Am I dead inside? I just can't seem to get behind GSJ/SQ even though all the elements are there. Maybe because…
100000% THIS—I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE. I am honestly shocked that I'm not feeling it, but I can't even bear to watch it, even though their performances are fantastic.
He is framed constantly as this extraordinarily perceptive and intelligent man, so I just can't accept that he would fall for SQ's machinations. I'm hoping he's playing the long game and at some point we get to watch her discover the magnitude of her own hubris.
My head hurts with realization that if JDC was just obsessed with KDH it would be a bad trait and he would be…
I was having similar thoughts. It felt like they were trying to frame the whole thing as some tragic one-sided love, 'Deuk Chan is actually very complicated and has been suffering so much!!' Without the exceptional Yun Ji On in this role, the effort would have been wasted, because he totally sold it as well as he could have—that look of empty acceptance on his face when he unbuckled his seatbelt was very powerful.
But uhhhh this man murdered his best friend's girlfriend and covered it up for years, because he was secretly in love with him?? This is utterly psychotic behavior, I don't care that he had to keep his sexuality a secret or whatever, but they are going to try to frame it this way to make him empathetic to audience.
If the roles were reversed—like, for example, if the KDH character was female—everyone would rightfully find him repulsive.
Lmao we're gonna get to the end and the final reveal is that there actually is no Gong family, and every single person in the manor is actually a Wufeng spy playing 4D chess with themselves.
Right?? It's actually not a setup I was expecting myself to enjoy quite so much. I think it helps that the writing is strong and performances are tight—plus, aesthetically this whole drama is such a total feast for the eyes. It all just WORKS somehow. It is seriously polished and feels so un-recycled. Just really genuine and well-crafted. I'm already dreading the end!
The role reversal in this show is so wonderful and fresh.
Usually it is the FL who is good-hearted, kind, softer than the world requires, and a little naive. ML is the one who is mysterious, dangerous, playing 4D chess with everyone around him, acting with unclear motives.
This show has the entire setup tossed on its head. Absolutely LOVING ML Gong Ziyu; he is not at all what I expected from the trailers. I want to protect him as he grows into these new responsibilities! And I'm excited to see where he goes, but at the same time I don't want him to become jaded and hardened by betrayals and losses (or see Yun Weishan lose him, and her heart's purest dream—living a simple life and taking care of the one she loves.)
I wonder if Yun Weishan's sister was actually killed/abducted by Wufeng and not the Gong family, a surefire method of guaranteeing their assassin is loyal to the cause and has revenge as a motivator, willing to kill and die for the mission.
Something has to make her solidly willing to turncoat on Wufeng, moreso than falling in love with Gong Ziyu, which I'm sure she will obviously struggle with throughout. Maybe this is it—when she discovers she has been seeking vengeance against the wrong sect all along.
Anyway, I am absolutely LOVING this show so far. It has such a vibrant energy even with the cool color palette it employs. It's stylistic without being kitschy. Visually it reminds me quite a bit of Ang Lee's 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon,' with its moody hues and chiaroscuro shadows. It's so rare to have quality lighting in Cdramas these days, so this is a huge treat to watch. Gorgeous cinematography, music, and performances so far. A little slower than I was anticipating (which is not a complaint actually). I really wish there were more than 24 episodes of this because tbh they definitely could have stretched that runtime out a little more at this pace, and also, I never want it to end.
Ryeoun is at his best in these young-ish effervescent comedic roles. It's where his charisma shines through the brightest. Will definitely be checking this one out!
His ex-girlfriend is probably alive. Fucking insane and emotionally abusive? Check Body never found? Check Discovery of her alive and well—and mentally unstable enough to fake her own death to frame her ex-boyfriend for her murder to torture him and ruin his life for leaving her—the only thing that can get him acquitted for the crime and protect him from the public's rage and hatred? CHECK CHECK CHECK!
OR, Theory #2: if she IS dead, Do Ha's Mom did it to protect her political career.
Watching this purely for the aesthetic. I loooveee the blending of traditional style in modern setting (just like…
Super late reply, but if you enjoy that aesthetic like I do, you should definitely check out The Silence of The Monster. It's another Bi Wen Jun drama, but it captures this very specific vibe extraordinarily well; perhaps even better than in Sweet Tai Chi.
Maybe its me. I hate this fact of her having to downgrade her life just to be with him. I dont think her parents…
what a depressing and materialistic way to look at life lol. songyan isn't a billionaire but he is a decorated civil servant and hero who has saved countless lives. he has a very stable income, savings, a loving family and a beautiful home. if this isn't success then idk what is
tfw you realize everyone's happy and content but since there's still 12 more episodes left you'll soon get to watch FL break ML's heart all over again lmao. i'm fine
Lmfao these people are so despicable...literally every single character in this show needs to undergo an exorcism before being thrown down the garbage disposal. And then tossed into the incinerator for good measure
These are actually amazing casting ideas, but I'm especially fond of Bai Jing Ting x Bai Lu.
I went off on my own tangent and now I'm thinking about a Xu Ruo Han + Xu Kai romcom — I'm thinking friends to lovers, where one of them falls for the other in adulthood and is extremely resistant to those feelings. I feel like it could be really hilarious and poignant with a decent script. They both have super expressive faces, amazing comedic timing, and have a really natural presence on screen. GIVE ME WHAT I WANT, CDRAMA GODS!
I SHIP YUN WEISHAN AND GONG SHANGJUE.
THEIR CHEMISTRY IS ABSOLUTE FIRE.
THEY'RE BARELY ON SCREEN TOGETHER BUT EVERY TIME THEY ARE IT'S LIKE THE INSIDE OF AN ACTIVE VOLCANO!!! I WILL NOT BE SILENCED!!!!!!!!
Okay. There. I said it. Whewwww I'm so relieved, I've been holding that in since like the third episode.
He is framed constantly as this extraordinarily perceptive and intelligent man, so I just can't accept that he would fall for SQ's machinations. I'm hoping he's playing the long game and at some point we get to watch her discover the magnitude of her own hubris.
But uhhhh this man murdered his best friend's girlfriend and covered it up for years, because he was secretly in love with him?? This is utterly psychotic behavior, I don't care that he had to keep his sexuality a secret or whatever, but they are going to try to frame it this way to make him empathetic to audience.
If the roles were reversed—like, for example, if the KDH character was female—everyone would rightfully find him repulsive.
Usually it is the FL who is good-hearted, kind, softer than the world requires, and a little naive. ML is the one who is mysterious, dangerous, playing 4D chess with everyone around him, acting with unclear motives.
This show has the entire setup tossed on its head. Absolutely LOVING ML Gong Ziyu; he is not at all what I expected from the trailers. I want to protect him as he grows into these new responsibilities! And I'm excited to see where he goes, but at the same time I don't want him to become jaded and hardened by betrayals and losses (or see Yun Weishan lose him, and her heart's purest dream—living a simple life and taking care of the one she loves.)
I'm enjoying this so much tbh.
Something has to make her solidly willing to turncoat on Wufeng, moreso than falling in love with Gong Ziyu, which I'm sure she will obviously struggle with throughout. Maybe this is it—when she discovers she has been seeking vengeance against the wrong sect all along.
Anyway, I am absolutely LOVING this show so far. It has such a vibrant energy even with the cool color palette it employs. It's stylistic without being kitschy. Visually it reminds me quite a bit of Ang Lee's 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon,' with its moody hues and chiaroscuro shadows. It's so rare to have quality lighting in Cdramas these days, so this is a huge treat to watch. Gorgeous cinematography, music, and performances so far. A little slower than I was anticipating (which is not a complaint actually). I really wish there were more than 24 episodes of this because tbh they definitely could have stretched that runtime out a little more at this pace, and also, I never want it to end.
Fucking insane and emotionally abusive? Check
Body never found? Check
Discovery of her alive and well—and mentally unstable enough to fake her own death to frame her ex-boyfriend for her murder to torture him and ruin his life for leaving her—the only thing that can get him acquitted for the crime and protect him from the public's rage and hatred? CHECK CHECK CHECK!
OR, Theory #2: if she IS dead, Do Ha's Mom did it to protect her political career.
I went off on my own tangent and now I'm thinking about a Xu Ruo Han + Xu Kai romcom — I'm thinking friends to lovers, where one of them falls for the other in adulthood and is extremely resistant to those feelings. I feel like it could be really hilarious and poignant with a decent script. They both have super expressive faces, amazing comedic timing, and have a really natural presence on screen. GIVE ME WHAT I WANT, CDRAMA GODS!