scarfie

I am surprised that I like this drama. I didn't like the first 20 episodes but returned to watch them as they provide the backdrop for the story and high entertainment value due to the problem solving/mystery.

If you are looking for romance, it's choppy. I don't like how the writers intermittently insert side stories to the romance storyline between the leads. So their romance seems abrupt going from the FL's resentment to marriage to their marriage consummation. She always seem cold to me. There's less chemistry when the FL appears to be forced into the situation.

Ep 37 is when he showed her he has always been dedicated and feeling guilty about the old fiancee/and her family (her). FL is touched. I wish she would tell him her feelings and her background. He already revealed his true self to her. What's the problem ???

Ep 39 is when they consummated their marriage - out of nowhere - like a random act or final forced deal. FL admires ML but I feel that there's no romantic feelings.

Ep 42 another chance to commit and say it out loud about her identity, she didn't say it. He accepts her silence. Well I think between husband and wife, there shouldn't be any huge secret because you trust the other person.
Another jarring perspective is she never said she lives for him. When she listed all the things that she lives for:
her parents, her daughter, the changing of the seasons, the taste of simple food, and the quiet beauty of a morning breeze—

All the things that bring her joys! She never listed him!!! What does it mean? He's her benefactor, her responsibility, NOT her joys. Not the reason she would live for.

I think it's harsh and bringing feminist perspective to extreme! Either this or the female lead never loves the ML in the romantic way.
----------
The fact that the writer/director always add a time advancement (ie. 3 months, 6months, etc... had passed) show that the romance is based on time passages. The ML has to earn every single affection from her. Passion and love don't have to be earned. Long lasting love yes. But that initial spark is pure chemistry. I see it from ML but from FL: none.

After ML shows his dedication to the old fiancee, I wish there is some more interaction between the leads: like how he takes care of her or how they work together to become closer.

It's artificial how she wrote a Chinese opera to show him her meaning and her "difference" from him. Yeh, he's still old school believing in the king. But she's not. She's all about believing in being good will win the day. Sometimes, it's not like that IRL! Without him and his family's connection, she would not be in the position to decide what she wants. Yeh, you can see the other guy will give her status - yes, it's still him who studied and went to the king's service to earn the status. Writing operas alone will give her money, but not status!

But since this is a Female Empowerment drama, of course, she's always right. He's retire from the King's service as she wanted in eps 40. And he makes a declaration of his ultimate devotion her, listing how she contribution 50% to his success and saving his family.

Anyways, this story is mostly about ML groveling his way into her life. It's very typical of Chinese drama - begging for affection until the FL feels the sincerity. Is this what females need to see from males today?

I can see where this story is heading: FL will take care of the family, rise to the top of the family and caring for them through adversity - even though it's not her choice.
Anyways, already at almost the end so have to finish. The story feels choppy/disconnected towards the end.

This is an entertaining drama. But not the best I've seen. The balance is not there. Its focus is about female empowerment. Romance feels forced or got buried in the process of always highlighting the female lead's superiority. Female empowerment is also about women who dare to follow her heart in love as in career choices. Taking care of family is also empowerment. Staying at home to take care of kids or parents is also empowerment. Not knowing all the answers and learning things the hard way is also empowerment. Giving the FL flaws and dimensional characterization is empowerment. This story fails that. Glorifying the FL makes the story less dimensional.

In response to Avenuex, I wrote 2 comments. She has her points but main criticisms were off:
"You missed the point and main theme of this drama/story: good always wins against evil. As always, I find that you pursue your narrative - maybe you didn't watch the entire drama to know how analyze. Basically, the story is about how women should fight injustice inflicted on them. The first wife - yeh she was abused by the system- but she didn't do the righteous thing: she cheated on the Lin's family (not just adultery!): she abuses poor families to earn money. There's evil in her actions. She depended on the man - her cousin and lover- when she should have depended on herself by doing the right thing and asking for divorce. I agree it's a one dimensional portrayal of a woman - Chinese dramas are not praising her qualities. And I agree with the writer. Bad qualities attributed to women should not be praised. What the writer tries to say is Chinese buddhist principle: bad deeds get bad karma in the same life. Surely you don't expect Chinese government to approve of what she was doing?"

On her complain about the FL's quietly and conveniently accepting her life:
"Maybe you are losing your voice due to barking down the wrong tree! The theme of the story again, given the context of the setting, is for a woman to work with the system and creating a lasting happiness for herself and her family. Nothing wrong with her following her heart. The ML groveled and did everything he possibly could. What else does she want? Scoop up her parents to live an uncertain life? No power, no family wealth ... to be abused by any bad people???
You yourself wouldn't want that either. Feminism is about being smart and caring. Not going against the time.

You are living in a place that has more freedom than in China. You can say whatever you want. In China, there's no such thing. Maybe you should empathize with women more."



The music is from another show - sounds like Brocade?
I still like Love Like a Galaxy. I think the director is better. And story of female empowerment is more connected to her life as she matures. It feels more organic. She didn't know all the answers. She dares to love and hate. The ML doesn't need to grovel so hard to earn his lady's love.