noor1234

@sirup 'She just likes him most of all, it's all her whim or mood or taste and not really about him.' - I hadn't thought of it from that angle. Thanks.

Spoiler tags are usually for life and death reveals or major plot points or endings. Not for every small thing commented on by someone (such as a dream/illusion!!!!). I'm sorry but in this drama's comment section, you are coming across as a bully rather than just another individual commenting on a show. You cannot dictate people and need to stay in your own lane, i.e. MYOB.

- DX himself acknowledged that many men would've been in love with her over the years, and it would also be weird if the most powerful being in the world is shown as a vir**n even after 400 years. Viewers should be thankful she doesn't have a harem of boys. Older woman-younger man trope aside, I think there's a gender-role reversal in this drama. Simu is playing the archetype of cold CEO and DX is the goofy cinderella. Also, someone in the comment section said '22' lovers were too many (!) - all we know is she enjoyed s*x with others (they could be 'bed warmers' for all we know), but regarded them well to have kept ALL in the same graveyard as some trophy!!!!

I'm sure she picked exceptional people as lovers - not dumb & weak men. DX is also brave, smart & totally devoted to her. The fact that he doesn't give up on winning her & wants to know the real her, may be endearing but there's nothing extraordinary about DX. Yes, we clearly see that she treats DX differently from others, indulges him like a spoilt kid, & goes to hell and beyond to keep him alive, she even gave him space in the bed chamber (when he was ok & when he was ill) - which everyone in the spirit world says has never happened before. But is he worth giving everything up for? No.

- I think DX & Simu's scenes could've been filmed more sensually (with closeup shots) to show nonverbal heat or affection, but their 'romance' or connection does not merit her giving up everything, ALL THIS POWER, all this prestige and status just to turn mortal for a general who will have all the power in a world where she'll be powerless, and he can get killed in some war or enmity or disease & she won't be able to even help him or herself - I know he doesn't die in the end, neither of them do, BUT it feels such a comedown to me, this 'abdication' by her, and all because she's tired of being an immortal ghost queen living in a dark unfeeling place, just to be in a five-sense relationship so that they enjoy a lifetime together as mortals (!) What makes this guy special? - that he's being played by CFY?

Ep. 22-Trailer23: 22 lovers in 400 years is not a huge number considering she's a queen....but the drama needs to make us believe why Simu does what she does in the end....

Ok.

Ok. I think he looked better with a healthy weight on his face. I don't think it's the Chinese audience as much it is the Chinese industry standard to have stick thin / anaemic-looking actors and actresses (who most definitely develop health issues confirming to unrealistic and unsustainable body weight).

Ep. 8 & 9: My opinion on the drama has changed:

a) ML's entire back story and his amazing maneuver in the enemy lines have sold the 'young general' thing to me, Chen Feiyu looked every inch like an elite assassin trained to take down 100 men, winning a war in non-traditional manner, who is grappling with his own 'normality/monster' issues. Very good stunt choreography too and the amount spent in production is obvious.

b) Now I'm invested in how ML beats his rival in court, the competition with Marshal Qin and the politics meant to keep him behind and weak, as well as FL's journey handling the obsessive SML & spirit-man looking for her human body's true identity to bring her down.

c) I'm not sold on the 'romance' bit yet, but the older woman-younger man trope is at play here, she's mothering him right now and he likes the strength and gravitas she obviously possesses as the immortal spirit goddess/queen from the sky. His liking the aggressive bandaging by her has BDSM vibes. I think CFY's husky/macho/whispery dialogue delivery and his heavy breathing around Dilraba with tight closeup shots of both works to show the interest between them, or some sexual tension and connection, because otherwise they don't have any sizzle or camaraderie (I don't see the flirtation either). Let's see how the 'romance' develops.

Ep. 1 - 5: So I've forwarded most of the episodes just to see ML & FL's scenes. This drama was filmed 2 years ago and only now has seen the light of day (good CGI takes time apparently), when we have already seen a bulkier/better looking Chen Feiyu in 2 recent hit projects (when destiny brings the demon & love story in 70s - he acted very well in both). He is too thin in this one, has no gravitas or presence as a 'general' (and I'm one of his fans who believes he is a good actor). He looks like a Temu Aladdin. And Dilraba looks older than him (probably should look older too because she is head of spirit world who has lived for a 1000 years). They have zero chemistry. Dilraba had excellent chemistry with her costar CXX in Love on Turquoise Island (even if that was a damp squib romance, they looked good together). She and Chen are mismatched. I also have no interest in the battle scenes and aftermath of wars, and my guess is, this is a battle-heavy-political-intrigue-drama. But I will continue to watch because there is nothing better on TV right now (except for Love Phantom). This is a bit of a filler series for me.

The best thing in the drama is the kid and his attachment to Dilraba - and Dilraba's performance as a cold but not indifferent immortal spirit-holder.

It is looking more and more like she'll choose the emperor (especially after Ep.28) because her stance in the beginning was built around an unjust murder and an inattentive husband who didn't want a child with her solely because he didn't want her clan to get power over him. I don't know whether recent episodes have quelled her distaste, hurt and resolve against Emperor but she has softened, and in Ep. 28 has pledged to stay by his side - I don't know whether she actually will stay by his side or 'work' for him and country as a free woman outside palace walls (with or without doc). Emperor has a daughter with another concubine, and there is her sister too, so she may just tell him to make her happy. But my guess right now is she'll be queen once again. All concubines will be dead or in prison anyway. Future vacancies created!

Despite all the harem politics which made me weary in the beginning, I'm watching this drama only because of Fang Jin, FL, who picks good / crazy projects, and I'm also invested in seeing the comeuppance of the mastermind (concubine Meng) revealed in Ep. 28. I feel the ultimate mastermind should be FL's sister (who I feel has always resented her elder sister's charm and ascent), but not many episodes left for that kind of twist! I don't know how an Emperor can bed two sisters though (he never stopped bedding anyone in any case, but Empress / FL is his cousin, as revealed in Ep.1, so he had 2 sister-cousins as wives!)

Maybe FL will leave the emperor in the end for the sake of a new life outside palace walls (working for the future of the country as an independent woman) as well as for the sake of her sister (if she's not the ultimate mastermind) and the other concubine who already has a daughter with the Emperor, but I doubt it. I think she'll stay with him esp. after scenes of Ep. 28. But it's interesting that the mystery of who she'll end up with - if anyone - is still there!

Did SML r**e FL or stop midway during high school assault? Why did FL forgive him or continue to work alongside him?

Edit: okay I think he 'tried' to assault her, roughly pushing her to the ground etc. & stopped seconds later after she yelled 'stop'. As a newbie, she cannot keep getting out of projects or casting agents will stop calling her, but it IS awkward to work with someone with whom you have had that kind of history.

Thanks for subbing. Your links work fine.

Ep. 9: ML was so right & acted really well in that confrontation scene with FL. Spot on, just laid it all out for the dumb FL & her side-guy. True to his character & role, both as a top tier mafia enforcer & as a jilted bf. FL is unwatchable & beyond ridiculous at this point, no ambition, no goal, no voice, no guts, no plan & no brains or heart. As an 'informant' for SIX years, she has had zero success in collecting info, made no new leads or connections in either the mafia group or police!!! Just sleeping with this guy, having a comfortable rich life & doing nothing else for 6 years! Some mole! Her only 'police contact/ handler' was just beaten up to be killed in front of her, but she goes back to the house, is checked out by a doctor for her frazzled nerves, takes a sedative & goes to sleep - instead of making a plan!!!! That is how weak & ineffective this 'mole' is. She should've known a lot of people will get killed because of her, but she is having a beauty sleep with no repercussions or conscience! She is a disaster both as an undercover agent & as a woman. So I cannot stand her or her nonsensical whimpering.

HOWEVER, the way ML killed off his own crew & that Private Investigator (all of whom were just doing their job & had done NOTHING WRONG ), they were not even a threat or disloyal to the mafia group but now knew FL's identity as a mole with a cop friend & just to protect this bimbo, ML killed all of them. So he is beyond redemption - it makes sense when you are killing gang rivals who are trying to kill you, uncle or are a threat to operation but killing guys for just doing their job because you want to protect a side-chick is against even mafia code if not basic morals (I know he'll die in the end, but a part of me wanted him to survive all of this, but now I want him dead). I couldn't care less about the FL (even though she'll survive for sure). I am dumping this drama. Nothing to see anymore.

Does anyone know the name / link of the song that appears after the makeout scene (where he defrauds her & takes the key)?

I feel sorry for both ML & SML and other crew members - they have all been adopted from orphanages & groomed & controlled by the mafia boss to be cruel, violent chess pieces that can be removed by him at a moment's notice. Their lives are worthless & meaningless. They are trapped to do boss's bidding. I hate the boss's 'dogs' and 'wolves' analogy which is a crude way to say the boys are nothing more than animals. While I don't see anyone having a HE in this drama, I hope everyone gangs up to kill the mafia boss!!!! (I think SML will kill him & then he'll be killed by ML, who will die of injuries in the arms of the FL).

FL's role is badly written & there's been no progress in her acting ability yet (she looks as expressionless and clueless as ever - maybe to carry the 'doe-eyed innocent not-from-this-world girl' trope?; the wig is a major distraction), her motivations and thoughts are not clear (other than the random 'i want to get revenge from this gang & be an informant for police' trope). Especially that near-kiss with SML who she hadn't seen in 6 years (WT-?!) Six years she's been in this mafia kingdom, & has no emotional reaction or opinion to anything or anyone. She has not spelt out any goal for her future either, not even to that godfather, while ML & SML, even mafia boss are vocal about their future plans! She apparently had no job & has just started working as boss of the night club ML bought back for her (that her parents lost due to bad investments & loan sharks)!!! What has she been doing for 6 years?! Bad informant too, because mafia group has grown bigger & the guy she's with, ML, has gotten stronger!

But series is watchable, hence am watching.

ML is part of a mafia group that is trying to go 'legit' (whiten their money by opening legitimate businesses & political connections). ML's 2 scenes enforcing mafia code were both extremely violent (1 where some other guy was selling drugs in ML's gang's 'backyard' & ML cut off his hand! & the other was killing a guy who was about to expose FL's lie). He's not virtuous & I doubt he'll have a good end (unless he is playing some special scheme to bring down his own uncle.) Currently, I think he'll just protect FL till the end & help her get justice, then he'll die in a mass shootout & she'll cry over him.

Well-shot. ML can act and looks deadly like a normal gangster would. FL's role is badly written, her wig & styling is terrible, her expressions monotonous. She has been with the ML (& in the mafia group) for 6 years but hasn't made any progress nor found any concrete info despite being an LEA 'informant'. ML has been given more room to shine as the protective love-sick-puppy gangster. Story is geared towards a tragedy (with all the BGM hinting towards a star-crossed fatal attraction). Concept is good & lethal & stakes are high. I think ML is also an undercover agent or will help FL later on get her revenge. I just don't think it'll end well for the ML.

The OST is good. The drama is extremely bad. The 'avenging' guy has a hen-pecked loser mindset from start to finish. His conniving conspiring ex-wife gets everything in the end (she who only married him to be around his tycoon 'half-siblings' & move up the ladder through them and who in Ep. 1 ruins him, his sis-in-law, as she lay in coma btw, and parades being pregnant with a half-sibling CEO.) He ends up without any real person in his life or purpose, stuck in his mother's past, ex-wife's kid, and volunteer work for his old orphanage.

It's on kisskh as well as myasian

Ep. 1-4: This is a huge surprise, slick and well-done with a thrilling and suspenseful story with a heart and a lot of mystery, and modern in the way it plays out. Eagerly awaiting next episodes! I hope it gets subbed regularly. Japanese dramas usually don't get subbed as soon as K or C-dramas!