Nepeta 22

It's interesting you mentioned filial. If you applied that same logic for SML I would guess a large portion of viewers would have none of it. So would this mean it's luck? Or is the writer lazy and unwilling or unable to see how hypocritical or ironic it all is?

To be leads you just require luck in life and those decisions made by the leads are only awarded to them because they just so happen to derive from good parents. What of bad parents? Are those people expected to have a very miserable future?

She did get time off during that period. But judging from later episodes it sounds like they never apologise? Please can you spoil me on the ending with step brother & father if you have watched to the end as I cannot bring myself to see the rest after episode 25.

He's not the cold CEO but ironically a cold personality not at work but warm personality at work which is why through work FL & ML click.

I missed that one as I was very busy when that came out but I may check it out when there is a quieter period. As for this one, it's nearing the end, and I am more stressed than usual, maybe because of the very real life events. Edward Zhang's character breaks my heart. The sacrifice he has already made to get to this point...

Yes she did as a quick reaction, but it never really happened. This space between the 2 happened less than a full episode. I don't regard that as a break up. Certainly the ML never accepted it.

No problem. Hope you get to watch Spy Game maybe just 1 episode to see if it's for you. There is even a potential for a second season.

I also came here because of the tag! I'm ok with it and just stayed. But that part really doesn't figure much and it does have some plot holes in it too. It's often rushed and I didn't even understand some of it because it was rushed.😉

Not a break up. FL on receiving shocking news needed a bit of time to take stock. She just needed a bit of space to clear her head.

I'm on episode 25 & it really doesn't figure much in the drama. I would say it's only making up 15% of drama. If you don't want as much romance but light romance with more VR experience I recommend Spy Game might be more for you.

I'm not making excuses for him. I'm telling you the reasons why a character ends up this way. The drama is literally telling you.

He is isolated. In that time he only wants to get his father's approval. Even in Stockholm syndrome many are not their own parents. Some have been badly abused by strangers. But they still admire and care for their abuser.

He's clearly damaged here. Had no affection for his upbringing. How can he possibly know the value or understanding of other's feelings? Anyone that shows slight affection or care, he laps it up. Scary I know, but that's how it is. Can you imagine if you don't think what you do to others is deemed evil? That's him. And every day people think just like him oblivous to the fact they're actually harming or scaring someone.

Yes it completely does not make sense. That includes the whole arc with the rest of the drama. If you haven't already, I recommend Spy Game. Much more realistic.

Some people don't judge people in black and white? Some know he is a product of his upbringing where his parent had emotionally abused and used him. In life, early shaping is from those you are supposed to trust. Just like the ML. You could argue ML had privileges like having a solid father just like FL.

In this story it is the FL who is the hero that brings ML to his senses & it's looking like her magic might slowly work on SML.

😉I wish they make more dramas like that for republican era dramas. The makers must have thought, there must be another way to tell the story that's been re-told so many times in the past. Loved the intro music too. It sets you up for the sublime to the ridiculous!

What an interesting view. I have not seen anything in the drama to suggest she was distant to him. She may not be vocal but she may be a soft personality. Just because her son is unhappy or suspicious of his father's death it does not automatically mean she's the issue.

If anything, the drama has shown her to try to get close to her son. He has shown to be rejecting her, and I understand that, but it is natural in his position. He's just uncomfortable with her now with another family. Also standard stuff. Her comments about losing another member of family is in keeping with how she views things from her viewpoint. I don't think it's insensitive at all. If you are, then you must be viewing it from ML's point of view.

Can I ask why you feel strongly on her character? Is there proof at this stage she was responsible for anything bad? Is it wrong to re marry? Is it also wrong to say what she said? I'm making a normal discussion on this drama. I genuinely want to know where that view came from.

ML leaving home early is his personal choice. His feelings of a parent remarrying is just his own feelings but why would she be a source of blame? At episode 22 I cannot see why she is viewed this way. Also, when watching the drama, think about the age and era they are from as they may not think of live the way you might in your era. I am aware it's fictional and in my opinion, it is not a trivial matter.

He was hilarious in Fearless Blood. Even how he dies, I ended up laughing on how he died too! Such dark humour in that drama.

I don't understand what causes you to feel this way for his mother. That type of comment is normal? It's not as if she's the first woman to re-marry. Btw, not everyone knows what entails after they get married. SFL has this issue. People should try to watch dramas with a more open mind and think about each character's position rather than from the viewpoint of 1 character.

Regarding the traditional upbringing, it has positives and negatives. In many dramas I have seen, I feel more comforted that it's not just me that had this kind of upbringing. At the same time, it has a fair bit of negatives, and in a lot of dramas they address the clashes in next generation pushing back against some of the old ways of thinking.

It normally comes from a place of love,(unlike many drama depictions that showcase parents that abuse their position using these old traditions to hide behind) and the sacrifices, as seen in recent episodes of River Sunset where it is heart wrenching to know and see father and son are willing to lay down their lives for each other in very extreme times. So I'm glad to hear that it is doing well. I was sobbing at least 4 times in the last few episodes!

Thanks for the links, I will have a look at that when I get more time later. For me anyway, there has been so many good dramas lately and even a drama held back for over 7 years look as fresh as ones made the last few years. I don't understand some of the comments I have seen when they say there is a drama slump. The dramas keep piling up.

I will continue this drama as I am near the end but it definitely has flaws, but the FL's character is a beacon of light and anchors everything together. The message in this is to confront and be open, and only through that, you can tackle the bottled up issues.

The international audiences may be tired of hard faced FL characters and now embracing bubbly idealistic FLs that has energy and drive rather than those that had already occupied the top position by being more cold and hard probably mimicking what they think men do. It swings in roundabouts, so in a few more years, it's back to stone face FL...

I came here for the VR aspect so it's fine. I watch with an open mind. Many aren't. I will watch to the end because I too want to see how they write the 2FL. 2ML's arc is also interesting, so I am expecting a redemption arc because of his toxic upbringing from his father. He basically wants to live the life the ML has but is not aware of it, so he ashes out at what he thinks he cannot get, that includes FL.

FL is the beacon that will lead him to the light healing both brothers in different ways. ML also has issues but his role is more glamourous because he stands up to authority and challenges his step father in a classic way.

I also came to this drama for the VR game theme, but it's not what I was expecting. That part of the drama seems like a poor excuse to make the drama look a bit more interesting. It doesn't seem to make sense or link much to the rest of this drama. But, I am 10 episodes to the end so it may figure somewhere, but right now, it's some strange background story that feels completely separate.

Thanks for the link. Totally agree again on the filial piety aspect. Something that is lost on a fair portion of international viewers. This was shown in full glare in Love Has Fireworks & Best Choice Ever.

Here. again, we see this. It is what it is. Luckily for me, I was raised in a very traditional family and until I started watching C-Dramas, I didn't realise I have come from a very traditional upbringing. That meant, I thought it was just normal. Watching C-Dramas, I started to see many families are actually more modern and that the set up I had was very dated and traditional. So, seeing 2ML's character did not seem odd or extra cruel. He is simply the product of his upbringing.

Many viewers watch these types of dramas with a slight tunnel vision. They cannot help it I suppose. You cannot suddenly learn another culture or history overnight. After all, we can bring baggage and biases when we all watch something.

Another issue is, as mentioned in your link a large portion of the main couple fans find it repulsive anyone that speaks up or write anything slightly understanding towards the 2ML. Makes it extremely hard to have a normal drama discussion. I have to zone out of this because sadly, some are watching small sections of the drama to suit their personal needs and not really watching the drama as a 'whole', which then creates a strange warped view in the end.

I just saw the scene with the father and son. Yes, that scenario is often seen in dramas, and I know this exists. I agree, it's not great, but sadly, in the more dated/traditional families, it's still there.

Yes, I too hope SFL also has a good outcome. At the moment, it looks like ML's friend is being lined up as a possible next love interest. A little bit clunky there, but hopefully they won't rush that as something like that happening to her is not always remedied with another relationship. but I guess the whole drama is about love, they may go that route.

As for the SML, I too hope he has an arc to showcase the change and growth he has gained through meeting the FL. Otherwise it would be sad for someone like him to end up looking like he is playing a stock 1 dimensional villain type role with no change.