swagata

Ep1, is a hard and boring watch i agree. But some things are done pretty well in first ep. They set up whole republican era issues.

1. They have shown how military and business rules the world. The stepping of military family comes with lots of bodyguards and sense of superiority that all civilians side down. They shown it which is good.

2. Then they showed how Hou family whose business is in theatre( in republican era that was a huge profit business) and in supplying arms( again quality has to be there and has to be sold to army so again a good business). What confuses me is why they were selling military supplies to army and saying I will sell to either u or them? Wasn't army a unified thing in republican china? Like today in most of the world? All are govt ones right so i don't understand it.

3. Then they said about Murong family. They came from military bg. Father is dead. And women is carrying the power to make decision for the family. Eldest son is aviation principal in young age means he has connections and favour to get that position otherwise it would be impossible. Then he is engaged to a daughter who come from ship trade of nanyang so it's a profitable thing. Their engagement to marry Murong qingyi comes from the fact to earn the arms to win the battle to acquire railways so that they rule that area as well. Overall they want both military and business power along with trade not to forget trade and ship or naval thing will benefit then even in military so both marriage engagement were imp for them.

4. Coming to qingyi, he is unbothered and aloof because life has taught him to not rely on emotions and connections but he inside his heart crave that. Abandoned by both families he still seek love. But knowing he can't get it he gives cold shoulder to others. I don't think he ever want bad of Murong family otherwise he wouldn't have secured air artifacts as dowry. And make deal of armed supplies smooth between both families despite the troubles that occurred.

5. They showed how these upper class people treat their daughters and their women. Like trash. Like objects. They force them for marriage and restrict and ques their love which is not profitable to the family. In case of misalignment they housearrest them. It was a sad reality of that era.

6. Women of that time grewing up all along seeing unfair and force in their life became in such a way that along with love they desire money and power. Because that's what they have witnessed. That how power speaks. It's language is cruel. They beautify themselves with makeup to cover the physical and emotional scars they receive from their family and society. This was shown by huo family. Or qingyi fiancee. Thats why she unintentionally/ intentionally idk pushed her lover's brother( not justified but she was hardened and knew she can get away with it, but she seeks love so that's why this got in favour of her lover who was trying to ruin her for revenge)

7. Yes, considering these they should have not used these heavy filters as sometimes it's not smoothening of skin that contributes to plot but more of harsh texture that contributes because the replublican era makeup were loud. Loud red lipstick and heavy makeup but not smooth.

8. Now ost. Both male and female ost was good. The choices of singers and tone of music is good. U can't use soft and melodic song there. It has to be loud and opera style which was well done.

9. Coming to sound effects, it's my personal opinion. I think violin is very deep instrument that brings out raw and deep and sad emotions so whenever in bg violin music plays my mind read it as sad. Here usage of violin was perfect in some scenes where they were interluding or giving sad but sweet love vibes. It was good. But sometimes lot of sound effects i didn't liked it.

So i am still in mid of ep2, whole morning this comment section was filled with ai intro, low and cheap production quality, heavy usage of filters and makeup and whatnot. Those are true. But ig this expectations are coming from PoJ fans mostly. It cannot be the case because PoJ director has an excellent talent to make screen and story work even with bad script one can't expect the same from every director. That being said please i am just tired of all these comments. Let's move to plot. So far this is my review of ep 1 below in spoiler.

Come after 2-3 hours. I am watching afresh after sleeping and taking break. Will give ep review as i complete one by one.

I am trying since morning and still stuck at 10 min.

Ep12, push and pull energy is spot on. It clearly shows how u can't go back to how they were just because they met again and at the same time can't let go of the care they once shared. Transition of feelings and phases seems smooth to me.

Now, chen yi. That guy is mysterious. Hiding so many things. One time zhang bin said that he has let go of chen yi after he assisted zhai ig to jin country. But we saw that someone mentioned he was connected to gang and was doing overseas business or outside city and he came back recently but he was not with zhang. So he was with and where? Then he opened billiards bar for his friends. So when he opened when he came back recently?

Now clearly something big happened 2 years ago if he cut his hand accidentally immersed in his thoughts. What? Arson case in investigation office then this what exactly has happened?

Then i don't understand so if someone knows please reply me what is the observation window in billiards bar? And why it's size matters? And why it has to be reported to fire safety team? I don't get it.

One thing I am amazed about this drama is how minute the details are...that time in 2002-2011 cold drinks were widely drank during Summers. Then gangsters involvement was prominent and it was shown nicely in drama when dragon said to hand him over safety of billiards bar to protect it from goons. But he instead was the goon who just wanted free profit. Also it also shows how powerful backing was and still there with these people and those are generally business people or people involved with much larger network of organised crime.

According to synopsis it does make sense if miao jing here has came for audition investigation. She is paying attention to detail in that. But the ques is what she is investigating? Old arson case of something new that happened in chen yi's billiards bar?

Also, i think the expectation that miao jing will not change this much idk it's kinda unrealistic. But again can someone tell me how much time has passed since they last met at airport/ bus stand?

Depends on what u are looking for. In NES, the drama focus is romance with tuff FL. It will still manage to give u fluff. But love for u is completely different. It has tuff childhood their relationship is no fairy tale. Love for u deals with healing and transition from unhealthy or unequal relationship to healthy one. So decide accordingly.

True. But op asked about violence against women trope that is something that will be there whenever we talk about republican era. U can lessen that intensity but u can't make it forward thinking. Here, FL revenge is imp so drama has to show it. Just yes show in a diff way then what we have already seen i agree. Not sure about what do u mean by cringe plot? So no comment on that. If u mean cringe plot like in circle of love or thousand other short dramas where FL marries ML brother and then something something....then yes...overused trope. 😂😅

Its core plot because replublican era is like that only. Feminism and women empowerment and equality came very late almost after French Revolution. French Revolution was the start of this movement and it took lot of years to reach other countries. Plus China was mostly under Japanese colonisation along with other countries. Which were having the concepts of inequality rooted in them. Till this date we see lot of instances like these. Even after spreading awareness in modern era. So it gets reflected in drama.

Also not to forget generally women of upper class in replublican era were powerful mostly in name, they still get married to generals or other upper class family as concept of classism was strong plus ofcourse power. U need power to keep u safe or do business during that time. So it makes sense to marry like that.

Here, FL has to be smart enough to take down her enemies because she can't win by force. It will be an interesting watch. Let's see

Hmm I do agree with production quality here. For me it's very simple have a good plot and storytelling( most imp if this factor is not present or lacking in any aspect I will drop it)second good actors if u have that I can watch it. Too early to judge this drama. Let's see how it goes. But so far for me it's ok ok. Maybe I had too high expectations from this drama. Anyways. Happy watching:)

Adding ur comment so that after i finish watching atleast 2 ep I will have someone who wants to discuss plot.

Hmm... Fair point. Nothing to say. U convinced me here.

Hmm. Difference of opinion. I guess republican era dramas has generally two themes one is like "silent tides" which covers tension era and how people are protesting against colonisation. And another is like when it shows glamour of upper caste people who are related to govt directly or indirectly, where class matters, where show off matters, romance between two classes are not acceptable to society and what not. This drama certainly falls under second category.

Boring, little bit yes. I was having hard time to get into the story. But considering that I still have the will and urge to watch this drama means somehow the whole setting despite its criticism of low production quality, cheap and what not made me hooked in little bit. Maybe because trailer was so good that i don't want to drop. But republican era dramas are not my cup of tea.

Edit:- i am not sure if it's actually true but in comments i have seen lot of people talking about this has mix of vertical drama vibes so yeah. Ur criticism does make sense. I haven't watched any vertical/ short dramas so idk. But generally their storyline is weak but enough to keep ur dopamine level high with lots of toxic/ steamy scenes.

I don't personally have much problem with length of they tell their stories properly and let me give time to connect with characters properly. Lots of good dramas has less length but good plot and lots of dramas has normal to long running time but the plot is meh. So the moral of the story is make ur storytelling good. Simple.

Is it just about actors? They are already getting replaced so many short dramas are like that. Even artists, video editors, graphic designers those people jobs also gets replaced. And we should not forget that actors play a very imp role in drama but so as other crew team members.

But i actually agree with them that let's not reduce whole drama to just ai intro. I mean criticism is ok so as to call out these things. But let's not reduce everything to certain things.

Also the point here is that when u have a very popular fanbase then people can adjust anything and everything to just visuals and handsomeness rather than what drama has to offer u. Any difference in opinion regarding drama such as saying valid point and giving critiques seemed to them as the personal attack to their faves which is not the case.

Plus here ZLH fans are flooded so idk i already know they are less tolerant to these matters and mostly here again I am saying mostly not all, they are here to see ZLH.

Not denying girl. Usage of filters and skin smoothening is a reality of cdrama. Just felt here more. That's it. Not against it.

Idk maybe because the whole setup is like that....that they have to use that heavy filters. But it doesn't give me much republican era vibe. That's it. U have diff view and I have mine. As long as it doesn't make me feel off to not being able to focus on plot or have major issues in plot i am good.

Regarding facial textures or republican era vibes that I am referring to was like "Silent tides" or "circle of love".

Anyways let's end it here. Let's focus on plot.

Exactly i said the same thing. I said I am not sure about ZLH agreed or not. And in my first sentence only I said I am not going to talk about diff drama. It was mentioned I just replied in context of what's being compared to. So no point in coming to me.

Did they actually marketed like that? Short drama in long drama form?

And please let's be honest here u can only see little bit skin texture in close ups not overall. It's nothing new. So agreeing that doesn't make anything look wrong here. Infact it will appreciate them only, Both ZLH and WCR don't need that heavy makeup, filter. They are already handsome and beautiful.

Regarding AI, i don't have problem much because in upcoming days that will be reality of most cdrama. Just the feel I can't get into it.

For me only one thing matters plot. If plot is good I am going to watch it simple.

I am not going to talk about love for u. But love for u has used very limited AI, u can still blend into the world building. But here it's straight up use of AI which is not even letting me feel the world building. U can see it. It's not even in intro even in opening scene it looks they have used AI heavily. Ethical concerns over AI is another point. It's a fact that AI has taken over world. I am just thankful that they didn't used AI actors because in one of awards show or idk something company i don't remember they said that they are going to use AI for actors and some actors has already agreed to it. Not sure if ZLH also agreed on that. But this was such a big news. Both Marcus and Avenuex covered it in their channels. So yeah China is one step ahead.

Too early to review it. I mean it just got released one hour back. But i see plot is good. It's interesting. Not sure about love triangle but looks like yes. They are discussing marriage. Even if u are not into republican era drama this would still hook u in.

Whatever girl!!! Idc apart from that AI thing in intro which didn't let me feel deep in the world building. Whether this drama has ZLH or WCR idc I see story is good, republican era chinese drama is not my genre but this one looks good so i am anyhow going to watch it only because of plot.