TofueToffee

If you want to know a point when to stop watching, stop immediately after the scene where FL and ML watch the fireworks together on the bridge. It'll stand out. I don't want to give much away, but that's the peak moment of happiness. Just one moment later it's a spiral downwards that doesn't stop.

But it's still worth it.

If you're still interested in continuing, there is a 55 version that was also uploaded onto Youtube. I'll message you.

It's nice to find a similar soul. T_T Hi-5! Every once in a while, I go, "Remember that scene that was so awesomely acted and emotional?" Goes back to rewatch. I'm still repeating the OSTs and the MVs as well, and every time it's still as good as the first times.

Ask as many questions as you want about GMP. I'm still hung up on it so it's my pleasure. I would say it's worth it and recommend to everyone, but whether you'll like it or not is subjective.

I've seen some people describe the charcaters/plot as:
Male lead is playing in a political power struggle drama
Female lead is playing in a romance drama
2nd male lead is playing in a fantasy/wuxia drama
This is drama you get when all of that clashed.

The story is driven by politics like most shows in a historical setting, but their love is the heart of the show. If anythhing I would encourage you to try the first few episodes because the costumes and real outdoor scenes are beautiful and in this first arc is the exposition to everything else.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I felt more for GMP as well. The character traits of the couples in TKW and GMP defined the push and pull of the angst/romance, so here XF's innocence and simplicity where she couldn't match LCY's deviousness and ambition made them both charming individually but together they were sometimes sweet and more often it was suffocating. At the simple core, we saw that XF + GXW were happy together when it was just the two of them; XF + LCY before the memory recovery/kidnapping were finding happiness in their arrangement as well. And so it was sorrowful to see the layers of deceit, revenge, and their burdens crush over that core truth.

Gu Jian ultimately chose XF over his revenge, but despite the tears of that *ahem* tragic moment I believed he was happy at how it ended with his last action for her and XF beside him. Meanwhile, LCY saw his revenge through, but he had only himself in the desert. In politics and vengeance, there unfortunately was no middle ground here.

EDIT: "I do think bgm plays an important part in scenes and eliciting the proper emotions in the viewer" <<-- Yes, yes, yes to this! I agree! It's really important to me, especially since after I've finished a drama I listen to OSTs and it's what brings back the feelings.

The biggest changes are in the first 6 episodes of the 55 version if you want to skim through them just to get the gist (and see more of the male lead's beginnings). I would recommend to at least rewatch your favorite parts and drama highlights in the 55 uncut version since 55 episodes can be too much too soon, and the rest are still being subbed.

If you're interested, I referred to differences in bgm (music) in the Viki 52 cut and 55 uncut version. Here is an example of the changes in music in some scenes. ((This cut was comparing the youku re-editing, but works as well to show the difference here.))

1st scene - 52 version (ep13) // 2nd scene - 55 version (ep18)
https://www.bilibili.com/video/av52713027

Btw, interested to hear your thoughts on GMP. :)

I read the summary of the manga and only the initial circumstances come across as similar. The plot device may be cliche, but I would consider the big dividing issue/angst between the lead male and lead female in this drama to be unique as it's a territory most romance dramas wouldn't dare tread on; particularly the character of the male lead.

I think what makes LCY who he is, is his ruthlessness even if he loves. How I viewed his character, I don't think he would change his path, perhaps just how he did it so he could keep XF. Maybe he wouldn't even change using XF against thr Danchi, perhaps only would've stopped himself from jumping to forget his memories with her (or die with her, he moved with his heart in that moment). Thus so he could better manipulate what happened afterwards.

The "What if's"...

I think his ruthlessness and lack of remorse/cold heart is what particularly makes this a tragedy though, because he would have been fine as it was and it was only his love for XF that made it hurt.

Recommend! Their love is what makes it beautiful. Without it, it would've just been meaningless pain. Their love, every high and low, is what makes it worth it.

I would suggest living in the moment of each present scene (especially the sweet ones) instead of letting the past actions or future troubles take you out of it.

Hello! It is available on viki (Director's Cut), though being slowly subbed T_T. Both versions are also available on YouTube unsubbed.

Yes! Love Hu Ge. It was actually NIF that made my sister finally acknowledge his skills since before that she didn't like him much. Of course that has never stopped her from watching good works so I'm glad she did. It's just ironic that despite liking Hu Ge for a long time I haven't watched NIF despite waiting for it to air for so long - the continued postponement of it's airing killed the momentum for me.

I'll probably consider live viewing. Though I guess it's hard when I get stuck on a series like GMP and I won't move on until I'm completely ready and thus miss currently airing dramas.

Untamed is on my list, though not at the top. My sister is a huge fan of FSF so I promised to watch Ming Lan next for her. And then since I'm currently into cdramas I want to finally get to Nirvana in Fire since I put it on hold for way too long.

Some dramas, you know its strengths and weaknesses, and beyond that it was able to hit the marks that make its own room in the heart forever even when it's time to move on. This will be one of those dramas for me. I'm glad I'm not alone in this feeling. Thanks for reaching out so even after you've finished watching and I don't feel so alone despite jumping late on the train. Well, I guess I'm always late on every train since I prefer to watch completed works.

I'm still hung up on it, but then for me it's only been a month and also catching onto the 55 eps after finishing the 52 eps. I like to dwell on a series to sort out / bask in my emotions and thoughts, so I'm in no rush to hurry along. A good romantic tragedy and dynamic character of LCY is hard to get over. It's a shame I didn't follow this as it was airing because it would've been nice to discuss such a grey main lead and unique story of love/betrayal with others.

Of course, I also have my next cdrama lined up after I've calmed down enough. One of these days I'll get to it.

Reccomend to watch the 55 ep version and not the 52 version.

My biggest reason is the BGM. There are some bgm/ost differences in some scenes and it really makes a BIG difference for me. They did the 55 version bgm better.

Busan