Nepeta 22

Hello, can anyone let me know if this had a Douban rating?

But also, what you don't mention is Douban are aware of these fandom wars and since 2020 have made changes where they verify mobiles and there is a strict criteria. This is seen in TLP where it took months to get a DB rating. Several dramas also had a long wait due to suspicious activities.

Instead of blaming DB which has to use more time to sieve out suspicious activities, it would make more sense to deal with fandoms that are getting out of control and turning into a new sport in China. It's no longer healthy respect for an actor or singer, but a toxic one-way relationship where it's a daily onslaught of passive aggressive behaviour, demands on their so-call star, and daily blackmailing. I do feel, with social media, a new generation have utilised this medium to lash out their personal feelings on others because they can get away with it.

The fan-clubs sometimes embolden this behaviour creating group mentality. It's no longer about fanning an actor but a team sport which is more obsessed with other fandoms they deem are a threat. Truth is, those that partake in these activities are doing it for their fandom group or their own egos rather than think about the actor's career or mental state. In many cases, they nearly ruin their favourite actor's career.

As for the DB ratings, I think it's generous and about right. There is no question, that there are lots of quality dramas that get higher ratings and I have seen a lot of dramas, and this one is nowhere near that standard in script, plot or cinematography.

I agree with your comments on the FL. For some reason, her performance here is well below what she can do, and I don't know why. The only thing I can think of is the pressure of working alongside XZ and the director causing this.

Early on in the comments, I said she is playing against type, which I feel some actors just don't have that temperament. Hers seem like being bratty and childish doesn't sit well on her. It's almost as if she's laboured in all her scenes. I still feel her with ML in the drama were the highlight that kept the interest going though. It's just this character seemed too basic.

Also her changing from arrogant to Miss Caring and understanding is so abrupt it's also not convincing on her. But I blame this on the writers that have rushed through too much and put too much emphasis on plot at the expense of character building to create a more rich and immersive experience.

You need to watch all the way in the end to work it out. It is not what you think it all is in the initial episodes. Also remember, this was all prepared for him right from the beginning, he was a mere tool.

OK, yes there seemed to be no more suspects. At that point it was all pointing to the emperor but I guess that last minute twist moved sideways to Shi Yi Ping which didn't last long.

It's definitely not a details drama. For me it's more of an idol style drama that is plot driven to keep it fast paced, but at the expense of coherent detailing, development of characters and being believable in areas.

Truth is, how the ML was written, by mid point, he should have already started to question Gao Ming and mask man with his inquisitive nature. It's just not believable to have the mask man reveal himself which I must say was too cliched. It was also the beginning of his downfall as that opened up an avenue to the ML that was not there before which also means, he handed victory to the ML's cause on the plate with hindsight.

Then how ZZX's growth, also not believable. The space in which he changed was forced and not believable. Even worse was him falling under the wings of ZBW seems too far fetched too, but all in the name of making the plot move the way they wanted they created an incoherent network of circumstances that didn't gel to make the drama more engaging.

About right, but a little too generous in my opinion.

About right, but a little too generous in my opinion.

Yes, I agree, but I also think ZBW made a fatal mistake by taking off his mask, because since that happened, it opened up another avenue for ML which was not there before. In fact, it was probably his ego that got him in a mess later because he did not really need to reveal himself at that stage.

Yes, that's what it sort of felt like from how the story unfolds, but because of the way he looked back up at him, it felt like they're were both in the same knowledge. But lots are saying ZLY never knew and of course earlier they did not know. I think I was thrown off by that glance back up at ZBW. Thanks.

I don't know, like you said, it's a little opened out and not filled in. I guess it's one of those bits they don't want to dwell on too much 😅!

Thanks for expanding on that. I must admit, didn't even think about that. I just thought he discovered it by accident. I think earlier in one of the scenes, they mentioned Kuai Duo was sent to build this tower because they suspected it may be there? Who knows. Hopefully someone that reads this will be kind enough to piece together how Kuai Duo found it.

We know the FL was always looking for it too. But her motivation was that it belonged to the Dongxia people so just wanted it back.

Oh OK I sort of remember now. I think I was getting mixed up with all the kid actors.

OK, maybe it was at break neck speed with the plots and I missed these details. Maybe there was not enough of these scenes, because I didn't feel enough guilt or remorse.

Yes, I agree. It depends on your personal perspective on how you feel with justice. I admit, I actually don't like watching too much of these court type dramas as I am less interested in noble in-fighting even how well written, it just pushes this obsession with people of status, and in the old days, born into it.

I do find that they are making more and more of this type of historic stuff and that doesn't appeal to me. I much prefer to watch dramas focusing more on every day people. But I guess, not a lot have been written about peasants or merchants for them to write more off, but I feel there will be a shift to this in maybe 3-4 years time as there is so much you can write about emperors and imperial examinations!

I almost shed a tear when they showed the wooden plaque of Gao Ming and his fancy lady drinking her wine. I also was not happy with the amount of deaths half way through the drama just to protect the ML when Eunuch Cao was sending out his guards to try and take him down. But I guess, now looking back at those scenes, it was part orchestrated by ZBW & GM. Those that died were like nobodies. I did not see much remorse from the ML or FL. It just seemed like it's their right. That's the two-tiered system I was feeling already.

If I'm correct, Kuai Duo rushed to the emperor first and gave it to him but deliberately kept the bronze fish link. Those links were taken by ZLY when he slaughtered the family. He was asking him to confess to where all the other bits are and Kuai Duo killed himself instead. Then we see ZLY searching his body and found that bronze fish link.

The cloak thing I will just ignore, I'm afraid it's one of those bits that people ignore but obviously it's still important in regards to time-line 😉 If ML had passed out, he may have rescued him without a mask!

The beginning scenes were very chaotic, yes you are right, the entrance was very far around the other side of the property. I remember telling a friend, concentrate in the first few episodes because the clues may be in these scenes, but so far, it's not offering me much.

The only other thing is he had been spying on their antics way before all this happened. He knew about all the tunnels? But why not show this in the flash-backs? I don't like cutting corners if they cannot explain how he knew he was inside the tunnel about to die. I just about accept duke knew nothing about this and only knew part of his grand plan.

OK, it has to be since like you said. You need to be intoxicated inside for a while to see them. If you pop in quickly, you won't see them. That's what I am thinking. I remember in the beginning, Kuai Duo saw them like statues then later they started to awaken. We now know he knew to graze himself with blood to save himself. That's how he got out alive.

Thanks for that insightful response. This now makes sense how ZZX had a mini redemption in the end, and in a way, he didn't really get his punishment as he too was no saint, but he gets the accolades because of his family status. I was not comfortable with that.

As for ZBW's character, his thirst for glory is rooted in nationalism and he really believed in his cause, but he just didn't know it, he was just a plain narcissist like a lot of rulers.

The Gui Seal was like the golden weapon and often like modern day nuclear weapons, if you have it, it's like a warning to neighbouring states and used as a way to stop all out war. In this drama, the question of using its power or just holding onto it as a back up was hinted numerous times like it's good for national security!

Yes, I saw that scene when he was looking down, so took that as spying on his moves. But yes, this section of the drama really needed a bit more flash-back to make clear how he knew ML was hiding there. From what I remembered, ML had already passed out from the smoke. So he himself will have no idea what happened, so it really needed details of how ZBW knew he was inside the tunnel. Only other way was he had been spying on his activities way before all this had happened, but again, none of this was shown in any flash-backs later.