Nepeta 22

Those scenes are just there only to show she's more into masculine things instead of so-called female pursuits. Badly done with no continuity. This overly out-of-character nice behaviour to the SML is also not natural. It feels forced.

I hope that isn't how the story goes otherwise this is a common problem in general, even with female authors that have been heavily influenced into being male-identified. Very often, they're unaware or have internalised it.

I get your point. The issue seems to be many already know the story and have told me it's not all about the FL's revenge, it is also about the ML's fight for justice for his father. FL's real aim was to re-start her life all over again to claim what she lost in her own name. She's not after letting others know who she was previously.

Nothing to do with being a female in a male dominated industry. I'm getting conflicting info though. One said she fled an arranged marriage so decided to join the army to escape. Another said she was forced to be a boy from young age and primed to pretend to be her older brother. Neither of the two have been conveyed well so far in this drama which I agree, hinders it from being a decent and coherent drama.

This surprised me a little as the way this drama was promoted was injustice and getting recognition for her. Also, because we don't see much of her family background, it's not really that important I think. Her journey to get herself back on her feet is and to get revenge on who killed her which has been already covered. No doubt the rest is to expose her brother's role in orchestrating her attempted murder.

It's fine. That means the actor or the storyline did its job. There was a lot of hate for his character, but come a year later, the actor was hot property.

But I really do not believe posters that say they skip parts. I sometimes think they're just trying to get attention. Trying hard to look loyal to the main couple in a dramatic way. I mean, how can you really skip parts of certain actors? Maybe play it at speed, but if you skip you risk losing important plot points!

I have said it before and I know some don't want to hear it but this is more likely. Those that rate are from made special accounts. Those that partake in it will have multiple accounts specifically for this. The same accounts can also be used to down vote dramas. This type of activity is privalant on dramas with high traffic stars. This is why I think new users should not be able to rate or put in reviews until 6 months have lapsed.

It's motivated by what they see in China using money and fake account to control data. That is just transferred here. I am already seeing some talk about reviews, inflating comments engagement because they think this helps to make ratings count more. In a nutshell, these ratings are not organic. MDL ratings are highly unstable. It's nothing more than extension of fan accounts.

These rumours grow from current dramas with stars working together. They do it to test the waters but usually they're fake. He's more likely working with Bao Shang En. ZKL is heavily promoted the last 6 months and has many notable projects to be aired so this time next year, he will be chased around by mad-cap fans.

Hey, it's not an attack on petty women in general but about dramas that keep using these storylines as a source of entertainment. Especially women. As you say, it's not fun to witness this.

Maybe I'm traumatised by these toxic behaviours, so don't actually want to see it anymore and worse still, it's used as filler and entertainment. I come from a big family, just that alone is a nightmare navigating, so I wouldn't be able to deal with extended family. I can sincerely tell you what I see on the dramas are sometimes nowhere near the toxicity I have witnessed in my life. I could write a book on that type of environment.

I don't have issue when it's researched well and it's done in a respectful and natural way. But sometimes, like this drama for example, it's used like it's harmless fun when in actual fact, it's just putting women down and just so it can be highlighting one FL. This isn't natural, it's a lazy storyline. Considering we are meant to be watching FL get to be a general, instead we're addled with endless mini dramas that further stereo-type women in general as being basic, shallow and always dragging other women down.

This is what bothers me, and as seen on this forum, the punters suck it up without even flinching. They're actually going to praise it blindly too.

Well, it all goes back to The Story in Minglan for me. That drama made it into art. it was a rating winner, and since then we're seeing more and more of this stuff in historical setting court dramas.

70 plus episodes of jealous and small minded females except the fhe FL. The formula is always the same. The old head of the household nanny & FL are the only normal and clear headed females whilst all other female characters serve as silly, small minded individuals that know nothing but being what a female is, to attack FL, looking for status by treading on other females.

Gotta side-eye the stuff as female empowerment in these dramas are just fake. Only one of thousands are allowed to be different, and then they close the gate on others that might want to join.

It's definitely watchable and easy to follow and I will finish this. Wasn't entirely what I had in mind, but it's good to see Cheng Lei act again and Zhou Ye is always a likeable in whatever she plays.

Fair point. I too have decided which revenge was the main focus. I am trying to just enjoy it as is and sometimes, novel adaptations can be a minefield when everyone gets more opinionated.

I think it goes back into the territory of making all other women except for the FL are shallow and thick. This is written too often and especially more so in historic setting. Often the FL is "dragged" unwittingly into this, but truth is a director in China said, female audiences eat up this stuff. That's why it's always in most storylines! Who knows. I find this stuff offensive and boring. So many dramas make up so much of this as filler. So maybe it is true...

I think you will like him in Follow Your Heart. Plays similar to here but with more comedy and flair. He also uses his real voice to good effect.

No worries, it happens to us all. One minute not much, then next all of them pile up. . .

I haven't seen your original posts but if you just say annoying without much explanation, then it will look like you have issue with FL full stop.

Personally I think many on here are aware this is an idol drama and not in anyway expecting realism. I had hoped a bit more realism myself because the title states "legend", but since after 3 episodes in, it's clear, she will get masses of plot armour and it's just a lightweight comedy set in the army. It's nothing to do with the message, females can excel in a male dominated world. If so, she wouldn't act like a little girl (mainstream view of how women need to be to get approval of men) most of the time, & mainly pre-occupied with the ML's plight than her own. No doubt her own revenge will be crammed in the last 6 episodes where the joint couple fight justice together. Happy ever after.

If you haven't seen him in Follow Your Heart, I urge you to see it. It's light comedy and one of the best. If you liked his persona here, on that drama, he plays similar but with more wit and natural flair.

If you read my spoiler just below this comment, it sorts of explains it.

I have also queried this yesterday and was told that most of the explanation was in the early part so it seems in this version, they have decided that's all that is needed for us to know and see. This feels like the missing link.

This is strange since the drama's hook is revenge and we do need to see more of her past family dynamics, her family structure. When I mentioned her father seemed a bit indifferent they said it's because in the novel it was her uncle who caused all the trouble and her half brother was in actual fact actually her cousin, so there are parallel family dynamics going on in the novel. By what they have done here is made it more dramatic, they made it her father and brother so even more backstory is needed, otherwise, FL's character looks really lightweight with her banter and carefree attitude right now. The real reason of why she's returned seems like an excuse just to carry on with her love-fest with the ML. This detracts from the original novel's intention.

I have to be honest, this drama in its own right is a light comedy with a chance to see a modern day girl transported back in time, that is all it is right now. The villains are written in a way to allow her to jump through a few hoops whilst the ML plays the classic stoney faced CEO and she just pushes the boundaries of their status. Easily fit into any other setting. I really feel it should have dropped the english title of "legend" and kept it as "star general". That is more fitting right now.

Thanks for all this info. Very interesting to see if they make any changes in the end. Happy drama watching!

Thank you once again, this is helpful for me. I hope this is somehow added in this drama because up to now, it feels a lack of information on her family set up and spending too much time with her talking army tactics and playing with the commander. Just makes her character seem so light-weight. I'm sure it's not meant to, but the way the drama unfolds feels all wrong for her character.

Her motivation looks like a knee-jerk reaction because she's upset her title was taken from her. The family also didn't see a big thing of her brought up a boy so in a sense, she came to be who she is by sheer accident, it's not her own choice, but once she's now tasted it, and to have it taken away, it feels like her own quest to get it all back and also get those that tried to kill her to justice? But at this stage it doesn't seem like she's got a plan on that yet.

Totally agree. I wasn't sure what kind of drama it would be, but after 3 episodes, it made itself clear. But it's OK, I will just sit back and watch the comedy and stop thinking about females being generals and all this latest fad of 'female empowerment', since much of this is performative and doesn't really tackle or know what it really is.