Potatocheeps

Ok I am calmer now.

I am going to put Erlang under the spotlight for the fiasco
- you should remember that your wife is a very determined lady. If she had insisted on marrying you despite your eh, 'less than enthusiastic' responses, you will not be able to shake her off this one.
- she has a brain and while we won't go into whose brain is better, she definitely has more EQ than you. Yes, you are her blind spot but other than that, she is fine.
So give up hope that she will divorce you, leave you or stop following you. Make her your partner in 'crime'. She will be of better help than killing the pepper soup.

I hope so too! The couple was going so well. I see Baili warming up to her because he appreciates what she is doing.

I am very new to MDL but I think best to put comments regarding an important character or development in spoiler if we are posting right after or soon after the episode is aired?

Haha, at least WSY gave him a good scolding! He was reckless and this was the umpteenth time he came too close. At least they address that. Still, I understand that he's gone off the deep end. Emotions(losing his father, injustice) overruling his logical mind.

Redeem in ep 20? How so?

Talking about this scriptwriter Qing Mei, does anyone know who he or she is? I looked up MDL, there's 3 dramas including this one but I've not watched or heard about the other two

I did entertain the thought that she might be a villain but it was more of my usual -"those close to you, the least suspected type"- way of drawing a suspect list. So I will admit I was surprised.

I enjoyed the showdown until she killed herself. I had that feeling she would but was hoping she wouldn't. As it stands, I am already dissatisfied with how strong badass women in this drama are reduced to emotional sappy things because they are "in love". Those romances and relationship bonds weren't even properly set up. I am not fussy about how a drama should convince me, it can take less than 1 episode or have slow burn, whichever.

Back to Yao Niang. Instead of thinking of her as some lovestruck assassin, I am going with the take that she had no meaning in life. Up to the point she met GBZ, she had no purpose but live for the sake of living. When GBZ saved her, she finally met someone who treated her as a human than a killer machine or object. If there was no GBZ, she will be a walking dead until she dies. So in the end, it didn't matter that she had to take her own life. If she killed GBZ, the only motivation to live would be gone.

I'll just post my thoughts about the certain important character who was the highlight of ep 20.

The drama gave me too little crumbs about their relationship which is way I find it hard to believe that a hardened assassin will kill herself over a man. I'll add my own interpretation - perhaps she hated herself too much. I'll post that.

Blame it on the screenplay writer who is probably not Ma Boyong.

You can have a'innocent, eager to help' wife but this isn't the right way to go

It was going well until 16th Night killed herself. Why? Wasn't she a cold blooded person? SMH!

GBZ truly lives up to his reputation as Shendu most wanted man, bwaaahahahhha!

I'll stop griping and move on to the plot.
Rambling thoughts
1) King Jin is a nasty piece of work but not evil enough. Do I make sense?
2) I'm still on the fence with Wu bro(aka WSY's brother). Either he's a good actor looking real sick or the character is good at faking sick. Something is fishy.
3) Introduction of more badass female-Lord Of Autumn. It is obvious that the one with the halberd weapon is a woman. Maybe Divine are all women? Including the Empress's right hand lady?

Yes, both have their own plus and minuses. I found Changan very difficult to watch although I prefer the cinematography there and bgms too. In LY, I thought the camaraderie amongst the trio to be interesting and fun with each bringing his/her own to a common objective. As several pointed out, this might be more character driven than just the overarching mystery. However, this also means the character writing needs to be tight. I am really fine with the 3 leads - GBZ, WSY and Baili, just stop hammering the melodramatic and sappy parts.

You may have point. If she doesn't assert herself, Erlang would have another wall to talk to. He's often monologuing. Shen Fei gets him.

Unpopular opinions
1) GBZ and WSY 's romance started too early.
I was happy that WSY got pissed at GBZ joining the Intelligence Services but it didn't last long. She's back to mopping. Please, no more flashbacks and love osts.
2) Qiniang is becoming a drag. I thought she was awesome in how she took over the running of the household and she had some smarts. But ever since Erlang gave her some hope, she's clinging onto him like glue.
I don't mind romance as long as they are organic. If they had fleshed out more bonding between WSY and GBZ as they are increasingly forced to work together then start the budding of romance, I will buy it! Same for Erlang and Qiniang. They were doing alright until now. I don't buy Erlang falling for a spoilt lady who needs attention.

She was at least funny in earlier episodes. Now that she realizes Erlang cares for her somewhat, she is demanding more. She brings it out in annoying ways, not giving him space and insisting that he involves her in everything.

She was at least funny in earlier episodes. Now that she realizes Erlang cares for her somewhat, she is demanding more. She brings it out in annoying ways, not giving him space and insisting that he involves her in everything.

He has a face of a antagonist. Very unique but also hard to cast in the dime a dozen rom coms

I applaud whoever wrote Baili's lines and of course Yibo delivered them with superb comic timing!

I fast forward GBZ flashbacks and WSY's crying and mopping. I think they went too heavy handed in this area. I do sympathize with him a lot, poor chap's been in living hell but it's gotten too much. I want to see more brilliant fighting, GBZ and WSY working together, either bickering or cooperating.

Thank goodness there's pause in GBZ and WSY's romance! My drama watch buddies thought it wasn't organic and moving too fast. Now that WSY is super pissed with GBZ joining the Alliance, it's more fun, her cold stares lol! I am sure they will get together in the end.

The OTP of this week belongs to Baili and Qiniang! They are hilarious and so cute. I also love that Shen Fei is an enabler. The romance here has a more natural progression. It's obvious that Baili has a change of heart.