RouteVenus

In the novel, the FL is called Xiao Xiang Zi, she is a Cloud Fairy, subordinate to Yue Lao (God of Marriage and Love). She is inexperienced and her cultivation and fighting skills are nowhere near the ML's level. Like the ML, she has a temper and gets provoked easily. She is cheeky, playful and has more open, honest personality in comparison with the ML.
For the majority of the novel, she relies on the ML for protection, but the tables turn towards the end, where she needs to work on her skills to save him.

The ML is called Chu Kong, he is a Celestial Star (oldest - oversees 1st month of the year). He is clever and has good fighting skills. Despite his greater experience, he has anger management problem and often comes off as self-centered; in the novel he even sometimes speaks of himself in the third person when he brags. He is cold and mean towards the FL from the beginning and later he has a hard time admitting he has fallen for her. He is also jealous and reacts with hostility when other male characters show interest in the FL (there is no love triangle though, just to be clear).

Nothing new under the sun (cheerful+honest FL and cold+arrogant ML is a common trope), so it all depends on how the cast and crew handles the material.
I hope they will make the ML slightly less arrogant/mean and the FL less naive/damsel in distress.

Thank you! <3

Thank you, now I am excited to start it! One of my favorite dramas is Eternal Love of Dream which I love because it's so otp focused and surprisingly low on angst. Love Between Fairy and Devil sort of gives me the similar vibe in that respect. <3

Please spoil some things for me!
1) Any annoying side characters (plotting jealous scorned lovers etc.)?
2) How long does swapped bodies arc take? (I don't enjoy this trope so specifying the episodes would help me)
3) Any amnesia arc? (yes, please tell me, I need to prepare myself mentally if yes...)
4) During the mortal arc, they both have their memories/sense of self?

Thank you in advance!

oh, sorry, totally forgot about tagging it; amended

Happy, don't worry! I am just finishing the series but I already know the ending from other people's comments. It's a very good S2 imho! At first, I had problems with getting through the first two episodes of S2 because the main couple is still finding their footing in a relationship and their communication is not ideal (ML goes behind the FL's back to face the danger alone and she tends to rush into things...again). But! They have several important talks during episode 3 and they sort through their issues. Also, they don't have any major misunderstandings throughout the show and if they argue (a little), they resolve it by the next episode and become better and better at communication and working as a team.

I like that there is a progress and they just didn't magically become perfect couple. The plot is better and more consistent this time around, but the focus is still on the OTP and their life. New characters are fun and there is a kinship between the female characters and no rivalry between them, which I think is rare in dramaland. Throw away your worries and enjoy the second season, you won't regret it! (if you have any questions regarding S2, feel free to drop me a message)

There is a real kiss like every other episode, don't worry! I don't know if there were any cuts but there are many kisses throughout the second season and many sweet moments between our main couple! <3

A Dream of Splendor

I think that if you are determined to go on (which I recommend, it's a great show), maybe fast forward a couple of episodes. I think it starts to pick up around ep 20, case on point:

Ep 18 has Minglan totally verbally annihilating the ML's treacherous lover, she also warns the ML against her (they bicker, it's their first longer exchange)
Ep 19-20 are mostly about ML's story (sad!), the true face of some of his closest people gets revealed and in 21 he starts a new chapter of his life
Ep 23 is a key one, the ML saves Minglan and they have a long honest talk about their situations, it can be said that the ML has eyes on her from this moment
Eps 24-33 this is where Minglan starts to be REALLY cool, first saving her cousin from unwanted marriage, helping with family matters, finally giving up on the hopeless SML and most of all, manipulating all her family members to get justice for her mother :D

I won't say anymore, I don't won't to spoil it for you, just wanted to show you that the story gets very interesting soon.

This blog has detailed recaps, if you wanted to read ahead: https://www.dramamlky.com/the-story-of-minglan/

If I may add my two cents regarding The Story of Minglan: I was intimidated by the episode count as well and in the end, I couldn't get enough of this show.

What I liked the most about it is that apart from the first episodes where Minglan is a child that goes through some hard sh*t, she never allows to be abused again and always protects the people she loves and trusts. I NEVER had to be worried about her because she was usually two steps ahead of everyone else. And when she actually marries the ML who is equally smart => one of the best power couples in c-dramas.

Go slowly with The Story of Minglan. The first 10 or so episodes basically just establish the family dynamics and show you who-is-who, it's ok if you feel a little bored (most of us were I think). But then the story starts to get really interesting once the leads have more scenes together. I think that I got really hooked around episode 23 and never considered dropping the show since then.

Minglan is not action packed, nor it has a lot of palace intrigue, there are not even many deaths in it; it's more of a slice of life show centered around lives of the FL and ML's families - if you like more dramatic shows, it's possible you will not enjoy it as much.

But I still hope you'll give it a chance in the future! <3

Thank you for your response! I will try the S1 and see for myself then :)

How is the FL in this season? There are lots of comments on season 1 regarding how annoying she is which makes me think twice before starting it.... Does it get better in season 2?

Thank you for this google document, so informative, you are a life-saver! <3 I need to be spoiled about bad stuff/misunderstandings in advance as well, so this really helps me!

That sounds really good, thank you for replying! <3

Just genuinely curious: is this the kind of sequel that breaks the main couple up or makes them go through silly miscommunications/distrust/memory losses which sometimes feels like it contradicts the good/healthy relationship they built in the S1? (or, gods forbid, puts new love interests/obsessive people in their way...)

Or is it a sequel more along the lines "the otp is unbreakable, but let's watch them go through new adventures and silliness because it's fun"?

I was putting off watching S1 mostly because I want to watch it together with S2 when it's fully released...but I know that sequels sometimes tend to put the main characters back to square one and negate their development if you know what I mean, so I am worried.

I absolutely loved the Story of Ming Lan! I've heard the best things about The Untamed, but it also sets the expectations a little too high, you know? Sometimes I am, ironically, hesitating to watch high rated dramas so I wouldn't be disappointed... You impressively watched so many dramas, do you think I could message you regarding some cdrama recommendations pls?

Thank you, I believe I have vip wetv, but I need to check.... Wouldn't it be nice to have only one perfect streaming service for all asian dramas!

Thank you and good to know about The Untamed too since it's on my watch list as well!

Should I watch this on Netflix or WeTV (I happen to have both)? Do you happen to know which has better/more accurate subtitles please?

So....can the ending be taken as "and they lived happily ever after"? I am asking as someone who wants to start the drama....I don't want to watch 40 episodes of this to watch the leads die or a bittersweet ending when one of them dies or is about to die....