dkeila

Well said, 😊

I was laughing out loud on that part, like, was it necessary to cover the horse back too... it was a funny scene to me

Grandma and Xia Zi almost look identical with similar facial structures... they did well with the casting

You can try the Blue Whisper, it was great and has amazing soundtracks, as well as being one of his rare HE dramas

I get you... Personally, what I liked during this time is that the writers didn't just focus on him chasing after her alone. We got to see the void world and its leadership within, He Simu's personality in her world, which was quite different to the human world. Also, our sovereign got to learn to take care of Duan Xu and gradually started to fall in love even though she wasn't aware cos her lack of senses. Unlike some dramas, which will have almost the whole drama as a cat-and-mouse game on love until the last 2 or 3 episodes, where they rush to wrap up things without proper story development.

I also feel the same way. The trailer seemed like a very good drama, but after its release, the story and character development are everywhere. And I’ve been thinking about why the FL feels weaker in this sequel, and I can’t help but wonder if the director may have intentionally toned down her character because the actress herself is still a teenager in real life. If that is the case, then I honestly think it was the wrong decision. A character should be written based on her story, background and established personality, not reduced because of the real-life age of the actress playing her. Besides, youth in real life should not automatically mean weakness on screen. Strength, intelligence and leadership are not defined by age, and this actress has clearly shown she can embody all of them.

Fr... I went into this sequel with high expectations because the prequel (PA) gave us such a strong, fearless female lead, someone strategic, skilled and worthy of being called a general. But so far, this sequel has honestly been disappointing. The FL is still portrayed as “strong,” but her actions say otherwise. She constantly falls into obvious traps, struggles with basic spying (like being easily noticed when following someone) and makes questionable decisions that don’t align with her background or training. One of the most frustrating moments was when her friend was captured and publicly displayed. Instead of making a decisive, strategic move when outnumbered, she hesitated and engaged in a fight she couldn’t win, ultimately costing her friend’s life. That scene alone felt like a huge disservice to her character. What makes it worse is how the story continues afterwards. She goes on to make a partnership with the same enemy responsible for her friend’s death ( will be in ep 18 and hoping she just kills that monster tomorrow to avoid future problems). For someone who was once a slave, trained in martial arts and shaped into a feared general, her softness toward enemies feels completely out of character. The supporting characters don’t help either. The 2ML is overly obsessed with possessing the FL instead of focusing on the war and his responsibilities, even going as far as harming innocent people to expand his reach. Then there’s the 2FL, who was once helped by the FL but is now seeking revenge over a man who doesn’t even value human life. The lack of genuine sisterhood among the female characters is honestly disappointing. It feels like the plot keeps circling instead of progressing. The characters aren’t developing in meaningful ways and conflicts aren’t being resolved, just repeated. That said, I have to give credit where it’s due: the acting is excellent. The FL’s actress, despite being young, carries the aura of a general so convincingly, and the rest of the cast also delivers strong performances. They’re doing the best they can with what they’ve been given. For me, the biggest issue is the writing and direction: weakening such a powerful female lead makes the entire story feel less impactful. I’ve watched 17/40 episodes so far and I’m still hoping it improves… but right now, I can’t help but feel frustrated. What do you all think? Is it just me, or has the character writing really fallen off compared to the prequel?

I absolutely agree on that. There was also a time when ML started falling for the FL and the friend had the AUDACITY to advise him that he should not think about having a relationship with FL based on his past because it won't work out. I find his character behaviour jealous and bitter.

You're right. She acted as the younger version of ZLY in Princess Agents and she nailed that role while still a child.