Ijaymia

It’s these little moments between them that keeps me from just gobbling down the raw episodes, I want to watch and understand everything that’s going on between them

Lol, they probably expect him to fly in the air, riding on his sword with ‘qigong’ like seriously, do you know how many times I watched his fight scenes with Helan Zhen in the first episode, and then again in episode 11?

Don’t we all

You know, comparisons brings about unhappiness, in I’m not saying that Zhao Liying is not a good actress, far from it! In fact, I did love Story of Minglan because of her acting. However, there are a group of actresses and actors who are literarily born for the big or small screen, Zhang Ziyi, Zhou Xun, Hu Ge, and some other veterans are in that group. As a matter of fact, the only actresses I can imagine in the role of A’Wu is ZZY and Zhou Xun. At the end of the day it’s a matter of experience, this actresses have years of experience (aside from talent) under their belt. ZZY really is a wonderful actress. I keep getting impressed by her time and time again in this drama, watching her act as a teenager was a bit akward at first, but if get over that, you really enjoy how she brings this character to life

Thanks so much, I’m hopping over right now!

Alright then, just hold on a bit, you’ll see some prejudice ( that the FL feels towards the ML) and the insecurities the ML has because of her past relationship with ‘old third’...that is if this goes by the novel plot for plot. There has been some major changes to the plot, which is to be expected since this is an adaptation. I just hope these incidents between Xiao Qi and A’Wu don’t get glossed over, here it’s what makes their story seem mature and well grounded...I wish us all happy viewing,

If you have read the novel, you wouldn’t say the politics is so simplistic, it’s definitely no Nirvana in Fire or Joy of Life, but it certainly has some ‘I didn’t see that coming ‘ moments, and with the number of episodes aired, we still have some ways to go before we get there. Now to the romance, does it seem to ‘perfect’ because there are no silly misunderstandings that can simply be resolved by telling the truth as it is, and gaining each other’s trust, or because there are no ‘Noble Idiocy’ between the two leads? You have to understand, as soon as the female lead knows the truth of how her marriage came to be, she decides to stand with Xiao Qi, knowing that her family cannot be relied on. Xiao Qi more or less requests that they work together for whatever goal they have. It’s a relationship that starts with a deal on partnership and soon enters into a romantic one, but the romance does not detract them from working towards their goal. This romance is realistic in my opinion, the FL is a realist, she knows there’s no getting back with her third prince, and there’s no getting out of the marriage, she accepts it, and moves on, especially since the ML laid all his cards out on the table.

Are these subtitles even understandable at all, or is it like all these mtl novels?

Xiao Qi oozes maleness in large doses. These pretty boy characters should take a back seat for the time being

Don’t let that stop you though, cos from a clip I watched they may change the ending, there are some major changes in the drama that’s quite different from the novel, like how Zitan’s mother was accused of poisoning the king, and even how the king gets sick and all that, in the novel the Xie clan was not wiped out like that, so with this major changes, I’m hoping the ending changes too. All in all, the drama adaptation for me is spot on and so well done, I can’t drop it even though I have a fair idea what happens next

Depends on the perspective you look at it, they achieved all they set to achieve, triumphed over every scheme and all that, she gives him a pair of twins...then she dies of a disease due to all the accumulated stress...so no happy ever after. I’m so wishing that this adaptation changes that part, cos Xiao Qi was truly heart broken about her death.

She truly is gorgeous

My thoughts exactly, but I guess most Chinese audiences may be more into looks than the acting chops

Yes indeed, but while Gu was a bit brash and outspoken most times, Xiao Qi is calm and very gentle with A’Wu. On the other hand, Minglan is very smart but soft spoken and quiet, while A’Wu is outgoing and speaks her mind. I love the couple dynamics in both dramas

Exactly, when I first saw her in ‘To Love’ she reminded me of Nini!

Thanks much

Pls, on which platform did you watch it?

This should tide me over till JOL2

That’s true, especially since we know he does feel something for her, and he has no moral compass

I just watched season 1, and I can’t help loving this drama all the more, now it’s a matter of personal preference, but I think this beat Nirvana in Fire plot wise. I’ll just watch other Zhang Ruoyun/ Xiao Zhan dramas to keep me going, then read the novel to hold out till 2022....it’s such a long wait