there are no irrational plot twists or dramatic events to grab your attention in ep1, so if that is what you are looking for, you are going to be disappointed. it is an introductory episode - the drama is trying to set up character dynamics and narrative vibes.
so many people are saying they're bored or confused after only a few episodes, which is interesting, because i am also confused by this mindset. you're not supposed to understand the entire plot after just one episode... especially not in a drama with 40 episodes. are we just so used to instant gratification with fast-food type dramas where the directors spoon-feed us the entire story as fast as possible that letting a story marinate is too much to ask now?
what makes this drama special is that we are introduced to two unconventional main characters. you don't have to like them, but you do have to admit that it isn't common to see a role-reversed relationship like theirs in c-dramas. if you are tired of seeing protagonists with the same archetypes and dynamics, why not give these guys a chance, and let them cook?
imo, the drama is compelling, easy to follow, and there is plenty to go off of if you just pay attention. it just requires a little patience.
The comments seems so bitter, it just doesn't feel like genuine criticism, just bitterness.
we all have different taste so comments with genuine criticism are fine with me. BUT after seeing so many vague negative comments back-to-back, i decided to check out some of their profiles... and let's just say, several of them seem to be recently created accounts with little to no watch history. these are most likely just alt accounts trying to drag the drama down and discourage people from watching.
this is just my wishful thinking, but i would love to see song zu'er paired up with he yu for this adaptation.
visually, they look the part. talent-wise, i have no doubt song zu'er will be able to bring all of lu tong's complexities to life, while he yu can effortlessly embody pei yunying's playful yet formidable vibes. i think they would be a really fun match.
Please put spoiler tag. Ppl are complaining about this 🙏😭
i always try to be mindful of others and use spoiler tags for actual plot twists, major reveals, or unpopular opinions so i don't ruin anyone's experience. but since my post only mentions visuals and basic character traits from ep1, which are also available in the trailers, there really aren't any spoilers here to tag.
it's fine, anyone who is offended by this will live lol.
ahhh, this drama is visually stunning in every way possible! the cinematography, costumes, sets, people... everything and everyone is so damn prettyyy. i am in love with every single frame, but i guess that makes sense since this is the same director as lost you forever. 👏
and you know what else is great? neither of the protagonists is a purely green flag character. mu wanyao is cruel to outsiders, but fair and sometimes even loving towards her own people. and yan shang is soft-spoken and gentle on the surface, but he has a cunning side and isn't afraid to use others to his advantage. as expected, meng ziyi and li yunrui's chemistry is so natural and so addictive... i'm enjoying their scenes together so much, and it's only been four episodes! you can tell they are already attracted to each other, but not blinded by lust. each has their own goals in mind, and those remain their priorities. i really appreciate how well that is established early on.
this is a very solid start. personally, i'm tired of dramas rushing through the introduction phase without building a proper foundation, so i find the pacing perfect for a drama of this length. this is the same screenwriter as blossoms in adversity, so she is a pro at creating beautiful slow-burns - i trust that she knows what she's doing here as well. and unlike other dramas, what we've seen so far with the politics in this one actually hold my attention. i'm really curious to see where the story goes from here!
From my understanding, wei rao’s mom and king were childhood sweethearts. But king had no choice but to marry…
i haven't seen her in the drama yet (i'm so behind), but i'm not surprised at all. they basically dialed every single character in the drama up to 100 - except for the ml. on the contrary, he regressed. 😅
From my understanding, wei rao’s mom and king were childhood sweethearts. But king had no choice but to marry…
is that the version the drama is going with? because in the novel, they weren't childhood sweethearts. the emperor liked wei rao's mother for many years, but it was one-sided. after wei rao's father died, the emperor snuck into wei rao's mother's room and forced himself onto her, using the young wei rao's safety and well being to pressure her into having sex with him. having very little choice, she submitted. she did not go to him, and it really wasn't a love story.
i actually didn't like the novel, so i was excited for the drama's changes, but my feelings on the first four…
LOL. i completely get it. happens to me all the time. aside from my overall impression of this novel, i only remember bits and pieces from the plot too. 😅
Wow, this aspect wasn't in the novel? Can I ask you what the general set up of the plot was if not the FL replacing…
in the novel, lu zhuo was originally betrothed to the grand tutor's granddaughter, xie hualou, who was known to be incredibly beautiful and graceful (she was the girl who gave lu zhuo a gift in ep1, and wei rao pushed her as retaliation). but when he returned from war critically ill and fell into a coma, her family broke off the engagement so she wouldn't have to marry a dying man.
desperate to bring him good luck and ward off death, his grandmother looked for a substitute bride who could rival xie hualou's beauty (so he wouldn't lose face over the canceled engagement). because of wei rao's maternal family's unconventional reputation, her marriage prospects weren't so great even though she was a gorgeous noble young lady. his grandmother took advantage of this and targeted her, basically offering a "this is the best match you'll get" and "help me help you" kind of proposal.
wei rao didn't mind the prospect of becoming a young widow, so she agreed, but under three conditions:
- a betrothal gift of 100,000 taels - if lu zhuo dies, she leaves with nothing - if lu zhuo survives, he cannot divorce or abandon her for five years
that's pretty much the premise of the original story.
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so many people are saying they're bored or confused after only a few episodes, which is interesting, because i am also confused by this mindset. you're not supposed to understand the entire plot after just one episode... especially not in a drama with 40 episodes. are we just so used to instant gratification with fast-food type dramas where the directors spoon-feed us the entire story as fast as possible that letting a story marinate is too much to ask now?
what makes this drama special is that we are introduced to two unconventional main characters. you don't have to like them, but you do have to admit that it isn't common to see a role-reversed relationship like theirs in c-dramas. if you are tired of seeing protagonists with the same archetypes and dynamics, why not give these guys a chance, and let them cook?
imo, the drama is compelling, easy to follow, and there is plenty to go off of if you just pay attention. it just requires a little patience.
just typical mdl stuff, i guess lol.
the emperor is basically a puppet at the start of this drama.
visually, they look the part. talent-wise, i have no doubt song zu'er will be able to bring all of lu tong's complexities to life, while he yu can effortlessly embody pei yunying's playful yet formidable vibes. i think they would be a really fun match.
it's fine, anyone who is offended by this will live lol.
thanks for looking out for me though. 👍
and you know what else is great? neither of the protagonists is a purely green flag character. mu wanyao is cruel to outsiders, but fair and sometimes even loving towards her own people. and yan shang is soft-spoken and gentle on the surface, but he has a cunning side and isn't afraid to use others to his advantage. as expected, meng ziyi and li yunrui's chemistry is so natural and so addictive... i'm enjoying their scenes together so much, and it's only been four episodes! you can tell they are already attracted to each other, but not blinded by lust. each has their own goals in mind, and those remain their priorities. i really appreciate how well that is established early on.
this is a very solid start. personally, i'm tired of dramas rushing through the introduction phase without building a proper foundation, so i find the pacing perfect for a drama of this length. this is the same screenwriter as blossoms in adversity, so she is a pro at creating beautiful slow-burns - i trust that she knows what she's doing here as well. and unlike other dramas, what we've seen so far with the politics in this one actually hold my attention. i'm really curious to see where the story goes from here!
desperate to bring him good luck and ward off death, his grandmother looked for a substitute bride who could rival xie hualou's beauty (so he wouldn't lose face over the canceled engagement). because of wei rao's maternal family's unconventional reputation, her marriage prospects weren't so great even though she was a gorgeous noble young lady. his grandmother took advantage of this and targeted her, basically offering a "this is the best match you'll get" and "help me help you" kind of proposal.
wei rao didn't mind the prospect of becoming a young widow, so she agreed, but under three conditions:
- a betrothal gift of 100,000 taels
- if lu zhuo dies, she leaves with nothing
- if lu zhuo survives, he cannot divorce or abandon her for five years
that's pretty much the premise of the original story.