Okay but I just thought of something that annoyed me even more: the way they're going to fix Seok Ryu's relationship with her family is through guilt tripping. Her mom won't see the error in her ways and won't stop projecting her failures on her daughter, she'll just treat Seok Ryu better because she got sick. That's such a cheap way of developing a character.
I'm SO glad to see such a beautiful article about this drama! It's one of my favorite dramas, it made me laugh and cry since episode 1. Thank you for writing!
can someone be brutally honest with me here. Is this an overhyped/adolescent romance show with too many fillers?
The ML treats the FL like crap for most of the drama, so... The ML and FL actors have a lot of chemistry, but personally I didn't enjoy the way the show handled their relationship until the end. It has 2 parts, past and present. I found the past part boring.There's some interesting topics in the present time, but I wouldn't watch it again. Also, I don't recall any fillers. I gave it a 6/10. Maybe you should try a couple of episodes to see if you like it or not.
I also love the things you said. Could not have said it better. Hard for me to pen my thoughts but you said it…
Thank you for enjoying my (crazy) rambling, I needed to get all my feelings out there or I was going to scream lol I agree about c-dramas having a long way to go but I do think we see things (slowly) improving. They really wasted the potential here... Even then, I loved the drama, it just could've been a perfect one.
I really love the stuff you wrote out about issues in the drama. That's what I did as well too to get the rage…
Not gonna lie, I wrote this without even thinking because I felt like I was going to implode from my feelings lol I still love the drama, gave it a 9/10, but it had the potential to be a perfect 10!
I'm feeling conflicted about this part 2, while part 1 was perfect (for me), this one had a pacing problem. Things started slow and way less humorous than part 1, I still enjoyed these slow episodes because they were a buildup for the FL and ML relationship. However, the last 15 or so episodes had some real choppy editing. Characters had conversations about problem A and next scene the thing was already solved and they didn't say how. Frustrating. It's like they're telling me a story instead of showing it which is the opposite of what a tv show should do. In this part they spent almost all the time at the palace and, while I loved the relationships Niao Niao formed while there (especially with the empress), it definitely hindered the progress of her relationship with her family, which was such a big conflict in part 1. There were a few conversations towards the end, which were supposedly a resolution, but it felt lacking. I wanted more of Niao Niao with her mother. The plot-twists near the end were mindblowing, I'm not gonna deny it. I sat here with my jaw wide open. But I was heartbroken when we learned how much Zisheng has been lying (and manipulating, indirectly). The moment a real connection was established between him and Niao Niao, he should've told the truth. And I'm not even talking about his identity, but the whole thing with the Third Prince, the scene at the pagoda and yep... lots of things. Niao Niao truly gave herself entirely and received lies. I was feeling just as upset as she was, which is why I actually cheered when she ended things between them. Now, I did enjoy the last angst-ridden episodes. They were necessary and well done but I needed more conversations between Niao Niao and Zisheng to be convinced he truly changed his ways. Another thing about this part, I already say it's less humorous but I hate that c-dramas equal maturity to seriousness. Niao Niao's charm was her bubbly persona, her recklesness and they totally stripped it from her. I get that she went throught a lot and became more mature, but she barely cracked a smile anymore. It was a sad thing to see.
So, I wrote a bunch of things I didn't like about this part but I actually LOVED it. The cast was excellent and Wu Lei and Lusi's chemistry and acting was incredible, especially towards the ending (that scene at Marquis Chengyang house DAMN IT!! I cried like a baby). The cinematography is gorgeous, the script is chef's kiss and as I said, the cast ate this up. One of my favorite dramas, for sure!
Just need to add something: while this is sold as a romantic drama the true narrative here is about WOMEN (let's clap our hands for this one) and FAMILY. It's about being a woman and how romantic relationships affect your self-worth and about raising children and all kinds of relationships between parents and children. And this theme is the one that made me cry the most.
I just want to say how much I love the relationship between Mu Deok and Jang Uk. I love how the writers are taking time developing it. It's not a love-at-first-glance type of thing. They're there for each other in the good and, against their own wishes, the bad moments. Obviously, they're hilarious together, feeding of each other energy, but it's the vulnerability and understanding for one another that do it for me. Of course, it wouldn't be so good without Jung So Min and Lee Jae Wook. And So Min has chemistry with all the cast members, but these two are my favorites. I love them.
Looks like she will as she should. Cuz she is back to 'shave my head' phase
I think she deciced to break up but maybe she'll change her mind after talking to Tae Hoon and I don't want that to happen. They're not good for each other... He's never gonna break free from his toxic family and if they stay together Gi Jeong will have to deal with them for the rest of her life.
Son Seok Koo's and Kim Ji Won's acting in that kitchen scene... I have no words. They broke my heart entirely. That's all I'll think about the entire week. Saturday, please come soon!
1 
It's one of my favorite dramas, it made me laugh and cry since episode 1.
Thank you for writing!
It has 2 parts, past and present. I found the past part boring.There's some interesting topics in the present time, but I wouldn't watch it again. Also, I don't recall any fillers.
I gave it a 6/10. Maybe you should try a couple of episodes to see if you like it or not.
However, the last 15 or so episodes had some real choppy editing. Characters had conversations about problem A and next scene the thing was already solved and they didn't say how. Frustrating. It's like they're telling me a story instead of showing it which is the opposite of what a tv show should do.
In this part they spent almost all the time at the palace and, while I loved the relationships Niao Niao formed while there (especially with the empress), it definitely hindered the progress of her relationship with her family, which was such a big conflict in part 1. There were a few conversations towards the end, which were supposedly a resolution, but it felt lacking. I wanted more of Niao Niao with her mother.
The plot-twists near the end were mindblowing, I'm not gonna deny it. I sat here with my jaw wide open. But I was heartbroken when we learned how much Zisheng has been lying (and manipulating, indirectly). The moment a real connection was established between him and Niao Niao, he should've told the truth. And I'm not even talking about his identity, but the whole thing with the Third Prince, the scene at the pagoda and yep... lots of things. Niao Niao truly gave herself entirely and received lies. I was feeling just as upset as she was, which is why I actually cheered when she ended things between them.
Now, I did enjoy the last angst-ridden episodes. They were necessary and well done but I needed more conversations between Niao Niao and Zisheng to be convinced he truly changed his ways.
Another thing about this part, I already say it's less humorous but I hate that c-dramas equal maturity to seriousness. Niao Niao's charm was her bubbly persona, her recklesness and they totally stripped it from her. I get that she went throught a lot and became more mature, but she barely cracked a smile anymore. It was a sad thing to see.
So, I wrote a bunch of things I didn't like about this part but I actually LOVED it. The cast was excellent and Wu Lei and Lusi's chemistry and acting was incredible, especially towards the ending (that scene at Marquis Chengyang house DAMN IT!! I cried like a baby).
The cinematography is gorgeous, the script is chef's kiss and as I said, the cast ate this up.
One of my favorite dramas, for sure!
Just need to add something: while this is sold as a romantic drama the true narrative here is about WOMEN (let's clap our hands for this one) and FAMILY.
It's about being a woman and how romantic relationships affect your self-worth and about raising children and all kinds of relationships between parents and children. And this theme is the one that made me cry the most.
Of course, it wouldn't be so good without Jung So Min and Lee Jae Wook. And So Min has chemistry with all the cast members, but these two are my favorites. I love them.
Saturday, please come soon!