He's the last survivor of his clan and the only one who can retain Spirit Fire. And so he needs to be alive and take care of it. The masters put him behind a barrier and kept him there for centuries, tormented and tortured all the time. It looks pretty gruesome to grow up like that.
Ohhh yes, I feel you! I’ve been watching dramas for over a decade (yes, I’m that old too xD) and yet rewatching…
Don't expect too much PDA because this is LWJ we're talking about. IMHO they did a great job in the drama with managing to hint very strongly at the relationship, even if they left it at bromance. Who wants to see, will see.
In the novel, the truly NSFW parts will happen very late in the story, around the ending actually. And as always with regular danmei, the REALLY REALLY seriously NSFW will be in the extras, LOL. And yes, WWX is just as clueless (or more so) as usual. Except HE's the one who instigates it eventually - because he's WWX and he's... untamed :D (Just wanted to forestall any frustration with the both of them :D)
Enjoy :)
PS I think so far, from all the danmei I've read since TU opened the gates, only Bring in the Wine / Ballad of Sword and Wine / Qiang Jin Jiu has actual 18+ scenes throughout the story (the most sensual danmei I've ever read). I'd recc' that one, too.
PPS And You've Got Mail, LOL, but that one is 20+ rated :D
It is shown as a bromance, but the original story is a bl drama.
The actors are in no way involved with each other, though they were friendly while filming, way back in 2018, as you do with work colleagues. And even if they were (not the case), the story is separate from their real lives, LOL.
Always watch a series (drama, anime, whatever) in its original language. First, because it helps with immersion, second - it's the whole package that matters (cinematography, plot, acting, music, voices - their own or the voice actors'. )
50 eps is not that long for this masterpiece. Each episode has around 40 minutes of actual plot (they made a very strict editing choice, LOL), so around 34 hours of plot. Considering some kdramas, it compares to the old school length of a 20 ep kdrama or so.
Give it til 16-17th, when the register completely changes. Then decide, if you will :)
The first part of the flashback (3-33) is kind of silly, LOL, what with the schoolboy infatuation of LWJ for WWX (you can see it even if the adaptation is censored, it wasn't clear in the novel either because he's so restrained). But the second half is gruesome, be warned. There will be MC death, war, gore, personal hurt, sacrifice - there's a VERY good reason why this story is so well loved.
Ok, I absolutely didn't expect this to actually be THIS good: the story is really layered and the characters are…
I'd rec this order - 1. the novel, 2. the donghua, 3. the chibi donghua, 4. the audio drama, 5. the manhua (this one is still unfinished IIRC).
As for TLs - I read the fan TL, but also bought the SSE official TL, if you can get the books in print, get them - they look amazing and the TL is good.
It definitely has undertones of sexual tension. I've watched friendship bromance, and more is definitely implied…
FoF is on Youtube (most the Chinese networks do that), I can see all eps, I don't know if it's geo-restricted (and I recommend you use Firefox with an adblocker, just to not get interrupted mid-ep, LOL).
I looked at Female General (and I was also expecting it a lot because of the Mulan trope) - nope, the first ep was a total mess and I don't really liked it (though I like the FL actress, she was in one drama I watched and appreciated before).
I don't like Law and the City's title, LOL, so I'm postponing it even though I quite like LJS hahaha~ Yeah, it's the petty things LOL.
A Dream of Splendor was very good, finally two leads who are actually smart, that was certainly a nice surprise. I wish there were more stories with such a dynamic.
Myself, I'm swamped in work and there's been a relentless heatwave for weeks so I can't concentrate a lot on dramas. I'm making my way through The Wanted Detective ~ Calming Waves, and it's been really good so far. But it's not finished yet and I know I'll want to binge it til the end if I get the time. I'm trying to pace myself (as if that ever worked, LOL). Give it a try, if you're in the mood - it also has smart characters, and it's really pleasing on the eyes :D
Only on 18th - Zhuge KongYun is a smart as*hole! I really really hope he doesn't turn to the dark side and is a good one. And that he gets to be BFF with ML (I've wanted that since the very beginning). Don't spoil me on it if they don't LOL.
Damn, Chen YouWei is killing his part - I've known him since IDWTBBWY but he was just a kid. Here he's emoting like nobody's business. I think I like his character (Coroner Feng) the best, so far.
ok I just panicked I understand everything now, I think…
Theirs is a strange relationship. I mean, it makes sense for WWX and YanLi to call him Jiang Cheng or A-Cheng, but Jiang Cheng almost never calls WWX as Wei Ying either (at least I don't remember him calling him by his private name, LOL). YanLi, too, she only calls him A-Xian. I guess since he's adopted and basically martial siblings with them, they feel they have to respect him a bit more, as much as Lan XiChen does toward LWJ (he always calls him WangJi, too, never Zhan).
As for why everyone ELSE calls Jiang Cheng as Jiang Cheng... I assumed that was his actual courtesy name, LOL, and WanYin his private name.
Now that I think about it, LWJ always tries NOT to use any of Jiang Cheng's names, LOL, he's mostly calling him Jiang Lord or Master, and only once he calls him Jiang WanYin (on the rock where WWX falls from). Which makes me wonder why everybody else who were not family thought it would be okay, them being overly friendly with his name, and if that also played a part in his feeling of inferiority towards WWX.
I've only watched her in Namib, she was completely emotionless. I was not impressed. The plot was also a mess, but that's another thing - acting skill shouldn't rely on good plots (and the younger cast did what they could even with the bad script).
I guess people are allowed duds in their careers, but this was the drama before Mantis, so I guess I should also be allowed to wonder if I want to spend my time on it. The source is pretty strong, though, and with a good writer and director this could also be good. I just don't know if I want to invest time in it, that's all, based on my own previous experience with the cast.
ETA Your comment made me go look, the writer for this kdrama adaptation of The Mantis ONLY wrote movies before (I hope they have the skills to write a longer form and keep the plot together) and the director doesn't have much experience with dramas either. She DID direct Black Out, that is one of the better kdramas I've watched lately, so I'll give HER the benefit of the doubt. Still, I'll wait to see initial impressions before deciding.
It totally KILLED me they filmed most of ep 8 (General Huo's home) in the same set as the Lan Clan of Cloud Recesses…
For such a smart guy, Xiao BeiMing keeps getting ahead of himself, deciding who the killer is, taking action and then oops my bad he discovers things aren't as simple as he thought. Sooner or later he's going to get someone killed. Zhuge KongYun might be a bit slower, but that also means he's not as rash as XBM.
I hoped XBM would have learned to pace himself and THINK twice before making a move, but I guess that's who he is and he can't change it.
It totally KILLED me they filmed most of ep 8 (General Huo's home) in the same set as the Lan Clan of Cloud Recesses (that room with the guardian lanterns is freaking iconic, and the General "destroyed" one of the lanterns. I know they probably had a copy of it there but still... LOL). That distracted me a bit.
Anyway, I REALLY REALLY hope already Xiao BeiMing and Zhuge KongYun get to be friends, they have an amazing relationship (or at least ZKY does, he's so obsessed with XBM LOL).
I had this in my watchlist since AGES and started it three times but always dropped it around episode 3.... now,…
They're also colour-coded, all the clans wear different colours, they're easily told apart once you notice (Lan - light blue, Wen - red, Jin - gold, Jiang - dark blue/purple, etc). Except for WWX, he wears black usually (but with a hint of red because it's striking and everything about WWX stands out anyway LOL).
3 
... so do I :D
But I also like XCY for killing everyone around with the dogfood he's throwing hahaha~
That one seriously is among the very best danmei ever.
In the novel, the truly NSFW parts will happen very late in the story, around the ending actually. And as always with regular danmei, the REALLY REALLY seriously NSFW will be in the extras, LOL. And yes, WWX is just as clueless (or more so) as usual. Except HE's the one who instigates it eventually - because he's WWX and he's... untamed :D (Just wanted to forestall any frustration with the both of them :D)
Enjoy :)
PS I think so far, from all the danmei I've read since TU opened the gates, only Bring in the Wine / Ballad of Sword and Wine / Qiang Jin Jiu has actual 18+ scenes throughout the story (the most sensual danmei I've ever read). I'd recc' that one, too.
PPS And You've Got Mail, LOL, but that one is 20+ rated :D
Always watch a series (drama, anime, whatever) in its original language. First, because it helps with immersion, second - it's the whole package that matters (cinematography, plot, acting, music, voices - their own or the voice actors'. )
50 eps is not that long for this masterpiece. Each episode has around 40 minutes of actual plot (they made a very strict editing choice, LOL), so around 34 hours of plot. Considering some kdramas, it compares to the old school length of a 20 ep kdrama or so.
Give it a shot - it's totally worth it.
As for TLs - I read the fan TL, but also bought the SSE official TL, if you can get the books in print, get them - they look amazing and the TL is good.
...Anyway, here's to placing second-to-last on the mid-terms this time :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vao_d4tuDAM&list=PLMbF4m5qx2m3O_d0oFtIWNprnBLaUiTLe&index=1
Definitely worth it!
I looked at Female General (and I was also expecting it a lot because of the Mulan trope) - nope, the first ep was a total mess and I don't really liked it (though I like the FL actress, she was in one drama I watched and appreciated before).
I don't like Law and the City's title, LOL, so I'm postponing it even though I quite like LJS hahaha~ Yeah, it's the petty things LOL.
A Dream of Splendor was very good, finally two leads who are actually smart, that was certainly a nice surprise. I wish there were more stories with such a dynamic.
Myself, I'm swamped in work and there's been a relentless heatwave for weeks so I can't concentrate a lot on dramas. I'm making my way through The Wanted Detective ~ Calming Waves, and it's been really good so far. But it's not finished yet and I know I'll want to binge it til the end if I get the time. I'm trying to pace myself (as if that ever worked, LOL). Give it a try, if you're in the mood - it also has smart characters, and it's really pleasing on the eyes :D
What have you been watching lately? Stumbled upon Fangs of Fortune (amazing xianxia) or The Wanted Detective (historical wuxia detective story) yet?
Everybody is stupidly beautiful in FoF, the music is AWESOME, the story is good, and there are even great fighting choreos :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1RDhHJWHgI
Damn, Chen YouWei is killing his part - I've known him since IDWTBBWY but he was just a kid. Here he's emoting like nobody's business. I think I like his character (Coroner Feng) the best, so far.
If only work didn't get in the way... T_T
As for why everyone ELSE calls Jiang Cheng as Jiang Cheng... I assumed that was his actual courtesy name, LOL, and WanYin his private name.
Now that I think about it, LWJ always tries NOT to use any of Jiang Cheng's names, LOL, he's mostly calling him Jiang Lord or Master, and only once he calls him Jiang WanYin (on the rock where WWX falls from). Which makes me wonder why everybody else who were not family thought it would be okay, them being overly friendly with his name, and if that also played a part in his feeling of inferiority towards WWX.
I guess people are allowed duds in their careers, but this was the drama before Mantis, so I guess I should also be allowed to wonder if I want to spend my time on it. The source is pretty strong, though, and with a good writer and director this could also be good. I just don't know if I want to invest time in it, that's all, based on my own previous experience with the cast.
ETA Your comment made me go look, the writer for this kdrama adaptation of The Mantis ONLY wrote movies before (I hope they have the skills to write a longer form and keep the plot together) and the director doesn't have much experience with dramas either. She DID direct Black Out, that is one of the better kdramas I've watched lately, so I'll give HER the benefit of the doubt. Still, I'll wait to see initial impressions before deciding.
I hoped XBM would have learned to pace himself and THINK twice before making a move, but I guess that's who he is and he can't change it.
Anyway - 9 eps in, this is GREAT so far!
Anyway, I REALLY REALLY hope already Xiao BeiMing and Zhuge KongYun get to be friends, they have an amazing relationship (or at least ZKY does, he's so obsessed with XBM LOL).