i think most of the disappointment abt there not being kissing scenes came from original novel readers (like me)…
I read somewhere that the actress playing FL doesn't do kiss scenes. I don't know if it's true or false, since it's my first time watching her. It's best you look into it and not take my word.
I'm not sure what's going on with Youku's scheduling. Ideally, they should have released the Express immediately before or after its run ended on CCTV.
If they went with their usual pattern, the express is supposed to be dropped on 3rd.
I am honestly surprised how he's still alive. This show is mediocre at best. The plot has so many problems with…
Yeah, that's one of the things i was implying. Her characterization is of a great ruler, strategist, and martial artist. Yet, her actions contradict it.
She conveniently serves zhang hai because of so called "affection" for his father. This is the problem with modern media. They can't create well rounded, strong, and capable female characters.
In much of modern media, female characters often seem to fall into two limited and polarizing archetypes. On one hand, there are those written primarily in service of the male characters — as love interests, emotional motivators, or accessories to a man’s hero's journey. These women rarely exist as full people with independent desires, fears, or arcs. Instead, they orbit around the male lead, fulfilling narrative needs like support, seduction, or sacrifice. Their identities are shaped by their relationships to men, not by any deep exploration of their own person-hood.
On the other hand, in reaction to this traditional portrayal. a new archetype: the “boss lady” or hyper-independent woman who often embodies traits typically valorized in men — dominance, emotional detachment, and ambition at any cost. While this shift was likely intended as empowerment, it frequently drifts into another kind of reduction: the flattening of femininity itself.
Ironically, both extremes end up denying complexity. The first archetype erases agency; the second rejects softness (which is in the nature of women).
I am honestly surprised how he's still alive. This show is mediocre at best. The plot has so many problems with it. One of the problem is that Everything conveniently lines up for zhang hai.
The Queen's death is baffling. She is considered to be a great strategist and martial artist, yet she was killed in a way that utterly contradicts her characterization.
Antu too exists only as an accessory to zhang hai. I can go on and on about all the issues with the plot.
I have yet to see a strong and consistent plot in cdramas. A plot that doesn't exist for it's characters convenience
Just give heaven to Yang Gwansik right now! Not only being a good husband, he is also committed to being a good…
It’s heartbreaking to go through life without such figures, but it’s amazing how stories like this can fill that void, even if just a little. You deserve love and support, and I truly hope you find people in your life who embody the warmth and care that Yang Gwansik represents.
If they went with their usual pattern, the express is supposed to be dropped on 3rd.
She conveniently serves zhang hai because of so called "affection" for his father. This is the problem with modern media. They can't create well rounded, strong, and capable female characters.
In much of modern media, female characters often seem to fall into two limited and polarizing archetypes. On one hand, there are those written primarily in service of the male characters — as love interests, emotional motivators, or accessories to a man’s hero's journey. These women rarely exist as full people with independent desires, fears, or arcs. Instead, they orbit around the male lead, fulfilling narrative needs like support, seduction, or sacrifice. Their identities are shaped by their relationships to men, not by any deep exploration of their own person-hood.
On the other hand, in reaction to this traditional portrayal. a new archetype: the “boss lady” or hyper-independent woman who often embodies traits typically valorized in men — dominance, emotional detachment, and ambition at any cost. While this shift was likely intended as empowerment, it frequently drifts into another kind of reduction: the flattening of femininity itself.
Ironically, both extremes end up denying complexity. The first archetype erases agency; the second rejects softness (which is in the nature of women).
The Queen's death is baffling. She is considered to be a great strategist and martial artist, yet she was killed in a way that utterly contradicts her characterization.
Antu too exists only as an accessory to zhang hai. I can go on and on about all the issues with the plot.
I have yet to see a strong and consistent plot in cdramas. A plot that doesn't exist for it's characters convenience