lulupony

Then I think you'd really like CangXuan (besides XY, he also has great scenes with Grandpa King, and his political supporters) 😊, and his role will only grow in Season 2. If you ever want to pick the show back up, right before release of S2 may be a good time (best guess is end of this year/start of 2024), since you won't have to suffer the withdrawal syndrome that the folks in this forum are going through 😂 The main story (and characters) for this drama is quite unique and captivating, so I do think it warrants an eventual watch when one's ready.

I personally love the costuming in this drama, especially starting from ep 20, when they return to Xiyan.

This is a good FMV that captures the spirit of CX well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2Uq29NXM1s

Also, if you don't mind spoilers, this monologue from CX in ep 31 (start from 14:30) epitomizes him as a character, so it may help as a litmus test to see if you want to invest time into the show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR5R_loSy-4&list=PLMX26aiIvX5qVDpt6FurJi729fe30wdXz&index=31&t=1408s

I heard the subbing is good on Viki, if you still want to give this show a shot?

If you like historical dramas and characters with more gravitas, then you may appreciate Cang Xuan's (the ML) storyline. Zhang Wan Yi, the actor, comes from a serious drama background, so his acting is very much in line with serious historical drama style that has that "gravitas". His scenes are light at first but grow a lot more in complexity and weight as the show goes on, and his story (along with XY, the FL) carries the story forward.

Just a personal note, Zhang Wan Yi and Yang Zi is the primary reason I'm following this show, since period idol dramas aren't my usual cup of tea. It's certainly made my experience worthwhile since their performances are just killer to watch (I get goosebumps whenever they're in a scene together), though there are definitely aspects of the show that I didn't appreciate as much.

Most of the shipping fans are either in support of ML2, who's sweet and gentle, and ML3, who's charismatic and soulful. I'd say these 2 characters carry most of the romance storylines.

If you want the whole story, that'd take 15 pages 😆

Basically FL and ML gets separated when they're young (I think this is where you stopped)? FL ran away and was tricked and captured by fox demon, but she was able to trick him and run away. Then she just wandered around and settled down in QingShui Town, which is when the story began in ep 2.

The ML gets sent off to another country to hide from opposing political powers at home, and at start of ep 2, goes to Qingshui Town to find the FL and also to resolve a rebel army.

The entire story centers on the FL and ML, including 1) their reunion, 2) their partnership to return to homeland, 3) ML's climb to the throne, and the FL's partnership in that journey. S1 ends with ML's ascent to the throne. S2 continues with ML's reign and eventual reunification of the land.

However, the bulk of the attention (and storylines) are spent on the romance storylines of the FL, which is 1) one-sided love from the ML, 2) main love line with the 2ML, and 3) a push-pull relationship with the 3ML. This is what you've probably read the most about, like who's endgame, etc, and also what most of the fan wars are about.

And yea, Yang Zi has a lot of haters, but she's a fantastic actress. This is definitely her best work so far. The ML is played by Zhang Wan Yi, who boasts a strong acting record from serious dramas and is fantastic here. 2ML is played by Deng Wei, who's relatively new but also does a good job, and 3ML is played by Tan Jian CI, who's also a very strong actor.

I'd say it' really what you like to see in a drama. I don't find the romance that particularly compelling, but I love almost everything else about it. 😊

I personally think the casting is great (and male main cast actually are aged 27 to 32 at the time of shooting, so it may just be the filters the drama used that make them look young).

Yang Zi is absolutely amazing as the FL, and she's pretty great as a character.
At the end of the day, it's what you're looking for in your drama watching experience. I'm personally watching b/c this drama features some of the best acting talent in this genre in a longtime, and the writing asks for some stellar performances from the cast. I'm watching b/c my fav character is really deep and complex, with interesting dynamics with all the ensemble cast, not just with the romance.

So my question to you is, what are you asking/looking for?

ZWY's scenes will definitely increase, esp starting from ep 14. I do warn you that if you're mostly invested in CX's storyline for the romance alone, then it may be a bumpy ride. His relationship with XY besides the romance, with CSFL as partners in crime, with his grandpa, and with others are complex and definitely worth the watch for me. And ZWY just keeps on getting better with each episode. =D

The entire story is focused on XY and CX, but more so on XY and her love life. CX's scenes and importance start growing once he recognizes XY (ep 14) and really starts picking up once his fight for the throne starts (ep 20). The series also ends on a high note with CX's story playing center stage. If you really don't care about ML2 and ML3, then I'd recommend either FF-ing or skipping, since their scenes don't really affect the main storyline and mostly just add to XY's romantic storyline.

I do warn you though, that if main character syndrome includes having the ML get the girl at the end, you may be in for an unpleasant ride, as this drama is very untraditional in that sense.

If not, CX is a very complex character that is supported by an amazing performance from ZWY. His relationship with XY starts deep and grows deeper as the story progresses, though not entirely romantic in nature.

This is so well-done! Thank you!

(whispers) well, he was a bit intense with XiaoLiu,..but he did regard "him" as an enemy to his sister A Nian, and later to his shifu, the Haoling king.

I just realized that the line from Grandpa is from Season 2. At this point, XY's relationship with Grandpa is much deeper.

Spoiler on the novel ending (and this may change in the actual drama S2)
XY considers CX more valuable than herself. Based on the novel, she didn't commit suicide when TSJ died, and though it was difficult, she found the will to live and recover b/c she saw how hard it was on CX to see her like that. At the end, she killed herself b/c she couldn't bear the pain of CX hurting her, and the thought/guilt that TSJ died b/c of her, in a way. She was torn b/t the pain of avenging TSJ and the pain of killing CX, and in the end, she chose to end herself b/c she couldn't bear the thought of killing CX.

What sustained her through the torture of flesh-eating maggots was her memory with CX (the same case when she was tortured by the fox demon), and that's why the love bug was implanted successfully. XY didn't reveal herself to CX not b/c she didn't love/care for him, but precisely she cared so much about him that she's afraid of her own identity, that he (and her dad) no longer cares about her if she really was Chi Chen's daughter. But she revealed this secret to CX right away after they reunited and not her dad, entrusting him with her deepest and most painful secret.

During the Meilin scene, CX is the only that sensed her in danger "just b/c". Both XL and TSJ had a physical reason for why they're able to. CX is also the first person that XY thought of once her spirit was resurrected. That's just on the subconscious level. Moving on to their actual relationship, CangXuan and XiaoYao is the most communicative couple (other than about the romances). They share each other's thoughts and communicate on so much more than just romances, but about their values, fears, aspirations, and vulnerabilities.

And I'll disagree with you on this, XY would definitely be willing to kill XL or give up Jing if they ever present as an immediate and direct threat to CX. She said so herself, that if the Tushan clan ever becomes enemies with CX, she'd be the first to be enemies to them (including TSJ). It'd be very painful for her, but that's the length she'd go to for CX.

I've put my comment on the grandpa in another comment as a spoiler, as I realized that's from Season 2.

Welcome to the YaoXuan ship 😊😊 Brace yourself for a wild ride in S2. 😉

One reason is that b/c it's written that way in the script? 😂😅

But on a serious note, these two kids suffered a LOT of trauma together, and that already builds a strong psychological connection. In addition, during their 300 years apart, the sweetness and strength of that bond was the only that sustained them both through the toughest times. It was the memory of CX that gave XY hope to continue to live, and that's just the foundation based on the time they've spent apart.

This is the XY that Jing and XL encounter, one that has spent the last 300 years missing and loving her Gege.

I won't go into how they've continued to build their relationship once XY's identity is revealed, but they're always on the same page and seem to almost read each other's mind. They're more than soulmates, as they're almost one, entangled by blood and bone. Even Grandpa King said himself, even he feels like an outsider when it comes to the closeness between XY and CX.

Lol! I actually knew TJC way before ZWY, and liked him ever since his debut drama. Really glad that he's finally getting some well-deserved recognition as a talented actor. Objectively, I think the YaoLiu is the best written romantic storyline, so it makes perfect sense to me why YaoLiu is so well-loved.

ZWY just hand an awesome interview that I think may be relevant for some of our discussions here, so I'll translate the relevant sections below.

他坦言，以前觉得古装剧是一个相对来说“人物标签化比较强的戏种...每一个角色都是不同的，从演员的出发点看待不同的角色，我最基本的‘支点’就是要把角色演成一个‘人’，而不是一个标签化的角色。 他的每一个行为，每一个想法，每一场戏的最高任务，都要从人的基本思维逻辑为起点去塑造。张晚意并不排斥角色身上的“标签”，在他看来，作为好的演员是可以把“标签”消化掉，赋予角色复杂性.

"I previously thought that period drama is a genre that have strongly typecasted characters with certain "labels",...but every character is different. As an actor, my foundational premise is to treat each character as a "person or human", and not as a typecast from labels or stereotypes." As an actor, his every movement, every thought, and the most important goal for every scene, is to create the character from the basic premise and logic rooted as a person/human. Zhang Wan Yi does not resist or reject the "labels" put on these characters, as from his perspective, a good actor is able to digest these "labels" and give the character complexity.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

So much of the discussion here, especially the more inflammatory ones, tend to focus on the "labels" of these beloved characters, whether that'd be "cruel CX", "weak TSJ", "abusive XL", and our poor, forgotten CSFL. That's partly why these discussions always quickly derail into angry fan wars.

We're lucky as viewers to have a drama with so many complex characters, and please remember, as you bash (vs. cordially and rationally criticize) these characters, they are foundationally a person and thus flawed, but they are also well-loved by others in this community.

--> For those who know Chinese and want to read the entire interview, link here: https://k.sina.cn/article_5044281310_12ca99fde020021akr.html?ua=HUAWEI-ELS-AN00__weibo__13.9.1__android__android12&from=10D9195060&subch=oent&wm=3049_0032&sendweibouid=3097590172&sendweibouid=2388679983&dt_dapp=1

I thought it was a bit obvious given 95% of my comments here were about CangXuan, but it can be challenging to keep track with so many familiar usernames, though I could tell you were a YaoLiu shipper right away from your avatar 😂

Sigh...My heart pains for what CX-XY could have been, but alas, their fate has been written since the start. I cry now every time I watch the kid scenes since know what happens to them as adults makes their childhood pain so much worse. 😭😭😭

And that's precisely why XL/FFB is such a memorable character. As a XiaoYao mama fan, I'm also really glad that she was able to have those times with FFB, as that were probably some of her happiest moments.

I do think there is something to be said about accepting the drama for what it is, and accepting XY's choice for what it is. (Maybe it's easier for me as a Yao-Xuan shipper to say this, than most Yao-Liu shippers, since most of the arguments/discussions has been around TSJ vs. XL).

I ultimately see the relationship b/t XY and TSJ at the current moment as XY seeking after what she's looking for, which is loyal companionship in a romantic partner, a man that's dedicated to just her. At the current moment, no one really met that criteria, but TSJ played smart and used the situation to his advantage and confessed his devotion and love for XY, also asking her for the 15-year promise. From XY's perspective, TSJ is the one displaying the qualities that she's looking for out in the open.

While we as the audience see XL's feelings, XY does not from her perspective, even though she constantly feels pulled to him, consciously and subconsciously. But that attraction alone is not going to meet her criteria for a romantic partner, and XY's choices are mostly driven by her head rather than her heart.

While I may not enjoy the TSJ-XY relationship as much as a viewer, I accept it for what it is. Although I will say this, if we're comparing the depth of the bond with XY, no one can beat our Cang Xuan Gege 😉.

lol. which one?

I'd think it'd be tragic either way. I still do think XY would still have ended up with Jing even if she knew about XL's feelings, given that she can never really be with XL given their barriers. It'd just be a more tortuous process for her, and I think that's what XL is trying to save her from, taking all that frustration/suffering onto himself.

I don't think the ending of XY/XL would be that different. The barrier b/t XY and XL is much greater than just feelings/acknowledgement of love.