Unidentifiable

Well. Both lead actors are brilliant, and they have pretty good chemistry (to my inexpert eye)... It is obvious that one of the main focuses of this series will be their developing relationship, but whether that turns romantic... is well, not necessary for the genre. It's really too early to tell. I am confident there won't be much, if there's any.

Awesome. The ML is one of my top 3 favourite Korean actors, and the FL has always been consistently solid as well. The tone is perfect, and the genres are my bread and butter. I can tell this won't be popular with everyone, but I have high hopes for this. I know I'm going to love it.

yeah, I think I'll only check it out if it receives absolutely raving positive reviews and if I just need to watch something fluffy and inconsequential. Even then, I won't be watching this week-to-week, probably only after it's finished.

Okay, there's plenty of little things I'm not quite sold on, but I love love love the FL's bold outfits. Particularly that red-blue-yellow number she wears to go look at the cafe, I need it. This person totally uses her clothes as armour, and as someone who does the same thing, I love her for it! (aside from her hideous shaggy jacket that she encounters the ML in, that makes my eyes bleed) ...

There is dragging, and then there is dragging. In slow dramas, the quiet scenes are still telling the story, just without any high-adrenalin action. Dragging depends on the genre, and what the viewers should expect. I don't like it either. A true scene that drags can be categorised as filler and does not build on the main narrative.

Basically, it's like comparing literary fiction with genre fiction. The first is character driven, usually far more introspective, and the second is far more plot driven, usually much faster paced.

What is "dragging" depends on the genre and the kind of story that is being told. And the expectation that this sets up in the audience. Slow dramas can still drag immensely, but I find the good ones to be just as riveting as fast-action thrillers. They are simply a very different experience.

Hm, I do like slow dramas. Slice of Life is one my favourite genres, and The Story of Ming Lan was one of the first Cdramas to actually hold my attention. I used to watch new episodes twice, first impatiently without subtitles, then with... Although, when I like slow, I also like quiet scenes and realism - and I often like to get fight scenes over with, so I don't enjoy it when they are drawn out, as I care far more about the outcome than the process.

Thanks for the recommendation. That's a Kdrama I haven't really paid much attention to, but I know it's popular to some so I guess I'll check it out eventually. After I finish TU and WoH and some others.

Hm, I believe a good adaption should be engaging with no knowledge of the source material. Often, I find adaptions easier to enjoy if I don't have the (usually better) source to compare it to. I'm now at episode 22 of this, and it is slowly becoming more engaging. I decided to trust that there must be some reason behind its immense popularity, as I'm sure there are many who enjoyed it without previous knowledge of the story.

I think the problem was the pacing. There are a of scenes that could be condensed, the early antagonists are incredibly dull, and the combat is just, I find it so boring and drawn out and lacking any kind of tension. But if I kind of fast forward the action scenes, and go straight to the scenes where the characters are talking or doing other stuff, it's enjoyable enough.

He's probably one of my top 3 favourite actors. I generally don't take much notice of specific actors (so many talented people out there), but he is one of the few that if I see him in the cast, I will seriously consider watching just to see him act. I'm excited to see him get more lead roles.

Did you expect it to be? Second seasons rarely are. Honestly, if it's half as good as season 1, it'll still be pretty fun.

Well, I can't speak about the ending of either drama... or how they compare past the initial 20 episodes... I have yet to get there, though I intend to some day.

But I know what you mean about Cdramas - in the past, I've often found them incredibly difficult to get into and enjoy. And because they are so long, even if they are great at the beginning, that quality is rarely maintained through it all. Like, 40-60 episodes average of a show that drags is a lot to ask. I just try everything that interests me for a few episodes, and if it keeps me hooked, I might try to finish it - this results in at least half the dramas I ever start being dropped though haha.

There's something about costume Cdramas that make me keep coming back despite being burned so many times, though - there's just an element (don't ask me to point it out, maybe the scale?) that I cannot find in any other kind of drama.

Well, I haven't finished either yet (I suck at finishing things in a timely manner, and watch many things simultaneously), but it's definitely the closest I have encountered. Personally, I found WoH much easier to get into, and the characters just as compelling. They are, of course, still quite different.

Consider my mistake with the genre as further evidence of my previous disinterest. I always get those confused (I'll be correcting my original comment to reflect this new knowledge).

I think perhaps a number of factors could have been at play - my unfamiliarity with the genre and cdramas in general, my intense dislike of dubbing (which I'm now over), lack of patience with the... special effects, and most significantly the fact that I did not want to watch an extended flashback. The drama was still airing at the time, so I had no idea when I could expect the flashback to end (knowing how long I must wait goes a long way in driving patience for me).

And then finally, because it was airing, it hadn't quite blown up in popularity (though it was already making waves) and so the subtitle options were... well, all I had access to at the time was youtube.

I've already watched the first few episodes again, and it is much better than I remember it. Or maybe because I've watched and enjoyed other dramas of lesser quality since. And I think the subtitles I'm watching now must be much better - conversations no longer feel so awkward, from memory.

Thanks for your encouragement and extensive reply.

I feel like I must be the only person who struggled to get into this. I got to about episode 13, but it just felt so slow. Maybe because I wasn't huge fan of the genre? (which I'm more open to now) And at the time, though I wasn't used to watching Cdramas, I did genuinely try to like it.

It's been 3 years since I last tried though, so I guess it's worth another go. At what episode would you say the story picks up?

The only reason I'm delaying this is because I recently watched Rise of Pheonixes and I'm not yet prepared to see the actor as anyone else. I will get there eventually though, as this drama really does look like my cup of tea. I like well executed spies and politicking.

It's not really that kind of drama. There aren't, though, from memory. (I'm re-watching it now, after several years.)

Yes, haha "true historical events" ... definitely not whole truth. I refuse to watch cdramas from this time period, because censorship is unavoidable. I'll be giving this drama a pass.

It's obviously Ye Xiu and Glory!

No really, you have a good point. I have no idea.

Yes, I've reached this point. Irredeemable.

Hmm, thinking deeper on this, it may be partly because so far, the FL is still clearly uncomfortable in his presence - I imagine that as she grows to like him, I'll probably find his scenes easier to watch.

I'm at episode 23, and I love the FL, absolutely adore her - but I don't know why, the ML is just not compelling to me at all. It may be that, for some inexplicable reason, I don't like the actor (didn't like him in other projects either)... or maybe I'm simply tired of fearsome/competent general MLs, which seems to be an extremely common trope.

Other viewers: Is there a point at which you grew to like him? Or if I don't like him by now, is this case hopeless? I'll probably continue because I'm so invested in the FL, but still...