Nepeta 22

No worries. It's early days. I hope the drama changes tempo in the middle parts!

I'm not here to put a downer on this production because I really want this to go well. The general gist of the first section doesn't smell of revenge but more lightweight idol style revenge which consists of contrived spa scenes and controlled fight scenes where he ends up holding her from falling out of the circle, oh sorry I meant her grabbing for dear life onto him so she doesn't lose in the fight. All funny and instant gratification, but on a serious note, not at all like a drama that is putting anger, frustration and inequality as the main theme.

The status comment is more the scriptwriters trying so hard to make it just about the two (ML & FL) making eyes/contact at each other wherever possible. So unnatural considering how big the compound that he would suss her out based on taming a horse.

Then there's the classic largest set picking on the smallest. The puniest recruit would be her side-kick buddy. Even Arsenal Military Academy made nearly 8 years ago didn't make it that obvious, since they spaced out the progression. Here, it's plot-armour central with how she dispatches her bullies. Becomes embolden so quickly and no doubt gets the whole room to praise her. Sorry, but there are many ways to approach these scenes, but so far, they have decided to make it more about romance.

Yes, I like him a lot too. Loved him in A moment but forever. Here, I can't wait to see him being evil.

Yes, I have heard about this from others that the changes have made parts more illogical and shallow. I will watch on, but I have to say, a bit disappointed is an understatement.

Both actors are capable in portraying characters well, but being given this type of direction is hard to watch. When watching this, you can just apply ML to being a cold CEO character, and she, the ditzy try-hard employee. Just this time, it's just in an army setting and she's trying to pass off as being one of the lads. Romance template first, revenge a far second.

When I say act like one of the men by trying excessively hard to prove her worth by running extra longer, picking up stuff faster than the men in the group. This to me is not realistic already considering her slight frame but in the drama, they push it to the point of being cringeworthy. To top it off, she's engaging with the ML way too quickly, turning up at his tent - as you do, with her lowly rank, it's just totally not with any reality.

I am not asking for realism, but they have amplified her status to being not in character, considering, she should be laying low and beavering away & not get attention.

As for the ML, taking a shine to her because of this, also seems contrived. Gives an unrealistic & wrong message to young girls.

The tone of the drama so far is not at all like someone that is grieving and planning, but a fixation with the ML's status and character. Total tunnel vision which is weird as it should be on her father and of course that brother of hers.

Very unfortunate, the english title says Legend of the female general, whilst the original novel was called Rebirth of a star general. No mention of female originally. The adaptation seems to want too much.

Making female a big thing, but also adding legend like it's an even more bigger thing. Watch the early episodes, it's like a lightweight banter-filled drama that is more interested in pushing romance first and the revenge part is like an afterthought. The fact that they need to resort to a lot of voice-overs to convey the feelings, it's clear, they cannot find a way to express her inner thoughts.

It's harmless fun and on the surface is entertaining, but on a deeper level about her original reasons of going back into the army is clearly put a firm second and the adaptation is deciding it's idol romance first, and I think some will not be happy. For me, it's a bit cringe with all the tropes. It was bad enough that her master could catch her like a fish in that sea she conveniently fell into from that classic cliff fall!

Actually, I think they tried their best on that one. Bai Shu is on the shorter spectrum in Chinese dramaland, so around 10 cm difference will hopefully be a minute change 😂. Also, he's rather pretty in general, so maybe at the time this actor was the best available in actors' busy schedules.

Because it's obvious that from the source material, they have instead chosen to focus on how to hook a man. Gain acceptance and approval from them. Putting pressure on young girls into thinking they need to act like a tough man to gain respect from them and then act like a little spoilt young girl when she's in trouble or needs his approval (episode 3 in the sword fight). That is a very confusing message in general. But for the audience who already knows she's a female, it's unhealthy fixation on pushing romance so early on and making it so clunky at the same time.

Whilst this looks like harmless fun, it conveniently ignores continuity of how she would know to act like a demure woman, doing the dance etc. If she had been primed to wear a mask and act like a boy to a man up until her death or survival, she is unlikely going to know about hair and make up compared to her peers.

Thanks for replying. Yes some others answered it for me later on. It now makes sense and helps me to get on with the drama.

I was initially concerned that this "master" was just written in the drama just to get her miraculously fixed so she gets back out again. But it seems he's an important figure in the novel, but used here to nurse her back to health and then sent back out.

That's a lot to take in. Thanks for finding the time to write all that. Very interesting and wild! Pregnancy and death!

Will be interesting to see how they put this into drama form. Looks like a lot has been changed already, based on what you wrote. Hope they capture the essence of what's in the novel.

Thanks for finding the time to explain everything, especially helpful for episode 1. I will catch up with more episodes later today. So basically because she's not re-incaated the training section will not figure in this version. Look forward to the rest of the story unfolding.

Oh wow, OK. Let's hope the drama tries to capture some of that.

Thanks, I was thinking this master looked like it was just written in just to get her mended and sent back out but it's good to hear he figures more as it would be a shame if we never saw this character again!

Yes, first episode seemed very rushed and over-whelming. Hopefully, it will settle down after that.

OK, I only watched 1 episode. But your explanation clears everything up now, thanks for replying.

Thanks for replying. Your explanation is clear. OK, I didn't see any of that, I must have missed it. So when she's in the water, she was saved by the master. She didn't die. With the narration when she was under water, I thought she was re-incarnated. I'm assuming she was not reincarnated?

Only watched 1 episode. For those that might have read the novel. is most of what was in there made up? It seems so rushed, with so much happening, I cannot understand who is this master that saves her? Was he in the novel? He nursed her better whilst she was unconscious for around a month? Or was this a dream? She seems to have no kind of stab wound.

What a strange comment to make. These two dramas are completely different. This is clearly a much smaller drama with little promotion or novel brand name unlike LOTFG where it's been non-stop headlines and controlled promotion. I don't see them in the same level.

I will watch that along with this one. The formula works for LOTFG. It's a safe story because of ML being horrible and nasty to FL first and then changes. The FL gets to play a male's role and also get to wear fancy dresses at the same time. All the hallmarks of escapism for the modern audience.. It's a winner.

There seems to be this growing culture of being overly obsessive with "data" and it seems to be more important than just enjoying dramas as they are, independent of other things outside of the drama.

For MDL this is to be expected. I have not seen anything different. No doubt when WXY is paired with Bai Lu with a similar theme, the ratings will be a bit higher because of her status. Most detective dramas do not get high ratings whilst teeny boppy high school romance get sky high ratings or costume romance dramas with an emphasis on court intrigue seems to be a firm favourite.

The problem with that is he runs the risk of being annoying and a know-it-all a bit like the main character in Detective L. With that type of set-up, I think the audience may find that arrogant and jarring. This set up will showcase his more nuanced performance as someone on their back-foot and in a more equal role with FL. She will need to show her slightly embarrassed and yet prideful behaviour around him. It's also her chance to show how she silently cares for him.

FL roles against more established actors always get the protective mother fans that think they are the authority to vet who their future daughter-in-laws are, which normally is no one really...

That's a broad statement to make. In fact, there have been numerous comments about another drama on this page, I would say way above the average for MDL standards. I will also say, some are using that drama as an excuse to put this drama down. Not sure why they need to that, they should just say what they feel is not right, and decide to watch or not.