Nepeta 22

Unfortunately, I haven't seen any of those dramas. I'm only halfway through so can only say he is love struck but quite soppy at times. Give it a try and see what you think. I personally don't like his character. He's too basic and quite juvenile even for someone that is trained to be a surgeon. Of all the brothers, he is probably the most naive.

Based on what you wrote I don't think you will like how the ML is written. He is love struck in a puppy way. All his love and life is for the FL. Short bursts of anger are just that, short bursts. His acting style is slightly more animated than MJTY but quite similar. He is suddenly smart after displaying a bratty and wet behind the ears feel. But in all he plays an earnest soul but tortured by his upbringing causing him to rebel when his family starts to bully him. If you like this type of ML, then join in...

Although I agree with you on not allowing social media control your choice of drama but sadly it's too late. The way social media operates with click baiting and hashtags it's a game in itself where something can quickly get out of control. It's just how it works. That's why in China they don't even hide the fact using words like bought trends, black drafts etc. it's all part of trying to tame social media. It also affects how drama stories are laid out.

Without kisses, dramatic scenes it's very easy for dramas to be lost in the noise. I believe from watching this drama they tried to play that game so hard that when viewers came to watch it was nothing like the promotional clips. Instead they saw excessive jaunty music and soapy style unconvincing slaps and very messy relationship dynamics, there is nothing sophisticated about that. It's as if both leads walked off the catwalk and catapulted into this soap opera. That's why they can't resist poking fun.

As a drama it's ok, the story is there but still the messy convoluted push and pull with the brothers and FL can feel very forced. Almost like it should be a soap storyline rather than a drama. This is where I feel it fails. If this is true to the novel, I think it needs to be in shorter episodes with over 100 episodes to help keep the snappy story telling flow. It doesn't work in this format. It's too low class in the messy family structure. And they're trying to make it look classy, it's just not convincing.

I think you mis-understood my original comment. I am aware they had western influences during this period. What I meant was the modern influences were "ahead" of their time. I think they got too carried away with the leads and went outside of the box. Her hair, the "breakfast at Tiffany's" look. They maybe more iconic in the 1950s-60s? ML's shirtless get-up is definitely not normal at that time. It is more in place for a Chippendale's tribute.

Thanks on that. I knew that in areas like Shanghai, there were concessions and within them, they had their own judiciary systems. But other areas, I am not sure of the system.

Thank you for that lengthy post. Yes, I got all that, but didn't join up the dots that the Murong family leaned on the law to get their son out so early. I will assume that their youngest son working now as a newly promoted inspector had no knowledge at that and probably ignorant of all these goings on? The drama seems so morally grey with these issues.

Basically ML's family is rotten to the core, and the second and third sons are possibly just coasting along with the times of all these injustices? The narrative on this seems very wishy-washy to me.

The only person in this drama that is upright and wants justice is the FL. Hence why she is the FL I suppose. The ML is only swept into this because he is hopelessly in love with her, so he blindly helps and occasionally puts himself in danger. He should count himself lucky - he only had a maimed hand and just 3 years inside. Otherwise the FL would be painted a full out villain.

So in essence. To make FL's crimes seem palatable is because the backdrop must be messy and chaotic and without a robust system in place. Because let's face it, the last few episodes should land quite a few inside for quite some time had there been a good system in place.

We all know it is fictional, but here, this drama is stretching believability to the max on too many occasions. They are also getting so carried away with the wardrobe on a few times, they styled FL into the 1950s style of hair and dress. Her hair is also constantly worn down and long which at that time that style was not the norm. Ladies had their hair up or curled in a way that stayed medium to short.

In the earlier episodes, ML was wearing next to nothing under a loose black blazer. This is totally out of place even for a formal evening event of that time. But it would not be out of place on a 2025 Gucci runway. It's these things that make the drama feel unrealistic and un-researched. Or worse, they simply don't care.

Nothing is explained on how and why he got just 3 years for killing someone. Is this corruption that he had such a lenient sentence? Or, was this just another convenient plot device to allow ML to get out earlier because his hands had been maimed? But why? That still doesn't add up. Either way, I have to ask, what system did he go through for to get this light sentence.

OK. No problem 😉. That's a shame as his character is probably one of the more interesting ones. FXB adds weight to the drama. Without him, I fear we are left with a fair few cardboard villains. I hope ML's father will serve up some layers of psychological mind games.

How about crime investigation drama set in this era? Cases Between Us is funny, smart and on-point with the politics of that time. Beautifully lit and great wardrobe. The dramas you describe do indeed sound boring. Detective L is also another snappy quality drama taking inspiration from Sherlock Holmes.

I personally don't think it will change. The tempo is still the same. The cutting of corners is still there. They are more fixated on looks and styling than the script and storytelling. It's pretty consistent. Feels more like a soap opera rooted in the dramatic end. If anyone one knows Sunset Beach. It's that kind of production.

Well. All that black flag label I kept hearing about seems like a distant thing. He is indeed a lovestruck soppy puppy now. Suits his wet behind the ears look. He never looks like a commanding scheming ruthless being. These sudden bursts of him with guns blazing seems so unnatural and forced. The storyline is getting more and more unrealistic than the one before.

This eye for an eye type of revenge also doesn't sit well for so-called hero/heroine. It may work in Ming or Song Dynasty but with the police (even if they're corrupt) there, let's bypass that, as it seems like anything goes, and it's wild in the town. Like how grandfather Huo can be rescued out of the prison. They don't even bother to show us what happened. How these red banners just fall from buildings, who are these people? Where did they come from? How convenience Fang father shows up with a gun and makes such an entrance? Don't ask, it just happens. Episode 18 was ridiculous.

Dead? Older brother? When? Is this spoiler stuff?

We'll see how it goes, and it's fine, I am not expecting it to be well researched. If this has been dialled down compared with the novel, then I feel a bit embarrassed for the author. Glamorising toxic or dark love should stay in novel form and not be made into a drama because it is exposed to a far wider audience and will not appeal to a section of viewers who see it for what it is. A shameless attempt to build sexual tension in the short cut way.

It is also sometimes (if not handled correctly) problematic because it borders onto consent and harassment. If this is an idol based drama, there needs to be a social responsibility to the young and impressionable that can be easily influenced and believe these actions are normal or even desirable when they are unhealthy and often leading to unsavoury outcomes.

Anyway, happy drama watching. I look forward to ML and father dynamics. Looks like a complicated relationship. One that no doubt FL will be behind getting them together or sorting out the problems.

I just thought some posters were stating it's promotional fraud and that they had been mis-sold what they were going to get with this drama.

I personally did not see toxic love or love triangle to be honest. I knew it would be glamorous because there were plenty of polished looks where both leads looked good. As to the expectations and storyline I had an open mind.

Now that I have seen the core plot, I am concerned with how it has been handled. I don't like the dramatic feel of using the FL as a victim to bait the baddies out. This is a tricky subject and it feels a bit off to put this into the plot with drama considering the earlier toxic behaviour or ML towards FL. Him forcing himself on her, embarrassing her.

I will keep watching to see how it goes, but for me, the issue is it feels like the writer or the drama adaptation has decided to use this subject as a backdrop plot to the love story and it shows because of the way they are handling it. It does not feel it's well researched but just hap-hazardly inserted into the plot.

I must have missed that. I saw lots of shots of beautiful looking leads running about and FL being the absolute clothing horse. I knew the directors/producers were gonna utilise FL's 'assets' to the max and yes, it's all here on display. And it's pretty obvious, they are using the FL's face and body to sell literally. But then all this putting herself in knee deep, being the victim to catch the baddie?

This is either brave or going to bring up criticism as there is something gratuitous about that. If this is following the novel, then they definitely put the subject plot second to the romance and really show lack of care and attention to real life victims to these crimes. Almost belittling the issues and not handling it in a careful or respectful way, but using a very serious subject to promote something else that is far shallower and basic.

Novels are for core direct audience. But making a drama will expose them to a much wider audience and I'm afraid it may not stand up to scrutiny. I came in this without knowing that. This has intrigued me to continue to see how they handle this.

I recommend Kill My Sins. You will not be disappointed.

Douban score of 6.8 from around 5k of raters in China. Not bad. Still got about 3 episodes to go. I'll miss this drama when it's over...

Not in my world I'm afraid. Trying to glamourise toxic behaviour and normalising it doesn't chime with me.

You are missing the point about fictional. It is precisely because it is fictional and part of the drama, I find it at odds with the core message. Considering the main plotline of the drama. It is quite inappropriate to keep using these tropes of groping, shaming and strangulation under the guise of passion or fan service.

It cheapens the meaning of the drama. One minute pulling these stunts for a target audience whilst trying to show that FL has justice to do regarding exploitation of orphans linked to one of the families. It doesn't feel sincere at all. I understand this may have been in the novel but these early scenes of ML forcing himself on her is bad taste.

Couple that with camera work that is fixated on legs, ankles and stilettos, it feels very creepy (objectifying) from the drama makers. It also shows their true priority over the actual plot, which is sort of disappointing. I hope the storytelling changes and moves away from all this forced sexual tension.

I agree. With such a core subject, the way it's filmed, with excessive music overlay betrays the true message of this drama. The emphasis on over sexualising FL non stop and often camera work questionable in how it lingers in all the wrong places reeks of creepiness and makes the drama makers look like they're more interested in visuals than the true story which ironically is exactly about exploitation.

I also hate how they so readily use the ML to execute these forceful moves on FL under the guise of anger and frustration. I think this could have been done less obviously to max out sexual tension. It just feels desperate. I find it hard to believe a seemingly nice surgeon could turn so bitter inside 3 years and suddenly be hateful. Perhaps they should have did more with the flash backs otherwise it just looks like a completely different character.

I'm still here because I want to see if the core plot will do justice for those in the orphanage. Also for ML and father relationship which is complicated.

Found that creepy and vulgar to be honest. I wonder if this was in the novel. I guess everyone have their different views. Does that behaviour get a pass because he is the ML?

Up until then, I kept seeing the camera-work lingering in all the wrong areas - close up of legs, ankles extreme close up of shoes especially stilettos. Yes FL is super sexy but is the ML really that cruel to pull that stunt in front of the assistants?