bao____haus

Ok FINE I like romance!!!!! The candy in this show is top notch!!

First 20 episodes were goated, almost a chef's kiss in terms of the romance, and the last 12 were a total disappointing mess.... Xian Yu captured 'falling in love' but couldn't actually write a relationship. In other words, the three lifecycles genre has outlived whatever novelty it had in 2017 and needs to be taken out back and put down ASAP.

As an adult, I've been waffling over whether or not I enjoy romance- with a lot of shows/movies/books, etc. I dread every scene the main couple have together, and only a select few have me obsessed, crying, etc. I settled on, 'I like a well written romance' where the main characters are both complex, have serious growth and you can see that they have changed each other for the better and why they belong together (better yet I love a story about why they make each other worse and should break up). This drama, Xian Yu, was only really able to satisfy this sort of....... but it still had me smiling at all of their couple moments, thinking to myself, 'wow they're so cute'... like a TEENAGER!!!!! I got got!! They got me bad!!!!!! I thought they were adorable!!!!!!!!!

Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan were super likable and easy to root for. SMJ's entire almost comically cartoonish abuse-torture-cannibalism backstory + extremely goated Bking level 99999 ultimate power made him the exact sort of typical male lead in a fantasy idol drama that is easy to root for. A Dream Within a Dream said it best, "Beautiful, tragic, strong." He was an imprisoned underdog I was rooting for to kill literally everyone in the 8 Palaces and raze it to the ground with spirit fire!! One of the most impactful and unforgettable scenes of the entire series is the one where he breaks free, chains everyone up and kills his oppressors. His character is great for the most part, but ultimately falls short in some ways that are personally unsatisfying to me. Falling in love with LTY was well sold and makes perfect sense. Of course this person who has been imprisoned his whole life, who has only ever been used, abused, lied to for power, would need someone who has 0 ambitions whatsoever LOL. LTY fits into what SMJ needs like a puzzle piece. She doesn't want power, or high cultivation, has no ulterior motives, and lives life for the pleasure of it- for eating good food, sleeping a good sleep, resting and playing. LTY makes him feel safe, shows him he deserves kindness and care rather than flattery and inspires him to enjoy the pleasure of living.

Ultimately though, I'm disappointed with where his character went. There were moments where it felt like he could come out of his doomed suicidal mindset because he had grown so much. Like sending LTY to her tribulation with every single defense imaginable and distancing himself from her so she could have the best chance, but ultimately owning that they were in a relationship, and ride or die, they were in this together. But at the end of the day???? Bro was so tortured he was chill with just dying. And like, tbh I get it, they dont have therapists in Xianxia world, what happened to him is so far in the realm of fantasy horrific that it's kind of unthinkable by real life standards. But like, idk, isn't the point of fantasy also that it should just be an escapist way to process a human experience/emotion? It's not like, befittingly tragic, for our hero to hate himself and his own existence so much that he is in a depressing doomer mindset and thinks his only value is dying for his lover. It's just immature emo bs. I already hate self sacrifice, and it's doubly un-romantic when the person sacrificing is already fully suicidal and has only just started to barely enjoy life. It feels like the writers want to make a message like, SMJ ISN'T that other guy w the Fengshan blood who killed himself, and he ISN'T his parents and he has the power to determine his own life and he can defy heaven and fate!! But it ultimately wasn't as great of a goal as making him tragically sad and romantic by sacrificing himself for LTY. At least by the very, very, end, he seems to have understood that doing that and hiding his plans from her was wrong, but more for the lying part. He also says things like, "We have more time" and "We've only just started" which give me hope that he's changed. But ultimately, this development isn't given enough emphasis or time. And maybe if his sacrifice happened in like, episode 20 there would've been enough time!!! But it happened in like episode 30 or something and then he had to live a whole ass lifetime with a loving mother in 2 episodes to get him there. Character growth doesn't happen naturally in the narrative, but through death and rebirth and just becoming a completely different character. That's why it's annoying!!! Wouldn't it have made more impact for SMJ to have gone through what he did, and ultimately come to believe that life was worth living without being a different person?

Liao Tingyan is super adorable and easy to root for! She is genuinely refreshing as a FL who doesn't fall prey to miscommunications, manipulative machinations, etc. etc. and pretty much always stands by and trusts SMJ. Unfortunately, something that I've found quite often now with transmigration dramas, is that the FL's character writing pales in comparison to ML's and it's true here as well. By the end of 33 episodes, I still don't really understand super deeply who she is, where she's from, why SMJ should matter SO much to her, and how exactly did he impact her life. SMJ focuses almost every ounce of his energy on making her comfortable, happy, getting her what she wants to eat, and going on vacation, is protected from harm, etc. etc. but this is all very different from seeing how he has changed her character for the better. Being nice and taking care of someone isn't really enough to warrant love. Like I said, it's easy to see why SMJ fell in love with her, the reverse is harder. And I don't think it would've taken too much??? Like even just a couple more scenes of LTY's life in the modern world, where she is expected to constantly grind and work would've helped. Like I have no idea what her family life was like, if she has friends, if she grew up poor, what hs/college were like. If she had experienced a lot of pressure in her life to be productive and be a contributing member of society, to work for survival, then it would make so much sense to fall in love w this ultra powerful guy who is just like hey slack off all you want, in fact I love that about you and that makes you valuable/important/an inspiration rather than a burden upon society. Like, okay, cool, LTY would be that much more fleshed out of a character. But they didn't do that!!!! And it would've been so easy!!! They could've even just changed her voiceover thoughts and it would've been enough!! ORRR they could've gone a diff route and had SMJ be her inspiration to no longer be a slacker, which feels a little closer to what the series was kind of going for. Like when they're in class and she starts practicing because she wants to protect him. It would've been great if they just pushed this further, and had her really commit to becoming more ambitious for SMJ. Maybe seeing that ambition/work wasn't a bad thing, because it could give her more purpose. Like that could've been another angle that made her feelings for him make more sense, idk. Instead it just feels like the writers wanted to preserve something precious about her (which is fine by itself if well written) but simultaneously make her powerful by the end so it's just plot things happening to her rather than character growth. Like it's some stupid dog blood shit that she just became a good fighter who was groomed and forced to kill by SQL. Or that she awakened the frost fish or absorbed the demon lord core or w/e and now she HAS to be powerful. None of that is real character writing, just forced change from the narrative!

The beginning of their relationship is what got me! As I said, watching them fall in love and be cute and kind and playful is so enjoyable and sweet. There's moments that really work to guide them towards a relationship like LTY telling SMJ off for using the truth spell on her all the time with SO much understanding, making space for him and his trauma while simultaneously centering her own feelings and right to privacy. She's so emotionally mature which is rare for any c-drama lead. Also! UM they actually kiss??? Which is so rare in these types of dramas like I'm so used to the main leads just gently pressing their lips and freezing while the cameral swirls around them and the romantic theme song plays. Them having more sensuality and physicality made such a huge difference and made them feel so much more like a real relationship. The problem is that the show is ultimately too weak to carry their relationship after the initial falling in love phase, meaning they fucked up their first real fight. SMJ forcing LTY to kill Zhenxu is honestly great for their relationship development and makes perfect sense for both of their characters. SMJ is ACTUALLY a morally grey ML who is a walking sea of red flags and it's so understandable that out of concern for LTY, he wants her to know how to kill so she can protect herself. In doing so, he grossly violated the one boundary she set with him since the start. This is not resolved well at all tbh, and was when I started to feel distant from the drama. Her initially asking for space was great, and then not answering when he asked how long was great too, and then he just fucking shows up anyway like a day later?! Without it being on her terms??? With a brief apology and promise to never do it again?? It makes absolutely no sense for LTY to forgive him so quickly. Like we know she's understanding, and she even says it when they argue, that she has been SO understanding of him, his backstory, his world and environment. But understanding does not mean you can forgive someone especially when that person is your PARTNER who just traumatized you for life by violating a crucial boundary. It should've taken a couple episodes at least??? Honestly would've made for so much great emotional tension if she died/they got separated while they were still fighting. It's really just not enough. She needed more time for herself to process and he needed to make it up to her in a way that showed he respected her autonomy by GIVING HER SPACE like she asked!!! Like he gave her a special pillow and now shes just not traumatized??? After that it's just like 12 more episodes of the stupid ass 3 lifecycles shit so we can't even focus on THIS relationship and it's just getting together-dying-getting together-dying again.

This is why I think the 3L3W bs is the ultimate romance killer. Just when you start to actually develop a real relationship, with real points of tension and conflict that could be worked through with character growth, someone fucking dies and they have to start over. Then the tension comes from something stupid like someone forgetting their memories, and they have to fall in love AGAIN but written worse than the first time. By the third time they don't give a shit at alllll anymore and it's like blasted through in 3 episodes. And it doesn't mean that ALL character/relationship growth is thrown out the window, but it means that this growth is severely stunted by stupid fuckery and flashbacks to the first time they fell in love. It's seriously lame as hell to force emotional reactions and sentimentality using amnesia and multiple lifetimes. And it's a serious way to make the audience no longer care when there are just NO stakes. It doesn't matter if they die because they'll just come back! It doesn't matter if they don't remember because they will eventually! SMJ and LTY honestly don't even seem that sad when they lose each other for the billionth time because death just isn't permanent in this world!!! The pacing sucks so much they'll see each other again in 20 minutes! So as a result I, as an avid watcher, who once giggled and coo'd when they did face masks together now feel NOTHING. But hey I chose to watch an idol xianxia 3L3W drama so I'm the clown I guess!!!!!!!!!!!!

Other than the romance, the rest of the characters are completely uncompelling and uninteresting in every way without much logic, not worthy of being talked about. The villains are simple but kind of fun because they are so cartoonishly simple, in particular the 8 Palaces are a fun group of villains to hate. Hypocritical and cannibalistic, going off about righteous values while abusing, torturing, SA'ing, etc. feels very true to real life political villains, so it was cathartic to see. The plot for the first 20 episodes is honestly solid. Like it's bad and melodramatic and silly but honestly??? There's something here about how dark and twisted people can be for power and greed. In some ways it felt kinda old school wuxia. I gotta say... the Blood baby breeding mountain was actually the stuff of nightmares and they honestly did a really good job with that episode. I really felt SMJ's horrific discovery, helplessness, rage and despair. The imagery of everyone in chains in a cave and the forced breeding/pregnancy/incest was a level of darkness that I've actually never seen in an idol xianxia c-drama. It was so chilling and felt like commentary on the chained woman in China (if you don't know about this, look up with caution). So I really do have to give the writers some props for taking it somewhere quite dark, and giving it the impact, trauma, and horror it deserved. After the first 20 episodes, the plot is just.... so much worse and makes so little sense. Nothing goes completely off the rails like many other dramas, but it's definitely stupid, fast paced, and nothing really has any weight or severity to it.

All in all, it's a fun time for the most part, the falling in love part is cute, it's funny, the two main leads are likable!! There's some real moments of care and compelling plot!! It's highly watchable!! Is it good??? Absolutely NOT!!!!!! Honestly if you just watch the first 20 episodes and stop there it might be for the best.

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they're really doing it for the wlws huh!!!!!

wow when i first started watching this show the bar was literally on the ground!!! like literally nothing could convince me that this was republican era... the costuming, the sets, the technology, the language??? all felt incredibly modern, like youyi literally was wearing a modern prom dress in like ep 1?? i was ready for this to be absolute garbage w terrible senseless writing and barely any romance.

but actually... once the plot gets going, the setting and costuming is no longer a distraction and im able to be fully immersed in the show! is the writing the best i've ever seen? certainly not, especially not for the fraught w political tension/societal upheaval republican era dramas, but it's at least compelling enough to get me invested in the story and the characters.

i really do like both of our girls, yan wei is absolutely a hot girl for us sapphics and i really appreciated that, they just delivered on a lot of things - little character moments, relationship dynamics, super cute chemistry etc. that really sold them and their relationship. it all just made me very happy, and it was all things i wanted to see. sure there isnt nearly much money in gl as there is in all the bl dramas that have come out the past several years (where they can basically push censorship laws as far as possible because they know they can count on the fujo coin) but!!! anyway!!! it still made me very happy!!!! of course i wish it couldve been pushed a little more, or we could get a nice long series where the feelings develop slowly over time, but oh well. hoping that if this did well then there will be more gl adaptations to come.

generally character stuff is fine and nice. youyi is a very fun main character and it's a joy to see her many sides, the parts that are more sly and manipulative, as well as her pouty 撒娇 and teasing side that only come out around yan wei. like they just made it work and it was convincing that this is the only person who gets to see this side of her!! similarly w yan wei's coldness... all her little smiles when it comes to youyi.... just gets me.................

i liked zhou heng as a villain too! he was well written enough to be a compelling villain who was also fun to watch. i didn't really care for detective jiang who's only character trait is being a good cop but i am also allergic to any positive portrayal of cops in any media.

the plot absolutely goes off the rails by the end and stops making sense and it's one crazy thing after funny cutesy moment after crazy moment while not giving us time to process anything (although still not as bad as word of honor) but like whatever, it was always fun, even if not well written or not believable. and as i understand they are setting up for another season so??

anyway they show is cool and for the gays.

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never in a million years did i imagine myself simping for a cat girl

after watching this and ding yuxi's han shuo from romance of tiger and rose, i am realizing that i am not immune to the charms of idol types............

ge xinyi's xiao xiu is literally the cutest girl i've ever seen and her as a cat! so good!!!! i imagined it would be some kind of cringe baby nyannyan shit but she just like,,, had the personality of what an actual cat might have??? and acted it so well down to all the details, really great physical acting, and her line delivery was so natural and realistic..... i love her im obsessed!!!!!!! i was so scared that she would be baby and annoying and overly dependent on chi yan for everything but i srlsy am so thankful that she had her own thing, made friends on her own, got a job, and was moreso curious and excitable abt exploring the human world- the independence and ability to take care of herself all felt like cared for decisions in making a real character and not a thing or idea of a cutesy cat.

ren youlun's chi yan was also quite good and very natural feeling, he didn't feel like...the drama version of an antisocial loner, but like, a real guy who is just like that. i liked also that he didn't have like, idol type good looks, and was just very plain, but the more i watched him the more fond of him i felt. his character growth is genuinely quite nice to see, it feels so relaxing to have him become a much more open and caring person. their relationship is adorable and sweet, they are just good to each other and good for each other which is somehow a rarity in c drama rom coms!!!!

the story itself is whatever tbh, i mean i have literally the lowest of expectations when the plot is my girlfriend is a cat alien, but it met all of them. main leads are written to at least feel natural, real and respectable enough, no crazy motivations out of left field, no wild problematics, just genuinely sweet and supportive relationship. it's really the parts outside of it that start not making sense. there's plenty of plot and logic holes in the fantasy they made but im just choosing to ignore it because i can. the amnesia plot towards the end is kinda annoying but honestly wasnt as bad as i thought it would be, it felt more natural as a progression, though i would have preferred a different way of solving it- which tbh would've meant xiao xiu actually returning to cat planet for a time (and then lin mo wouldnt have to disappear for the last quarter and we could've progressed the cat smuggling plot instead of having everyone re-meet each other and re-get together) but there's no way that they would ever have the budget to hire an animator to depict any more scenes on cat planet lmfao.

the secondary characters are p meh and lin mo is especially poorly written and purely for plot purposes of needing villain he has absolutely shit for brains common sense and somehow is delusional for 10 years out of grief. actual villain idgaf that hes poorly written because im not expecting anythin more out of him. the secondary couple im also not a fan of, though i like qin mingming quite a bit and i actually really like her friendship w chi yan. xu zihao is unbearable in the first half of the drama and im genuinely just not sold on his and mingming's relationship working out but whatever.

all in all, i had a really great time watching this sweet and wholesome drama! i realize the script writer is the same writer as rational life which is my fav modern c drama so i look forward to her future projects, as well as to both lead actors but especially ge xinyi!

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often cute and funny, but certainly not very well written

cw: mentions of sexual assault

the premise of this show is exactly the kind of transmigration trash i look for- screenwriter transmigrates into her own tv show, but it's the body of the domineering evil slut who dies in episode 3??? YES PLS. the meta commentary!! references to all the stupid tropes and characters and plot holes in c drama!! having to figure out ways to make the plot work despite unexpected developments!! give it all to me!!! an example of where the show really shines is when qianqian has to get back han shuo's trust and also give a reasonable explanation for the loss of her kung fu, so she has to stage this overdramatic death scene. it's genuinely SO fun and funny! that said, there's not nearly enough fun meta moments like this, it's pretty few and far in between, and is mostly regular plot problems that keep arising.

i love the two main leads, this drama has definitely turned me into a fan of zhao lusi, she's absolutely adorable and charming. she plays the modern girl stuck in ancient times so well, with a refreshing and realistic air. a lot of her specific speech patterns and slurring of words are so funny and when she smiles w her whole face..... so cute. ding yuxi also..... i am not usually got by these idol pretty boys so idk why but... he has me by the throat.... wtf!!! he is so cute!!!?? why am i got by this?? the way that he is a cutesy lovesick puppy..... didn't think it would get me but it did. these two leads have excellent chemistry and their cute scenes are some of the sweetest i have seen in a good and not overbearing way.

that said..... the writing for their relationship truly falls into the gutter after they get together. none of the characters are like, well written, but thats okay because i'm watching trashy c drama for a reason. the problem is when the quality falls past a point of no return with the lying and hiding and misunderstandings. han shuo falls into absolute irredeemable territory when he goes evil, takes over huayuan, imprisons qianqian, threatens the lives of qianqian's entire family and the citizens of her city, and literally attempts to sexually assault her???? it's a horrifying scene and is not treated with any level of care. none of this is even a longterm plan of huan shuo's to take down chuchu. it's just him punishing qianqian for hurting him (even tho she did it for his own good which is just more stupid bad writing)and being like oh well im not ACTUALLY physically hurting her im just mentally tormenting and terrorizing her... threat of sexual assault is ALSO terrible and not okay in any circumstance??? we even saw earlier signs of it when she was trying to set him up w chuchu and he scared her by saying the mountain bandits were gonna rape her. like i'm all for bad main characters but like u don't easily come back from the attempted sexual assault as punishment. i'm sorry this is absolutely unforgivable, and they dont even like, talk about all of the bad stuff between them, they just have sex in the prison cell and then they're on the same side again?? it's a mess, the writing is an absolute mess, and maybe it can be explained as qianqian is the bad writer who made han shuo and chuchu like this- so EASILY falling down the slippery slope to evil but like.... also isnt the point of the show that qianqian doesnt actually have full control over the fate of her characters and that they make choices for themselves?? idk anyway, truly 乱成一锅粥了。。。

chuchu is actually not a horribly written character and shes still p sympathetic by the end imo, but it's still really really hamfisted, and i wish there was more nuance in her character arc. pei heng on the other hand is just an eyesore i fuckin hate that guy get him off screen, i watch all his scenes at 2x the speed. yuanyuan and su mu's relationship is also... okay..... i... find it questionable for sure. as an able bodied person im not entiiirely equipped to discuss their depiction of her disability, but i'm gonna go ahead and say that it was quite lacking and fell into some negative stereotypes for sure, although i am endeared to her as a character.

final notes.... the feminism....... oh my god......... it's just absolutely beyond clear that the screenwriters are completely ill equipped to talk about gender dynamics, but they think they are?? so much so that the entire setting is based around the subject of gender equality. like there is only a vague vision that everyone should be equal, but no understanding of the history of the feminist movement within China, and how gender dynamics historically and systemically work. frankly, it's just not the place to talk about gender equality if they can't do it well, instead it's just a poorly written distraction from everything. like qianqian wrote the story in the first place because she was interested in the issues between men and women, and wanted representation of women in power by setting it in a matriarchy. if the show is meant to be about gender equality then do that, it needs to fully be the focus and qianqian needs to seriously learn what systemic gender oppression looks like, it's not, 'oh shit it's bad if boys cant go to school either.' but most of the show just isn't about the rules of the setting, its about all the transmigration hijinks, regular plotting.... like ok so then just make the show that!!! dont bother w the gender equality stuff!!! if you want to ACTUALLY watch a show about patriarchy, gender equality and feminism, then watch zhen huan, ju zi hong le, or for something more casual- even the first half of yanxi palace where the issues are woven into the main cast and their character arcs.... this show is crap at it.

ANYWAY, all in all, fun transmigration show w charming leads that gets quite disappointing and is ultimately rough to get through by the end.

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Finally some good fucking food

There's a part of me that escapes 'good tv.' Every day, I'm tired from working my five jobs, my many other obligations, and all I want to do is veg out and fry my brain with stupid tv. It's why I end up plowing through so many silly romance transmigration xianxias with .5 substance. But the legendary Legend of Zhen Huan director, Zheng Xiaolong coming out with a revenge political intrigue drama starring Xiao Zhan? Say less.

I had forgotten how good nutritious food tastes. I had forgotten that a complete meal includes a protein, fiber and carb. I'd been gorging myself on candy for so long, I had actually forgotten that food that is good for you... just tastes good!!!! Wow when something is well shot, well written and well acted it's good??? The restraint, the absolute trust and belief they have in the intelligence in their audience, respect towards the material, the emotional depth... amazing! Even just something like NOT putting every character’s name and title next to them when they appear for the first time, letting the audience learn who that person is by telling a STORY makes a massive difference. Or like, not forcing a song with lyrics into the sad scenes, and letting them sit in silence instead. Zang Hai honest to god tricked ME multiple times making me think he was showing his honest emotions (jail cell scene w Houye immediately comes to mind) but of course it was another plot! Not overcrowding the audience with information like, see?? This is what xyz means and what Zang Hai is ACTUALLY doing, and instead just naturally showing it so you can figure it out yourself. Good tv is just good tv. I knew I could trust Zheng Xiaolong, but the entire production team and cast really knocked it out of the park! There are just some scenes that are going to live rent free in my mind forever purely because of how well the story is told, such as Zang Hai emerging from the tomb, Houye saving Zang Hai in the fire, the entire failed coup and Houye vs ZZX, Shi Quan's betrayal, that shot of Antu running to Zang Hai emerging from the cave smiling and the feeling of release, freedom, gratitude!! I could go on and on, but it is seriously just so well done.

I don't even know where to begin. There are definitely some flaws in the plot and some of the characters are a bit disappointing, but if I could describe this drama simply?? 精彩。 太精彩了！It's exciting, always keeps you on the edge, interesting, complex, emotional, it really has it all. The plot builds really wonderfully, I'd honestly say the first 20 episodes are an absolute 10/10, no notes, chef's kiss. Seeing Zang Hai get himself into and out of sticky situations, improvising and thinking on his feet are extremely enjoyable. The parts that are fast paced are exciting, the parts that are slow feel meaningful with great pay off. The emotional beats were so strong and didn’t feel overly manipulative of the audience, but just genuinely human. I cried absolute buckets when Zang Hai dreamed of his family and when Gao Ming died. Like heaving sobs. Honestly I have so little words because it was just well done. The final 20 episodes are still great plot wise, but certain things are rushed like the trip to Dongxia, and there are parts where you kind of have to suspend disbelief based on how people are acting. For ex. Zang Hai just taking the Dongxia queen's word that she was besties w his dad and not requiring further proof.

There's something special about Zang Hai as a ML in a revenge drama, something that makes him far more similar to Zhen Xiaolong's Empress Zhen Huan than other famous man-centric revenge drama MLs. Zang Hai has no martial skill, but he also has no initial power outside of the masked man (to which he is just a pawn). Nirvana in Fire's Mei Changsu spent years building information networks of loyal spies and harnessed great power in the martial world before entering the court. Zang Hai is not a fallen general seeking revenge, or a forgotten prince, or the son of a grand noble family. Zang Hai doesn't move through the ranks and eventually win because he had power or martial skills, but rather through his brain and his words alone. His survival is entirely dependent on Pingjin Hou's favor, he understands that man inside and out and knows exactly how to appeal to him. Zang Hai created a persona tailor made to appeal to Houye’s ego- an extremely loyal, useful tool who kneels half the time and demeans himself with every word. I rarely see this in a man-centric political intrigue show, the concept of ‘saving face’ wouldn’t allow it, but I frequently see these moves from concubines in the harem. Zang Hai is smart, but he's also stupid and thoughtless at times, he miscalculates, he's extremely reckless, and impulsive in a way that reminds me of YXGL's Wei Yingluo, he trusts the wrong people, he gambles with his own life constantly, and sometimes, he doesn't even have a back up plan. He doesn't feel like an omniscient all powerful 10 steps ahead kind of mc. He's scrappy, claws to the top and is flawed in a way that makes him human and this is sooooo refreshing. It makes the tension so much more palpable, the show is so exciting because there are real stakes!! Despite that protagonist halo, sometimes, you just don't know if he's going to make it!! And even if he does make it there are heavy losses!! It's also just so fun to see him put on a different mask with Pingjin Hou, with Zhuang Zhixing, Antu, the emperor, etc. etc. Major props to Xiao Zhan for pulling it off. I feel safe saying that he’s officially made his mark as an actor known for his craft, rather than just his looks!

I enjoy his character arc a lot too, and am so thankful that despite getting to a really dark place, thinking of himself as already dead and wanting to die, he ultimately appreciated the love that he had around him and chose to live for himself. Retiring and getting to live out the rest of his life in peace and freedom is an ending I wanted but could never receive from Zhen Huan and Nirvana in Fire. It's a true testament to the themes of this show and something I deeply appreciate about it. We began with a corrupt system and ended with that very same system, just new players. The emperor was a pathetic, reluctant, foolish tyrant, and the new one continues to display the same tyrannical, and selfish traits, albeit more determined. The corrupt cabinet and ministers are still profiting while the common people suffer. And Zang Hai was like, fuck that, I'm not gonna change this, I'm getting out of here and living for myself LMAOOO. I love that although Zang Hai is just and does whatever is within his capabilities to help people, he recognizes that there is a boundary to what he can do to change the corrupt system. 'How do you know that the emperors after you will never use the Guixi?' There is no way to fix the system! Something that I can really trust Director Zheng with! Something that Nirvana in Fire naively and almost irresponsibly showed was possible (replacing bad guys with good guys is truly so simplistic it boggles my mind that this show has the reputation it does sometimes), with a ML with grander, nobler ambitions than pure revenge, who literally then died to restore his former masculinity and nationalistic pride. While Zang Hai found the only true liberation from the system- leaving it. His only goal was revenge, the methods didn't matter, and he didn't need to personally do the killing either, as long as it was done, he could leave everything behind, no matter any appeals to his morality. It's an ending that is far more realistic and refreshing, and also kind to its ML- who deserves a break! I'm also thankful for the anti- imperialist message, with Zhao Bingwen wanting to make an army out of Dongxia laborers a clear colonial project. A lot of shows I've watched recently have an uncomfortable... uhhh One China vibe that are all like, let's take over all these other lands and live in harmony together and share the wealth!!! Which is straight up just imperialist propaganda lmao. All in all, the themes of the show are very much appreciated.

The other characters are all generally quite complex and multifaceted. I loved Pingjin Hou and found him a perfect villain. An absolutely corrupt patriarch whose love is entirely conditional upon how much use that person is to him. But he had reason and depth, an incredible presence that made him someone I couldn't help but like and empathize with despite being an irredeemably bad person. Zhuang Zhixing is so well written too, and the weird whatever is going on between between him-Houye-Zang Hai triangle is sooooooo fascinating. ZZX wanting love and acknowledgment from his father whom he hates... ZZX simultaneously admiring Zang Hai and wanting his care to be real and resenting him ..... ZZX being jealous of both Houye and Zang Hai for their relationship to each other..... Zang Hai playing the role of a strict teacher-father with ZZX and a deferential loyal dog closer than any son to Houye…. ZZX turning around and asking that Zang Hai serve him the way he served his dad then hitting a tree when Zang Hai rejects him LMAOOO. Honestly chefs kiss for this complex relationship. The resentment tied so tightly with love and admiration!!! ZZX’s childlike petulance and dented masculinity because he can’t measure up to his father!!! The inferiority complex!!!!! This is my shit!!!!! I love this shit!!!!!! The entire Zhuang family kind of just does it for me, like I truly love a despicable conniving noblewoman like Jiang Xiang, and simple idiot Zhuang Zhifu. They got exactly as they deserved for playing a part in a corrupt feudal patrilineal system- but they were still compelling characters worthy of sympathy. I even teared up at how Houye cast them aside once they were not only of no use to him, but ruined the image of the Zhuang family. In the end, I’m still a harem drama girly at my roots, so naturally I enjoyed the family arc a lot.

The greatest weaknesses character wise for me were Xiang Antu and Zhao Bingwen :( Antu was really great for the first twenty episodes, and it isn’t like she doesn’t have depth or complexity, but she absolutely becomes sidelined in the last quarter as just Zang Hai’s gf and bodyguard. It’s kind of wild when she was Boss Xiang not too long ago with a whole network of spies and people working for her, and somehow none of this is useful when Zang Hai is fighting ZBW? Zang Hai died and she was just hanging around while Gao Ming drugged him?? She started out the show as a powerful player and ends up just supporting her man which is a disappointment. In most man-centric shows this is how it goes for the FL but I would’ve really liked to see them break the mold. The other disappointment was ZBW… like…. Wow, honestly what a let down?? All this build up for the 3rd enemy and it’s this guy with negative charisma, not nearly enough development or backstory or insight into his reasoning? Just a power hungry psycho who wants to genocide everybody because the world is bad??? If there were even just… three more episodes for him I might’ve felt more satisfied, or maybe if the actor playing him was different?? I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong, I’d love to be proven wrong. If someone can give me a reason why Zhao Bingwen is a great villain, I’m happy to listen. Like am I missing something??? At the end of the day, Pingjin Hou is the villain that holds the most weight, has the most impact on the story and the emotional beats, and is the most human. His relationship with Zang Hai is also the most interesting and multi-faceted. The amount of care and attention both Zang Hai and the narrative put into him compared to the other villains is also really clear. So something feels off when he dies two thirds of the way into the show and we’re left with uhhh everyone else.

All in all, it’s been a very, very long time since I’ve given a show a near perfect score. Zang Hai Zhuan comes pretty damn close. The flaws are a bit annoying, but don’t have much impact on the overall effect of the show for me- powerful, refreshing, unforgettable!! Xiao Zhan the KING!!! Zheng Xiaolong the GOAT!!! Thank you for feeding me delicious protein. I finally have the strength and inspiration to go on.

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UMM Actually the ending is GOOD and BASED!!!!!!!

while not a perfect show, i think this is one of the only, not only of the xianxia's i've seen, but of cdrama in GENERAL that stuck the landing. there are weaknesses and flaws 1000% and parts are for sure rushed, but on the whole? the show has a compelling story, is very fun to watch, and despite some typical cdrama plots, there is no loss of logic or grand disrespect for the audience's intelligence. basically all chekhovs guns are covered and explained, and it hits you with a real emotional impact. i don't need the wheel reinvented, i just want characters, plot and themes that are reasonable, follow a logic, and show a basic level of consideration from the writers. this show was able to do that.

plot is highly enjoyable! from the minute it starts, it immediately pulls you in with nonstop comedic meta references, hijinks and esther's natural slapstick clownery. she's all i want in a transmigration heroine! stupid, smart and lovable all at once. i've said it before and i'll say it again. yu shuxin can perfectly perform the silly goofy cute girl like no other! the woman has no shame and her natural charisma makes these characters come to life instead of feeling fake and forced. generally, i enjoyed the pacing, it moves quickly from one arc to the next, and i always end up interested and invested in all the background characters and side plots. even if we don't spend too too much time on these side characters, each of them all get a basic level of character depth, so i end up feeling something for most of them (gotta pour one out for my lesbian QUEEN liuniang). however i do feel that the excitement i had for the show drops after miaomiao loses her memories of the real world- one of the main reasons i watch the show is for her character and when she loses her edge it can be a bit of a slog. also towards the end i do think certain plots feel rushed, like the silkworm cocoon dead village arc... that didn't need to happen at the exact same time as ziqi's finding my identity arc and it was a bit jarring to keep going back and forth between two high stakes plots. Basically it was three episodes for two side quests, when each one could've easily taken the entire three episodes.

my only real and true gripe with this show is the wooden bracelet arc. i hate that shit!!!! please!!! no more!!! especially because this show is coming from the same creators as lbfad/canglanjue's i'm expecting better from them. while it WAS really funny at many moments and i truly enjoyed xiao houye's character and found him very lovable, the emotional shit during it was unbearable. the writers never bothered to give ziqi and lmm real conflict, or a real reason for heartbreak, so they had to manufacture something?? it was just ridiculous seeing ziqi be so upset and triggered over lmm being afraid of him when like... we all know she isn't and this is all just fake. why are we making this character go through this because this is not true growth or development?? only fanfic levels hurt/comfort, 'let's manipulate the audience to feel sad.' honestly, it felt insulting and really took me out of the show. the emotional impact of lmm finding zq's confession flower room was great, but i wish it was because they had a real conflict and a real reconciliation, not information reveal that depended entirely on cuicui being in the right place at the right time. other than this arc however, and maybe a couple other small things i cant even remember, i was very happy with the plot writing.

i'm so sorry so many other viewers hated the ending, because i really, truly loved it. starting with the in-game ending, i thought the plot was genuinely nicely written. nothing actually came out of nowhere. it was all integrated from the beginning of the story, and the twists (yuannu is ziqi's mom, yuannu is in muyao this whole time, etc.) were compelling and well set up- not random and illogical twists for the sake of twists. i LOVED the moment that lmm refused to accept the original ending of zq sacrificing himself for everyone, and forced the system to give them another chance to write a happy ending. LOVE IT!!! i am so fucking sick of cdrama self sacrifice you die i die, we take turns dying for each other bullshit. i hate that!! i refuse to accept that self sacrifice is the highest, greatest form of love and i far prefer yyxh's self love message. yyxh actively creates a narrative that offers commentary on typical xianxia/xuanhuan storylines and rejects them, in fact even criticizes them by saying it's the worldview of a middle schooler LMAO. to sacrifice yourself without telling anyone, trusting anyone, and offering them a chance to help you or work together with you, is not an act of love, it should not be an acceptable ending. while i have at times found the phrase, 'how the hell can you love someone else if you can't love yourself' to be debatable and corny, it is also true!!! how can you love others, trust others, respect others, if you can't give them the opportunity to support you? if you dont care for yourself first, how can you show up for others? that's why zq only finally reaches 100% favorability with lmm when he has accepted himself, and shown himself love and care. and despite criticizing these narratives, yyxh is also incredibly KIND. when the writer of this specific story was revealed to be a suicidal, lonely, disabled middle schooler whose only escape was fiction?? it got me. like, of course this child wrote himself as ziqi- powerful, brave and cool, but also a loner who hates the world and all people in it, fundamentally a misfit and outsider. like, it made me feel so much emotion knowing that this was a depressed child's self insert, and made me think of myself as a child- hating everyone around me and the world, escaping into anime and manga or whatever to imagine a better, cooler, powerful me. and how great is it, to offer that child kindness, to SEE the little, lost and lonely mind that made this story, to love and accept him, and yet simultaneously, refuse to validate that worldview. my friend put it really well, 'it represents middle school fantasies without repeating or reaffirming them.' it analyzes why people have that view with understanding and moves past it, it says, that's not true, this world is also filled with beauty and kindness, we should love and trust one another. you should love yourself. how powerful was it that ziqi's final wish in surgery, was to survive!! he chose to live and fight for his own life, when like, every xianxia tells us, the greatest thing you can do is die for others. and of course, while watching the show, at many moments i became extremely aware i was watching something made for teenagers, or thought something like, 'wow if i was in middle school i would be losing my mind,' so it is also validating to see them say, actually yes, this IS for middle schoolers, but the foresight and analysis to heal your inner child is something only an adult can reach through time spent living life. i think it's also something that i can only truly appreciate as an adult.

i genuinely enjoyed seeing everything lock into place, all of the significant elements of reality- the swing set, the apple, the pen, etc. etc. all be explained in the show. and of course, that lmm was zq's original inspiration, not just as a muse in his work, but inspiring bravery and courage in him to live! i've seen plenty of transmigration/time travel shows at this point, and they always start getting lost at some point and don't seem to know how to end it or bring it back to reality. this one really went against the grain, provided full meta-analysis of the genre AND the author, and so successfully brought me to reality, to the point where i became more invested in the real world than the game one. really wonderful ending imo, also ending on the dedication about the importance of self love and the implication of his real life re-meeting with lmm was great!! i don't need them to remember or see them meet. the emotional development and arc has been completed! i care about their relationship but i'm not here for shipping candy so the fact that they never kissed? honestly? slay. the ending delivered on subversion, themes, meta analysis, character depth, inner child healing which is just adult healing, AND romance!!!

ok so i loved the ending, but i also have to talk about the characters. i think ziqi is chefs kiss* 10/10, no notes. well written and multi layered, lovable whether as a fictional character, or as the author who created his fictional self and the world we see. ding yuxi is an actor who i find does good/bad depending on the role/project/director, and i think this role is a great comfort zone for him where he shines. he's also an example of really good 'idol acting,' - the ability to move your face minimally to preserve idol perfection, while simultaneously expressing the emotion in a satisfactory way LOLL i think unfortunately, miaomiao isn't as well written. i wish she got a bit more depth and we got to see how this experience also changed her real world life for the better, maybe gave her the courage to stand up to her boss? call her mom even? idk. she had a character arc in the first part of the series, accepting her father's death after being able to meet him again etc. at a certain point though, she seems mainly relegated to helping ziqi's journey. but also.... if we see the story from the perspective that it was written by ziqi and a reflection of his worldview and innermost feelings AS A CHILD then like, of course it is no longer her story. he's the protagonist, she's a girl he has a crush on. to him she IS the symbolic sunshine who gave him strength and helped him believe in himself, and therefore, maybe more of a flat character.... because he doesn't even know her.

but i still appreciate what we are given of miaomiao. she started out not caring about the world, seeing everyone around her as an npc, to being willing to give up reality for them. this reflects what it's like to be a reader!! you start out not caring about the characters and the world, and over time, the characters become real to you, you start to root for them, wanting them to win, to be safe, to be happy! i think in this specific story, her as the reader to ziqi's writer is very special- they were able to change the ending together! the reader's participation in interpreting the story from their perspective is also an important part of the experience of consuming media. i wish they went even further, and Showed how much he inspired her and affected her life through his writing, instead of just Telling us how important he was to her. Even just idk, scenes of her being depressed after her dad died and finding solace in his books? so yeah i have my gripes about it, but ultimately i'm not that mad.

mu yao is also a character with a lot of potential, and i think they did a pretty good job with her! she has a lot going on, and some real depth, i just wish they stuck the landing because i thought the point of her character was learning not to be purely self reliant and self sacrificing... in fact it's the point of the show! but she still did it at the end and went to the tower by herself. as for liu fuyi...... bro has almost nothing going on. i thought his plot was so shoehorned in at the end, like they tried? i guess? not really? this character type never interests me unless they do FULL subversion like for ex. changheng in clj or shaodian youqin in starry love. he was just kind of there. ultimately, the only truly fleshed out character in the main cast is ziqi and everyone else is passable...

all in all!! it's a great show! fun, fast paced, engaging plot, clear and important, powerful themes, especially for the genre, and a very lovable leading characters. i truly think this show is special, even though it has some scattered downsides. well worth a watch, and a great update on the transmigration narrative!!

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a cute feel good show 85% of the time!!

my friends and i have been talking about smth we would like to describe as the 'rare minimum.' as in this is the bare minimum bar is on the ground expectation for quality, and yet it happens so rarely that we are still surprised by it. this show is kind of it for light hearted romcoms! while not exactly a particularly smart show, it doesn't fall into senseless stupidity. all i ask is that the female lead be written with enough care and consideration that allows her to stand on her own, and isn't held down by the usual misogynistic tropes, and that she and the male lead can have a relationship that isn't plagued by stupid miscommunications and misunderstandings.... or worse the male lead being sweet and then suddenly becoming a raging abuser to 'protect her' or some shit which is the trope that sends me towards an early death.

the only real time su ci has issues w pei zhao/qi wang is when she becomes suddenly triggered and flies into trauma lizard brain for an episode but it's easily forgivable and understandable considering what she's been through, and the way that the couple actually communicate makes up for it, with them becoming stronger by the end. there's also a part where pei zhao has to marry a princess to save su ci, and she doesn't lose her head and devolve into 'he's betraying me' she ultimately still trusts him and knows that he did it for good reasons, but the narrative still allows her to be rightfully angry, which is nice. they have such a straightforward progression of becoming close, inspiring each other, being vulnerable with each other, and supporting each other that is just refreshing and comfortable to watch. i don't feel like im constantly under attack like how i feel having seen so many romantic dramas, where there is just toxic behavior that isn't developed or worked through and angst over misunderstandings.

the group dynamic/scooby gang investigating generally low stakes mysteries is so the vibe that i was looking for! every member of the friend group is so cute and each person has their chance to shine and offer their skills to the mystery at hand. well, maybe xie beiming a little less, but he's so lovable and supportive and important just for his presence alone! it's just nice to watch a show about a whole friend group too, which also feels like something of a rarity. usually the b couple is off having a whole separate plot. the secondary couple in this show is also.... really cute..... they really get me.... the supportive himbo king x smart/capable spunky girl ALWAYS gets me.... giving me guo jing x huang rong from condor heroes vibes. that said while they were super cute for most of the series i was disappointed in how their relationship arc went by the end, they really established that xie beiming was the overprotective will-just-hide-the-truth-from-his-girl type, which is fine as long as he grows from it and he never does?? pei zhao is literally like u should trust and believe in ur smart and strong gf and he still doesnt learn?? he literally goes into the finale still having not told her his past and she has to learn due to circumstance. very disappointed, he could have had a really fulfilling character arc in which he learns how to actually respect rushuang, and women in general by extension, by trusting and believing in her strength, and willing to be share himself and his troubles with her as a partner. sighhhhhh..

other problems w the show include the absolute flagrant and violent transphobia of the first episode and also sprinkled throughout the rest of the show. it's like reeeallly bad and reeeaaally gross. there's also some tropes in the beginning that are quite shitty, such as the aphrodisiac shit, the threat of sexual violence, it's all p upsetting and is what knocks the score down for me. i kno she's not trans by any means, but there's just something really violent about a gender nonconforming person getting drugged, and non consensually stuffed into the clothing and make up of their assigned gender, and then put under the threat of sexual violence, and then having to be saved by the male love interest.... and this happens TWICE.

but OTHERWISE, i've seen many a 'strong female character' but usually they are girl bosses because they are royalty or just powerful in social status, or they're exceptional fighters/warriors/generals.... it felt nice to watch su ci be accepted and respected based on her ability as a detective. also a lot of the characters come under the assumption that pei zhao and su ci are gay because she was dressed as a man for a lot of the series.... for a show with no gay leads or gay relationships, it somehow still felt like the kindest treatment of lgb people i've seen in a c-drama?? pei zhao is clearly interested and kisses su ci before he finds out she's a girl, and even afterwards every time someone is like u guys are gay, he is super accepting and goes along with it, he doesn't protest even a little, being gay just isn't treated like it's shameful.... which is more than i can say for some literal bl novels/shows. based on this i'm willing to just go ahead w my bi king headcanon. himbo king xie meiming is also super supportive when he thinks they're gay, he doesn't 'out' them at any point and is just generally caring?? the only one who is mad about it is pei zhao's clearly gay servant kid who also wrote their names together in a marriage wish so i'm willing to chalk it up to him being young and suffering from internalized homophobia.

another note why are we STILL under the yoke of the ten miles peach blossoms styling chokehold.... su ci resembles bai qian in her styling very much, very sick of the light near white robes with the middle parted hair that softly curls around the head and the drop earrings.... even when dressed as a guy she looks like bai qian's young cross dressing form. come on c dramas let's move onnnNNN!!!

ultimately, this is a great feel good comfort show! lighthearted but still engaging, with a lot of simple plots and storytelling, nothing new exactly, but it doesn't aspire to ever be more than it is. just comforting, safe, and cute.

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genuinely a solid show

ok first the pros:
truly an enjoyable show for the most part. high praise for its ability to recreate 1930s beiping. it was a lovely experience watching the show mostly for its ability to create a setting and environment that allowed you to hang out in the time and place, with a ragtag group of opera performers, to hear and see and smell and exist in the world. truly a++ for being able to bring the viewer into the setting. i have such deep affection for a majority of the characters, everyone in the opera troupe and all of their daily antics and dramas are so entertaining and engaging. i also LOOVEE the two old gays, esp ning jiulang who acts as shang xirui's mentor and idol, and the disciple that shang xirui takes in... we love intergenerational queer connections. er nai nai is quite well written especially in the beginning, i found it to be unfortunately lacking about half way through, but her character arc finishes in a somewhat satisfying way.

My greatest love goes to, of course, shang xirui, our stubborn, fearless, eccentric, gay artist- yin zheng's acting is PHENOMENAL!!! rarely does one find a portrayal of someone who is meant to be "strange" and not have it be forced, cringe, or just far from reality and is just the idea of 'strange.' yin zheng's shang xirui feels like an absolutely genuinely one of a kind, original human being- who has quirks, who is a genius, who can masterfully embody femininity and masculinity, who feels so deeply and passionately and stubbornly. like i think he is one of my favorite and most beloved characters of all c-drama?? yin zheng creates such a realistic, multifaceted portrayal, i found myself so endeared to him, sometimes exasperated, but so admiring all the same.

i generally quite enjoyed the themes that the series ended on as well. a good chunk of it is about the dying art form of chinese opera, the relationship that an artist has to the art, to their brand and performance, as well as to the audience. i'm a bit more ambivalent about shang xirui and cheng fengtai's relationship, but they actually got me in the end. the care and love they have for each other is so deep, yet shang xirui's decision to stay in beiping, despite whatever dangers he may face, despite separating from the man he loves, because that's where his passion and art are, his family, and his life are- really got my admiration for the series. even the way cheng fengtai and er nainai's way of talking about shang xirui basically just living off them felt so wrong. the story's decision to highlight shang xirui's free spirit and independence, his determination and stubbornness to live by his art, rather than placing love above all else is really great and another rarity in c drama. the last couple scenes with him and cheng fengtai on the phone... when they finally saw each other again......... wow this is the shit that gets me......

ok cons.....
i find cheng fengtai's character to be extremely lacking and quite poorly written, especially in comparison to shang xirui who gets so much incredible development. sad rich boy with a sad backstory and who couldn't pursue artistic things like he wanted but had to be a businessman for his family....... whatever...... like he had a lot of potential to be a genuinely very interesting character. the show couldve actually explored his privilege and his interest in shang xirui as a reflection of the dreams he abandoned as well as the mother who abandoned him. from the beginning it felt clear that he was projecting heavily on shang xirui but the show never explored this as a potential flaw... it was just framed as romantic? like imagine if they gave cheng fengtai real flaws, that his love for shang xirui wasn't pure, that he wasnt a perfect friend/partner to him and in fact had to learn how to be better to him while exploring his own character? imagine if they actually made him address his relationship with his wife!! they make the suggestion that he does not truly love her but performs the role of a husband because it is what is expected of him... ok so write that but a full arc! write about how he has to perform the role of a perfect son, head of the family, and husband and its intersections specifically with CLASS and give him depth rather than just fetishizing it all as self sacrifice. er nainai is barely well written but it's still better than cheng fengtai, she actually has really interesting stuff going on, being a woman who IS strong, capable and can take control and leadership, and yet romanticizes the traditional role of a wife and performs it because of what she has been taught by society. It's really interesting and only at the very very end does she have one line acknowledging it, saying that she and cheng fengtai do not have a romantic love, but that they have simply been performing the roles of husband and wife. one line is not good enough!! why not write an entire relationship arc for them that explores this instead of having it devolve into a literal MISUNDERSTANDING about cheng fengtai cheating on her and her being insecure when they have REAL problems to work through that the show set up already!!! ALSO the relationship between cheng fengtai and his little sister is interesting too and has the set up for some actual good development that just once again devolves into a misunderstanding that cheng fengtai is working w the japanese! truly a disappointment. the show is just hell bent on making cheng fengtai mr. action cool hot rich man who is a bamf ceo who also is GOOD to everyone!!

all the military stuff drags on and on and definitely highlights the military in a way that isn't comfortable (i know it takes place in wartimes but STILL). the plot w cheng fentai's sister and the cao's was so horrible please take it away. gu dali was super hot but i KNO it was just some racist misogynistic shit where her being masculine and in charge is supposed to be funny and strange and unlike a good han woman rather than genuinely admirable... and then they did the horrible plot of her trying to get pregnant and her having to act feminine which was framed as soOOoo funny..... and then they killed her..... truly a grave crime. i also really really did not like the ending w shang xirui almost ruining his voice to save cheng fengtai, i am never a fan of self sacrifice for love, and it felt really gratuitous. i understand that they had to up the stakes for the finale and also show how much shang xirui loved him, but i feel like this was already shown by the way he just stabbed the japanese on pure instinct and the way he stayed by his bedside and refused to leave him.

anyway, all in all, a solid show. there's certainly flaws and missed opportunities for me, but overall its strength in shang xirui's character, its portrayal of the opera world and the experiential immersion in the setting make it a drama that will stick with me for quite some time.

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huanzhu gege self insert OCxOC transmigration fanfiction at its BEST!!!

i honest to god never thought i would see this premise- huanzhu gege, my beloved, childhood favorite, my first ever c-drama, getting a transmigration au self insert fanfiction, as a C DRAMA??? smth made for web w 15 min episodes sure, but still... WHAT?? and more than that, it's.... watchable????? does justice to the original source material??? is sweet and funny and nostalgic while imbuing the story w smth fresh and new??? bruh hzgg 3 wasn't even watchable for all the gouxie (dogblood) and knowing they added a white guy to the 2011 remake i didn't even bother. despite how short it is and tacky and silly, it is genuinely full of love and care for hzgg and its characters and that's more than i could ask for. like it's ofc clunky and there's plenty of plot holes and the amnesia plotline sent me into psychosis and the jinsuo parts were clunky as hell BUT it fulfilled so many rare minimums i have to give it some credit.

the love story isn't the most compelling ive seen but the writing is at least generally stable. jing yuan annoyed me at times, but he's consistent- i think i'm just sick of ml's w trauma backstories leading them to be assholes, but he really wasn't that bad comparably. and lin sui sui!!!!! thank GOD the writers gave a shit about her!!!!!!! kind of insane that out of the transmigration dramas that have come out recently, lin sui sui is the MOST developed omg. i guess it's easiest to compare this to 'a dream within a dream/shujuan yimeng' since they have somewhat similar set ups w an actress fl transmigrator. it is insane to me that w all of the money, time, resources, and general big production that sjym has- they never gave even a shred of the care and development that lin suisui has to their fl. lin suisui actually has a character, and isn't some kind of self insert stand in despite literally inserting herself into the story. she's flawed and she learns and she experiences real, true character growth in the hzgg world. we come to understand how being an actress has had a profound impact on her, and why she would love the hzgg world, how hzgg inspired her to act in the very first place like!! it's honestly so little and she only has a couple scenes that explore this further but!! it was enough for me!!!! one of her last scenes w jing yuan, when she's talking about how she doesn't feel real in her world, but she feels real in the hzgg one, and how he encourages her to go back, and to only make genuine relationships made me cry so hard. that's the other thing i appreciate abt them as a couple, is that jing yuan only ever supports her going back to her world, and when asked what he'll do without her, he describes having a full life outside of her. obvi there's still a fair amt of i only wanna be w u! willing to die for u! typical shit in this show, but the fact that they still want to live a life even without each other, while still holding their love for each other so strongly, is realistic and special.

also aaaaa the hzgg of it all! tbh they are maybe really just getting me w the nostalgia but lwk tears well in my eyes just hearing the theme song. it's made w so much love for hzgg, and so much understanding for why it was as popular as it was. in that way, lin suisui is all of us- sharing the joy this show gave us as children, how xiao yanzi and ziwei feel like your very best friends, and the love that exists between the girls, with their huang ahma, with their love interests, feels so big and beautiful. lin suisui got to live the dream, getting to be best friends w xiao yanzi and ziwei, the kind of friendship that only exists in dramas like hzgg, so pure and simple and innocent. and while no one, absolutely NO ONE can ever fully capture zhao wei's xiao yanzi and lin xinru's ziwei, the actresses in this show gave me faint glimmers of their spirit occasionally. so, good enough! it's an impossibility anyway, and i wouldn't want them to just be perfect imitations. im glad they had their own interpretations of the characters, while staying true to the original. every scene they had together, i couldn't help but think, "my girls, my sweet girls!"

all in all, this was stupid and it was good. and maybe for someone who never watched hzgg, this would be entirely meaningless and it would just be bad. but i'll never know what that's like, bc hzgg will always be special to me, so maybe it's relying purely on nostalgia factor, and maybe it isn't. either way, i loved this.

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