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They’ve combined roughly two and a half arcs into ten episodes. Its well done but I dont think its possible to avoid showing it a bit.

It does appear dad died. See episodes 14/15/16. Both moms alive as of episode 36.

Its very worth it. The romance is slow burn because the characters are very inexperienced and other story events take priority. They become friends fairly quickly and their interactions are very sweet. Epic pay off kiss later in story.

I didnt feel it was slow at all. However, it does have arcs built into the story. I noticed at the beginning of each arc alot of watchers would complain for a couple episodes that it had slowed down. Basically it builds to a climax, completes that arc and than starts the next one. Each arc is good. Yes, our male lead is good at martial arts. I think you will enjoy the fights. They are not every episode but every three to five episodes you’ll get a kick ass fight. I think you’ll really love ep 27-28.

That would be awesome if they brought in more of his surrounding characters from the book. He had a sworn little bro character who was epic. It would be a tragedy since every character who really loved LZS dies. Heh, I dont think I could handle more than 10 episodes of that. And one special episode would be very bare bones.

In the novel LZS wasnt raised by his mother. He was thrown away as a baby by his grandfather. Mom married someone else and died of illness later. Yes Lou granddaddy was part of the conspiracy that led to JHs brothers death. It was unclear how much time the mom and JH spent together but it read more like. They likely knew each other longer than one night. He had told his family there was a girl he planned to marry prior to discovering her identity. Gu daddy did know some of this. He did not tell his wife. The pieces he did share with GJ were some of the clues that allowed GJ to figure it out. I dont remember how mom realized JH wasnt Gu daddy. It was years later after she married. I will probably reread the book once the drama is over so I can better compare everything they changed.

I kind of like that its clever enough to recognize there could be more than one maternal line tying back to the first strong woman in their family. It also almost feels like it was originally made for the 2ML from the first one. He was transferred to Gangnam at the end. So maybe they had an idea and it evolved into a full blown story of its own?

Makes sense

His feelings towards adult LZS? Maybe longing that wasnt touched by regret? Let me give you a different example. JH remarked at one point he knew GJ’s parents were spoiling him too much. He thought he should step in but his other commitments (politics etc) meant he didnt have the time. He was aware he could have helped GJ and had the desire to help, but he also didnt regret where he put his priorities. I felt like it was the same with LZS. Keeping the secret was more to protect the mom’s reputation. However, he didnt regret keeping LZS safe too. Eventually he decided that LZS had gone to far. As his father and to serve the country he had
a responsibility to stop LZS. Nuance is hard to get in MTL novels but thats how I read it.

In the book JH travelled to the town where the Lou’s lived planning to take revenge for his brother’s death. (In the book the bro was upright and framed. He was sent into exile but later JH found he’d been replaced and murdered before he ever left the capitol.) While there JH met this strange girl who dressed like a boy and played games like gambling etc. They were both in disguise, fell in love, planned to marry and just anticipated the wedding a bit. Than he found out who she was. He left without explaining who he was. Hed used his brother-in-laws alias. She thought because he was Gu daddy, he was married and thats why he abandoned her. She had the baby but her dad threw it to a temple. She ended up marrying a long time admirer. Later she found out who JH really was. They saw each other once before her death and she told him she now understood why they couldnt be together. Meanwhile LZS grew up and watched his adopted beggar daddy get beaten to death by the Lou’s. So when he encountered JH scouting for revenge he suggested the fire to the Lou manner. JH recognized him but didnt want to ruin mother’s reputation by claiming him. He thought he left JH in a better position. JH claimed to be the eldest son of the Lous who survived. He didnt know how hellish JH’s life was after that until they met again all those years later in the capitol. And again, he protects LZS and the mother by not revealing the truth. If he’d told the truth earlier alot of evil LZS committed could have been avoided but LZS and the mother’s reputation would be ruined. Funny thing about JH is while he wished he’d had his wife and son, he never regretted his choices. He was kind of cool and super selfishly prickish that way.

Im watching it there now

It is worth the wait!

They have a life saving moment that is not a real kiss in episode 15. Relationship is slow burn so first real kiss is episode 27. Totally worth the wait.

Most people seem to be hooked by episode 14-15 if they werent hooked sooner. If you made it to 17, it really might not be for you. That being said, 17 is part of a transitional period from one arc to the other. It does slow for the next few episodes. If you ever get curious Id recommend watching again till at least episode 28. That is the conclusion of the second arc which I and most of the commenters on MDL thought was fantastic.

An apt lesson for the first arc of the story

Maybe they are saving it for finale?

That would be awesome!

Haha, they are our place holder for the suffering of the people. You can really feel how screwed up everything was in the old dynasty because its carried over so strongly into the new dynasty.

I cant speak to where they are really taking things but that whole conversation came across to me like JH knows LZS is his kid, but due to politics needed to get on his side so used what he had. LZS already hates the Gus and he’s so far gone nothing short than the absolute truth with a ton of evidence would convince him he’s been wrong. However, its also possible they have changed this part of the story entirely. LZS background was way more complex and the mom had a different ending too. So, anything could happen?

LOL! I do recommend reading it. Just only read 20 chapters or so at a time to give your brain a break. The MTL is very readable but its MTL.