MadelineMaureen

Girl, they even filmed it in the same place as 'My Journey to You' and 'The Double' to the point where I'm like do they ever stop filming at this location? The fact that I haven't seen a Liu Xue Yi drama that doesn't have at least one scene of him at this location made me about double over in laughter.
The set design in this one is top notch & the cinematographer for this project, at least for the first two episodes, is VERY strong in their craft. The choices that they are making with how information is being delivered on screen is worth the repeat plot points in my opinion. So far everything is well produced and performed. I just hope that with it being 32 episodes that the cinematography and directing stays strong. I've been burned before by the first few episodes getting all the budget & the mid section of a drama having the same shots of the same sets over and over & it seeming like the lighting director decided to take a sabbatical. Speaking of lighting director...props to the one on this show cause....damn that's how you light a shot.

I truly feel like the actors weren't given access to all 40 scripts before signing on, cause it's giving written on the fly/written in post production. I'm realizing why this took 3 years to get released.

I feel like the writers lost the plot several times throughout the show. I don't know anything about the novel, but the constant adding of enemies and people trying to harm/kill the FL got ridiculous after the 12th attempted murder. They left plots hanging with little to no resolution. Never explained why certain central characters acted the way they did. The main driving motivation behind most characters was jealousy over power position or a man.
The cinematography was...sometimes good, but sometimes very bad. Whose choice was it to zoom in on people's knees every time they greeted the ML's father, who is a king? I was waiting for a greeting without the kneeling for those shots to matter, but they never saw him again after like episode 20something.
For those wondering about romance, episode 31 is the ONLY episode in the entire show with a kiss. They confess, kiss, do the do, get married all in episode 31, never to really touch each other for the next 9 episodes. There is a face touch or two and a hug at the very end, but once they are together the show pivots to other character's POV and honestly...very pointless interaction that could have been an email, if you know what I mean.
They had WAY too many people trying to kill the FL at all times. There was never a moment that someone wasn't trying to undermine her or kill her in some way. The 2ML never explained what the hell he was doing only to get a longer send off than the ML and FL combined....I just have so many nitpicks that I'm going to end this here. There was a lot of potential, but they dropped the ball somewhere at the midway point, and never recovered.

In spoiler tag because this is a comment about current events that color the lens in which I view this media.

I just find it extremely racist/xenophobic that it's only ever like this with the "desert" tribes aka the Uyghur region of China. It's giving notes of cowboys- good; Indians - bad American propaganda.

If you know what's been happened to the Uyghur people in China in Xinjiang you'll understand why I can't unsee this narrative that keeps popping up. Even though they actively use actors and actress of Uyghur decent I can't help but feel like every period piece that focuses in on this region is morally corrupt in some way.

I realize this comment is going to sound political to some...but it's just a fact that Xinjiang is under martial law and the people are being put into "programs" aka concentration camps on the daily. It's the silent genocide happening in front of everyone's eyes. If you aren't of Han decent you get a major side eye in China. Yes there are extremely famous and popular actors and actresses of Uyghur decent, but they are the extreme minority. The lead actress of this show being one of them.

There are some serious cases of Stockholm syndrome happening. All female characters are sexually assaulted to varying degrees or murdered by one of the male leads.
Though the chemistry and camera work are top tier, the very mid-2000's script writing is a bit of a mood killer. We have a manic pixie dream girl of a 2FL, FL's mother was killed by the ML and his poor decisions. 2ML rapes and pillages for a living....and lets his men do the same. 3ML had a coup that killed the previous rulers and now enslaves most of the country in some manner.
What we have is a drama that you need to turn your brain completely off and just be distracted by the pretty pretty men and women, and scenery. It's like a dark romance smut novel watered down for CCP censorship boards come to life.

So of the 54 characters listed...less than 10 haven't tried to harm or kill the FL by episode 32. ML and 2ML did not make that list.
1 princess, 2 mothers, a guard, 3 older men connected to the ML. Pretty much everyone else has either tried to kill, or plotted to harm her for others. Every man that is interested in her has either almost gotten her murdered or worked with someone who wished her demise in some way. Looking at you 2ML looking at YOU, don't think I forgot. Every member but 2 of ML's family has directly plotted to kill FL. EVERY SINGLE ONE. This girl has more lives than a clowder of cats.
Every episode there are, at least, 3 people actively trying to kill or undermine the FL. I'm not being hyperbolic. I had a list of people who didn't try to harm her...it's getting shorter not longer. 8 episodes to go...

Anyone have the list of OST with artists names in English? I recognize a voice & want to check, but drama wiki wont open for me for some reason even after changing all the permissions.

At first I was like oh are they going to show off their dancing skills? Then nope...worm. I'm sure you know, but for everyone not in the know. Both actors are trained dancers and even went to the same school together(it's where the dance photoshoot for this show was done). I really want to find the interview where they talk about their moms(who are close friends) seeing the promotional trailer for the show for the first time and how they responded. Cause it was funny as hell.

oh thank goodness

I'm in episode 28 now...my guy looks at the ocean and thinks it's a puddle...look deeper....for the love of all that is holy LOOK DEEPER

33mins into episode 26 and I need FWR(our little scar crow) to have a brain....please please please don't mess this up. Please show some semblance of the intelligence that got you that law degree.

Well he did kill her mother, unprovoked...so...yeah that would cause a bump/rift in any relationship.

The arrogance of being back in your old room vibe. I'm assuming because he has intimate knowledge of the layout of this pavilion that he knows when he can and can't be seen by others.

I'm hoping they give more context as to why he chose violence so quickly. Did he think it was a trick by a waring city/nation? Was he just annoyed that they were there? Like why would you shoot at them instead of just keeping the gate locked and not answering the call?

So a "reality" TV show with high school/university Exs, a divorced couple, and an unrequited love couple is the set up. interesting.

I loved the scene in 10 where he's following her around the room. It reminds me of lyrical dance choreography and I would love to see the two mirror each other again like that.

Double happiness by 23. water/bath scene coming soon...😏

A little Harley and Joker at times too

Love in the Desert ❌
Stockholm in the Desert ✅....😏🤣

There is no one that THEY like currently in their orbit.
There actually is a guy that is circling the FL. He uses their Junior-Senior relationship as an in for work related quid pro quo, which is highly illegal in the banking/loan industry. He tries to pursue her, whether it's just for business reasons or he actually has romantic feelings for her is yet to truly be determined.
Her boss is also a creep and constantly trying to force himself on her and any female "below" him. Sexual harassment that has yet to be truly called out or addressed within their HR department. She has let it slide multiple times with only threats of reporting even though not only was she almost victimized by him but her much younger colleague at the same work event. I'm going to need some legal resolution on that before the end of the show.