Urhian

Okay, I'm with you in your last four paragrahs. Especially the last one : I din't see that angle. Nice.

As far as sleeping around, when both parties are fully aware of what they are about there is no red flag to me. I'm talking like a devot polyamourous when I'm very much a monogamist.

I'm an old and odd soul, I seldom use AI and don't like nor use social media terminology to labeled relationships or people. In real life too, people are meaner to the one they're not interested in, sweeter to those they find appealling. I could perfectly date either of those 4 (well, maybe not Pun or Ten because I'm not a pet lover).

Dean is fun and a sweet talker. That's why his so-called friends like him around during parties. He tells his flings what they are in for and don't cross boundaries when established. Yes, he can be an A*** (like everyone) but he knows how to reflect and say sorry. Moth is harsh, yes, yet he will never string you along. He brings Dean's flings into the conversation when Dean open the door for it in their banters. Moreover except Ten, all of Dean's acquitainces (I refuse to referred to them as "his friends") are ex-sex buddies and don't even treat him like some you can trust. So, I can't fault Moth when Dean own "close acquitainces" are harsher behind his back. Anyhow, like Dean, Moth can reflect and say sorry.

So, If I were to "date" Dean, I will clearly state early on that I want something serious. Undoubtely, I will get rejected and will go my merry way yet not pretend to be his friend (to use his followers or fun personality to my advantage while trashing him behind his back), I'll just be a former acquitaince with no hard feelings (after a while though especially if I was very attached to him). With Moth, hum, I'll never pass the first stage like the guy in ep 1. I'll take my L and go my way. Dean and Moth compliment each other : each interaction (with Pun's unvolontary help), makes them grow and realise something about themselves.

I have a different point of view. In my book, sleeping around with consenting partners don't make you a red flag : stringing them along (either because you are waiting for someone else or you know that you don't want something serious but they do) make you a red flag (e.i Ray with Sand in Only Friends). And to be real, Dean didn't go after Moth for Ten, he did so because he found Moth intriguing and kept going after Moth because he was hooked. As for Moth, him not sweet talking his suitors and being true to his feelings (like and dislike), doesn't make him a red flag either. It's just an expression of his personnality. Besides, Pun always imposing his feeling on Moth - perfectly knowing that 1) Moth isn't attracted to him and 2) Moth values their friendship a lot (especially since Pun seem to be the only friend/close acquitance in Moth's life) - make him inconsiderate and put a lot of pressure on Moth. Pun's actions (unwillingness to let go of his unriqited feelings) are the perfect excuse Moth needed to jump into Dean's arms.

Anyways, long story short : Dean and Moth are using Ten and Pun as an excuse to hide from their true feelings. Even if he's nice, Ten's stalker activites towards Pun are gross and Pun, saying to Dean that him and Moth are hurting themself while noticing how much Moth is opening up and enjoying himself, make him equally gross. However I don't consider Pun or Ten as red flags : one is hurt and unabled to cope with the rejection, the other one is ackward and fear a direct rejection.

I completely agree with you, "toxic" and "red flags" are overuse nowadays especialy in the BL community. Dean plays the casanova role (obsiouly beceause of some trauma, hinted by his sister and mother ''missing the previous him" yet he never cross boundaries like a real casanova (like going after his friends partners, pretending he wants more than sex...). Moth is his cryptonite thought, and with him, he's abled to let his guards down. On the other hand, Moth is a straight shooter : if he's not interested he will let you know, right there. Sorry if you don't like the delivery. Yet, with Dean it's different : he's attracted to him since the first glance, their banter make it more alluring. So, without noticing it, he also let's his guards down. Both guy for whatever reasons are afraid to commit and each time someone else point "hey, you really like that guy" they go "no, no, not at all" and do something stupid to move the plot. Well, the writing here is very redondant.

Now after seing ep 11 preview and knowing the leads get married at the end (from the opening), I wonder how they went from Xiaofan and his trader' friend bankrupt Luqing (ep 11) to Luqing and Xiaafon happy ending in ep 12 ? And how Xiaofan's ex bully became his best friend and shappest blade against his "bro"?

You're spot on. Xiaofan has never been as defenseless and simple as he portraits to be. The show made it subtly obvious with Luqing always asking "You did it on purpose?" (he's asking and declaring it at the same time). For example, the first time they had s*x, Xiaofan seductively shows his body to Luqing - he had noticed Luqing's lust - then rubbed Luqing's thigh pretending not to know what he's doing. Luqing who was still trying not to cross the line, lost it. In that scene, as a viewer you feel sorry for Xiaofan : he was drugged, he doesn't really know what's happening, he can't give consent, he has teary eyes. Yet, did he have teary eyes because of what happened before Luqing's arrival or because he thought Luqing was refusing his advances ? The next day, we can clearly see Luqing anxiety, he did something wrong. Yet, Xiaofan woke up and excitedly looked for his "bro".
He used the same scheme the night of his master plan. (I'll try that move someday, looks hot).

On many comments section,
people just want to see Xiaofan as a dormat with no character development just because he didn't embody the stereotypical "timid lead to (very) bad guy". Although, the show mirrors so many scenes emphasing Xiaofan becoming.

Exactly. I can't wait for next Friday.

It's getting better and better. Juicer and juicer. Can't wait for next Friday.

Well, Luqing love for Xiaofan is obvious, especially in his actions. He is the single reason why Xiaofan can read, had a good education and job. He is the main reason for Xiaofan personality improvement from an introvert unable to speak without stuttering and always feeling out of place, to an introvert that can face head on his lover's Ex and scheme for a better life. Like Luqing told him "you choose you value" so did he.

Yes, Xiaofan face lots of ants so does Luqing : in relationships with large class gap, people always tend to only see the struggle from the least well-off partner as if the richest one doesn't feel peer pressure.

I like this show because of the portrayal of everyone misery and flaws. Luqing ex to Luqing "I can see all you did for him, can he face everything your mother but me trough with you ?" Luqing answer : took of his Ex ring.

On the contrary, for me : the intrigue is getting better and better. I can't wait for the last two episodes.

I wouldn't have said it better with less words. Excellent comment !

I concurred! And I'm worried about what is to come of scripts with depth and layers with an audience unable to read/understand subtilities. I said it before, I will say it again : in this drama, every characters (from Xiaofan's parents to Luqing's friends) have a very well written purpose. Be it to help the viewer really feel the wealth gap between the leads, helps the leads to process their emotions or create tension for character growth. Plus, between the leads, their intimacy is fuel by a submissive kink from BOTH of them. Xiaofan enjoys it as much as Luqing. Zhou Ning can express it more in his acting (as allows his characters education and background) while Guan Yue as to be very very subtle about it until his character grows more confident in his relationship and desire.

Ah la la, unfortunately, it seems there is a few of us taking the whole picture into account while assessing this drama. Personally, I enjoy it a lot : the acting and script is pretty solid and consistent with the time period, every characters (from the leads to the infamous ones) have purpose that serves and forward push the narrative.

I'm having a feast with the BL content airing since July.

Woow, I should have watched it on my tv with pringles near by. It's a mix of Nivarna in Fire, the Princess Weiyoung and my Heroic Husband with a transmigrator plot, a thrilling side quest and a ALL amazing cast and storylines from main leads to background characters. Please give all child actors in this drama the equivalent of an oscar but in Chinese entertainment TV. Just Woow!

Okay

Hello, I have a different point of view. SFL isn't an idiot, she is not as well versed in the f*ck boy dictionary as FL.

What's refreshing in this drama plot is the introduction of different profiles of "transmigrated" MCs : ML, FL and SML aren't from the same time period and SML seems to come from an alternative "modern worl", don't forget she doesn't know Beijing!

Yes she has read the book and in the book she and SML are the stars. They have a happy ending and a Being "the chosen one" in the book, she has plot armor against the tyrant who is just a side character, a puppet, the main villain being the dowager empress. So she acted according to her script with the few romantic knowledge she had.

What's amazing about this drama is how well every character acts according to the time period. Yet none of them is a total cliché.

Welcome to my party! It has been ages since I sat on a weekend binge watching a drama without skipping scenes or dropping it. The storytelling is so good!!!! What a wonderful depiction of characters : everyone has a complete story, everyone is "humanised" and nobody is a caricature of the ideas of "villain" and "hero". Yes, nobody, not even Prince Duan.

Couldn't agree more. What you wrote is what's I think about Prisonner of beauty FL. A smart, cunning and driven FL doesn't have to be this way to the detriment of the ML or because every others characters are dumb down so we can see how brilliant FL is.

And each arc compliments each other to serve the main plot. There is no "waste" of character here, even background characters are engaging! Love it.

Thanks for the reference. I enjoyed The Legend of Shen Li, I will check the others ones.