yeah the breakup is unnecessary she should not be that stuck up and strict on him he is getting his revenge on…
Like you said, this is where our preferences differ. I don't really enjoy stories that drag things out for too long. I like a bit more action and excitement, so this is definitely where we part ways.
I also see the younger Gu sister differently. She tried to kill Xihe. That's not just some petty rivalry or a harmless prank between girls. The fact that Xihe managed to escape the trap doesn't make what Gu did any less serious.
To me, her character was already established when she pursued her own brother-in-law without caring that he was once her sister's husband. The fact that she's now setting her sights on another prince only reinforces how ambitious she is. Considering the princes are still competing for the position of Crown Prince, she's clearly trying to gain power through that competition. The target has changed, but her goal hasn't.
If two sisters marry different princes, that inevitably means they'll be on opposite sides of the succession struggle. She's fully aware of that and is trying to secure a place for herself in that game. Instead of using the second chance she's been given to live a peaceful, trouble-free life, she's pushing her luck.
I also think what Sihe wants now is not to be someone who is controlled, but someone who holds the power. I believe she absolutely wants to enter the palace—this time not just as someone's wife, but as someone who has authority. Just like the male lead pointed out before, if she had truly wanted an ordinary life, whether in her previous life or this one, she's intelligent enough that she could have found a way to stay away from palace politics. Instead, she's aiming for a much higher position.
Of course she's going to reassess her options as new information comes to light, but I don't think this particular issue needed to be stretched out this much. It feels like this should have been resolved a long time ago. We already spent thirteen episodes watching the marriage selection process, and now we're back to square one.
If the entire drama were centered around when these two would finally get married, I could understand the slow pacing. But there are so many other plotlines and conflicts waiting to be explored that it feels like the story has become completely dependent on this marriage before anything else can happen. That's why I want the marriage storyline to be wrapped up already. At this point, it seems like nothing else is going to move forward until the wedding happens.
I respect your opinion, though. We just have different perspectives on the story, so let's keep watching it from our own points of view. Enjoy the rest of the drama!
yeah the breakup is unnecessary she should not be that stuck up and strict on him he is getting his revenge on…
I still think it's being overdone because this whole marriage issue has been dragged out for far too long. I could understand her reasons if the drama's pacing weren't so repetitive and boring.
She doesn't even need to worry about someone's long-term schemes because she's already being targeted by everyone. She keeps surviving assassination attempts. If the male lead hadn't stepped in to save her, she would have died three or five times by now. You can't deal with assassins just by making plans.
She's an intelligent woman, so it's understandable that she analyzes people this much. But I think she's acting more out of fear than logic. The truth is, even the things she believes she has under control are actually on shaky ground. For example, she spared her sister because she thought she'd frightened her enough, yet her sister is already plotting again. The biggest mistake someone who's been given a second chance at life can make is arrogantly believing they have everything under control. You can't control everything. There will always be exceptions. By now, she should have realized that.
Yes, she's always had a cold personality. I wasn't expecting a love marriage from the beginning. But at this point, the marriage shouldn't be delayed any longer. Even if it's just a marriage of convenience, if her goal is to enter the palace, none of the remaining princes seem like a more logical choice.
Most of them have already proven they aren't trustworthy. She ruled out her ex-husband from the very beginning after being reborn, so he was never really an option. I haven't read the novel, but in the drama, her family didn't die because she married him—or at least that's not what we've been shown. If anything, marrying a prince actually saved her. Her death also had nothing to do with getting close to her husband. That argument would only make sense if her husband had taken advantage of her feelings and betrayed her. But why would loving him be the reason she dies? That doesn't make any sense.
Someone was already plotting against her family. It has nothing to do with love. As long as they're in the imperial palace, the power struggle will always end up costing someone their life. If she wants to be on the winning side, she needs a powerful ally. And aside from her ex-husband, the only person who fits that role is the male lead.
Since her rebirth, she has never considered her ex-husband an option anyway. The disloyal princes who constantly play both sides aren't worth considering either. And as for the immature young prince who throws a tantrum because he can't get what he wants and immediately tries to force her to stay with him through threats, he should have been eliminated as a candidate from the very beginning. A woman like her is way out of his league.
That's why, for me, the problem isn't really her reasons—it's how much they've dragged this whole thing out. Yes, I could understand and even agree with her reasoning if they hadn't stretched it out so much. Everything we've seen so far could have been told in fewer episodes with a much better balance of action and plot progression.
yeah the breakup is unnecessary she should not be that stuck up and strict on him he is getting his revenge on…
I don't think so. I've already seen quite a few spoilers about second husband, potential endings, some major scenes involving the protagonist, the palace rebellion, and things like that. I hope it doesn't all happen in the final episodes. We really need some action by now—we've been watching people just talk the whole time.
yeah the breakup is unnecessary she should not be that stuck up and strict on him he is getting his revenge on…
Also, her reason is ridiculous. The other princes are powerful too, and there’s no guarantee they wouldn’t turn against him. On top of that, he doesn’t have much time left. They’re not the kind of people who die easily. They’ve dragged this out way too much.
And so far, there hasn’t been any real action. Boring courtship alone isn’t enough. They already spent so much time developing each prince. They still have to get married before we finally get to see some action. All the prince brothers are suffering from unrequited love Three of them are in love with this woman :) Helen looks like nothing compared to her
The woman is like an ice queen. Her ex-husband actually loved her so deeply and stayed incredibly loyal. Does a person never soften even a little? Yes, it was a political marriage, but she accepted it. The man is charismatic. Even after his death, he got the revenge she wanted. He mourned for three years and still couldn’t forget her. And when he didn’t know who she really was, unlike the other princes, he never tried to take advantage of her. He couldn’t even look at another woman because of his love for his deceased wife.
If that’s considered obsession, then this little annoying prince and even the male lead are all obsessed too. Even if I hadn’t liked the male lead and his character here, I would still have wanted her ex-husband.
I can’t help but think of my amazing drama In Blossom, where the female lead was reborn ( ok face changing ) from the ashes of her past and set out to take revenge on her future husband, only to fall in love with him. Jeremy’s role here is basically the same as the male lead’s role there.
Enough already—just get married. I’m sick of waiting. Let’s see some action!
I’m seriously thinking about rewatching Royal Rumours just for fun. At least Jeremy gets the girl there. In this one, they’re divorced... what a downgrade. :D :)))
It's a cheap trick. Character introduced and within 5 (?) eps killed by an enemy you could see a mile away? The…
Yes, there are very few dramas that I would genuinely call impressive, but every now and then there are shows that are generally enjoyable. I think The Double is a bit overrated. I can say that it was an effective drama in terms of revenge . I don’t remember the ending very clearly, but despite both being female-centered stories, I actually enjoyed Scent of Time more than The Double in terms of the male lead’s side of the story. I found the male lead’s journey, his screen time, and the depth of the romance much more satisfying compared to The Double.
Besides that, I also can’t say that I loved A Dream Within a Dream. In fact, I think it is a bit overrated as well. I still have a certain coldness toward the actress I jokingly call “a fake Bai Lu” because of the character she played in that drama. But the problem wasn’t only the female character; in my opinion, the male character also had serious flaws. He didn’t have the weight or impact he should have had in the story, so unfortunately, the drama didn’t meet my expectations. Despite all of Liu Yuning’s charm, it felt like a waste of his charisma in that drama.
Yes, the drama was self-aware and was making fun of certain things, but it is very important how you spread that kind of approach throughout the story. I think they dragged this aspect out and exaggerated it too much, and that was the main problem. Maintaining balance is extremely important in this type of story; otherwise, it can cause viewers to distance themselves from the female character or even start to dislike her. Especially when the female character is not someone from the past, but a modern woman with a certain level of awareness.
That is also why I dislike the famous Korean drama Moon Lovers. I haven’t even watched My Dearest. Stories with women who don’t deserve a man’s love and male characters who foolishly chase after them are simply not for me. What matters is not only the story itself, but also how it is told.
Actually, many vertical dramas have similar themes, and I think some of them portray these emotions much better than A Dream Within a Dream. In fact, the other day I watched a mini drama where the man’s love, the woman’s regret, the search for redemption on one side, and the beauty of a love that blooms again on the other side were portrayed beautifully. It truly managed to make me feel the emotions, and it definitely became one of my favorite mini dramas. I never hated the female character because the drama showed her path toward making amends so beautifully. There were also many elements between the two characters that came from misunderstandings and a lack of communication. I really loved the man’s love for her. It was a love worth being jealous of. He was unconditionally and painfully in love, but never in a way that made you lose respect for him or become annoyed by him. In that sense, I can say that I found the satisfaction I couldn’t get from A Dream Within a Dream in this drama.
If you ask me what was missing in A Dream Within a Dream, my answer would be “love and pride.” But that was supposed to be the foundation of the drama, and because of that, I felt its absence throughout the entire story. There is a reason why Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most beloved love stories even centuries later. Unfortunately, very few productions are able to capture that same balance and emotional depth.
I’m writing the name of the mini drama I mentioned; I really think you should give it a try. It was such a lovely watch and definitely became one of my favorite mini dramas.
Title: Longing For You, Day and Night | 朝思暮时 ML: Wang Haozhen | 王皓祯 FL : Jin Zi | 锦子
It's a cheap trick. Character introduced and within 5 (?) eps killed by an enemy you could see a mile away? The…
Agree. They wasted beautiful princess. Now couples are popping up everywhere. Even the man in exile got his chance, but they thought love was too much for the princess.
It's a cheap trick. Character introduced and within 5 (?) eps killed by an enemy you could see a mile away? The…
I agree that it’s a cheap trick. Unfortunately, this is one of the negative aspects of Chinese dramas. They seem to think that emotional impact can only be created through deaths, and they usually achieve this by killing off important supporting characters. However, even the scene between Muyong and his son — where the villain finally got what he deserved — was emotional enough. This shows that emotional depth can be created in many different ways.
Another issue is that these deaths are either the result of annoying schemes and pointless plots, or even worse, they happen in completely ridiculous and meaningless ways. Instead of making the audience emotional, these deaths often frustrate viewers because of how unnecessary they feel. It’s simply a very lazy approach from a screenwriter’s perspective.
I also have to say, based on the countless comments I’ve read about the original novels these dramas are adapted from, that there is a very problematic writing style behind many of them. Rape scenes, extremely toxic male leads, disgusting scheming female characters, men who abuse women and foolish men who are easily manipulated by their concubines etc... We see these elements heavily featured in short vertical dramas as well.
Thankfully, in recent years they have started to adapt a little to modern times and soften these elements, even if only slightly. Otherwise, I honestly wouldn’t be able to tolerate most of these productions. I just had to mention that as well.
I don't think she is dead...she is a princess and can't marry a common man so maybe she took advantage of the…
@Aarohi_BTS ARMY @liuliu87 ... If she's unconscious, her men may have hidden the truth about her condition. But keeping it from the audience for this long feels pointless to me. I was hoping that was the case. I'd really love to be wrong, but I don't have much hope left at this point. Also, since she wasn't a very important character in the overall story, unfortunately I think she's really dead.
Everything was good, but the deaths of the princess and the poor maid were completely unnecessary. It felt like yet another attempt to force some drama into the story. Weren’t all the deaths in the past enough already? Even Minister Zhou’s son survived after being stabbed so many times, yet somehow that blow just had to hit her heart. That’s why I’m taking points off my rating. The thing I hate most is when the main characters survive while secondary characters die in ridiculous and unnecessary ways.
I also see the younger Gu sister differently. She tried to kill Xihe. That's not just some petty rivalry or a harmless prank between girls. The fact that Xihe managed to escape the trap doesn't make what Gu did any less serious.
To me, her character was already established when she pursued her own brother-in-law without caring that he was once her sister's husband. The fact that she's now setting her sights on another prince only reinforces how ambitious she is. Considering the princes are still competing for the position of Crown Prince, she's clearly trying to gain power through that competition. The target has changed, but her goal hasn't.
If two sisters marry different princes, that inevitably means they'll be on opposite sides of the succession struggle. She's fully aware of that and is trying to secure a place for herself in that game. Instead of using the second chance she's been given to live a peaceful, trouble-free life, she's pushing her luck.
I also think what Sihe wants now is not to be someone who is controlled, but someone who holds the power. I believe she absolutely wants to enter the palace—this time not just as someone's wife, but as someone who has authority. Just like the male lead pointed out before, if she had truly wanted an ordinary life, whether in her previous life or this one, she's intelligent enough that she could have found a way to stay away from palace politics. Instead, she's aiming for a much higher position.
Of course she's going to reassess her options as new information comes to light, but I don't think this particular issue needed to be stretched out this much. It feels like this should have been resolved a long time ago. We already spent thirteen episodes watching the marriage selection process, and now we're back to square one.
If the entire drama were centered around when these two would finally get married, I could understand the slow pacing. But there are so many other plotlines and conflicts waiting to be explored that it feels like the story has become completely dependent on this marriage before anything else can happen. That's why I want the marriage storyline to be wrapped up already. At this point, it seems like nothing else is going to move forward until the wedding happens.
I respect your opinion, though. We just have different perspectives on the story, so let's keep watching it from our own points of view. Enjoy the rest of the drama!
She doesn't even need to worry about someone's long-term schemes because she's already being targeted by everyone. She keeps surviving assassination attempts. If the male lead hadn't stepped in to save her, she would have died three or five times by now. You can't deal with assassins just by making plans.
She's an intelligent woman, so it's understandable that she analyzes people this much. But I think she's acting more out of fear than logic. The truth is, even the things she believes she has under control are actually on shaky ground. For example, she spared her sister because she thought she'd frightened her enough, yet her sister is already plotting again. The biggest mistake someone who's been given a second chance at life can make is arrogantly believing they have everything under control. You can't control everything. There will always be exceptions. By now, she should have realized that.
Yes, she's always had a cold personality. I wasn't expecting a love marriage from the beginning. But at this point, the marriage shouldn't be delayed any longer. Even if it's just a marriage of convenience, if her goal is to enter the palace, none of the remaining princes seem like a more logical choice.
Most of them have already proven they aren't trustworthy. She ruled out her ex-husband from the very beginning after being reborn, so he was never really an option. I haven't read the novel, but in the drama, her family didn't die because she married him—or at least that's not what we've been shown. If anything, marrying a prince actually saved her. Her death also had nothing to do with getting close to her husband. That argument would only make sense if her husband had taken advantage of her feelings and betrayed her. But why would loving him be the reason she dies? That doesn't make any sense.
Someone was already plotting against her family. It has nothing to do with love. As long as they're in the imperial palace, the power struggle will always end up costing someone their life. If she wants to be on the winning side, she needs a powerful ally. And aside from her ex-husband, the only person who fits that role is the male lead.
Since her rebirth, she has never considered her ex-husband an option anyway. The disloyal princes who constantly play both sides aren't worth considering either. And as for the immature young prince who throws a tantrum because he can't get what he wants and immediately tries to force her to stay with him through threats, he should have been eliminated as a candidate from the very beginning. A woman like her is way out of his league.
That's why, for me, the problem isn't really her reasons—it's how much they've dragged this whole thing out. Yes, I could understand and even agree with her reasoning if they hadn't stretched it out so much. Everything we've seen so far could have been told in fewer episodes with a much better balance of action and plot progression.
And so far, there hasn’t been any real action. Boring courtship alone isn’t enough. They already spent so much time developing each prince. They still have to get married before we finally get to see some action. All the prince brothers are suffering from unrequited love Three of them are in love with this woman :) Helen looks like nothing compared to her
The woman is like an ice queen. Her ex-husband actually loved her so deeply and stayed incredibly loyal. Does a person never soften even a little? Yes, it was a political marriage, but she accepted it. The man is charismatic. Even after his death, he got the revenge she wanted. He mourned for three years and still couldn’t forget her. And when he didn’t know who she really was, unlike the other princes, he never tried to take advantage of her. He couldn’t even look at another woman because of his love for his deceased wife.
If that’s considered obsession, then this little annoying prince and even the male lead are all obsessed too. Even if I hadn’t liked the male lead and his character here, I would still have wanted her ex-husband.
I can’t help but think of my amazing drama In Blossom, where the female lead was reborn ( ok face changing ) from the ashes of her past and set out to take revenge on her future husband, only to fall in love with him. Jeremy’s role here is basically the same as the male lead’s role there.
I’m seriously thinking about rewatching Royal Rumours just for fun. At least Jeremy gets the girl there. In this one, they’re divorced... what a downgrade. :D :)))
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xagcwj6
Besides that, I also can’t say that I loved A Dream Within a Dream. In fact, I think it is a bit overrated as well. I still have a certain coldness toward the actress I jokingly call “a fake Bai Lu” because of the character she played in that drama. But the problem wasn’t only the female character; in my opinion, the male character also had serious flaws. He didn’t have the weight or impact he should have had in the story, so unfortunately, the drama didn’t meet my expectations. Despite all of Liu Yuning’s charm, it felt like a waste of his charisma in that drama.
Yes, the drama was self-aware and was making fun of certain things, but it is very important how you spread that kind of approach throughout the story. I think they dragged this aspect out and exaggerated it too much, and that was the main problem. Maintaining balance is extremely important in this type of story; otherwise, it can cause viewers to distance themselves from the female character or even start to dislike her. Especially when the female character is not someone from the past, but a modern woman with a certain level of awareness.
That is also why I dislike the famous Korean drama Moon Lovers. I haven’t even watched My Dearest. Stories with women who don’t deserve a man’s love and male characters who foolishly chase after them are simply not for me. What matters is not only the story itself, but also how it is told.
Actually, many vertical dramas have similar themes, and I think some of them portray these emotions much better than A Dream Within a Dream. In fact, the other day I watched a mini drama where the man’s love, the woman’s regret, the search for redemption on one side, and the beauty of a love that blooms again on the other side were portrayed beautifully. It truly managed to make me feel the emotions, and it definitely became one of my favorite mini dramas. I never hated the female character because the drama showed her path toward making amends so beautifully. There were also many elements between the two characters that came from misunderstandings and a lack of communication. I really loved the man’s love for her. It was a love worth being jealous of. He was unconditionally and painfully in love, but never in a way that made you lose respect for him or become annoyed by him. In that sense, I can say that I found the satisfaction I couldn’t get from A Dream Within a Dream in this drama.
If you ask me what was missing in A Dream Within a Dream, my answer would be “love and pride.” But that was supposed to be the foundation of the drama, and because of that, I felt its absence throughout the entire story. There is a reason why Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most beloved love stories even centuries later. Unfortunately, very few productions are able to capture that same balance and emotional depth.
I’m writing the name of the mini drama I mentioned; I really think you should give it a try. It was such a lovely watch and definitely became one of my favorite mini dramas.
Title: Longing For You, Day and Night | 朝思暮时
ML: Wang Haozhen | 王皓祯
FL : Jin Zi | 锦子
Another issue is that these deaths are either the result of annoying schemes and pointless plots, or even worse, they happen in completely ridiculous and meaningless ways. Instead of making the audience emotional, these deaths often frustrate viewers because of how unnecessary they feel. It’s simply a very lazy approach from a screenwriter’s perspective.
I also have to say, based on the countless comments I’ve read about the original novels these dramas are adapted from, that there is a very problematic writing style behind many of them. Rape scenes, extremely toxic male leads, disgusting scheming female characters, men who abuse women and foolish men who are easily manipulated by their concubines etc... We see these elements heavily featured in short vertical dramas as well.
Thankfully, in recent years they have started to adapt a little to modern times and soften these elements, even if only slightly. Otherwise, I honestly wouldn’t be able to tolerate most of these productions. I just had to mention that as well.
@liuliu87 ... If she's unconscious, her men may have hidden the truth about her condition. But keeping it from the audience for this long feels pointless to me. I was hoping that was the case. I'd really love to be wrong, but I don't have much hope left at this point. Also, since she wasn't a very important character in the overall story, unfortunately I think she's really dead.