MoonlightFilly

It's a Japanese spy organization working to destabilize China from within (and start a war? i think?)

I was hoping that X would've been less predictable, but ah well. They did 0 to build X as a character so the reveal had no feeling behind it either. That being said, the FINAL reveal was what I wanted all along, so props to them for that.

It's good, but I'm not as attached to the characters compared to MRIAD. Checkmate fixes some of the things I had issues with in MRIAD, but there are good things from MRIAD that I'd argue are missing from Checkmate. Both are good and have their own pros and cons, and I think if you like watching the actors solve cases in the Republican era you'll like Checkmate, but personally in terms of which one has my heart, it's still MRIAD.

It's not the same as Word of Honor or The Untamed, since those ones are adapted from gay stories and so they're trying to make it clear they're gay in every way possible without saying it, but MRIAD is like... not NOT gay? I mean, they flirt all the time, they make it clear they care a lot about each other, Chusheng took him out on a little date (and just generally spoils Lu Yao rotten), and there's even a line that goes "I'm his boyfriend", so like... you can say they act pretty gay. I definitely see them that way. BUT you also have to be prepared for the fact that the writers WILL force the ML x FL romance closer to the end of the drama (and I'm not just saying force because I prefer the MLs together, the writing for the MLxFL romance was just badly done)

the bromance in MRIAD is stronger

Yeah I agree

Yeah it felt so ooc. Even if he was already a bit drunk and wanted a drinking buddy, it felt weird seeing him act that way. Even Situ's "why do you always bully honest people" felt wrong. Idk what reason there'd be, but I still hope there is one to explain it, or else it was just writers forcing a "bonding moment" with the reporter after he opened up about his family which is :\

I mean... I hated her because she was spoiled and abusive and the romance had 0 proper lead up and felt so forced. I wanted him Out Of There especially when she started sticking up for his toxic family saying he should be grateful

Murder on the Orient Express is a pretty famous mystery plot with a couple of movie adaptations, maybe you're thinking about them?

I'm liking the drama for sure! But like you said, if only there was just a little bit more time given for the characters to breathe and grow (individually and together) - it'd be even better then. I think it's just hard not to compare it to MRIAD which DID give the characters time to grow and bond. Knowing what their dynamic could be like, it's hard to not feel a little unsatisfied with how they're using them here. But yeah, otherwise i'm really enjoying the drama it's fun watching them adapt Agatha Christie mysteries!

Jingxuan is Bai Shan Shan's niece on her family's side. She took her in and raised her like her daughter so they call each other mom and daughter. Bai Shan Shan married the 2nd son of the Luo family (Shao Chuan's uncle) but he died. As his widow, they live with and are taken care of by the Luo family.

I'm thinking the same way. This show does some things better, but the MLs were more interesting in MRIAD - dynamic-wise and individually. I'm hoping things change in the coming eps, but we'll see.

I'm more specifically wishing for more bromance in this one tho :'D

I'm greedy I want more bromance moments lol

Thousands of Russians emigrated to Harbin, China after the Russian socialist revolution in 1917, There were so many of them in 1 place that Harbin basically became a Russian-Chinese city so you'll often see both languages being used

He was already such a ride or die lol!

Tan Jian Ci better be in s2 or i'll riot - he really captured my heart with his performance as Shen Yi!

almost there!!! i'm so excited to see them together again!! ;o; <3

Could've been so much but in the end felt flat to me with an underutilized concept. and the things the writers pulled sometimes... they do it just to make the plot move (or stall discoveries) and they are just begging you not to be too logical when watching and i just... couldn't not be

Ahh it's that kind of drama, huh? sdfgh ok I'll try not to think about it too much