lilseemonster

Many of the elder women in this drama are good people at heart but they definitely perpetuate bad beliefs from the patriarchal system. ML's mom was all like what's wrong with marriage to Du Cuique and why would you not want to continue to be an indentured servant to Lanxiang when she asked for her freedom. They're also a product of the society and their upbringing. They do serve as a foil to the younger generation that is finding their place in the world on their own terms.

I also really like Xiuru as a character. She is the most disadvantaged daughter since her parents are gone, but still she took a risk and advocated for herself. I actually think Ma Fan Ding, actress that plays Xiuru, is only 25 (agree she looks good regardless). I enjoy how this show brings back characters and everyone has their own growth.

I think we can all agree what LJQ did was selfish and wrong. I feel like he's somewhat aware himself that he doesn't fall into the category of a "good person," which is why he acted surprised when XLX called him one when she was drunk. And the show isn't glossing over his actions as romantic or right. His wife calls him out on it. XLX has publicly humiliated him, continues to give him the cold shoulder and punish him. I have faith the show will also demonstrate his growth after marrying her. I just don't think we need to crucify him. He's a flawed character but I still like him.

Totally agree! I think for a historic drama like this, the restrained intimacy makes a lot of sense. Even the drinking from the same cup scene gave me butterflies 😂

orange it is! that makes sense from a traffic light perspective. I actually prefer flawed characters. I love my occasional green flag but I can also accept MLs that make mistakes. Wei Shao and Ling Buyi are probably redder if you're ranking them 😂

unfortunately, I don't think that's in our cards for this drama... Tan Songyun's interview said they had like one kiss in the whole drama 😭 But I think they have chemistry even without such scenes. The way he looks at her has me swooning when she was still his maid

I adore him! After so many psychopaths that came his way, he should fear his family finds him another crazy wife. They've been such bad decision makers in this department, I do think he had little choice. He wanted XLX to be his main wife, not concubine. His and her family would never have agreed to it if he tried to go the proper route. He also had to beat Scholar Han to the proposal. It was a selfish decision made in desperation. I still don't think he's a full red flag. I think he's a pink flag? brown flag? what's green + red? It's also quite realistic that a man in that time period thinks this kind of behavior is okay. I'm sure she'll teach him a lesson and he'll grow from it. He's still very patient with her, trying to woo her and make her genuinely love him even after marriage.

I know what LJQ did was wrong. It was one sided and selfish. However, I kind of don't blame him considering who he's married and who he almost got married to. Three crazies! His family are terrible at picking him a life partner. Then there's scholar Han closing in. If I were him, I'd try to secure my marriage to the woman I love ASAP too. I also adore LXY as an actor, so it's hard for me to hate him😅

I also found the supportive Lin siblings so nice. Usually when they have different moms, they're all at each other's throats. There's that one sister who's naive and spoiled, but she's not malicious. I guess it gives us a reprieve from all the evil women in ML's life.

Because I stress and obsess easily 😭 When they do that 1 episode a day trickle, it consumes my mind all day!!

I really want to start this, and have been holding off so I can have more episodes to binge. I just noticed that it's 47 episodes. Does anyone know if this is going to air all at once? If it's going to get split into seasons, will there be a gap period? I don't want to get stuck waiting a long time for season 2...

No! Seriously? That is so sad 😭 I hate SYZ’s father so much, but we can’t choose the parents we’re born with. I can relate with him because I was in a similar situation.

I can’t agree more. Luke is sharp with his tongue but soft hearted. Flora is generally soft with her words and outwardly warm but her walls feel higher and thicker than his in many ways.

I thought JJY had so much potential as an actress when I first saw her in The Blooms at Ruyi Pavilion. Her later works felt really repetitive and I thought her acting regressed/felt too self-conscious. I spent a couple of years just disappointed and criticizing her. But she really delivered for me here! I am a believer that she still has it and can deliver an amazing performance with the right role. TJR's ability to define and differentiate each of his numerous characters in this drama was also impressive. Honestly, I felt the plot was a bit convoluted with too many attempts to surprise or shock the audience. Sometimes less is more. But this is typical GJM. Still, I loved many of the characters and the actors that brought them to life. I thought it was a fun (and at times heartbreaking) watch.

I’m at episode 20 but I came to complain about ML’s mom. I find her so weak and self centered. The way she’s inattentive to her son’s feelings and her lack of faith in her ex husbands integrity is maddening.

Luckily, the FL is total opposite. I love her character. She’s strong, rational, assertive, speaks her mind, and isn’t a damsel in distress. In my opinion, one of the better written FL characters in modern dramas.

I was actually thinking the same thing… their bad acting kind of took me out and the scenes with them felt comical rather than high stakes.

Does Han Li meet his little flying rodent pet again 😭? That hit me hard because it kind of reminds me of my dog that passed away not too long ago…

Can someone who’s read the novel or watched the donghua help me answer the question in spoiler?

I just finished 25 and I don’t understand how this is ending in 5 episodes… will they be able to defeat Wang Chan and the rest of the bad sects before the drama ends? I don’t want another JoL cliffhanger ending and have to wait 5 years for the second season 😭😭😭

Nangong Wan as a love interest makes the least sense to me. They barely spent any time together to fall for each other.

I read that he has a couple of concubines in his lifetime, so she’s only his first wife.

I like this drama, it feels like I’m watching an RPG, Harry Potter (sorting hat/choosing a house), Sci Fi (flying ships that shoot enemies), and Naruto (Blood Trials) all in one. However, I think it could’ve used the full 40 episodes. The editing feels so choppy throughout the series. The emotional impact of some deaths could’ve hit more if we spent a little more time with them. Han Li is rational and practical, cold and ruthless to enemies, but he does value and mourn people who he feels genuinely care about him. I actually don’t like the romance between him and the FL. It feels very forced right now. I am glad there’s little of it.