Wellimjusthere

I do too. I prefer a character who is flawed in a believable way. Someone who feels like they could be a real person.

This drama sticks with a person. You sure brought good insight into how she is used as a pawn while still helping her and showing her emotional support. So many times I missed that they were pushing an agenda through her. Reading what you said helped me to see it clearer and made her leaving in the end make so much more sense. It even made her leaving so much more devastating. The three men who used her as a political pawn saw how they had hurt her and one of them lost his love. Because of this and the mothers “hurt you to love and protect you mentality, her extremes in control and her lack of attachment; I appreciate the separation. I feel that her leaving was the right way for the story to go. She was able to heal. Both were able to grow and forgive and move on from vengeance knowing that it doesn’t bring the lasting satisfaction they hoped. It always led to more complications and didn’t treat the wounds. In the end forgiveness and living a good life together was the only thing that brought any healing. Any satisfaction. A lot of good life lessons in this drama.

You’re right. It’s definitely not inconsistent. It keeps throwing me off my expectations. I wondered if they’d milk things like torture and make it seem like a very uneven relationship. Then she kidnapped him and whipped him.

I was starting to think the writing was going to be inconsistent. They suddenly started demonstrating the male lead as honorable and kind after he tortured her. Don’t get me wrong I can handle harsh characters, I thought they were just going to make it His one harsh act. Then he brought the head in.

I can see what you’re saying. In this role I felt his emotions rarely met his eyes. In some scenes it made him seem like he was hiding behind a facade. At other times he just seemed bored. It was always nice when they spelled out what he was thinking or feeling, cause watching him I couldn’t always tell.

I have two minor complaints on a show I’ve really enjoyed. The male leads eyes weren’t overly expressive. If I wasn’t told what he was feeling I would’ve missed it many times. And His major arc didn’t have a convincing aftermath for me. People don’t forgive and forget easily. Even though he was doing it for good reasons, I would’ve found it more convincing for his reputation to have suffered. For people to have still raised objections to Him. Some for political reasons. Others because they thought him to risky or to calculating. Throughout the whole show people were constantly distrustful and putting others down at the first chance they got. Suddenly they are willing to overlook risky behavior, and outright deceit? I didn’t buy it. (I’m not talking about the female lead who had already established a near blind trust.)

I honestly think sometimes these shows need a tragic ending to remain convincing. If it took the kings woman route…I’m not sure I’d mind. But I agree, there are parallels.

I’ve got an opinion question. I feel that redemption arcs are one of the trickiest things to get right. Do you think this drama will have a convincing one?

I haven’t read the book, but I’ve read a ton of spoilers about it. I’ve been wondering how this drama will take her from forced marriage to attempted suicide while trying to make their relationship appear romantic. I’ve also been wondering how on earth they will end it. Do you have an opinion on how they might try to achieve this? Or how they might end it?

Does the romance develop unrealistically quickly in this? ( Some dramas move past situations that most people would take a long time to get past, or for reasons that sound like lines in a power- breakup song. I enjoy enemies to lovers, I just want to believe it!)

I’ve never seen a drama in this era without a toxic male soldier lead, not that I’ve watched many in this era. Is it a stereotype, or a product of history by chance? Does anyone know a drama that shows another perspective?

I’m so curious, why? Im on episode 2. I don’t know anyone yet.

Thank you! I love shows where the characters are complex! Especially when they give us backstories to show why.

I drop them too, especially if a characters actions have zero repercussions. Even good deeds have consequences and make an effect. It’s weird when writers make it so that bad deeds don’t make someone distrustful or offended.

Do you guys think or know if this will be a case of toxic male lead becoming very good to the female lead? Or perhaps a case of struggling against each other but eventually working to finding happiness together? Or even a sad but realistic ending? I’ve been reluctant to start this one because I’m not sure where it’s going. I don’t mind a good story with a toxic character, but I struggle if it’s glorified, or ignored, or whitewashed. I don’t mind a complex character who is both good and bad. Or even a character who is all bad. I just get turned off when a complex character is presented, but suddenly there’s no….realistic reaction to it. I’ve watched shows where a lead practically murdered the other lead, but they acted cute and all was forgotten. I come for the drama. If there’s trauma, give me drama!

Would anyone be willing to help me understand the past a little bit better? I understand she was the Empress. I also understand that at some point she was Held in isolation. And that, during that time, the second male lead seemed to torment her. Also, the male lead seemed to consult with her. Do I have that right? I am in the early episodes and a little confused.

I was also wondering if anyone could help me connect with the leads? Got any insights into them?

I agree, they tried to flesh out the trauma in her parents divorce and the bullying, but the male leads were hanging by a thread and it made her trauma pale in comparison.

Did you notice how different their personalities were, and yet when they lashed out they almost seemed like the same person. Not even my siblings and I lash out in the same way. People who hardly know each other are rarely consistently similar.

Is this one of those dramas where the male lead would burn the world for the female lead? I may be looking for one of those dramas currently.

PS I would love suggestions

What are your thoughts on the older brother?

After there separation, how many episodes do they have as a couple?

May I ask for a spoiler? I’ll post my question under a spoiler tab.