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I feel like it can be a bit of a "happy ending" vs "happy for now" dilemma. If it's a romance-first drama, then lbr it's hard to make a believable happy ending for a couple if they are emperor and empress. An emperor will get a LOT of pressure to have multiple concubines and many heirs. The empress is going to be constrained in the guilded chains of her position. It can feel quite "happy for now" and it's hard to forget the looming harder days that will strain the relationship. It's much easier to believe in a good marriage and life for people who are free from the palace environment. (of course, Who Rules the World had an entirely different kind of ending. But I'm talking in general. Generally I can understand why dramas have a HE of living free and unrestrained, just devoted to each other.)

thanks 😊

I wonder if they will tell the stories sequentially - so we finish the 30s, then 50s, then 90s (each story wrapped up before the next) or if it will all overlap.

People have different tastes, I guess. One thing that stands out to me is it feels more... episodic than the average cdrama I watch. There is something that reminds me almost of the 2010's western procedural/episodic 24 episode TV sci-fi and fantasy tv shows. I'm personally less into shows with a string of small cases ("Monster of the Week") style plotting. I don't dislike it but it's also not my favorite style of program. So I could see how people who are less excited by that type of show give this lower ratings (and visa vera, for people who love it.) I'm probably in the mid range on opinions. Watched 12 ep and I like it so far.

yeah in the novel the ML truly DOES NOT CARE that she hangs in brothels. he only feels insecure that he doesn't enjoy them and so worries she will find him boring and unable to share her interests. she assures him it's fine and it's not necessary for him to enjoy partying like her or her friends. but if he WANTS to learn how to drink and hang out in her fav brothel, they will go step by step as his comfort level dictates. honestly they are very sweet in the novel and it shows how opposites who attract can be good partners without forcing each other to change.

I have seen more than one mini-drama that has this! FL as an emperor with 3 male consorts. But only in online mini drama land. 🤫🤭

well argued. this was interesting.

You're right that this is just comparing apples and oranges. LOTFG being compared with serious political dramas like Advisors Alliance doesn't make sense. No, it's not on the level of Advisors Alliance or Secret of the Three Kingdoms or Rise of the Phoenix etc. It's not supposed to be - if a viewer goes in expecting that, they just had the wrong expectations. Like watching the Harry Potter movies for fantasy and disappointed it wasn't Lord of the Rings. LPTFG is an he adaptation of a webnovel by an author who specializes in female-centered rebirth and revenge tales with a significant romance component. They have comic-book style logic and an 'idol drama' flavor. A bit fluffy and frivolous, tropey. Also with some real pathos and tragedy baked in. It's not supposed to be believable. None of this author's novels are. They're candy, not vegetables. And imo they are delicious candy. So it's not fair to demand they're nutritious too. (In the same way that when I watch short dramas, I calibrate my expectations accordingly.)

thank you thank you :)

thank you!!

what episode does the proposal scene happen in, so I can plan to stop there?

the novel is very cute. quick fun read. I recommend. it's just clearly a different thing lol

Yes, it's inspired by the characters in the novel. Doesn't follow the plot. In the novel it's that for years she keeps scaring away (or becoming sworn brothers) with any attempted engagements. All the noblemen in the capital stan her like as a guy and idolize her but see her as a bro. Or they're terrified of her. ML is cousin to the noble consort who is besties with the empress. They settle the match for the FL in first chapters of the novel. She's worried they're forcing him LMAO but then finds out he suggested the match himself to his cousin. (he's 4 years younger and had noticed her and was crushing on her. she wasn't really aware of him before.)

yep it's totally different. so we can't use the novel to predict what will happen.

in the novel they are already engaged from the very early chapters. ML suggests to his cousin the royal consort to marry her. 7 marriages had already been set up for her and failed so everyone is confused that this odd introvert is the only one she's just accepting and she is being protective over him and encouraging. She finds his crush on her really endearing and she starts falling for him. Low conflict novel. Fluffy. I don't recall any breakup or serious fight between them.

but in the novel it's not really a big deal. they're engaged from the start. ML already openly likes her. she is starting to fall for him. them thinking they need to protect each other from harm since they don't know the other has powers is just played for humor or sweetness. the identity reveals are low drama, low conflict in the novel.

I'm the same, I really hate the losing memories trope! If the character doesn't get back all their memories of what was experienced then it eventually ruins my enjoyment of the drama. Let's hope this ends up well.

the novel is super different. this is a loose adaption, more inspired by... it's very fluffy and mostly just romance focused and low conflict. (that's not a bad thing, just 2 different things thay are both good)

yes the original body owner was indeed a spy

CZ is a character who was changed the most from novel to drama. He wasn't annoying in the novel and he went from opposing and wanting to manipulate He Yan to hurt Xiao Jue to actually caring about her - which means he stopped any further negative actions towards her and actually reduced how much he interacted with her (to not draw attention to her from the messy people on his side). I would say, CZ is NOT a good person in the novel nor the drama. But in the novel his feelings for He Yan turn from false to true. She is his weakness in a way, because he has options to try to manipulate or harm her in order to act against Xiao Jue and achieve his goals... but he won't do that. He believes He Yan should be free and uncaged. And in the drama, he just feels obsession and doesn't understand that this isn't love. And thus he gets a worse end.