MadelineMaureen

3rd Couple had twins. (the child actors didn't cooperate on the day of filming so they are never shown, just mentioned.)
1st sister is pregnant with her first in episode 36.

I think almost every actor in this cast was either in the Double or Scent of Time or Story of Kunning Palace. Seriously there is at least one crossover of the leads' work with a supporting actor.

Final storyline/CP rank for me:
4th: Justice Couple
3rd: Scheming Couple
5th: Fire & Gasoline Couple
6th(we were robbed i tell you): A Very Long Engagement Couple
1st: Scholarly Couple
2nd(they were only ever supporting & never really got to know them): Double Agent Couple

We utterly robbed of a full Brother-in-law final boss alliance meeting. I needed twin to interact with all the different BiLs. I understand the child actors not cooperating but still sad we didn't get to see 3rd couple's twins.

At last count there were a total of 17 actors from The Double in this production. I think one of the producers is their company boss or something like that.

I will say, I had to not recommend this show to a friend after episode 17. But that is because I know my friend and this show is filled with very triggering content for people who have gone through DV/IPV or SA.

It's important to be informed before consuming content that may harm one's mental health. But throwing the baby out with the bathwater isn't the answer either. I'm debating whether or not to add a discussion topic with episode by episode potential triggers. As not every episode has dark elements. But when those darker elements enter the chat it is abrupt and very much out of left field a lot of the time. aka it can be jarring at times. I think it might help those who want to watch but are hesitating because of certain subject matter.

With so many different storylines, there is something for everyone to enjoy with this show. So it is sad when the whole show gets written off completely without first investigating further into it.

He, along with Wang Xing He and Ni Hong Jie, are the only actors in the lead cast using there real voices as well. So his diction is good enough to dub his own work, which is always a nice little bonus.

I've only finished up to episode 6; but I'm guessing that masked guy is Uncle Ye Xin...?

https://kisskh.at/755789-xian-tai-you-shu#comment-20674920 leaving this here. I finished episode 5.

Okay, so I've given the show a shot, and am pleasantly surprised. I had mentioned the other day in the comments that this genre wasn't really my favorite for various reasons, but I've finished episode 5 and so far none of my major issues with XianXia(shout out to Nina for helping me understand the different genres) productions has come up.

The color grading is natural and people have individual skin tones that don't look overblown(whitewashed by lighting/post production editing). The sets are mostly practical and feel grounded in a real world rather than a floating space rock in rainbow nothingness. The skies have depth and texture to them; properly conveying tension within action scenes. They also utilize atmosphere(light smoke to give depth within a camera. Trust that without it shots feel "off".)
The make-up isn't too over the top for the main leads & the hair is dynamic and changes from time to time.

There was a lot of exposition to get through in that first episode but they kept it interesting. Their use of montage to show her growing up in the village was top tier. The animation to live-action intro was interesting and well done.

The cinematography is thoughtful, but not overdone. Sometimes this genre has very over exaggerated zoom ins on characters as they squint at something. This one doesn't do that. Because they are using the same studio that everyone and their mother uses I can say with certainty that the set dressers have done amazing work. The places feel lived in and cared for. There are no large empty rooms that cheapen the look. There is practical use of sunlight for a lot of scenes, so snaps for that. They are following action film rules which is nice. Pretty much, when they cut from one shot to another during a fight, the action is taking place in the same point within the frame and not jumping around. They linger on expressions/moments to convey internal emotions. The camera angles make moments feel intimate instead of making it feel like two actors on a large set.

Overall I'm enjoying the show. The production has done an amazing job grounding the fantastical elements with real world objects and practical effects. The visual effects aren't the very best I've ever seen, but for a tv show...they are some of the best.

I think I'll continue watching.

I should try and sleep so I can attempt to finish this before work tomorrow. Will I sleep though....no because I have a million chores to finish. I don't want to adult right now.

The women in the palace really do mirror the Li family. But unlike the Li family, they are trapped in a gilded cage forced to share their loved one with others. They use their power wisely.

Anyone else get the impression Yang Xian isn't as worldly as his reputation implies? He seemed extremely shy all of a sudden for someone who was known to visit bars with "entertainment", when his wife was on top of him.

Also, he 100% was about to reprimand the maid for touching him inappropriately before Le Shan swooped in. Same with his "friends" taking shit behind her & her family's back.

I like that WinWin uses subtle changes in his face when she's not looking at him. He softens his expression. I'm starting to wonder if Yang Xian saw their mother somewhere & decided he wanted her as a mother-in-law, cause he for sure loves her maternal treatment. He lost the true maternal love when his sister married into the palace. & add the layer of his most beloved sister being married as a consort(noble concubine), that must have hurt his young pride. It warped his understanding of love. His mother is money hungry, father is power hungry, friends are all brown nosing frat boys, & the servants seem to be jockeying for a higher position in the household by tempting him. Dude's been dodging landmines his whole life.

I just really need to know what he would have done with her if he hadn't ended up with the drugged cup. Would he have played like she did, or would have actually taken away her consent & completed the wedding night? Imma need them to circle back to this topic at some point.

Tian Tian is acting circles around the whole damn cast. Can't wait to see her work when she gets to her mid 20s & 30s. She already chooses interesting characters, so when she starts to play more mature roles it's going to be a site to see. (The more experienced actors have some of their best work in their late 20s early 30s.)

they keep reiterating that he has no martial skills in episode 30....i am confusion. I'm hoping that he really does have hidden skills but as we go on im like...wait is he really just a layabout? WinWin is doing a really good job portraying his softern side for her behind her back. Honestl, I think I want his character to be a talented martial artist because of WinWin's dance training/skills.

It's my day off I was bored so I went through the whole cast list on my phone & typed it into my laptop. I thought it would be like max 10(cause I had clocked them), but didn't think we would have hit that level of double digits. & if they weren't in The Double about an equal amount were in Story of Kunning Palace.

Reading the comments I can tell who's looked at the poster for the show & who definitely didn't enhance the poster for the show. Like some people are genuinely surprised that Yang Xian is 5th brother-in-law.
Also, as someone who is frustrated with Netflix's lack of translating the title cards for all the characters, use Google Lens on your phone to translate the name/title on screen. If there is dialog happen at the same time a title is up on screen they won't translate WHO the person on screen is. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

that's too bad. I found that 4th couple had the most chemistry along with 3rd couple.

The show jumps from around Summer time to Spring the next year in episode 28.

I love that we are already, like, yeah pookie would never hit a man for no reason. (seriously I need Yang Xian to be a secret good guy, because Le Shan deserves the world)

1st, 3rd & 4th all had a solid 9 episodes where they are the main leads. 2nd couple has really only ever been supporting imo. The first few episodes are establishing the Li family dynamic. I think the last 9 episodes will have more Li family interactions than the middle portion.