Snail that arrived

That person said I defend murderers!

It's so funny that you are ok with that accusation but you are oh so offended about my reply being about her lack of education.

Say a whole lot about you!

Ah so you wrote that one!

Actually I wrote somewhere in this mess that I don't think you meant that literally. But unfortunately reading some of these comments, nuance is way, way beyond so many of them so no wonder they understood as they did.

The problem is precisely that people do find the the ML-villain dynamic more compelling. That's setting off the bitterness. What's highly ironic is that when we complained about the FL writing, they went crazy how we are hating on the character instead of understanding we the writing is poor and doing the character a disservice.

Now that the consequences of the disparity in the writing is blatantly obvious, they are upset. Ah the sweet, sweet irony!

Not to mention that it is good it is more compelling because this is a revenge drama where the character that matters most after the ML is indeed the villain. No matter how much they want to make it a romance drama, it isn't.

How come you are still uneducated?

Go read a few books. Then go attend a few classes on literary analysis. It will expand your world.

I am not your sweetheart. Are you disturbed in some way that you address total strangers like that?

You should spend less time here and more on self-improvement. It would help you read the post I replied to and see that they are talking about chemistry and no yaoi is mentioned.

RJL has a whole lot of great dramas, one just even ended recently so you will have plenty of people to discuss with. I hope you enjoy your time here!

Acting and character chemistry is not the same as romantic chemistry.

That some of you are incapable of understanding that is genuinely worrying.

Did you seriously just write that? Do you genuinely think that is what weak writing is?

I don't even know what to say. Best to say nothing.

All of that and you think I am shipping him with the marquis?

You know what, forget it. It's not worth my time. 🤦🤦🤦

She is saying I am defending a murderer.

What is that but a huge personal attack?

If she has a diploma of a primary school it should be taken away. Her ability for basic comprehension is abysmal.

Ah you know what, I give up.

If you read that and you actually think I am defending child murderers then I am sorry to say but you lack both reading comprehension and ability for critical thinking and analysis. It's pointless to even try talking to you.

They are getting mad because there is so much positive talk about the character setting of the marquis and the ML- villain dynamic and that there actually is an absolutely fascinating psychological moment at play, both within and outside of the narrative.

All that compounded by the good old inability to differentiate between loving the character and loving the person that that character is. They equate these two things and then all talk is over (I am a defender of murders 😂).

And this is where you, just like many, many people before you aren't capable of making the distinction of liking a character and liking a person that that character is.

You are talking about the person that he is. He is a psychopath who kills without blinking. On the surface he is charming, charismatic, loyal when in fact beneath that lurks a monster who will kill absolutely anyone the moment that is beneficial to him and his quest for power.

You stick to that layer of the drama and that's ok! I have absolutely nothing to say about that, many people watch like that. Of course I don't blame you for hating the person, I can't stand the person either!

Then there are people like me. What fascinates me is the character setting, the writing, the way the writer combined with the actor is creating the person that is the Marquis.

I find it fascinating that there are people who in the moment forget what the marquis did because he is so compellingly charismatic on screen and because of the way he relates to the ML. It's especially fascinating because that is exactly what he is within the narrative. And outside of the narrative, here within the audience, the creation of the character is having the same effect. That is a masterpiece of writing and acting! That is what elevates this drama to a completely different level.

That I find this fascinating? Doesn't mean I don't think he is a psychopath. As I wrote before several times, this means that once Zanghai strips him of everything he has and finally destroys him on all levels, it is going to be the most satisfying thing ever. But I only get this satisfaction because of the way the marquis is written. If he were just a simple villain, it wouldn't be remotely this good.

And actually, you know what? You do think the writing and acting is good. Or you wouldn't hate him so much.

So please, understand that loving the character doesn't mean loving the person that that character is. In fact, I absolutely despise the person. Separate that please.

Someone down there was so angry that they ranted I am defending a murderer. But I do think it's pretty clear that both I and the others are talking about something else.

If it is not, then I am afraid I tried my best to explain and that's that then.

No, I didn't, someone up thread mentioned one of those and to me it didn't seem like actual shipping.

The point is that this board was full of talk yesterday by the vast majority of people about the writing for ML-villain and acting chemistry of the actors, in absolutely non shipping way. So why get hung upon a couple of comments?

I will tell you why. Because of the other comments. Let's be honest here. I will tell you what I told the others. Next time we start demanding well written, complex female characters join us. XAT has so much potential in her character set up. It's perfect. And we are on episode 23 today and the writer has used absolutely nothing of it. There would be intense discussions here about her arc and about the plot chemistry between the two here as well if the writer actually did his damn job. Why is it so hard to write fully realised female characters when he can do that with the men? That was rhetorical btw, I know why it is hard, we all do. Good old misogyny, can't escape it.

Anyway this is why the two comments are so painful to people. Let's not fool ourselves. Otherwise none of you would care that someone is potentially shipping the marquis and the ML. As I said above, it's the internet. People ship anything dead or alive. Or inanimate. I don't get why but as I said, it's the internet.

Why shouldn't we criticise characters if we don't think they are well written? Is the FL a holy cow so that is not allowed?

I will disagree she is a complex character. She has the potential but she isn't one.

Do you know what I would see as a complex character? The boat scene that happened between them was great. There is romantic chemistry, there is a very tentative sharing of some personal matters by both sides. There is a bit of teasing and laughter. That was perfect, I actually even wrote that somewhere deep in the bowls of this page.

At that point, XAT plot needed to explode. She has a perfect character set up for that. She is fascinated by Zanghai, intrigued. That draw on a personal level is present with him too. We see how it played out, with the master having to yank him back into reality of his revenge.

She? We know what happened. But what could have been is an arc paralleling his. Because she has her own major problem and Zanghai is conflicting with that. If he gets the seal then her country loses the chance of getting free.

That conflict between love and duty, love and being filial, being pushed between her individual desires, needs and wants and on the other hand, the duty to her people, that her individualism needs to be second to the sacrifice of being a leader. Now that is highly complex.

And yeah we are on episode 23 and where is any of that? Nowhere. Which means at best, the pacing of her character arc is going to be messed up and squished into a short amount of time when there was no need. At worst, they will still delay or not even do any of this.

Sorry, I don't see any complexity in her character. I see the potential for it but it should have started long ago. Maybe it will start today. About time if it does.

And yes, there are people who ship m/m exclusively but there are people who ship others with a chair. It's the internet. Here, on this board, the absolute vast majority of people are simply fascinated with the writing, acting and acting chemistry and when talking about the FL issues people talked about the writing and their problems with it.

No, this is an independent, you are good to go!

What you don't have is an actual argument nor the ability to construct one. Don't worry, I understand anything above kindergarten level is too tough for some.

Your reading comprehension isn't good enough for a primary schooler. Are you sure you even have that diploma?

Yes, we know there is a romantic subplot. It's not like any of you have been letting us forget because that is all you talk about.

And that means the person is fascinated with the interplay between the villain and the ML. It doesn't mean they are actually shipping them.

You know how so many people have been saying the writing for the FL is not good? Remember how they got brushed off? Well this is why the writing is important. This writer is obviously very capable of writing complex, fascinating characters. Yes, it is crucial that Huang Jue is the actor that he is and that he can carry that but his ability would be pointless if the writing wasn't there.

Now rewind that and apply it to the FL. What if the FL was written in this same way? What if the conflicts her character set up carries were the actual focus of her character arc? That would have been mature writing of her character and equally compelling.

But it isn't there. Unfortunately, like many other male writers, this one can't write female characters. He is defaulting to idol level FL when he could have written her exactly as complex as the marquis. But he didn't. And that's a fail. On the other hand, you can't blame people for being fascinating how the main line of the story is being played out.

Am I unhappy with the FL writing? Yes, absolutely. But that sure isn't going to stop me from being eternally grateful that the writing not only didn't fail in writing the main villain but knocked it out of the park so much that this dynamic is fascinating the audiences everywhere. Because this is the one dynamic that cannot fail or the whole drama fails. So yes, it's fantastic people are so thrilled with it. Some even fooled by it. Ah, what excellent writing and acting and such a great duo. It's going to be so satisfying when Zanghai finally buries him.

Btw next time we complain about the writing for female characters? Join us instead of defending the mere crumbs that you are being given. The writer could do so much better than what he did with her. So, so much better. And the marquis is the perfect proof of that.

Yes, you absolutely are bitter, it is so funny!

This is not an idol drama. If you want the level of writing and level of complexity of an idol drama then this one is not for you.

The most important dynamic in this drama is the one between the villain and the ML.

The marquis is on the surface a charming, charismatic character that has drawn so many people to his side. That both the writer and the actor are accomplishing just this with the majority section of the audience is a good thing for this drama. It is good that they are even making some (though a tiny percent) of people forget just how awful he truly is because that is what the marquis does. He draws people in, he charms them, he fools them.

Then he kills them without blinking an eye.

That some are actually, as an audience, falling for this couldn't be better. It means they are so immersed in what is happening that they are experiencing as close as possible what all those people he fooled have experienced.

Not to mention that most people on this board are aware of his crimes. That the character is fascinating and compelling sure isn't stopping me from remembering he is a psychopath.

I am thrilled about the acting chemistry between the ML and the villain. That's the most important thing for this revenge drama. I am going to enjoy his death all the more because he is so fascinating. It is going to be amazing when it finally happens because of all that is being weaved on screen right now. Getting rid of a one dimensional villain is meh. Getting rid of a complex villain is the best.

Huang Jue needs to take that writer to a holiday because he gave him the role of a lifetime.

Oh and remember how we tried telling you why the writing for the FL is important and you just kept brushing us off? Well, this is why great writing is important.

Oh this page is so funny! Nobody is shipping marquis and the ML on this page. So what happened? Ahhhhh. Of course. People have been commenting on how compelling the character of the Marquis is and about the acting chemistry with the ML.

Ah poor romance fans, no wonder your reputation is awful. You are crying here on this page people are loving the acting chemistry between the main lead and the main villain of this drama and are fascinated by it. Tsk, how dare the main story draw attention away from your precious ship.

Here's a wake up call. This is not a romance. This is a revenge story. The apparent main villain is the Marquis. That he has an incredible acting chemistry with the main lead is paramount to the success of this drama.

It's actually shameful you are crying here about how successful the scenes are between these two and that people are enjoying them because your precious ship isn't drawing the same attention. God forbid that this drama is actually successful in what it is and that the most important dynamics, which is the ML-villain is fantastic because oh no, your pairing isn't the focus!

Let's be blunt. Yes, the marquis character is incredibly well written, in an attempt to make his character appear ambiguous and draw people in, even with his obvious heinous past. That is what good writing is. Yes, Huang Jue is giving a masterclass of acting and drawing people in. Exactly as it should be to make this drama the success that it is. Yes, the Marquis is the most important support character. Yes, his is the most important and significant story after Zanghai's.

Yes, this is exactly why people hate romance fans. Everything must be about you and your ship. Well tough luck. This is a revenge drama, not romance. If you can't handle that, stop undermining this drama and walk away.