Nepeta 22

It's a sad ending. Classic trauma porn. Especially the last 3 episodes.

Basically, this is just a Xianxia re-packaged into a so-called Republican get-up. So ignore comments that keep saying republican dramas are not liked. The score has nothing to do with that. The drama could have been set in any other era other than modern times otherwise they won't be able to act lawless with their guns and weapons.

After watching the drama I can declare this as a classic trauma porn drama. The relentless misery and pile up is all rolled into one. To glamourise sacrificing, putting common cause over personal feelings. This gallant behaviour may be grand, but it doesn't feel authentic when nearly half of the family go the same way. It even belittles this act.

Early on in the drama, the poor attempt to try and pull in the FL's trauma into the central core of the plot of revenge was sometimes tasteless and the usage of her gang seemed more broadway razzmatazz than a serious dive into young children in orphans. But then using the FL to be part of the prop made me side eye the story. They are just using this subject for shock value.

ML's past was not fully utilised during the drama, making it quite hard to relate to his often brattish behaviour. In the end he only made it to be worthy only after his brothers had been dead and buried. What came of this was strangely how second brother's death seemed far more main lead style heroics. The sadness in the end feels very desperate. I'm afraid this type of ending is quite dated. You don't need everyone buried to make the drama feel important. Happiness can exist in a drama that touches abusive relationships, childhood trauma and misplaced anger.

Ok thanks, I'll watch the final episodes later today and see. Thanks.

Strange you found that funny. It's really showing how scarred and hurt he is. This drama has badly handled such a serious subject. Even the early arcs about the orphanage and the stories there felt secondary to the dramatics they preferred to put first.

It doesn't matter. The backdrop is not important. The same storyline can be set in the swinging sixties or retro eighties. It just can't be set now because people will be screaming about the lack of policing.

If you like soap operas, it's for you. Think Sunset Beach and all these telenovelas. I've been brought up on this so it's the standard messy stuff. You get to see beautiful specimens wearing the most glamorous clothing. Often not to the time it is set in but hey, it's not one of those dramas. Expect people to have multiple shot wounds but always come back alive and kicking. Baddies die by one shot. It's that type of plot armour.

Thanks for the sequence of events. However, it doesn't sound realistic when he reappears at the Murong household all these years. He even travelled away to study. Are you saying the Zhang family just gave up trying to kill him? Just based on him 'not remembering' anything? Something doesn't seem right here. Have I missed something out?

Also this drugging. I'm assuming the Murong family knew nothing about? Hence his mother's unreasonable behaviour? Just his step father to which he carried to his grave? Or his step dad was not aware he overheard the planned killing? Anyone know please put me right as these events are important to how the story is constructed.

Can you run me the sequence of events if you know. The fall into the water was before or after he was cared for by FL & her family?

On episode 31. Are you telling me no one tried to kill ML based on the fact that he was drugged up? This has got to be one of the most silliest storylines I have witnessed. Worse still he miraculously remembers it all after recovering from a contagious disease?

So this paper thin situation got us the long winded complicated storyline where FL had all this hatred and quest to exact revenge? So disappointing. Let me guess that once he's recovered he's now immune to this terrible disease😅

Think this stems from the fact that the parents are projecting their guilt. They know deep down they hadn't shown enough care or love to her whilst outwardly doting on their illegally born son.

Photos here at the top looks wrong. Isn't that Deng Wei?

I would not put it past them she was considered for the role first, but for whatever reason, it was changed. Another issue that comes into play is for many, they simply are not given the full script at the time so it can be unpredictable, and more importantly changed!.

I'm afraid larger agencies are in colab with platforms and production companies. It means the actress playing boss Hai has not been allowed to take part in these group promotional activities. Not that she was ill or busy.

ZLH's agency here is in a commanding position, so they will dictate to the production who they want starring and also press them to get certain up and coming actors to be more visible to the public when it comes to promotions. These outside activities are just as important as the drama itself for idol based dramas.

Because that actress comes from a big agency which is part of the deal on this production, and she has been primed to be in lead roles very soon. That's their hope.

Unfortunately actors from very small agencies are often sidelined on these types of promotions. Everything is pre planned and orchestrated in China. However they cannot always control how audiences receives certain actors or actresses.

Anyone know if Christy Guo playing FL here?

I have watched quite few republican dramas and none remotely like this. I believe this drama format has nothing to do with being a republican drama. You can port it to the swinging sixties or retro eighties, it's just a classic messy telenovela soap opera. This is a style in itself. Certainly not classy. More trashy style soap.

In China, there are what we term as idol dramas. That means using traffic stars to create traffic. These lead actors are idol style stars that tend to grab more younger audiences and many are easy consumers so backing for these actors are high and it is an easy way to make money from them.

Here, quality is not the priority. It's the brand. The brand is who is starring, not the content and details. Those that flock here will be motivated by supporting their stars rather than motivated by the drama or its storylines. Quality and scripts are also not important. Often it is their bossy fandom that are more snooty about scripts, production companies and other co stars. The consumers are these fandoms. They behave this way because they are chiming Customer Is King all day long.

It's ok to express that. I'm here for FL, I don't love the drama either, but since I'm nearing the end, might as well see what these drama makers get up to. I am genuinely curious about their mindset and their logic. It's not too offensive to me, but it is definitely a masterclass in how to prolong pain and misunderstandings just for the sake of making the viewers squirm. There is nothing natural or coherent here. It's just one long soap opera with no real end.

They probably did part and part. I knew it was a real bird because of the highly realistic markings and neck colours it was definitely a male sparrow.

The truth is, with your last 2 paragraphs, the drama makers have not really padded that out or addressed it which means, he only fancies her for her looks. Which in essence is all fine, but why do I get the feeling they want us to think there's something more?

Everything else including the pen-pal letters at the beginning could be all regarding as a facade and not really real. Especially from his point of view. Her whole existence to him has been all fake. So in that sense, the drama made a very poor attempt or very little in building the trust back. Instead, they preferred to torture us by showing her caring side that he never actually sees. What is this? It's pure soap with the telenovela style of writing. We are probably more tortured than him?

The second reason for revenge is all too much. Let's forget about the 'coincidence' of ML with the fire that ended her entire family, but then we had to see ML again being bratty and ungrateful just to add to the drama. Is this the reason why the FL is still a bit off with him, even knowing full well of the background? I feel this is where the forced angst fails badly. It also shows me the drama makers cannot work with what they had already and preferred to continue with the pile up mess that makes everyone say, leave it there! No chance these two can be together! And if they do. The ML has seriously made the wrong decision.

This stunt with ML going to marry his brother's fancy lady is the full circle of the messiness they so like. I had to do a face palm at this moment. You simply could not make it up. This drama is not sophisticated. It's pure trashy style TV.

I agree. But then, that would then make the drama feel disjointed. Because it is clear from the beginning, this is a shocks and dramatic style drama. Others coined it the Chinese Makjang, therefore no time for all the touchy feely stuff. That would make it all boring (I'm imagining the drama production brainstorming here).

It's all about quick emotions with very surface reactions. They wouldn't even know the meaning of ptsd 😅.