ibisfeather

Waiting for The Noble (ZQJ next)?

I am going to drop this. A couple of scenes in ep10 really fell apart for me, so some pairings are not going to work..

I am not sorry I watched so far, this was visually great, Li Yun Rui is great, the choreography was great and MOST IMPORTANTLY, I got a chance to see plenty of younger actors and actresses.

I like to get an idea of the strengths of up and coming kids. HTT did well, I thought.

I agree with the general feeling that we shouldnt get caught up in the inauthentic Chinese forms of measuring dramas.

Something is really wrong about that.

But even though this is a site for the international audience to enjoy (ENJOY) asian dramas, it is still interesting to keep abreast of the Chinese audience. But all this junk about netizens just confuses the issue. And its boring to read.

Keep it shorter and clearer, and please, be critical of the toxic fandoms.

You probably already know this, But Chen Xing Xu, the lead from between the lines will be starring in the NOBLE, directed by ZQJ and with Li Yi Tong costarring. Something to wait for.

And you didnt list Love in the Clouds? Hou Ming Hao, because he has a separate music career, seems to do shows in fantasy that are modern in the gender roles etc.

Blossom is great. Not fancy/arty, more of a classic with some twisty princes,.

It isnt a historical drama, so only a few battles.

POJ represents a developing area in cdrama. You need to try simpler genres with less expectation from the past. I just watched all of the director of POJs old work. All very good.
The Double is great, a melo with a sad ending. Cdrama does tragedy with class. Right now I am happily watching a cute rom-com Warm on a Cold Night. cdrama also does sweet comedies.

Just started. So light and cute. Li Yi Tong is great!

repetitive

In the broader view of the sack of jinzhou and the war, Wei Yan caused the most suffering.

Ep7 is important somehow -- she as the protectress, but also he as a military commander who knows exactly what she is going through, and in the fight, he knew he had to lend his ability to plan on the spot for multiple opponents and execute and efficiently use energy to back her up (literal metaphor!!).
I like the way the character can be completely vulnerable as he is rescued but in a split second his training and abilities come through.
Phooey on those who cannot see what a mensch the Marquis is.

Thanks fr this. It makes sense.

I dont think you will be bored...

Wei Yan: he is almost a walking allegory for the danger of prizing stability over transparency and the messy business of justice, isnt he? He 'saved' the ruling house....

His reasons were honor, passion and love for Qi rongyin, the imperial concubine -- but in my book given the amount of suffering he caused untold regular people he does not deserve reincarnation ever and it is good that his execution is not shown.

Ep 9 5mins.in...
OurTwo tucked tightly into bed withg covers up to their armpits, the Zhaos spreadeagled against the street's lights outside their door.
CY to YZ - "Dont Worry. I have no improper thoughts."
good to know.

the tangerine kiss is coming.

Ep1-2
Zhao Lusi has this strange sneaky look going on here. We are clearly told several times that the fact that she has grown up in a hostile and chaotic household accounts for her 'character faults'. And, celebrating being subtle, controlled, strategic and cool in a classical cdrama style may be equivalent to losing an anchor in the modern world for oneself -- in a dream of a false past.

Nevertheless she does the poorly brought up gawky almost out of her teens role very well. So well that she is annoying.

yes mam, she is the mom of Li Ce, the Prince of Biantang who takes Ch Qiao home for some reason I forget. She is pretty scary, and completely gorgeous.

Now that is an interesting question. Why should she look small?
I did think of it in the alley scene in ep7 when she faces Zhuge Yue and flashes back to serious confrontations earlier...
I was thinking of the difference in status, shown visually despite her veneer.
Slave vs. noble.
Somewhat quixotic revolutionary vs. ruler.
She was very young when she first met ZY? So in their memories she is short but mighty?

angles, levels. I have heard of boxes to stand on too.

Ep8
Now is when the 'veteran' actress and actor show their strengths and enrich the narrative -- in their 30's, and at the bend of 1/5th the cdrama.

Li Meng as the cold Queen of Biantang, in as messy a palace court as you will ever see, is convincing and detailed. Unlike many a mad queen, condemned for her cruelty, condoned partially for her sufferings at the hands of those with more power, Li Meng portrays a queen who stands out as an individual, rational and driven, cold and supported by the most unusually beautiful eunuch.

And Zhao Lu La as General Cheng, is always so interesting, the minute we look at that scarred cheek again. It is a complicated role, yet simple, a military man threading the needle of loyalty to the Yanbei coalition and caution when around the unbalanced Yan Xun. We will see him soonish, in Road to Glory as a Prince -- step up or down?