tsuyoi_hikari

Sure

I'm still not catching up with the latest episodes since I kept rewatching the same episode over and over again. 😅

Another interesting bit I get from the Military Weapon Investigation arc which is the contrast of actions of the characters of the 2 male leads -- it is done so subtlety to show to the audiences the swift change in state of mind of Jiang Ci. For an example for starter:
- We all know how free spirited is Jiang Ci. While Pei Yan clipped her wings, Wei Zhou in the other hands lets her fly and spread her wings.
- Pei Yan will limit what Jiang Ci wants to do while Wei Zhou will praise her and ask her to show more of her abilities.
- Also, when Jiang Ci wants to join any investigation, Pei Yan will stop and forbid her while Wei Zhou will open the door for her.
- And while doing good deeds to the poor people, Wei Zhou did it at the back without anyone knowing while Pei Yan doing it openly and get adored by everyone.
- Also, when Jiang Ci gave them the food of the poor, Wei Zhou accept and eat it while Pei Yan left it untouched.
This all have the same situation but produce different kind of results between these 2 characters. I think we will see more of this contrasting behaviors in the later episodes as well.

As to why this 2 gives a very different reactions to the same situation? It comes back to their childhood. While both of them are caged birds, Wei Zhou grew up in a loving family during his fundamental childhood development years where he is taught compassion and love and also understanding -- he only being caught later and become slave after that. While Pei Yan grew up in a completely toxic environment the whole of his life which build this very obsessive traits inside of him. While Wei Zhou only become ruthless and unhinged when he's in a mask, he is become kinder to everyone once they are in his intimate circle just like what Jiang Ci has becomes. Thats why Jiang Ci is no longer afraid of him since she seen him without the 'mask'. While Pei Yan in the other hand become completely different when someone become closer to him -- he ended up becoming controlling and 'wanting to do the best for what he think for the other person' and taking away their agency just like the 'love' he knew from his mother. Thus, this completely different result of the same situation from the 2 of them.

In Episode 14 & 15, I figured out another layers of Pei Yan which is how actually dark he really is in the inside. I dont think he even realize it. The icing on the cake when he displayed his corrupt family member in public to have him facing the wrath of the people -- what a brilliant action for all his scheming so far. He didnt mind to punish all his family members since he doesnt need them as he only need himself to succeed as can be seen in the last 15 episodes. The symbolism of him repelling the calm water in a pond of koi fish is the literal things he did to his corrupt family members which turning their peaceful world upside down like he has the hands of God. And I dont know whether he realize it, but his final goal is probably to be the Emperor as slowly, he is trying to eliminate everyone who's standing in his way. His mind had this depth which I think he himself didnt even realize it. His complexity is just amazing!

I'm really enjoying Ren Jialun's portrayal as Wei Zhou. I love the way he separates his characters from each other with different mannerisms and vibes. Like Wei Zhou here, he is as merciless and ruthless as Lu Yi from Under the Power (no sign of my awkward Zhousheng Chen at all from Forever & Ever 🥲😂) but he isnt like Lu Yi. Lu Yi is more like grumpy all the times while Wei Zhou is a bit crazy in the head -- he will look unaffected in front of everyone but then look like he just lost his soul when he's in private with the wooden names of his fallen people -- you can always count on RJL to do angst right. And Lu Yi will have full smirk while Wei Zhou only have this like 'half' confident smile like he is the cleverest guy in the room -- which he is -- until he isnt lol.

The best written drama I've seen in any language. One of the rare dramas where I gave a perfect 10/10. Everything about this drama is amazing.

Thats great! Thanks for pointing that out. Also, need to add the duality of the show where Pei Yan tries to trapped Jiang Ci in a cage while Wei Zhou let her fly and spread her wings. Wei Zhou needs like 10 episodes to see all this quality of Jiang Ci due to his hatred and revenge. But when he finally see it, he sees her for what her truly are which is the opposite of the Pei Yan who tried to control her. She is a free bird and Wei Zhou understood that part of her perfectly since he is a caged bird himself.

You cant speed through this drama as there is so much details and depth in all the plots. There are no filler or wasted scenes since everything served as a purpose. It show instead of telling since it trust the audiences to be smart enough to decipher the script. You are so right on the bag of her clay kitten. There is a lot more so I should start making a list since the details are pretty much amazing.

I also love the level of chess games they are playing. I usually can guess the first step but the 2nd and 3rd step is pretty much planned in advance and only show once the water repels after the course of the action. Its brilliant. I love clever script like this.

I hope this show remains solid till the end.

I just got around to watch this drama now. I'm only up to episode 14 atm. I waited for this for nearly 1 year and they decided to drop it when I'm on my 2 weeks holiday. 😂 Obviously, I'm bitter since I'm busy travelling lol.

So far, its everything I wanted but more. I always want a heavy political scheming drama from Ren Jialun since this genre is my favourite and I finally get it. I love how brilliant and matched everyone is in this games of wit and how everyone literally aware of everyone's scheming and mind games. But what unexpected for me is how ruthless and cruel is his character. The point when you watch this drama is see the leads as enemies at war instead of love interest since that is what they truly are -- all they wanted to do is to kill each other, genuinely. The romance only come much later when they finally see each other for who they truly are -- which is the same kind of people of the opposite sites. They did not romanticize it at all which I appreciate. It supposed to be seen as torture and abuse and nothing else. The FL is his enemy, she stopped his missions and she is a target -- its as simple as that.

And this is where another great point of the drama can be seen -- which is the complexity of the characters and the masks they are wearing. You are not supposed to judge them with the upfront that they put just like the mask Wei Zhou is wearing -- its been portrayed figuratively and literally. The cruel assassin mask he put on during his missions, then another façade he is wearing when he is in his official robes in front of everyone and his real face -- the look of sadness and helplessness like how everything inside of him is crumbing down when he put the names of his fallen people inside the box after failed missions. The same can be seen with the FL -- on the front she is just this bubbly girl who smile a lot but she is actually one of the cleverest characters on the show. She knew she being used but regardless of that, she wont let anyone used her as can be seen so far in this drama -- Wei Zhou can used her as a pawn and looks where it got him. Same with Pei Yan trying to control her freedom -- and look how she ended up doing thing exactly where her heart tells her to. Same with Pei Yan -- do not be fool with his nice and gentle demeanor as he is as manipulative and cunning. But at the same time, his concern is genuine which add the the weird complexity of his character. TBH if you ask him, he also have no idea when he started to fall for Jiang Ci as its all jumbled up in his head regarding on what he wants and what his family/mother expected of him. Its all blends together to make him the man as he is.

I also LOVE how they show Wei Zhou kept a white bird in a beautiful super big cage as the bird represent himself -- the hidden identity of lavish lifestyle with richness and adoration but actually trapped and wanting to get the freedom and justice he longed for his people who being sold as slaves, prostitutes and they humiliation they faced under the Liang tyranny.

Also, I love the metaphor of the black orchid seed which being used and described by Jiang Ci -- again, figuratively and literally. The black orchid seed cant be washed no matter how you try to get rid of it which she used on Wei Zhou to track where he goes as evidence. Just like the seed of doubt he planted on Pei Yan or the Emperor (no matter how much Wei Zhou try to wash it later) and these doubts will kept on growing and will crack with times if they managed to read her letter.

Also, the foreshadowing -- there are so much of it. From the song lyrics (which has a hint of the ending) to all the leads' conversations with each other. For an example, the conversation that Jiang Ci had with Pei Yan about the big responsibility or big picture and how admirable Pei Yan is for holding out to that one. No, it wasnt to show as a love interest aspect for both of them but to give us the insight of whats inside her head -- the understanding and admiration she has towards people who fight for what is right which is what Wei Zhou are doing for his people. It wasnt the red flag where he torture her that made she fall for him, but she finally see him beyond the façade he put or the masks he wears -- he might fool other people like the sword dance he did in front of everyone but she truly see him as what he is beyond the act he put in front of her. I thought the directing is great for the particular scene and the point of turn where Jiang Ci finally see Wei Zhou in different light.

All in all, I'm just impressed with the script so far -- the layers of it and the complexity of the characters and the topic it brought up on how restricting on freedom did to people and they baggage they have to carry and live with -- contrasting with the FL's characteristic (a free bird) and both the MLs' characteristics (caged beautiful birds) and how they turn out to be. Also, the drama show instead of tell so I had fun guessing everyone thoughts and perspectives. :D

Reality for me since I have been watching Kdramas since early 00's. The fact that they want to cater to western audiences and changed the way they write their stories makes them lose their original charms that made me watch and love Asian dramas in the first place.

I was having a slump for a few years back then before I stop watching Kdramas all together and tries other dramas after that. Now I knew that is not because I simply grew out of watching them but I find their ideas to be extremely lacking and without substance or depth. Only once in a while when excellent dramas like Secret Forest or Flower of Evil comes out, that I return back to Kdramas. I longed for the days where we get complicated and layered stories such as Tree With Deep Roots, Six Flying Dragons or Yi San or something like Circle: Two World Connected. The rest, I find them to be difficult to finish since I'm simply losing interest in the stories. The lack of creativity and predictable plots are the main concern why I no longer enjoy watching Kdramas. :(

It was such a whirlwind journey. So much twist and turns in the last 3 episodes. I hope you enjoy the ride. This drama is certainly one of my favorites of the year together with Joy of Life 2. The scripts and the layers of it is simply amazing! :D

I always confuse when I see such comment tbh since he is one of the actors in Cdramas who actually picked variety of roles to play -- cold, bubbly, socially awkward, naïve, charismatic, sarcastic, arrogant, ruthless -- you name it, he's done it all.

Even if you only watch few of his dramas, you can at least see the different since the kind of cold & aloof that Lu Yi from Under the Power emits are ruthless and menacing totally opposite from Zhousheng Chen from One & Only where he is aloof, yet gentle and very charismatic. Even when he become jaded as Chang Yi in The Blue Whisper, the aloofness wasn't anything like Lu Yi or Zhousheng Chen -- Chang Yi is more like revengeful and scorned. It is a completely different portrayal despite all the 3 characters are the same which is 'cold and aloof'.

And for an example the smirk, those iconic Lu Yi's smirk is nowhere to be found in his other roles despite is also very sarcastic as Xu Xuan in Destiny of White Snake.

What are her accomplishments that they didnt put in the drama? I thought they put a lot and she was kick-ass as a character.

One of my fave strong female leads in the past years would be Ji Yunhe from The Blue Whisper. I love how she achieved her high status based on her own efforts without any birth secrets and her character never being reduced to damsel in distress in the whole drama despite spending half of the drama being sick. She equally save the ML many times and stay true to her principle and goals right until the end. She is flawed and made mistakes and we can see she is learning from the mistakes and never repeating them again.

I love how the whole drama did this role reversal when usually the ML is the protector but here, it is the opposite. And the most amazing thing about her is that she spent the whole of her life being imprisoned yet she is the most free character in the whole drama -- they can confine her but they will never being able to stop her from doing what she wants. Truly admirable. For me, this is how you wrote a strong female character.

9/10 - Beautiful and such a touching movie. Lol I watched this during my long flight and ended up crying on the plane -- it is so embarrassing! 😂 It such a bad move to watch heartbreaking movies on the plane.

What happened? Did anything happened in the movie?

'Even if this love disappears from the world tonight'

Lol I watched this during my long flight and ended up crying on the plane -- it is so embarrassing! 😂 It such a bad move to watch heartbreaking movies on the plane.

9/10 - What an amazing, beautiful movie! This is how you shot a satisfying ending -- took time, there is surprising elements also scenes that touched you at the same time. I always love Japanese movies/dramas ending. They are indeed the best. Rarely disappoint.

What a great list. I have watched quite many of them to my surprise. :D

Those dramas in that era is simply amazing, raw and dark. I still have some of them in my hard disk. I wonder why they dont make this kind of dramas anymore.

Will do!

BTW, it is such an old drama. Where do you watch it? And what is the reason that made you want to watch this drama suddenly?

I know! I always know. Its almost like most viewers here are allergic to well written scripts when it is without romance. Some dramas that objectively very well written always get abysmal ratings like this. I just cant wrap up my mind around it lol.