jcg

I would hasten to say that the drama is also a commentary on hierarchy. Everyone is kinda of powerless against the person above them in rank. Even the ML has to deal about the more powerful people above him who are displeased with him.

Looking forward to this as Iam currently binging the japanese Doctor X series (all 7 seasons) on Netflix. It's kinda over the top acting and some of the side characters are rather annoying but its weirdly addictive. Also, not much interesting to watch in K drama or C drama land.

Yes I scanned the novel too and I believe you are right. She was married to a husband and they both died along the road to exile. The drama has changed that backstory quite dramatically and I actually like the drama version better. More grounded than rebirth (which has become too tropey). Also more poignant given she is actually a servant in her ex-fiancee's household although since they never met, she has no intentions of becoming his wife. Just gaining freedom for her family to become free people. This is first drama I have seen that really brings home the plight of indentured servants in ancient society. They have no rights and are slaves for generations.

I meant family reputation but I guess it would not be "realistic" to expect under the current Emperor. I think in some of the teasers it hinted at her being able to at least do proper memorial for her family with ML's help. Just the 1st episode was so sad and then all the flashbacks just bring them back for FL and all of us. Kudos to the film crew - been a very long time since I was so invested in characters in a C-drama.

I am always constantly worried (LOL they've got me so invested already in the characters!) the maids 2nd class maids will get into trouble because they are not as savvy as her in avoiding trouble.

LOL oh no - but you are probably right. From the previews the sweet sister of Du Cheng is not what she seems. Also seems like there will be lots of single ladies paraded in front of ML. Which makes me anxious for FL even though I know they will end up together. But I sure hope he doesn't go through several wives before they finally end together. One first wife is enough!

I assume he will find out as well that she is his ex-fiancee. But I think your guess is right. They will demote him or she somehow saves the family and they then feel indebted to her. Or maybe the Shen name will be redeemed. I would love a redemption arc for her family. Those flashbacks are too sad.

Just think of him as having "aged" from long years of battle in the field LOL. Female generals - that I agree with you 100%. I can't watch those dramas because these actresses with sticks for arms are not capable of any physical strength no matter how much "qigong" one has. I think the older dramas like the Oh My Emperor one and Rise of a Warrior had actresses that at least allowed one to suspend disbelief LOL. Korean dramas are a bit better here in casting. Some of the Korean actresses look like they can kick butt.

Hey if you spent your years fighting bloody battles, you'd look a lot worse for wear than the ML LOL. Also - you need actors who can pull off such an epic drama. 20 something year old actors won't be able to too.

Yes, this is a refreshing change from all the 1000s of C-dramas pushed out these days. If someone wants to watch all romance, definitely lots of others out there to enjoy. Personally I find the she was done wrong, then she died, then she re-borned and now is seeking revenge...but oh...along the way falls headlong in love with her enemy and everything else is secondary. A drama that is focused on slice of life and survival in a household is much more interesting than just the overdone romance trope. I am sure with 47 episodes, there will be plenty of time for that.

The flashbacks to her younger self always make me sad. Looks like she had a really wonderful family too.

Me too. This is not a wuxia, it's a slice of life drama and I am glad they are taking their time to tell a good story. As long as the story is good, it can be a long one. A bad story, even if only 12 episodes is still not worth seeing.

She is also in Against the Current and doing an amazing job as well. Glad she is not being type-cast as the evil princess/madam type. Looking forward to her in lead roles.

Family race for sure - I rewatched that several times LOL. Yes when the family blamed the son for driving her off was kinda funny too. OK morbid of me but I rewatched the scene where the "fall gal" was shot to death. Actress had few scenes but she carried them well to the end. Her last words were quite dramatic.

Yes she was kinda cast to stereotype and they went a bit heavy here I think to make her turnaround more dramatic. I think they could have made it a bit more nuanced because there was not much runway to develop her turnaround. And I guess she never knew who her real landlord was. This is what I find special about this drama. They don't go the usual plot route. And they are not above leaving things unresolved especially when it doesn't really impact the main plot. Leaves audience wanting more.

Yes and when you are interested in all their back stories. The drama was too short and I wanted to know more about the poison lady, the hacker, the team lead, the mole in the police dept (was there one? they never confirmed), the detective, the judo sister-in-law. Hey even mama bona and her son. Let's hope there is a S2.

Agreed. I rated it a 10 as it was so under-rated in the beginning. The rating is at least at the right place now. It's a great drama from the amazing Kong Hye Jin. She delivered on this one. Both loving mom and cool assassin. I do hope for S2. So many side character stories to be explored.

OK it's like USD5.99 for all express so cheaper to buy all. I paid for one episode express before I realized might as well buy all. Hey much cheaper than buying a movie ticket. Not sure how much in other countries but it's like USD$20 in my area for just one movie, Then with popcorn which you have to have and a soda - easily $50-60 for 2 people.

But I think it wasn't gratuitous violence done for the sake of tugging at our hearts (ok maybe a little but that is drama right?). What I mean is what was shown served to move the plot forward. And set the tone for why the FL acts very meek and just tries not to be noticed. Heck if I were in her shoes, I'd do the same. Dang if I saw my whole family executed and forced to commit suicide in front of me, any feistiness or cheeriness would be wiped out from the trauma. And then to top it off, I land in my ex-fiancee's compound when I am supposed to be dead (and will be if discovered), with a scary as heck mistress...I'd keep my mouth shut and just avoid anything to bring attention to myself.

Yes. They managed to wrap everything together neatly with the last minute ex-colleague showing up as fall guy (or gal). But I could have stayed for a few more episodes. Howver, the ending does hint at option for S2 so I do hope the drama is popular enough to warrant it. I would def come back to see all these characters, not just Bo Na. I wanna see if her sister-in-law becomes a cop, mama and her son is an interesting side plot they could easily develop. We never found out who the mole was in the police office. And you know you wanna see the good cop get back to his detective role. Being a traffic cop was too funny of a step down. I also felt the poison lady deserves a few more episodes, ditto the hacker and equipment guy. They all looked like they had more talents we haven.t seen yet. Hahaha - unfortunately I am no billionaire so can't fund a drama production.