okikai

huge title downgrade from “Chasing Jade” - objectively cooler, better, catchier

to “Pursuit of Jade” - less impact, lame compared to the original presumed title

idk why, its not thaaaat important but this really bugged me

Toma makes it watchable.

this is, well “weak” doesnt really cover it. japanese BL are so hit and miss. this one is embarrassing

kisses are not bad, not particularly good. nothing like in Love in the Clouds, both in quantity or quality.

oh also, the romance is good-ish? idk how to answer, its friends to lovers. they are mostly in constant harmony

i think this is also how i felt. im like… this was mid, but everyone is hyping it up. i guess its an easy to digest crowd pleaser but nothing special, nothing substantial, nothing unique or interesting.

hey that can be the headcannon for us all

i personally have a personal problem with presenting children so young as evil. so id hate the novel, for slightly different reasons

i know dude, thats why they should have extended compassion to such a young child who has gone through all that after the queen passed. thats exactly my point. now the ML may struggle, understandably, but the FL is shown to be caring and empathetic so… where is it for an abused, used, child in the prime time for parental guidance ?!

now i personally dont believe a child so young can be a villain. thats prime time for rehabilitation and parental guidance/love.

now if he murders gleefully and assaults without regard, fine. i just dont think in that case it would be a good portrayal of a troubled kid. now if he is a psychopath, thats much too convienient for this story and i dont respect it as a creative choice, but its acceptable.

we can commiserate together, its very sad.

i think i could swallow that if he wasnt treated the way he was in this story. but atm, no matter how we rationalize it to protect the image we have of ML/FL etc, it paints a damning picture.

if you can isolate that aside, thats what you should do.

yeah im sure thats what Dan thought but HE KNOWS being used is detrimental and to be honest not fair or right lawfully, ethically or morally. more than anything, it proves he cared less about that child than any other being in that world.

i need to empathize, neither the ML nor FL ever for one minute consider the crown prince as anything more than an inconvenient obstacle. they dont talk about him, he is nothing.

mind you this crown prince was raised by a psycho and has been neglected by his dad all his life and and all he’s ever known as family is someone who cant love him and intends of using him and another who cant love him and pretends he doesnt exist.

im personally appalled.

i loved that too, i guess nvm i do like them most of the time.

also can we talk about how horrifically this series treats the crown prince? when ML thinks he will die he sets FL up to be another dowager that uses the prince as a puppet!! what is this?! no lessons learned? and throughout they villify this child and entirely discount him and his humanity. EVERYONE was treated with more compassion than him. EVERYONE.

and it might be understandable (yet not really the right course) for the ML, but the FL or the narrative itself has no such excuse.

stayed for the leads. at least it had good chem!

i admit maybe transmigration isnt my thing, because this was the most meh yet mildly enjoyable cdrama ive ever watched.

i did love Love Game in Eastern Fantasy though. So i guess im on Transmigration Cdrama probation for now. It may just not click with me.

ive seen the double, it was indeed his best.
his best.

i sincerely think he is one of the least vibrant and compelling popular active male leads. so even tho he can sometimes approach the realm of a good performance, its still not up to par with many active leading men who bring more to the table than good looks and “good enough” acting.

i actually dont think he is bad, per se, i just think for how good looking he is he is surprisingly dull and disappointing. when he shone the most was indeed in the double

but compared to others currently active actors… thats where the comparison becomes unflattering

i watched the double, its his best but i wouldn’t say oozing