themarchioness

Yes, I also found the early eps slow but I think it was around ep 5 when something switched in me and I was completely hooked. In earlier threads people discussed the same, that it also took them a few eps to become invested - the only difference was in how many eps it took.

I haven't watched Lost You Forever, but I agree with your observations regarding Are You the One and Rise of Ning. ZWY's portrayal of his character in Are You the One is much more carefree, whether that's in how he speaks or his mannerisms. And that makes sense given his character's position and lot in life in that drama. Here, he acts more carefully and his speech and movement are more restrained. That is, again, consistent with his Rise of Ning character. His acting may appear "the same" at first blush, but if you're paying attention the differences are quite obvious.

Totally. One of my friends is finding TSOML slow - and as much as I love it, I can understand the other perspective - so I'm definitely going to suggest she try RoN instead.

I like both this drama and TSOML (which is one of my faves) and, personally, think it's possible to appreciate both on their own merits. But if I had to think of them in a comparison context, I'd liken them to college courses where RoN is the prerequisite course for TSOML. Haha.

After all, there's nothing wrong with a simple drama that never leaves the viewer in anxiety because everything is spelled out clearly. It was fun, captivating watch and if my heart didn't have to be in my throat while watching, that's not nothing! :P

He was definitely the Marquess of Hypocrisy, Selfishness, and Contradiction.

I totally agree. I don't know if it's that people can't separate the actor from the character or they think "true love" trumps all, but apart from the fact that love wasn't really what LJX held for LYN, but rather an obsession, even if you did accept that he was really in love with her, it doesn't change the fact that he is an immoral person overall. He smuggled for personal gain and was willing to frame and murder others to both continue and hide his illegal activities. Why would they want the FL to be with a person like that?

Towards the end, the emperor's suspicions against LJX have him being assigned to the borderlands and he was going to take LYN with him. Is that the life they want for her? Throughout that scene, I kept thinking about how the ML has spent his entire adult life working to clear his deceased master's name, but also to improve his lot in life. To live honorably, bring honor onto one's life, and provide a better future for the people you care about - surely, that is "true love." That some people have a hard time seeing that is beyond me.

Finally, as for LJX's end fate... all I could think was if he was going to take the shot for her like that, he should've done the same when he moved out of the way and let the LSY's arrow nick her instead. I'm still annoyed at LJX for that. Everyone else was blaming LSY but I blamed LJX. He knew she was behind him, he did nothing to protect her, and instead saved his own hide all so he could also hold the incident over LSY. That's the type of love this man carries -- one filled with personal gain.

It drives me batty, but this is quite common for Hello, Saturday. Sometimes casts go on the show to promote while their drama is airing, but more often than not the promotion occurs prior to a drama's airing (sometimes months in advance) or well after. That the RoN cast is visiting shortly after the drama's conclusion is actually considered quite timely!

The bad guys in these kinds of dramas are never united by the end. 😅 But how could they be? They betray, lie, and manipulate to get where they are and so of course they don’t trust each other. Bad guys are only united out of necessity. When one is about to be dragged down, of course the other will let go. That’s why I’m not at all surprised by the drama taking this direction with the Prime Minister and the Marquess. It’s par for the course!

So is LSY’s secret infiltration plan, frankly. 🤣

No, I think you have the right of it. I was only uncertain as to whether Master Sun was play acting or really being dumb in confronting LSY at that time/place.

I think he is not in on the plan. But at least in confronting LSY where he did, LSY keeps getting to build the image that he’s switched sides. It’s just… you would hope Master Sun -given his position - would be smarter. 😅

I agree, the drama does a nice job of clearing up most things in a timely manner.

As for Yang Ling, I was about 95% certain he was in on it because of that earlier letter. But since they didn't tell us what exactly was in the letter, there was 5% of me that wondered whether LSY had given him just enough information to settle him down and get him to cooperate. But then once Yang Ling was back in the capital, LSY would start to do what he needed to do and then Yang Ling would feel betrayed - with those feelings and emotions of betrayal being exactly what LYS wanted to capture so that the Prime Minister would believe that he really had turned to the other side. I am glad the drama removed any doubt in today's episode by clarifying that Yang Ling is fully in on this.

Regarding the changes in his tone and manner of speech, I haven't watched LYF so I won't comment on that one. But when I started watching RoN, I struggled to put into words the difference I was clearly hearing when I compared how he spoke in AYtO versus RoN. I kept wanting to say he sounded confident in AYtO; yet, I knew that wasn't quite right as he's a pretty confident character in RoN, too.

It finally hit me. I think there's a carefreeness to how he speaks (and moves) in AYtO and that makes sense given that he plays a Lord. His wealth, his position, and his status in society are secure in that drama. In RoN, he may be wealthy, but it's a hidden wealth - like much of his life. In terms of position and status in his family and society, it's less so, and so I'd say he speaks (and moves) more carefully in RoN.

I really appreciate that attention to detail in ZWY's portrayal of these two characters.

Also. Point of clarification question. Master Sun does not know what LSY is doing, right? I had a hard time telling whether he was confronting LSY in front of his workplace on purpose, such that everyone on the other side would be convinced LSY was one of them, or whether he was utterly clueless and a big idiot for confronting LSY outside his workplace -- like how else did he think LSY was going to respond with all the eyes/ears from the other side watching him???

At first I thought Master Sun was an idiot. And then I thought surely he could not be an idiot. And then I saw that Yang Ling was in on LSY's plan and thought, okay, maybe Master Sun is in on this plan, too. But then Yang Ling talked about his regret over the fact that LSY would be misunderstood by so many and it sounded like that included their Master Sun. So now I'm back to thinking he's an idiot and just want to confirm I'm correct about that. LSY also looked very sad as he drove away from his the prison place, so I think Master Sun does not know.

Poor LSY. I was glad he had Yining to comfort him after so many long, hard days.

I'm also really, really, really glad Yang Ling knows what's going on. LSY doesn't need to live with any more feelings of guilt than necessary. Even though LSY knows he's doing what he needs to do, I'm sure it is still very hard. It goes against his every grain.

She didn't have a choice once the Marquess surrounded her carriage. At most, you could say she shouldn't have gone to his workplace. But I wouldn't blame her for that as she was just missing him, so I think she only planned on driving past his workplace to feel his presence and wasn't actually planning on visiting him. Unfortunately, the Marquess found her and took advantage of the opportunity.

Is it just me or do the episodes fly by? Every time one finishes I think, "Already?!" Clearly, I am loving this show.

Ep 35. I know many of us have already talked about how adorable the Duke was when he realized LYS would make for a perfect son-in-law, but can we also talk about how hilarious he was when after Yining rattled off her criteria for a future husband, he asked, "Who else around us, besides me, fit that description?" LOL, Daddy Duke. I see what you did there!

"Shenyuan has his own considerations. I think you're only seeing the surface, not the surface." Stepmom once again proving how clever and insightful she is. Her observations about her husband are spot on. This has always been the Second Master's problem and why he handled his inner courtyard so poorly. He should thank his lucky stars that his mother brought Lin Hai Ru to him all those years ago. Still, the Second Master surprised me today with the way he stuck up for Yixiu. It wasn't just for the sake of the Luo family and their reputation, which is how he normally operates. I genuinely felt from him that he wanted to be an advocate for Yixiu and hold her blameless for her mother's actions. That was well done of him.

"Lu Jiaxue, you are the last person who is qualified to say that." Can we all agree that Sassy Yining is the best? I love how she does not mince her words around the Marquess. And truly, he deserved them as he took home the Greatest Hypocrite award today. I loved that he could stand there with a straight face and talk about LSY being the type of person who uses people and puts them in harms way for personal gain when.... what was that? Oh right, LJX. I'm pretty sure you've done that a number of times to Yining already. *eyeroll*

It would help if Viki got it, but alas. And Croton is updating their YouTube channel verrrrry slowly.

I have friends who want to watch but they don't want to subscribe to all the different streaming platforms (Tencent/WeTV, iQiyi, Youku) as it gets costly. Since Viki partners with all those platforms it's helpful when Viki obtains the licensing agreement, but they did not for this one. I suspect that has affected some of the viewership in the US, at least.

I have thought that so many times since last week... that I need this drama to be over so I can focus on work again! LOL. At the same time, I will definitely miss it once it's done. This drama has bewitched me.

The Duke looked like he was in love with LSY himself. LOL! It was amazing.

It's all good. Written word can be hard when it comes to interpreting the emotions/intent behind them and I realize by phrasing my observation in a question format, it could've been taken as a sincere one. I mostly didn't want others thinking I was *that* clueless. 😂

But I think we are on the same page as to this drama. LJX is a walking ball of hypocrisy and terribleness. As for Yining, her straightforwardness is one of the qualities that I love about this character. Because she deals with people directly, we can see how they respond in kind - as with her oldest female cousin and now Lady Zhao. Unfortunately, there also are always those who are illogical and beyond hope. Not even the most direct sort of talk will ever get through those thick heads.

It was a rhetorical question, but yes, he is selfish. I was highlighting that moment for the fact that he SAYS he'll do whatever she requests of him and yet, we have seen over and over how he ignores all her wishes.

No, they meet as family members at the beginning. The FL does suspect that the ML is up to something but they are never in direct opposition and get to know one another.