mashimaroluff

First I did not say FL is stupid. I say the behavior that stemmed from emotions in a high stake scenario is a sign of stupidity. One or two stupid behavior does not equate to the entire person being stupid. But if the behavior is stupid, it deserve being call out.

Secondly, I agree that people aren't perfect and emotions is healthy. Some emotions push us forward to be better. But in such high stake scenarios, being able to regulate your emotions and not letting it causing yourself and your loved one harm is a skill set FL did not have. Letting her passion for revenge to make herself more calculating and cunning so she get her end goal is a skill. Letting her vengeance lead her to confronting her enemies and exposing her goals - not smart.

I'm glad you're enjoying the show but I'm not "reducing" anything. Rather I find your assumption of me a bit over-reaching. To assume that my opinion is merely because I expect this drama to be formulaic. And that you on the other hand can see it in a multi-layered way is really unnecessary. We are all viewers and can see the same things in different ways. It's not necessary to assume WHY I see things the way I am without knowing me. I'm not expecting the series to follow ANY formula. If you even care. I view the character as a human being, hence I do sympathize with her emotions. But I put myself in her shoes on how can she could have done better, the same way we all do in real life when we see a friend going rouge and wish they see what we see.

And third about the side quest- I knew people going to see the first thing and run with it. If you notice, I said romance OR personal growth. But you just took romance and ran with it, as I see a bunch of other commenters here. If this was a 70 episodes series perhaps we have the time, but we are in the 3rd final portion that the side quests were done so shallow I did not find it contribute much to the overall story. Instead of two, they could have make a really good one side quest and explore the theme more meaningfully, then tying it back to our main characters, especially the ML and show his growth and insight to understanding the drive behind the FL or something. I know WHY the side quest was done and they were good speeches (independently of the series) but the execution was bad and jarring to the overall drama in my opinion hence I said what I said.

what about that is me kidding?

Started out really love this series but the past 10 episodes felt like someone threw it in the blender and turn it into an unrecognizable mess.
First - FL is not as smart as she think. She is 100% driven by emotions and not using her logics. I totally understand her passion for revenge, but if I was her, I would not be showing my hand to my enemies like that. I would move in the shadow as much as I good. She's too arrogant for her own goods. The failure to regulate your emotions when you needed it most is is a sign of stupidity, not intelligence. She has too much at stake to be so reckless. If this wasn't a drama and she was not a FL, she would have lost a long time ago. If it wasn't for the ML, she would have fail and got herself killed over and over. What make it worse is she indirectly caused all her allies death. Had she been more cunning, and smart, she could have protect her mom, and not implicate her allies to death.
ML is not any saint. He's manipulative for sure but at least he only play the cards he have. FL is trying to play with cards she don't have. And again, she try to judge everything through emotions and not logically evaluate people's motives. Frankly, I just find her actions very disappointing although I understand where she's coming from. She think she's smart but she's not. She's being very stubborn and put everyone at risk. This is to me, even worse than Mary Sue. If this is what "smart" women suppose to be like, please go back to the drawing board because this is insulting.

Second - the two mini side quests, feminist speech is so out of the left field. I don't need it and it's so jarring to the story line. We could have use that to develop the romance OR at least help the lead to grow in some way. They weren't growing, just running around doing errands. What a waste.

And third - not really appreciating the drama attempt at plot twist or shock factor. It's NOT done well, and some characters are killed too fast. What's the point? I feel very whiplash.

This is my guess. ZHY has an obsession over her mother than her father because growing up, she was told that she was born from a "noble lady". This is a granted title and not everyone can have. She grew up being cursed as a barefoot ghost so with two opposite potential identities, she must have been obsessed with her mom because she represented the better identity that let her escape the current terrible one.

Second, I think ZHY also more obsess with her mom than her dad because her dad has other children that he spoils but her mom only have her. Third, I think even when mom was cruel, ZHY identify early on that mom was also a victim, which she can related to. She see her mom and herself in the same boat in some ways. And ZHY has a survival instinct so she naturally feel more protective toward her mom because she see her mom as a victim.

watch The Legends, she's a demon in there.
Bai Lu at one point said she wanted to dress like a fairy and this drama is giving her everything she wanted. lmao

I'm surprised you call her stupid. She is anything but. She is not perfect but she is smart, resourceful, and sensible.
As viewer we know to expect ML to love FL. But as a character, it is entirely reasonable and realistic for Chu Chu to NOT expect anything. It would be weird for her to interpret ML action as romantic affection. Think about it, she had been shunned her whole life. She has no mother figure, the only people who treat her well are her own family, so how would she know what being treated well by an outsider mean?
Second, the series had repeatedly tell us Chu Chu status. As a coroner, she is an outcast in society and is shunned everywhere she goes. She get treated worst than servants and slaves. For a 1st rank prince, even their servant/slave need some status higher than regular folks. Chuchu is even lower than that. Obviously, she is already thankful to be employed and consider his action as the action of a fair and trust person who give anybody a chance despite their status.
And third, even ML doesn't even know his own feelings so how can we expect Chu Chu to know it before he does?