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Enjoyable if not for the consent issues: felt like 2 separate dramas
Leave it to clueless showrunners to ruin a perfectly good show with a "forced kiss."
THE GOOD:
This show had so much going for it: a kickass FL who isn't just marketed as strong but actually remains strong, intelligent, and independent even after a man enters her life. She doesn't need saving; she saves herself. Resilience could be her middle name. Her grit, determination, cleverness, and transformation are inspiring. I love that she's not a Mary Sue, yet she never loses her humanity or compassion for the less fortunate, even as she outmaneuvers people far more powerful than herself. And there's plenty of eye candy beyond the cast—the sets, costumes, and fight choreography are stunning. The plot twists are great, also.
THE BAD THAT IS UNBEARABLE:
I could've overlooked the ridiculous ending and other flaws if not for the consent violation. It reminded me of The Princess Royale. Although TPR was significantly worse, the "forced kiss" in Where the Mask Ends ruined the show for me. Much like TPR, Where the Mask Ends has a ML who is consistently respectful of the FL, supports her wholeheartedly, and never makes her feel she needs to diminish herself for him. Lu Zhuo is especially admirable in this regard. He respects Wei Rao's boundaries, embraces her strengths and flaws, isn't threatened as she gains higher status, and is perfectly content to stand back and let her receive the recognition she deserves. He is so proud of her! So why introduce a "forced kiss" out of nowhere? It feels completely out of character for the ML, as if the showrunners took hallucinogens and suddenly forgot what show they were making.
I am so, so tired of the "forced kiss" trope. There's no such thing as a forced kiss that is romantic or steamy. There's consent, or there isn't. Consensual kissing is sexy. Violating someone is neither sexy nor steamy.
THE GOOD:
This show had so much going for it: a kickass FL who isn't just marketed as strong but actually remains strong, intelligent, and independent even after a man enters her life. She doesn't need saving; she saves herself. Resilience could be her middle name. Her grit, determination, cleverness, and transformation are inspiring. I love that she's not a Mary Sue, yet she never loses her humanity or compassion for the less fortunate, even as she outmaneuvers people far more powerful than herself. And there's plenty of eye candy beyond the cast—the sets, costumes, and fight choreography are stunning. The plot twists are great, also.
THE BAD THAT IS UNBEARABLE:
I could've overlooked the ridiculous ending and other flaws if not for the consent violation. It reminded me of The Princess Royale. Although TPR was significantly worse, the "forced kiss" in Where the Mask Ends ruined the show for me. Much like TPR, Where the Mask Ends has a ML who is consistently respectful of the FL, supports her wholeheartedly, and never makes her feel she needs to diminish herself for him. Lu Zhuo is especially admirable in this regard. He respects Wei Rao's boundaries, embraces her strengths and flaws, isn't threatened as she gains higher status, and is perfectly content to stand back and let her receive the recognition she deserves. He is so proud of her! So why introduce a "forced kiss" out of nowhere? It feels completely out of character for the ML, as if the showrunners took hallucinogens and suddenly forgot what show they were making.
I am so, so tired of the "forced kiss" trope. There's no such thing as a forced kiss that is romantic or steamy. There's consent, or there isn't. Consensual kissing is sexy. Violating someone is neither sexy nor steamy.
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