PeachBlossomGoddess

This is VERY loosely based on 3 Kingdoms period of Chinese history. After the Eastern Han dynasty fell, the empire broke up into many (I want to say 16?) separate states controlled by different warlords. Through many wars the powerful warlords consolidated them down into a long period of stalemate between 3 Kingdoms - Wu, Shu and Wei. Wei Shao is said to be VERY loosely based on Cao Cao/Cao Wei kingdom. The time of four states in the drama should correlate to about the 210s period in history. This timeline map showing how it all played out is pretty cool.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Three_Kingdoms_period

The Weis are strong on the battlefield but they are weak on strategy. The Qiaos are strong on strategy but weak on the battlefield. The Weis went to defend a border stronghold assuming the Qiaos would back them up without considering that it would leave the Qiao's capital open to attack. Grandpa made the call not to honor the alliance bc the divination rock just confirmed his own deduction that it could cost them their capital. Did he break his promise? Yes absolutely. But he also defended his capital and his citizens and that his why he told Manman years later he never regretted that decision and if he had to do it again, he would. If the Weis were smart and calculated that the Qiaos wouldn't be able to help them, they'd have just abandoned that city and tried to take it back later. It cost them WS's bro and his father but the Wei capital was intact and the clan remained a force to be reckoned with. You are right Manman's uncle and grandpa may have been cowards but sometimes its better to live to fight another day rather than be brave and dead. Even if they defended the Wei city successfully they could have lost their capital and that is not a risk a responsible leader takes. Grandpa Qiao decided the alliance was not worth risking his capital. I can't really blame him. And as much as it hurt her and cost her too, grandma Wei also got it and that is why she supported the marriage to bury the hatchet.

He is really one of the best supporting actors out there. Even though he has had "bigger" roles in higher profile dramas, I really think this is his most moving performance to date.

Please don't click if you have a heart condition:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/175851560430257081/

Yeah the middle episodes got lost in romantic cliches. But I think ep 24-27 regained some momentum and were better balanced between plot and romance.

I agree, she isn't well written enough to make a good villain. She is two dimensional and her motive just to be empress is like a big yawn. I just can't take her seriously. Acting wise she is also no Liu Duanduan is way better at playing the kind of villain you love to hate.

I think that is bc the express episodes will be out.

I think they are definitely on to her but sometimes you need to keep your enemies closer..

Yes and time and distance will help him get over Manman. Its too bad she doesn't have a younger sister.

Yes clearly that is how it has to play out bc they now need Bianzhou to complete the canal. And I think Wei Yan will be finally happy to be the master of his own destiny.

Yeah she has a the Magic Villain Pass of this drama. There's always one in every story that can pop up anywhere and everywhere including the emperor's bedchamber.

Ty for reading and your kind words.

Tbh I have lost patience with the romance. Its not about consummation it is about forgiveness. They will never be happy together unless he lets go of the past. He is delusional if he thinks that she will love him after he goes off and massacres her family. This is just simple logic its not complex and that is their true obstacle as a couple. I lost interest in WS as a character long ago, he is just love brained and not that much better written than the flower lady.

Not sure which is worse tbh - sinking at the end as opposed to the current situation of being lost at sea...

Yups the narrative lost the plot for sure.

You can have comedy and plot movement at the same time and 12 episodes is a long way to go IMHO.

Well it’s been sweet but also boring for quite a few episodes now so it’s high time for the plot to get a kick in the butt.

You never know. They clearly don’t have budget to shoot war scenes…

They end up killing each other off. Peace returns to the lands. The end.

Well she may be WS's wife but I think ancient times or not, love and loyalty can't really be dictated it has to be won. I empathise with WS's trauma but he needs to get over it. All is fair in love and war. Security alliances don't work if honouring it poses existential risk on a country. Qiao/Yanzhou made a choice to put their own citizen's security first, as was correctly calculated by Bianzhou. The Wei family are seasoned generals, they should understand this better than anyone else. So their hate for the Qiao's seems misdirected and wanting to draw and quarter them seems vastly out of proportion to their "betrayal". As the main source of conflict between the CP, it always felt a bit exaggerated and contrived to me.