Greyfeather_

I am with you there. But in China and the huge competition in their own field and with the micro-drama industry, it changed the game.

Most scriptwriting are adaptations from novels and specially webnovels. They see what are the top ones and they start the process of adaptation if they get the rights. This method is the cheapest and safest, because the decision makers have data to see if it will gross profit or not. (They are alot of under table dealings. Even some claim they got an original script when we know it's not. Some even dare to say that they got the novel rights and "cleaned it" to make it better)

An original script is way more difficult to do. Because they are alot of risks. That is why most written ones and approved are all kind of the same type of stories. They even prefer using a script already filmed 10 years ago and do another spinoff.

Innovative original scripts and adaptations, that we see rarely, are pushed by the ones at the top of their talents with an influence. Like directors, actors, screenwriter, independant productions and such.

In all that, if you are a screenwriter it all depends on how well you can make deals, who you know and the influence to get paid better. Because the industry knows that most of the money will go to the casting.

In the end, the people only remember the faces they see, not the ones that are behind it.

No. Yanzhou is the capital territory were most armies are. Like saying Canadian Army in Canada. But under Canadian Army they are many different units. So you can say that all armies of Yanzhou is under the "command" of the king. Except the Chang Xin one, because it's the rebel one who wants the throne.

XZ: Xie and Blood Army - Independant
Sui: Chang Xin Army - Independant aka Rebel Army
He, now 50% Li Huaian / 50% Changyu: Jizhou Army (Wei Yan tried to control it or thought he was when it was under General He. But it was difficult because Li Huaian (Grand-Son of Chancellor Li) was the direct student of He. Now that the command is under the Li family, but they only got 50% of of the army because Changyu got the rest due to Wei Yan influence of the King. Wei Yan is happy about it.) - 50% Li / 50% Independant
Wei: Wei Army - 100% Wei

Hope it helps!

That's why the government put the ban on 40 episodes max few years ago to help the quality and stop the "money inequality". This year they decided to "relax" it. So we are back to super long dramas in the upcoming years.

The battle scenes were done before and later too. They reshoot them.

Yanzhao? You mean Yanzhou?

Zeng Qing Jie does at least 3 projects per year usually. Don't know how he does it.

Adding to all above comments that Wei tries to control the Xie army, but we all know it's not happening under XZ's watch. I guess the fact XZ parents are no more, so it's harder for Wei to get a hold on Xie even though they are uncle - nephew.

I miss Nirvana in Fire! I have to rewatch that. Yes, it was marvelous.

Of course they don't film in order. I am just giving an approximative on how long it will take to film one episode.
Yes, edit, writing, training, directing, NRTA, casting, dubbing, visual designing, are very important. But we shouldn't forget the insane time limit they have to film all that. It does a huge difference on a drama quality.
Don't think it's the script because it's based on a completed known novel and I believe in Zou Yue to do an incredible job. Don't think it's the editing because alot of the chopped parts are in the same type of filming frames/scenes.

The original source of the drama which was a big hit in the literature.
And the unique setting of seeing the historical normal life of the commun people and their everyday challenges. Not just a "typical idol drama" where the rich saves the poor and everything is happening in a palace or a rich house, nobles walking around in pretty clothes backstabbing each other sipping tea in a ceramic cup, etc... PoJ is not a typical idol drama.
I will add hope. Hope that an idol drama is not just for entertainment and excitement. Hope it can be more than that.

90% of the dramas suffers starting at the 3rd arc.

Oh for sure! That's what a big chunk of the chinese market wants....

I just want to leave a reminder about dramas and its lack of consistency.

ALOT of time, the production only have less than 4 months to film a 40 episodes drama. 4 Months without a break! That means in around 4 days, they "finish" 1 episode! While in USA, it takes them 1-2 weeks per episode.

It's not just censorship, script or editing that cause certain episodes to be choppy and unconsistent. But it is a lack of filming tape and it's quality. They don't have time to film and refilm everything.
That's why it looks great in the beginning, because they have 'time' to film. Later, unwanted things happen and the pressure is there. (Just like in my everyday life -.-)

And with longer dramas of 70 episodes, they only give the production 5 to 8 months maximum! Equals: fillings, flashbacks, illogical things, script cutting, water-down filming.

All of that just to save and increase money.
And sadly, it is a norm in Asia, specially China.
While me, I am miss seeing the quality in the filming arts. I am grateful we at least have this drama. You can tell the production did their best with what they had.

Definitly more depth, but if they put it his exact personality and behavior in the drama, it would have been a bit hard to pass censorship plus they would have been another "public" backlash (probably bigger) like during Story in the Kunning Palace.
We definitly missed an incredible performance and experience due to that.

It is only distributed by Iqiyi, they have the monopoly. They didn't release the full episodes there, it's only 10 episodes and you need to be a member of their channel. Iqiyi laways did that. If it's free, it's only for the few beginning episodes until the drama is completed, as a promotion medium.

While PoJ signed with 5 plateforms, they have strict rules to respect towards all other plateforms. They can't just publish it in YT where 3 of them have official channels. Not fair.

Nothing spoiler about it. But I'll add it. It is mentionned during all 3 last official episodes.

Qi Min was the crown prince of the previous King. He pretends to be SYH because someone in the palace was/is after him.

Because people are watching the leaked videos and not watching the officials ones.

Because they trust their consumers and to not give the control to the pirates behavior. For me, it is a good decision. Painful, but a good one. Continue like nothing happened.

You did good.

The director always knows what women really want. It is a skill that many don't have.