Historically speaking, Chen Ji (real Li Chengqian, the Crown Prince, had a gay lover he nicknamed Chengxin who was later put to death). Of course, C dramas tread very carefully around homosexuality, so it is just insinuated in this drama.
his own sons are now at each other's throats. Is that not called karma???
Perhaps that is just the hypocrisy of the palace... They all think they can do it better or differently, but end up repeating the same patterns. These palace dramas often explore the effects of being in that environment and how it changes people's personalities: the lack of security both physically and emotionally: the loneliness: the endless competition for favour and power...
Sorry I've to disagree with you on the pairing of Xu Kai and Li Yitong as I don't find any chemistry between them.…
I agree, but I suspect it is the director's poor choices rather than the actors themselves, because I have seen both put in far more convincing performances in other dramas. I found their romantic scenes so shallow... Those scenes where they are sitting in the meadow are almost like parody, hard to take seriously... I would say compared to other C drama romances, this really missed the mark on that front.
My respect and awards go to Vincent He (Lu Qi) and Tang Zeng (King Liang). Their acting was convincing as the…
I'm on episode 34 at the moment. Something I have really enjoyed is the portrayal of male vulnerability, especially in Chumu's father (when he thinks Chumu is dead and then returns, it is so touching to see how this tough man totally breaks down. I also really liked the Emperor and his mad mood swings.
Yes, but if you're like me you'll get the feeling it could have been so much better (I'm on episode 34 at the moment). Just lower your expectations. If you like beautiful historical costumes, you will enjoy this, they are a much higher standard/more authentic than a lot of period C dramas.
Overall a good drama, but flawed. With a rewrite of the script, a change of director, change of instrumental soundtrack and a very different script, this could be a fantastic drama. Visually speaking however, it is just beautiful to watch.
Pros: 1) Exquisite costumes, seemingly historically accurate. The Princesses and Princess consorts are like walking art. Beautiful. 2) Good plot with enough twists and turns. 3) The scenes where Fu Rou talks about embroidery in depth are very engaging. The tone of the script changes when she talks about embroidery. 4) The theme exploring older male vulnerability/heart was quite touching, particularly Chumu's father and the Emperor. Both actors did a wonderful job at showing this.
Cons: 1) Mostly weak script, except for some interesting sections about embroidery. The romantic scenes are commercial level writing, full of stupid cliches and lacking in substance and maturity and passion. The "funny" scenes didn't make me laugh, but roll my eyes. The script, as I see it, needs a bit more intellectual content, more wit and more maturity (a bit more "Rise of the Phoenixes"), better comedic writing (like "100 days my Prince" and "Story of Minglan"). 2) The acting/directing feels very insincere/unauthentic. I've seen these actors do far better work, so it's probably the director's poor taste. 3) Mostly poor instrumental soundtrack that sets the wrong tone in several places, and seriously reduces the overall quality of the drama. A strong instrumental soundtrack would enhance this drama even as it is to a higher level (e.g. "The Rebel Princess"). 4) Many characters lacked a 3 dimensionality, with some exceptions. The Emperor and Empress were both interesting. Yan Zifang and all the pirate stuff was just too cliche and an unnecessary extra plotline that never really developed. Yan Zifang could stay, but his character was so flat. 5) The pace of the story feels off. It could use more passion in the ups and downs of the story. It feels slow and boring sometimes, despite the fact that there are the building blocks of a great drama.
I liked the intro theme for this drama! The swirling colours and gold, and the instrumental intro was lovely. Most C dramas show clips from the whole series, which I can't stand because they're basically spoilers.
This seems quite a common issue with C dramas. I wonder why... Is it because of low standards for directors/producers/editors?
We are clearly in a transition phase between a fully digital world and the workings of the "old" world. I personally think television is phasing out. I haven't owned a TV in years. Everything I want to see I can find online. I used to waste so much time watching crap on TV that I didn't even like.
Netflix very often releases series all in one go. They could release more backlogged dramas that way.
So to my understanding, Awu mother is the sister of the emperor, the princes are her cousins so why are they all…
You definitely shouldn't read about the Ancient Egyptian royals then. Siblings getting married, or even parents and children... All in the effort of maintaining a "pure" royal blood line... In more recent history, check out the Habsburg Royal Family too...
As for nowadays, marriage between first cousins being legal is far more common around the world than it is illegal (I just looked it up...) In Europe, it is quite common in immigrant cultures to marry within the family. Norway just banned it in 2020 apparently, in order to promote integration.
It offends me that this drama only has an 8.3, it has gone into my top 10 favourite c dramas of all time. I loved it so much that when I finished it, I went straight back to episode 1 to start again...
1 
Why do you suggest reading from Chapter 80 and not the beginning?
Is it a good novel? How does ig compare to the series? Who is the writer and original title?
Pros:
1) Exquisite costumes, seemingly historically accurate. The Princesses and Princess consorts are like walking art. Beautiful.
2) Good plot with enough twists and turns.
3) The scenes where Fu Rou talks about embroidery in depth are very engaging. The tone of the script changes when she talks about embroidery.
4) The theme exploring older male vulnerability/heart was quite touching, particularly Chumu's father and the Emperor. Both actors did a wonderful job at showing this.
Cons:
1) Mostly weak script, except for some interesting sections about embroidery. The romantic scenes are commercial level writing, full of stupid cliches and lacking in substance and maturity and passion. The "funny" scenes didn't make me laugh, but roll my eyes. The script, as I see it, needs a bit more intellectual content, more wit and more maturity (a bit more "Rise of the Phoenixes"), better comedic writing (like "100 days my Prince" and "Story of Minglan").
2) The acting/directing feels very insincere/unauthentic. I've seen these actors do far better work, so it's probably the director's poor taste.
3) Mostly poor instrumental soundtrack that sets the wrong tone in several places, and seriously reduces the overall quality of the drama. A strong instrumental soundtrack would enhance this drama even as it is to a higher level (e.g. "The Rebel Princess").
4) Many characters lacked a 3 dimensionality, with some exceptions. The Emperor and Empress were both interesting. Yan Zifang and all the pirate stuff was just too cliche and an unnecessary extra plotline that never really developed. Yan Zifang could stay, but his character was so flat.
5) The pace of the story feels off. It could use more passion in the ups and downs of the story. It feels slow and boring sometimes, despite the fact that there are the building blocks of a great drama.
Netflix very often releases series all in one go. They could release more backlogged dramas that way.
As for nowadays, marriage between first cousins being legal is far more common around the world than it is illegal (I just looked it up...) In Europe, it is quite common in immigrant cultures to marry within the family. Norway just banned it in 2020 apparently, in order to promote integration.