Jungshooky

Not to start unnecessary drama, but some of the comments I’ve been reading here have bothered me enough that I need to say something. So many comments here targeting Fu Rou and her “choices” and behavior around Prince Zhou, and basically blaming and shaming her for everything. This, my friends, is victim blaming and a major reason why r*pe culture is in fact a thing. Fu Rou is a victim here, pure and simple. She is basically conscripted into glorified slavery because a rich powerful person (the empress) decided she wanted her embroidery skills for herself. THEN she inadvertently catches the eye of a prince because she's pretty and witty, and he's been raised to believe he's one of god's greatest gifts to mankind and that women, particularly those of lower birth, are free for the taking and not human at all. He then continually threatens and coerces her into spending time with him, taking away from her actual duties, and she does it because she literally cannot say no. When he kisses her against her will, she does put up a fight and then immediately does what he asks so that he'll stop physically accosting her. *gasp* How dare she give in to his order rather than risk being r*ped and forced into concubinage against her will????

With Prince Liang, she threatens to kill herself because he is notorious in the palace for r*ping, torturing, and KILLING maids without repercussion (the Tang dynasty version of a serial killer). I would probably rather off myself too rather than live through that kind of hell. She knows Prince Zhou well enough to know that if he forces himself on her, she'll at least live through it. Like, how how HOW can you BLAME a woman for the choices she makes in this situation? NO ONE can or will help her. She can only rely on herself. Chuling is just a lowly guard - he can't do sh*t. Chumo can't enter the palace/harem willy nilly - he can't protect her. So she has to do everything she can to SURVIVE so that one day, hopefully, she can choose for herself what she wants. If she wants to have a chance to be with Chumo, she actually needs to survive palace life first - and that means choosing to go with the flow rather than try to fight (at least openly).

After Prince Zhou basically abducts her back to the palace and purposely creates the misunderstanding with Chumo by forcing her to smile (or he'd turn Chumo in which would result in his death probably), he actively BLOCKS any chance for her to try to communicate with Chumo. Chumo then f*cks off to the border to nurse his broken heart (I feel for the guy, I do, but his lack of trust in Fu Rou here disappoints me a little)

I also don't love Fu Rou much as a character for different reasons (so far, I'm on ep 32 so she's still got some time), but I will defend women, even fictional ones, from being blamed for the coercive actions of men. It's never a woman's fault for the unwanted attention, words, actions, anything of men. Never. And if you believe otherwise, then 1) I think you're missing one of the major morals of this drama, and 2) I pray the universe treats you and/or any girl/woman you love well, so you don't have to live through that particular pain.

Sorry not sorry for the long rant. Some things just need to be said and in today's world where women's rights and body autonomy are still trampled on by rich powerful men, it's even more so important that someone scream it into the ether - even if it's on an insignificant MDL drama page. Peace

I decided to put this under a spoiler tag because I do discuss plot points a little later in the show and for potentially sensitive topics, so
TW: mention of r*pe/s*xual assault (though if these are triggering for you, do NOT watch this drama FYI)

Hopefully, one day it will happen *fingers crossed*

You can try LoveO2O - it’s older and not professional esports but it has a decent romance arc

I highly recommend Kings Avatar. There’s no real romance, but the story is great in my opinion

(the fact these are both Yang Yang dramas is not intentional - I just haven’t watched that many esports dramas haha)

Oh how interesting! The rumor I saw mentioned Zhao Lusi as being approached for the FL🤣🤣

I’d love for XK and ZLS to do a drama together but I also would love to see him and JT together again!

Honestly? After reading the synopsis of the novel it’s based on I kinda hope XK doesn’t take this role - or if he does, it’s because they’ve made major changes to the character. The ML in this novel is like horrific in how he treats the FL - which may be a break from XK’s typical “good guy” vibes and give him a challenge of acting g the bad guy . . . But it’s also a plot I wouldn’t be interested in at all if not for him - so we shall see! I won’t believe anything until an official announcement lol

I would love for XK to work with Zhao Lusi and Dilraba because I adore both of them haha

There’s a rumor he’s being considered for the drama Qi Xing Cai, but I have no idea how trustworthy that is

I’m not sure what point you are trying to make, but to be more fair to Fu Rou, she doesn’t actually have a choice in this situation. Like none at all. If a royal orders you to do something as a palace servant (read: slave), you do it or risk severe punishment including death and possible annihilation of your entire family. Zhou and others have threatened her multiple times with both, so even if there isn’t bite behind Zhous words, Fu Rou wouldn’t know that. She tries to refuse his blatant abuses of power, but with a single threat she is coerced into complying. Coercion does not equal acceptance - I don’t get the impression from her that she’s okay with it at all. Stoney expressions, glaring into the middle distance, and answering with the bare minimum is what I’ve seen from her. When Zhou acts less like a spoiled entitled brat, he gets more genuine reactions from her.

In terms of misunderstandings with Chumo, I haven’t gotten that far yet, but based on what I’ve read in reviews it seems some scenes were likely cut/censored that resolve those. Also, prolonging misunderstandings is a common (and frustrating) trope in most Asian dramas so I just expect it now and am pleasantly surprised if it doesn’t happen

You can try Who Rules the World if you haven’t seen it already. There’s definitely romance, but a little more understated compared to WoL. I enjoyed it though!

I’m sure I’ve said this before, but wow this drama just has amazingly beautiful costume design. I can’t wait for higher resolution images to really appreciate some of the more intricate designs

Most of the people discussing both BCE and ABAY on both drama pages are Xu Kai fans, since he’s the ML in both. A lot of us were expecting ABAY first, so when Tencent seemed to pull a switcheroo with BCE, I think there was/is some confusion and disappointment that ABAY seems to be delayed (again) for whatever reason.

I don’t mind waiting for ABAY a little longer, especially since I’d prefer them not to air both dramas at the same time. Don’t get me wrong, I will take all the XK content I can, but after BCE and ABAY, there will be a loooooong wait until Moonlit Reunion airs. Unless XK does another modern drama with a short postproduction right after, we likely won’t see him again in a new series until mid-2025 . . . so it may be nice to spread out his dramas a bit this year 😅

I have watched LIKM but I have a lot of issues with it - none of them relating to XK or WY. They and Meng Asai were the highlights of that drama for me whereas most everything else just fell quite flat tbh 🥲

Perhaps they were intending to release this earlier and released promos and scheduled Hi6 according to the original date - but then something happened behind the scenes to postpone it, and it was too late to back out of or reschedule Hi6 🤷🏼‍♀️

Wow, only on episode 10 and I already really really dislike this Prince Zhou dude. I'm not even totally sold on the main ship yet (Chumo and Fu Rou), but I very much dislike every interaction between Fu Rou and Zhou. He's such a bully and an overall a**hole - I'm sorry but as soon as a man threatens any woman with r*pe no matter the time period or if in a 'joking' manner, it leaves such a sour taste in my mouth. That's not okay. I've had to pause every few minutes or so to like internally scream and restrain myself from throwing my couch pillows at the TV

This show seems to have a good number of absolute "winners" of the XY variety - true for the times probably, but still not very fun to watch - unless they are maimed or die horrifically in the end. Chumo is still immature and definitely a playboy, but he at least seems to like - listen? and stop? when asked. So bare minimum, but it's there - and he's already started maturing as a person at least.

Same - I love crime/procedural shows. I think it would also be a good experience for him if he’s paired with another more veteran actor - I’ve always liked that dynamic in k-dramas of a similar genre

Wow XK looks SO GOOD in these! I’m definitely starting to feel the hype! 🥰

So it’s looking more likely that BCE will air in April . . . If that’s the case, I hope they delay this a little longer. It would be unfortunate (and stupid) for Tencent to air both dramas at the same time

Yeah I’ve noticed the # of watchers on the main page does not equal the number of watchers in the stats page (if you add up all pie slices) - this is like every drama. ABAY also has like 500 more watchers if you look at its stat page

Yet another sus detail in MDL drama pages 🙃

I'll probably end up watching it after CL, unless ABAY and/or BCE drops first!