sai

I don't have the strength to watch for the second time yet but I still think about this drama and Deokim's story often. Like you, I originally was more focused on the love story itself while acknowledging Deokim's struggles as a palace maid. But as I've grown older in these past 3 years since it released and I reflect on Deokim life as a young court lady growing into a depressed concubine, I find myself caring less about the love story itself and more about Deokim. She really was born into a life with very limited choices and truly lost herself during her years as a concubine. Watching her friends be able to leave the palace, being unable to do anything as her best friend gets killed for loving someone, losing her children. And San would never understand her struggles and everything she gave up because he is quite literally the most powerful person in the country. The power dynamic between the two lovers is so drastic and it hurts to see how that so visibly reduces Deokim's personality and life and energy into an empty shell of a person by the end of the drama.

Thank you for writing this, I'm sorry that crazy fans are attacking you over a literal opinion, and I completely agree with what you wrote.
Despite my personal bias against both lead actors (just honestly not a fan of either, and one is almost completely hyped up for visuals and mediocre acting), there were some things that were cute at first but felt silly very fast. Like, the ML being in love with the FL the whole time and falling first. Yeah, the reveal at the end of episode 2 was really cute, but then you explore that love and it's so unrealistic...? He fell for her after a cute umbrella moment and that was enough for him to risk his life for her and stay single for 15 years...? For a girl that he had interacted with once or twice? Honestly as a preteen I would've ate that up but now the insta-love soulmatism just annoys me at how unrealistic it is. And in the timeline where Sol avoids Sunjae until adulthood, he ALSO manages to be single his whole life yet is attracted to Sol the moment he sees her. I wish they gave more substance to their love because the guy already being in love with the girl from the very beginning of their love story just makes it flat. There's no development, other than the FL's feelings going from fan admiration to romantic. I can't lie though, if we had different leads I probably wouldn't be as critical.

I tend to have a soft spot for the second male leads, and I love Jiyong's character in this drama so I always look forward to his interactions with Dou Zhao. In their latest scene, he was a little upset with Zhao saying she's become boring after getting married. I did sense a romantic undertone to those words but I'm choosing to ignore it. I'd much prefer if those words came from a place of platonic jealousy rather than romantic. I feel like it's similar to the friendship in Love in the Big City, where the girl got married and didn't have time for her guy best friend anymore. There's something heartbreaking about that too, watching your best friend enter a new stage of life without you. I also don't think Jiyong will betray the leads in the future, but I hope his character becomes more relevant in the story again

ML's father, FL's uncle, a woman we don't know yet, and i believe an eunuch from the palace

The amount of immense hatred the Duke has for Song Mo gives me some doubt. Sure, he's the son of the woman that Yichun was forced to marry, but if he's truly his own flesh and blood would he hate him this much? Just for joining his uncle's army? There's a possibility Mo is not his son

edit: saw novel spoilers, he really is his son😭 i feel so bad for Mo

It's possible Chen stays a good guy in this life. Ming turned out to be a good person, and her husband the Marquis was better too (even though he was still a coward). He might have killed the nanny in the previous life but he hasn't done anything bad in this one yet, he definitely has potential to remain a good guy.

Oh yeah that seems possible. At this point it's obvious he's not Song Yichun's son, so he definitely could have a much more powerful bloodline.

Gasp what if Song Mo's long lost sister is actually alive and is the same girl conspiring with the evil people? What if she's the one with the dragon tattoo that killed them? Last one is verrrry unlikely but it's fun to guess

I don't think he will honestly, he cares too much for Zhao, and their friendship has made him more of a caring person. But in an alternate universe, his character could have absolutely become an antagonist. He definitely has the potential for it.

I was a little unsatisfied with the editing around Ming's death. Like, the Marquis hears the news that something bad has happened and the next shot is Ming on his lap? Where's the worried running and realization that she's been stabbed? I don't like how they didn't show Zhao's reaction to the death either

Right? They don't suffer, and someone has to take care of them until they die. Like where's the punishment here?

I felt so bad for Jiyong in that scene where he saw Dou Zhao hug Song Mo. He smiled, so obviously he's not jealous and has secret feelings for Zhao but I bet he did want some comfort from her. He fought for her safety and even gained a big wound and she had no idea, I feel so bad for him😭
I also wish the both of them have more scenes together, I absolutely love their dynamic and the fact Zhao called him her platonic soulmate just makes me cry. It's pretty rare to see such strong male-female friendships without any romantic feelings getting in the way

Honestly I think the best punishment for Wang Yingxue was seeing her most favourite person dead as a result of her actions. The going crazy part was less satisfying but I guess if she stayed sane, it would pose a risk for Dou Zhao's safety.

Oh I thought you already started it lol

I have a feeling he stays a good guy in the rebirth life. If you look at the opening sequence, there's a shot of him being very close to Dou Zhao's cousin, so I think they will have a small loveline. And if that happens, I doubt he'll be a bad guy.

I love when villains have a little humanity to them, it makes them so much more real as characters instead of being cartoonishly evil. Like when the stepmother smiled seeing her daughter Ming in love with her husband and them supporting each other. I'm glad the stepmother wasn't crazy enough to continue with the arranged marriage even after seeing her daughter attempt suicide

Gonna start paying attention to that thanks

Update: both of their beards look identical too😭😭

I cannot recognize Dou Zhao's uncle and Song Mo's father for the life of me and I'm on episode 16😭😭 I always have to wait for someone to address them

To think, in an alternate world where Dou Zhao's grandmother wasn't taken away from her sons so early and those sons weren't raised with hatred, Zhao and her uncle could have had such a good bond. With him having no children, he would have undoubtedly taken his oldest neice under his wing and supported her, the way Song Mo's uncle supported him.

I think his want for power overcomes any existing affection for his family members. I remember him saying he wants to use his neice's marriages to gain two individual things (don't remember what, but something like power/connections/status), and Dou Zhao being so independent and strong willed just makes him hate her more because he can control her less. I think that's the main thing, because he loves power, and he can't control Zhao. Plus, like the other commenter said, he was raised hating his own mother so he's never been the best person.