tsuyoi_hikari

What a beautifully written post. I agree so much on your last paragraph. The script is terrible but the characters are so human and layered with lot of depth.

It's the performance that elevate Xiao Huan and why we see him in such rose coloured glass. It's how RJL play the character with so much nuance that he made it so heartbreakingly compelling despite we don't agree with his decision. It's amazing really how effective is great performance can give to superficial writing like this.

I can't agree for more. The actors are carrying the drama and to have that kind of depth and substance for their characters despite this terrible script is definitely a talent.

The screentime that RJL got is totally a joke lol. I know this is Huanrui drama to promote their other actors but to use him blantly like this is very insulting. 😅 He appeared for 30 sec in one episode. Then 2 whole minute in another episode. And in the latest episode, he is the supporting actor for supporting actors' scenes. It's truly remarkable how he is so graceful about this and never complain.

Immortal Samsara is not well received. If you do to Douban, the amount of people who love, neutral and hate it is more or less the same which resulted with flat graph. It's very interesting. No other drama managed to get that kind of graph.

One thing I love is how wrong I am about Xiao Huan. When the drama started, I thought his chess moves are still less than Grand Tutor and he will only refine it later. How wrong I am since he actually already started made a move since he is 14 years old in that snow incident.

Also, I love how there are layers in his chess moves. While Grand Tutor usually planted his moves by killing 2 or 3 birds with 1 stone, Xiao Huan in the other hand always camouflage his chess moves with different layers. First, when he cuts off XianXue's finger - - on the surface, it shows how merciful he is that he didn't take his life but actually, the real reasons he kept him alive since he knew XianXue is the answer to Grand Tutor's evil deeds since he is his right hand man. That's why he always let XianXue's go and monitor him hoping that he will bring evidence for him. While this can be viewed as a weakness since he is 'soft', actually he has bigger plan which is to catch the bigger fish. He did the same method here when he let XianXue go again since he want to trail him to get evidence and he did this while appearing to please Cang Cang. All in all, I think he is definitely the better chess master now. Everytime Grand Tutor plan something, Xiao Huan already made his moves 2 or 3 steps ahead like the scheme in this episode. And his smile when Grand Tutor warned him about not finishing him off is another hint that he comes prepared. I just can't wait to know what is his plan this time around. 😁

But, Grand Tutor 'love as weakness' scheme definitely gonna hurt since now he plan to use Preceptor Du's love towards Xiao Huan as his next move. Okay, the twist about her being his sister is definitely shocking. And also Xiao Huan's love towards Cang Cang which is no doubt his biggest weakness now.

Anyway, I can't believe how bad is the writing lol. After all 20 episodes of maximum angst, the writer didn't even give us the reconciliation scene between the couple where they cleared up all the misunderstandings. Instead, we got scenes with other couples and how the royal couple already made up and now flirting with each other. Gosh, how there is no pay off after all that prolonged angst? 😑

The drama is so smartly written so I love watching it and discover new things that I didn't realise before. But of course, didn't have the courage to watch the ending again. I always stop after the Yueluo arc. 🤣

I just think they shouldn't have adapted the IP in the first place. If you want to force someone to do one drama, at least pick a better story that is more suitable now. No one want to watch misunderstanding filled drama with noble idiocy no matter how makes sense it is for the characters to do that in the drama. :(

I also think this should have been better edited since I read this is PXR's welcome gift when she joined Huanrui. Huanrui supposed to promote this drama intensively since its an S+ drama but I guess they realized that no one want to watch this kind of story anymore and totally left it with zero promotion which I find cruel esp for PXR.

Ohh I'm actually really excited for Fate Chooses You though. It was written by TDHR writer and I love her writing in general and it was directed by a famous director. So, I'm actually have faith that the drama going to be great.

Thus comes to the question why Wang Herun got better writer & director than PXR. I just dont understand how Huanrui works tbh. The favoritism is so apparent sometimes that I scratch my head why they do that.

I know the leads wont appear anymore after that since thats the kind of editing they have been doing so far in the drama. If you look back at previous episodes, they always finish one arc till the end before moving to another arc with completely different characters. Which is weird since it makes the story so uneven.

When I see the who will write the script, I even more afraid to watch the drama since I do not like her writing. But I was surprised with how well written some of the things in the drama so I thought I probably underestimate her too much. ^^'

But looking at the overall drama so far, its just uneven so its really distracting to me since I'm used to watch dramas that flow naturally and organic. I think they might hire a novice editing team to edit this drama to save cost lol.

Do you mind telling me regarding the arrow injury plotline from the book? When did it happen? Who got shot?

I've been nervous about this drama for 2 years ever since it was announced back then. Why nervous? Since its Huanrui's script and if anyone know, they have the kind of reputation to produce something like this. All I could think why would anyone decided to adapt an IP like this knowing full well it will not be accepted well by the public. If this drama is release like 10 years ago, this kind of storyline would work but not now in my humble opinion. But since RJL has to do this in order to end his contract, it is something that can be avoided. So, having used to the kind of quality his dramas usually offered, well watching this drama is certainly different haha.

But, once I watched it, it wasnt as bad as I think it would be. The drama is a mess, far from perfect and has many issues yet the acting and chemistry really carry the drama. It is really entertaining despite the over the top angst. I also happen to enjoy the scheming and mind games in the drama which sometimes impressed me since it is multi-layered and in stages -- some of the result of the schemes or mind games can only be seen after a few episodes which I really enjoy decipher and analyze. So, it wasnt THAT bad.

However, I just dont understand why they do this kind of editing where everything seemed so uneven. Some character only appear after a few episodes then disappear and appear again when they are needed. And the funniest thing when leads only appear for like 2 minutes in one episode lol. They supposed to spread all of the plot equally so it appear seamlessly where all the characters supposed to exist individually in the story -- not only appear when it is needed by the plot. But what we get? It was like one arc, we go through it till the end and finished then they show another arc with different characters. This is the first time I've seen something like this so I was shocked with how uneven is the story. After so long in the industry, sometimes I dont understand the kind of quality that Huanrui dramas always deliver. Didnt they already received so much criticism with The Journey of Legend? Havent they learn anything? SMH

Same. I would probably accept that nickname for him. 😂 Back to back 3 sad ending dramas is the most I can accept. 😂😂😂😂😂

Dont worry. We have Fate Chooses You. 💪💪 That one is a sure 100% Happy Ending. :D Plus, we can always fall on Forever & Ever everytime he gave this kind of heart attack on us lol

I agree. Its soooo stressful watching RJL in this role. When I watched Episode 10 a few days ago, I need to cleanse myself by watching Forever & Ever again. XD

I love how we can find things to enjoy in this drama despite both of us are nervous about it. But it wasn't as bad as I think it initially would be. So I'm grateful that I actually enjoy watching it instead of being pissed or bored -- this 2 is worst since this is what I feel when I watched Blue Flame Assaults haha. Love & Crown is a mess but it is enjoyable. Not that bad. And we are going to get Fate Chooses You and Silent Tides after this. At least we can finally relax lol.

Hope the ending wont disappoint. I would be mad that every Youku drama out there get a happy ending and if they didnt give for this one, its so unfair and I probably will be convinced that RJL are probably cursed. :(

Same, Love of Nirvana ending will forever traumatized me. I always rewatching the show and now watching the earlier scenes already made me shed tears -- like the scene where he is eating alone at Nanling, staring to nothingness and Jiang Ci saw him from afar -- its all to show how lonely and burdened he is with the things he has to carry on his shoulder. 💔 Wei Zhou as a character is just too tragic -- more tragic than Xiao Huan in this drama.

In this drama, Xiao Huan avoid eating sweet after his mother's death to remind him the bitterness of life.

But in Love of Nirvana, Wei Zhou eat sweet to remind him the sweetness of life so he carry them everywhere. The fact he has to do that since he cant experience those feeling physically what made the whole thing so tragic. T.T

But rumour has it that Youku will give this drama a happy ending. I hope! XD

I dont want to trust just hearsay but lots of Youtube comments always seemed misleading and spread something that is not true. I always have to correct them.

RJL doenst have that many sad ending dramas (only 4 dramas out of 20++ dramas) same as PXR. But their iconic roles (One & Only and Goodbye My Princess) indeed ended tragically. 😬

We have no idea since the drama is only half way. But in the novel, they did have lots of children -- someone told me last year. I hope they gave our couple a happy ending since they suffers too much.

No idea. But in the novel, they did have lots of children -- someone told me last year. I hope they gave our couple a happy ending since they suffers too much.

I think the next couple of episodes going to be more entertaining since Cang Cang finally get to know some of the truth. :D

As frustrating as the drama can be sometimes, I truly enjoy last nights' episode. My fave scene is the scene between Xiao Huan and Minjia when they tied him at the pole outside. Since I like how every words that Xiao Huan uttered mirrored what he truly felt deep inside his heart:

- First regarding the stargazing on how its been so long since he did them. It actually refers to the scene where he drink wine with Cang Cang on the rooftop during their Southern Chu days. So, its been 2 years -- so they have been married around 1 year plus.

- He also said he is happy 'just to be under the same sky' as her. This is actually what he really think since he wants to be with her but he wanted her to be free as well and not learning the secret behind her father's treachery and evil deeds. This kind of scene gets to me since this is what desperation looks like, that you are happy just for the smallest thing as to wish for something more is impossible.

- Minjia said he is so easy to please. Yes, thats why this man is just so heartbreakingly tragic to watch. He lights up the the smallest -- tiniest thing that Cang Cang did to him. So love-starved.. 💔😢

- Then he said 'I'm used to it.' That 4 words meant so much more when you realized what he actually meant. He didnt mean the weather or coldness of the winter -- but the suffering, loneliness and also the isolation that he has faced his whole life. Also, referring to the cold disease that he suffers -- so, this cold weather is nothing to him. We never know what is the things Xiao Huan experienced since he is so steadfast, composed and nonchalant in the surface -- but simple sentence like this give us the sneak preview on the weight that he has been carried around.

Thank you. 🤗 I also love reading your reply to me everyday. I usually just come here and post without reading anyone else's comments since the comments section in MDL can make me lose some braincells sometimes. :(

As usual, I agree with your analysis as well. Their image is just as performance to protect them. But it indeed served as double edge sword for their personal lives as well. I pity the siblings. I hope the future is kinder to them. At least with Qing'er, we know he is enjoying life. But Xiao Huan makes my heart break in each episode so it is tough to watch him. 💔

Thank you. 🤗🤗🤗

Yes, last night episodes are very enjoyable. As messy as the drama can be, I actually really enjoy it to the fullest! It really provide me the angst that I crave for.

Thank you! It made me so happy to read them. 🤗🤗

Thank you! 🤗 This drama is a mess in a way (as you & me know, not the usual script that we are used from RJL) but I actually really enjoy the characters and the depth they have.

I also love those petty fights. I wish they put it in every episode. Qing'er is a treasure. Because I totally get him. Who wants to be an Emperor despite all the power? Better slacking, eat delicious food, live in beautiful mansion and money still comes to you regardless.