Longtobeclose

Ok now I finally finished this, and I agree with most what ending was that? The poisoning was unnecessary. This show started off so good then the whole plot with the Wuyin and the Empress made it all go haywire, I still cannot understand the Empress backstory and motivation to pull all of these schemes. I mean if she was good to the young Wuyin who was at her beck and call, so why was she mistreated, there's no logic, If she could rule over him, shouldn't it be ruling over the princely palace? Then she escapes, became a dancer but ended up being physically destroyed by the Emperor, the she somehow schemes and marry him then run the kingdom. The state preceptor was playing both sides to protect the heirs? Then she teams up with Wuyin to expand the kingdom??? The Qi Kingdom was bigger and already in her grasp if she went ahead and married the young prince then team up with the noble families. Instead of going to Beiyun and blah blah blah, I am sorry but so stupid. It's like my nose is here but I am going to around my face and head to get to it. The whole villain arc is illogical, stupid and not convincing. I just have more things to say coz it was super annoying but it would just be pointless. Then the hero get's poisoned and for what?!! Oh my what a mess!

ok now that I have finished watching, I can't believe i got the ending right. This series was such a brain teaser, sure there were frustrating moments but I give it a 8.7 out of 10. The story was one big loop in a loop in a loop but it ended where it began. One clear message is that human beings are resilient and in the face of evil, it is viva la resistance!
Again I would recommend Groundhog Day , a story where the main lead lives the same day again and again until he decides to change his fate and those around him.
Also I enjoyed all the discussion in the group. Kudos to the makers and actors of the show, they all did so well.

I was trying to think of a movie that's similar and I remember now it is Groundhog Day , which is 1993 film starring Bill Murray. You guys should watch the movie coz it was great.

yes that stupid babyface of his!

This is actually a great point, how it is all fictional, that makes the most sense coz she thinks it is all a dream, when in fact the first episode itself is a dream, and we the audience got 'transmigrated' together by the scriptwriter. I guess it will all end with the actual filming for this supposed show?
Excellent analysis btw

I wanted to say that the Emperor and SZY are quite the same, they play a game of chess, everything is controlled and calculated. Unlike any of his sons, SZY is his best prodigy,

The third prince has been groomed by the Empress, yucks!

And she even gave him that Male Lead plaque, plus he is spewing blood, the scriptwriter is out to get him coz he has reached a level of consciousness in the dream or the script

That's why it is called a dream within a dream because everything feels real in the dream, so are they really dreaming or is this reality.
This is the conundrum whereby everything is based on the perception of plot, but perception is not reality. Even though it is not real, the feelings, emotions, the entanglements, the pain and the happiness are all real because you cannot fake it. The desire or will the change their destiny is strong especially with NH, and he has the ability to think outside of the dream, this is why the screenwriter doesn't like him.

NH is really smart probably the smartest of them lot. Mr Screenwriter said the iconic scenes need to happen for them to wake up, so they can still play it out like the stabbing scene. If you know the rules of the game, you can beat the system. But I have a feeling that NH will wake up as NF in the end.

Sounds a bit like The Matrix but yes the scriptwriter is the main antagonist trying to steer the story and fix the off tracks sounds plausible.

This is one of the cutest show I have ever watched. I really enjoyed the show, the characters and representation. My favourite character is Ryunosuke, he was everything the cuties weren't including Fumiko. I give this 9/10

When I was watching the iconic stabbing, it goes to show if you know the rules of the game, you can always win even if some things are destined to happen. It is also credited the change in the variable, in this case NH actually love SYM compared to the previous script. So he knew if she was in danger, the hero swoops in to the save the damsel and the fact he actually loves her made it even more meaningful, plus he chose his most trusted wingman to stab him. So it went as planned and not, because now SYM knows you can change your destiny, you just have to believe it.

Now moving to how Dr Zhao got info about the stabbing and went to search for NR, this proves that someone is working in the background pushing certain narratives, clues and plot at the expense of NR.

So I agree with most that the main villain is the scriptwriter. Since this drama is a cross between a parody and a satire, we as the audience are always frustrated with how the story flows, so the main antagonist for the audience is the scriptwriter aka the story teller.

I just can't accept the Emperor's redemption. He was a narcissistic prick towards NH. The emperor never listened to him, he was consumed with the perception of NH. If he used his brain and trusted his own son like how he did for the trial, could have saved their relationship.

No way the shite of an Emperor father got away with all the abuse and atrocities against his own son! Also General Chu has become insufferable! Grow a brain dude!
I somehow liked the scene where NH paid his last respect to his uncle. No matter what he was still grateful towards his uncle for raising him because he was facing abuse. I found the scene poignant.

Yes this theory sticks coz in the real world also Song Xiao Yu misunderstood Nang Feng. They are both in the dream within a dream, that's why the story has changed. Coz in the original script he is the actual cause for Song Yi Meng's death while in this Nang Heng can't kill her, this is beyond the hero saving the damsel in distress. If it was the original NH, then why is he saving her if she was supposed to die because of him. This is what Song YiMeng doesn't understand, no matter what he cannot kill her, so her fear of death is bit off.

Yup and then finding the Lu Yi , who was selling the tangerines. Also pushing NH to take the blame, all sus.

I like how everyone now have shifted their opinions about NR, I mean if her turned out to be the V, this is also a drama/movie cliche whereby the least suspected character is the culprit. Always remember Keyser Soze. But then again this is Lala Land, where the possibilities are endless.

That Wuyin is slithering two-headed snake hiding in plain sight. What I don't understand is such an elaborate plan by this Wuyin and Empress to seize Qi and make into a bigger kingdom. She is already an Empress who has control of Beiyoun and if she herself married Wuyin to get a foothold, that also wld be better strategy than going around the bush by getting JTH married to Qi. Together they could have seized the throne by using the Mengs. I also don't see the reasoning behind this sordid love affair between Wuyin and the Empress. Dude is just stupid and he will be the loser or already a loser in this relationship.
Now we have the Meng coming back into the foray thru Wuyin, like for real? What is wrong with them? Didn't they learn with the death of the son? They also know if Wuxia becomes Emperor they are screwed, so they rather side with the snake.
Ok ok so SZY is major obstacle for all these players, which is why the Emperor is keeping him close. When the Emperor didn't go all out with the Meng initially was also a way to protect SZY. This is also why he allowed him to divorce all his wives. The Emperor I am still saying is not that bad, he just needs to balance it all out, which is his job.
So it is now relying on the gambit of SZY and JTH, otherwise these two kingdoms will be doomed.

BTW I just wanted to say the jumping off the cliff scene and she didn't die is so cliche and just like what Sonh YiMeng said in A dream within a dream. I couldn't stop laughing when I saw JTH fall off coz of this. Sorry just had to say it.

Everyone seems to think the most daft character is the Nan Rui, but actually it is General Babyface (his only redeeming point) Chu. Even after Song Yu De told him that he doesn't have foresight nor can he see the big picture, he still has not learnt his lesson nor has he changed his perspective. General Chu is just riding on the perception of Nan Heng, at this rate even if a kid get pushed, it will be Nan Heng's fault. Song Yu De clearly told him whatever he is doing is all for vengeance, nothing more and this is why he doesn't want to Song YiMeng to marry him. Also he has seen how much NH is willing to do for his daughter while General Chu is hesitant.
As for NH's uncle fueling the feud for decades and then escaping punishment to further instigate goes to show you what a piece of work he is. The reason why NH went astray initially was coz of him. As for the Emperor, he is a complete piece of shite! He too can see past anything, all driven by vengeance! He is just keeping him alive coz he can't kill his son and he probably still needs a spare heir to continue the line, that's all.
Another thing while I think that Uncle Gao is guilty but he must be working with someone, so what if Nan Rui isn't as stupid as he portrays himself to be? Just a thought though or Gao Chang Yin, this dude has been in the background poking as well.

The current character development of Nan Feng is what his manager wanted because despite being the lead, Nan Heng's character was supposedly awful and without development. Now the plot has been changed but our heroine has not changed her perception of Nan Heng based on the original plot. We see glimpses of her filled with conflict because she cannot see pass the mask. Ironically if was because of the masked hero, she was able to see the Hero in another light. When he was bare face she could not believe he was capable of good but when she saw him with the mask, she was able to see the hidden good in him. So much metaphor man. All I can think is that our girl needs to go pass the 'bad perception' of Nan Heng and start seeing him with the 'mask off'. This is where the story culminates. She needs to wake up from the dream within her dream.