. Xizhou never had to do the hard work of pursuing her so he doesn't value her as much. He assumes (consciously or unconsciously) that she will stay with him no matter what because she has been on his case for years. She did all the heavy lifting. He has no emotional investment in their relationship because it was handed to him on a platter. For a relationship to work both parties need to be equally invested otherwise it will wither and die. He has no good role models. However, although Yunshen doesn't have good role models either, he learnt the right thing from the failure of his parents' marriage. When there's an imbalance in priorities and no emotional investment from one side, it usually ends in tears.
For me at least the wife knowing the mob boss from their childhood days while the husband goes undercover seems like a different approach.
The show takes a turn for the better at the end of Episode 4.
Commenters here are wondering why this show isn't as popular as it should be considering its unique premise and I'm offering a reason. What the show does is certainly interesting but it doesn't have broad appeal. Why is that despite the fact that the romance is such a key component? It has to be some aspect of the storytelling that's not working. The show is covering a lot of lore. A lot -- almost an entire history of a country but it takes 10 episodes for them to get to the other side after puzzling through where the gateway is. I realise they are only half hour episodes but it still feels really long.
At the end of the day we know that this is about them stretching things out to 40 episodes or thereabouts.