WK1

If Youku eventually sell the broadcasting rights to Netflix, whatever they lost from slippage of VIP membership of overseas membership due to all the viewing on the unofficial channels will not hurt them signficantly.

As to why the delay in the Eng sub, I suspect they were not ready for marketing this drama to the international market, but were under domestic pressure to release it once all the post production was ready (CGI and dubbing and editing).

What domestic pressure? Two sources. Youku has a long pipeline of its own dramas waiting to air. So, the earlier they release TBW, the faster they can release their other dramas. Externally, there are rumours that Tencent may want to release Who Rules The World in April. By releasing TBW on 17 March, Youku jumped ahead of Tencent. And when viewers are hooked on to Part 1 of TBW, Part 2 can easily defeat WRTW, even if they were to clash in April (Part 2 of TBW will certainly be released in April, since it has already been filmed and already has the airing license).

I do think that the Eng sub will be released really soon. since Part 1 will finish by 1 April, in China, for VIP members in China. There is a real possibility that what you said may come true. Based on feedback to its China release, Youku may well do some fine editing and adjustments when they release this to international viewers.

Like you, did not read the novel, so just watched the drama and see what it tells me. So far, no, there is no clue whatsoever that she knows she will transform into a nine-tailed fox. But, from trailer no 1, we know that she will eventually transform, and it is going to make her really powerful.

I do not know too much of the fine details, but it is clear that the valley master has been feeding poison to her, and thereby holding her at his mercies. He has multiple motives for doing that, as is clear from the dialogues and action sequences thus far.

In the relationship chart posted in the Photos section above, you will see there is a one-sided crush, from Haoqing to Yun He. So, techinically, they are not a couple, since she has no romantic feelings towards him.

Haoqing's father is the master of the valley, the person who fed posion to Yunhe and merely wanted to use her.

She is not allowed to fall in love with Changyi, according to the rules of the valley, as they have a master-servant relationship, hence different statuses and also different species, as he is a merman and she is demon master. But, eventually, she does and the entire story is centred around their cross-species romance, and be free from that valley.

I did not read the novel, and do not really feel that whatever changes that has been made so far is central to the main plot in the novel, if the novel did not portray Haoqing as having a one sided crush for Yunhe. The drama probably did it to spice things up and make it slightly more complex.

I think two of the items you mentioned could be corelated: High viewership and reaching the general public. We know that both Reba and Allen have high number of followers in Weibo. But, note all these followers will watch this drama. So, yes, it is indeed very important this drama reach the general public, beyond their followers. But, this will also be reflected in higher viewership.

What I mean is, the more this drama can reach the general public, the higher will be the view count. If so, we can just look at the view count. This number alone can give us a good indication how far this drama has reached the general public. The higher the view count is, the better, because it means more people in China have watched this, beyond the support base of Reba and Allen's followers.

So, it will be great, if your Chinese contacts can give us the view count later.

YAMG had about 4B views, when it finished its broadcast. But, that drama only had 32 episodes. With a total of 43 episodes (Part 1 and 2 combined), TBW should do at least 4.5B views, to indicate that a sizeable number of the general public has watched it. Low view count would only mean that only Reba and Allen's fans supported it, but few people beyond that.

Did you see any of the trailers? It has been confirmed. There will be kisses. The director of the drama also mentioned that there will be kisses. So, your question has indeed been answered and the answer is yes, he will do kisses in this drama.

Someone below gave us a detailed description on how to watch it using machine sub. It is too late now, but tomorrow I will try it. See if I can get it work, using machine sub.

You can also look for it, if you wish. It is somewhere not too far below.

If you can manage it all raw, that might be better than having poor sub. Anyway, after watching it raw, if you feel that this drama is really good, you can always do a re-watch, when the official English subs are out. Since you already watch it once, during the re-watch, you will probably be able to watch it much faster.

That is my strategy. Watch raw now, and watch with Eng sub one more time. Especially, since there is nothing good out there, right now.

I am also watching Royal Feast, but that one will be ending soon.

Unfortunately, I just tried E1 using the sub in the unofficial site above. It moves way too fast. I could not follow it. You have a try?? See how you feel? Whether you can follow.

The timing is certainly off. The subs move at lightning speed! They move so fast, before I could even finish one line, the next one comes on. And yes, some of the translation is off.

Not easy for fans to sub it. May them lots of time.

But the subs move really quickly! Do you find it difficult to grasp it?? It is like before we can finish reading one line, the next line comes on.

Actually, that sounds about right. You seem to be able to understand all the main points. A piece of good news! In one of the unofficial sites, they already managed to do the Eng Sub!! It is in one of the posts just above the one you started!

Wow! This site managed to do it!

Indeed. And because all the supporting actors/actresses are doing such a great job, you feel for these side relationships. Even the one sided relationships are very well portrayed. Oh, and yes, the setting for TBW is absolutely gorgeous. Such rich colours they used, and great great Xianxia type of CGI. A total feast for the eyes.

How was your experience, watching it raw?? You could follow the story? Know what is going on?

I do think they are working hard on the sub. Now that the broadcast in China has gotten off to a very good start, they would be focusing their attention on the international market. I am thinking that they should be able to have it ready in 2 weeks?? In reality, for 22 episodes, they don't really need two weeks to do the subs. For some reasons, even if they are ready, they might want to wait till all the VIP members in China have watched it, which is 1 April.

One simple way to make the wait less agonising is to watch something else. Come back for updates every 2-3 days and see if by chance, they already released the one with subs.

She does have a lot of screen time. At least up to E6. And her character is totally loyal to Ji Yun He. When Ji Yun He's relationship with Changyi deepens, I think she will find her own love.

It is really interesting that this drama has so many couples. And each couple's relationship is unique and somewhat interesting in its own right.

While the two leads' relationship continues to progress and mature, these other relationships continue alongside, all helping to drive the story forward to it's eventual climax.

One of the ripped off does have it in HD. But no Sub. Might be better to wait. We hope it will be out by early April.

Build up of the relationship between Ji Yun He and Changyi continues at a steady pace. The director is not rushing it at all.

Thank so much!! With your instruction and that provided by Vera (below), I think I should be able to make it work.