Kinda cool how Hao De is so interested in the legal process and is able to actually help Shen adjudicate cases after his memory loss! Too bad there is no path in this ancient China for a woman to become a judicial official. I hope that Shen retains his growing fondness and appreciation of Hao De if/when his memories return. By now he has to fully appreciate her value to him. She's basically saved his career.
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Story of Kunning Palace Episode 13
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Sue Ning keeps saying this, but keeps doing good things to help people. Man, the way she manipulated the situation with Yue Yue was a masterful bit of scheming and it makes you realize that, in her former life - when she definitely was NOT a good person - she must have been a terrifying schemer! At any rate, in this life, the way she has taken steps to help both her sister and Fang Yin is so cool. Fang Yin is clearly, slowly, on a path towards becoming an independent businesswoman. I hope that her dealings with Lyu Xian go forward in a positive way. He seems like an endearing doofus. Simultaneously trying to be graceful and charming and yet always goofing up on some subtle point. One thing I still don't fully understand yet in the story is Ning's obsessive interest in Zhang Zhe. I assume that it must stem from some 'back story' in her previous life. But in this life, it is hard to see how he triggers such behavior in her. Yes, he's handsome, but she seems to completely lose herself and act like a silly fan-girl the moment she sees him in any scene.
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Story of Kunning Palace Episode 12
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Very concerned that Yue Yue is going to really make things hard on Fangyin. For absolutely no reason other than her own horrible, spiteful nature. And wow, Ning's mom is such a hypocrite. She keeps ranting about worrying about Ning's temper, but SHE is the one who always, consistently, immediately loses her temper and starts attacking Ning verbally. Every single time.
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I was so disappointed last episode with how the writers were using the noble idiocy drama plot trope, but I have to say that (a) they didn't drag it out for multiple episodes and (b) the big reveal was pretty emotional and well-delivered.
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The writers have leaned into a 'noble idiocy' plot trope. Du Yangxi is clearly either under some duress or is striving for some goal which requires him to act like an a**hole and severe his ties to not only Shou Hua & the Li family, but even his own mom! Obviously this has something to do with the Yu family. He is clearly going down a bad path for himself and sacrificing his own love and family, for some 'greater good' in his head. Keeps it secret, of course. This is a classic, annoying drama trope. One of the most hated plot tropes by viewers for obvious reasons (mainly because it requires allegedly smart character to suddenly behave dumb as a post) yet is one that is easy to contrive as a writer. Very lazy writing. Hopefully they won't drag this out for too many episodes.
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Story of Kunning Palace Episode 11
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There are a lot of plot threads all moving fast right now. No dull moments in the show. I'm. not sure I understand Xue Ning's school-girl crush over Zhang Zhe. I guess her feelings for him must stem from her experience in her former life? At any rate, the subsequent conversation that follows between her and Xie Wei is very interesting. Xie challenges her about her feelings for both Zheng Zhe and Yan Lin and quickly accuses her of liking Zhe. He aggressively taunts and threatens her over the foolishness of revealing who she likes to anyone because it will quickly become a weakness that others can target. He tells her to bury her affections deep inside where no one can see them. The interesting undertone of this conversation which is delivered in a very angry, aggressive manner by XW, is that he is clearly taking his own advice and hiding his own secret desires and affection for her. His aggressive tone is a mixture of angry concern that she is exposing herself to harm and also a strong hint of jealousy. But his words are delivering a valuable lesson that she needs to take to heart.
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Overall a fantastic episode - again, the music is amazing and adds so much depth to the scenes. But wow - what the heck is Xie Wei's deal? He really freaked out about the kitten! Dude has some serious issues.
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That Yu household is nuts. The mom & daughter are crazy and Minister Yu not only has a crazy temper, but it looks like there must be some backstory between him and Madam Du. It feels like the show is going to take a turn towards more political drama and intrigue. Hopefully it doesn't get too heavy and lose the tone of the series so far.
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The scene where the 5 sisters are discussing Shou Hua's plight is so endearing, the way the siblings are united and strengthened by each other. And proud Mama Li listening outside. If only all families could be like that. I also like how Shuo Hua is putting Du through a real stress test to prove he is deserving of her after the way their marriage started.
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As noted in a prior episode review, the Du Yang Xi character shows his petty, spiteful nature right away in his new marriage. It's one thing that he hadn't yet scene the face of his new wife due to his mother agreeing to the change in bride, but isn't he aware of the fact that Shou Hua is the one who actually saved him from freezing to death in the streets? For that alone, smple human gratitude should have him kowtowing to her for the rest of his life. The fact that his bizarre, emotionally challenged friend saw Du's wife's face and experienced her care before Du did is a pathetic little regret that Du will always have to live with. He has so much to make up to her now in this marriage. It was SO satisfying to see that even Sang the Stone understands that Du has wronged his wife and kicks him out of his room. Of course, soon enough, he realizes his mistake but his pride and pettiness drag out the reconciliation and worse, his naive and shallow understanding of 'principles' that he adheres to make him an easy mark for manipulation.
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So proud of the show writers for not dragging the main couple's separation out for 20+ episodes through various plot contrivances, such as is so common in so many c-ddramas! Thank you, writers! Hopefully we now get to see the two clever leads working together as a team to solve the various problems they will face.
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Man, the intensity of this drama just keeps ramping up. The music score is impressive and really builds the tension up. So far, lots of plot threads are still just getting started. Hope they start to tone that down and instead start to close some off or the story will get too convoluted. I.E., how many episodes will it take to resolve things like the Zhou Yinzi,is a spy thread? Or Fangyin just invested in silk futures thread? And will Shen Jia and Jian Xuy Hui ever actually meet in this life? And at this point a burning question has to be: Just how many guys did the FL have some sort of intimate relationship with in her first life? Obviously Yan Lin, but also the Emperor in that life (Shen Jia?) and something seems to have been intimate between her and Xie Wei and to a lesser extent Zhang Zhe. That's a lotta guys. What's her plan for THIS life? Finally - wow, Yan Lin really is kind of a big dumb stupid jock stereotype, isn't he? One wonders if his idiocy is ultimately the key catalyst for all the troubles in the first life?
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So we've established that Du refused to marry Liu Ba Niang because .... he's a snob. He has a bias against the wealthy. And was prejudiced against her before he even knew her. Not sure how this is supposed to make him appealing. Gotta feel a little sorry for Chai An at this point who must be getting very frustrated. Yes,he's doing a lot of 'scheming' to try to get his way, but he is sincere in how he feels for Li Kang Nang and it's got to be frustrating that the friction between the two Mom's is the sticking point.
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This episode follows a fairly predictable sequence of events to set up Du as a potential suitor. From Madam Li's perspective right now it's obviously towards Kang Ning, since she is the one she is trying to marry off right now. So naturally we get some hijinks by Chai An to guard against any possible 'connection' between Du and Kang Ning. However, we all know that in the long run, Chai An is the ML and no relationship between Du and Kang Ning will go anywhere. The seeds being planted look more promising between Du and Shou Hua - the latter is the one who actually rescued him and also is the one who truly appreciated his poetry.
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So it wasn't surprising to see the betrothal fall apart almost immediately. C-Dramas just don't let the main couple reach happiness that quickly & easily. They always have to contrive some stupid angsty delay.. The worst part of this episode wasn't that plot development. The worst part of this episode was the really choppy editing / scene jumps. The editing has been a little off all along in this show but was especially bad in this episode.
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