The thread is open.
@monmor, @Kate, and @agdr03 are watching this. @GB and @Fern are you watching this, too?
Cast: Zhao LuSi (“Hidden Love”) and Liu YuNing (never heard of him)
Episodes: 40
Where to Watch It: Netflix (begins on Nov 16) and *other streaming sites*
Phew! Who knew that fixing a hairpin could be an erotic a sensual moment?
Enjoy the show!
@pm3 Thank you very much for this thread.
******Spoiler up to ep 10
I Had even been thinking a romance might not develop. The script though is very clever.
I was becoming more and more convinced
That Yan Is unforgivably cruel. Then we are shown him murdering his accountant And I am appalled. But it is all a ruse. So I went from being appalled to being relieved and impressed by his strategic thinking. So he is not a cruel murderer. Now there is slightly more of a Rapport between the leads And
I see the possibility of a romance. The only hint so far
had been the scene of him putting the hairpin in her hair, As pack mule shows us above.
Before the above scenes, We are primed to see her as being like Yan, in the scene where she is beating the two men who hurt her young friend And in a few exchanges with the second lead.
So now I see Yan
In a more sympathetic light And understand better why they both feel that they need to take justice into their own hands.
Also He gives her back the blood pearl.
@pkml3 thanks for this thread and @MM, thanks for your thoughts. As I mentioned elsewhere, I’m holding off starting a new series. I know I’ll get drawn in and will want to watch and comment most thoroughly, but I’m keeping aside attention for my next ‘task’ that requires energy and time to prepare.
I’ve read comments and I’ve figured that I could probably wait for after the show has stopped airing and jump into it at episode 4 or 8 or something like that and still find my way about. 😅
It’s all yours, @monmor. 🙂
@GB. I hope getting your task Done goes well. I took about a week off Any dramas and got a few key things done myself- Heating in the basement And getting rid of dust mites Before The dry winter air kicks in.
I began to feel more engaged with this drama In episode Four so that would be a good place to start. The intrigue ramps up and much of the initial angst and abuse is over.
Please let us know if you need any bridging information. It will be easier to watch once it is on netflix and I think I will switch there when I can. I find it frustrating to not be able to rewind to catch a Subtitle or event.
I tried to pay for rouku v.I.P. But it wanted me to pay with ali pay canada and didn’t help me figure that me figure that out.
@ PM3. 🙂
I meant Youku. Sorry for the typos.
Hi @MM, thank you for the offer of bridging info. I’ll certainly let you know if I find myself floundering in this show. I’ve the advantage of being able to fast forward and jump around in my watching (if I’m not trying to solve a mystery or catch sight of Easter eggs), hence I might still get through quite a lot of show before slowing down to relish the more meaty parts.
Just keep your comments coming and I’ll come by to take a read now and then. 🧐 🥸
Thank you @Packmule.
Looking forward to further discussion.
Hi @Kate
I am around episode 17 and have some thoughts to share when I am more awake.
How far are you?
SofPG up to episode 17
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
For a 40 episode Cdrama of this genre the relationship is established rather early-episode 16.(at least from the perspective of someone who has not watched many of these cdramas.). They get close after she plays a role in rescueing him after he has been poisoned, kidnapped and imprisoned in a brine of poison in the dark recesses of a Cui family mine where numerous slaves work under the worst of conditions. They free the slaves with the help of Cui Shi Jiu.
The first kiss at either the end of 16 or the beginning of 17 was not very passionate but satisfactory I guess. The preamble to the kiss was better than the kiss. The little boy is cutely jealous and the second lead is worriedly resigned. There is another woman who may pair with him-the adopted daughter of another jewelry family involved in what happenned in the past, who Yan initially thought was his long lost sister. Our couple also bond over the pain he experiences when he finds out this sister is likely dead.
Now LYN is acting in a way that reveals the vulnerability of his character.I addition to the pain I mentioned above we see him as a shy suitor and a playful companion to DW. We also learn he was imprisoned for 8 year as a youngish teen.(Shades of LYF) And we all know he witnessed his family being killed.
There are many baddies in this drama-several families and now bandits. There are a few enjoyable side characters like the little boy, Yan’s right hand man, and servants. DW is collecting talented women who will likey be part of her success in the jewelry industry( as communicated in the MDL synopsis which, to my mind, reveals too much and gives me cause for consternation.
The second male lead is concerned that Yan is using him in his schemes. I understand his feelings. It feels like the show is using him for the plot, although he is an interesting character.
The plot, pacing, cinematography. settings and costumes are all good. The character development for Yan and Cui is somewhat unbelievable in how quickly they shed their evil ways, but I am willing to go with this. DW is definitely the main character and her arc seems believable. If I were her though I would exercise some caution around Yan.
LYN is a big man 189 cm (6ft 2 in) and not skinny. In addition to acting he has a varied musical career.
Amusingly he has to duck at the doorframes in the ship. I think those doorframes are higher than they would have been in reality in that era. He does look fantastic in his robes and colorful braided hair.
Hi @Monmor, I’m away visiting family so a bit behind. I am on Ep 6. Is it worth waiting for it to be available on Netflix so @ agdr03 can catch up?
Great to have this thread BTW!
Yes the more the merrier. I will keep posting when I am in the mood but highlight spoiler spoiler.
I am coming to the end of the number of shows that are available right now.So that will slow me down.
I look forward to others input.
Smile code appeals to me and I can start that and see if it holds me in check Or starts another binge watch!.
SPoilers up to episode 18
I continue to enjoy the show , although episode eighteen is rather traumatic. Better the trauma early rather than in the last episode Although I imagine there will be more!
I will stop here for a while.
Thank you very much Queen for this thread! 🙇🏻♀️🙇🏻♀️🙇🏻♀️ 🌸 🌸🌸
Howdy @monmor, @Kate and @GB 👋🏻
I’m at episode 22. I’m just really busy with my grandma but my parents are coming back this Saturday from their holiday so I should be more active then. 😄
Thank you for the comments. I’m still addicted to the show. I’m just worried if it’ll have a happy ending given Yan Zhijing’s poison issue. 😬
I thought he changed pretty quickly from being a strict/aloof/scheming Master to a smiling man who’s besotted with Duanwu. It was nice to see it though. I didn’t mind that the relationship came in early. Did anyone see the two shining stars? It was there but they didn’t see it. 😃
Meanwhile I’m confused about the friend who was the Master where the ambush took place (forgot the name). He wasn’t around at that time and he was back right after the whole thing was finished. I found him fishy even though he seems like he’s a friend of Yan.
Looking forward to watching it on Netflix soon. ☺️
@agdr03
Spoilers
Yes I saw the stars and noticed they did not see them. Not sure what that means.
I was confused about the ambush as well. There had been a scene with the second male lead meeting.I someone and that person offering some of his personal guards for his venture To pursue the bandits, I think. At first I thought perhaps that was how things got messed up.But then I realized those were two different threads. I think it needs clarification.Perhaps we’re not really meant to know yet. I see, though that you are in episode 22 and I just finished 18.So I guess they haven’t clarified it.
I am hoping that this is the betrayal.The synopsis refers too because he did not truly betray her.But it can be a big misunderstanding. I have not watched since that episode , but I can imagine her seeing it as a betrayal.
😄🍘🍥🥠🥮🍢🍡🥛🍪🥛🍪🥛🍪🍝🍜🍲🍛🍣🍱🥗🥘
Hi @pkml3, it’s Friday night over at my side of the world and time to open another Rewatch Thread.
Just 2 more episodes of 365: Repeat the Year before we go into Kairos!
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If you are enjoying story of pearl girl, Reading this will not be helpful to you. I have perhaps watched too many period dramas of this ilk Which is coloring my
View.
Unfortunately, Story of pearl girl is only okay.And I do not really want to continue watching.
I just read Avenue x’s review up to episode 18 and she and I pretty much agree with the overall.
Evaluation of the drama, Even though the reasons for what she says differ from mine. Many times I do not agree with her but this time I do.
I watched through episode eighteen and sped watch up to episode twenty eight. I will want to know how the drama develops.But I do not want to put in the time to watch it.
I do think XL’s acting is good.
Again I am being rather negative here.
Finding the episodes to watch is problematic and patience may have Paid off if I had waited. The episodes seem to appear on yuko , and then A few days later are put behind a paywall. The version of episode nineteen I watched was very poorly subtitled- Probably a machine. Her name means Dragon Boat Festival.And instead of translating her name they translated it literally and I had no idea what they were talking about. It was a crucial scene.
I don’t think the way they are releasing It is doing This Drama any favor, Especially as it is seen as a Competitive match with
The eastern palace drama just released.
If I have To summarize why I am not enjoying this drama, There is too much scheming going on, Too many characters doing things that don’t matter to me, and not enough about relationships And character development. It is difficult to feel sad about someone’s death if the character was never really developed.
Sometimes I can like the noble Idiocy trope But it feels way too manufactured in this drama.
@AGDR03
Yes there is an addicting quality to this show. I just watched episode 30 and will probably continue as the episodes come out, unless I am captured by another drama,despite my thoughts above.
I am thinking there will be more romance in the final stretch. Sure hope so!
I most definitely enjoyed Journey to Love more,despite the messsy last set of episodes. Also The Imperial Coroner and Under the Power.
I have not watched The Long Ballad.
Hi @monmor
No worries about letting this drama go. We’re not going to have an exam on it. 😂 But I’m glad you’re liking the current episodes. Hopefully it’ll stay that way. I’m just having a bad feeling about whether a happy ending will happen. 🤞🏻
I prefer to stay on this blog than watch other people’s reviews because I find our Queen is more open minded in giving opinions.
I’m up to episode 33. It’s really just a story of a brave girl who just keeps going even with all the hardships. It’s got good cinematography, good costumes and good acting especially from Lusi, but other than that there’s nothing really to boast about.
I’d really like to have a happy ending but I guess the title speaks for itself too.
Hi @agdr03
I do have trouble dropping a show! I still want more of ZL and LYN! Alas, I am with you on doubting a HEA.
At episode 30, I do not understand their relationship after the thumb(weird) kiss. Are they together or is he just living there to hide?