sakie

Normally, the switch would be ok, but I feel this time, it’s better to stay Spring and Autumn. Why? Because I have a feeling that there are TWO co-leaders of the divine faction. We have only seen one so far. So, keeping the name as Spring and Autumn bears a stronger significance.

It's understood that all GBZ's friends were dead and that he blamed Yao Niang as the main killer since she was the only one identifiable with the halberd. An since she was also the strongest assassin on site, she indirectly headed the ambush that day.

Finished ep 19 & 20.

Wow, just wow. Yes, I’m shocked because I discounted who the halberdier could have been. Throughout the series, I questioned the halberdier’s gender, and even had someone in mind. Never had I ever thought that it would be who it was when the assassin’s identity was revealed. I have to say this revelation is the highlight of today’s airing.

The director amped up his camera tricks and angles also, bringing forth out a lot of anxiety and suspicions in several scenes. I was particularly worried for someone’s wellbeing at the market scene.

Guess I’d have to busy myself with Christmas shopping while waiting for Wednesday to come.

Same as Liu Ran. It’s what family and close friends call her.

I can't believe it either!! What a shocker! There have been a few twists so far, but this one takes the prize for me.

Weekend Randomness

“Ode to Sushi”

Once upon a time, a lad visited the Tsujiki fish market. He complained why it was wet and fishy.

The fishmongers felt bad and stopped selling fish.

Soon, people stopped going there because it lost its essence - fish.

In the end, Tsujiki was dead, gone with it was the liveliness of the venue.

No fish and no people, just silence.

(Don’t like fish? Don’t go to the fish market. I love sushi! LIVE FISH MATTER = LFM. 🍣🍱🐟🐠🐡🎏🍣🎣😜🤪😛

Can't handle some potential revealing comments, don't venture into the comments section. Simple as that.)

Hahaha… cute and considerate.

My thoughts after ep 17 & 18.

Two more important new characters are introduced. We are getting closer to knowing the rest of the players. What surprises me most is that we have another woman at the helm!!! Oh yes, feminine power at play here. It makes me wonder whether the scriptwriter is a female (it is!!!) , or the director/novelist are gender-neutral advocates, and these three creators join forces to convince the production team and investors of their creative vision!!! Whatever, I obviously digress, but the point is, I love how the scale is tilted to a more female in power to align with Wu Zetian’s reign, a period when women enjoyed more freedom than later dynasties.

That aside, I continue to enjoy Baili and Qiniang’s scenes, including Shen Fei trying to play the subtle Cupid. Qiniang may be assertive for Baili’s company, but she is neither conniving nor annoying. Overall, I enjoy the light romance this pair brings to the series. It lifts the heaviness shrouding the mystery of the drama. I submitted to MDL to add a “light romance” tag, so new viewers know what to expect instead of thinking why there's romance, and negatively discredits the drama.

Almost half-way through, we still don’t know what “they” want and where did all the missing goods go? Although given the way history played out with Empress Wu’s ending, we can deduce some kind of coup d’etat/rebellion. So, the “what” is almost a given. We’re waiting more on the “how” and the fictional “who.”

Only 2 more episodes for the week, then the waiting game is back on.

Just finished ep 15 &16.

I said it before and I can't help it, I have to say it again….Baili and Liu Ran are just tooooo darn cute!!!! We get to see Baili smile the second time, over QiNiang. Sighh, I'm happy now and can go to sleep tonight with a smile, too.

While Baili/Qiniang brings out the romantic in me, I feel sad for Yuehua and Gao Bing Zhu. The scene when he tells her of his new “identity/role” with the Service, she’s heartbroken; and shortly thereafter, somewhat angry at him for not giving them a chance. But we can see, thanks to Huang Xuan’s superb acting, he too is in pain. With watery eyes, he agrees nonchalantly to Mr. Chu’s final condition. GBZ is strong willed and knows he needs to stay focus to achieve his ultimate goal. Now is not the time to be besotted with love and with what he believes as the unobtainable. Not to mention, he probably doesn't think he deserves to be happy.

So far, the director and writer are doing the viewers just. We are not frustrated because issues are dealt with fairly and reasonably. If the production team keeps the same direction in terms of sentiment and flow, then I’m feeling hopeful for this pair. Maybe after the grand finale, they need to fake their own deaths to escape all and live a simple life in a far away village - peacefully and happily.

Aren't you impressed with Yibo in street Dance of China? I am! :). So talented with his dance moves.

This is my first drama with Victoria, so I can't tell whether it's her own voice. I've watched 2 seasons of street dancers with Yibo, so I know for sure it's his real voice.

Victoria plays a strong female protagonist in Luoyang. It's a good role for her. I don't think there's any viewers-hate/sentiment for her character.

I watched a series by Huang Xuan a long time ago so I don't even remember what his real voice is like.

I saw several postings stating the leads’ voices are their own in this series. In my opinion, nothing annoying with their voices at all. Volume is normal. How that helps.

Yes, it’s worth your time. What are some highly rated dramas in your book so we’d have a benchmark to compare Luoyang with for you.

Something about Wang Deng Cheng reminds me of Gollum. Is it his hunching posture? His sometimes buggy eyes? His expressions? A combination of all those?! I don’t know, but the vibes scream Gollum.

Ohhh, interesting point, and I totally see the potential there. That would be a big twist and I love having another bad-a$$ female playing a strong role, villain or not.

Di Renjie is probably ill or still demoted in the country at this point of Empress Wu’s life. I estimate Luoyang’s setting is circa 695AD-700AD. If it’s beyond 700AD, then Di would have been below ground already. :)

I also agree that the magic of the series is more character driven than plot driven. At least for me, I’m able to remain patient with the show because our main leads are all multilayered, magnetic, smart, and just. Had the characters not been this colorful and versatile, the convoluted plot would fall flat instead.

Just finished viewing episodes 13 & 14.

While we have closures to Wang Deng Cheng and Song Liang, we’re nowhere close to finding out who is the ultimate mastermind. If anything, two new and important characters are introduced, Liu Shi (Liu Ran’s dad) and Wu Shenxing (the former Minister of War and unofficial Mr. Chu’s replacer). Additionally, more mysteries are circling around Huan’er (the Empress’s close aide) and Wu You Jue (YueHua’s brother). The premise now causes viewers to pretty much label everyone other than the main leads as prime suspects. It’s convoluted and I’m sure the writer/director intentionally do this so the viewers have a hard time pin-pointing the mastermind. So thus, the plot thickens and no one is spared.

I have my top 2 primary candidates as the mastermind. Who is yours?

Luoyang is slated for 39 episodes, and 35% has aired. I’m wondering whether it will take the remaining 65% to solve ONE problem, finding out who the mastermind is and wiping out the Autumn Fall Divine; or, is the drama designed to have multiple stories and sub-arcs?

The hook is still here. I’m still chasing the bait. Can Thursday come faster, please?

Thanks for the detailed explanation. It makes sense that the feature wouldn’t work as well with the Romance language alphabets. I remember the opacity setting. Surprised that majority of cnetizens prefer to have this on when watching shows.

Only less than 12 hours 'til new episodes are released! So excited because it's the only drama I'm chasing now. So happy to have something to look forward to the next few days!!!

What new surprises await us? I only know from a trailer that Liu Ran ran away, so, yes, I'm rooting for Er Lang to go find her and bring her home. =)

Since a few bad seeds are dead/written off, we can almost bet that new characters will be introduced this week. Good or bad, we will find out.

Oh yes, I’ve seen the text on-top section in Viki, but not over the video. I agree it would be too distracting. The barrage feature is more about capturing viewers’ sentiments and flow rate, rather than the essence of the comments.

Thanks for the info. I saw the term barrage before on bilibili but had no clue what it means. I just looked up this term now in reference to Chinese internet slang.

"Barrage, referring to the viewer comments that fly over the video screen. This Internet phenomenon originated from Japan’s video sharing site Niconico and is now widely seen on China’s websites such as AcFun, bilibili, tucao, and dilili."

I suppose "barrage" isn't widely used in the US because I never saw this feature before here. There is live chat, but the text doesn't fly over the video screen, just in a side text box.

Thanks again...