This didn't feel like a romance. It felt like the story of a remarkable woman's life. She is more remarkable than any of the men around her. Her life is filled with tragedy and disappointment. Yet, she maintains her integrity and autonomy and does what she can to have a fulfilling life based on her own choices.
I was so glad that they didn't do some cringey romance thing, in the end, and have pine so much for him that she would a) forgive him for doing the unforgivable; and b) give up her freedom for a man. As she rides off for a well-earned vacation, she seems happy with herself. What a refreshing take.
EP 26: doesn't the crown prince have ample excuse to just kill his brother, when meeting with him, because his brother kidnapped his son? Why would anyone just sit there and take this?
Ep 25: I've been really appreciating the male lead's character. He's quirky in good ways. But with this, "I plan to hide it from her forever" business, he lost me. I hope this doesn't last long. He's ruining his relationship with her.
I agree. It felt out of place for a historical drama, especially one involving upper classes.
you're right, I did use the term "PDA". I think it feels like its a little public, because they're always being "caught" by the people around them. And everyone around them knows. I mean there is a scene, where they ask the entire police/guard group that is there to turn around and to act like they didn't see anything.
That suggests that, while it's not exactly commonplace, it's also not seen as so scandalous. Otherwise, tongues would be wagging regardless of orders, I would think.
Anyway, it feel confusing.
Mostly, if we see kissing, its with couples who are publicly acknowledged to be couples.
not that I don't like it, but the MC do a lot of PDA for the times, no? They aren't engaged or anything and he's from the royal family. I have no idea if other dramas have exaggerated the taboo on any kind of contact between people prior to being engaged or whether this drama is taking liberty.
Being Western, my sensibility is probably skewed, but, it has always seemed unrealistic to me that people wouldn't "date" or have those kinds of romantic relations. Seeing it here, though, in such stark contrast to how its presented in other dramas has me wondering about the reality of historical Chinese culture.
Fugui already had her sister on the horse. I don't think three people could fit on one horse.
I don't mean to nitpick, though. I really enjoyed this drama and find it be one of the best CDrama productions I've seen. But, that makes moments like this one stand out even more.
Agreed. This was a huge disappointment and it was just tedious getting to the end. I feel badly for the actors. They didn't have much to work with in this stale trope-tastic production.
After watching episode 32 she had a point to act and worry the way she did...all her fears came true
I have watched to the end and I see what they were doing. I guess I still would have like a little more comedic play in that section. But, overall, a thoroughly enjoyable drama.
Ep 37: why would she stay in the midst of a battle, knowing the rule? She pretty much guaranteed he'd get killed and she can't do anything out there. She should have left with Fugui.
Overall, this has been one of the better CDrama productions I've seen.. So entertaining. The humor is good, the acting is good, and the story develops, mostly, along more natural trajectories than in most costume CDramas. A lot of the satire is so well-played.
The one nitpick I'm starting to have is this: I get that the FL knows she's in a script and is seeing that the script drives things to certain "iconic scenes." So, this is behind her persistent "villain" framing of the ML, regardless of what she actually experiences of him. I do wish that they had kept those interactions where she refuses to see him for who he really is as comedic, rather than serious. After all, she's only holding this stance because she's stuck inside a script, which is the foundation of all the absurdity and what makes the story entertaining. (We'll just skip the fact that she doesn't seem to be noticing that, though the scenes come to fruition, they don't play out the way originally scripted. So, things are changing.) But, depicting those with such a sense of tragedy, rather than comedy, simply makes her look stubbornly and willfully cruel and controlling (everything has to be her way, because only she knows what's really going on.) As it continues, I find myself not caring about her any longer, since she's so heartless. Behaving this way is what would drive someone over the edge and into being a villain. Maybe that's the point. But, it would be more palatable to watch, if it were zanier. As is, I feel I'm being pulled into a "serious drama" and it makes her wholly unlikable.
K-Drama 
This didn't feel like a romance. It felt like the story of a remarkable woman's life. She is more remarkable than any of the men around her. Her life is filled with tragedy and disappointment. Yet, she maintains her integrity and autonomy and does what she can to have a fulfilling life based on her own choices.
I was so glad that they didn't do some cringey romance thing, in the end, and have pine so much for him that she would a) forgive him for doing the unforgivable; and b) give up her freedom for a man. As she rides off for a well-earned vacation, she seems happy with herself. What a refreshing take.
Seems very underrated.
That suggests that, while it's not exactly commonplace, it's also not seen as so scandalous. Otherwise, tongues would be wagging regardless of orders, I would think.
Anyway, it feel confusing.
Mostly, if we see kissing, its with couples who are publicly acknowledged to be couples.
Again, I don't mind. I noticed and wondered.
Being Western, my sensibility is probably skewed, but, it has always seemed unrealistic to me that people wouldn't "date" or have those kinds of romantic relations. Seeing it here, though, in such stark contrast to how its presented in other dramas has me wondering about the reality of historical Chinese culture.
Overall, this has been one of the better CDrama productions I've seen.. So entertaining. The humor is good, the acting is good, and the story develops, mostly, along more natural trajectories than in most costume CDramas. A lot of the satire is so well-played.
The one nitpick I'm starting to have is this: I get that the FL knows she's in a script and is seeing that the script drives things to certain "iconic scenes." So, this is behind her persistent "villain" framing of the ML, regardless of what she actually experiences of him. I do wish that they had kept those interactions where she refuses to see him for who he really is as comedic, rather than serious. After all, she's only holding this stance because she's stuck inside a script, which is the foundation of all the absurdity and what makes the story entertaining. (We'll just skip the fact that she doesn't seem to be noticing that, though the scenes come to fruition, they don't play out the way originally scripted. So, things are changing.) But, depicting those with such a sense of tragedy, rather than comedy, simply makes her look stubbornly and willfully cruel and controlling (everything has to be her way, because only she knows what's really going on.) As it continues, I find myself not caring about her any longer, since she's so heartless. Behaving this way is what would drive someone over the edge and into being a villain. Maybe that's the point. But, it would be more palatable to watch, if it were zanier. As is, I feel I'm being pulled into a "serious drama" and it makes her wholly unlikable.