maryxiah

Mind sharing the trailer/bts? I haven't gotten the time to search for bts lately due to work, but I'm definitely gonna spend my weekend going through all the bts and trailers again. XD I said this a couple of times before but I really can't get enough of them!

A strong female lead is often associated with the female lead's ability to protect herself through her wits and strength, whichever is applicable. Although that's true to a certain extent, however, strength is a subjective matter. Sometimes, being strong isn't about one's ability to fight or protect oneself, but lies in one's ability to face their own problems and demon, knowing when to ask for help when they need it, showing vulnerability and willingness to grow, waking up every day and doing it all over again.

I think the fact that Xue Zhi is the leader of Hall of Flame entitles her the protection of the four guardians and chief guardian, even Shang Guan Tou has a personal attendant/bodyguard. We also have to take in Xue Zhi's position in the martial arts world, essentially, she's the enemy's daughter and the thorn in everyone's eyes, they all want to kill her whenever the opportunity presents itself. So 2nd dad, knowing his daughter's life is in danger the moment she steps out into the world, asks for the help of the one person he trusts the most to protect his daughter, it's well within his right as a father and a savior to Tou to request it. Tou realizes, upon meeting Xue Zhi, that she is an earnest and sincere girl, maybe a little naive to the dark side of the martial arts world, but a kind and rare gem, hence his determination to keep her safe lies in his own personal feelings for her.

I would say Xue Zhi's strength lies in her trust of the people around her and in humanity. If she doesn't trust them enough, she would have made it harder for them to protect her. Also, she's quick to learn and willing to grow. When she realizes she doesn't have the kind of power to protect her own people, she makes an effort to acquire it instead of complaining. Not to mention, Xue Zhi is appointed as a leader at a young age, yet she's willing to take on the responsibility and always have the Hall of Flame's best interest at heart cuz they're her family. I think all the qualities she possesses made everyone around her protective of her and cares for her a lot, it shows. The guardians are protective of her even though some with their own hidden agenda, Tou and 2nd dad out of love for her, Sword Manor out of friendship with her father and because they genuninely think she's a good person, the list goes on tbh, and I can confidently say I know why.

Ah, I see. I understand where you're coming from and I do agree that sometimes actions speak louder than words. But in this case, especially where romance is essentially taking the center stage right now, I find words speak louder than anything. Often times, caring gestures and expressive eyes express love to an extent, but never inner thoughts and feelings, inner monologue helps, but I've felt that if you don't tell someone how you really feel, they will never know honestly.

As for revealing plot, rather than make it convenient for us viewers in flashbacks and etc, I'd rather characters talk and dish it out instead of beating around the bush and not resolving conflicts that could easily been taken care of, you know. I like it when a show is being simple and smart, rather than going out of its way to show complications only unable to prove or resolve anything.

Ting Wei and Leo seem fun to be around on set, I wish to see more of the trio though, I really loved the bts where they were trying to pass Yukee around, lol. They tried hard to assure she was light and that the clothes were too silky and slippery, lol.

OMG! My Yukee and Leo are so cute on and off screen. I seriously can't get enough of em!

I'm not endorsing iQIYI or anything but they're the official streaming site, along with Tencent and Youku, and I think it's the best site to watch right now as it broadcast on the same time as China but with English subs. Also, their subscription fee, if you can't get the free trial, is inexpensive. I watch iQIYI on all platforms and it's really convenient and user friendly.

I really love them off screen as well. Leo is especially playful in all the BTS, while Yukee just smile sheepishly when he starts doing embarrasing things. And I love the fact that they ad-lib and discuss the proper emotions to convey while filming. I really love Leo in costume drama so I wish I can see more of him in preferably Xianxia.

That's because she has led a sheltered life all her life and hasn't learned any real martial arts until after she comes out of Hall of Flame.

I'd say the whole plot is in the trailers! Lol. But I have been enjoying the journey of discovering everything in between despite the major plot reveal in the trailers. And I certainly don't mind waiting for the kiss scene as it's done beautifully.

I don't get the raving tbh, because aside from their mortal trials, they don't seem like a romantic couple, nor have they shown any attractions to one another in earlier episodes. But I did give them a chance and watched anyway because I was interested in the premise. I was a bit turned off by Yang Zi's monotonous voice, so watching her at first was a struggle. I also didn't buy Phoenix's sudden attraction to Jin Mi because they barely interacted after he brought her to the heavenly realm.

Aside from chemistry issue and credibility, stemmed from my inability to relate to the main couple, my biggest issue with Phoenix and Jin Mi's couple is the fact that they slept together while Jin Mi was still engaged to Night Immortal, knowing fully well it's a betrayal of two of Night's most trusted and beloved people. Not to mention this act is treated as romantic and completely brushed off as nothing. No condemnation, no feelings of guilt or whatsoever, simply because the main couple is in love.

Also, I think Jin Mi's unfeeling pill shouldn't really affect her common sense. It's like a convenient plot device, where she could blame everything on this pill, including her decision to marry Night Immortal because she wasn't aware of her feelings to Phoenix, but then choose to sleep with him instead of breaking it cleanly with Night Immortal first. I have more on that but this isn't the place to discuss it, so anyway, that's what prevented me from enjoying the main couple.

But I do have Ashes of Love to thank for discovering Leo. He was a gem in Ashes and the only reason I finished it, I thought his arc was the most interesting part of the whole drama, including his turn to the dark side, his loneliness despite being on the top, and his eventual redemption.

As for buying into romance and enjoying a show as an entertainment, I'd say I'm generally more tolerant and easy going, I'm not even picky with acting skills, and I could watch a show without proper loveline as long as there's something to keep me engaged. However, when I invest on a couple, I want more than just chemistry and romance, I want to understand them as individuals and a couple, their motivations and their growth, so I can properly root for them. In most cases, I just watch without expectations but when I like a couple, I go all out for them.

I feel the same, I've been replaying the OSTs for days now. They just got a new one out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6I-gCZwFSg&t=160s

I don't really like cheese in real life, but I'm definitely eating THIS cheese!

I was hoping for longer sugary, saccharine, sweet moments! *cries I don't think two days worth of lovey-dovey stuff is going to last me or at least prepare me for future angst!

I understand that PeachBlossomGoddess is still in the early episodes before Xue Zhi realized her feelings and confessed to Tou, I remember Xue Zhi was rather shy and bashful then, avoiding eye contact or even changing topics when Tou sweet-talk her. I get the sense that she was crushing on him, as any normal 17 years old girl would, but keeping him at arm's length because 1. she's carrying the burden of the Leader of Hall of Flame and romance is the last thing she should even consider and 2. his reputation.

However, once she met 2nd dad and realized this could be love, she was bold enough to make the first step. I think it's partly because of her character's naivety and lack of experience, so sometimes it feels like she's bold and unafraid to show her feelings.

I do agree with the level of flirtiness in the later episodes, especially the recent 19-20, I haven't squealed like this in a long time. I even had to repeat a few scenes. Lol, they definitely flirted back and forth a lot, I can't remember seeing this much flirtiness between the main couple before, I am thoroughly enjoying it.

However, dialogue wise, you can see Tou flirts like an experienced lover, he says his buttery line with confidence and all smiles, Xue Zhi, on the other hand, wears her heart on her sleeve, every word she says is earnest and straightforward.

I don't really have any problems with their characterization or the writing thus far, Yukee is admittedly the weaker link, BUT like I said before, it doesn't take away the story, the couple is very much believable and dear to me.

P/S: Sorry I tend to type long responses.

I think it's a mix of acting and writing. Leo's character is written to be playful and flamboyant so he come off as a playboy, therefore, the heated eyes, cheesy lines and smiley face. Yukee's character on the other hand is written to be bashful and inexperienced in love so you can see her character avoids or changes the subject every time Tou flirts with her unabashedly. Also, it's clear that Leo's acting is superior in this, so everyone else seems pale in comparison, especially his female lead that acts the loveline alongside him. However, I don't feel it takes away the story and the couple is very much believable to me, but that's just me.

Only 18 episodes so far and it's filled with fluff and cheese right now. But angst is coming in distant future with secrets and angst threatening to tear the couple apart.

Cheesy and overly saccharine, but I'm enjoying the dialogues a lot, I even squeal like a little girl. I even saw comments from Chinese viewers saying, "Please splash me with more sweetness." XD

I agree and relate to this comment the most. I've seen dramas where most people thoroughly enjoy the main couple, while I feel like an odd duck not understanding their attraction or chemistry.

For example, in Ashes of Love, I had to restart it a couple of times because of how distracting Yang Zi's monotone voice in the beginning, no one seems to feel it but me. And when Phoenix falls for her, it was so abrupt for me because I could barely see any real interaction between them, or signs of attraction prior to that. After that, I couldn't root for them for other reasons.

In Eternal Love, I was drawn to the second pairing instead of the first also because I feel Ye Hua falling for Su Su is so out of the blue, while I could get how admiration and infatuation morph into love for the second pairing. It took me a couple of rewatch and after the rave to die down to properly enjoy and understand the main couple, mostly, lol.

I like the pacing and the flirty banters between the main couple in this drama. I could even understand why the rejection occur in the first place and that they need time to grow as a person before they grow into love as a couple.

Again, it's all about personal preferences and what click and what do not. It doesn't make sense to force a drama when it doesn't feel right. It's totally fine to voice an opinion of why it doesn't work for you (I mean the OP), but I can see why fans would be quick to defend it because of how much they're enjoying it. Please don't take anything personal, after all, we're all different and are entitled to different taste and opinion.

Lol, aren't most dramas basically made up of dialogues? I'm aware that this is a wuxia drama, but also a romance drama, so I don't mind the lack of action scenes atm.

I'm well aware of addressing people with the right form and respect in Chinese culture, however, mister (gong zi) is age appropriate for Tou, maybe a little formal, but appropriate nonetheless, given Xue Zhi and Tou just met a year ago without familiar history in the past like Tou and Feng Zi. However, she starts addressing him as ge ge (older brother) after they start dating or formally a couple, which is weird for me because I wouldn't address my significant other as such, of course I'm basing this on my modern sensibility, which might differ from the time in Wuxia, hence why I said I'm trying to get used to it.