Sophia

The word is agape 🙏🏻❤️

Well, TLC said he never learnt to love romantically, but he cherished those around him, and even died for them. I think the love in friendships was even more moving. XFT had feelings for PZ, who is a monk, but their last scene together said it all. I think the profoundness of love this production tried to convey (agape) made this a great series, and better than many of these childish love stories these days. If you want a good romantic story, then I can recommend Bai Lu’s Feud. I wrote a nice review on that.

Complex feelings at the end, but had to watch the last episode even though I was sleepy, and after I watched it, I thought I'll rewatch it again today, but then I woke up and started working and though nah.

Here are my thoughts throughout. Might contain spoilers so proceed at your own discretion.

LYX = complex figures. I think this is probably the role of his life, with quite a star cast of side actors (though episode 1 started with some bad acting from side figures who quickly died). He is having a smug face quite often, when he gets his way. Not sure what to think about that. Is it because of his arrogance and the fact that he outsmarted everyone?

Alen Fang has played many diverse roles, and I was very impressed with his role in A Journey To Love. I probably like him better in Jiu Liu Overlord with Bai Lu (which I started watching whilst waiting for new episodes of this), though I wasn't impressed with the character he played in The Long Ballad, which was the first time I saw him. This role really put him out of his comfort zone and impressed so much. It's a very complex character and he really outshined.

Glad to see Cheng Hua Sen here as well, liked him in A Journey To Love, but this role is even more suitable for him than Moonlight Mystique. Just a shame that his part towards the ending was fading away.

Very impressed with the actor playing Gui Mu Dan: Jeremy Tsui.
The actor playing Xue Xian Zi was really funny, Bai Shu, he's the only good character from Youthful Glory, where he too was funny.

Xifangtao is so smart, I like the actress much better than her role in A Better Life. I don't like what she did to the kind Master, who is such a nice father figure; but her role itself is quite complex, especially her final scene with Pu Zhu, which was quite sad.

Interesting how they used music, flowers and the moon to fight, a shame as well as they represent everything that's beautiful - not meant for killing. The fighting scene of TLC rising in episode 18 was very beautiful. Episode 19 is a bit sad, thinking about the beautiful friendship and the goodness of Liu Yan. However, people intrinsically good will remain good despite the adversities in life. Episode 20 is quite cool, but also sad to see how people change when you give them benefits... Real loyalty is not to be bought.

I don't like how in so many Asian drama's they are throwing with things, it's a sign of uncontrolled and immature behaviour - not something one should consider as normal behavious or to promote so young people will take it as example.

Everyone from the House of Pleasure is so yaonie; the voice actors did a great job.

Episode 27 was really good; trust.. and history, and family reunion;
Episode 28 is quite intense, history and reflections;
Glad I’m watching this live so I can’t binge.

Ep 33 if TLC could let LY see earlier, they could have prevented a lot of this. FZ is truly a saint, isn't it ironic that his sister would be the one to crush TLC.
Ep 34 beautiful scene; only the Holy Son can make a masked puppet without feelings cry; what a beautiful scene when he experienced human feelings; such a great actor. It's just terrible what he did to Chi Yun.

So admire the brotherhood between TLC and LY, and the friendship between TLC and CY. Nice father figures, all the three Masters: FZ, the Sword Society's Master, and TLC.

Complex feelings at the end: a couple of years of happiness but some people would have never met; it’s like nothing really happened, and again, other issues will arise anyways so sacrificed for nothing. Pondering: should and could we avoid suffering and death if it means we would have never met and experienced the love, friendship, and loyalty as we have?

Music was perfectly matched. Great cast.

You should read the Catechism of the Catholic Church; it says humans are born good (as we are created to the likeness of God, who is the source of all good).

Baddie: yes, I heard what they said. Do you think moving out will allow him to marry her eventually? Maybe you should watch better c-dramas, or learn to form an opinion. Can you guarantee that no boys will watch this and be influenced negatively? Or are you already one of the girls expecting her partner to respond immediately even at work? Reflection will do you good and learn to communicate.

Agree with Ywa ❤️ I regret wasting so much time watching this. The actress is doing so much better in Whispers of Fate.

Thanks! Where can I watch it?

It's been a while I watched anything this good again. Interesting from the beginning, so glad I saved this to binge for another sick leave, it was just a bit disruptive when I returned to work...

I like how it's focused on female empowerment; that a woman can be recognised for her own contributions instead of her titles through her father, husband, and children as is usual in historical dramas.

However, there were many made hero zoom ins and some flashbacks are a bit unrealistic considering the timing/actual situation they were in (e.g. picking up the pieces in slow motion while they had to hurry...), or to let the side figures die so easily while the leads survived the most incredible deaths (also don't understand why so many people had to die). I did like how they skipped some unnecessary scenes, and only included the scenes you need to know regarding some political schemes.

I like how they portrayed the difference between these heroic and loyal figures, and the selfish and betraying royals; in particular, when they inspired some royals to be better leaders. It was also good to see the little girl growing up, but some scenes were a bit overdone in between, when it showed the evil side of her, probably a result of her being bullied before. It was however nice to see how she took the power and used her power.

The getting together of the main lead felt a bit forced at some point, with the almost death scenes and how close they’ve become suddenly. I don't understand why she was so mean to her disciple, while she based her entire life on the Empress' kindness towards her. At the same time, she was very protective of him, as his master. I would have preferred him if he weren’t that controlling, and mean towards others, and impulsively stupid, but it was good to see him grow and his relationship with the ML. I liked how the romantic storyline of both princesses developed. The ending did not make sense, but seems like the dramas these days all need an open/happy ending (which is of course less depressing than the previous tragedies).

I know my thoughts are a bit complex, after just finished watching it; especially since I'm trying to keep my reflection general so not to spoil anything. But I'm writing this after watching any drama since last year, so I remember that I've watched it before and what I think about it/how it made me feel. Some things made me wonder why it had to happen, like some of the heroic deaths. I don't think it is a good way to say that losing your loved one doesn't make one wish to live anymore (not very feministic, so please don't learn from this).

Glad that this is a bit of a slow incoming story, as I was quite busy with work and after work activities that I only had a bit of time to watch it when I had meals at home. The first part that actually moved me was the Master, who left him free. That's love.

Afterwards, the story became more interesting, like a crescendo towards the ending. I like how they gave more attention to friendship. It's just not very logical how some personages suddenly had to die. The story towards the ending was very good, but the ending itself was a bit loose.

XK lost so much weight here, and is playing a serious role, unlike his usual boyish growing up roles. It's good to see him grow.

It would have been perfect for the grown up Leo to star in 3. Rewatched 1 after 2, as I didn't pay much attention when watching it the first time many years ago. Understand the plots now (not something to watch as background when cleaning, it is one to pay attention to).

There is a lot of resemblance between Buddhism and Catholicism; it's all about the divine love for all living creatures. What a tragic story amids a comedy. I can understand when one would chose for the greater love for all instead of the romantic love for one, and how when we really love someone we would love that person to be happy - irrespective if we "own" them or not; especially, if being with them will make them sacrifice what truly makes them happy. That would be selfish. However, there are two different love lines, the second one did not had to give up her love because she needs to take care of a child. Being a single parent/caretaker doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice your own love life, which created the entire tragedy.

Skipped this after seeing the trailer as I'm not interested in these spooky murderous series, but after having seen SWL's unconvincing half romance stories with women who behave like little girls, I was delighted to watch this investigation focused story with only male platonic friendships. However, it does made me notice that he often plays roles that are a bit "chong dong"... much more prefer Hong Yao's calm portrayal, whose performance in Feud and Arsenal Military Academy were very impressive.

This story is also quite an eye opening on how a heroic person can change due to experiences that exposes the reality and his fear, and that the difference between people is not defined by birth nor circumstances, but by their will to protect lives or to protect power, the will to defend the people or to destroy. It's quite tragic how one can have such a mother. I really don't understand why some people have to kill innocent lives. The script towards the ending is very illogical...

I would have never watched anything like this if it wasn't for the cooperation between SWL and ARP (who was very good in Moonlight Mystique), and have to say this really disturbed my sleep as I had to watch the result of each part before I could go to sleep in peace. The female villains were all very scary, and they were more crazy down the script.

It is a shame that SWL keeps being paired up with FLs who look more like a little sister than a lover (and he also behaves more like a big brother than a lover), so I really hope he will get better scripts and more suitable female co-stars. I also hope that he will get more mature roles instead of responding in an uncontrolled emotional way which blocked him from all rationality whenever he experiences something big.

Otherwise the story is a bit chaotic, though they try to link the different parts, but it wasn't that well explained, especially the final solution - if and to what extend that would work.

I just started watching Song Wei Long's The Seven Relics of Ill Omen, which is also quite dark and not sure if it's my taste if it wasn't for SWL, and wasn't really impressed with Liu Shi Shi's Kill My Sins which is even darker than The Wanted Detective.

Haha peacock! I think he looked better in uniform and with that "hat", and found his bromance with his best competitor quite beautiful, especially after it helped him change.

Haha, I thought, it was very unnecessary for Tong Shuang to die like that, and later I understood why.

Of course I am watching this because of WXY, and I hope that he will be getting nicer scripts since The Double as I also skipped the production inbetween as it wasn't my taste. This story is so dark and bloody, that I was cleaning up my phone in the meantime...

What I did like are the bromances, and how everyone who meets him trusts him. He has a good way with people, and the change in Zhuge Kongyun was beautiful. The ending and the message was inspiring as there are too many revenge dramas, while we should promote peace and justice as an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. I also think that too many dramas makes torture a common practice while we need to adhere to the spirit of the Geneva Conventions. I also think that we shouldn't be promoting gambling, which is a bad example.

For the rest, it's tragic when leaders try to cover an accident to protect those in power, but despite the tragic experiences, we remain having a choice to do what is right. WXY's acting was great.

Just like part 1, it took me some time to get into the story and to watch the first part, but there was more action in the second part, and the end is very moving, what Tang Seng is willing to do for love, and what changed Wu Kong. Didn't know the story at all so it all came as a surprise.

Amongst all the darkness and bloodshed, there is love, that sparks a bit of light, which gives hope, that changes an entire world (this reminds me of something I wrote about the christian faith, this story in a very creative way, retells the story of hope and salvation).

Everyone has their inner struggles, but the difference between good and evil is the way we respond to adversities; there are people who’ll turn evil but there are also people who become more compassionate and loving. It’s part of our character formation, upbringing and the grace of God.

It's been a while since LSS was in anything this good since BBJX - despite some plot holes, and that certain parts dragged on, this is one of the better dramas she's in (especially after the last production). Especially, since this story tries to pass an important message; and sheds light upon the regrets and how to cope with loss - and how love conquers all. She's very graceful in her posture, perhaps thanks to her dancing background, and her voice acting matches her acting this time. Every time the ML smiles, I have to think about his cute mask - he has an adorable smile. The grandeur of his family display was impressive; when you're both from such a heritage, it is almost an obligation to have a legacy together. Look forward to the story of the strongest warrior, and the hope of light.

(Almost skipped this story twice due to YouTube click bait...)

Yes, I like him too, discovered him in The Legend of Hao Lan, where he played Emperor Qin Shi Huang and did a great job, which is why I watched Bright as the Moon, but the script was so-so.