Nepeta 22

No problem, the novel was altogether more direct in their approach to these characters. I think the adaptation as predicted gave them more greyness making both seem like they were sort of victims of their circumstances at the time (social status and expectations).

I cannot agree with you. His behaviour made it so hard for me to finish the last 4 episodes. I was begging for him to be topped off somehow then I can have peace watching as I was creeped out by his very unhealthy obsession with FL.

I was told by someone Wang Duo auditioned for this role. I think, had he played this role, he'd make a lot more people emphasis with his plight. Here, I felt WJM played it very hard and almost to the point of being theatrical which made his character seem more two dimensional and cartoonish. Just my view.

I have finished it now. Can I ask, do you feel the ending for this couple fairly done in the drama? As predicted, they made the SFL have a way out by ending up at the nunnery. Whilst SML ends up dying on the floor in public. Sorry to say, the novel sounds callous to SFL. She was not able to form a rounded life because of the trapped life she had from her upbringing.

I agree with you. I just cannot watch. These last episodes are taking me so long to watch. I was considering if I could fast forward but know this might be a disaster. I'm annoyed that the author or scriptwriter had to make these scenes and scenario. It just feels so unnecessarily cruel & unhealthily written.

I feel for FL and I think there was enough trauma porn for her already and it feels disgraceful they had to do this to her.

Well I'm on episode 20 now and can see they are just going through the emotions on these episodes. There seems to be no depth and the plots in court are definitely an afterthought but I don't know if this is because the novel was sub-par to begin with but original scripts seem to be more interesting than some of the novels. Perhaps some novels were not that exciting to begin with. It's just trying to squash some Mills & Boons type book into any old setting. This one just so happens to be Tang Dynasty.

I think they did it to steer her focus onto using plants for medicine more and start all the Mary Sue act so it didn't look too contrived but I agree, it was a very odd bit of drama which made it even more odd her father withheld such info from her which just doesn't seem realistic considering his relationship with his next wife seemed more distant so they are suddenly both on code to keep that from her, it was poor writing.

I preferred part 1 but I did come to watch for different reasons. Normally I steer clear of court stuff and all that intrigue, harem tittle tattle stuff that Chinese audience quite like, I find it draggy and inward looking and sometimes repetitive, but I came because I wanted to see what all the research was about for the costumes and horticulture of peonies and it did not satisfy me.

But part 1 was good in a sense it should have finished where it did with the obvious loose ends sorted within those episodes. These new parts are repetitive and the court stuff is very 2 dimensional. Like an after thought (same with the peonies) for the main plot that is the love of the leads. That part they did well despite others finding the pacing draggy and hated all the interactions without being the couple throughout the drama. That doesn't bother me as officially being a couple as such is just a label. Their interactions were sweet and realistic enough to believe such a relationship could exist between their class at the time of Tang Dynasty.

Oh dear, sounds very depressing for her. Thanks for warning me.

In the beginning she did not know as she skim read the script, but as she slowly gained more knowledge she started to change. That's what the scriptwriter wanted us to see. But she's feisty and not a details person. She's imperfect. She knew him as god of death. She also thought her sister would be a villain but learned she was nothing like that.

The whole point of the script was to parody the idol drama industry with classic tropes turned on their head. FL was an average girl and not smart & had no gift. SLF was smarter and was not grasping. Father loved his family and daughters and was not trying to social climb. ML had an image of being cold and harsh yet he was soft and misunderstood.

Also ML just fancies FL with all her flaws. That's how life is and I think some people can't deal with that. Love cannot always be logical & this is what sells for me. No big grand gestures. He can't help himself and scriptwriter wanted to drive us mad by showing this. As usual females get judged more than males.

You can not like FL, but it's the script writer's "creation" and not real. So yes, it's a blame on the scriptwriter.

The key bit is after everything, the last laugh is on the creators to us the viewers. They created a lot of highlights for the ML but never expanded the FL's character. Viewers cannot work out they were given the all seeing eye whilst she didn't. She is just an average girl with no special highlights. People cannot put their selves in the character's shoes.

OK. Does SFL get out of her marriage or come to her senses?

I'm afraid I'm only on episode 18 at the moment. I will carry on because I like the actors here and they are all doing a good job. Not that short cut narrating...but thanks for the spoiler😁.

Thanks for being honest on that. It does look that way with how everything is closing in. I feel there was no need for so many episodes. The repetitive issues that would inevitably arise due to ML's position in the court and FL's ex doing his best to terrorise her just feels typical and doesn't add much to what we've already seen in the first part. This prolonged pestering and bitterness almost feels forced. This SML character is pure creepy and shouldn't be dragged out this way. But I fear the writing is weak so they rely on this to create some sort of drama.

I understand. I'm not dropping it yet but more disappointed by the storyline. The actors are doing a great job though.

What's happened to the latter half. She's gone all Mary Sue and loaded with plot armour. Tinkly music piping and can do no wrong dishing out socialist ideals for all with husband in the background geeing her on...

Was it like this in the novel? When was this novel published? It just seems to go all formulaic from mid way onwards. It's already bad that villains are plain 2 dimensional with not an ounce of greyness, and SFL & SML are cardboard cut outs with no sort of development. From being self righteous to full on villain with a walking stick. It's like a joke.

His wife also written with little development. I sincerely hope she has more depth later because right now, she's just a spoilt brat and love brained. She's a victim of domestic abuse and it's OK because she's jealous and spiteful. She would have no redemption because she tries to burn down her "rival".

I feel part 2 is mainly filler and did not need these amounts of episodes to get to the point. There are continuity issues of snow filled scenes with cold air and then the next scene there are high light levels with lush greenery in the background. Then back to winter leafless background. Peonies feature sporadically when we all know in general they only flower for max 4 weeks in a year. They claimed to have done as much research as possible for this drama, but it doesn't show for me. I will plough on as I hope SFL gets a story line as that is the only interesting thing in this drama. As for her husband, he speaks like he has two golf balls shoved in his mouth and I'm creeped out by his horrible voice.

You need to watch right to the end to "get it". But many were like you. I didn't as I can see she only knows what she knows whilst you the viewer get the all seeing eye.

It's the sort of drama that questions yourself. So for those that are "irritated" they ought to look at their biases and most importantly their inability to work out the script was not even what she saw. It was what the scriptwriters wrote for her. So the last laugh is at us the viewer. This type of ending reminds me of Legend of Zang Hai when throughout the questions kept coming, the incoherent stories. In the end the manipulator controlled the narrative right to the end, so it kind of blew away all those comments people made.

OK, I must have missed that.

Well, I hope you look at more historical dramas. Modern is good, but I watch these costume dramas because it's unique content that I would not find where I'm from.

Well it is tropey but it's still going to weather bad scripts. I confess, this part I don't like in this drama. SML and SFL. Like stock villains with no depth or reasoning. Their stories are not well thought out and very two dimensional. SFL should be a victim and they chose the path of casting her into a typical spoilt princess.

FL & ML is done well in my opinion but the surrounding stories and even the lack of horticultural research just seem like an afterthought. Yes the costumes and hair is more well thought out, but for me, a well rounded drama needs three things to mix and work well. Here, the drama is centred around the romance. All other storylines around it are less engaging and lacking in depth and meaning.