This 1-episode-per-day schedule has some merit. It's providing enough time to watch the drama is another site.…
Err, TBH it's a pretty settled concept in wuxia/xianxia. All performers (when not doing in in the privacy of their family and close friends) were assumed to be prostitutes and had no status. Some brothels were privately owned, but the state brothels are definitely relegated to an "arts" department.
They exported the concept (or it was borrowed) to Korea, too - the institution of the state gisaeng is similar. In China, if a family was punished, usually the males were killed but the women and young children were enslaved, and the ones who could sing or dance or write poems were sent to such a place. It happens even in Nirvana in Fire, which is presumed to be alt history costume drama, not just in wuxia/xianxia.
I guess - it being a drama aimed at a mainly Chinese audience - they assumed people knew what they were talking about.
The manhwa is Korean, they keep it secret because of how SK society doesn't accept same-sex relationships. It…
I won't be hypocritical here because I know I am a fujoshi myself - it's just because women like BL stories, get more invested in BL and usually also spend a lot more on the industry. You'll notice these aren't actually aimed at men or boys in basically any manner. There are a few more serious-themed homosexual stories made by Asian media, but they're pretty rare and usually tend to be depressively tragic, TBH. Most of them though are romantic fantasies that aren't going to happen in real life... ever. (Then again, so are most hetero rom-coms, LOL). Because women like happy endings.
But then again, that's what escapism is for, right?
it was a great story, thoroughly enjoyed it, up until ep 10 which just felt rushed and weird at the end for me,…
The manhwa is Korean, they keep it secret because of how SK society doesn't accept same-sex relationships.
It doesn't translate as well into a Japanese drama, or maybe it does - I've read that while same-sex stories are pretty present, actual relationships aren't as accepted as it appears in the media. It's a work in progress, though, while in SK... not so much.
5th ep is a bit better, but just when you think they got on a good stride, they don't forget to add in the toxicity. Almost halfway through, no psychological aid in sight (not that I expected it anyway).
The songs themselves are good (particularly the a capella one) but the BGM keeps missing all the points. *sigh*
Currently addicted to watching BTS of this show lol. Thinking about starting to read Heaven Official's Blessing,…
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (abbreviated to MXTX) published three novels so far - Mo Dao Zu Shi (MDZS - Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, on which The Untamed is based), Tian Gu Ci Fu (TGCF - Heaven Official's Blessing, on which the drama Eternal Faith is based on - unreleased yet, who knows if ever...), and Scum Villain's Self-Saving System (SVSSS - this one has a donghua release so far, no news of a drama, if ever). All are great stories. TGCF is the longest (VERY long, and pretty convoluted.) It also has a donghua (two seasons up so far). The gong in it is one of the best, but as a whole, MDZS works way better, IMHO. And is a lot more endearing, also IMHO. But if you're in the mood for some pretty intricate stories, backstories and developments, dive in. It would help if you're a bit familiar with wuxia/xianxia and danmei tropes, though, it can get a bit heavy.
If you want to laugh, though... SVSSS is the way to go. Because it takes all webnovel tropes and makes fun of them, and then there's the shou (his POV is the main POV) and he's hysterical! (usually in the direct sense too LOL). It's also a lot shorter (shorter than MDZS too).
Be warned MXTX likes to use flashbacks a lot, and there'll be lots of going back in time and retconning different situations.
I see you haven't watched a lot of actual based-on-danmei cdramas (according to your list). You could try and see if more of them are to your liking - dramas like (costume dramas:) Word of Honor, The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty, Meet You at the Blossom (this one is officially aired by Thailand, but it's actually a cdrama), then (modern dramas, with some fantasy elements:) The On1y One, The Spirealm, My Stand-In (Thai-made, uncensored), Guardian. All of them are based on pretty well-known danmei novels, and some of them came very close the the censorship limits and even put a step over the line.
There's a huge world of danmei novels out there, if you want to explore it :D
ETA Forgot to mention, MDZS also has a (finished) donghua release. And TGCF donghua's production is so worth it, I love their OSTs - here's an example, no spoilers of any kind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY4JJc887GU
When she left the morgue, I thought she was going to go John Wick on Zhang Yi.
Why did the minster flee, though? Did he know what his son did? Was he in on it all?
...Poor Heng Hui and poor princess - how on Earth did they think they would make a run for it? Both were way too naive.
But LOL @XQA's seeing the Gold Gongs, hahaha~ they were all bloody except for Yang Yan (because he's awesome like that) and then there's the extra-boastful Alchemist, he might even out-boast XQA if he put his mind to it, and XQA had his "dis-gus-ting!" expression on throughout the whole thing, ah, pot, kettle, you know :D
On ep 2, if he loves her so much (as implied by certain scenes), why the heck was he abusing her for the past three years?! What he did to her - continues doing so far - is nothing less than psychological abuse. Every overture she made, he slapped down. He talked her down, never shown her a hint of care, not mentioning affection, why the heck does he do that? It's not like if people know they're married she'd become an instant target but EVEN if she were to become one... why not show her affection in private?!
The ending?Could it be that he had a twin this whole time and that's who Du Chang had a run in with years ago?What…
The more I think of it, the more I believe it's just a metaphor - obviously they could use it for a hook on a third season, if there's ever another one. But the "evil twin" Shen Yi has the same hairstyle as the younger Shen Yi who made the portrait of Du Cheng's captain and led to his death, and the scene is so eerily similar to what happened to the captain - I guess it's meant to show that "younger" Shen Yi was at a crossroads before meeting Du Cheng, and he could have easily walked the other path, leading to him eventually becoming a villain. But instead, they did meet, and he IS anchored in reality by Du Cheng, so now he's on the good guys' side, using his genius for good things.
Seems like HH is just a puppet for some cloaked dude to get his (HH’s) revenge for himself and probably the…
He already slipped once, the people in the sects aren't stupid, I think they figured out that Er Di is also XQA and also Chen XuNan, a man who lives and dies by his name :D
He's yet to tell them he's Yang Ling, and who knows if he'll keep inventing more identities :D
And the "what can this mirror also do" scenes were hilarious - he was like, WHAT! Why didn't I know that?! :D
The Emperor really didn't like the little dragon getting so friendly with XQA...
I feel so bad for poor Heng Hui... does this mean the princess is also gone?
BUT! There are so many plot threads that didn't seem related and have come up as being related a lot, I like that. It didn't even look like they were setting things up, but now it looks like a large canvass and Wei Yuan is playing a huge game of chess with the Emperor on it.
3 
I'll keep watching though, it's been a while since I completed a kdrama, but I wish things... happened. Or something.
His father, sister and cousin outside: wow, these mellons (well, seeds LOL) are SO GOOD!!
That's such a hilarious scene :D And where the heck did XQA's handful of seeds come from? :D
ETA For a demon hand (or whatever's left of it), Shen Shu is freaking handsome :D
I don't like the face thing, LOL, XQA should tone it down with the bling IMHO.
They exported the concept (or it was borrowed) to Korea, too - the institution of the state gisaeng is similar. In China, if a family was punished, usually the males were killed but the women and young children were enslaved, and the ones who could sing or dance or write poems were sent to such a place. It happens even in Nirvana in Fire, which is presumed to be alt history costume drama, not just in wuxia/xianxia.
I guess - it being a drama aimed at a mainly Chinese audience - they assumed people knew what they were talking about.
He should open a stall or something. That way, his aunt will always have money for some chicken dinner :D
But then again, that's what escapism is for, right?
It doesn't translate as well into a Japanese drama, or maybe it does - I've read that while same-sex stories are pretty present, actual relationships aren't as accepted as it appears in the media. It's a work in progress, though, while in SK... not so much.
The songs themselves are good (particularly the a capella one) but the BGM keeps missing all the points. *sigh*
If you want to laugh, though... SVSSS is the way to go. Because it takes all webnovel tropes and makes fun of them, and then there's the shou (his POV is the main POV) and he's hysterical! (usually in the direct sense too LOL). It's also a lot shorter (shorter than MDZS too).
Be warned MXTX likes to use flashbacks a lot, and there'll be lots of going back in time and retconning different situations.
I see you haven't watched a lot of actual based-on-danmei cdramas (according to your list). You could try and see if more of them are to your liking - dramas like (costume dramas:) Word of Honor, The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty, Meet You at the Blossom (this one is officially aired by Thailand, but it's actually a cdrama), then (modern dramas, with some fantasy elements:) The On1y One, The Spirealm, My Stand-In (Thai-made, uncensored), Guardian. All of them are based on pretty well-known danmei novels, and some of them came very close the the censorship limits and even put a step over the line.
There's a huge world of danmei novels out there, if you want to explore it :D
ETA Forgot to mention, MDZS also has a (finished) donghua release. And TGCF donghua's production is so worth it, I love their OSTs - here's an example, no spoilers of any kind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY4JJc887GU
Why did the minster flee, though? Did he know what his son did? Was he in on it all?
...Poor Heng Hui and poor princess - how on Earth did they think they would make a run for it? Both were way too naive.
But LOL @XQA's seeing the Gold Gongs, hahaha~ they were all bloody except for Yang Yan (because he's awesome like that) and then there's the extra-boastful Alchemist, he might even out-boast XQA if he put his mind to it, and XQA had his "dis-gus-ting!" expression on throughout the whole thing, ah, pot, kettle, you know :D
I just don't get his mindset.
He's yet to tell them he's Yang Ling, and who knows if he'll keep inventing more identities :D
And the "what can this mirror also do" scenes were hilarious - he was like, WHAT! Why didn't I know that?! :D
I feel so bad for poor Heng Hui... does this mean the princess is also gone?
BUT! There are so many plot threads that didn't seem related and have come up as being related a lot, I like that. It didn't even look like they were setting things up, but now it looks like a large canvass and Wei Yuan is playing a huge game of chess with the Emperor on it.