Freefoxx

Thank you for these explanations! This is all very fascinating and helpful to understanding the drama.

Random question but what is the position of Park Jong-hwan? He is referred to as "principal director" but not sure what this is supposed to mean.

Agreed. Other than the LSM and the Finance Minister's wife, I don't think any of the characters are going to get unhappy endings. Doesn't seem like that kind of drama at all.

Impressed by how consistently good this drama has been. The acting is great and the chemistry between the leads is top notch. Also the humor hasn't gotten stale, and the mystery plot is legitimately interesting too.

You're definitely right in terms of realism but I do get it in this drama from the perspective of revealing the character's true colors. I think it's just showing that the LSM knows the King is up to something and is so high on his own power that he isn't afraid to face off with him directly.

This drama continues to be really good. I wasn't immediately impressed by the actor portraying the King, but in the latest episodes focused on the regional lords he's done a really good job conveying the character's emotional blinders.

I really liked the first episode. The acting is very good and the humor is on point. Also some real energy was clearly spent on sets, costuming, and visuals. Definitely feel like this should be rated higher.

Is the express package unavailable in the US? I prefer watching in the Iqiyi app but the new eps are unavailable even with Premium VIP.

I know...waiting impatiently for the express package too! Not finding it anywhere on iQiyi.

Same here! I'm guessing it's not up on the website yet? Can't find them anywhere on the site.

Same here!

Dumb question but how do you watch the fast track? Nothing is showing for me. Do you have to have premium on iQiyi?

I love everything about this drama, but the background instrumental music is really good. How about the string-instrument theme that starts twanging when the fighting gets intense. It's so perfect.

There's a lot of worldbuilding in this drama but the names and organizations mostly get introduced in the early episodes. It's a completely fictional setting. It does seem partially inspired by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, with the An kingdom resembling the Shatuo kingdoms in North China and the "Yang Wu" kingdom somewhat resembling the one that actually existed in Jiangnan.

Loving this drama. It feels like a throwback to high-quality wuxia content while keeping some of the better elements of the newer type of dramas. Very good acting, humor, and a legitimately engaging plotline.

I'm really enjoying this drama but why does the King's eunuch have a beard?! Lol I was trying to figure out how that worked and it was distracting me hehe

These are more than fair critiques. With that said, I personally liked the ML's character. He starts off streetwise, somewhat idealistic, and also more than somewhat thuggish. Basically, a younger copy of his mentor. I think the clash between this mindset and the one that Judge Song tries to draw out of him (a more mature, humanistic approach that understands justice as more than revenge) account for his character fluctuations as the drama progresses.

I have to say that the final confrontation between Magistrate Wei and "Mr. Xue" was one of the most oddly moving last scenes I've watched in a drama. Both individuals have done despicable things, for somewhat understandable reasons, and are at last coming to terms with the reality of who they are, and what they've done. The performances in this scene were just flawless, IMO.

Excellent point. Then I guess it can be inferred that whatever Turtle/Magistrate said to Lu Zhi, it was likely something to the effect that everything he needed was essentially in writing. Hence why Lu Zhi acknowledged that his fate has always been bad

This was a great drama. I don't know that I've seen a historical drama in years that is a) near-flawless at an artistic level, and b) this tonally bleak and sardonic about the human condition in general. If you think you'd like Ming dynasty neo-noir, this drama is for you.