anitfa

Aunty, you still here? Haven't dropped it already?

She did have a role, especially in Prince Wuxia's character development. She may look childish, thanks to her upbringing. In episode 30, we finally know the truth behind her relationship with SZY. SZY loves her so much as his sister.

They just didn't know the real danger ahead. So, they explored the city during the lantern festival. And, the city was peaceful before the fire operation began.

The city burning down is not a consequence of her rescue, if you watched closely. Empress Lv had planned it from the start, intending to kill SZY and Prince Wuxia. JTH was merely the bait to lure SZY out of Qi.

She didn’t know the Empress would be in that city. In the previous episode, she was threatened with her brother’s severed finger and warned that he would be executed for violating military rules. So, she returned to Beiyuan. I think this plot point makes sense.

You may start from his drama with highest MDL score (>8.00), like Blood of Youth, Love and Redemption, Ancient Love Poetry, and A Moment but Forever. You will appreciate him more, whether he plays the main role, villain, or a supporting one.

Episode 30 has good city battle scenes. In most dramas, city battles often feel empty due to the lack of cameos and absence of tactics. They did it well in this drama.

The drama version is not a love story, but survival in a political jungle. Love story is not the main course.

It is not straying plot, but progressing plot. That vengeance has ended long ago when the emperor put an end to the case involved Huaijin and Crown Prince. Why should a man pursue vengeange when life must go on and have the next mystery to solve?

I think, the story goes this way is because, since beginning, JTH ultimate purpose is to take Changjue away with her and live somewhere away from Empress Lv (not to find happiness, not to find love, like in typical romance drama).

So, it makes sense that she doesn't want to have any permanent ties with SZY. Since beginning, we know that she uses their marriage for her gain and when this marriage serves no use anymore for the ultimate purpose, she asked for divorce and when they meet again, she doesn't want to come back.

Above is her perspective, which is in conflict with SZY's. SZY treats their marriage as a real thing, especially after the cliff incident. He sees JTH as his wife, a woman to protect and to live with. But for her, she is a princess longing to break free (at least until ep 26).

Joining hands with SZY may look promising, an easy way out for every challenge in the game. We imagine a better story this way, but it stems from our logic/ expectation that this drama must be a romance (the purpose of a romance is unity among lovers). Princess's Gambit is not primarily a romance (see the genre tag).

So, think again, had they really joined hands as we wish for an alternative story, JTH would have to be his woman in the end. From JTH's perspective, being with SZY contradicts the initial purpose. Up to ep 26, she doesn't change her purpose yet.

We need something really big to happen for her to see SZY differently, so that SZY has the same weight as her brother, or even greater. That is when the romance would naturally flow in. I think, the delayed romance and real cooperation between SZY and JTH are not flaws. The story itself has internal coherence. In case its technical execution is not perfect (like pacing, sequencing, editing), that is a different matter.

She doesn't want to have any relationship with him because she realized they serve different country.

What a creepy person he is

Personally, I perceive this amnesia plot is sending us confusing messages. In one point, I see JTH fakes it. In other point, she really has it. It is just later, I understand that her amnesia is selective (only applies to anything related to SZY) as well as strategic (to deceive the 3rd Prince). I understand her selective forgetting may due to her love-hate relationship with SZY, and the other one is to survive and reveal the mystery around 3rd Prince. Too many things are behind what appear. Every clue is not easy to follow and connect.

Around 20s after he lost her.

In your examples, it seems that amnesia is the triggering event that determine overall narratives, and without this very event, the story can not exist from the beginning.

Using your definition of good amnesia plot, it is like JTH should have forgot things since beginning. Maybe, around the time she was attacked in ep 1, she should have forgot that she is a secret agent and having a hostaged brother.

You actually have more reasons to praise the storyline and ML acting. Why don't you do so? We would have great conversation discussing what we like rather than what we dislike.

In which episode do you think JTH should have revealed everything to SZY that she comes to Qi as a spy working for Empress Lv, is poisoned, and recently tasked to kill a prince?

Can you give us example of amnesia trope done really well? In which Cdrama?

Then, why are you still wandering here? You can watch other drama with actresses you like rather than get killed here.

You make a point I do agree.

Even though this drama title Princess's Gambit, I feel the ML is the real hero because he is the moral compass of the story. FL is driven merely by need for survival and revenge. ML has vision for the future of the kingdom, but act like an antihero. Imagine the story is told from his perspective, it would be a great palace/ political drama.