Maybe I am but I don't do well with generalizations. They don't give justice to the work wether it's something you like or not. I need details to understand. I actually wish you'd gone into detail about everything that you didn't like even if it took up an entire page so that I wouldn't have to ask. And I didn't ask what an idol drama is, just saying. Just kinda followed from there.
I'm sorry if you feel that way. But I am trying to see where the sweeping generalization of "generic" idol drama came from and it seems like as you described it, it boils down to these two characters - Lu Dahu and Concubine Lu. Which is kind of disappointing because these two has fewer screentime than other characters and are hardly defining of this series. And oh please, no. You're opinion on this is valid. I disagree with what you have to say and I may raise my own points why I don't agree but that is not to invalidate yours.
I thought you were criticizing it for not being as high stakes, and now it is also unrealistic. And personally, I haven't seen a tropey character here. To whom are you referring to?
Then you might have missed the importance of those "caricature" villains in the military arc. LDH may have been killed but his murderous merit legacy becomes part of a significant part of the growth of the ML. And a lecherous man is always a threat to the reputation and life of a woman. YJX appearing out of nowhere and suddenly going for the FL and setting up the ML are all preludes for the next arc. Adviser Li's presence continue until the Capital arc and he becomes one of the key characters that open to new threats. Their issues was never solved. Mrs Zou being killed off was I think necessary, prolonging her presence in the story would have just made it dragging. Her death closed a chapter in the FL's story that needed to be closed. If that is to "keep the plot moving" I am all for it. But overall, none of the actual threats to the MC lives are gone. The Yu family is still there. Madam Yu is still there. The stakes are just as high and just as real. The military arc was a necessary turning point for the ML where he has to start from scratch, face his own values, experience loss, and somehow walk out of that a different person. That's character growth. It's not all about complex games where everything as about manipulating and calculating and one-upping someone.
DYX can be considered traffic actors but all the rest, including DEX are not considered as such. You should have seen the fan uproar when "someone like" DEX was casted along side DYX in a high-budget series. What this drama have are actors who were casted because of their ability and suitablity to the role. What do you mean by visuals? Cinematography? Aesthetics? The actor's visuals? I am trying to get where you are coming from because for me, this drama has good visuals which add to the overall experience without it being the focal point. The acting, characters, script, storyline and pacing of this drama make it investing. Wish fulfillment? There will always be some cliche or tropy elements in any drama, but again that hardly dominates here. I think the writing is not afraid of discomfort and unpopular. And depth and entertainment are not mutually exclusive. This has both. I don't know what "depth" you are looking for but this drama has a good depth that doesn't go into the hypocritical zone.
Saw snippet of part 2 of DYX and DEX interview in WeTV and apparently the director was very particular about the wedding night scene and was very detailed about it. 🥲🥲🥲🫣
I am not a fan of writing of these whole Military Arc. The salt arc until ep 10 was very well written. There's…
I like the military arc. They weren't afraid to make it uncomfortable. ZL is crossing lines and making mistakes and it's uncomfortable to watch the protagonist go through it. I like that they are making his path to the top realistic and not glossed over with triumph one after the other.
2 
are all preludes for the next arc. Adviser Li's presence continue until the Capital arc and he becomes one of the key characters that open to new threats. Their issues was never solved. Mrs Zou being killed off was I think necessary, prolonging her presence in the story would have just made it dragging. Her death closed a chapter in the FL's story that needed to be closed. If that is to "keep the plot moving" I am all for it. But overall, none of the actual threats to the MC lives are gone. The Yu family is still there. Madam Yu is still there. The stakes are just as high and just as real. The military arc was a necessary turning point for the ML where he has to start from scratch, face his own values, experience loss, and somehow walk out of that a different person. That's character growth. It's not all about complex games where everything as about manipulating and calculating and one-upping someone.
making mistakes and it's uncomfortable to watch the protagonist go through it. I like that they are making his path to the top realistic and not glossed over with triumph one after the other.