Juls

I take you haven't seen the original British version. Not going to spoil it for you, but if they don't change anything it will be explained by the end. :)

Hmm...I wouldn't say detest/hate, I'd say dissatisfied and concerned. There is one major difference between the ambitious nature of Cao Cao and the ambitious nature of Cao Pi, Cao Cao is aware of his cruelty and sees it as necessary evil, he is basically willing to dirty his hands, but hopes that after all said and done, his country will flourish with next generations (which is an ambition on its own if you ask me), however Cao Pi is not aware of his cruelty and unlike his father doesn't possess same finesse when handling people around him. This is a huge problem for Cao Cao, because without learning to restrain his impulses Cao Pi would jeopardize the whole lifework of Cao Cao and all his sacrifices would be pointless.

In reality Cao Pi could not reach his father's greatness and neither could Cao Zhi and that was a great issue for Cao Cao who fully understood this about both of his sons. It was not a matter of being or not being Cao Zhi. Although Cao Pi sees it exactly in the way you are phrasing it, in reality Cao Cao was looking for the 'wisest one' and was very conflicted about it, because both of his sons were problematic

And again he didn't gave much advice to Cao Pi because he didn't thought he need it, why fuel the ambition of someone who already has tons of it? Cao Pi ended up thinking that Cao Cao was favouring Cao Zhi, because what needed to be done to help Cao Zhi was in nature more visible than what needed to be done to help Cao Pi. Cao Cao had to push Cao Zhi and pull Cao Pi to balance their shortcomings. Doesn't mean that any sort of liking Cao Cao might have had toward Cao Zhi as a father was interfering with what he needed to do as a ruler. Of course understandably Cao Pi didn't see it this way.

Can you teach someone to change his nature? Can you make someone understand that ambition matters, can you teach someone to have more restrain? Cao Cao tried to do this and it ended fairly poorly.

I think that on the surface it may seem like Cao Cao was cruel but in reality it was Cao Pi who didn't understood his father in this and even with Sima Yi's reassurances indulged in his insecurities. You are right Cao Pi has some major daddy issues. Because of this, later as a king he does things that will come and bite his imperial line in the butt (so to speak) just like his father predicted. Unfortunately Cao Cao was expecting things from his sons that neither could give to him (the one who could - died) and again unfortunately he was a man of his time to the bone, but I think the show does let us see that he cared for his family a lot. He might have been more verbal in showing his care of Cao Zhi, but that because he thought him to be weaker, gentler. He was strict with Cao Pi because Cao Pi was capable and also was walking into direction that worried Cao Cao, but he cared for him nonetheless. There is this scene with him and Cao Pi where he rips Cao Pi's clothes, he is clearly in pain there.

And you are right, Cao Cao wanted to do exactly that, unite country end the war, that was the country he envisioned and pushed for and I think that it was only his death that stopped him from pursuing his vision, as flawed as he may have been, this sort of man he was.

In the drama at least Cao Cao saw in Cao Zhi qualities that he (Cao Cao) lacked, qualities that he wanted the future ruler to have, qualities that would bring stability to the country he envisioned. Cao Zhi lacked backbone however and that's why Cao Cao gave him Yang Xiu, but it didn't worked out. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if Sima Yi would end up advising Cao Zhi

Cao Pi, was very capable, charismatic man and really didn't need much help from his father to rise, but Cao Cao (he told so Sima Yi at one point) was seeing himself and something much worse in Cao Pi and that made him not an ideal candidate.

I'm in love with cinematography of this, as in there are parts in both season 1 and 2 that I just rewatch because of how they look. Wiki states that cinematography was done by Zhang Wenjie, I just want to see more of this person work.

I think you are expecting a bit of different kind of brilliance in him. He doesn't do grand gestures of some incredible acts, he manipulates a bit here, plans a bit there, adapts and survives. Since you are at episode 15, episodes 16-19 where he helps Cao Pi, himself and Cao Cao get out of difficult situation(s), show all these qualities quite well.

I've noticed you've watched NIF, in NIF MCS's plots are explained and examined, in AA they mostly happen without any pause and very little explanation. Also in NIF MCS is this larger than life embodiment of ideals, while Sima Yi in AA is a much more 'human' character (for lack of better word).

He is awesome, his ability to slightly change expressions is so natural it's fascinating to watch, also his performance in episode 52-53 (especially 53) is phenomenal.

Like the poster above mentions, The Advisors Alliance is your best bet.

Just finished the first season of AA. I agree, anyone who wants to watch something similar to NIF should watch AA. To me they are equally good and deal with similar issues. I wouldn't say that AA has a more complex story (more lengthy perhaps as it covers decades vs couple years in NIF), but AA has some very complex characters and spends more time to show all their sides to the viewer .

it's a heavy bromance novel, but not a BL

Kong Sheng is director of both Ode to Joy and Nirvana in Fire, directors tend to pick actors they work well together.

@peacefulsoul about that...when i first read the synopsis of this drama it kind of reminded me of Live on Mars a UK tv series, I still kinda hold onto hope that all these inconsistencies are due to the fact that the future isn't really a future or something like that. This is one of the reasons I want to see how it will end.

@KatySarang_TGeyes yep, it's hard to ignore all these little things, they just keep accumulating.

He could start by asking around about the doctor and eventually learned about the string of murder in doctor's hometown and went from there. But like you, I hope they will go a bit more into real Park Kwang Ho's investigation. So far it's a bit wishy washy

Well, in the beginning Kim Seon Jae just ignores all the explanations and ideas "Park Gwang Ho" has about the case on the sole reason that he is pissed at him, which is ridiculously unprofessional of him to do but give them plenty of chances to just yell at each other. Again, 'Park Gwang Ho" says a lot of things about the similarities of the cases 30 years ago and yet it doesn't rings any bells for Jun Sung Shik. Here is a guy who looks like your old boss, mumbling things about old case and you manage to block it somehow xD. It takes quite a bit for Jun Sung Shik to get off his butt and do something about it, but it gives time for plenty misunderstanding to unfold in the meanwhile (which is why I said melodrama-like) It takes 2-3 episodes for "Park Gwang Ho" to read his new boss name xD. All so very convenient. But the most vivid one is with the fact that there are 2 killers. Both Mok Jin Woo and Shin Jae Yi were saying that there are two killers and while I can dismiss Park Gwang Ho reaction because he is old-fashioned guy who doesn't have full understanding of criminal science, Kim Seon Jae ignored a coroner telling him that killing methods don't match why???? And then they finally figure out that it is indeed 2 different killers how? They corner one killer in questioning room and "Park Gwang Ho" sees it in killer's eyes. That is pretty much quoted from the scene: "I saw it in his eyes" xD

It seems that i'm in the minority, but i find this whole show to be highly irrational (pretty much melodrama level), way too often the cast ignores evidence (and each other) just to prolong the tension and to have epiphany at the convenient for the script time. Still, i want to see how it will get resolved.

Thank you very much!

It's so pretty. I don't know if it will end up being good or bad but the fact that the director is Kim Jin-Man (same one who did Kill me Heal me), that the writer is Hwang Jin-Young (who did King's Daughter, Soo Baek Hyang) and that Yoon Gyun Sang is acting in it makes me look forward to it.

I might as well add that aside the gorgeous shots I'm really enjoying the dialogues so far, quite witty.

@Swytla Yeah, I agree, although like I said I didn't watched this properly there is something off about it. I have a feeling that this will be more of melodramatic sageuk aimed at older generation of viewers rather than fusion sageuk that were produced recently.

I just skimmed through 2 episodes because of the comments here, since I'm going to wait till it's done airing, but what I want to highlight the most is that the accuracy in historical costumes both Western and Korean is a joy for eyes, from fabric to every little detail and it's not that often that this happens in k-drama.

The series starts with Shigeko living in the aftermath of Mohouhan case. Personally I think that the series explains everything quite well so if someone want to skip watching Mohouhan, they can, but if someone want to watch Mohouhan then they should watch it first as Rakuen's 1st episode contains some major spoilers.