Well, I, of course, like a crazy person, binge-watched both seasons of "My Dearest" back-to-back. I cried,…
: the scene with the moon on the beach, the scene in the flower field with that “almost-kiss”? Spot on! I’m already waiting for the “forbidden love” phase to start with the hero, who, obviously, fell in love from the very first second. (Exactly the same!)
Well, I, of course, like a crazy person, binge-watched both seasons of "My Dearest" back-to-back. I cried, I was touched, I worried — the whole spectrum of emotions… and this drama is just a detox for the soul. It’s a good thing I even started watching it They’re both so wonderful that I can already feel my cardiologist somewhere sighing and closing his laptop… And the first two episodes are just an explosive mix of romance and chemistry
Currently, visual contents (I prefer to say “content” rather than “works of art,” given the sheer number of series and their production frequency) is not based solely on clichés, but also on actor resemblances. Here, our “Chaebol fantasy” is embodied charismatically by Jang Ki Yong, who takes on the mannerisms and look of Choi Hyun Wook in My Dearest Nemesis. Meanwhile, the female lead has the look of Jun So Min, combined with a much more nuanced and dynamic performance. And so many nods to My Dearest in next comment
Excellent interview, very authentic and mature. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDCYvmIFrPo They say the eyes are the mirror of the soul, and in his gaze, I see authenticity and purity—a pure, gentle, and noble look
The merit is even greater since 1. it's a solo lead project, 2. an original work, 3. and has no romance line (making…
By originality, I mean in terms of narration and stylistic choices. That said, yes, it bears some traits of Tantai Jin, but that is also his signature in this genre, and he is undeniably the best in this type of genre... Regarding the solo lead, the series is overwhelmingly dominated by him. Even though the other actors—particularly Alen Feng—perform very well, everything is built around his character (Luo) , and he is the one who drives the show....
WoF data today : 1. Datawin no 1 -10x2. Vlinkage TV drama no 1 leading by big margin3. Cat Eye, no 1, leading…
The merit is even greater since 1. it's a solo lead project, 2. an original work, 3. and has no romance line (making it suitable for a wider audience). Usually, ratings tend to rise easily as soon as the actors start kissing and cuddling lol — just look at MDL!
Arc Analysis of Jing Shi and Jing Yan (the Emperor)
The story in another country has parallels with the story of Su Ge, but in reverse:
Like the emperor of Su Sha, there too, the emperor passed away, leaving the throne to two children:
the first, the legitimate child,
the second, the half-legitimate prince.
Behind them stands the empress (as in Su Sha), who wields great influence and makes many decisions.
In Su Sha, the country is "managed" by a great general like Su Ge and his army, while the second prince is considered useless, a twenty-year-old child. Here, it’s the opposite: the second prince commands the army like Su Ge, while the first prince is spoiled and helpless.
But the real difference is that Su Ge has no political ambitions, whereas the second prince of Jing Shi is full of ambition and harbors a desire for revenge for his tortured past and for not being accepted as an illegitimate son.
The empress makes decisions in place of her son, turning him into a puppet. Nevertheless, through the princess’s story, it is clear that the son is fully capable of seeing and understanding everything around him. The empress believes that without Jing Shi and his army, the country cannot achieve political stability.
The emperor is waiting for the right moment to reclaim "power," but first, he must free himself from his mother’s influence. The emperor is provocative, while no one knows what the second prince thinks or will do. The emperor constantly provokes him to make him take off his mask, but the prince, on the contrary, harbors resentment and a desire for revenge in his heart.
For the emperor, this desire for vengeance stems from a lack of parental love. Although he is the prince destined to ascend the throne, all attention, education, and praise were directed toward the second prince. Psychologically, in sibling relationships, the more a person is assigned a role or a flaw (for example, “the crazy one,” “the restless one”), the more they emphasize this trait in an effort to attract parental attention.
A) The Arc of Princess Si Yan and the EmperorI can feel that they are going to become a true “power couple.”…
Subjective: Yes, I think her character is incredibly well-developed, and her fate ultimately interests everyone. It’s a highly complex and brilliantly written role, and sometimes I feel the actress isn’t quite strong enough to carry it emotionally—but it’s still convincing overall. On the other hand, the Emperor is very well done; I was pleasantly surprised by his performance.
A) The Arc of Princess Si Yan and the EmperorI can feel that they are going to become a true “power couple.”…
Thnks, Ah ah, the last one — I couldn’t not mention it, but I admit it’s subjective; everyone has their own taste. What’s certain is that CZY acts really well, and that can’t be denied. After that, everyone can imagine their own general according to their own criteria, but mostly according to the stereotypical archetypes of the industry trends . Share
I can feel that they are going to become a true “power couple.” The Emperor treats her with much more care than he ever did the Second Prince… She even slapped him, and he didn’t retaliate. I believe the Emperor’s redemption arc (and yes, I do think he still has a chance) will unfold through the Princess — they will help each other face their flaws and grow.
Later, perhaps they will stand together with Su Ge in the final battle against the Second Prince. I have a feeling we’re heading toward a grand finale — a breathtaking fight against the parasites. And through this, the Emperor might ultimately gain everything.
The Princess’s arc fascinates me deeply — it’s layered, complex, and to me, even more compelling than that of the main heroine. Both she and the Emperor stand as equals: spoiled, impulsive, yet capable of love. Like our main couple, they share similarities — wounds, battles, strength, and willpower. Once again, the parallels are beautifully drawn.
B) About the Episodes Themselves
There’s almost nothing to say — they were simply brilliant. I was moved and went through the whole range of emotions. The festival was a sad celebration, beautifully crafted. The director once again portrayed powerful visual parallels and symbolism: when the young men danced in a circle, and next to them washed their hands, swirling their blood-stained palms — it was such a striking image. And that piercing gaze Su Ge had that day… as if he somehow knew it was his last celebration with everyone. I truly felt it. All those young ones who left — poor souls. It’s just like in reality: for the sake of two or three people, hundreds of youths sacrifice their lives.
C) On the Main Couple
What strength, what understanding they share. Perhaps there isn’t much passion in their kisses — I don’t see sparks in their eyes, and the actress seems unable at times to convey that chemistry in the intimate moments. Yet, in the beginning, there was tension, subtle but palpable.
Still, that doesn’t bother me at all. Quite the opposite — this drama presents a different kind of love, one that feels even more profound. It’s love built on equality, on mutual trust and understanding — the certainty that there’s someone always behind you, protecting you, deflecting the countless arrows, standing firm by your side.
They are one of those rare couples where genuine equality reigns. And that’s admirable. Even enviable — in a kind, gentle way. And of course, the General — she’s phenomenal in her role: strong, confident, and utterly authentic.
D) Finally, Chen Zheyuan
He deserves a section of his own. Comparing his performance here to Hidden Love, you realize just how versatile he is as an actor. There are very few like him in Chinese dramas. Here, he feels like an entirely different person — and, as in Hidden Love, he’s flawless once again, both aesthetically and emotionally. Every scene with him carries a living presence, emotional depth, and an incredible sense of balance.
Chasing Dreams should Ti Lan's story from Novoland Pearl Eclipse. It is a very dark and angsty story, though I…
I understand your point of view. That’s also the magic of books ;) — they allow us to imagine our own heroes, to shape them within the context we create, with characters we love. However, in series, it’s not just about physical appearance or visuals. When actors truly perform, when it goes beyond a simple fashion show, and when the artistic team — directors, writers… — delivers engaging content, the experience takes on a whole new dimension. Moreover, the works presented to us often follow the same patterns, with only minor variations, and content creators take considerable liberties with historical accuracy. As a result, we, the viewers, develop very stereotypical visions of eras we barely know in reality
2 
1 
1 
1 
(zero sugar, 100% explosion — because they were shaken up really well before ep3 )
They’re both so wonderful that I can already feel my cardiologist somewhere sighing and closing his laptop… And the first two episodes are just an explosive mix of romance and chemistry
Currently, visual contents (I prefer to say “content” rather than “works of art,” given the sheer number of series and their production frequency) is not based solely on clichés, but also on actor resemblances.
Here, our “Chaebol fantasy” is embodied charismatically by Jang Ki Yong, who takes on the mannerisms and look of Choi Hyun Wook in My Dearest Nemesis. Meanwhile, the female lead has the look of Jun So Min, combined with a much more nuanced and dynamic performance.
And so many nods to My Dearest in next comment
They say the eyes are the mirror of the soul, and in his gaze, I see authenticity and purity—a pure, gentle, and noble look
The princess is pregnant, there’s no harem, the emperor is crying with happiness, two empires are saved, and I’m just watching and crying
Like the emperor of Su Sha, there too, the emperor passed away, leaving the throne to two children:
the first, the legitimate child,
the second, the half-legitimate prince.
Behind them stands the empress (as in Su Sha), who wields great influence and makes many decisions.
In Su Sha, the country is "managed" by a great general like Su Ge and his army, while the second prince is considered useless, a twenty-year-old child. Here, it’s the opposite: the second prince commands the army like Su Ge, while the first prince is spoiled and helpless.
But the real difference is that Su Ge has no political ambitions, whereas the second prince of Jing Shi is full of ambition and harbors a desire for revenge for his tortured past and for not being accepted as an illegitimate son.
The empress makes decisions in place of her son, turning him into a puppet. Nevertheless, through the princess’s story, it is clear that the son is fully capable of seeing and understanding everything around him. The empress believes that without Jing Shi and his army, the country cannot achieve political stability.
The emperor is waiting for the right moment to reclaim "power," but first, he must free himself from his mother’s influence. The emperor is provocative, while no one knows what the second prince thinks or will do. The emperor constantly provokes him to make him take off his mask, but the prince, on the contrary, harbors resentment and a desire for revenge in his heart.
For the emperor, this desire for vengeance stems from a lack of parental love. Although he is the prince destined to ascend the throne, all attention, education, and praise were directed toward the second prince. Psychologically, in sibling relationships, the more a person is assigned a role or a flaw (for example, “the crazy one,” “the restless one”), the more they emphasize this trait in an effort to attract parental attention.
Ah ah, the last one — I couldn’t not mention it, but I admit it’s subjective; everyone has their own taste. What’s certain is that CZY acts really well, and that can’t be denied. After that, everyone can imagine their own general according to their own criteria, but mostly according to the stereotypical archetypes of the industry trends .
Share
I can feel that they are going to become a true “power couple.” The Emperor treats her with much more care than he ever did the Second Prince… She even slapped him, and he didn’t retaliate. I believe the Emperor’s redemption arc (and yes, I do think he still has a chance) will unfold through the Princess — they will help each other face their flaws and grow.
Later, perhaps they will stand together with Su Ge in the final battle against the Second Prince. I have a feeling we’re heading toward a grand finale — a breathtaking fight against the parasites. And through this, the Emperor might ultimately gain everything.
The Princess’s arc fascinates me deeply — it’s layered, complex, and to me, even more compelling than that of the main heroine. Both she and the Emperor stand as equals: spoiled, impulsive, yet capable of love. Like our main couple, they share similarities — wounds, battles, strength, and willpower. Once again, the parallels are beautifully drawn.
B) About the Episodes Themselves
There’s almost nothing to say — they were simply brilliant. I was moved and went through the whole range of emotions.
The festival was a sad celebration, beautifully crafted. The director once again portrayed powerful visual parallels and symbolism: when the young men danced in a circle, and next to them washed their hands, swirling their blood-stained palms — it was such a striking image.
And that piercing gaze Su Ge had that day… as if he somehow knew it was his last celebration with everyone. I truly felt it.
All those young ones who left — poor souls. It’s just like in reality: for the sake of two or three people, hundreds of youths sacrifice their lives.
C) On the Main Couple
What strength, what understanding they share. Perhaps there isn’t much passion in their kisses — I don’t see sparks in their eyes, and the actress seems unable at times to convey that chemistry in the intimate moments. Yet, in the beginning, there was tension, subtle but palpable.
Still, that doesn’t bother me at all. Quite the opposite — this drama presents a different kind of love, one that feels even more profound. It’s love built on equality, on mutual trust and understanding — the certainty that there’s someone always behind you, protecting you, deflecting the countless arrows, standing firm by your side.
They are one of those rare couples where genuine equality reigns. And that’s admirable. Even enviable — in a kind, gentle way.
And of course, the General — she’s phenomenal in her role: strong, confident, and utterly authentic.
D) Finally, Chen Zheyuan
He deserves a section of his own. Comparing his performance here to Hidden Love, you realize just how versatile he is as an actor. There are very few like him in Chinese dramas. Here, he feels like an entirely different person — and, as in Hidden Love, he’s flawless once again, both aesthetically and emotionally.
Every scene with him carries a living presence, emotional depth, and an incredible sense of balance.
Moreover, the works presented to us often follow the same patterns, with only minor variations, and content creators take considerable liberties with historical accuracy. As a result, we, the viewers, develop very stereotypical visions of eras we barely know in reality