WindBlows

66 episodes would have done the story more justice. But if that wasn't possible, they could have readjusted the script and excluded some things to give room for developing the key plot.

1. Though in subtle ways, I thought YS showed a lot of credible character growth. He had an unfortunate start with SS, took his time maturing and accepting his feelings towards her, and in the end did his best to try and win her, thus having no regrets.

2. Yuanyi's attitude as a mother to SS - Considering what happened between them in part 1, that Yuanyi also resented/was jealous of SS finding a mother figure in the Empress, even that SS ultimately chose her love and devotion to the Empress and left her family behind, I found it hard to believe that Yuanyi became mother of the year in those final episodes. Suddenly she wanted to spoil her daughter and was all smiles and openly affectionate, which was out of character for Yuanyi in general. Even SS seemed baffled by her mother's change of attitude.

3. Though great comedy relief, I also found the Emperor to be a bit too invested in his godson's life and neglectful of his own children. The contrast was too large and it caused resentment, i.e. 5th Princess.

I am not justifying her actions, but when she inadvertently admitted to pushing SS into the water, 5th Princess did point out some painful truths - the Emperor's favoritism towards Zisheng, the fact that the Emperor flirted a lot with Consort Yue including in front of the Empress and that, despite her mother's status as the Empress, the true power lay with Consort Yue's hands because she always had her husband's unconditional support.

Yes, both were toned down, particularly HBY. Talking strictly about the drama, I find the greatest inconsistency is how they reduced SS to a shell of her old self during and after those 5 years.

In her conversation with 3rd Prince, when he accuses her of being too unfeeling about HBY's survival, SS emphasizes she will lead a good life with or without HBY. Though she loves him the most, she has many people and things to live for.

However, we then see SS emotionally despondent after HBY leaves for the northwest and she joins the Empress in the secluded palace. In the book, she organized a nice life for both herself and the Empress, experimented with inventions and interacted with other people.

In the drama, the drastic change in her personality feels very odd. As if she has become a victim of HBY's choices or is punishing herself for some reason. I guess they wanted to portray both of them as suffering, but then why make a big statement about SS leading a good life without HBY to begin with? 🤔

In the book LJT's role as a villain was much more elaborate and she died in very different circumstances. The conversation between SS, the Empress and LJT at dinner in the palace, as well as the dialogue between HBY and LJT- when he reveals he has known her true colours all along, are true to the novel.

Still, as you said, why cramp everything in so few episodes, especially the last 5? I think the pressure to edit very quickly due to express package led to some bizarre choices.

He just can't help himself lol

Thank you. For me too, paradoxically, the scene feels more acceptable now. HBY manipulated SS emotionally, but it's in line with his character. And as he told her after the Emperor's punishment, it would not have worked had she not loved him deeply.

I know! I was hoping SS would have at least used that knife, which General Wan gifted her, to defend herself. It would have made things a bit less repetitive.

I am wondering about the LJT as villain part. While I was rewatching the carriage abduction, HBY's pursuit and then the final fall, everything seemed off. The most jarring part was how SS and HBY were flying from the carriage to the cliff edge. LLTG was not that kind of drama... I know it's CGI and rushed editing...

But then why include that scene to begin with? Why was LJT's murder attempt on SS so important to show? Especially since there is another villain lined up. And the conversation between SS and HBY could have happened in a different context, no need for so many life threatening situations one after the other. Thoughts anyone?

The obsession is real - I know! I am rewatching the post-5 year arc, in case I missed some details the first time.

Glad to see we are on the same page. It's just who HBY is. Let's face it - even after 5 years and his regretful attitude, how could he fundamentally change his nature? It would not make sense and be inconsistent with how he has been portrayed throughout the drama.

I read that interpretation as well and the more I think about it, the more it seems plausible. He improvised and took a calculated risk, hoping to break through her 'stubborness'.

In the drama, it was quite obvious that a part of SS wanted to forgive and accept him back in her life, while another part refused to trust him. Faced with the prospect of losing him, the choice became clear. And HBY pushed his advantage. He did not ask if she was ok/hurt. He went straight to - "Are you forgiving me? You can't change your mind".

Agreed, I've come to realize this is a great withdrawal therapy for me as well! I want to say that SS cold attitude and reply are due to her withdrawing emotionally as a defence mechanism in the revenge aftermath.

But honestly, I think the problem lies elsewhere. They kept dialogues from the book but also deviated to the point that it creates inconsistencies.

Let's take the reply "Is he dead?" In the book, there was a context to it - SS knew that cliffside was not dangerous and it was highly unlikely for LBY to die or even to be seriously injured. But she often comes across as cold in the novel, or even mean as YS describes her.

Yet SS in the drama always seemed warm to me and never mean. So the chilly question is out of character.

I have in mind other inconsistencies as well, but I don't want to bore you 🙂

This has been such a compelling discussion and I'm sorry I missed out on it! But it has been great reading both of your thoughts. Thank you so very much!

Just to answer the question about when Shaoshang falls ill. I also posted this below in answer to Toooomeeee.

In the novel, Shaoshang becomes very ill/comatose after HBY falls off the cliff. You could call it mental and physical breakdown due to shock, grief etc. She is brought to her family home and the physician declares her to be near death, hence her father starting to prepare the coffin for the funeral. She wakes up only when she hears 3rd Prince arguing with her mother and that HBY needs to be rescued.

In the drama, it seems to me they heavily cut that scene. It just shows Liangfang and then Yuanyi trying to feed her daughter medicine without success. Shaoshang seems to have fainted and again wakes up when hearing that HBY needs her help.

This has been a riveting discussion and a joy to read for me! Thank you Toooomeeee and sakuramoon1112!

Just to answer your question about when Shaoshang falls ill.

In the novel, Shaoshang becomes very ill/comatose after HBY falls off the cliff. You could call it mental and physical breakdown due to shock, grief etc. She is brought to her family home and the physician declares her to be near death, hence her father starting to prepare the coffin for the funeral. She wakes up only when she hears 3rd Prince arguing with her mother and that HBY needs to be rescued.

In the drama, it seems to me they heavily cut that scene. It just shows Liangfang and then Yuanyi trying to feed her daughter medicine without success. Shaoshang seems to have fainted and again wakes up when hearing that HBY needs her help.

I think for once Ling Bu Yi was not thinking clearly and acted more instinctually. The argument that he was protecting Shaoshang and the Cheng family is flimsy, more like a nice lie he told himself first and then delivered to her. Why did he act so impulsively?

I believe it's a combination of factors. First, his aunt's death added urgency; even during her last moments she did not say anything kind to him, only stressed his responsibility to take revenge. Second, his last hope to gain irrefutable evidence of Ling Yi's betrayal disappeared with Peng Kun's death (or so LBY assumed...).

Third, his 15+ years of conditioning as lone crusader and that no one can help him, or it's too dangerous to confide in someone. Here is the paradox - LBY is the ultimate schemer, but being so immersed in his quest for revenge made him overlook a key possibility. He did not take into account that madam Chunyu (the uncle's second wife) could have vital evidence. It was Shaoshang who thought about it, when she knew the whole situation. Had LBY told her earlier, she could have offered an outsider's insight, found the incriminating letters and have Ling Yi punished according to the law.

Ultimately, Ling Bu Yi does not trust Shaoshang completely or is afraid to fully be honest with her. His double standards still bother me a lot. He forced her/manipulated her emotionally, together with the Emperor, to give him wholehearted honesty and devotion, but he was not willing/able to give her the same.

Many thanks for this! I would have never come up with such an interpretation. More food for thought...

Indeed, the cliff scene and their conversation after the Empress' death, when both agreed to lead good lives separately, were painfully poignant. In that conversation, SS says she cannot trust HBY and thus give him another chance. Then after she believed him dead, everything is fine, she forgives him and they reconcile. I felt this shift in her emotions was too sudden. There was a lot of painful and action scenes, yet very little healing of the relationship between them.

YS had a few moments to shine and I thought Li Yun Rui rose to the occasion very well. My favourite scene is when SS and YS say goodbye as both leave on their own journeys. His face was beautifully expressive.

Me too! I was reluctant to use the word depressed in my previous post, but that is how SS looked to me.

Oh my, what beautiful artwork! You are very talented 😊