Pops-BN

Spot on!
The lore is rich and very interesting and really makes you believe in this world. I also love how each character has different views or opinions and how it affects their actions, beliefs, morales and the people they meet.
I feel like numerous morales dilemma and future conflicts are introduced in quite smart ways.
Loving the writing and I have high hopes for the second part. What about you ?

Among his 19 last dramas, only 1 has a clear happy ending and a few with open endings. We cans say that 1 out of 10 is gonna have a happy ending. So as the 20th dramas of his, I will bet it's a HE.
Please !

I agree and I also understand why he did it tho.
He has taken away from her experiences, angst and harsh lessons in addition to her consent. But, in return, she gets to keep her morales, her kindness for helping people, her personnality and yes, staying naive ...
It also helps her broadening her views on rules she never understood. Her meeting with different people on different paths are a way better way to sharpen her opinions and mind.
I feel like the drama is trying to enhance a morale dilemma : are the rules always right ? If not, what could be right ?
And the journey of the FL is about finding the answers. Her bloody revenge was too drastic and avoided to take the full picture or the full understanding of such dilemma. That's why she apologized because her quick conclusions brought the ML into a difficult position (referred with the emperor, with his companion, ...). Altough he was more grateful than bothered. So he chose to erase such drastic and extreme answers to let her discover what her morales and idealism should become.
I'm prett sure the amnesia trope will be adressed properly and the FL will get back... later !

Honestly, kuddos to the writer and diretor ! It's rare to actually have such dilemma properly directed and told to an audience.

It kind of remind me of Affinity, not just because of the main actress, but plot wise. We are going from cliche to plot twist to random side quest. I'm wheezing but somehow hooked ^^
I need to know if the writers'room has AI or just very imaginative and crazy people

Just finished episode 29 and… what was that? 😭 Who wrote this episode because it is a complete mess.

We get 3 different flashbacks in the same episode, a totally random forest meeting, then a supposed confrontation that somehow manages to feel not threatening at all. And characters keep popping in one after another with barely any breathing room.

Also, the timeline makes 0 sense. How much time has actually passed? Hours? Days? Who knows...

What annoys me the most is that some scenes should have been major emotional moments (key information, big decisions like joining the army, receiving a gift), but they’re rushed and oddly structured. Like… why introduce the weapon before the actual decision? That completely kills the dramatic buildup.

This episode had so much potential but the editing, script and pacing really did it dirty. It looks like a pivotal episode to introduce the bigger picture and... fails.

I had high hopes that "Pursuit of Jade" would not fall short on the script but this episode scares me for the latter half of the drama. Does it get better ? Or is it a "rough/rushed" script for the ending ?

I need someone to fact check.

I heard that starting from now, actors playing in BL or borderline bromance, can only keep playing such roles. Like they are becoming outcast of the whole entertainment industry to only stay in that specific lane. To the point that they are face swaping some actors in mainstream cdrama (for ex: Scholar Yang in Pursuit of Jade). Is it real ?

If it's true, as both of these actors are having most of their works in mainstream cdramas, would it be possible their agency and themselves are participating in stopping "Eternal Faith" from ever being released ?

Or is it more a fear of having another "The Untamed" with too much of an overwhelming success ? In the sense that the two main actors from "The Untamed" are still not allowed to be on the same stage in public. And the two main leads here could also gain quite a lot of traction. So it would lead people to be even more invested in BL when the chinese goverment seems against it.

I was not expecting such fast pacing drama. It has its perks, scratching an itch seeing Xiaolan always winning by being smart and cunning, but also its downsides too, barely seeing her efforts to achieve what she wants or the growth of her relationships with the people surounding her.

It's particularly noticeable between ep7 to ep9 where we are skipping trough a lot. Honestly, it's ok if we are missing bits from the novel but at least makes it catchy, with feelings...
I mean, it would have been great to have some romantic moments between FL & ML. But they always seem interrupted, by arising problems, a fast paced plot, another character, ... Same for her other "key" relationships : her mother, her friendship(s), ...

It's starting to feel too much like we are skimming through the novel going from one scene to another without any buildup, any tension, any attachment. At this point, she looks more like a "Mary Sue" and less like someone who achieved lots through hard work, grit and wits. It's also frustrating how we are going too fast to fully understand the FL's real struggles or inner thoughts.

On another note, the drama is really great. I love how they use her modern life to introduce a valuable lesson she learned painfully or a mood. I also hope the plot would be able to use it to have an ending properly tied up. I also appreciate how they manage to visually signal the passing of time (clothes, haircut, attitude of other characters, changes in the scenery or background, ...).

Oh, I think in the last few episodes there were use of IA.
I mean, when the dam broke and engulfed the mansion in Baxia, we can see the servants faceless and quite vague while some other part are super detailed. It lasts less than 3-5 seconds. Then, in ep27, from 25:27 and again for just a handful of seconds, we have IA used.
I was worried IA would en up overused but thankfully, if it's only those kind of really short scenes, it can be bearable as there were tremendous efforts in making the whole drama. I just hope it doesn't end up being such a common practice to cut on costs that apart from main leads, all the other characters end up being IA.

Sorry for the rant. It just annoyed me when everything else is so well done. Like why giving up such high standards a few seconds with unnecesseray scenes. I would rather watch something else or no B-roll cuts.

Yes, really great drama ! It went a bit under the radar but is pretty interesting and well written with complicated leads. You will find many similarities with Pursuit of Jade.

To anyone wondering if she is a good actress. As someone already pointed out she worked with some of the most looked for screenwriters... AND directors !

Take any dramas for the last 5-8 years that was a masterpiece in your eye. Go Youn Jung is one of the only actress that has worked with either the screenwriter or director from your favorite drama. It's an insane acknowledgement from such a tough industry. I can also bet she will work with most of the veteran actors with multiple awards because she can keep up.

For the record, kdrama are kinda facing a crisis and actors are struggling to find roles in an industry getting more and more difficult to stay in. Being pretty is never enough in this industry because evryone is. But she is able to get some of the most interesting roles with the most asked for screenwriters and directors. Like, is that not a gigantic silent evidence backing up her talent ?

Have you watched her range from "The Hunt", "Moving", "Resident Playbook", "Sweet Home", "Can this love be translated", "Law School", "Alchemy of Souls", ... ?
She has the knack to add depth and multiple layers to her characters making them 3Dimensional because she IS a good actress.

I am very hopeful the drama will keep going strong and not "betray" the characters or the novel. I mean, the characters will either grow or stay consistent while the plot will stay solid.

Why ? For one, it's the same director from "Blossoms". So quite reassuring as he has been always very consistent with a clear vision for each of his dramas.
And two, the screenwriter is the same one from "Coroner's Diary" and "Love like the Galaxy" or "The Rise of Phoenixes". All were complicated novels or scripts were the drama adaptation could have failed without a pretty solid writting and well understood characters. Not to mention, all of these dramas also have interesting second characters that have their own interesting arcs and growth (not meant to contrast/emphasize the main characters).
I have been so disapointed by novel adaptations lately that seeing those two behind the scenes feels like a big breath of relief. We are in for a ride with this masterpiece !

I feel the happy ending with a tight plot and a lot of interesting characters with complicated power dynamics. Ooooh, it's gonna be good ^^

We are off to an excellent start ! The pacing is great, beautiful cinematography able to translate feelings instead of scenes, interesting and complex characters, ... It's interesting and I hope it will keep staying strong.
Please, may you avoid the curse of good budget drama having 2 writers team losing the plot and characters in the second half of the drama !

I also think it does, mostly because it's about a fate repeating itself from generation to generation. As her ancestors from Luoying Valley (her aunt, her great grandmother, ...), the same complicated entanglements happens between the different sects. So, Cai Zhao is bound to be , like her aunt, a great warrior stuck between sects' politics and relationships (with lover, family, friend, mentor, ...).

And already, we can see Cai Zhao trying her best to be more restrained and not go for what she wants just because of all she represents and must protect.
I'm wondering if Yuqi is going to be helping or an obstacle in her way towards more freedom for her own fate ?

It's a bit sad to acknowledged as I found her really fun and witty with her acting in "Love Behind the Melody". I just hope she will get better in the second half of the drama where tragic scenes are expected.

Should you watch it ? Depends what you are looking for!

Visually, it’s refined, with great shots and awesome face shots. And Zhou Yi Ran kills it !
But the show never fully lives up to its own premise.

We’re introduced to a rich generational conflict, multiple sects, and a layered history. The lore is referenced in several key scenes. BUT there’s a noticeable imbalance between what the characters claim (fate can be defied) and what the narrative seems to suggest (no, it cannot) without ever clearly committing to either idea. So, what is the drama's message ? Is this about breaking the cycle, or being trapped by it?
That thematic hesitation weakens the stakes and also affects the central relationship. In the last few ep, the tension starts to feel repetitive betwwen ML & FL (ep14-17). Instead of escalating, the conflict loops.

The antagonists suffer from a similar lack of darkness or depth. For a wuxia, the moral darkness feels surprisingly muted. There’s little real menace, and the idea that fate itself could be the true antagonist never fully materializes with enough emotional depth.

Action is also underused. There are few fight scenes, and almost no tangible sense of progression. In wuxia, isn't growth an essential part of the journey ? Strength should be earned. Here, the FL is already powerful (so why bother training at the sect?), and the ML’s past failures to reclaim leadership lacks clear &/or meaningful buildup.

Performance-wise, Zhou Yi Ran stands out. A few senior actors add to it. But the imbalance becomes noticeable as the drama tries to grow heavier. Bao Sheng En, who was great in Youthful Glory and Love Behind the Melody, feels unusually restrained here. Emotional scenes lack variation, which becomes especially visible in romantic or tragic moments (episode 16-17). Combined with abrupt editing, it weakens the impact.

In the end, it’s a beautiful wuxia with strong potential. But it hesitates where it should commit: thematically, emotionally, and dramatically.

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I tried my best to word what made me uncomfortable despite loving to watch it. What are your opinions on it ?

I'm hooked and already on episode 4. As a total non believer, I was expecting vague answer and interpretations that are universal but they are precise, spot on. Their interpretation is what end up being a bit wrong but the clues they got from their deities, cards, numbers, ... ? Insane !

To anyone wondering if it's worth a watch, go for it. Ep 1 is already surprising and give you lots of great moments, ep 2 keeps going strong, ep 3 is a tad bit repetitive but permit to know well the last 20 winners. But ep4 ? The most interesting one so far !

I also applaud how the production helps us gather information and understanding of each specialty and process. We are never overwhelmed with info dump and it stays catchy and entertaining.

It was very briefly mentioned (1 sentence) at the beginning a bit after they meet. It's kind of implied that going back is impossible since the other transmigrator, concubine Xie, never managed to do so. So, they are all trapped in the story and trying to survive it no matter what. They also seem to never really have the time to think about it deeply as they are constantly trying to outwit, survive and manipulate their deadly opponents.

You know what would be as addictive as this show ?
The writers room. I need to know what happened to end up with the most unexpected ... things. I can't find a better suited word for everything that was so out of the box and out of pocket.
Did they throw everything they liked in a bowl and pick up on hazard ? The drama, the tea, the craziness...

Sooo… another drama I was looking forward to, but one that could easily turn into a disaster and trigger anger because everything feels so chaotic. ^^
As you said: what exactly is happening in C-ent right now?

The styling and costumes look really good though. Wow !

I also checked the executive producers’ and the director’s past involvement in C-dramas : from Love on Turquoise Land to Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, and even The Imperial Coroner. Most of their projects look great and seem to have strong writing.
So maybe their presence will push the screenwriter to level up. I really hope they managed to give her the right incentive to step up her game, or at least to give this drama some extra care.
We will see once it comes out !

^^ English is not my first language and I'm struggling with it. So for complicated topics where I am not sure to employ the right word/fit in english, I give ChatGPT all my ideas and what I want to say precisely so it can either translate, change orthographs, or enhanced. That might be why it looks so much alike. Aside from the fact all related articles are from before 2022 so expected from an IA to know it.
It's a bit hard for me to find the right words so I hope my answers were clear enough. But I didn't know it would give such a similar result with a different prompt and purpose.