ararant_

I doubt that, my worst prediction would be just like Scent of Time ending, everything is just a dream and her life was still as miserable as ever. But ML would be by her side, hm, the flashback when she was bullied on ep 7 or 8, there was a boy saving her and we viewers could only watch his back and he looked above her age-- usually this cliche means he's the ML and he has been by her side all along, maybe she forgot or he just had a secret crush without her knowing.

I smell a bit of angsty here because why Xiaolan keep thinking that this is just a dream, and look at the title 'Dream of Golden Years', also they keep the flashback of the future Xiaolan in the beginning of episodes.
I felt like watching Scent of Time 2.0, I'm so worried😭

Maybe my expectations were too high... However, I was quite disappointed with Yezi's last two dramas. I was dropping LoFG midwatch because the camera play made me dizzy, so I'll blame the director maybe for that, but this drama early stories was so rushed it felt off. I can't stop thinking maybe Zhou Ye should pick better dramas or get better taste... I mean both LoFG and this has pretty interesting premise but still was a flop at the end for me.
Maybe it's just my expectation that's too high, however she's one of my favorite actress and I've long awaited these two dramas to air and look and her past record of dramas with relatively good and high rating, I can't help but get my hopes up, right..?
Still, it's just early episodes so I'll try to keep watching at least for the sake of 80s fashion and aesthetics.

the story pacing is so good!!!
and it's quite unique, there is female and male main role, but seemingly they won't end up together instead they have their own soon-to-be-partner support role

only watched second episode, is it just me or the story pacing is a bit off? I can't understand the story up until this episode... lt felt like the characters and the story is not being introduced properly. Like their character's or the plot has no logic (?). Why the 3rd sister introduced as the smartest but she acts impulsive, but if she is impulsive why she doesn't responds on the spot when the ML kicked the ball into his head, instead they exchanging gaze almost like flirting when she supposed to be indifferent towards men? How contradictive.
And the screen time is spent mostly on the main couple, but I still can not understand, in addition to being interested in their characters. That's the case for the main CP with most screentime, not to mention the other characters with fourth their screen times.
I wonder if this is director, screenwriter, or producer's fault--the first two have created notable masterpieces tough--, or is it my own fault having high expectation?

Also, for me personally, the most important thing when I decide to watch a drama without dropping it is engagement. What's the point of a great plot and great acting if I can't be patient enough to engage and watch the episode continuously? I feel like this drama has great engagement; I could watch the entire episode in one sitting. On the other hand, I still tried to watch past the first 4 episodes of "Joy of Life" and I don't know why... I enjoy watching JoL clips and it was indeed funny, but I couldn't continue watching it past the 4th episode. Maybe it's just my problem though, because I also had this issue at the beginning of "The Story of Minglan," but it ended up being my all-time favorite drama.
Can anyone please convince me to continue watching JoL and explain why it's worth watching? I really like the trope where the male lead is the one being time-traveled or transmigrated though, because it's rare in dramas, and usually it's more hilarious with great themes of family, friendship, and adventure.

I came to defend this drama because I LOVE IT SO MUCH AND THIS IS MY FIRST TIME CHASING CDRAMAS THAT STILL ON AIR. I may be biased a lot as this is my personal opinion and I have a very personal taste that changes from time to time.
Here are some of the criticisms drama is facing (based on this article):
1. In Guardians of the Dafeng, the royal family, the Astronomical Bureau, Confucian scholars from academies, and martial arts sects make appearances one after another. Characters can fly, vanish, and perform extraordinary feats, while the Astronomical Bureau wields all kinds of magical powers, and monsters frequently show up. Such a sprawling and complex world is not clearly explained at the start of the show. Instead, it is presented abruptly, leaving viewers to piece it together on their own.
>> actually I enjoy reading more than watching dramas, and in novel writing there's saying 'show don't tell'. and that is how this drama choose to show its 'world building'. they choose to make Xu Qi An explore this new world, encounter these power holder one by one as he became stronger. in novel term, it's dumb to say ''there's new world called Dafeng and there everybody can be stronger through being an Alchemist, or a Scholar, or Martial Artist. People can fly because they have qi (martial arts energy), alchemist were powerful and they make strong artifacts and elixirs so people honored them-- whoever you made enemies with, don't ever make enemy with an alchemist because you never knew when you'll need them. and scholars were respected as they will work as the king's official."
it's okay if they explained in a few sentences just like that, but isn't it cooler if we explore the world along with the protagonist instead? what's his struggle, what's his new understanding of the world, make us feel involved within the story not like if the world building being explained in a sentence or two.
2. The protagonist Xu Qi An, who travels from the modern world, adapts to the setting of Dafeng almost instantly. Without experiencing any psychological struggles, he jumps straight into solving cases as if completely unfazed by his new reality.
>> ok, hear me out. when he first wake up in Dafeng, he was imprisoned, okay? of course he must solve case immediately or his family would be executed or exiled. also, it clearly shows in modern era scenes that he is the type of person who easily adapt into new or hard environment. he went from being student in police academy to a manager in sales marketing. and when he was bullied by his senior, he didn't fight impulsively even if this senior deserve a punch on the face, instead he managed on being compassionate and adaptive as he settle this problem amicably and, cleverly.
3. In the original novel, Xu Qi An's character development is gradual. He carefully navigates the ancient world, starting as a small figure who only wishes to live a peaceful life and avoid trouble. Over time, he grows into a hero with a deep sense of justice and responsibility. However, the TV adaptation skips these crucial steps, making Xu Qi An instantly transform into a regular Dafeng man. He jumps straight into solving cases at lightning speed, while the supporting characters seem to effortlessly follow his lead, advancing the plot in sync.
>> what did you expect from a 40 episode drama, duh? and this is such fantasy action drama, idk about other people, but I don't think I'd enjoy slow character development as it won't have as much thrill as the cliche OP character. I want to see cool fight scenes and magic, not an ordinary 21st-century sales employee who transfers to another world and still continued being a sales or merchant or anything, ok?
4. This rushed progression leaves viewers feeling that the show lacks human warmth and instead has a strong AI-generated vibe.
>> I love AI. what's wrong with AI? AI been very helpful, okay? and it's indeed 'lacks human warmth' because of the OP main character. but I am the type of people who loves OP character, because it's satisfying to watch them taking revenge or defeat the villains easily. don't you sometimes want to see these kind of characters even if they were unrealistic? They are much more enjoyable for easy watch.
And this drama doesn't lack human's warmth ok? there is found family, great friendship with iconic-comedic gold-trio, touching kind of master-disciple relationship between main character and his boss, also complex family relationship inside the royal family, etc.