Welcome to the Open Thread, everyone! Thanks for joining in on this group watch of this very special show! ❤️
As I mentioned in my announcement post, these are my notes, exactly as they appear on Patreon.
ZERO SPOILER POLICY
We will be adopting a ZERO SPOILER POLICY for this Open Thread, except for events that have happened in the show, up to this point.
This includes, but is not limited to, how characters &/or relationships develop, later in the show.
The spoiler tags don’t work in email notifications, therefore, please take note that WE WILL NOT BE USING SPOILER TAGS FOR THIS OPEN THREAD.
We need to protect the innocent! 😉
Without further ado, here are my reactions to this set of episodes; have fun in the Open Thread, everyone! ❤️
My thoughts
Episodes 9-10
E9-10. Remember how I’d said, last episode, that my drama senses didn’t let me down, because I’d correctly guessed that Shaoshang would run away?
Well, it looks like Show’s pretty good at outsmarting my drama senses after all – which I consider a very good thing. 😁
Because, while Shaoshang running away from home does cause her to cross paths with Buyi, it’s not like I’d expected, at all.
And, even though I’d expected that Shaoshang would end up leaving the family home for adventures further afield, it turns out that it’s NOT in the context of her running away, after all.
I’d imagined that Shaoshang would run away and require help and rescue from Buyi, who, in my head, would come across her wandering the streets by herself, but ha, that’s not what happens AT ALL.
Instead, she runs right to the Wan residence to seek refuge, which is where Buyi is, talking to General Wan, because of his case. And, because Shaoshang is there, Buyi ends up deciding to stay, not just for dinner, but for the night, and then ends up staying for two nights!
Hahaha. It’s so funny to me, how Buyi consistently ends up breaking his personal rules, because he wants to see Shaoshang. It’s dorky and cute, and that dorky cuteness is such a fantastic contrast to his usual stoic impassiveness.
In fact, I wanted to say that Leo Wu manages to channel both these sides of Buyi so well, that these different facets can be on him, at the same time, and it doesn’t feel weird or out of character. Very nicely done.
Right now, I’m pretty amused by how Buyi’s all smitten with Shaoshang, but Shaoshang is trying to stay as far away from him as possible.
..Which means that her reckless pronouncement at Princess Yuchang’s birthday celebration, that he’s admired her for a long time, but she has no interest in him, is pretty close to the truth, isn’t it? This tickles me. 😁
I’m also amused by how similar Shaoshang and Qiqi are. They’re both so straightforward, with so little interest in reading and culture, and they both get excited at the same kinds of things, like horseback riding.
I feel like these two could be best friends for life! 🤩😁
That said, I’m unabashedly in this for the OTP, and right now, that means anytime Buyi’s near Shaoshang, and reacts to her presence.
For example, I was very tickled at the way he leans in to eavesdrop, when he and his men walk past Qiqi’s chambers, and hear the two ladies talking about men and marriage.
It’s so dorky-cute, that Buyi is so obviously hoping to hear something that would indicate that Shaoshang might have an interest in him, or at least, a man like him.
And how disappointing it must be for him, that she states emphatically, that she will definitely not be marrying a military man – which is exactly what he is. Aw! Poor disappointed puppy. 😁
Generally speaking, though, I must say that Buyi doesn’t seem to allow any of his disappointments with Shaoshang, to affect his ability to function.
He’s still as focused and businesslike as ever, in talking to General Wan about the map of Shu, and is as sharp as ever, in picking up on the fact that Shaoshang is hiding under the bridge.
I’m amused that he eventually makes that deal with Shaoshang, to keep her secret about tampering with the bridge safe, if she helps him get that map of Shu from Old Madam Wan’s chambers.
But first, I can’t not mention the horseback riding incident, because it’s the classic sort of OTP moment that this show seems to lean into.
From what I can tell so far, the moments might require suspension of disbelief in large chunks, but then, they are also so melty and swoony, that I don’t actually care that suspension of disbelief was required in the first place. 😁
In this case, it’s pretty naive-stupid of Shaoshang to attempt to ride a horse on her own, when she’s never done it before, and it’s quite a stretch, the way Buyi casually jumps up on the moving horse behind her, to create that breathy moment of hyper-proximity.
Not that I’m complaining, coz like I said, I lap up these moments like they’re crack-laced candy.
And then there’s the way he gently puts her foot into the stirrups, and there’s also the way he just looks at her, with his expression stoic, but his eyes wide and clear, and.. soft, in the way he gazes at her. This stuff makes me squee, no lie.
As for the deal with Shaoshang, that she get the map of Shu for him, I rather like the detail, that he does it in this roundabout manner, because if he were to storm the place and search for the map himself, then General Wan and his family would get intro trouble for being in possession of it – along with Shaoshang’s family, because her family is also involved in the armament case.
That’s a great deal of consideration, coming from Buyi, because if he were to do things strictly officially, it would be faster for him. But he’s doing things this way, ultimately, in order to protect Shaoshang and her family. I like that a lot.
It’s hilarious how Old Madam Wan is so sharp that she knows exactly what’s up, and even directs Shaoshang to the exact location of the map in her chambers – before she then beats up General Wan, once Buyi’s left with the map in hand.
Gosh, I think I rather like the old dame; she’s so smart and shrewd.
I hadn’t expected Shaoshang to return home so soon after running away – that’s one of the “twists” that I didn’t see coming – but I must say, Show doesn’t waste time in finding a way to get her out of the confines of her home anyway.
It’s so audacious of Shaoshang to stage that bridge collapse at Old Madam Wan’s birthday bash, but I can see why she’d want to do that. She’s just giving tit for tat by having them fall into the water, since the snide socialite ladies had pushed Yangyang into the lake first, right?
I have to say, I’m really quite tickled at Buyi’s highly unnatural way of fulfilling the favor that Shaoshang asks of him, to stand at that particular spot and smile in the ladies’ direction, in order to entice them to come running over the bridge.
HA. That’s so sneaky of Shaoshang, and also, isn’t it really funny, how the stoic general accedes to this ridiculous request, without question? 😁
And gosh, isn’t it so very undignified for the ladies to go running over there like a bunch of rabid fangirls, when they’re supposed to be so demure and decorous? 😂 It’s ridiculous, but that’s also what makes it entertaining.
They really do look like a bunch of very sad bedraggled rats, HA. 😁
It’s too bad that Old Madam Wan’s letter to inform Shaoshang’s parents of the events, turns into a Really Big Thing, at the Cheng household.
I feel for Shaoshang, that she gets punished in a pretty serious manner, with military rods, no less, but it’s quite awe-inspiring, the way Shaoshang is so ready to pay the price for her actions.
It’s like she knew that she would get into trouble for staging that bridge collapse, but she’d weighed it in her mind and considered it worthwhile, and had gone ahead with it anyway.
The fact that she doesn’t shy away from her punishment, even though it is admittedly very intimidating, is what I find awe-inspiring, even though I’m not sure that I agree it was worthwhile.
..And that’s how we have Shaoshang eventually leaving the family home. Yuanyi would rather send her off to Hua with Third Uncle and Aunt, than have her in the family home, and Shaoshang agrees without batting an eye.
Aw. It does feel rather sad, that Shaoshang leaves her family, while there’s this rift between her and Yuanyi.
And we do see that Yuanyi cares more for Shaoshang that she’d like to let on.
I do think that Qingcong has a point; Shaoshang and Yuanyi are more alike than they realize, and it’s this alikeness, that’s actually causing them to clash so much.
We can only hope that Shaoshang’s time away from the family, will help her see things from a new perspective, so that when she eventually goes home, she might be able to understand Yuanyi better.
And perhaps absence will make the heart grow fonder, and Yuanyi will learn to be more overt in her affection for her daughter? Let’s hope so!
Episodes 11-12
E11-12. Ok, wow, Shaoshang’s journey to Hua turns out to be WAY more eventful than I’d imagined! What an exciting set of episodes these turned out to be.
First of all, I hadn’t expected Lou Yao to follow Shaoshang on her journey. That’s.. quite a commitment, for someone he’s only met a couple of times.
He’s definitely smitten, though, and I appreciate that Shaoshang doesn’t attempt to lead him on in the slightest, despite him being so smitten with her. Instead, she tries to make her goodbye as clear and as clean as possible, which I actually appreciate.
It’s Lou Yao’s own refusal to take no for an answer, that has him trailing the Cheng entourage, even though Shaoshang’s told him that they should say goodbye.
I’m not sure where this arc is going to go, since we don’t see a great deal of Lou Yao, this set of episodes, but he does eventually wind up in Hua, alongside Shaoshang.
The most exciting part for me, this set of episodes, is seeing Shaoshang put her natural smarts to good use, when the fake bandits attack her entourage.
It’s so thrilling to see her just instinctively know what to pay attention to, and what decisions need to be made, for the safety of everyone in the group.
Our Shaoshang may not be naturally inclined to books, but man, she’s definitely naturally inclined to all this strategic thinking and leadership stuff, isn’t she!
I got SUCH a thrill out of watching Shaoshang be in her element, without even realizing that she’s in her element. She just seems to know exactly what to do, and how to utilize the resources available to her.
PLUS. She’s able to analyze the situation so well, and sift through the clues so systematically, to arrive at the (correct!) conclusion, that the people they’re up against, aren’t bandits, but rebels looking to stage a rebellion. So, SO impressive.
The more I watched her, the more I felt like she’s clearly born of a military family, and could very well make a great general. 🤩
I have to confess that I was a little confused at the scenes of Hua county in episode 12, because the way Show presents it, it could well have been part of Yuanyi’s dream, and then, with her words about her past as context, I was soon thinking that this was a dream of her childhood.
..Which turns out to be completely wrong; the scenes are of the present, and that little girl is absolutely NOT Yuanyi. 😅
And the thing that clued me in to this, was Buyi’s arrival on the scene, ha.
I do love watching him do his badass general thing, I have to say. He’s all intensity and fire, as he goes about eradicating the bad guys, and saving the innocent. Ahhh! 🤩
AND THENNN. There’s that moment when he hears that Shaoshang’s in danger, and he just SLICES OFF the arrow that’s sticking out of his back, so that he can go to her.
I mean, you do need to suspend disbelief somewhat, coz it’s ridiculously stylish, how he slices off that arrow, and then, without even wincing or batting an eye, rides off towards Shaoshang, while barking out orders to his men.
But y’know, stars in my eyes for daysss, anyway. 😁
..And that’s basically the vibe of the rest of the episode, for me.
There is A LOT of stuff to suspend disbelief over, and you’d have quite a list, if you stopped to make one, but why would you, when you could be spending that time just melting and swooning and spazzing instead? 😁
I love how ridiculously flashy his entrance is, when he comes on the scene, and saves Shaoshang from being killed, by throwing his spear, such that it ends up impaling the leader of that particular rebel group.
And then there’s how he heads straight for Shaoshang, grabs her by the waist, and looking right into her eyes, breathes, “Don’t be scared. I’m here.”
I feel like this scene would be very amusing for those not feeling the feels, heh. But I AM feeling the feels, so I’m only giggling a little bit. The rest of the time, I’m just swooning. 😍🫠
And then there’s the scene where he offers Shaoshang his handkerchief, which is sprinkled with calming powder, because he can see that she’s struggling with the smell of blood. That’s thoughtful and sweet.
It’s also dorky-cute, how he lets on that he’s injured, and therefore needs her care as much as his injured men.
AND GOSH. THAT SHIRTLESS ARROW SCENE, YOU GUYS.
It’s not the shirtlessness so much that gets me, although I definitely did clock that Leo Wu is in excellent shape. It’s the way Buyi looks at Shaoshang, that melts my knees.
His gaze is so intent, and so gentle, and so hyper-aware, all at the same time.
And when she says that she has an idea of how to deal with the arrow that’s impaling him, he doesn’t even let her finish, and states emphatically that it will work, and that he trusts her.
My goodness. The way he puts himself in her hands, and never lets his gaze leave her face for a second; the way he barely flinches, even as she pulls that arrow out of his chest; the way the air practically crackles between them.
Plus, there’s how he looks at her. He’s all intensity and focus, but there’s a distinct sheen of trust and wonder in there that’s almost childlike. Like I said, he’s a badass and a smitten puppy, all at the same time, and I love it.
And then, when she hesitates, he grabs her hand and tells her, “It’s fine,” with that steady, gentle, anchoring sort of presence that I’m starting to associate with him, whenever he’s around her.
It’s heady, heady stuff, y’all. 😍 That crackling tensionnnn.
I don’t even care that it is absolutely ridiculous that he can withstand the pain so well, so that he doesn’t even blink when she pulls out that arrow. I’m just in a puddle of swoon over here. 🫠
I did have to laugh at the fact that (a) Shaoshang has to ask him if it hurts, after she pulls out the arrow (DUH, of COURSE it does!), and (b) he shakes his head and instead asks if her hands hurt.
Ahahaha! This is so ridiculous! And yet, I don’t care. 😁
Of course, when Shaoshang lets on that she’s analyzed the whole situation and arrived at the correct conclusion, I can’t help but think that THIS is the thing that makes Buyi a goner.
There’s no way he’s going to stop liking her, now that he’s found out that she’s a natural strategist on the battlefield. That would be like catnip to him, yes? 🤩
When Shaoshang shows her despair over losing her people to the rebels, I do like how Buyi tells her, in gentle tones, that she’s already done very well, given the circumstances, and that even if her uncle had been present, there’s no guarantee that things could have turned out any better.
I think that’s important for Shaoshang to hear, particularly from the star general who absolutely knows what he’s talking about. I hope she won’t be too hard on herself.
But also, Shaoshang’s a lot stronger than Buyi tends to think, I think, because even though he tries to keep her from watching the execution of the remaining rebels, afraid that she would get nightmares, she watches anyway, from the bushes, determined to see them pay the price for their actions.
I do think that this entire experience has changed Shaoshang. We only get hints of it at the moment, but my gut tells me that she’s no longer the innocent, naive Shaoshang who had left the city in order to see the world.
It feels like this has been a hard dose of reality for her, and while it’s been at a horrible cost, I do think it is going to help her understand Yuanyi better, because this is the kind of stuff that Yuanyi had had to experience, on the battlefield.
And there’s nothing like walking in someone else’s shoes, right?
By the time Third Uncle arrives with Lou Yao, I’m only mildly interested in what they bring to the table, because, like I said, that arrow removal scene was THE crackle-tension-highlight of the episode.
But, I did have a good giggle over how Uncle claims that Lou Yao fainted three times on the way, when he had been the one to faint, because of his big feelings for Aunt, and his big horror at what might have happened to her and Shaoshang. It really is kinda silly funny. 😁
As Shaoshang and her party arrive at Hua County, which has been turned into a scene of sorrow and bloodshed, it feels like we’re on the cusp of a new chapter in our story.
I have no idea what that will bring, but I’m pretty darn sure that Show will find a way to bring Buyi to Hua County, so that we can get more breathy, intense OTP moments.
To which I can only say, yes please, moar please. 🤩
I thought I’d share this little nugget after the bandits are rounded up. It’s taken from the novel translation by Lady Kelpi:
“In an instant, the young and handsome man seemed to have changed his demeanour. Just then, he was gentle and polite, benevolent and righteous, but when it came to thieves and bandits, he downplayed them with a bloody aura, completely ignoring them as ‘people.’ She thought, ‘This person is actually a good person, he’s just a bit murderous.’”
It’s so true and terrible but still it made me laugh 🙂
@KFG – Since you mentioned that horse scene when Buyi leaps up to help her as the horse bolts off, I found the behind the scenes of that moment. Its so cute and so sad all at once. Zhao Lusi didnt hear action and thought the horse went “mad”! She was terrified poor girl 🙁
【BTS】Leo Wu comforts cry-baby Lusi – the poor girl’s freaked out! | Love Like The Galaxyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdQUNdoUuzo&ab_channel=FreshDrama
Geez! I didnt realize I had so much to say about LTTG! I was actually worried, I wouldnt have much to say as well as not enjoying my second watch. But here I am in completely invested!!! YAY!
Anyways, here is a fun moment! I love Yuan Shen’s character constantly being thwarted being Niao Niao who doesnt give him a second thought from the beginning with the embroidered ball toss scene. And on my rewatch, I mused I wondered what else has been in only to find out he has been in Parallel World! I HAD NO IDEA! I love when that happens and an actor can disappear so completely!!! YAY for him 🙂
https://mydramalist.com/people/32915-li-yun-rui
https://mydramalist.com/65705-west-out-of-the-yu-men
Wait-what? He was Gao Shen!!!!! That’s hilarious! I too was completely oblivious. Even when I clicked on your link, my brain refused to compute they are the same actor 😅
My thoughts after watching ep 11-12? “Well, that escalated quickly!” From juvenile hijinks against the capital’s mean girls to sudden plunge into war and conflict was a big tonal shift, but to show’s credit, I think enough seeds had been laid with Ling Buyi’s investigation that I could see how the parts linked together to result in a dangerous situation for Third Uncle’s journey to Hua County, which so unfortunately coincided with the Emperor’s journey to the area and the Shu (kingdom? County?) plan to rebel.
When Lou Yao insisted on coming along to the party, I was with Niao Niao – really?? Ugh, no thanks, please go home. He has rather a “bully me please” kind of mien, like a skittish rabbit. But I’m sure he will have a significant part to play in the story going forward.
Hua County’s magistrate! The old white-haired dude. I mean, the scene should have come off as cheesy, the last stand of a besieged city, but it was done really really well, I really felt for the old man and his sons and soldiers as they rode forth but then got slaughtered. Similarly, for Niao Niao and Third Aunt getting besieged at the hunting lodge, I’ve seen that sort of scene before in other shows, but that didn’t make this one any less effective. Niao Niao’s ingenuity and gumption – the leap was rather sudden from “sabotage bridge to get back against mean girls” to “prepare traps and arrow launching devices for a siege” but I guess her brother had gifted her Eldest Brother’s book of military devices & traps, so she was a quick study of that????? Also, her natural bad habit of eavesdropping on anything she can helps explain why she’s so au fait with the wider world of politics and the military, even though ostensibly she’s been sequestered in the Cheng household/village for most of her life, she’s been learning about the outside world through what she eavesdrops on. Trying to explain it to myself!
Um ah and I’m with you all. Ling Buyi’s last second rescue of Niao Niao?? Super swoony.
AND THEN.
The arrow pulling scene? Swoony and hawt!!!!!! Um ah, look at the sweat bursting spontaneously from his brow, and his intense look at Niao Niao’s face, and tell me that scene wasn’t an euphemism for, y’know, making love *blush* Wowie, not for the first time I feel C dramas are more earthy and sensual than K dramas!! (The other drama that made me fan myself was A Dream of Splendour haha)
But ahem, putting my practical criticism hat back on, ahem, the arrow scene does indeed demonstrate Ling’s absolute trust in Niao Niao’s ingenuity and competence. Ahem yes, ingenuity and competence and nothing about her attractiveness ahem!
Niao Niao is extremely counter-cultural, not just unfeminine (i.e. un-demure), but also uninterested in studying the classics (a major no-no in Chinese culture) and very invested in petty vengeance. She is also obstinate and doesn’t give her parents “face” at all.
I find her rather modern and Western in her behaviour actually, in the sense that she argues for “rational” pure fairness and justice even in a situation where in terms of Confucian teaching and cultural norms she should respect her elders and hold her tongue. She also has aspirations for personal freedom, to be able to travel the world and explore. In this, she reminds me of Pan Er in A Dream of Splendour, from the lower class of entertainer women, but determined to realise her dream of financial independence and running a successful business despite the naysayers against women entrepreneurs in ancient China. And that made me wonder where are the ambitious women with a dream in K dramas…?
I am reminded of ancient Chinese icons like Hua Mulan and the female Yang generals who rode into war against cultural gender norms. But in doing so, they honoured the higher, more fundamental ideals of filial/familial piety and loyalty to the nation. So despite her petty vengeance ways, I am expecting Niao Niao to follow that arc, and indeed she has already gone through one trial by fire, and is proving her ingenuity in a crisis, as well as her loyalty to and protectiveness of her household members. Very nice!
@Elaine – Your attention to detail and connecting the dots *never* ceases to amaze me! Remembering the books her brothers gave her military devices and traps! And she applied it when they were under siege! Excellent! Thank you for reminding me.
I agree about the old Hua County’s Magistrate scene being so well done. So well done, I couldnt watch it a second time because once was enough for me.
Old Hua County Magistrate!!! And then his young granddaughter was the one who cried and tried to go after them when they left the gate, and she was also the one rescued by Ling Buyi (after getting a mighty kick to the chest!!!)
I’m surprised you made it through the first watch JJ!! Some of these scenes are really violent.
@Elaine – AH yes, the granddaughter. Broke my heart. And really made me think how barbaric those times were because they killed the enemies children without thought because they didnt want the children to grow up and seek revenge.
Ah yes, the violent scenes were pretty tough for me on the first watch and I had some trouble again in second watch as I had forgotten! I quickly FF when NiaoNiao’s maidservant fell out the opening, gah. Couldnt relieve that again.
But I did watch with satisfaction through my fingers when Buyi threw his spear……🫣
I agree, the granddaughter storyline was as painful to watch the second time as it was the first. She really acted it well for one so young – I truly felt that kick to the chest 😭
@KFG – One of the things I really love about LLTG is all the humor and I might be repeating myself here so bear with me and let me! lol. In your notes, you talked about when you giggled and it was more often than not! And that just made me smile. I think this is one of the reasons besides the whole OTP swoon factor that kept me so addicted to this Show. I was not expecting so much humor in a Chinese Period Drama and we get humor in nearly every episode in one form or the other. One of my favorite humorous moments in this set of episodes is when all Buyi and his two trustee sidekicks lean in together to listen more closely to what Shaoshang has to say 😂😂😂 That scene tickles me every time. It seems so out of place these three warriors taking a moment to eavesdrop on this girly conversation 😂😂😂
There’s something generally more restrained about humour in cdrama than kdrama – the wit in dialogue I find especially gratifying as it’s a bit more akin to British humour. Which is, naturally, excellent 😆 Where I don’t like it in Love Like the Galaxy is when it gets a bit ‘silly’ – like General Ling whacking the horse and sending poor Niao Niao hanging on for dear life… I notice these elements are not in the novel, so it’s obviously a directorial choice. Not entirely my cup of cha, I’m afraid.
I think I have been so ardent in my love for Niao Niao, that I won’t trouble you guys with it once more (and until the next set of episodes 😉).
My comment here will be on my darling Wu Lei:
Intense, smoldering look at Niao Niao, me 💘😍🥵
Intense, smoldering look in Amidst a snowstorm of love, me 😬🤢🏃♀️
So I sure get what you mean, KFG. If one doesn’t feel the feels, those swooning scenes do seem icky!
Another thing I wanted to mention, a pretty irrelevant one. You referred to as Mama Wan as “old lady”. It made me think how often we treat as “old” actresses that play mother roles, even though quite often they are just a little bit older than the leads, especially their supposed sons, and some times are actually younger than them (Nirvana in Fire comes to mind…). So I went on thinking about how unfair showbiz is with female actors, which made me think a lot how unfair society is with aging women.
So then I went on MDL to see how old this actress, Liao Xue Qiu, playing Mama Wan really is. And you know what?? She’s 70!! There go all my deep thoughts on inequality. I mean, they are still valid, but not in this case: Mama Wan is indeed of an age to be a Lao Furen (if I hear this correctly), even though she looks like she could be slightly older than me 🤩.
@Natalia – I need an explanation of running away emoji’s from Leo Wu in Admidst a Snow Something-Or-Other “you’re the ice in my Coke” (lyrics from the theme song) 😅. Do you think he’s too intense there? (I’ve been stuck somewhere around EP 21 (I think) and I’m having a tough go of it. It feels like nothing happens. I usually complain about OTPs not having enough screen time together but as much as I like Leo being the perfect attentive boyfriend could we please actually watch a tournament? Or at least see a trophy awarded at the tournament event? (You KNOW I’m bored when I’m looking to watch billiard balls doing things I don’t Even know the rules for. 🥱
She looks great for her age!!! And I concur, Wu lei knows how to smoke up a smoulder 🔥🫠
In episode 8, I talked about how I howled with laughter over Zhao Lusi’s comedic timing ! And now here in Episode 9, my heart completely broke for Niao Niao and Yuanyi. Such a terrible blow (pun so not intended) for their relationship. I really just want to shake Yuanyi sometimes and tell her to stop being so harsh. Its so hard to watch Yuanyi almost making the better choice for Niao Niao, then getting so angry and consumed by her guilt of leaving her daughter behind all those years ago. And for Shaoshang, I keep thinking she keeps pushing her mother to prove to her that she loves her and hopes she will treat her differently. Sigh.
I love this Show so much even though I was so worried on my rewatch I wouldnt love it the second time through! But I am finding, I am more relaxed and more comfortable since its been two years (Thanks, Leslie!) since my first watch. I am no longer panicking about catching subtitles, or trying to figure out who is who, etc. I feel a bit more comfortable in Chinese Drama period pieces as I learned I am so down for palace politics in Chinese dramaland vs Sageuks, I can pick up some Mandarin not enough to understand or string sentences together, but its nice to catch a word here and there. And the music just works on all levels to very well throughout the entire Show. Feels ever presence. I am noticing more how much of the music is in the scenes filled with lots of humor and how that enhances my enjoyment of these moments. I am giggling at the music AND at Niao Niao’s antics.
For me, there is just so much to Love!!! YAY!
@JJ – Note to self: Must.Pay.More.Attention.To.OST. 😆
NiaoNiao is one of the best written female characters I’ve ever watched, and Zhao Lu Si delivers her beautifully.
For instance, NiaoNiao is so unselfconscious about her likes and dislikes, and so straightforward in delivering them. “No. I won’t marry a general. That means I’ll have to live my life in worry and fear, and never have a peaceful life. Just spare me.” Here, just spare me = forget about it, Auntie! Queue eyeball roll. 😂
She doesn’t see the world the way most other Misses do, and she’s undeterred by the fact that she’s following a singular path. She is so thoroughly her own person, the good, bad, and occasionally ugly. I mean, as to the last, spite is kind of her trademark, so far.
And what’s really neat about her is, that when she leaves her very sheltered world of home and begins to encounter things outside her young experience – real danger, bloodshed, death, duplicity, and human suffering – she takes it in, and begins to inform her world view. You can practically see maturity creeping up on her. It doesn’t bring her to heel, but it does act to build empathy in her and a tiny bit of humility.
While there is clearly chemistry between her and Buyi, and Buyi is a goner for sure, she really is too young and inexperienced to recognize it for what it is. She truly doesn’t spend much time thinking about him, when there’s all this other wondrous stuff to observe and learn about, away from home. It’s not quite “Boys are yucky”, but something like they’re not worth it quite yet.
And besides, I think she feels Buyi is so out of her league – not in terms of her self worth per se, but because of his age and stature and great feats on the military field – that she can’t register he’s interested in her. It doesn’t compute. But we can see it, and it’s so… enticing. It’s Buyi who is really bringing the melt in the not-quite relationship, so far. 🫠
A big duh realization. I/we’re watching Wu Lei in two shows right now – this one and, over on Patreon, Amidst a Snowstorm of Love. Wu Lei is doing such great job of differentiating the characters he plays, that I hadn’t tracked that they’re played by the same actor. There’s plenty of Wu Lei intensity in both Buyi and Yiyang, which is hard to mistake. But beyond that, he brings unique sensibilities and nuance to his characters, and I don’t feel like I’m watching him on repeat. Nicely done Wu Lei!
Leslie — very nicely put as a description/analysis of Niaoniao’s character. I confess I am more slowly awakening to her worth as a character, and am not as enamored as most y’all are just yet. But this sort of dissection of where she’s coming from is definitely helpful!
@Trent – Ohhhh, I hope you get there with Zhao Lusi’s character! Fingers crossed it happens 🙂
@Leslie – Your description of NiaoNiao is so spot on and I totally agree wholeheartedly and then some! I am so smitten with her character and Zhao Lusi’s delivery of Niao Niao. I am glad I am not alone 🙂
Pretty amazing about Wu Lei, right? 🙂
Leslie, I second that. Niao Niao is my favourite Asian female character – and Zhao Lu Si is excellent in portraying her.
@Leslie – Haha! Boys – UGH! BLECH! 🤢🤮 Believe it or not – I remember those days. 😆
Your description of NiaoNiao’s attitude of knowing what she wants in her life (by way of man) remind me of the heated discussions (where I was in the minority) on FL in Descendants of the Sun. FL in DOTS did not want a military man who must take lives sometimes. So I’m surprised to see more people understanding how ZniaoNiao feels. It makes me think that because the characters were Song Hye kyo (not as likeable to fans as she once was) and Song Joong ki (whom we’d all been biting our nails waiting for him to get out of the military) that affected everyone’s opinions. Like, “What’s to think about?! How dare you refuse our boy!”
Hooray for all the Niao Niao fans! I think she is a great mix of courage, defiance, wilfulness, kindness, with a hefty does of insight, foresight, and a sharp sense of moral justice.
Maybe liking Niao Niao (and General Ling for that matter) isn’t necessary to root for them. If I think about it, I love Niao Niao and General Ling but there are numerous examples of them doing things I do not like. Niao Niao’s sense of justice, for example, is a quality I like HOWEVER I recognise it leads her this set of episodes to 1. seek retribution against the Mean Girls by tampering with the bridge (which is fairly petty, could have resulted in injury, and of course creates a terrible dilemma for her parents on how to punish her for her recklessness, ultimately breaking the mother-daughter relationship – let’s hope not permanently) and 2. leads her to want to kill those bandits as retribution for the poor maid / guard (in my view, morally ambiguous as I don’t believe in the death penalty).
However, I don’t mind being appalled by our leads actions because flawed characters are always the most interesting to watch. And I root for them, even if in real life, I’d avoid making eye-contact 😅
@Ele – Exactly. Your NiaoNiao examples are some of the ugly I referred to, in her character. In the case of these kinds of “flaws” in otherwise likable characters, I always wonder what Show has in store for them. Will they evolve? change completely? go deeper into their blindspots? or go somewhere else I haven’t thought about? My first instinct is to trust that characters will not remain static in their development, and look forward to seeing where things lead.
Yes, exactly! xx
I’m just talking to myself here but here goes anyway: I like how NiaoNiao is not intimidated by Buyi but even more I love that she stays true to her rebellious self when he tells her not to look at the soldiers punishment. Her life experience is – don’t argue, just go do what you feel the need to do.
@Beez – You arent talking to yourself at all!!! Im reading everything you are writing. Love it!
Niao Niao does seem so nonplussed by Buyi, doesnt she? She does it anyways and I wondered though in that scene how she felt after she saw what she saw? That moment when when they look at each other, but Buyi gets shy about her seeing his actions…..
Is this your first watch?
@JJ – no. I watched with the group on Patreon. I had a much harder time then not watching ahead though. I’m showing more restraint this time. My biggest problem is falling asleep and not realizing that I was asleep and that I am watching an episode beyond the week we’re supposed to be on. So this time my going ahead is totally an accident!
Yes! Exactly that. She’s so “my life, my choices”, I love her.
Looking at the notes I took last week but didn’t post because I thought I had watched too far🤪🤕, but I had a question:
At the time of NiaoNiao’s beating: Dad’s 3rd brother says “I admire you for this” to mom yet he denigrates what she’s doing. Mom says “I’ll never discipline this child again” and NiaoNiao said “it’s a promise”. I guess that means she’s holding mom to her word?
I just didn’t get that entire scene. Why would mom send Niao Niao away from home no matter how unruly she is when that is certainly not going to reign her in but will rather keep her on the independent, uncultured, unlearned path she’s been on and that mom is trying to break. I know it’s to advance the story but after watching the scene I felt like what the heck just happened?
@Beez – I think Youngest Brother is saying the opposite of “I admire you for this” – rather, “I have never admired you for this kind of behavior.” It is a stilted translation, but that’s how I took it in the context of the scene.
When Mom says she’ll never discipline NiaoNiao again, I took it to mean she washes her hands of trying to discipline NiaoNiao, since her husband, brother and sister in-law, have all criticized her methods and made her the bad guy – even though they’d all been part of the original plan. (From which she’d deviated, by the way, in her temper at NiaoNiao’s defiance.) She’s turning NiaoNiao over to brother and sister in-law, essentially saying, if you’re so concerned at how I’m doing this, you take responsibility for her.
My reading of NiaoNiao’s “It’s a promise” in response to her mom’s declaration, is that NiaoNiao’s continuing her defiance and saying “You bet you won’t discipline me again, ‘cuz I’m outta here.”
YuanYi is so frustrated that she can’t bring NiaoNiao to heel, the way she can soldiers under her command, that she loses all sense of proportion and, well, her mind. NiaoNiao pushes all her buttons, and YuanYi just sees red!
@Natalia @Leslie Thanks. You’ve given me a couple of way to take that in.
My interpretation in response to Beez’s questions – I didn’t clearly hear what Third Brother says in Mandarin, but I gathered that he had always admired her for being a good and fair general, but he would never have thought she could execute such a punishment on her own flesh and blood (i.e. this is going beyond the pale).
As for Yuanyi saying “I’ll never discipline this child again”, it’s kind of “I’m washing my hands of you”, and “You’re not my problem now” i.e. giving up the responsibility of leading and guiding and parenting her. Not quite disowning but almost like fostering her out to Third Uncle and Aunt to parent, since they think are being so sympathetic to Niao Niao anyway.
And Niao Niao saying “That’s a promise”, what she’s actually saying in Mandarin is “Since you’ve said it, then you need to keep your promise.” And it’s a backhanded way of saying “Just as you don’t want to parent me anymore (or take responsibility for me), I also don’t want you as a parent anymore”.
Thanks, Elaine
My read of that is that she can’t stomach thus anymore. This is the only way she thinks she knows how to discipline NN, it isn’t working, but she can’t bear hurting her any more either.
@Natalia – Oh, I like this nuanced perspective, too.
But I get what you say too, Leslie. This “you try it, if you think it’s easy” (possibly combined with “so I don’t have to hurt her anymore “).
@Natalia – Perfection. 🫰
@Beez, @Leslie, @Elaine, @Natalia I think all those feelings are in the mix, agreed. Yaunyi in the novel is much less severe overall but still those key ‘bad mother’ moments happen. In the novel, it’s indicated that because Niao Niao heals quickly from the beating, it shows Yaunyi had gone very easily on her – though any beating is a beating too far in my book 🫨
When Buyin swoops in with the “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.” – all that I can think is that Shoshang has a heart and draws made of metal. *I’m swooning*.
Honestly, @beez, it’s so full of machismo but somehow I swoon every time he does that too – eep, flail, melt 🫠😅
@Ele – Leo Wu somehow manages to do it without it seeming corny nor like he’s trying too hard. Must be all those years of acting experience that it just comes off as a statement of fact – “I’m here. I’ve got the skills to keep you safe.” *I’m melting*
KFG calls the “ladies” ‘”rabid fangirls”. Should I be embarrassed? Especially since my first note for these episodes was: “What could be more romantic than a warrior shortening the muddy, horse poo covered stirrups for you *sigh* And I mean that. Absolutely no sarcasm here.” 😳🤦🏽
I’ll post my running notes later because for some reason I thought we were doing EPS 4-8. *duh* And because i’d fallen asleep, I haven’t watched EPS 11 and 12 yet.
@Beez – LOL! Love it “horse poo covered stirrups” 😂😂😂 And I dont think the romanticism landed on Niao Niao as it does the rest of us 😂😂😂
I fall asleep all the time, too! So you are not alone 🙂
Falling asleep is pretty much the only thing I do well in dramas! 💤