Sky Castle has piqued my interest for some time now so maybe I'll give it a try.
Most of the others are not really my cup of tea as I don't like romance, even Mr. Sunshine fell flat after a while (idk if I'll end up finishing it...) NiF 2, however, is a favourite of mine. And judging by your enjoyment of that I think you'll find Yanxi Palace quite worthwhile too.
***I actually found ML being out of the loop in the final Grand Scheme to be quite dissatisfying, for several…
In response to your points:
1) But it's not her passion vs calculations that I object to? It's the fact that her actions were, essentially, useless because it was all a plot to begin with! She could have still played a role in the last arc while developing other sides of her character (more so, I believe). Keep in mind composed =/= passionless. Plus, a capable female protagonist is far more appealing to me than a 'passionate' one because it's so rare.
2) Nah, that's just details - it was the writers' decision, they wrote it that way and they could have changed it just as easily to accommodate ML into the plot. Eg. GTY simply could've told her or even hinted at it before, it didn't need to come as far as the prison scene. Why would he even suggest separation if it wasn't testing her affections to some degree?
3) This is something I appreciated as well. However, there is a difference between developing side characters to enrich the story and focusing on them too much at a critical juncture to the point of sidelining a lead. TSoML isn't an ensemble cast drama after all so the latter is not a good example of storytelling.
Frankly speaking, right from the beginning, a lot of my enjoyment and admiration for this drama hinged on Ming Lan. Everything else - from the cast to plotlines - were a stage to make her flourish as a character. Which is why I found it both surprising (because every directional decision thus far has been near-perfect) and disappointing for her significance as the leading lady to suddenly diminish at the very end. As a result, I can't enjoy the ending the same way others, whose priority in the drama wasn't ML herself, can.
***I actually found ML being out of the loop in the final Grand Scheme to be quite dissatisfying, for several…
Everything you highlighted is, in fact, exactly what I have a problem with.
1. "but we didn't see her doing anything spectacular for her husband" Why would she? Was there ever an occasion to do so? Literally the ONLY time she had a major opportunity to save him was this last arc.....and it ended up being an elaborate act where her sacrifice or courage wasn't actually needed!
2. "if the plan went wrong at least it allows ML for not being part of the plot" Except it was the king's plot, he was protecting GTY. Unless the coup succeeded there was never any danger, and if it did, ML would be in even more danger not less. "that is why he asked for amicable separation" And when she rejected? Her 'safety net' was gone, he could've told her then but still didn't. If by doing so he just wanted to test her love......then I'm afraid I'll find that despicable.
3. "ML is the master of a schemer but at the final arc, it was the king and GTY who scheme her" Yeah.. but like...why? What did it achieve? Other than unseating the protagonist from her role? That is precisely my point.
This is why I find the ending to be a little too simplistic. Revealing everything to be an act and assigning everyone with happy endings seems quite underwhelming when you weigh it against the sense of danger that was built up in the past episodes, especially concerning ML and her actions.
Imperial family craziness - I don't think this existed in the novels after GTY helps the new Emperor onto the…
wow this is so interesting, I was already eager to read the novel if possible, having just finished the drama, but these little tidbits makes me even more intrigued! particularly when it comes to the development of ML and GTY's relationship (how I wish that heart-to-heart was in the drama!!) and the differences regarding the royal family plotline, because I had some issues with it.
really hope the full translation of the novel is available at some point *fingers crossed*
AHH I WILL DEARLY MISS MING LAN! WHY WASN'T THERE 76-79 EPS AFTER ALL?? :'(Okay sentimental tirade aside (and…
***I actually found ML being out of the loop in the final Grand Scheme to be quite dissatisfying, for several reasons. I know it was addressed as a political matter and they couldn't be too careful but it made no sense me as to why MING LAN - master of facades, inscrutability, and keeping secrets - of all people had to be kept in the dark, at the risk of her health and safety no less! She suffered considerably during postpartum and her health is not something anyone could have guaranteed. If GTY had confided in her, not only would ML be safe while still maintaining an act (eg. her performance on the streets!), but she could also actively contribute to The Plan. As the main character, her role as a 'pawn' rather than a 'player' in this final showdown did not sit well with me. The other aspect of it was their relationship as a couple. Ironically, GTY has been telling ML to lean on him and frankly discuss her problems, yet he was willing to plot and scheme about this all on his own, not trusting her to share the burden? I mean, the empress knew, so why couldn't ML, who was arguably steadier and more capable? As I see it, nothing particular was gained from keeping ML out of this. Perhaps if the two had an opportunity to have a heart-to-heart regarding the matter onscreen it may have been resolved to my satisfaction...but alas they didn't have 'time' thanks to the aforementioned pacing issue.***
AHH I WILL DEARLY MISS MING LAN! WHY WASN'T THERE 76-79 EPS AFTER ALL?? :'(
Okay sentimental tirade aside (and to my own shock tbh) I do have some criticism.
First, in fact, is the episode count. I don't know whose decision-making this was a result of, but, taking into account the many Revelations & Reconciliations it involved, the ending felt somewhat rushed. If the broadcaster was at fault, then I can only express indignant outrage at the injustice. However, if it was planned as such by the actual showmakers...then I will admit to being disappointed. There was simply too much that required 'easing into' (notably the forgiving of many characters) but was instead done very quickly and lacked the meticulous quality every part of the story had up till now. Which is why, as a conclusion, it stands in contrast with the story's careful orientation (that some might say was slow but I deem to be rather necessary). It played out like an 'epilogue' where things are wrapped up by *telling* rather than showing - this is a major deviation from this drama's usual storytelling method which I greatly admired. Even a single additional episode could have improved this.
My second point is more contentious, and I don't imagine many will agree with me. I'll put it down below as it contains spoilers. ***
Having said that, TSoML is still an undeniably brilliant piece of work, and it is *because* I had such high standards for it that such critique exists in the first place. Ultimately, all I can say is that this is the only drama, after Nirvana in Fire, that has now inspired me to read the original novel!
I'm a HUGE fan of Kingdom! That's exactly why I'm so interested in this drama (well also because it's by the same…
Mhm I get where you're coming from but another thing to remember is that neither this drama nor Kingdom is exactly an accurate portrayal of her anyway. So I'd think one would enjoy seeing different interpretations of this fascinating if ambiguous figure. Or not, of course it's entirely up to you whether you can invest in it.
After watching a few episodes, i suddenly remember the manga im reading called "kingdom". I really hate how haolan…
I'm a HUGE fan of Kingdom! That's exactly why I'm so interested in this drama (well also because it's by the same team as Yanxi) because it will show a different side of the woman only known as the cruel empress dowager in the manga. There are only sparse hints of her Zhao origins and history with Lu Buwei, so I'm really looking forward to this drama exploring her 'beginnings'.
Although I find myself feeling a lump in my throat each time ML doesn't comprehend GTY love for her... I have…
I agree. Another factor to consider is the very large role gender played in love. If you notice (as I did just recently), this drama portrays love from men and women very differently. Men can squander their affections at no cost to themselves before marriage, while afterwards they either become muddled by it or cold from the lack of it. Women, on the other hand, can only suppress it if they're sensible or wield it as a weapon to guard their very life and livelihood. Same applies for the case of our leads, while GTY can afford to shower ML with love at every opportunity (sincere as it is) without costing himself, ML can only guard herself in spite of it because her stakes are so much higher.
That's fair. It's more slice-of-life but life during the Song Dynasty does involve of class separation and rigid…
I usually reserve judgement until the very end, but I have to admit my rankings for this drama is already almost exactly the same as yours (only with the addition of Nothing Gold Can Stay).
Most of the others are not really my cup of tea as I don't like romance, even Mr. Sunshine fell flat after a while (idk if I'll end up finishing it...)
NiF 2, however, is a favourite of mine. And judging by your enjoyment of that I think you'll find Yanxi Palace quite worthwhile too.
1) But it's not her passion vs calculations that I object to? It's the fact that her actions were, essentially, useless because it was all a plot to begin with! She could have still played a role in the last arc while developing other sides of her character (more so, I believe). Keep in mind composed =/= passionless. Plus, a capable female protagonist is far more appealing to me than a 'passionate' one because it's so rare.
2) Nah, that's just details - it was the writers' decision, they wrote it that way and they could have changed it just as easily to accommodate ML into the plot. Eg. GTY simply could've told her or even hinted at it before, it didn't need to come as far as the prison scene. Why would he even suggest separation if it wasn't testing her affections to some degree?
3) This is something I appreciated as well. However, there is a difference between developing side characters to enrich the story and focusing on them too much at a critical juncture to the point of sidelining a lead. TSoML isn't an ensemble cast drama after all so the latter is not a good example of storytelling.
Frankly speaking, right from the beginning, a lot of my enjoyment and admiration for this drama hinged on Ming Lan. Everything else - from the cast to plotlines - were a stage to make her flourish as a character. Which is why I found it both surprising (because every directional decision thus far has been near-perfect) and disappointing for her significance as the leading lady to suddenly diminish at the very end. As a result, I can't enjoy the ending the same way others, whose priority in the drama wasn't ML herself, can.
1. "but we didn't see her doing anything spectacular for her husband" Why would she? Was there ever an occasion to do so? Literally the ONLY time she had a major opportunity to save him was this last arc.....and it ended up being an elaborate act where her sacrifice or courage wasn't actually needed!
2. "if the plan went wrong at least it allows ML for not being part of the plot" Except it was the king's plot, he was protecting GTY. Unless the coup succeeded there was never any danger, and if it did, ML would be in even more danger not less. "that is why he asked for amicable separation" And when she rejected? Her 'safety net' was gone, he could've told her then but still didn't. If by doing so he just wanted to test her love......then I'm afraid I'll find that despicable.
3. "ML is the master of a schemer but at the final arc, it was the king and GTY who scheme her" Yeah.. but like...why? What did it achieve? Other than unseating the protagonist from her role? That is precisely my point.
This is why I find the ending to be a little too simplistic. Revealing everything to be an act and assigning everyone with happy endings seems quite underwhelming when you weigh it against the sense of danger that was built up in the past episodes, especially concerning ML and her actions.
really hope the full translation of the novel is available at some point *fingers crossed*
Okay sentimental tirade aside (and to my own shock tbh) I do have some criticism.
First, in fact, is the episode count. I don't know whose decision-making this was a result of, but, taking into account the many Revelations & Reconciliations it involved, the ending felt somewhat rushed. If the broadcaster was at fault, then I can only express indignant outrage at the injustice. However, if it was planned as such by the actual showmakers...then I will admit to being disappointed. There was simply too much that required 'easing into' (notably the forgiving of many characters) but was instead done very quickly and lacked the meticulous quality every part of the story had up till now. Which is why, as a conclusion, it stands in contrast with the story's careful orientation (that some might say was slow but I deem to be rather necessary). It played out like an 'epilogue' where things are wrapped up by *telling* rather than showing - this is a major deviation from this drama's usual storytelling method which I greatly admired. Even a single additional episode could have improved this.
My second point is more contentious, and I don't imagine many will agree with me. I'll put it down below as it contains spoilers. ***
Having said that, TSoML is still an undeniably brilliant piece of work, and it is *because* I had such high standards for it that such critique exists in the first place. Ultimately, all I can say is that this is the only drama, after Nirvana in Fire, that has now inspired me to read the original novel!
Also, hasn't the Chinese historical Legend of Hao Lan started in January as well?