Nepeta 22

Hope that happens. I saw similar feelings towards Li Landi's character in Filter and Li Yi Tong's character with A dream within a Dream. It was a journey, although I liked Li Landi's character throughout, but audiences cannot see the FL's point of view.

Here, Julia Xiang's character needs to have more depth, and I think there will be more sympathy with her character.

I don't know how it will go but I agree with you. I wasn't expecting this at all. When I saw the cast list and the story set up, I thought she was just part of a team working together. Now seeing this storyline at the beginning, it will have some bearing to how group dynamics work and also how the ML behaves throughout the drama. As for her, let's see how they write her. I'm not even on episode 4 yet so cannot pass judgment.

As for the hate, I think it's a bit ironic. They are in a way behaving exactly like our FL! Shouldn't they also not be so hot headed and emotional so quickly?

I have seen similar FL characters in Chinese dramas. Perhaps some writers find this type of FL character endearing. They want her child-like, highly emotional and easily swayed? Then that paves way for misunderstandings, her making grave mistakes that needs correcting along the way, or for her to finally get growth? But I get this is not nice to see whilst ML always looks smart and keeps needing to prove himself or fight her corner even if she's so-called hating him and thinking he's not to be trusted.

Personally, this type of character is quite old-hat and if they're still doing stories like this when this was happening 20-30 years ago in Chinese dramas, it's either a tried and tested trope that works and people just can't get enough of it, or it's just a safe type of story line that cannot fail. Who knows...

I was told that this storyline was not inside the original novel. So a bit weird this was added in. It feels like a filler part OR to make the ML look great in a roundabout way. If you think about it, her father would actually keep something like this from her for much of her life? Considering his relationship with his latest wife seemed distant. That part of the family dynamics was not natural and didn't match with their characterisation. I almost felt sorry for the actor who was suddenly supposed to have killed her mother. He didn't even look convincing!

Personally, I think this was a clunky way to steer her into using plants in a healing and medicinal way. I feel it didn't need that as she was going in that direction anyway. It's just going into the Mary Sue phase where it's not just beauty of peonies but her knowledge of herbs and plants she wanted to give to the general public rather than just to the nobles. This is where I felt was jarring, this forced socialist ideal against a Tang Dynasty system that the general viewing public love, but cannot help push modern ideals in.

This brings me to feminism. It's fine to pluck one out of thousands of females at the time of Tang that had to live in a world where women didn't have the same rights as men. But the themes in the second section seemed more performative than actually write about the difference between peasants' women's rights against someone like the FL who is rolling with fine educated people and she herself being given a bunk up with education from her own family background. Basically, she can afford to be the way she is even how they tried to paint her as suffering within her own family's traditions.

It may be a specific type that may not be popular today. I suspect it's a rare species with very exacting needs. I think they're not detailed in those scenes. They didn't want them excessively wet rather than not wet at all, but they didn't explain that well.

There are two types of peonies, the tree which is what I think a large portion of their plants are and if you remembered they then started selling a particularly smaller version on their stalls to the success. She managed to pluck from the wild that meant it was more easily accessible to the general public rather than the nobles. I think those were the herbaceous ones which is also the more popular ones grown today. They die down completely in winter and you will not even see a twig above ground.

There is also the intersectional peonies which I doubt they featured as this is a relatively new hybrid which incorporates both herbaceous and tree peonies. Peonies was loved by the Tang Dynasty, which I suspect is why this story came about, but this plant is not just native just to China.

The stuff you listed are tame. Wait till you get onto the last few episodes, you will need to let more slide...

To be honest, how she moved from stall to shop seemed too easy. How plants grow year round in her shop also defies logic since Peonies only flower for 8 weeks max and you're left with leaves for rest of the growing season. Let's not even mention that from the winter months, it's bare for 4 months if they're tree peonies, herbaceous ones, you see nothing for nearly half a year! Note how they sneakily added in roses and Hydrangeas to plug the gaps in her garden and in her shop. Totally unrealistic with Peonies stored indoors whilst still in their pots.

Fair enough with your point of view. I know my view is not popular, We'll just have to agree to disagree.

I have finished this. Whilst I liked the story, I felt the execution could have been better. So strange they left many of Zheng Ya Ping's background a blank. Her role in this was almost reduced to a mere side character, almost like a school headmistress. ML was a strange one, his character flitted from Mr Bean persona to being an upright & honest jobs-worth. Apart from these niggles, the drama holds up because the story and characters were all complex and interwoven to the point of making each one unaware of the bigger picture and the consequences it brings.

Anyone liking this sort of theme, I recommend watching Chasing The Undercurrent, which is now in the process of making a season 2 right now.

I just want to point out a bit of mis-information that has been repeated again and again regards to The Demon Hunter's Romance. It is the screen writer that has given the interviews but the 'original novel' was not written by her.

The original novel was un-finished. Therefore the screen writer was making the ending up regardless. But it was not her original creation in the first place. Whether the ending was AI (rumoured) or motivated by (I don't believe this reasoning about budget, makes no sense as it wouldn't blow budgets for a HE) budgets, it was very respectful to the drama's beginning and middle parts, making it very coherent rather than force something just to please audiences.

This is my opinion, the ending is the correct one, and in the spirit of the 'original' story. If it had been a happy ending, it would not make sense with many of the stories and cases that were presented in a way with a very strong message about relationships between demons and humans and how they collided. The ending was very fitting. I also understand your views, but don't agree about a change in character or momentum.

I might be in the minority. I think the ending was right. The tone of the drama, the music were already subtle hints of a romance that is too good to be true. I liked how towards the last 5 episodes, the FL was already accepting and dealing with something that she herself knows might happen but also respecting the ML's duties and choice, because ultimately, she already knew he may risk his life for her and she would rather suffer alone or withhold things from him to protect him.

The ending paves a way for hope, even how sad it may be. We must remember it's a fantasy with other worlds so the possibilities are there and possible second season too.

I'm afraid I have not read the novel, but someone on this forum told me more about the novel. I was told in the novel Liu Chang's character was not written as heinous as this drama makes out and he gives up obsessing over the FL unlike in this drama. so I think maybe it must be based on the novel.

In the second part, they seem to amp up this obsession to the point it's just too hard to watch. It's like a switch, he just abandons all his ambitions to just play good son-in-law and be under the control of Prince Ning. I did not like this cardboard cut-out character. Princess also does not go out of that love-brain mode. These characters are simply there to be the total opposite to the leads, but written in such a clunky way it lets the whole drama down.

It's basically a romance novel trying to pad out bits and the interest is not anything else (including plants) other than the main leads' tussle and all the chemistry with their misunderstandings under a Tang dynasty setting.

The issue is, this was a novel adaptation. Trying to go against that novel may well ruffle a few feathers. I totally agree with you. One of the main reasons I was watching this is for Miles Wei's character and County Princess's roles.

Unfortunately, I quickly found out they are just a foil for the ML and FL's character. The novel must be quite dated, and you can see this in how it's put together. First parts started well, but they soon reverted back to classic Mary Sue style storylines and ML turning into no more than a meat head that needs help on his own fight. The second couple are just left in the background of playing caricature villains. I agree with you, a waste of talent.

Strange post from you. I don't think you've grasp what I wrote. I have not even said FL is textured or layered. In fact I said she's regular and ditzy. Average, But, it's OK, the person that says I'm here with an agenda seems to be repeating the same thing around the forum, so is it a case of pot calling the kettle black?

If you can't accept a fact I posted here about a male dominated media/film industry then that is your issue. I know change is hard to take. BTW, I said many past dramas/films are dominated by male directors and writers so we're used to seeing what men think women like or be told how women should think. If that warrants name calling as "feminazi", I have nothing to add. But you need to analyse your message as you label me as liberal. Why don't you cut to the chase and say you don't like change. Good bye to you too..

I must admit it's like talking to a brick wall with those that hate on FML character. They are so far gone with being controlled and influenced by a male dominated world they can't see they have been brainwashed into being so self critical but more so of women characters and women in general. There is a very thin ideal of what that is, and it's not an accident. Many films, characters, fashion are dictated by men and their ideals. Some women that suck that up are what we see today on this page today.

In particular, in this drama, it is so obvious the "script" which was the main part of this drama was about writing the ML character in a much more sympathetic & favourable light giving him extended screen time and highlights, yet the viewers fall straight in "hook, line & sinker" and FL cannot see what we the viewers see, and yet these viewers think they are so smart that they think they'll be much more clued up. Dream on, pardon the pun. Their very comments about her being cruel tell me they are not much better than the FL's IQ.

I don't think it's ground breaking. I'm just interested in this fixation of FL's character. Small minded comments fill the drama page with many not even working out she's just a creation by the scriptwriter trying to attempt a parody of the entertainment industry. She's meant to annoy and be blind to ML's affection. A common trope.

But like usual, in a mainly male dominated industry, men try to create what they think women want to see or try to be. The mainly female audience then fall straight into that trap of doing the dirty work of being overly critical of the character instead of really questioning who creates these characters.

I enjoyed the drama, but it's not the best. It's a good attempt, but too many are busy talking about "annoying" FL instead. From the outside, they look exactly the same. Annoying and short-sighted. The irony.

Those are my opinions and you are entitled to yours too. FL's characterisation was first layer created by the scriptwriter. It's fine you don't get her or even agree with her behaviour. I have no issue with it at all. Not all leads need to be smart and fawn over a ML within the 15 episodes just because it's some romantic idol drama.

I do not equate her to Tommy Shelby. Not sure where you got that from. She's just a regular girl who thinks she's smarter than she thinks. She think she's smarter than the characters at first. Nothing special. Being afraid of death can be normal too...

OK. A shame because as a drama it's a really good drama. But if you don't want sadness & suffering then you made the right choice.

Can I say, the blood boiling are only for those that have sucked in the male-led industry for years where they always paint the ML with lots of plot armour (misunderstood, prolonged storylines about their plight. Being used and abused. Even FL joins in to really wield the knife in). You as a viewer brought into this plot armour. Have you actually taken your mind and body out of the "all seeing eye" storyline you have been given? Have you really looked carefully at the plot on the FL's side? Are you now the cheer leaders doing the dirty work for those that long controlled this male dominated industry? Ask yourself, why so quick to be critical of FL characters over ML?

The amount of viewers shouting at their screens cannot admit, they are only doing this thanks to the way the drama's been constructed. Those that emphasised with the FL have been more open minded and concentrated on the actual drama from her view point rather than join in the classic chorus of "poor ML".

I don't buy that. He's actually a heinous character. Based on what the FL will see. It's no different to what happens every day in how news is presented to us. We react based on what we see. Just like what late Malcom X said: “If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”

Your whole reply is exactly the reaction the drama makers wanted you to see. The whole point is, the whole part of this drama is layer one which was created by the script writer typing away on her laptop. As you said, towards the end herself and ML were breaking out of that script but not totally realising it. It's only when we see the very end do we know this happens.

The title of the drama from episode 1 is not the same as the one in the last episode. Therefore the whole drama and its draggy misunderstandings and all of the plots were created by the first layer scriptwriter? BTW, the over-the-top acting was expected because the scriptwriters wanted the FL to be that way to make it a parody? That meant, they knew this sort of silly ditzy FL rubbed people up the wrong way. They were trying to tell the audience the "modern" female lead was bringing in her sarcasm into the scripted drama world.

So in short, what we witness for much of the drama was original script, but the bit at the beginning was part of that script. The last 5 minutes was the real world, where we witness what they spoke about at the end of the script, could they break out of the script through will power.

I'm surprised at how so many keep saying that. Have you dropped this?