tsutsuloo

Yaaas—The show gave me a taste of something I didn't know I wanted. Still waiting for a Silk Road task drama. (THE LONGEST DAY IN CHANG'AN is an exemplar of a viscerally fascinating historical drama. The show immersed viewers into everyday Tang Dynasty life—from the palace down to the shadowy world of human trafficking. I'll take more of that, please (with a bit more sweet romance.)

When I first started the series, I immediately thought of THE TERMINATOR (1984) and LOOPER. (2012). However, a more apt cultural reference might be Sakurazaka Hiroshi's 2004 light novel, ALL YOU NEED IS KILL. Hollywood adapted it in 2014 as EDGE OF TOMORROW (LIVE. DIE. REPEAT.)

Your admiration for the ML and critique of the FL made me chuckle in agreement. (Actually, I guffawed.) The FL's bias against the ML is shaped by her understanding of recent history. (If it's written in the scrolls, it must be right!) And I don't doubt she has battle-induced PTSD driving her fervor to assassinate Lu Yuan Tong.
As frustrating as it is to watch her act so rashly, I think her character arc *is* to screw up terribly before eventually getting it right (if that's possible).
I don't know if the series was based on a novel but see below for a spoilery guess at another cultural reference.

I think the ML was just bluffing to irritate her.
I'm *very* curious about where her younger self might be—assuming this is the same timeline. The mechanics and rules of her time traveling haven't been explored much. Since this isn't a sci-fi show, we're spared fake science gobbledegook but I'm curious if this will even be an issue.
Considering the censors' previous diktat against time travel, I wonder if the short time jump (8 yrs) was what made the concept tolerable to censors.

It's shocking, right? I was glad that the FL was later able to grill him about this. His reasoning makes sense in context but it's still horrible. The palace is a gruesome, gilded prison.

Court politics often make my eyes glaze over but I'm very entertained by the ML's maneuverings and general hotness. I'll say this—I'm grateful for the short episodes!

Did you end up continuing the show?
After watching the first 12 episodes, the relationship between the ML and Li Yu Rou is somewhat ambiguous. It's unclear whether their arrangement was *ever* a sexual relationship. He treats her as the "madam" or "hostess" of his house but without an official title. It is completely her choice to live there and he tells her that she's free to leave. She seems to love him while he remains polite—and nothing more.

I think you'll appreciate the ambiguity Jin Han brings to his role. He's not your typical white hat—grey, maybe? At times alluring, charming, funny, cute and nasty—even if he's doing it all to protect the ones he loves. He's great.

After completing the first 12 eps, I agree that "intriguing" is an apt description for the drama. It's not high art and it might even be trash—but it's good trash.

Like you, I enjoy the shady ML—I barked with laughter when the Ep. 12 translation I watched used "shyster." Webster defines "shyster" as: a person who is professionally unscrupulous especially in the practice of law or politics. Feng Xi loves his machinations too much. The man has a lot on his plate! Is he out for revenge? Is he saving his family? Is he fighting for love? How does he keep his eyebrows looking so sharp?

I'm curious to see if your suspicion about the SML proves true.

While this series not within the sci-fi genre, the first episode gave me tastes of two American films: THE TERMINATOR (1984) and LOOPER (2012). I hope there will be more examples of the FL using her near future knowledge.

The Third Prince seems too pure for this world. That shadow puppet show? Gaaawd—he's so lovable.

"I just hope this drama doesn't go down the hill"

My thoughts exactly about EVERY cdrama ever—especially when they're over 30 episodes!

Agreed. There's lots of room for improvement for the ML's behavior. The possessive ML is a common trope I usually despise in c-dramas. I just finished Ep. 5; at this point, the ML's behavior feels less "romantic" and more like a desperate need to secure an ally.

Fate isn't the only twisted thing in this drama. The ML—my gawd. I just finished Ep. 5 and I'm (cautiously) hooked.

Dong Yue's character is a compelling FL—a warrior, beautiful, noble, and intelligent. AKA, your perfect Ancient Chinese Cool Girl. But she's no pushover so I expect lots of give and take with the ML.

This ML is complex, shexy and *twisted* AF. I've seen Jing Han play pure & heroic (OUR GLORIOUS TIME) and thoroughly nasty (ROYAL NIRVANA). Although I saw PRINCESS WEIYOUNG this spring, I can't recollect his role there. He's quite gifted at playing morally ambivalent characters. I appreciate his striking, masculine features—he's not a pretty boy–but he's *interesting* and mysterious.

[EDITED FROM ORIGINAL POST: I initially found it refreshing that the ML wasn't pure and virginal because he has a polite relationship with his concubine. But after watching 12 eps, it's unclear what their relationship actually is.]

Perhaps the SL, Third Prince, is the pure and sweet one. No one is irritating me (outside of the ML's shadiness) and I'm enjoying myself so far.

Thanks for the recommendations! I hadn't even considered watching AVATAR because I don't play video games. However, after looking at the reviews/comments, I think it's right up my alley— I'm very fond of underdog-sports-themed stories exploring teamwork and overcoming obstacles. I'll file HI FLOWER under my watch-when-I-need-to-laugh list. ;)

Nice! Will add to my list! I think I found it—hosted by Rob Moore and Lee Moore (no relation).

Okay, we're talking about the same scene. He gives his nanny the vase, with the envelope hidden inside. I thought Nanny doesn't know the love letter is there. One of his employers had seen the ML writing the letter and later, HE's the one who sneaks into the empty room and pinches the letter from the vase. Why? Who put him up to it? Was it Nanny? That scene confused me.

Which film does this thumbnail come from? https://i.mydramalist.com/q37VB_2f.jpg

Ah, never mind then. But why are you mad at his nanny? ;)

If I had the talent and time, I'd make a super cut of different scenes of the FL gleefully eating. Mix those with scenes of the ML giving her things. If he gives her a box, the subs say, "Is this chicken?" If it's anything else (a dress, silk flowers, money, porridge, etc., the sub says, " "Thank you for X. Is there is also chicken?"

Thank you, this is wonderful! I'll add these concepts to my own collection. Yes! Mythology and religion are absolutely entwined with story telling. As a child, my first literary obsessions were fairy tales, Greek & Norse mythology.

It will be a delight to explore other ancient forms of story telling. I regret not pursing much independent study of Asian arts outside of my art history courses—which mortifies the Chinese half of my family ;)