weezles

Based on the editing and not enough episodes comments, I wonder how much was lost through censorship?

yes, I absolutely enjoyed the show, it was just something I noticed about it. The cast is fantastic--beautiful and talented actors, like is this the most beautiful cast all around?? Even the gross antagonist/villains are hot. The show is gorgeously shot with amazing costumes too.

One thing about this show: if you watch a lot of CDrama, you will find just about every trope from the genre acted out exactly the same with no real deviation or twist. tbh I'm a little surprised that they didn't attempt anything new in tackling these well-worn scenarios. The only really unique thing about this show is the disturbing entanglement between Yu Qianqian and Qi Min....

I've only see two so far. Both were "real heiress returns and destroys family" plots and both characters were the same cold, slightly psychotic personality but I'm fine with it so far since she does it so well. The aura is like Jenna Ortega in Wednesday and I feel like she can make this her "thing" at least for a little while.

She seems to have found a lead role niche in short/vertical drama playing the "dark" heroine archetype. She definitely can pull off a "goth" look and can play the cold, confidently crazy, yet highly calculating FL very well.

I did get to see it! My feeling, however, is still the same--he confronted her with suspicion, not trust. She literally had to tie him up and leave him the finger dagger since she knew that him arguing with her was just going to waste her time. Thinking about it a bit, I do think it's just an interesting juxtaposition and a bit of role reversal--in the beginning it was Huaijin who understood her best, was willing to just support her regardless of what she was going to do and was able to get in front of situations to support her without needing to really get explanations from her. After he lays out his feelings, he shifts to his own needs and this muddles him and their relationship. In the breakup, Peiyi specifically notes that they have two very different perspectives/approaches and that is ok, but that's not going to work for what she has prepared 15 years of her life to do. In the end, though, Peiyi's understanding of Huaijin doesn't become a real obstacle because she knows how to handle him and at the same time give him the opportunity to choose for himself without wasting time or getting in the way.

I'm on the USA Netflix track so this is only for ep 33 (finale tomorrow for us). NGL I'm still on Huaijin's ass for continuing to be out of sync with Peiyi. Man was seriously gonna try and arrest her ass?? Didn't even pull her aside to ask what her actual plan was? I really thought he knew Peiyi better than most people, but it turns out he doesn't. As suss as she seems to have acted, even I 100% knew that Peiyi was playing along with Chen Luo and using him to trap Cui Mingzhong. Ain't NO WAY she was going to hurt Consort Shu, her adoptive mom, let alone cause her to be executed. As soon as she knew Chen Luo was the Immortal, it was only going to be a matter of time before she has to arrest him, but she also wasn't going to miss this opportunity to take down the Right Minister either. Very good episode, other than Huaijin not trusting Peiyi enough. He came around, but only after it was obvious what Peiyi actually did. smh...

yeah i know. I personally like that about her character. I'm just saying on Wuwen's behalf because she seems like she wants it hah and I feel bad for her that she ain't gonna get it like that.

She is the sweetest. Kinda wish Peiyi doted on her even just a little. A least give her a hug? ehe.

Episode 31 (I'm on Netflix USA so no express or any of that for me). It took time and a very similar case for Peiyi to finally understand Huaijin's (and us as the audience) perspective. When you've lived a certain way for so long, what might seem obvious to an outsider does not necessarily make it clear to oneself. This episode was mostly all business and more CSI stuff, but Peiyi has turned the corner on only living for revenge and it looks like her relationship with Huaijin can be repaired and resume. MVP to Wuwen also, who is always there for Peiyi to offer support and comfort. Also, I like how Peiyi starts off like she doesn't know how to talk to children, but in the end she actually does it right.

Ep 30 thoughts: the episode time skips 1 mo. Peiyi has been spending time with Consort Shu. While it has done some good towards the mental health of each, they're both already feeling the effects of being cooped up together. Peiyi practices martial arts but spends a lot of time thinking about Huaijin. She puts in heaters, sends him meds, and even gifts him a compass (all anonymously). Huaijin probably realizes that these were done by her, but also gives her space--Peiyi has not really changed in her attitudes. She keeps people she cares about at distance because her experience tells her nothing good comes of it. She can't handle more people coming to harm because of her, but at the same time, she's not happy. Apparently Wuwen has been holding the fort at the Bureau but a new case brings her back in as a consultant. The final case of this show is about someone trying to sabotage Consort Shu's banquet and so far, the body count is at two. There is also a strange cult that has been growing around the capital. Huaijin has been literally heartbroken and seems to give up on pursuing her (at least for now)--it's honestly a bit out of character for him since he literally spent most of his life devoted to supporting her.

This is primarily a mystery/detective show with a revenge main arc. There is a relationship subplot, but if you are here only for romance, this will not be for you.

I agree that the episode presents revenge in a thoughtful and interesting way. I don't "hate" him or her. I do think that they became out of sync and each pursued their own agendas without much thought about the other person. I think they both had reasons for this which make sense in their own minds and that the show presented us their personalities clearly enough where it is very understandable that this was always going to happen. What happens next will be interesting to watch.

Of course not. None of us want Peiyi's revenge to cost her everything. But in Peiyi's world, we've seen over and over again that there is no "Justice" in the way that Huajin sees it. Especially not for women. I never said Peiyi's choice was correct, but I do understand where she is coming from. The Emperor's decisions are maddening for sure, but his reasoning is based on Imperial politics and having to balance public opinion as well as the court which is full of factions fighting for their own power. To his credit, the Emperor did open the path for women to become medical technicians and hold official positions in the hospital as well as the Palace Investigations Bureau, so we know he is not "Bad" per se.

Episode 29...really interesting episode. I absolutely knew that Peiyi was NOT going to get justice Huajin's way. I know he means well and maybe the story will actually give us a "W", but if that did happen, it wouldn't be consistent with how things have gone in this show. Every case revealed truth, but not actual "Justice". Huajin's way is the "Right" way, but in the Imperial Court, that doesn't mean shit. Peiyi had already made up her mind that her revenge was going to end in death, and sent everyone away to protect them. It was really frustrating that Huajin tried to turn this around on her and make her feel guilty about everything. He normally is very understanding of her, but these last few episodes, he has really not been in sync with her at all and ends up hurting her and himself in the process. In the end, though, it does work because she does question if everything she did was "wrong". I know they'll come back around to each other, and their differences were always going to lead in this direction anyway. In any case, things I did enjoy about this episode was the incredible fight scene--at least Chongsan got his just desserts. Peiyi basically quits everything, which makes sense. Girl I am TIRED of this patriarchal and corrupt system too. Finally, I also liked the final scene with Peiyi and Consort Shu. At least the relationship between her and her adoptive mother are good.

This one was fun! I enjoyed it. Zuo Yi did a great job.

I liked this one. Doesn't sugar coat anything---the FL has transmigrated into a dark, violent past as an Imperial maid in a hopeless, hellish palace where she spends almost a decade having to do whatever it takes just to survive. I love how absolutely RUTHLESS she is. 至春禾 plays this character very well.

It does seem to be an "open" ending and viewer interpretation may be intended. If you want to believe in the happy ending, we have that given to us as viewers if we want to accept that. The "Elegy" title suggests that this story is a sad/bittersweet one though.

Not sure how you arrived at the FL getting an antidote as there is nothing about that explained at all. The most likely scenario is that the FL died and the ending is our ML imagining what life would be like if she had not died--her memory is so vivid and powerful for him because that's how much he loves(d) her. It's very clumsy and confusing, but if you want to accept that she somehow survived, you can accept that as the ending regardless. As a mini drama, this one started out with a great opening and decent premise, but ended up muddled and the circumstances for the FL's "death" and the emperor's sudden abdication at the very end felt tacked on the way it was executed.

Excellent show! They could do a season 2 or spin off/short drama with the other characters if they wanted to. I really enjoyed it. The twists and turns and relentless pacing kept me coming back for more. Nazha was fantastic--her best role yet--nailing the poise, composure and microexpressions. Everyone involved did great work and I appreciate that they cast Short Drama actors and gave them a chance to shine. I am a little sad its over, but I will revisit it again I'm sure.