I would say, start watching LLTG from Episode 5 because that is when things start getting interesting outside…
I only started being at MDL very recently so not many notes over here. But if you like, I will look for my notes on the Drama and post them under a discussion topic for you to look at.
The second season is just a continuation from the first because of the 40 episode rule.
This drama was brilliant because of its ability to incorporate everything into one episode--comedy, challenges, emotional upheavals, familial and palace intrigues. It was pretty tightly written for its time (when shows were still meandering all over the place to get their 70 episodes). Also, the dynamic of the couple was certainly different for couples at that time of production since CSS was just too wild (and funny) for the palace.
She was named after Shao Shang, the seventh string of the qin, which is also called the military or general's string. So you see what I'm getting at about symbolism. She was born for a general, LOL.
Her brother was also named after a string. In fact, all her brothers and her are actually "do re mi," so the author was playing with musical stuff throughout.
Ling Bu Yi was actually a clue in his name already. I won't spoil this because it's really well-done.
Since you're watching this show AFTER The Double, just view LLTG like this: What if Xue Fang Fei was uneducated and was really 15 (and not over 20) and Duke Su saw his whole famiy killed with his own eyes? What if XFF and Duke Su could not communicate well? What would happen? That would be LLTG in a nutshell. I hope you find as much pleasure in the coming episodes as I did.
I can't move on from this drama. I started watching LLTG and it's pretty slow. How are the two dramas related…
I would say, start watching LLTG from Episode 5 because that is when things start getting interesting outside the family dynamic. This is more about The Education of Cheng Shao Shang, rather than The Revenge of Xue Fang Fei. I wrote a long post in the Other Topics board in the LLTG First Season page. Maybe you might be interested to read that, not sure.
For reference, I love The Double and have rewatched it numerous times. I rated it 9.5. But I gave LLTG Season 1 a 10. Both are masterpieces (LLTG Season 1).
I haven't watched LLG yet, but what's the similarities between these two Dramas?
Yes, but I'm not comfortable with saying this particular drama is copying LLTG (or any drama) or is a satire. LOL. In Dramas: I've seen domineering generals with one or a team of sidekicks. I've seen generals drinking tea while slaying/torturing in movies. I've seen generals whose fathers or families had been killed. While I don't mind discussing the complexities in portrayals (like you and I do, comparing XFF with CSS), I always want to make sure to add that tropes are meant to be used and expanded upon, just like ideas. If done properly, a novel or drama/movie using similar tropes could open up a different experience for the reader/viewer.
In comparing XFF with CSS, I would say that if CSS was educated properly, she could have been as smart as XFF. She would never be a Cai Nue, though, because CSS was inherently a tomboy interested in engineering :). I always note that if CSS could do martial arts and had her beloved freedom, she would be the wonderful Bai Fengxi of Who Rules The World because of BFX's mischievousness and fun way of dealing with her enemies, as well as her love of traveling to see the world.
As for palace revenge plots, isn't it always about whose family had been massacred and the prince/princess' secret desire for revenge? So, as a trope, there was not much to expand upon there. I LOVED the way LLTG created the secret identity through LBY's mother. That was unexpected and we've talked about LBY's very clever name. It is wayyyy more clever than being whacked in the head and coming back as another family's dead girl, LOL. So how is that satire? Wearing black with red underneath is a spy clothes thing, to hide the blood. So I don't see that as a copycat idea. And generals are supposed to know how to fight...and to do warfare.... BUT, I'll admit that the comedic lines of punishing one of the blades (guards) with 20 lashes do echo LLTG. That does make one recall LLTG immediately.
So we have to bring in the comparison of Xiao Feng and Xi Sheng (their private names). Both were privileged. Both held a grudge. XF, however, seemed to have adjusted way better than XS, probably because XS experienced the massacre himself, seeing all his family's heads and all that. And he grew up in that weird family. And all his life, he was bullied in the palace and then went to serve at the border with all that "da da sa sa," as our funny emperor always said (fight fight kill kill). XS basically had no people skills and would make a terrible spymaster, unlike our XF LOL. He wasn't "suave," so to speak. I thought it funny that he had to fall in love with someone as incapable of suaveness as him, LOL. Both couldn't speak in subtext like our beautiful Double Couple; both were incapable of flirting. Their inability to communicate was frustrating whereas our Double Couple (haha, I like this nickname) could just give each other some eye contact and they would have spoken 1000 words. It's just a great way of writing what ifs:
1) What if the couple communicated well? 2) What if the couple couldn't?
It's a great writing exercise.
Nonetheless, these two couples suit each other. Ling Bu Yi would not fall in love with a Xue Fang Fei and Su Guo Gong would not be able to use Shao Shang as a pawn (unless he wanted a lot of comedy shows to watch...hmm...welllll, he did love shows....), But one thing is for sure: XFF/XF's rain scene and LBY/SS's arrow-pulling scene are up there as sexy-tension moments for couples! ooops, another long post. LOL
It's a good feature and I wish it could be made public. It gives insight to all the different aspects we rate the drama on plus short notes! What a wasted fun thing. Thanks for your reply!
Quick question to frequent MDL users. Do you put notes in your drama Watchlist? If so, how do you make it viewable? For example, you can see my rating when you click on my profile, right? But you can't see any of my notes (not reviews). I'm just curious about how to use MDL since I'm fairly new here. Thanks!
AiNong, Talia Too is right. It is not a remake of Love Like the Galaxy (LLtG). The Double and LLtG fall into the…
Zhao LuSi cemented her status as rising star with her acting chops in this drama, showcasing her comedic timing and emotional delivery. Crazy funny and heartbreaking in every episode.
1 
2 
https://kisskh.at/discussions/xing-han-can-lan/123911-notes-on-cheng-shao-shang-her-loves?pid=2990263&page=1#p2990263
The second season is just a continuation from the first because of the 40 episode rule.
This drama was brilliant because of its ability to incorporate everything into one episode--comedy, challenges, emotional upheavals, familial and palace intrigues. It was pretty tightly written for its time (when shows were still meandering all over the place to get their 70 episodes). Also, the dynamic of the couple was certainly different for couples at that time of production since CSS was just too wild (and funny) for the palace.
She was named after Shao Shang, the seventh string of the qin, which is also called the military or general's string. So you see what I'm getting at about symbolism. She was born for a general, LOL.
Her brother was also named after a string. In fact, all her brothers and her are actually "do re mi," so the author was playing with musical stuff throughout.
Ling Bu Yi was actually a clue in his name already. I won't spoil this because it's really well-done.
Since you're watching this show AFTER The Double, just view LLTG like this: What if Xue Fang Fei was uneducated and was really 15 (and not over 20) and Duke Su saw his whole famiy killed with his own eyes? What if XFF and Duke Su could not communicate well? What would happen? That would be LLTG in a nutshell. I hope you find as much pleasure in the coming episodes as I did.
For reference, I love The Double and have rewatched it numerous times. I rated it 9.5. But I gave LLTG Season 1 a 10. Both are masterpieces (LLTG Season 1).
In comparing XFF with CSS, I would say that if CSS was educated properly, she could have been as smart as XFF. She would never be a Cai Nue, though, because CSS was inherently a tomboy interested in engineering :). I always note that if CSS could do martial arts and had her beloved freedom, she would be the wonderful Bai Fengxi of Who Rules The World because of BFX's mischievousness and fun way of dealing with her enemies, as well as her love of traveling to see the world.
As for palace revenge plots, isn't it always about whose family had been massacred and the prince/princess' secret desire for revenge? So, as a trope, there was not much to expand upon there. I LOVED the way LLTG created the secret identity through LBY's mother. That was unexpected and we've talked about LBY's very clever name. It is wayyyy more clever than being whacked in the head and coming back as another family's dead girl, LOL. So how is that satire?
Wearing black with red underneath is a spy clothes thing, to hide the blood. So I don't see that as a copycat idea. And generals are supposed to know how to fight...and to do warfare....
BUT, I'll admit that the comedic lines of punishing one of the blades (guards) with 20 lashes do echo LLTG. That does make one recall LLTG immediately.
So we have to bring in the comparison of Xiao Feng and Xi Sheng (their private names). Both were privileged. Both held a grudge. XF, however, seemed to have adjusted way better than XS, probably because XS experienced the massacre himself, seeing all his family's heads and all that. And he grew up in that weird family. And all his life, he was bullied in the palace and then went to serve at the border with all that "da da sa sa," as our funny emperor always said (fight fight kill kill). XS basically had no people skills and would make a terrible spymaster, unlike our XF LOL. He wasn't "suave," so to speak. I thought it funny that he had to fall in love with someone as incapable of suaveness as him, LOL. Both couldn't speak in subtext like our beautiful Double Couple; both were incapable of flirting. Their inability to communicate was frustrating whereas our Double Couple (haha, I like this nickname) could just give each other some eye contact and they would have spoken 1000 words. It's just a great way of writing what ifs:
1) What if the couple communicated well?
2) What if the couple couldn't?
It's a great writing exercise.
Nonetheless, these two couples suit each other. Ling Bu Yi would not fall in love with a Xue Fang Fei and Su Guo Gong would not be able to use Shao Shang as a pawn (unless he wanted a lot of comedy shows to watch...hmm...welllll, he did love shows....), But one thing is for sure: XFF/XF's rain scene and LBY/SS's arrow-pulling scene are up there as sexy-tension moments for couples! ooops, another long post. LOL