TianQi

Saw 2, dropped 3, heard about 4, but didn't catch my interest, saw 6. I just looked at the page for 5...I'm worried it's gonna be a bit too unnecessarily sad. Is it? I'm for Korean dramas too.

I really agree with your second and third points. That's why I think XF is one of my least favorite leads of any C-drama. I haven't seen Legend of Fuyao, but I'll add it to my list. Thanks for the recommendation!

Zhang Vin Vin in King's Woman was a bit different. He was the protagonist and antagonist at the same time. I, in no way, felt any attachment toward his character aside from the fact that his acting is good and he's attractive. I'm also very familiar with the historical Qin Shi Huang, so I've always held a sort of negative opinion about him.

As for Ashes of Love, I totally see what you mean, but like I said in my last sentence, when looking at the characters outside of the context of the romances they're involved in, it's most easy to empathize with Runyu. His story line, as an individual was just overall more interesting to me. So, whether or not Runyu got Jinmi was kind of irrelevant to me. I just wanted him to be happy and get some justice...and he never really got that, in my opinion.

For me, any of these three plot edits would have made this show better than it was.
1) If the story centered on Runyu as the main character.
2) If XF actually DID kill the Water Immortal. It would have made an excellent dark twist to the story and it'd be somewhat believable because XF does have a temper, he is competitive, and both of his parents are wicked/cruel too.
3) If the Demon Princess and Muci had a more prominent role. Their relationship was the only pure one (like 100% real from beginning to end) in the whole show, so it would have been nice just to get more development with them.

This is one of my favorite C-Dramas, so that's why my views of it are so defined. haha

I randomly caught a clip of this drama on YouTube and saw Leo Luo as a main role, so that was enough to make me start it, Aarif Rahman is also in it *heavy breathing*, not to mention the beautiful Lu Zhuo.

From the comments, it seems like this drama gets very droppable somewhere between episodes 15 and 35. I probably won't drop it because I'm such a fan of Leo Luo. HOWEVER, I'm also seeing that the ending may not be the happiest one...which means it's for sure Leo Luo's character who's going to be the one hurt (I guess). His style just goes with male characters very sensitive, intimate, and subtle. I feel like directors and viewers alike like to see him endure tragedy. It almost suits him, which kinda stinks, but I love watching him, so I guess I'm part of the cause. haha

Only four episodes in. Let's see where this goes!

Another commenter wrote, "All in all, Runyu wasn't actually that bad of a person, compared to the emperor and the queen. If he were the ML and this was a revenge story revolving his character, his actions could have been portrayed as right through a simple change in the editing."

For me, the simple change in editing was done in my head. LOL For me, this entire series was about Run Yu and the tragedy of his life. No matter how justified Xu Feng and Jin Mi were in their love, Run Yu was ROBBED of every happiness he could have ever hoped of having. When looking at the characters individually instead of within the context of a 'romance', it's very very easy to empathize completely with Run Yu.

This isn't as good as the first season, but I still liked it. Weird ending though.

Netflix now has it with English subs.

My and OP's whole point was that XuFeng's gullibility was insufferable. lol We've gone down a bit of a rabbit hole at this point.

I'm sorry, I don't buy that. They're separate issues, but he's one person. XuFeng in addition to being the God of War was also the Crown Prince. It's really difficult to believe that he was the supreme entity of strategy as god of war, but basically a child as a Prince of Heaven (which also involves power struggle and a lot o strategy).

Yeah, I know. I'm just saying. lol

The fact that Tharn didn't try harder to actually kill Lhong, that Tar's brother (Tum, I think his name is) didn't ACTUALLY kill him and the fact that nobody NOBODY thought it appropriate to call the police on Lhong really bothered me. Drugged, gang-raped by three guys, and filmed? Scarred for life? Lost the love of his life?

I absolutely loved this series, but the writers totally screwed over Tar. He didn't deserve any of that. Nobody deserves that.

This was the perfect ending to a basically perfect series. The only way it could have possibly been better is if we got more scenes with Techno and if he and Champ possibly hit it off, but I that’s asking too much. haha Very grateful for this ending.

YES TO ALL OF THIS!

If it weren't for the comic relief he provided through his banter the Immortal Yuan Ji, I wouldn't have appreciated him. I just don't understand why he was SO relentlessly partial to XuFeng. ugh

There's a very fine line between unreciprocated love and obsessive admiration. Run Yu's helper (whose name I forget right now) was already obsessed with him from a distance before she even got to know him. That's why she worked to get transferred to his department instead of Xu Feng's.

Jin Mi showed ignorant and platonic affection toward Run Yu, but it was pure and true. Run Yu loved her and she always held a place in her heart for him. Run Yu fell victim to this story's narrative. I think it's unfair to put that much blame/responsibility on Run Yu...except for the killing of the Water God, of course. lol

Well, then you misspoke. What you meant is that Xu Feng is good at fighting, not at the strategical game that is war.

War involves strategy and Xufeng as god of war was too simple to see through his mother’s very easy strategy lol

Have you seen SOTUS? If you haven't, don't. :l

I loved Mew in What the Duck and from the promo photos/trailer, I thought he matched Gulf well, so I knew I'd probably end up liking this show (even if it were just for the eye candy), but...I REALLY liked this show. Everything that makes Thai BL great, like managing to be adorable one minute, then really pervy the next minute are are in this series and I love it! lol I'm SO glad I waited until the series ended so that I could just binge it. Waiting week by week would be torture.

I loved Mild (Techno). He's such a scene stealer and easily acted much better than the other actors in plenty of the scenes. He was the cherry on top of this beautiful cake of a series.

Lastly, Tar and Tum...I know they're brothers, but did their interaction seem a LOT more like bfs to anyone besides me???? Like they gave me the most hardcore seme//uke vibes that I've felt in a live BL in a while.

I agree with the jail thing. It would have given more closure if we saw him getting out.