Lilly1008

I get your point about her role in the drama (and the actress does a very good job, no doubt here), but to me her role felt like the odd one out. Don't know why, maybe, because I've never been a fan of characters like hers in movies and drama series.

As for the sacrifice: I think, a sacrifice has to come out of ones own wish, out of ones own devotion, out of ones own decision at a certain point of time and without thinking much about it.
A person, who sacrifices his/her life does it out of free will or out of a momentary situation and decision rating others lives higher than his/her own.
"Helping" someone with it by poisoning him/her is not helping him/her to sacrifice him-/herself, it's robbing him/her of making the decision.

Yep! And it felt all natural, too, in addition.
I already loved the two when they played together in "Tribes and Empires" as the young Muru Hanjiang and Muyun Sheng and it was visible that they had a lot of fun playing together again.

Can't help, but that character of that sickly girl didn't even fit into the story. Does she have an actual purpose other than making sure, there would be no chance for some BL-like thingy to develop? Cut her out and you'd have one of the most annoying parts of the drama kicked out.

After having watched "Reign of Assassins", I got aware that a stab through the heart is not always what it seems to be.

Lu Xing Yu is an excellent actor, who has a long, long list of drama series on his sleeve:
https://kisskh.at/people/14053-lu-xing-yu

You're welcome. :)

That would be great! It would be a step in the right direction. Sometimes, it's visible that it's fake fur and I'm always glad to see it.
Sadly, some productions still prefer real fur, but as it seems, things are changing. Slowly but constantly. Would be great when real fur would be something to become history forever, soon.

Personally, I don't mind similarities in outfits.
What I dislike is the high amount of real fur still used in c-drama.
Real fur is so outdated and unnecessary. No one needs that except the animals it belongs to.
I'll never like that they skin foxes, raccoons and other animals just for to trim these costumes...
As much as I like c-drama, but this aspect of how they get produced, I hate to the core.

Same director. It's considered kind of a side-story/sequel to "Princess Weiyoung":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Song_of_Glory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_Weiyoung

Have fun with the show. :)

Ding Yuxi as Dongfang Bubai is a housenumber in this adaptation. So, if you want to watch for him only, it's definitely a must watch.

Hehe, I know what you mean.
Since I discovered c-drama, I have a rule:
Whenever I want a happy ending, I'm watching a movie, when I want an open ending or sad ending, I'm watching a drama.
Personally, I'm not much romance driven, so, if there will be a happy couple at the end of a story or not, doesn't really matter to me. What definitely counts is, how well and convincing a story gets told and filmed and how they deal with the historical facts and/or the novels they base a series on (which, sadly, often is a horrible letdown).

Sure, if it comes to the romance, I agree. That wasn't a happy ending, but for Weiyoung, who is based on Empress Dowager Feng, becoming a powerful and influential regent and advisor to her son, it was.

The story/novel doesn't necessarily have to follow the historical facts. The Liu Song Dynasty isn't as popular as the Tang or Ming, so, the writers might have taken the freedom to change things.
They are behind "Princess Weiyoung", too, so, the outcome might not be all too bad in the end.

If they follow the story of the historical Liu Yikang, it won't be a happy ending, but I don't know the novel, so, I have no idea, what ending the author granted the leading couple:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Yikang

I love the young cast. Of course, they are not perfect, yet, but you can clearly see that they had a lot of fun playing these iconic characters.
The veterans are well chosen, too, and it's not to miss that they also had fun playing with those talented youngsters.
Many people ranted about the changes made to the story for this adaptation as for them Louis Cha's novel is kind of untouchable cult.
Personally, I like some of the changes. Especially one special scene near the end, which makes Yue Buqun way more human than he's depicted in other adaptations.
The fight scenes are well done and I really like that the last scene belongs to Ren Ying Ying and Ling Hu Chong (like it's meant to be) and not like in the adaptation of 2013 to Dongfang Bubai.
The length with 37 episodes is ok, too. I never found it draggy or boring. So, I definitely recommend this adaptation.

Personally, I like this new adaptation.
If you want to find out, if you'll like it, too, you should watch it.

There is exactly one reason making this series bearable and watchable:
Wei Bing Hua's passionate play.

The way he portrays the loyal, sweet and slightly mentally challenged Hou Zi is lovely and a journey from heartwarming to heartbreaking.

A skilled fighter and excellent martial artist, Hou Zi is at the same time kindhearted and innocently naive, which makes the events near the end of the series happen to be more tragic than they'd be if they would happen to a different character.

Having done all/almost all his stunts and fightscenes himself, Wei Bing Hua stated that this role brought him to the edge of the bearable as an actor - mentally and physically - and close to dropping out of the production.

Gladly, he decided to stay. He is a gem.

Yawn, indeed...I couldn't agree more.

Mystery pure till the end. Excellent!