k8cathy

The real-life prototype is Harbin. It's like "Huazhou" represents Guangzhou. The show creates a fictionalized geography (Halan city, Yuedong province, Huazhou, etc.) to avoid directly associating real cities with the sensitive subject of drug trade and crime.

From an artistic standpoint, the series is excellent and can boldly be called a true work of art. It has an unusual atmosphere, a complex and intriguing plot, and wonderful actors portraying deep, multi-dimensional characters.

However, this series is truly gruesome. And what leaves the worst taste in my mouth is that the characters here value the chance for revenge over their own or others' lives. So, while it's artistically superb, on a moral level it is deeply repellent.

Oh, you're so right! This drama needs to be seen at least twice. The first time completely unprepared, the second time, naturally, already knowing the ending and who's really who.

Tong Li need to be credited as main character. She was awesome.

I do it for my telegram channel, well, I'm trying get more friends to watch the show. ;) Viki doesn't have this drama, which is not surprising, this platform leans toward romantic idol dramas and rarely pick up something else.

A minor correction: the name Halan in Chinese is 哈岚, not the 岚市. 岚市 is the end of three character sentence 哈岚市, where 市 shì means city. 市 is often added to the name of the city, and whole sentence 哈岚市 means "the City of Halan".

I take advantage of the opportunity to thank you one more time for your Companion Piece for that drama. I am now translating the show into Russian, and your work already helped me more than once. ;)

Episodes 11 & 12.

Thank you for your work! It was not only interesting, but useful also.

1. Not really. There are three couples, and I can't deside, which couple would be second, and which third. 2ml, let's number him 2nd, unrequitedly in love with fl, but he'll find his own happiness.
2. From very begining. With some twist. ;)
3. Oh yeah. And you'll understand right away, why breackup was inevitable. I don't remember episodes, but it wasn't too long.
4. Yes, for all three couples.

@wydings I totally disagree with you. It is one of the rare examples when sad ending was done right And what a beautiful finale it was! The whole finale, not only farewell to mail lead.

That goes also for the most actresses from the list. :) Wu Jinyan is 33, Li Yitong is 33, Bai Lu is 29. And if you look on other prominent actresses (and actors) of now days, you'll see the same figures: Song Yi - 34, Dilraba - 32, Li Qin - 33. Because it takes time to establish the career. Zhao Jinmai is a real exception here, she's only 21, but she was a child-actress and began her acting career more than ten years ago.

Please, mark your comment as a spoiler.

Actually, there were hints from long ago. The way he talk to Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong about second chances and doing things right this time hinted that he remember their past life also. Li Rong even asked him "Are you also?.." in the pagoda, right before the marriage proposal. From the beginning of the show Su Rongqing was established as third main character, and it's he who kicked off the plot by murdering the princess. So it's no wonder that he remember, I was waiting for that reveling for some time.

You are not the one who shipping Jiang Hu and Yang. ;) Though I can't say I ship them very strong in romantic sort of way, but I really like them as a married couple in a real life (not the actors, characters as a real people). In every scene together they so calm, friendly, caring, supporting each other. And, in spite of 1ML and 2FL, they don't manipulate, don't push away. As for "official" couples in drama, I really don't know which I dislike most.

I guess Qi people don't have family names at all, only given names. So yes, she must be his elder sister.