It appears you can relate a lot more to morally grey characters. Which is totally fine. There's no need to write…
That was the first episode, Fan Yue business with Bai Shuo was transactional. He still was the one who brought her back to the city so she could have a chance to save her dad despite it being part of his plan. I think you just simply have a main issue with the leads here, that's why you keep overlooking and deeming the obvious things as "underwriting" when in fact they aren't. You're looking way overpass the details.
Also, Fan Yue although is a Demon King wasn't meant to be a dark and very complex character in the first place. His real identity as member of the baize clan gives it all away how he is different from the other demons. He is a reincarnation of the god Jing Yuan. These characters in MM were adapted from ALP where they are the second couple, Yue Mi and Tian Qi. Something tragic happened to them so they reincarnated as mortals, this drama is their love story.
Your opinion is also quite contradictory to what you first stated about the mainleads.
This show is entertaining, at least the recent eps are, but i find it extremely difficult to not only understand…
I don't think so. Bai Shuo unaffected by her bond with Chong Zhao? Well she was affected by it too. She did care for Chong Zhao but he kept pushing it. Bai Shuo doesn't want him to continue sacrificing the others even his own self for her own safety. The reason is that, the more he tries to act as the righteous man for her, the more she feels guilt bcoz he takes those actions at the expense of others. Chong Zhao has constantly been trying to control her decisions and not respecting her decisions. He even went as far as to kill someone which eventually ended up hurting her. Bai Shuo had been consistenly firm that they are no longer fit to stick together bcoz she knew first hand, especially with how he handled the whole incident about her father's death. She knew it was better to stay away from each other so they could put a stop from this cycle which will end up ruining them both. They simply don't share common goal and Chong Zhao never tried to understand Bai Shuo, instead was stuck having prejudice about demons. Not to forget he also save Fu Ling, the very person who murdered her dad right in front of her eyes. I think you forgot about the fox clan arc where she and Chong Zhao were caught hugging, or at Yi City (outlanders city) Bai Shuo did reach out to him during those times , but the next thing Chong Zhao did was try controlling her again. So, why does she have to stay affected about Chong Zhao when they clearly outgrew each other and besides she found out he colluded with their enemy.
The main leads imo have always shown their care and vulnerability. You could clearly see more of it with how Fan Yue had honest conversation with Qi Feng. You forgot again how they cared about Mu Jiu. About Cangshan too. So I don't see how you managed to perceive them as having no care or growth and is only driven by love. Bai Shuo started as a spoiled young girl who was prejudiced about Demons. After all the hardships they went through in the journey, she learned and kept growing. She was able to understand Fan Yue, she felt for Fox Clan etc. Bai Shuo growth until now had been so obvious since her fathers death.
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Also, Fan Yue although is a Demon King wasn't meant to be a dark and very complex character in the first place. His real identity as member of the baize clan gives it all away how he is different from the other demons. He is a reincarnation of the god Jing Yuan. These characters in MM were adapted from ALP where they are the second couple, Yue Mi and Tian Qi. Something tragic happened to them so they reincarnated as mortals, this drama is their love story.
Your opinion is also quite contradictory to what you first stated about the mainleads.
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS6qjQvXC/
The main leads imo have always shown their care and vulnerability. You could clearly see more of it with how Fan Yue had honest conversation with Qi Feng. You forgot again how they cared about Mu Jiu. About Cangshan too. So I don't see how you managed to perceive them as having no care or growth and is only driven by love. Bai Shuo started as a spoiled young girl who was prejudiced about Demons. After all the hardships they went through in the journey, she learned and kept growing. She was able to understand Fan Yue, she felt for Fox Clan etc. Bai Shuo growth until now had been so obvious since her fathers death.