rikki76

Thank you. I liked him as emperor in How Dare You, but I didn't like the drama itself because of this "falling into a script" thing, never understood this second or third type character stuff, etc but both leads or rather all the 4 were great, only the script / story was the issue.
I discovered him when watching My Journey to You, ML was my other favourite but I admitted to myself that Cheng Lei left even a deeper impression in that drama than the ML. MoLi, sorry, dropped it, was to childish, made-up and still boring.
Thank you, I'll watch the probably just the first 10 eps of Footprints.
As of this one, basically it is not a bad drama, and republican area is not an issue - I love those costumes, buildings, the era, but somehow ... I don't know, I really didn't like FL for long, now she was better (finally and admitting and thanking the things ML did for her, and saving him), but as far as I can see we are going towards another 'misunderstanding' (that button in the hand of the mother) - just too much. I bet this time she will hate him again, due to misunderstanding - but for GSake - if you like someone you want to know the person, it is unreal and getting boring if she believes again that ML is evil.
My favourite republican drama was City of Streamer, that was a good one, worth to rewatch for me.

Sorry, I don't know what is LOA, but if you like him don't miss Shadow Love, in my opinion, it was the most versatile role, different personalities, best believable chemistry ever (except you are fan hating everyone but yourself ending with him - sorry, sorry) Have a peek and judge yourself - I love to die that drama, short comings or not. I watched him many dramas, the best chemistry, the best match of suitable lovers, the best intensity and - not a porn but still give you butterflies - I don't know, I love that drama, any of before and after is not even close to that level of emotional attraction.

I don't know, ppl' taste can be different. It is not a bad drama but somehow it failed to grab me, story, chemistry, personalities.. I love Cheng Lei, my favourite drama - even its shortcomings -is Shadow Love.
Best chemistry, they are best friends and lovers. For him, the most challenging personalities to form, a friend, a lover, a dependent child then an adult, a circumstances-enemy.
Also while I felt him awkward, in many dramas, including Bai Lu (and I like her), the best chemistry, the most natural feeling " loving and work together" was in the Shadow Love, secondarily in the My Journey to you. How are you was not my cup of tee, I can't live in this type of "script-puppet "stories, absolutely alienating, hence I can't rate and I never will rewatch it independently the romance part.
He is very handsome and a good actor, I wish you would be paired with the actress from Shadow Love, it felt somehow so natural, so normal, so fine - even if the drama was made up - normal Chinese thing and had some shortcomings - normal Chinese thing - still not a Hollywood at its peak - but I love the emotions and chemistry. Over-watching.

Shadow Love for me.

I am on ep16, beginning. I don't know, I found FL more and more repulsive. What advantages does she have apart from being pretty - and not so unworldly pretty btw. Trying suicide? What will happen with her mother? She is absolutely selfish. Basically both leads are problematic but I still feel a bit better for ML than FL. In a normal world a spy would have been executed or exiled to a far away work-camp for life. Was she grateful? Was she grateful for saving her mother? How can she have such less common sense, imagine the scenario when the mother's life depend on the spy' power. On one had I deeply against to force a woman to do something if she really doesn't want. Still she got a chance, according to the era and possibilities she got a very good chance to have at least a decent enough life while able to save the people she cares for. She accepted, why she has to be so mean then? She doesn't even try to understand ML, never chats, never curious - if she would have tried she wouldn't believe the info about SML' death, not without asking, I mean if you know someone, you know the limits of that person. I can't stand her personality, because of it I am not into their developing romance, not even curious about it any longer. I wish can find something else to watch, I am rewatching older dramas, just finished The Princess Royal - what a difference! I like just 2 people in this drama, the right and left hands of ML.

True. She is arrogant, navie and stubborn, plus dumb to notice her own faults.

You are not alone, FL is totally dumb and not even honest. Because of what you wrote, SML risked her life and her mother's, too because being a traitor means that maybe your whole family will be executed. She made her choice to save SML who didn't deserve saving at all but as she made her choice she should be nicer to ML. Business is business, she accepted, she should play her role according to that. I mean how mean is this? OK, ML is a red-flag (as you would call it) but were also nice to her several times despite of being a rationalist. They are like 2 other sides of the saddle, one of them is too rationalist, the other is too naive and day-dreaming while unbearably arrogant. Maybe these 2 opposites will grow to each other like emotionally.
ML was right, without power and money you can't protect a thing, not even your partner, not even your child or pet, poverty is fun only till you are not in the situation of being helpless and unable to protect the ones you love.
I am getting liking this drama, because of its truth outspoken.

I wrote some not too nice comments in connection with this drama earlier. To be on the fair side, it is getting better and better around/after ep. 10. In fact now I am a bit on the edge of the seat because of waiting for the next episodes.
How much follows the drama the story of the novel?

I am sorry, I want to live IN the tale, poor acting doesn't allow this. I am not here to judge this or that actor/actress or because of being fan (I am not) but to enjoy a drama overall - that requires good acting, too from everyone involved.

I am not sure that time will help on poor acting, he is not an actor if I read it correctly but a singer and probably an idol? Most of the cases I can tell that who has proper acting education and who hasn't. Natural talent is rare like Tan JianCi's or Zhang LingHe's. I admit I haven't seen this as was reading here to decide to start or not, I think I won't. If I recall well the guy who played the Emperor in Fated Hearts is a real actor and was phenomenal there and also in SOKP. Zhang Wan Yi is also great, was unforgettable in LYF, he is also a real actor. I don't know why they push idols instead of actors.

I never doubted his acting skills, the comment was not about his acting skill but a poorly written drama with poorly written characters. I can't feel for him either - I mean the character he plays. I don't want to write spoiler but you who watched will know what I shall referring to. When he was left behind, conscious, why he didn't try to give a sound like help, I am here or just to scratch something? That was the only situation I felt sorry for him but even that was unreal. Does anyone know where was he? If not, he was not left behind. Anyway, too many non-sensical little pieces just to stir up emotions.
The dog part, no matter how good shooter you are you don't wait till the last half a second, especially not with those ancient guns, and especially not till the animal really moves. It's again playing with your emotions, no other purpose or what was the purpose? He just should have to say a word: stop, before releasing that animal. He was 'god' in that society, his words were 'law'.
Or anyone sad future and frustration gives right to the person to risk another person's life only for enjoying traumatizing the other? That's called a sadist or a psycho. How could anyone love one like him? Enemies to lovers? No way and not because they were not the best friends at the beginning.

Plus I am still conservative, now matter how mean is the girl (or boy) to use it for benefits like a land makes a gigolo. No higher goal is an excuse. FL maybe clever or rather well-educated but too arrogant and mean. I mean not a kind act towards ML, not even when he would deserve that. Somehow the whole is so poorly written, there are so many actions which make no sense. I am sorry but even Overdo's script made more sense to me.

Is it just me that I don't really feel for any of them? Not even for the children. Somehow it is not natural but feels artificial. Like, ok, want to put a bit more emotion in? Then use some children-scene. It is again a soul-less script which looks as if 10 different ppl or AI would have put together based on "what ppl enjoy to see - fragments 1,cruelty, 2 spies, 3 children, 4 romance, 5 toxic family, 6 mean girl/boy-friend" - don't forget to mix these randomly".

Thank you for writing, now it's not an OE to me but a HE. :)

I guess it is for a more dramatic effect but yes, I agree with you, a bit of over-done, the level of intimidating her with those tools, or later waiting till the last moment of the jump of that dog, I doubt I would be able to ever forget these and fall in love with the man.
How they (he) could have such level of power? Turbulent times, ok, but still. Otherwise it is very watchable, not as good (to my taste) as City of Streamer was but not bad so far.

I have neither hatred nor love for her, she is a good enough actress but unfortunately she has enormous sized teeth and for some reason it puts me off. Whenever I saw her my focus is on those teeth, can't help, sorry, sorry, sorry. Among his partners I found the best chemistry with the actress from Shadow Love.

Really can't catch the point, we haven't seen this one yet, in Overdo the FL was far more toxic than the ML, but had her reasons at least. I would be curious like what would be your opinion about BBC dramas like Rome or Game of Thrones, those, especially the last are really toxic, even to me.

Great. Then I probably won't drop this one either.

So what? :) I liked Overdo, it was different and there was not a single boring moment. Yes, it was over-done, I wish they could give a bit more time to digest emotions here and there but still I found it very enjoyable for a one-time watch.

Looks a very hot piece of drama, wow, wow. :)