Just finished watching episode 27 which was a festival of hilarious events. Ending on a sobering moment of self-reflection while Shaoshang had sent the general packing, following her drunken stupor where reportedly she lay sleeping and throwing up on her white knight (okay dark knight : we never see him dressed in other than dark colors, do we?) Reprtedly, because it's only hearsay from Niao Niao's trusty maid-companion-confidant Lianfang, and we don't get to see much more than what was on the "previews", the frustration!! Why did we only see the buffoon "horse ride" when the general brought her home ? But right next came episode 28! and the schedule announces already episodes 30 to 34 on preview, on WeTV : 😀 It looks like the wishes of the audience are going to be fulfilled and we can go on with part 2 without interruption ? Jumping for joy !!! Yeah! 😂 28 is already action packed, so I am having second thoughts that perhaps Shaoshang should not be too hasty in running to apologize in her new snakeskin shoes after having at last decided she has some feelings for Shiyilang /Zisheng / Ling Buyi of the many names : he seems indeed dangerous to be too near to. But I am not there yet, just taking a breather, and who knows which wicked twists are upcoming? Such an addictive drama ! 🤗
With the half piece of jade pendant her nickname was 弱 (ruo) which means weak. The other half of the pendant…
Yes 🤗 Thanks for that further explanation of the symbolism! At first, I'd superficially heard CSS' nickname as something bird related, but was interested to read the Chinese subtitles on rewatch no.2 after noticing 凌不疑 (LBY) look so... doubtful! about "RuoRuo". Which revealed some interesting things... Plus I thought Shaoshang was suddenly very forthcoming in revealing that intimate name for herself: was she beginning to fear him less? One key element missing changes so much, just like the way the stones in Shaogong's divination in the beginning of ep22 being disrupted by young marquis Bian could perhaps change fate to a more ominous one. The RuoRuo detail also had me think back to Jinmi's friend in Ashes of Love, btw.
I've already rewatched the Yanhui tower scenes, hanging by the fingertips ("Don"t be afraid, I'm here" 😮) and the luring Shaoshang to stay alone with general Ling in his gloomy hall with the broken jade spelling her nickname (slender and graceful 🤗), and the rescue from the heinous bitches with the unofficial prince slipping her shoe on her foot (so Cinderellla! 😘) + the mini melodrama of the proposal 🥰, like 5 times! and I've gone through all the BTS which have some really nice items (Wu Lei training, preparing BBQ, riding with ZLS, explaining at length the general Ling character...) This drama is going to be hard to get over. And now the long long wait until Tuesday and Wednesday for the last episodes. I know we can't hope for the part 2 before, at the earliest, mid August. That's going to be tough. I plan to binge watch for 3rd time this part 1 (despite the painful first episodes 2-4 ) when the release of part 2 will be announced... Director Fei ZhenXiang is very talented and lovable, too, as witness the interesting BTS on WeTV : he's made the set into a place where everyone could feel at ease and have fun, in between those sometimes difficult takes. I was very surprised to read that Wu Lei was that young (22) and yet able to talk with him on equal footing. I was also astounded to read that Wu Lei , before this drama, had sustained a serious injury to his face in August 2021, with "shrapnel barely missing his eye", and yet appeared so flawless here, and willing to go all out with wirework and riding full speed. This young man must be a god to heal so fast and stay undaunted! Zhao LuSi is fortunate to have him as her partner here : her acting is excelllent even when she was not acting but Wu Lei "was in control". Lots of respect for the cast and crew!
Awesome! I watched this movie years ago, and now also watching The Story of Xing Fu. Your review is spot on!
This was just a short note, but I am glad you liked it. You have an impressive watchlist and I saw that we agreed on many things and are both usually shying away from harshness in our ratings. I come from movie watching so ought to add more on my own list, but I also have limited time, and feel quite an appetite for some dramas of the past and of the present, so I add slowly, sometimes taking weeks or more before I decide to add something with or without a "review". Anyway,, I just built my list modestly as a personal memento of what I watched or was watching. 😉 Right now I am continuing with Xingfu and LLTG.
I'm into historical settings especially C dramas. New dramas that I would recommend: Dreams of Splendor and The…
My My My..... I am flabbergasted. Not that I had a deep wish to watch it, just was curious since it was rumored to be a funny new drama. Well I suppose it's still possible to rewatch for umpteenth time the first part of Ashes of Love until the hunt for Qiongqi. Deng Lun has not been edited out, I hope? Although I always rooted for Runyu... Anyway thanks for infos!
Thanks for the warning. I was triggered by the mother's harsh behavior. I'm not too thrilled of this drama but…
Since episode 11 and despite the horrors of war, I am now more wholeheartedly on board. Cheng Shaoshang (whose given name is said to refer to the resistant guqin (zither) string) proves her mettle. There's even some humor now, such as when the unbelieving mom demands how many times she met general Ling and she tick off 3, 4, 5 ... 8+ times to add to the general's outrageous off-hand remark when he escorted the family into the city after the "life and death" occurence. Still, the girl remains stubbornly set in her wish to make a peaceful marriage with someone who respects her. How this is going to change will be interesting. So hang on, bear with the awful females, admire Shaoshan's cold bloodedness and resourcefulness 😉 Wu Lei as general Ling is ... "imperial". Close to haunting my dreams, now 🤣
Hahah can I have that skeleton?? (Kidding I'm too old for him, 31 🥲🤣🤣)https://twitter.com/Leimistar26/status/1544732506737414145?t=h-iCNNVPFOGyD8nq2iphzQ&s=19I…
yes. btw did you see the BTS on WeTV with Wu Lei delightedly making a late night snack of lamb skewers with bell pepper to share with director? It brought back fond memories to me of some instances of sharing such comfort food. sweet
honestly i think dejected is what lusi was aiming for and i really enjoy that aspect of her character . when you…
Yes. But I just don't like to watch dramas with that sort of lengthy "wicked queen and stepsisters" from the Ye Xian or Cinderella and Snow White models. It looks like it is changing track now, so my hopes are up again.
Wow, that's harsh. I thought ZLS looked too well fed to be the hungry waif, but Wu Lei being portrayed as Skeletor…
I just hope that it is not true. I hate the skinny look. Girls should never starve themselves because it does affect their physical and mental health and resistance My opinion. Well fed is not the same as overweight.
Hahah can I have that skeleton?? (Kidding I'm too old for him, 31 🥲🤣🤣)https://twitter.com/Leimistar26/status/1544732506737414145?t=h-iCNNVPFOGyD8nq2iphzQ&s=19I…
I don't find these actors and actresses"too fat" ; on the contrary, ZLS just looks more healthy than say Dilireba at one time who really looked underfed then, and I for one don"t like the idea that these guys could be toying with their health for some supposedly industry related aesthetic that could be construed as role model for audiences. Still I liked D in You are my glory, but with some reservations about the "diet" and obsessive "calory counting" in that drama. So thankfully ZLS did not look like the "hungry waif" emerging from the village "house arrest" in ep1, that might have been portrayed through better makeup, not starving. But I am concerned that someone here says ZLS has been getting thinner over the past 5 dramas. To me though, I did not notice it in Love in the Kitchen or in WRTW. And I think those who griped about her looking like a fat maid are dishonest, although tastes in art of course may vary. In fact now after ep 5-6, I am reconciled with the story: Chen Shaoshan did take care of herself as she should. It's perhaps just better to skip the painful mental harassment episodes 2-4, maybe just keeping a few scenes not related to the abusive mom , grandma and other awful females?
Xu Kai (elsewhere) and Wu Lei indeed look great. ZLS too. My passing complaint hitherto is that WL looked so rigid, but he did compensate with those smoldering gazes, now and then, looking fleetingly more human, and general Ling"s sarcastic threats of punishment for his underlings brought some needed humor. My hopes are up again. He is an excellent actor too.
Hmm was there time travel involved in the novel ? Then it looks indeed like there has been serious adaptation going on ? Okay by me.
Wow, that's harsh. I thought ZLS looked too well fed to be the hungry waif, but Wu Lei being portrayed as Skeletor ? Hmmm. Thanks for posting, anyway ! Still hoping the story will pick up my interest after ep 6. But I have other things to do, too, so it better get spectacularly engaging then. I have no trouble with ZLS's own voice. More with the story... Perhaps this is one novel that does not translate well to screen without a lot of adaptation? But I have no time to read it at the moment or in the foreseeable future.
Okay, so I watched the first 4 episodes that are available on WeTV. Without any previous reading of book or else. Because I have a prior favorable opinion of both leads, and expected a lot.
First episode: rather liked it. Nice cinematography. The hand, the fire, etc. Although not totally getting the first few images until the general suddenly veers away. But I was somewhat disturbed that it looked like the young lady had motives to distrust and make trouble for all in her family. Okay, country over family, not that I would totally adhere to such philosophy, but if the uncle was stupid and endangered fellow countrymen, some form of retribution was expected.
Next three episodes : I admit I was very bored, to the point of turning away from screen and having to rewind to check if I had missed or not something. I was not at all drawn into the family feud story. ZLS (who so often weaved in some humor in the dramas I watched hitherto), appeared as dejected as in the drama poster. 15 year old neotenic character, illiterate, neglected, hungry, and spiteful, rather than mischievous? I wondered how long it would take before ZLS is allowed to express something else. The other females blur together in my mind, like the hens and roosters fighting in the yard, glimpsed at one moment. Also, what's with the ox head popping up now & then?
4 episodes is long enough to form a negative opinion usually, but since there's a promise that things will change to become more engaging after ep6, and because of ZLS and WL, I shall still wait.
Totally ugly cried at the last episode. Aside from wanting to toss multiple random citizens, overbearing mothers,…
Yes, I was attracted myself by the names of Bai Lu, Xu Kaicheng and Zhang Ruoyun. They did not disappoint. And I will now remember Wang JingChun (the wonderful fatherly Chief) and Xu Di (Li Dawei(s mom). The slice of life was so good with all those different citizens, including the rotten and crazy ones like the Wu doctor woman who suffocated her daughter and had basilisk stares and venomous words for poor Xia Jie and the patient officers in the police station. The way some people got away with abusing the policemen was suprising for me who was brought up with a healthy respect and awareness of the risks that disrespecting the police. can spell. Changing times? I think that, like others here, I would not mind watching a sequel to this drama, if it is at least half as good as this one. Top of my 2022 list of favorite c-dramas now, rivaling with RESET.
2 
4 
1 
But right next came episode 28! and the schedule announces already episodes 30 to 34 on preview, on WeTV : 😀
It looks like the wishes of the audience are going to be fulfilled and we can go on with part 2 without interruption ? Jumping for joy !!! Yeah! 😂
28 is already action packed, so I am having second thoughts that perhaps Shaoshang should not be too hasty in running to apologize in her new snakeskin shoes after having at last decided she has some feelings for Shiyilang /Zisheng / Ling Buyi of the many names : he seems indeed dangerous to be too near to. But I am not there yet, just taking a breather, and who knows which wicked twists are upcoming?
Such an addictive drama ! 🤗
At first, I'd superficially heard CSS' nickname as something bird related, but was interested to read the Chinese subtitles on rewatch no.2 after noticing 凌不疑 (LBY) look so... doubtful! about "RuoRuo". Which revealed some interesting things... Plus I thought Shaoshang was suddenly very forthcoming in revealing that intimate name for herself: was she beginning to fear him less?
One key element missing changes so much, just like the way the stones in Shaogong's divination in the beginning of ep22 being disrupted by young marquis Bian could perhaps change fate to a more ominous one.
The RuoRuo detail also had me think back to Jinmi's friend in Ashes of Love, btw.
This drama is going to be hard to get over.
And now the long long wait until Tuesday and Wednesday for the last episodes. I know we can't hope for the part 2 before, at the earliest, mid August. That's going to be tough.
I plan to binge watch for 3rd time this part 1 (despite the painful first episodes 2-4 ) when the release of part 2 will be announced...
Director Fei ZhenXiang is very talented and lovable, too, as witness the interesting BTS on WeTV : he's made the set into a place where everyone could feel at ease and have fun, in between those sometimes difficult takes. I was very surprised to read that Wu Lei was that young (22) and yet able to talk with him on equal footing.
I was also astounded to read that Wu Lei , before this drama, had sustained a serious injury to his face in August 2021, with "shrapnel barely missing his eye", and yet appeared so flawless here, and willing to go all out with wirework and riding full speed. This young man must be a god to heal so fast and stay undaunted! Zhao LuSi is fortunate to have him as her partner here : her acting is excelllent even when she was not acting but Wu Lei "was in control".
Lots of respect for the cast and crew!
You have an impressive watchlist and I saw that we agreed on many things and are both usually shying away from harshness in our ratings.
I come from movie watching so ought to add more on my own list, but I also have limited time, and feel quite an appetite for some dramas of the past and of the present, so I add slowly, sometimes taking weeks or more before I decide to add something with or without a "review". Anyway,, I just built my list modestly as a personal memento of what I watched or was watching. 😉
Right now I am continuing with Xingfu and LLTG.
Well I suppose it's still possible to rewatch for umpteenth time the first part of Ashes of Love until the hunt for Qiongqi. Deng Lun has not been edited out, I hope? Although I always rooted for Runyu...
Anyway thanks for infos!
+ I peeked at the previews and can't wait for ep 24 🥰
It brought back fond memories to me of some instances of sharing such comfort food.
sweet
So thankfully ZLS did not look like the "hungry waif" emerging from the village "house arrest" in ep1, that might have been portrayed through better makeup, not starving. But I am concerned that someone here says ZLS has been getting thinner over the past 5 dramas. To me though, I did not notice it in Love in the Kitchen or in WRTW.
And I think those who griped about her looking like a fat maid are dishonest, although tastes in art of course may vary.
In fact now after ep 5-6, I am reconciled with the story: Chen Shaoshan did take care of herself as she should. It's perhaps just better to skip the painful mental harassment episodes 2-4, maybe just keeping a few scenes not related to the abusive mom , grandma and other awful females?
Xu Kai (elsewhere) and Wu Lei indeed look great. ZLS too. My passing complaint hitherto is that WL looked so rigid, but he did compensate with those smoldering gazes, now and then, looking fleetingly more human, and general Ling"s sarcastic threats of punishment for his underlings brought some needed humor. My hopes are up again. He is an excellent actor too.
Hmm was there time travel involved in the novel ? Then it looks indeed like there has been serious adaptation going on ? Okay by me.
Still hoping the story will pick up my interest after ep 6. But I have other things to do, too, so it better get spectacularly engaging then.
I have no trouble with ZLS's own voice. More with the story...
Perhaps this is one novel that does not translate well to screen without a lot of adaptation? But I have no time to read it at the moment or in the foreseeable future.
First episode: rather liked it. Nice cinematography. The hand, the fire, etc. Although not totally getting the first few images until the general suddenly veers away. But I was somewhat disturbed that it looked like the young lady had motives to distrust and make trouble for all in her family. Okay, country over family, not that I would totally adhere to such philosophy, but if the uncle was stupid and endangered fellow countrymen, some form of retribution was expected.
Next three episodes : I admit I was very bored, to the point of turning away from screen and having to rewind to check if I had missed or not something. I was not at all drawn into the family feud story. ZLS (who so often weaved in some humor in the dramas I watched hitherto), appeared as dejected as in the drama poster. 15 year old neotenic character, illiterate, neglected, hungry, and spiteful, rather than mischievous? I wondered how long it would take before ZLS is allowed to express something else.
The other females blur together in my mind, like the hens and roosters fighting in the yard, glimpsed at one moment. Also, what's with the ox head popping up now & then?
4 episodes is long enough to form a negative opinion usually, but since there's a promise that things will change to become more engaging after ep6, and because of ZLS and WL, I shall still wait.
Happy you liked that drama too.
The slice of life was so good with all those different citizens, including the rotten and crazy ones like the Wu doctor woman who suffocated her daughter and had basilisk stares and venomous words for poor Xia Jie and the patient officers in the police station. The way some people got away with abusing the policemen was suprising for me who was brought up with a healthy respect and awareness of the risks that disrespecting the police. can spell. Changing times?
I think that, like others here, I would not mind watching a sequel to this drama, if it is at least half as good as this one. Top of my 2022 list of favorite c-dramas now, rivaling with RESET.