Platinum Fox

You're right. Her character was not meant to be a warrior. Her character was meant to be a free spirited girl who protected citizens with her martial arts. Her character wanted no part of politics or power. She only got involved to save her people and because her family, the rulers of the country, had died. The minute the threat to the empire was over, she gave up the throne and spent all her time with Black Fox, who after seeking power, gave it up to be with her.

The fact that you recognize her character not being a warrior means Zhao Lu Si did her job in portraying this character the way it should have been portrayed and did it well. If you watched this drama in hopes that Zhao Lu Si's character was going to rule the world, then yes you would be disappointed because that was not her role.

Spatina, I know that you wanted someone else in the role. Visualize that woman in that role and tell me if it would have the same feel. A different actress would bring a different feel to the production. What would your actress bring to the character that Zhao Lu Si did not? For me, the banter between Yang Yang and Zhao Lu Si's characters is spot on. I think both actors grew in their profession from having worked together as their next works, especially Zhao Lu Si's.

You're right, but each scene is there for a reason. Once you piece everything together, you understand (even if boring) why it is there.

No, only the audience knows that it was QiQi's grandmother who wrote a letter to the mother. However, I think mom knew from the start that it was NaioNaio. It's why mom sent NaioNaio away with the aunt. The mother wanted to get her out of that environment.

Yang Yang is seven years older than Zhao Lu Si, but Zhao Lu Si held her own with him. As matter of fact, I think Zhao Lu Si helped Yang Yang become a better actor. His character actually had a well rounded personality which I have not seen in his previous roles. His next character in Fireworks of My Heart is also more well rounded. Only Yang Yang can pull off a 15 to 17-year-old in looks and acting and turn back into a 32-year-old with just a hair change.

The second season mirrors the first season, but at the political level. For those of you who dislike the mother, you have missed the point of her character's actions. In this drama you have to pay attention to everything from the camera angles, facial expressions, body position of characters, dialogue, and story structure. It is very carefully put together to tell a wonderful, engrossing story with great messages about love, discipline, and power. The only questionable episode is 55, which to me after all the build up, is very unrealistic and anti-climatic.

Also, I almost didn't watch this because of the slow start, but then realized why all the build up. Since I have to read subtitles to understand the dialogue, it makes it hard to catch everything else. It's why I've watched it several times.

She actually loves all three of them. Two become friends and the other her lover.

I agree with you on historical dramas and the horses. My first response is always, "Don't hurt the horses. "

I agree. Zhao Lu Si played out the maturity growth in this character to a T.

I would like to respond to both RilakkumasBubbleTea and Spatina. Who Rules the World was my first Chinese drama ever, so I had no experiences with Zhao Lu Si or Yang Yang's acting before this. Afterwards, I watched all but one of Zhao Lu Si's dramas, because of her acting in this drama. Still working on all of Yang Yang's.

Since then, I have watched numerous other Chinese actresses of Zhao's age or a little older and none of them can compare with the grace, beauty, and acting ability that Zhao Lu Si possesses at such a young age. For instance, Xuan Lu has worked with Yang Yang before. Do you think she could have played the role of Bai Feng better?

Her hair is the whole point of the drama. There are many scenes that focus on her hair as a male and female.

This was my very first kdrama. I don't know why I started watching it, but it got me hooked on Asian dramas. I can see why it received the awards and international acclaim that it did with the topic, OST, and acting.

I did not see the poster.

Even film critics disagree with each other sometimes. It is all subjective, but everything in the work has to work together. For me four of the best filmed shows are Flower Crew; Love Like a Galaxy, the first 27 episodes; Who Rules the World, and The King's Affection. However, I can find flaws in every single one these, but they do not detract from the story they are trying to tell.

I loved the whole premise of Gen Z. I have always been interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine. My favorite of Zhao Lu Si's is Love Like a Galaxy. It starts out slow, and almost didn't watch it. But once I hit the episode where they go to the lantern festival, it becomes more interesting.

Fireworks was not outstanding, but not horrible. I enjoyed learning about how hard firefighters and rescue workers work and how unappreciated they are. Also, Yang Yang's character finally had a personality.

Yes, there is. I have read many of the reviews on MDL and other venues and they seem to be accurate. I look for stories that bring a different twist to the genre.

I agree. I enjoyed the fresh take on a romance about an older couple instead of people in their 20s. Is love dead after that decade?

Why? How do these stories bring something different to the genre?

What do you mean by this? Pathetic in that you agree or disagree?

As I wrote in the Best category. This is all subjective. However, there is much to be said about good storytelling. Everything must work together: the acting, the sound, the camera shots, etc. Since I have watched three of these all the way through and started, but not finished, four others, I can only comment on what I know. I finished Hidden Love, Fireworks of My Heart, and Crash Course in Romance.

The plot I have seen Zhao Lu Si or other dramas play out many times before and the story line brought nothing new to the genre. In addition, I could not get past Zhao Lu Si's grown up voice which sounded like a 15 year old. Was this intentional by the director? I was only able to watch the whole thing when I turned off the sound. I love watching Zhao Lu Si and she seems to play strong female characters who at some point go against societal norms. This drama had one scene of this and it was very brief. For me, the only interesting character in this drama was the brother. What love is he hiding?

Fireworks of My Heart wasn't outstanding, but it also wasn't horrible. I learned a great deal about the unsung heroes of firefighters and rescue workers in China. Thank you Yang Yang for bringing attention to the working class people of China, not just in this drama, but in others as well.

As for Crash Course in Romance, I have watched way too many romances about young people in their 20s, so it was refreshing to see a romance between an older couple and seeing what parents give up in order for their children to be successful.

For different reasons started, but didn't finish, King the Land, Mask Girl, Destined with You, The Glory, The Longest Promise, and Alchemy of Souls season 1 or 2.