1) Listen, I don't go around calling others' takes dumb even when I see dumbass speculations, questions or comments.…
it does bother me, because what they are perceiving and what the show is actually showing us are not the same.
to consider her a pragmatic character who is motivated by survival is incorrect according to the actual narrative. i think those viewers are seeing YBC as she prefers to see herself—as a pitiable underdog with an adaptable streak—rather than an almost sociopathic egoist, whose lack of self-awareness is the instrument of her own demise.
she is not as smart as she likes to think she is, so she continuously flies too close to the sun, at the cost of everyone around who actually cares about her, as well as to herself. it makes her extremely unlikeable but an interesting narrative foil. i never said i hated her, actually. it's just going to be very satisfying to see her lose.
she's a stagnant character. she doesn't grow because she refuses to: bo're arc provided the opportunity, and she chooses to ignore it, and keeps feeding her own gluttony for importance. to see her actions as survival drive and not extreme greed, ambition, and desire for power, when she experienced first-hand how these actions will be her own mortal undoing, is cognitive dissonance. it's fanfiction.
everyone who went through bo're life was affected by it. there was something to be learned there. YBC ignores it because she is unable to see herself for what she really is.
1) Listen, I don't go around calling others' takes dumb even when I see dumbass speculations, questions or comments.…
1) sorry, it's a ̶d̶u̶m̶b̶ edit: flawed take, because it ignores the fact that none of her actions have in any way reflected a desire to survive, but a desire to control, manipulate, and even kill to expand her ownership of the people around her lmfao. she faced a very similar scenario already in bo're arc and has not self-corrected even though her ambition got her violently killed—she is going down the same exact path, survival be damned
2) going back to ye mansion is a far safer bet than staying in the palace of a moody ruler who has made his lack of interest in her very clear. regardless of her family not giving her affection (like...who cares really? if survival is her main goal?), the ye clan has been granted protected status by TTJ due to his relationship with YXW.
scheming and interfering with THAT relationship puts the rest of her family (and herself!!!) at risk, considering he only kept her around to make YXW happy. but again, YBC doesn't give two shits about anyone's life or happiness but her own, and she would apparently rather risk death than give up an inch of potential power. so yeah, she is the absolute worst, and it makes no logical sense to assume she is a pragmatic character who is 'just trying to survive.' nothing she has done supports that conclusion.
i've seen some people commenting on YBC's actions, and that they begrudgingly respect her because she's doing what she needs to do to survive.
tbh this is a really ̶d̶u̶m̶b̶ edit* flawed take.
just like in bo're arc, it has absolutely nothing to do with survival. on the contrary, it has everything to do with her selfishness and greed. if she just wanted to 'survive' she would have gone back to ye manor, where her family lives in safety under TTJ's protection, and stayed tf away from this man who clearly wants nothing to do with her and who actually really frightens her. don't forget their interaction at her wedding to XL lmao. but she doesn't take the offer to go home, because she wants to 'protect her reputation', she says. in reality, she knows that leaving TTJ's side means giving up potential power. she wants to be at the top, she wants everyone to love her (why on EARTH does she need PR's love thread? bc power, and extreme narcissism). she wants it ALL.
so it has NOTHING to do with survival, actually. she's in an endless spiral of greed where she just takes and takes and takes, because she feels that the world owes it to HER, specifically. she has main character syndrome like a mf. she doesn't care about TTJ and will never love him, but still she wants his love. she wants to be chosen, preferred, adored. just like in bo're arc, she loves no one but herself, and i can't wait to see it all blow up in her smug face.
She's of the "just a little pregnant" mindset, IMHO. If someone does something she considers bad, then they are…
i think this is an intentional character choice. like @ShortCircuit said, it shows how black and white her mindset is because of her sheltered immortal upbringing. TTJ didn't stand a chance of changing her perspective, at least in the beginning—her constant doubt of him reflects those lofty ideals instilled in her by her sect, and then also there's the fact that she was personally traumatized by this man and she had to watch him kill her entire family and everyone she ever knew lmao. and don't forget that every time he 'kills' (even when she's misunderstanding the circumstances, she—for good reason—is reluctant to give him the benefit of the doubt) he is confirming her worst suspicions about his inability to change for the better. it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, which makes it really tragic.
she's looking at this whole situation big picture (fulfill the mission at any cost), and while she is a good person with a lot of compassion, she's still in totally unfamiliar territory when feelings start to emerge. there is no room for selfishness. the mission isn't to prevent the emperor of sheng from being a paranoid psycho, it's to prevent TTJ from being that way. when he makes waves, she panics and reacts aggressively because it just confirms her worst fears about his true self (like, see?? i KNEW you were like this!! i knew i shouldn't have had hope!!) as well as her own potential failures. i respect that LSS is flawed, that she is reactive and gets angry. so far, they haven't developed her inner world as much as TTJ, but that will change when she returns to the immortal realm and we see her grapple with this stuff in her home environment.
in the novel, TTJ and YXW misunderstand each other till the very last second, every damn time. i absolutely LOVED that they had the two of them rectify this massive misunderstanding, and then had him confess in such a sincere and truly poignant way. she called it mushy, but it really was just right. the way he tried to describe how he saw YBC growing up—as an extension of XL—whose honor, righteousness, acceptance, and loving relationship TTJ wanted to emulate and have for his own.
"i thought that's what love was. so i treated her that way, too."
ouch. i swear i felt soul-piercing nails in my own heart during that scene. luo yunxi is absolutely killing it in this role.
these narrative changes are so well done though. in the screen medium, they are bringing us to the highest of highs so that the lows are that much more devastating, and holy sh*t i am terrified and epically pumped for the tower scene. i want to see TTJ watching his own future sins while YXW falls from a turret!!! i want to be CRUSHED by his longing and regret!!! i want to see him lamenting all of this to her corpse (which is an actual thing, he keeps her dead body for like a month)!!!!!!! dude this angst train is delicious, all aboard.
this comment is for all the rest of you psychopaths, bring it on
i'm in this boat too. i'm conflicted, because i have read the novel and i knew what i was getting into, and the…
oh man >:) while penthouse is like the goat of makjangs, TTEOTM is more dark fantasy romance. it will get HELLA dramatic but this genre just allows for these kinds of melo elements while still maintaining its integrity for the most part. xianxia was MADE for tragedy and pining and yearning for lost love, so naturally my masochistic ass can't get enough. with TTEOTM we will see a lot of "so close, and yet so far—ripped away from each other at the last minute—oh hell, here we go again—why are these two so beautiful and dumb?"
it will be exhausting and devastating you are going to LOVE it babe
i'm in this boat too. i'm conflicted, because i have read the novel and i knew what i was getting into, and the…
currently cackling because this show will be one personality switch after another so you are in for a rough ride i fear!! but it does get VERY dark at multiple points so i think it'll definitely be your speed lmfao. i totally hear you about the boat thing, the transition is a little jarring. it kind of gives you whiplash how quickly things shift in this narrative. "wait.....WHAT SHOW AM I WATCHING? who is this guy??? oh right, it's a show within a show" tantai jin gets real weird whenever he smells power or betrayal
you know in the beginning episodes where she had power over him and he was the husband, i really liked the way…
i'm in this boat too. i'm conflicted, because i have read the novel and i knew what i was getting into, and the rest of the story is so epic and rich. i am absolutely loving TTEOTM. but watching bai lu and luo yunxi light up the screen together at the beginning with their insane chemistry makes it really hard to let go of that early magic when they were just in the ye family's manor! it was easily my favorite part of the show so far because the fake-married trope really flourished in their hands. i would watch a whole season of them dancing around each other like that—TTJ being cautious and unsure and regal and ICE COLD, while LSS runs around like a wrecking ball and just clumsily pokes the bear while she figures out who she needs to be. it was soooooo much fun!
bai lu has another drama coming out this year that should play with some similar dynamics as this early part—the story of kunning palace. i am beyond excited for this show dude.
I think the reason also depends on what certain big name content creators about cdramas post about on English…
i was definitely referencing that content creator, and you're totally right! it displays the real lack of critical thinking a lot of viewers possess. they don't have any media literacy so they can only follow the train wherever other people are driving it. "oh, this person says 'bad' and they know what they're talking about, thus show is 'bad.'"
Listen, I haven't read the novel. But from what I have read through comments and discussion, I am so, so, glad…
agreed on all counts. the novel has some really beautiful moments and bits of characterization, but people don't understand that when you translate content for the screen, we don't get access to their inner monologue constantly. we can rely on talented acting performances but the actors are limited in how many narrative nuances they can express, especially after heavy editing. for example, if they showed us TTJ as he was in the novel without any visibility of his thought process we as an audience would absolutely hate him.
i just finished reading the source material and while it's a blast, it can be very convoluted at times, and quite repetitive. hoping they get rid of some of the back and forth but we'll see. either way, they have done a fantastic job so far translating the story and making changes where they are necessary!
Personally, i was already aware of what i ll watch from the photos leaked these past few years. I knew i wouldnt…
i'm with you 100%! my favorite experiences in cdrama-land are when i stumble on a show randomly that totally defies expectations of their genre and blows it outta the water. they are rare, but they are a totally transcendent and magical experience when they do happen. even when they fall flat due to tropey nonsense or censorship editing, it's such a thrill to see production companies try something new and invest in nuanced storytelling. i'm like "YES!!! KEEP DOING THIS!!! YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK!!!"
and lmaooooo, i hear you about luo yun xi's makeup. i've seen some complaints about it but SOMEHOW I REALLY LIKE THE DARK LIPSTICK...i'm vibing with his evil sickly aesthetic so hard. not looking forward to when he turns a corner and has to start wearing pastels in every episode
I have said this before and I'll say it again. No drama is perfect. So I am fine with all it's little imperfections.…
the intricacies of the chinese social media monster are far above my pay grade, but this doesn't surprise me at all. the old adage "haters gonna hate" holds true lmao. there's a lot of viciousness in this kind of discourse which is why i only engage on MDL, but i'm glad at least the production company is taking action against slander and anti campaigns. people have way too much time on their hands. i can't imagine spending so much time on something i loathed when i could just be spending time on something i enjoy, like this amazing show * hair flip *
Personally, i was already aware of what i ll watch from the photos leaked these past few years. I knew i wouldnt…
oh absolutely, it's good to be critical of the media you consume (especially when the media in question is from a propaganda machine like the PRC). i definitely have issues with certain cinematic elements, like the lighting, for example. but it doesn't detract from my enjoyment because i'm not watching cdramas expecting a BBC-level production. this is FUN melodramatic fantasy. i regard it with respect to its tone. and it's doing a fantastic job. the 21k comments here alone are testament to that fact.
however it's a problem when a viewer attributes their personal opinions about stylistic choices with the actual quality of the production. "i don't like the way they colored ML's wig because it clashes with his eyebrows" is not a statement underlying the actual structure of the show (this is not an attack on you at all, you clearly are very reasonable about these opinions lol). it's just that stylistic and aesthetic choices which aren't a viewer's cup of tea doesn't point to bad and lazy filmmaking. people get blinded in their pursuit to sound intelligent.
i'm especially impressed considering how many episodes of this show got the chopping block because of new regulations regarding number of episodes. we've all seen shows that got obliterated by late desperate editing (unchained love, i'm looking at you)—TTEOTM has maintained coherency and watchability regardless. that's impressive enough on its own! and i totally agree with you regarding the leads. i would legitimately watch bai lu and luo yun xi kicking rocks in their pajamas for 40 episodes
as with any show that is enjoying a ton of hype, the naysayers and contrarians inevitably arrive to spoil the fun. queue the 'um, ACTUALLY' crowd's arrival every time without fail: "i don't understand why this is getting so much hype when the makeup/editing/lighting/cgi/insert-thing-here"
like...somehow, not every single thing in the drama has to be 10/10 at all times as long as the actors are vibing and the story has steady pacing. i'm a pretty critical consumer of this kind of media and can understand (and even do agree with) certain criticisms, but my enjoyment of TTEOTM has not decreased in the slightest due to the aforementioned factors. it's allowed to be flawed if i'm having a good time, and let me tell you, i am having A BLAST. i can't remember the last time i was enslaved by an airing schedule like i am right now.
people will tell you that all good television must check off a certain amount of boxes to be quality, and forget entirely that really you should—at the end of the day—simply be enjoying it.
to consider her a pragmatic character who is motivated by survival is incorrect according to the actual narrative. i think those viewers are seeing YBC as she prefers to see herself—as a pitiable underdog with an adaptable streak—rather than an almost sociopathic egoist, whose lack of self-awareness is the instrument of her own demise.
she is not as smart as she likes to think she is, so she continuously flies too close to the sun, at the cost of everyone around who actually cares about her, as well as to herself. it makes her extremely unlikeable but an interesting narrative foil. i never said i hated her, actually. it's just going to be very satisfying to see her lose.
she's a stagnant character. she doesn't grow because she refuses to: bo're arc provided the opportunity, and she chooses to ignore it, and keeps feeding her own gluttony for importance. to see her actions as survival drive and not extreme greed, ambition, and desire for power, when she experienced first-hand how these actions will be her own mortal undoing, is cognitive dissonance. it's fanfiction.
everyone who went through bo're life was affected by it. there was something to be learned there. YBC ignores it because she is unable to see herself for what she really is.
2) going back to ye mansion is a far safer bet than staying in the palace of a moody ruler who has made his lack of interest in her very clear. regardless of her family not giving her affection (like...who cares really? if survival is her main goal?), the ye clan has been granted protected status by TTJ due to his relationship with YXW.
scheming and interfering with THAT relationship puts the rest of her family (and herself!!!) at risk, considering he only kept her around to make YXW happy. but again, YBC doesn't give two shits about anyone's life or happiness but her own, and she would apparently rather risk death than give up an inch of potential power. so yeah, she is the absolute worst, and it makes no logical sense to assume she is a pragmatic character who is 'just trying to survive.' nothing she has done supports that conclusion.
tbh this is a really ̶d̶u̶m̶b̶ edit* flawed take.
just like in bo're arc, it has absolutely nothing to do with survival. on the contrary, it has everything to do with her selfishness and greed. if she just wanted to 'survive' she would have gone back to ye manor, where her family lives in safety under TTJ's protection, and stayed tf away from this man who clearly wants nothing to do with her and who actually really frightens her. don't forget their interaction at her wedding to XL lmao. but she doesn't take the offer to go home, because she wants to 'protect her reputation', she says. in reality, she knows that leaving TTJ's side means giving up potential power. she wants to be at the top, she wants everyone to love her (why on EARTH does she need PR's love thread? bc power, and extreme narcissism). she wants it ALL.
so it has NOTHING to do with survival, actually. she's in an endless spiral of greed where she just takes and takes and takes, because she feels that the world owes it to HER, specifically. she has main character syndrome like a mf. she doesn't care about TTJ and will never love him, but still she wants his love. she wants to be chosen, preferred, adored. just like in bo're arc, she loves no one but herself, and i can't wait to see it all blow up in her smug face.
she's looking at this whole situation big picture (fulfill the mission at any cost), and while she is a good person with a lot of compassion, she's still in totally unfamiliar territory when feelings start to emerge. there is no room for selfishness. the mission isn't to prevent the emperor of sheng from being a paranoid psycho, it's to prevent TTJ from being that way. when he makes waves, she panics and reacts aggressively because it just confirms her worst fears about his true self (like, see?? i KNEW you were like this!! i knew i shouldn't have had hope!!) as well as her own potential failures. i respect that LSS is flawed, that she is reactive and gets angry. so far, they haven't developed her inner world as much as TTJ, but that will change when she returns to the immortal realm and we see her grapple with this stuff in her home environment.
"i thought that's what love was. so i treated her that way, too."
ouch. i swear i felt soul-piercing nails in my own heart during that scene. luo yunxi is absolutely killing it in this role.
these narrative changes are so well done though. in the screen medium, they are bringing us to the highest of highs so that the lows are that much more devastating, and holy sh*t i am terrified and epically pumped for the tower scene. i want to see TTJ watching his own future sins while YXW falls from a turret!!! i want to be CRUSHED by his longing and regret!!! i want to see him lamenting all of this to her corpse (which is an actual thing, he keeps her dead body for like a month)!!!!!!! dude this angst train is delicious, all aboard.
this comment is for all the rest of you psychopaths, bring it on
it will be exhausting and devastating you are going to LOVE it babe
bai lu has another drama coming out this year that should play with some similar dynamics as this early part—the story of kunning palace. i am beyond excited for this show dude.
https://kisskh.at/719227-ning-an-ru-meng
gonna print t-shirts that say "TANTAI JIN DID NOTHING WRONG EVER"
ye xi wu: tantai jin no
tantai jin: TANTAI JIN YES !!!!
i just finished reading the source material and while it's a blast, it can be very convoluted at times, and quite repetitive. hoping they get rid of some of the back and forth but we'll see. either way, they have done a fantastic job so far translating the story and making changes where they are necessary!
and lmaooooo, i hear you about luo yun xi's makeup. i've seen some complaints about it but SOMEHOW I REALLY LIKE THE DARK LIPSTICK...i'm vibing with his evil sickly aesthetic so hard. not looking forward to when he turns a corner and has to start wearing pastels in every episode
however it's a problem when a viewer attributes their personal opinions about stylistic choices with the actual quality of the production. "i don't like the way they colored ML's wig because it clashes with his eyebrows" is not a statement underlying the actual structure of the show (this is not an attack on you at all, you clearly are very reasonable about these opinions lol). it's just that stylistic and aesthetic choices which aren't a viewer's cup of tea doesn't point to bad and lazy filmmaking. people get blinded in their pursuit to sound intelligent.
i'm especially impressed considering how many episodes of this show got the chopping block because of new regulations regarding number of episodes. we've all seen shows that got obliterated by late desperate editing (unchained love, i'm looking at you)—TTEOTM has maintained coherency and watchability regardless. that's impressive enough on its own! and i totally agree with you regarding the leads. i would legitimately watch bai lu and luo yun xi kicking rocks in their pajamas for 40 episodes
like...somehow, not every single thing in the drama has to be 10/10 at all times as long as the actors are vibing and the story has steady pacing. i'm a pretty critical consumer of this kind of media and can understand (and even do agree with) certain criticisms, but my enjoyment of TTEOTM has not decreased in the slightest due to the aforementioned factors. it's allowed to be flawed if i'm having a good time, and let me tell you, i am having A BLAST. i can't remember the last time i was enslaved by an airing schedule like i am right now.
people will tell you that all good television must check off a certain amount of boxes to be quality, and forget entirely that really you should—at the end of the day—simply be enjoying it.