DramaAjumma

I'm talking about Episode 31 specifically because that was when Cang Xuan really clinched it with regard to the Fenglong and his sister. Jing can make the intro but if Cang Xuan can't command the loyalty and respect of his supporters, he's a dud.

It's a good point because Fenglong had to be won over as well and that was all on Cang Xuan. Jing did make the introduction but in the end, it was Cang Xuan who gained his loyalty by his own merits.

That's true.

I was absolutely blown away by Cang Xuan in Episode 31. I loved his monologue about the necessity of sticking to his principles about where his desire for power comes from. I nodded and cheered. He also loves Xiao Yao and is willing to do what is necessary to protect her and himself. At least he's a man who can see the wood for the trees. He is definitely a leader in the making.

From what I can see (and how the show is framed) the only reason why Xiao Yao and Tushan Jing can have their romance is because other people are doing most of the heavy lifting shielding them from the consequences of their indiscretions. Some people have to make the hard decisions so that other people can be "happy". She complains that Cang Xuan is calculating and Xiang Liu is terrifying but they at least live in the "real world". Often times I find Xiao Yao's naivete a bit hard to swallow. I think I liked her better when she was in Qiushui Town where she was less starry-eyed and more grounded.

I think many viewers sense the unfairness in all of this. But life is often unfair.

No. I haven't. :D Because I've really warmed up to Cang Xuan of late so I'm persisting to see how his arc turns out. I was just about to write a bit of spiel regarding Episode 31.

I really like this show and if it weren't for the romance I'd be giving it 9.5/10. As it is, I'd probably end up rating it as an 8.5.

I like my historical-political dramas to be serious, somewhat tragic and melancholic. The main romance here doesn't reflect the actual context and stakes.

Doesn't look like Tushan Jing can give her that either.

It's a glitch in The Matrix.

It's common sense, I know.

26 episodes later...
In recent days I've garnered quite a bit of respect for Cang Xuan as he navigates the shark-infested waters of palace politics playing the long game at great cost to himself. Although Xiang Liu is my favourite character in the story, Cang Xuan is rightly the male lead. At least he should be. And if there were some modicum of consistency with the setting and context, Cang Xuan should be the endgame with Xiao Yao. I've never disliked him and I'm really looking forward to seeing him take control of the Central Plains because that is in part his inheritance. I really like his dynamic with Xiao Yao. It's not entirely a sibling vibe either. They're so wonderfully supportive of each other and in another show she would quite rightly be ruling beside him.

I think part of the problem I'm having with Xiao Yao is that I don't entirely believe everything that comes out of her mouth the way other viewers seem to. I'm not convinced that she believes everything that she says either. Often it comes across as reactionary. Or even tongue-in-cheek. I'm not persuaded that she's averse to being in the thick of things considering how she's put herself in harm's way for Cang Xuan and Xiang Liu. She's drawn to danger and that's been the case practically from Day 1. Often she makes things far more complicated for herself by choice, getting embroiled in things she really doesn't need to.

All the issues I'm having with Tushan Jing are practically the same that I had with A'Yao from Love Like the Galaxy. A'Yao though dull was at least harmless. And his engagement with the other woman had already been cancelled. In my very humble opinion Tushan Jing should never have opened his mouth until he had taken care of things with Fangfei Yiying. He was far more confident than he should have been about how to disentangle himself from her. I keep wondering why he hasn't even thought about looking into her more closely and trying to find a weakness. My mind goes to Edward Ferrars from Sense and Sensibility, and Tushan Jing comes up short. In a way Tushan Jing is a very dangerous person by the fact that he is such a puppy in such a cutthroat environment. He's trying to keep his hands clean and play Mr Nice Guy as a result there are consequences for him and Xiao Yao. Frankly if she wasn't so susceptible to sweet nothings, she should have stayed clear of him.

Of course it is very flattering for a woman to hear that a man is completely devoted to her especially if she's felt abandoned and alone for so long. I understand that perfectly. That and all the character dynamics. I guess I'm just a tad disappointed that the romantic pairing is so hard to root for.

I think it's in part a reactionary consequence of MeToo. I don't mind it occasionally but it does seem to be turning into a trope. When I first saw it in a K drama it was rather cute and it worked for that show. But a show with gods, monsters and tribal politics... I can't get into it.

I think he's quite an interesting character. At least he has something he wants to achieve. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong about wanting to be king.

I was just thinking the other day how much this show reminds me of Scarlet Heart and it makes perfect sense to discover finally that it's the same writer :D There's no denying her talent for writing complex male leads and tug at the heartstrings. I can't complain. Between her and Tan Jianci, they make me weep for Xiang Liu. I used to think it's mostly the writing but now that I see Tan Jianci as Fangfei Bei, it's obvious that the magnetism exuded by the character is in large part the actor. The role was superbly cast and superbly acted. I hope this show catapults him into stardom if it hasn't already because a person can't be this ridiculously talented and still be under most people's radar.

There's a part of me that wishes the romance wasn't such a big part of this show. So that even if I didn't root for the endgame, it wouldn't matter. But in this case it does. At the end of the day it's Xiao Yao's choice. As it so happens I don't agree with it. Not because I think one guy is more worthy than another. Or more fascinating for that matter. I just don't think it's right to ask a man to give up everything for a woman. In reality relationships don't work that way. It also diminishes the man. This is why in the end, she's a time travelling self-insert. A long term relationship comprises of two people learning to accommodate each other. I can see Tushan Jing working hard to support Cang Xuan for her sake but what does he want for himself? Just her? But there's no man even in our time who doesn't have aspirations of his own outside of the woman he loves. It's a beautiful lie but a lie nonetheless. Unfortunately I can't buy into it. Psychologically I know where all this comes from... this fear of abandonment... but I'm genuinely sorry I cannot go along with it because it would make watching this a lot easier.

That said, I love this show. Not as much as Love Like the Galaxy but I wouldn't want to live on the difference.

Sure. I'm not doubting that. I get all of that. That's not my point or that of this thread. The point is that we are all struggling to get behind the endgame, so to speak.

Love her headpiece during her conferment. Dress... is so-so.

That's how it looks like to me. How boring...

Ugh. So many spoilt rich girls in this show. One degree of insufferability to another.
Something's seriously wrong in their upbringing.

Hallelujah. I feel like I'm among friends here.
Tushan Jing is oddly out of place in a show like this. Where is the agenda? Where is the ambition? Where is the cunning? He's a fox for crying out loud. He feels so much to me like a fanfic insert of a 21st century puppy boyfriend. "I won't leave" "I'll always be by your side" don't cut it.

Ah... Police Academy Oppa scored big time. Finally.

Thanks. I guess you're telling me not to stop now.

The show is really an entirely different beast without Xiang Liu. Now that I'm in Haolin and he's hardly in it, I feel rather apathetic to almost everything. Although I'm keen to see how Cang Xuan goes about taking power. I can't help but think that the writer poured a whole lot of love into Xiang Liu. He's not just a fleshed out tragic figure torn between loves but the way he services the narrative as a whole. He complicates matters for Xiao Yao and the story. He's an antagonist and an occasional ally. He is well written and of course brilliantly brought to life by the super talented Tan Jianci. Make no mistake, I think Yang Zi is great here too. The best I've seen of her. But her interactions with him are just magic compared to everyone else. It's Pride and Prejudice with the blood sucking. They have that classic bickering couple relationship you feel should go somewhere but I suspect is a bit of a lost cause.

I'm indifferent to her dynamic with Puppy Boy. He's cute and I don't mind petting him on the head but I don't want him following me around.