Lulu_haneul

I put off this show because I lost hope in romcom Kdramas. But i'm on episode 4 and this show brought back feelings from watching iconic kramas. They also have classic out of korea tourist locations etc... i feel this show could reach the top 10 of all time next to "goblin" and "it's okay not to be okay"...

8.4 is good rating but reviews are mitigated so i will wait to finish before asking why!!!

then it's slow!!!

😂😂 u see its both ! the romance side/ and the plot are hard to pin because the main leads are both very strong characters with both direct and indirect ways. often nothing is as it seems.

it was so beautiful to see bao finally speaking her mind !! the generation clash is so well done even if it was a bit caricatural... the grandma knows bao shines too well, it's hitting her ego and sense of uselessness ... besides that, like why is the plot so slow suddenly? new arc coming?

Here's where i disagree:
an elderly has potentially gone through most situations. She is in the backseat right now and is just trying to leave Shanbao with as much lessons as she can before she leave; it's her legacy. So the hail, rain etc, she knows buisness wise it's not the crisis the issue, but how you handle it.
I do think as much as there is double play and hidden games by ML and FL there is also the grandmas's games since episode 1 to protect her granddaughter. don't forget Shanbao is hiding the wanted woman from the grandma too, if i'm not mistaken.
Also, for the groom selection. i actually find the process amazing ! this grandiose show is exactly what the grandma wants to show Shanbao: that no man will actually satisfy her or almost. not only seeing people's true nature takes time, but in her position, the man she needs will surely fail. The grandma actually gave Shanbao lots of freedom in choosing.
Finally, when you are educating someone, there is a tight balance between protecting them and letting them go through the trial to really understand the advice. the grandma rarely intervenes in the arguments and accusations and i think Shanbao is also recreating this as she schemes in the background for survival and i wouldn't imagine it otherwise for the Rong legacy...

so well said! as for ep 1, i think there was also double play from the FL . i think it wasn't an 'unheard of' situation where ppl are abducted

great parallel with the empress vibe! it's how i saw it too! its the only way the grandmother knew how to have impact from the ' sidelines. '

i dunno why people hate the grandma! her role is perfect! in a matrimonial household , yes, she is definitely changed from 'how it used to be ' according to shanbao's explanations of the rules and how it was a very supportive family! BUT grandma knows how the world can be brutal to the women, especially to women who rule themselves. Shanbao's role is also so well written and perfectly played. it's only getting better!! a sign of a great show!

i wonder a lot about the scene when the FL stands in front of the chamber doors and we only see the cast of the shadow of Yang ... as a frozen moment just before she decides to not go. we only see her side so far but this scene may foreshadow more... maybe it wasn't even Yang at that moment. reminds me of the 'in blossom' cdrama murder scene.

i've rarely seen a cdrama where so many characters have enough depth and mystery
in the plot! refreshing!

i love that there are so many suspects. and every character has enough depth to fool us!!

it is !! but i noticed its overused?!it washes out the depth of emotional scenes like the forest moment. its was perfection with only nature sounds... and real silence...until they blasted the background music... maybe it's just me 😭

i was rooting so much for prisoner of beauty , i am glad it was popular but i've seen the ml in other dramas, i much preferred him in the wild dream within a dream cdrama than this one! i just couldnt take it seriously this one

also dropped the first 3... they did start well with a good promising plot and characters... but characters kept falling flat/ stereotyped and the narrative& scripting felt short! even if production cinematography/colours nice... it won't keep me watching...

is it just me or the conversation in the forest was so much better with nature sounds and silence before music filled the silence? same with when mu crumbled in tears when they couldnt find zhao after the race... i find it dillutes the emotional depth and esther is really shining in those moments ...

she waited soooo long and kept in her heart all the angst!!
i love her reaction and i suddenly feel cheesy because its melodrama 101 😂

when she lost him at the race, she crumbled and fell sooo hard, she kept waiting and looking for him .... she even says to her friend 'he won't abandon me' also she saw how he realized her dreams etc,

she is right to ask for answers!!! this can't be brushed over ( and i hope he will notice she had the pendant on!!)

i think it also puts a nice age gap for Mu as the show really wanted to contrast her before and after

loved reading your review! i agree 100% . i thought i had watched enough c-drama to catch on more stuff, but this show truly shines in quality, references and execution!
thank u for sharing with us soooo many details!

so much details and references! I admit I never dived as much into the principles of Daoism although they sound sooo familiar! and boudhism too.

I see how justice sounds more "western" , in this case it's return of balance. So instead of justice for his friends, it's more like sacrifice out of love and finding peace/freedom through disruption of destiny for him and his friends. It looks like it was his test all along, and not a cornered tragic escalation of events...

I'm having a great time diving into the references and reflections in the links you shared! Is this like one of your favourite novels/drama?

such an insightful and deep review! I love when dramas inspire reflections and this one shines in all the details , references and attention... thank you for bringing that out!