Lela2004

Just read that it’ll be 1 ep per day going forward?!? Dang. I should have stuck to my plan to wait it all out and then binge. This is cruel.
And at the same time you guys link to clips from episodes later on, and I’m getting even more giddy. (No, don’t stop! I need those clips!)

Nooooooooooooooo!

I’ve rewatched. My take: To me, 95% of their banter are actually him trying to recruit and keep her as an intelligence asset (or spy, if you will) and her refusing or negotiating terms. Very, very rarely some genuine concern seeps through. His frustration of her leaving her marriage choice up to family feels personal despite most of his “pursuit” being an act and interactions in ep11&12 partially feel like they are catching feelings (even though it is still mostly about being an asset to one another in their plans).

Ah thank you, I need to rewatch!

Wait, what episode? How did I miss this?

Oh, that is super interesting, thank you for your explanation! I guess in that case the families must have been in on it (?) and worded it to make 2nd lady happen, so we will see. I wonder if FL is glad or annoyed to not marry SML and be stuck with ML?!? I can’t wait to see how things will play out!

Ah that is enough? Ok. I thought, as long as they haven’t been alone…

I also saw the spoiler just now. I wonder how this will play out. The trailer is really confusing… (e.g. SML realizes switch so early, how could he possibly be forced to go through with it?)

Is that in the script? It is not in the novel (well, she does end up with him, as a concubine, after having been ruined).

His eyes!!! A foe not to be underestimated.

Above all I see plenty of reasons, like master/servant dynamic and huge class divide, why she would never entertain any thought of ML as a potential partner, even if she views him as a “good man”. I believe the divide was so huge at the time that someone like FL would shut such a thought down even before becoming conscious - for mere self preservation. (Plus, wouldn’t a woman always view a man who has the power to assault her without consequence fear such a man, which in my view precludes the development of any tender feelings.)

I really enjoy the drama.
In light of the villaneous women I’ve seen, however, I have to conclude that beside women empowerment a key message the writers want to send specifically to men is: You must fight patriarchy at all costs, as it turns (some) women into crazy harpies who will go over dead bodies to marry or else murder you. 😂😂😂
Which is possibly the most effective way to turn men into women’s rights activists. 😉

Her character could be right out of a Charles Dickens novel.

I also enjoy both shows. They are very different, and each enjoyable in its own way. Oh well.

Ah, I don’t know that one. I was pretty shocked when I read it. FL later regrets that somewhat, but that regret feels a bit shallow. So I don’t mind if it is changes - it is really hard to like FL after that, at least for me.

The mum of 2nd young lady tries to lure FL into a shed in a monastery to get her raped by a couple of fake monks. FL sees through it and lures 2nd young lady there, who consequently falls victim to the men. ( I believe another Xie concubine who sees what is happening could intervene chooses not to.) 2nd young Lady becomes quite unhinged after that. I must say, I found that part rather misogynistic. Sure, it is depicted that she is traumatized, but ultimately, the fact that she has no more prospects of becoming a first wife turns her ‘indecent’, pursuing men and particularly 2ML almost without restraint.

For me FL works very well, and I “get” the character, so I don’t get the criticism. Obviously, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but some of it feels contrived.

Comment sections to Cdramas can be remarkably toxic. You might think this is all one big harem and we’re in the middle of some concubine wars, with their maids chiming in.

In the novel there is a really cruel move with which FL counters an equally cruel move of one of the Xie wives. I wonder whether they cut it out or soften it. (Don’t think they could have kept it as is, even if they wanted to).

I take it you haven’t watched 800. Oh well…