tsutsuloo

Why? She didn't take his first letter to Long Ao Yi—but I still don't understand why the other guy did. Is that ever explained?

Don't let the negative comments dissuade you. Even I complained about some of her character development but ... f*ckit—if you love her, you'll probably enjoy this. She's a charming rascal. Sure—some of her coarseness is overstated—but she's entertaining, gorgeous and a great complement to the ML—and boyo, HE gets more attractive as the series develops! The romance is low key but it's definitely there—endearing and enduring.

The ML writes the best love letters. That is all.

I can't remember the specific episode, but someone tells the FL that you can make sacrifices for great love. You can see Long Ao Yi register this, perhaps thinking about all the risks Li Qing Liu has taken for her. I expect her own turning point will mean making those same life-and-death choices to protect her man—not out of "brotherhood" but for romantic love.

(As an aside, the show's credits show the FL enduring some torture. Ugh. There's something creepy about using physical/psychological suffering = Great Love but it's practically a given in historical c-dramas.)

The tragedy of the second leads is that both are pawns of their parents' political machinations. The kids know it and they're frantic to find their own freedom and happiness. Unfortunately, the people they desire cannot return this desperate "love." Worse—the objects of their obsessions love each other.

Is it my modern, western sensibility that hopes for some sort of absolution for the SFL and SML? It actually pains me to imagine those two forever tied to their horrid parents.

Thank you SO MUCH for your thorough counterargument. I agree with many of your points and frustrations.

I hadn't considered how my perception of dramas was shaped by the 5-act structure. All the more reason to expand my diet of literature, films and dramas from other countries! One of my life goals is to simply be a person who deeply appreciates—and understands—good storytelling.

Having some framework for human psychology is another lens to view storytelling. While this is culturally dependent, it's useful to remember that real people have their own scripts. As much as I recognized the FL's traumatic childhood and her hesitance to be emotionally vulnerable—I forgot that we humans stall and regress ALL the time.

I'm content as long as character and story development feels organic. The plot's turn towards Chang'an disappoints because I was so drawn to the bustling world around the hustlers, whores, merchants and artisans of Silver City. I'm hoping we'll go back to that world and I look forward to the series conclusion!

Beginning of Ep. 22.

I just realized he played the younger adoptive brother in THE NEGOTIATOR, a show I quickly dropped after a handful of episodes. He looks great in a suit but he's perfect for costume dramas. Would you recommend any of his modern dramas?

I'm with you—this show is just my cup of tea! (It’s been a godsend during this past U.S. election month as well.)

I was initially drawn to the story because it explored class differences and the world of silk manufacturing and design. While the design element of the show is now less important, the growing synergy between the ML and FL continues to delight me.

This is not a smoochy type of romance but there’s much pleasure found in bickering, occasional skinship and the various adventures the OTP share together. There’s foreplay, for sure, but it’s the spark of like minds coming together. (God help me, I grew up on Jane Austen and Masterpiece Theater.)

If there’s anything I really lament, it’s the shift away from the merchant world we explored at the beginning of the series. The UX (user experience) designer in me was absolutely stoked by all the design and feedback scenes. Watching the OTP work together to improve her lingerie and pillow designs made me giddy.

Whatever direction this series takes, it’s sweet watching them on the same wavelength and I’ll continue watching till the end!

I share your feelings about the characters and issues of pacing.

I rewatched the Ep. 2 scene where the ML meets the FL's mentor for the first time at the Pavilion. She observes flirtatiously, "You're handsome but a little strange to me." LOL. Might that assessment apply to the actor himself?

Thanks for those recs. The first part of the courtship in DATING IN THE KITCHEN was sweet and charming. I did lose interest once love geometry and corporate intrigue crept in.

Ha! I've noticed an interesting "love scene" pattern in c-dramas lately—couples getting horizontal on a hard surface, with no bed roll and the lens either demurely blurs or pans away.

I've seen a couple boats (OOPS! THE KING IS IN LOVE and OH! MY SWEET LIAR) and the actual floor (MING DYNASTY, DATING IN THE KITCHEN and OOPS! THE KING IS IN LOVE again).

As unaffectionate as it was, the MING DYNASTY scene is the only one I'm 100% sure was sex because the young Emperor was doing his duty with the consort he didn't love. (There's a show that started out with *incredibly* sizzling banter between the ML and FL before going flaccid pretty quickly.)

Are Chinese censors are tolerating the *floor* as code for consummation without showing an actual bed? Then again, the love scene in DATING IN THE KITCHEN was so savagely edited that it was incomprehensible. You'd have see the BTS on YouTube to get an inkling of the director's intention.

Whether it's a modern and costume drama, give me good banter, laughs and lingering eye-contact. A steady stream of *that* worth its weight in gold.

One the best things about MDL is that you can edit your posts. Click the down arrow to the right of Reply. ;)

I'm watching UNDER THE POWER now (at Ep. 17/55) and think it does a great job balancing the case stories with personal growth and romance. I could do without love triangles though and don't care for Xie Xiao's persistent chasing after the FL. The show does, however, have something that could give JIU LIU OVERLORD a kick—a sexy, creepy villain like Yan Shi Fan. Oooof, that glass eye! The way he spits cherry pits into women's hands. His love of tiny feet! His looky-loo hole through which he spied on the OTP. What a deliciously nasty man.

I don't think so. Too drugged.

That scene really could've used the morning-after trope where the ML wakes up with the FL wrapped around him like a koala bear. At minimum, a leg flung over his torso.

I've seen this trope so frequently that I thought it was a *required* element of all fully-dressed bed scenes. ;)

Me too. I'll give this c-drama thumbs up for showing a little restraint in the credits. All too often, an aerial shot of the couple usually = happy ending.

A couple years ago, I watched a modern c-drama where the end credit had a sweeping aerial shot of the OTP embracing. It turned out to be the LAST shot of the whole series. By the time the actual scene happened—without a proper kiss or loving words—we've already seen in 45 TIMES and the audience is robbed of any catharsis. (Oof—the rage comments on Viki were hilariously vicious.)

This show takes a different approach. The opening credits show the more slapstick interactions and the closing credits have a more poignant feel. It gives no hint at the possible ending.

In addition to hoping for an unambiguous happy ending, it would be delicious to see the bad guys get their comeuppance. (I'm all for nuanced TV, but I need my fun trash too—especially is U.S. election season.)

"he's obviously never been far from home" is so funny that I'm stealing it for a future putdown.

Cool. I'll check it out!

I share your disappointment with story's shift into a palace drama. Actually, I've suspected that ALL c-dramas are palace dramas—even the modern workplace dramas.

Regarding harem fights—While it was not a great drama, SONG OF GLORY had a refreshing take on harem relationships. The ML's official princess consort is sweet and too good for this earth. The prince respects her but never touches her. (Seriously, his conjugal visits consist of saying, "Hey, what's up" before going back to work.) She waits and waits—and in the meantime—the princess consort becomes fond of and is delighted by the FL, the ML's true love and consort.

Court shenanigans strain the relationship and the women part badly. Later, the FL returns to the palace after everyone thinks she's dead. Who's the first person she goes to see with a big ol' hug? Her sister wife!