may

I wish I could review this show in each of its arcs because if I could, the strength of the initial Yangzhou arc would've made this a 9/10 show. 9 stars only because every time they moved away from the main couple, I was antsy to get back to them. Which probably should've been a sign of the problems inherent in this show: not understanding its strengths (the main relationship, containing the stories to the family, acting), side characters without depth, nonsensical over-the-top villains... which ended up being the rest of the show!!! Honestly, I was with the show until about episode 25, because by that time, it was really digging its heels in with the emperor/palace/political plots. And then suddenly, we're dropped into the court plotting and IT WAS POINTLESS. WHY ARE WE SUPPOSED TO CARE ABOUT THIS KINGDOM? WHY ARE WE SUPPOSED TO THINK THESE OTHER CHARACTERS MATTER?????????? The ENTIRE last 10 episode arc did not need to happen because the only reason it happened was Luo Zishang being wrong about his entire motivation for revenge -- WHICH COULD'VE BEEN RECTIFIED BEFORE THAT ARC STARTED.

I'm getting pissed off thinking about this all over again.

Bless the actors for making the most out of what was clearly nonsense in that script, particularly Liu Xue Yi. Let's get you some better scripts, my dude.

At least we'll always have episode 9...