Ashes to crown has only started airing when writing this, but doesn't matter because this rec is for the similarities you might enjoy considering the FLs/MLs:
The FLs start out in politically weak positions, but are thrown into court & palace intrigue and have to learn how to survive these situations and secure their positions and gain some actual power instead of being others' puppets. Both FLs also have some revenge aspects in their plans.
Women empowerment aspects :)
Both shows play into some role-reversal aspects considering that the FL ends up in a politically more powerful position and ML is a devoted supporter (though with some antagonistic phases/starts from ML).
Both MLs have hidden identities, know martial arts and grew up surviving abusive 'families' and their schemes.
a) Dominion and Devotion:
FL is hiding her gender and grew up crossdressed as the 5. prince. after the king's death she is used as puppet-emperor by a powerful political faction and has to survive their schemes and establish herself as actual regent with support in the court.
ML is growing up hidden as eunich in the palace, having to survive his own share of being used by others for their schemes but also being among the ones using the FL at the start.
b) Ashes to Crown:
FL grew up as general's daughter in the desert region away from the capital, but is drawn to the capital due to stories about her dead mum and also her first love, a noble with ambitions.
After some betrayel she becomes the Grand Princess to protect the child-empo
eror and has to survive schemes against her & the young emperor, trying to establish her own political support system & power.
ML hiding his identity was part of FL's dad's army and is tasked with protecting her, which he does in his own sometimes antagonistic way.
FL makes him leader of the imperial guard to keep him close and try to win his absolute support against the palace intrigues.
The FLs start out in politically weak positions, but are thrown into court & palace intrigue and have to learn how to survive these situations and secure their positions and gain some actual power instead of being others' puppets. Both FLs also have some revenge aspects in their plans.
Women empowerment aspects :)
Both shows play into some role-reversal aspects considering that the FL ends up in a politically more powerful position and ML is a devoted supporter (though with some antagonistic phases/starts from ML).
Both MLs have hidden identities, know martial arts and grew up surviving abusive 'families' and their schemes.
a) Dominion and Devotion:
FL is hiding her gender and grew up crossdressed as the 5. prince. after the king's death she is used as puppet-emperor by a powerful political faction and has to survive their schemes and establish herself as actual regent with support in the court.
ML is growing up hidden as eunich in the palace, having to survive his own share of being used by others for their schemes but also being among the ones using the FL at the start.
b) Ashes to Crown:
FL grew up as general's daughter in the desert region away from the capital, but is drawn to the capital due to stories about her dead mum and also her first love, a noble with ambitions.
After some betrayel she becomes the Grand Princess to protect the child-empo
eror and has to survive schemes against her & the young emperor, trying to establish her own political support system & power.
ML hiding his identity was part of FL's dad's army and is tasked with protecting her, which he does in his own sometimes antagonistic way.
FL makes him leader of the imperial guard to keep him close and try to win his absolute support against the palace intrigues.
Atm I'm writing this after ep 1 of Dual Stars to make people aware of both shows, so might edit when show has finished ^^
Both shows are about actors pairing up to shoot a queer tv-show and starting from 'can't stand each other' ^^
Dual Stars: a more experienced actor trying to make a Comeback & struggling with a loss of popularity is paired up with a CEO-typecast popular idol-actor trying to show he's more than his 'facecard'.
The Sparkle In Your Eye: a more experienced actor trying to make a Comeback after a scandal is paired up with a rookie who wants to grasp his possibly only chance at acting. To work on their chemistry the director wants them to share a hotel-room during the shoot.
Both shows are about actors pairing up to shoot a queer tv-show and starting from 'can't stand each other' ^^
Dual Stars: a more experienced actor trying to make a Comeback & struggling with a loss of popularity is paired up with a CEO-typecast popular idol-actor trying to show he's more than his 'facecard'.
The Sparkle In Your Eye: a more experienced actor trying to make a Comeback after a scandal is paired up with a rookie who wants to grasp his possibly only chance at acting. To work on their chemistry the director wants them to share a hotel-room during the shoot.
These investigative dramas have obv differences, e.g. the overall set-up:
Mobius a time-loop drama with a detective ML, while Under the Skin's main chara is a portray-artist in the police force (+ linear timeline).
But I make this recommendation because in an abstract way they give me the same vibe:
in their own unique way both shows create a captivating atmosphere for the unfolding investigation, that I wish I could experience for the 1. time again.
It's not just a 'who did it' but more an exploration of human emotions, we gain glimpses of the lives of the people involved in the case, their goals & motives (In Under The Skin this is extended into art(history)).
Mobius has a hint of het romance while Under The Skin is giving us some bromance vibes, the creation of trust & acknowledgement of skills in each developing bond after a bit of a rocky start are very well done :)
Mobius a time-loop drama with a detective ML, while Under the Skin's main chara is a portray-artist in the police force (+ linear timeline).
But I make this recommendation because in an abstract way they give me the same vibe:
in their own unique way both shows create a captivating atmosphere for the unfolding investigation, that I wish I could experience for the 1. time again.
It's not just a 'who did it' but more an exploration of human emotions, we gain glimpses of the lives of the people involved in the case, their goals & motives (In Under The Skin this is extended into art(history)).
Mobius has a hint of het romance while Under The Skin is giving us some bromance vibes, the creation of trust & acknowledgement of skills in each developing bond after a bit of a rocky start are very well done :)
ALON is a bromance while TWD has a het couple, but both shows focus on the investigations with a friend group/found family.
Both shows have a similar vibe, mystic elements mixed with detective work.
Both include a major case conspiracy.
In both shows the group tries to clear someone's name.
could list more, but don't want to give spoilers ^^
Difference: ALON ML is a scholar trying to join the justice system & Sherlock type & hinted neurodivergent; while TWD ML is at the beginning a more daredevil constable & capable fighter (but unable to fight for large parts of the show).
Both shows have a similar vibe, mystic elements mixed with detective work.
Both include a major case conspiracy.
In both shows the group tries to clear someone's name.
could list more, but don't want to give spoilers ^^
Difference: ALON ML is a scholar trying to join the justice system & Sherlock type & hinted neurodivergent; while TWD ML is at the beginning a more daredevil constable & capable fighter (but unable to fight for large parts of the show).
Both MLs hiding their royal identity.
MLs would prefer to live with FLs' family than having to deal with their own royal families' issues.
FLs are resilient and want to make changes for the better of their family:
in BIA it is more focused on creating a business for the family, while SJ has more focus on trying to avoid a foreseen future.
Both shows center the family relationships besides the romance and show FLs' struggles & growth in the at times rigid family structures.
MLs would prefer to live with FLs' family than having to deal with their own royal families' issues.
FLs are resilient and want to make changes for the better of their family:
in BIA it is more focused on creating a business for the family, while SJ has more focus on trying to avoid a foreseen future.
Both shows center the family relationships besides the romance and show FLs' struggles & growth in the at times rigid family structures.
Similarities:
Both shows are romance fantasy/xianxia with aquatic demons (slightly different takes on it) and include the tension & cooperation between different ‘races/tribes’
both have slight love-triangles but the SMLs are mostly silently pining.
ML & SML have a grudging cooperation and evolving friendship, not just over shared love interest but also due to being leaders.
In both couples FL & ML are trying to protect their partner and instead are ready to sacrifice themselves
(this includes hiding things from their partner, I just mention it because I know some viewers are sensitive to this and don’t want to watch shows like that, but it’s not unusual for self-sacrificial xianxia plots ^^)
differences:
besides storyline differences, Mirror: a Tale of Twin Cities has slower storytelling and the couple is more on a ‘grown-up & introverted’ vibe while Song Of The Moon main couple is more ‘extroverted & youthful’
Each drama has their weak points, but I still overall enjoyed both and personally appreciate that the ‘love-triangles’ are more handled as ‘grudging & a bit awkward friendships’ between MLs & SMLs :)
Both shows are romance fantasy/xianxia with aquatic demons (slightly different takes on it) and include the tension & cooperation between different ‘races/tribes’
both have slight love-triangles but the SMLs are mostly silently pining.
ML & SML have a grudging cooperation and evolving friendship, not just over shared love interest but also due to being leaders.
In both couples FL & ML are trying to protect their partner and instead are ready to sacrifice themselves
(this includes hiding things from their partner, I just mention it because I know some viewers are sensitive to this and don’t want to watch shows like that, but it’s not unusual for self-sacrificial xianxia plots ^^)
differences:
besides storyline differences, Mirror: a Tale of Twin Cities has slower storytelling and the couple is more on a ‘grown-up & introverted’ vibe while Song Of The Moon main couple is more ‘extroverted & youthful’
Each drama has their weak points, but I still overall enjoyed both and personally appreciate that the ‘love-triangles’ are more handled as ‘grudging & a bit awkward friendships’ between MLs & SMLs :)
