kmr

Yes I disagree, I don't think his character matures all along the show. Like I wrote it has a starting point close to the end of the drama, which makes me feel it comes too fast. As opposed to YQ whose transformation you slowly witness from the start. It's true, we do have very different understanding and feeling about the show.

Really disagree with you. Mistakes he repeats and remorse is not character change yet, he remains immature until 40+. He was not in any shadow it was his personality that was carefree and immature. Then after deaths BAM 180, it's not since episode 1 that's false.

I don't think it happens slowly at all. Only when he loses father and brother do you see him start to use brain first and still, it's not that much. Series is 50 ep , we're in the last ten and he just started to look like a main character, that's why I feel he's portrayed to have grown tremendously overnight.

LOL....I just read above what she did...I never liked her but seems she has now become a caricature.

One strength of NIF is most characters are incredibly intelligent, but Lin Shu & Xia Jiang top them all. Another: it's one story unfolding bit by bit, the more you think you know and understand the more there is to discover which shows how complex, intricate and elaborate the story and connexions are. It's very rare in dramaland since fictions are written for drama rather than story. Also why the best fictions are usually novel adaptations. Story wise they are stronger.

NIF 2 is very cliché, 1st part is a story with a villain that turns out to be more of a caricature + love line of 2nd brother is typical teenage bickering. 2nd part is another story where the death of a certain character is supposed to have brought forth the strength of main lead, but I really did not see how he grew up, just he was sad (which is understandable) and BAM...he doesn't smile as much so it means he's wiser and smarter....@_@

Many other aspects I feel are very weak, but on line with typical historical dramas so I won't say it's bad, just that as a sequel to smth unusually good it's impossible not to be disappointed for me, and I certainly cannot enjoy it more.
I like a smart plot as opposed to forced events written to create drama and tension, the flow never feels natural. But the latter is more common so I just put up with it.

You really see the difference between writing for a novel and writing for a drama. Plot and characters' depth is much stronger in NIF than NIF2. I cannot say it's bad but it's really unsatisfying. Worst idea was to kill the character closest to Mei Chang Su half way through...and in such a nonsensical way....really ruined it....

Why does Ping Zhang have to die WHY?????????

Yeah, binged watched 20+ ep yesterday lol. I'm a bit disappointed but not surprised to be.

I push back watching for fear of disappointment lol I mean NIF is on another level so to keep up....is it really good ?

This plot though.....rofl

It was sixteen at first. They extended...I'm a bit worried it never goes well when drama is extended...

I gave it a try and though I'm not a fan of this type of plot I admit it's better than ISWAK. The girl as some back bone when he goes too far which is refreshing considering the story type. You also see from the start that he actually likes her.

Watching ep 11 and honestly Sharon is so creepy! LOL @_@
In real life such a person is a nightmare but in a fiction it's a bit funny. She's slowly becoming hilarious compare to simply hateful in the beginning.
Every time these 3 are together in the house I keep feeling tensed like Sharon could just kill them both in a fit of rage if they kiss or act sweet but they have no idea rofl...

Even villains get a fan club LOL it's part of the fun! She's crazy and true sometimes it's just weird and funny.
But isn't her tragedy the fact she actually never had him? So she can't have him "back".... or maybe she'll kill him again and keep the body frozen then leave happily with him forever.....rofl....just kidding.

Now it focuses more on feelings than story and happenings so indeed it would feel slowed. I like their love story slow like this. I'm curious about HR and SH fathers' deaths, this still has to unfold. As for Sharon, she's tiring. Would be nice if she finally understands what love is as opposed to what she feels.

This is exactly what I think and how I feel about this drama, and the reason I still watch it. Love this comment.

Some people feel Sharon is just a betrayed wife so it's not right to make her the bad person.
Does marriage make you own a person's feelings? As sad and painful as it can be, I don't think it's betrayal if it was not yours to begin with.... If she was a kind person I would probably feel more sorry for her, but she's so cruel and ruthless.
Sharon should die, she hurt enough people already and for long enough, including herself.

Sharon is an interesting character because she's pure evil and delusional so in a sense quite pitiful. My biggest problem with her is she thinks she wants him and they are married, so she owns him. She dismisses his feelings and decides he loves her too and a third party came between them. She simply refuses any other reality, and the one time he shows her who he actually loves she decides he should die if he does not love her.
I don't think her love is right, I don't even think it's love. It's obsession called love. Since young she always lived her life like this. When she wants something she should have it, and if she cannot she should destroy it.
I would find it great if she understands she never had any right over her husband's heart, love is received not forced, and truly loving is the person's happiness before yours, that's why you sacrifice in love.
Bong Yi was always punished for things she did not do. She deserves to be happy with her fated one. Sharon should just die and disappear LOL

No Sharon does not have the right to feel so upset and act this way. She has unrequited love from the start and wants to destroy everyone including the husband since he does not feel like she wants. Surrogate mother, concubines and stuff in that era is common. She thinks Bong Yi stole her husband because she thinks the husband is in love with her. But the way she behaved when he was arrested shows she does not really love him, she just wants to have him it's like an obsession. Then even when she learns she actually stole Bong Yi's position since birth she does not care, it's about what she wants. She's a horrible character with no redeeming side.
But if you feel she's actually the victim in this, I understand it would be uncomfortable to watch.

SY is an evil doer since he committed evil deeds. Chief Kim did not. Never condone impunity for crimes with the excuse of forgiveness, You can still atone for your wrongs when you're forgiven, not sweep everything under a rug. SY should have gone to jail like his partners. Start clean after jail is also 2nd chance. It's a fail of the drama on that part. He's a criminal and it was toned down which is lame.