VictorL

Thanks; didn’t know about the ads. One probably can’t fast forward past them (one can’t in the US when streaming, e.g. Amazon Prime). Interestingly in the US neither iQiyi nor Viki have ads if one is a subscriber (at least so far😀)

Xueji: her expressions make the lack there of in the FL more pronounced

40 vs 24: totally agree. Is there sone financial reason to pad dramas to 40 (or more, previously) versus funding 2 shorter dramas? Since these are all filmed prior to release, they aren’t adding episodes because the show is so popular and I would think that consistently having good tightly written shows would over time be more profitable

If you’re comfortable stopping after the first 2 cases, you’ll have seen all the best the drama has to offer 🙂

Thanks for the review!
First half being enjoyable seems to be too common for my liking 🙂
“misogynist writers and directors”: spot on. Also, just pure laziness in writing, and I feel like they’re insulting their audience’s intelligence

Or she could be unwittingly passing on info similar to the SML in Maiden Holmes

Agree. He reminded me so much of Sam Spade that I kept expecting him to act like Sam Spade and for the girl to fall for him😀

Great review, as always 🙂

It’s reminding me of the 1940’s Noir films(especially the Bogart/Bacall ones or Double Indemnity), just not enough Noir or plot.

Because of the actors and Suzhou culture , I’ll slowly finish it, or at least get to episode 33 as you previously suggested 😀

Perhaps her dad is involved and she’s trying to thread the needle between being filial and her liking of XiuYi

Agree😀
Same idea used effectively by Wuji against Mongolian princess in HSDS

Me too, 😀😀

Actually, watching paint dry would probably take less time 😀

So for those that haven’t gotten that far, what are your thoughts on what episode would constitute the most logical ending point?

I’m only on Ep7, so haven’t experienced the problem with how his character has been written, but I don’t doubt your, and others’’, assessment

Very much like a Greek tragedy, which makes me wonder who else will die

Third option is someone who is good at compartmentalizing

They could always throw in a plot twist in the last episode and make ZZF a double agent (would leave one wondering who the ‘real’ lonely hero is). Not saying they will do this, but …

🤦🏻 Sorry, for some reason I blanked out “am” and thought you meant “pm”

4 episodes available now in central time

If you want a HEA, more like the book ending, you can follow PeachBlossomGoddess’s advice and stop after episode 50

Thanks; I checked and our public library has the DVDs so they’re on my watch soon list🙂