The Butterfly

I am a fan of both Korean and Chinese dramas. I find that I like Korean modern dramas over Chinese ones whether they are grounded in reality or have ghosts, goblins, reapers, or aliens.

I like the production values, stories, and music in modern Korean dramas more.

I prefer Chinese dramas that are set in the past over Korean dramas that are set in the past. Please forgive me as I’m just being exposed to the different genres, but I love the fantasy elements to the Chinese dramas and the long, complicated conflicts, and even the shorter more romantic ones.

For me personally, because I have a tender heart and want everyone to be happy, the one thing Korean historical/fantasy dramas have over Chinese dramas is you’re more apt to get a HEA and not a WTF or tragic ending. For every happy ending you get with Chinese dramas there is at least one that is a gut wrencher or head scratcher. Even so, I just have never found a Korean drama set in the past that can match the Chinese spectacles.

PS-Thank you for this article!

I’m about five episodes in and poor Young Goon has been stabbed three times, beaten, and sustained a concussion. But fortunately by the next scene he’s fine!

I rented this movie years ago. It was beautifully shot and well acted. The ending, however, was brutal. I’ve still never quite gotten over it.

I’m going to have to go back and watch a second time, maybe I will notice the sub issues. I spent too much time going, “d@mn! He’s pretty!” on the first watch. This drama has revealed how shallow I can be. : )

@catstreet
I just got home to find it available! Doing the dance of joy! I don’t usually let myself get this excited about a drama but the cast and the already subbed availability on Netflix broke through my defenses. Please Drama Genie don’t let it suck.

And I thought I’d already been patient enough. They are testing us.

I’m just thankful it’s on a site where I can see it and thankful for the people working hard to sub it. I’ve been anticipating watching it for awhile.

What a well thought out and well written article.-thank you! But you had me at Chang Chen and Ni Ni. : )
I’ve been waiting for it to be fully translated. I can see a lack of sleep in my future.

I just checked Netflix where I am and it’s still not up except for the trailer. : /

I watched this in the theaters when it came out and fell in love with it. The story was captivating, it was beautifully shot and the music was lovely. I’ve seen the subtitled version and the dubbed (ick). And aside from the splendor of the movie I came away understanding that Michelle Yeoh is a boss and a queen.

This was a sweet, entertaining drama. I find it interesting that Gong Yoo likes to push the boundaries of traditional relationships. In the ones I’ve seen up to now he’s been a man who falls in love with another man (even though he’s a woman), a younger man in love with an older woman, and an ancient man who falls in love with a much younger woman. Im curious to see what he does in the future if he comes back to tv.

I’m on episode 5. I told my husband I may finish this by 2021 at the rate I’m going. Honestly, I’m watching it mostly for Bae Doo Na’s performance at this point. May eventually skim the story for the few minutes she’s in an episode soon.

I have trouble watching violence but the characters and story were just so compelling I had to finish this drama-even if I had to watch through my fingers a few times!

The ballerina from Fated/Destiny was a good example. She took an amazing job opportunity and paid the price for it. In the Taiwanese version I thought the ML yanked her around as much as he did the FL. (Later he did find out she’d done something despicable that was hard to forgive though). I was more sympathetic to the Korean Anna.

The fate of many a SML-being too cautious and conscientious.

Even Li Jing with his forked up family came through for her. He may have betrayed her initially but ended up saving her life at least twice, helped her when she was a mortal in the heavenly realm, and ultimately sacrificed himself to give her a chance against his father. And truthfully, I always wished she had been the one to kill Qing Cang after all she’d been through. She was glorious when she was a badass.

Poor Mo Yuan. He had 17th with him for 20,000 years but never let her know his feelings. Broke my heart when he woke up and found her engaged. Loved Ye Hua and had no problem with the ending but found Mo Yuan sexier.

I enjoyed this drama. The first two-thirds were captivating but I found what should have been the most exciting part, the last third-dragging. Maybe I was just tired. More problematic for me was the love triangle. I would have preferred Woo Tak to be just a friend or interested in the female officer or gay. It was so not needed. I’d also read concerns about Suzy’s acting but I thought she was fine. I struggled more with LJS. He has a beautiful smile and cries beautifully but for me he doesn’t show all the nuanced emotions in between. Overall I thought the premise was interesting and the acting serviceable. There was enough external conflict to keep it exciting. I’d recommend it to a friend. : )

I always felt bad about the feisty nine-tailed fox ending up with those stuffed shirts. Bet it made for some awkward family dinners.

Re: Bai Qian and the amnesia potion-I’d never thought about that alternative. };->
Might have made a very different ending though. Or maybe she would have just cleaned house and gotten the ending she deserved anyway.