x Sasa x

Thank you for reading the article, I'm happy you liked it :)

Yes, that is the ultimate question and why I wrote the article actually. Are modern women seeking out something more from love these days? Are what we see in these historical drama's even realistic expectations when it comes to love or do they appeal to us because subconsciously we know it is a fairy-tale love that doesn't exist?

Thank you for reading the article, I'm happy you liked it! :)

I agree, that old fashioned love is very appealing. Every aspect you listed in the layers are what we love watching may that be from instant attraction to a slow burn kinda love in the end we enjoy the journey all the same.

Oh, I don't like the sound of an incomplete ending in Princess Agents, that would drive me insane.

I've only watched one historical Korean drama "Empress Ki" do you have a historical romance recommendation that's from Korea that you think I might like?

No, I haven't seen the trailer for "Royal Nirvana" but, I'll check it out now you've mentioned it! :)

I'm a sucker for the ML saving the FL, protecting her etc....and Gu Ting Ye does a lot of that, so naturally I was in heaven watching this drama. Ming Lan was so capable on her own, but it was exhausting for her always fighting on her own. That all changed when her husband started having her back along with her grandmother.

But, I smiled reading all the little things you reminded me of! I loved when Gu Ting Ye gets so upset with Ming Lan because she wasn't jealous when his family kept pushing concubines onto them. I laughed so much when he would get frustrated with her about her lack of jealousy then storm out of the room in a mood lol

I honestly saw Yanruo as an inexperienced boy compared to Gu Ting Ye, he lacked the determination to take action when the time presented itself. He became petty as soon as he entered the court as an official trying to take down Gu Ting Ye which showed his immaturity also. Once Ming Lan had that talk with him he seemed to grow up and I liked when he said to his own wife at the end that he would have a different world and that world would be her. He had finally become a man right there for me, I was proud of him.

I'm definitely going to re-watch this at some point! I often watch my favorite scenes especially each time Gu Ting Ye swoops in to save Ming Lan. When he stabbed the evil woman trying to kill Ming Lan and the baby after she'd given birth. When Ming Lan was up against her entire family when they poisoned her grandmother and he came walking in to stand by her side (exhausted 2 horses to death riding back to get to her) Poor horses, but what a guy.

Then at the end when he comes riding into the city on his horse with the army behind him and still goes to his house first to save his wife. Screw the Emperor, my wife needs me!

What....you mean all those good parts?

Okay lol I will start it tonight and let you know what I think. Thanks for the recommendation!

This drama was where it all started for me about 5 months ago and I've never looked back since. I came across "The General and I" by mistake really, it was a suggestion on my watchlist one day. I love anything to do with history, so I thought I'd give it a go, and I'm so happy I did because it introduced me to all these wonderful historical drama's that I just love so much now. As this was the first CDrama I'd ever watched I really had nothing to compare it to, but now that I have watched some other ones I can say it's not the best yet it's not the worst either. I still have a long way to go when it comes to these drama's, my PTW list is insane lol.

I'd say this drama is actually a little lighter than what I'm used to now when it comes to CDrama's, it's slow paced without too much plotting behind the scenes. The FL doesn't have to worry about petty things like a jealous Empress or concubine trying to mess with her all of the time. She does encounter obstacles obviously, but there's nothing she can't find a way out of because that's what she does. She's a tactical and strategical genius. The couple spent more time apart than they did together which annoyed me at first, but I didn't know then that CDrama's love to make you wait like that. The writer's want you to feel frustrated, angry, sad and just pissed off in general when the couple are kept apart. Then they give you a taste of sweet love when the couple are finally together before ripping it away from you again along with your heart that's been smashed into tiny little fragments.

I'm glad this was the first CDrama I'd watched because compared to other's it didn't do that much damage, it's not too heavy with the right amount of everything such as action, romance, fight scene's etc...

The ML was strong and the FL I thought was good in a reserved kinda shy way. I can see what other people mean in the comments about FL, compared to other actresses she was quite dull. But, shouldn't the director's then direct her on what they are looking for exactly in a scene? Keep doing takes until she expresses the emotion the way you want it to look! I watch behind the scene's video's on YouTube of my favorite drama's and I see the director's instructing the actors all of the time on what they are looking for in a particular scene from them. If she geuinely can't act then why hire her? The director and casting crew made them audition which means when she read out the script they liked her. I just think it's their responsibility to bring out the best in an actress or actor it is afterall their job! I haven't seen another drama with her in it, but I wouldn't be put off it if she was. I think she would suit a certain type of character though like the quiet, shy, innocent girl, or I also think she could pull off a dark character quite well. She might look good as a crazy, jealous, demented person who kills people! I can see that crazy look in her eyes and that little smirk on her face while she watches her victim drink the poison she just served them and then acts all innocent when confronted about it later lol.

Yes, there's been many times I've just wanted to give up on a drama because I can't take the plotting and betrayal that goes on, and I get emotionally exhausted suspecting everyone along with their intentions, but I always persevere because in some strange way I know I like it! I try to think about what the story would be like if all the characters were nice and for some reason it instantly becomes just another average love story.

We love to see our favorite characters triumph over evil and get the girl/guy, so for me the more bad people my couple have to overcome the greater their love is in my eyes.

Thing's get better for Ming Lan then they get bad then better again, this drama is one hell of a ride! There were moments I stopped breathing completely thinking this is it then ML walks in and only then can I breathe again.

Persevere.....it's so worth it in the end.

Oh, I just fell in love with that drama, it will always be one of my favorite's now too. I've already been looking up Zhao Li Ying on here to see what other one's she's been in, I really like her now. I'm thinking about watching "Princess Agents" or "Rise of Phoenix's" or "The Untamed" next, but it's so difficult to decide.

It's a tragedy in my opinion, the loss of a country's heritage. I love all countries history and heritage. It should be protected at all costs, and I think we are slowly losing all sense of social propriety, customs and heritage all over the world. We have a Monarchy with a parliament on the side in my country, but it's mainly parliament who makes all the decisions. The Monarch's are basically a tourist attraction now and to me that's very sad.

Corruption, power and greed all go hand in hand when it comes to running a country. But, can we honestly say that all those have been eliminated now that the Monarch's are gone? The President, Prime Minister, or Official are technically the new Monarch's now, all power once again handed to one person! The only difference now is you don't have to be born into the Royal Blood line, you just need enough votes. Histories Monarch's were very much intertwined with the countries religion, faith or belief system which is another contributing factor to it all, that foundation became unstable for some reason. In medieval times practically everyone believed a King was ordained by a higher power much like an Emperor, but do the people still believe that today I wonder? I blame technology and modern times in general. The faster we move into the future the quicker we start to lose those fundamental values we once held so highly before.

I'd love to go back to the days I can only read about in books or see in the historical drama's I watch here and elsewhere. Where life was simpler, morals and values were what you aspired to live by. A time when social structure had propriety and meaning.

If only I had a time machine......

Thank you again for another amazing recommendation "The Story of Ming Lan" I completed it last night and I just loved it so much!

The main couple were the sweetest I've ever seen together, so it wasn't surprise to me when I found out they got married in real life and had a baby! I really enjoyed the slow burn in fact and I also liked that it was set outside of the Palace for a change.

Thanks again.

I've just finished watching this drama and I have to say it's one of the best I've seen so far! It's also the first one I've watched that wasn't involved in the Palace and I really enjoyed that aspect. The main couple were adorable together, the sweetest couple I've ever seen. So, it wasn't a surprise to find out that they actually fell in love in real life, got married and had a baby! If your looking for a capable female lead and a strong male lead who compliment each other so well then this is the drama you've been looking for!

The female lead is shy, reserved, and as delicate as a flower, but has the mind of a tactical genius. She is the definition of a wall- flower, beautifully hidden away in the background never standing out. But, don't they always say we should never judge a book by it's cover.....she's so much more than what we get to see for the first half of this drama and I mostly mean personality speaking. The male lead is a badass warrior who is also a tactical and strategical genius. At first I was put off by him because of his lack of propriety, and how irresponsible he was always being, but he also has a hidden layer beneath what we see on the surface. By the end of this drama I was completely sold on him, he grew on me in the best way possible!

Yes, it's a slow burn, but what's the rush!? We're given loads of screen time with the main couple which is something I'm always desperate for more of, and we get to watch their love grow from just ember's. It still has the political schemes, jealous murderous women and all the other usual twists and turns you might expect, but it also throws in some major unexpected revelations towards the end that even I wasn't expecting. I'm normally good at working out the plot pretty quickly in a drama, but this one got me good. I laughed a lot too especially at Ming Lan's father who was hilarious. He's so shallow and only cares about the family's reputation. But, his expressions and mannerism's were so funny all of the time.

This drama made me laugh, cry, smile and sit on the edge of my seat quite a few times. It has a fairytale element to it, Gu Tinye always comes riding in on his valiant horse/steed to save the day and each time he did I loved him for it even more. If you want romance and a love story that will stay with you for a lifetime I suggest you watch "The Story of Ming Lan".

Enjoy the last 10 episodes!

I was actually thinking about starting "Nirvana in Fire" I've heard it mentioned a lot in comments sections and it's rating is good although I don't really pay attention to ratings that much. My opinion of a drama might be totally different to someone else's, I like to base my opinion on my own experience.

Would you recommend "Nirvana in Fire" ???

I wish I'd watched it with you all as it was airing to join in the discussion, but I bet it was torture having to wait until the next week to see what happens in the next episode. That would kill me honestly lol

Well, I've been reading comments on a few I have on my list trying to pick which one to watch next, I think I have over 100 drama's on my list. I really want to see "Love and Destiny" but it's only subbed up to episode 38 or something.

Do you have any recommendations?

I'm still waking up every day thinking about it, listening to the soundtrack with tears running down my face.

I was actually just reading a few reviews yesterday on "The Story of Ming Lan", I'll start it tonight if you say it's good! I don't mind slow burns, it means more screen time with main couple probably. I love it when I'm sitting on the edge of my chair thinking is this it?! Is this the scene where they first kiss then it nearly happens, but doesn't which makes me desperate to watch more.

Historical romance is all I watch, I just love how things were done in the past. Traditions, customs and propriety were all important to people and society back then. I feel we've lost a lot of those things in this age of technology, the love stories in these drama's are organic and real.

Thanks for the recommendation again.

Thank you.

I agree, people do irrational things when they're in so much pain. If I were XF I would've seen my duty as the sacrifice I'd have to make for my people, their sacrifice was their blood mine will be my love. We all know XF's death was the only thing that would punish LCY enough for all of the bad things he'd done. LCY's only weakness was XF and she knew he would only feel what she felt when he lost her forever. He didn't care she hated him, he said himself he would prefer that than nothing at all.

Her only weapon against him was herself.....

I don't hate LCY and I'd forgiven him a long time ago. King's and Emperor's don't have the luxury of living a normal life, not when everyone around you either wants to kill you or manipulate you. At the beginning XF was just the easiest route to his goal, he had no idea he would fall deeply in love with her. Gu Jian on the other hand loved her from the start, and still betrayed her, so in my eyes that's worse than what LCY did in the beginning.

LCY's father the Emperor was worse in every sense and if I'm going to hate anyone it's him. He knew all of the corruption that Prime Minister Gao got up to over the years, he admitted he overlooked the mass killing's of officials in the court. Basically the Emperor knew Gao was more useful to him alive rather than dead which is why he let him away with so much, then he admitted that he purposefully didn't allow the Empress to ever get pregnant which was Gao's niece. The Emperor didn't want him having too much power within the court so prevented their bloodline from entering the Li Empire through any children the Empress might have (Probably instructed the kitchens to slip something in her food regularly to prevent conception) poor woman thought she was infertile her whole life! Then he killed his own child in the womb along with it's mother Gao's daughter! Lastly the Emperor still killed his beloved Mingyue's father who had been secretly helping him for twenty years by getting rid of the corrupt officials within the court, even sacrificing his own family in dedication to the Emperor. That to me is an evil man, and I didn't feel sorry for him when he had the stroke, but I was devastated Mingyue got killed because I really liked her.

So, my conclusion is LCY only did what he had to do in order to survive, none of this would've happened if the Prince's hadn't started killing each other off. Remember his father wanted his sons to compete, winner takes all I think were his exact words. So, can you really hate the son that turned out just like you? Your son gained the throne in the exact same manner you did all those years ago, so in some disturbing way you should really be proud of him. Your son is now as ruthless as you are, you finally got the son you've always wanted.

I loved the ending where we see LCY as an older man, the entire thing we'd just watched was merely him standing daydreaming about his lost love our beautiful Princess XF. That was his punishment for me right there, the fact he had to live to that age without her. He passed his throne to one of his runaway brother's son which told me he never had his own children because he never loved again and that was enough for me to be satisfied. The only thing I was a little sad about was the fact it ended with him looking for the Oblivion waters again, so he could forget her. Why on earth would you want to forget her or the beautiful love story you shared with her. Your memories of her are all you have left of her, her memory should be cherished.

My advice is just go for it and enjoy the ride! The love story is worth any pain in the end, you would be missing out on something special in my opinion.

Good luck, you'll need it.

I've just finished watching this drama and I just don't know what to do with myself! I will remember this beautiful love story for the rest of my life, I feel privilaged to have had the pleasure in watching this drama. I must like my heart being broken in some disturbing way because no matter how much it hurts I keep coming back for more, I think we all have the same problem here.

The ultimate question I will ask you all is would you have forgiven LCY for the sake of your family and the entire Xi State?

I think in this situation you have to ask yourself does my love outweigh my hate? An emotional scale for example- I always hoped that on those scales her love would outweigh her hate for him, but I don't even know where you would begin to forgive what he did to her. It seems her scales were perfectly balaned between love and hate which is what tortured her the most. She could neither love him or hate him and I felt her pain during her struggle with that as I'm sure we all did.

My only wish is that she'd given herself more time, they say time is a great healer. I believe her love would have grown for LCY in time instead of her hate especially if they had a child together. She didn't have to do what she did in the end for the Xi State, she could have simply stopped the battle and agreed to go back to the Li Empire with her husband fulfilling her duty in the marriage alliance. But, who knows how long it would've taken for her to move on and fully love him again like she did before. She couldn't see through her own pain in the present which ultimately blinded her from ever seeing her future whether that was with LCY, or living in the Xi State.

It's such a beautiful love story and it's now one of my top picks.

I just finished watching "Goodbye My Princess" and I just wanted to say thank you for recommending it to me! I loved it so much and cried a lot.

If you think of anymore like this one let me know, I love historical romance stories. Happy or sad ending I don't mind.

Thank you again.