@linda-palapala (and any other Beanie still watching)—It took me longer than expected to process the last two episodes of Legend of Fuyao. With the fate of the world at stake, I expected Episodes 65-66 to be bloody. Considering last week’s acute physical and emotional trauma, the lack of a more coherant denouement left me baffled and wanting more.
IS THAT ALL THERE IS?
Many fans are complaining the ending felt rushed. For me, the problem stems from the lack of catharsis and celebration. As an invested viewer, I needed a little more time in the new world Fuyao and Wuji are fashioning for themselves and the Five Regions. A smidge of exposition wouldn’t have hurt.
DEAD OR ALIVE?
Given that our OTP triumph and are alive at the novel’s end, I was initially confused by the drama’s last scene. Are they dead or alive?
The last scene looks heavenly but I don’t think this is paradise in the sense of an afterworld. Wuji survived the Evergreen Palace Punishment—a feat unmatched in a thousand years—so does that mean he claims his inheritance of Firmament?
I believe they’re alive, having transcended the boundaries separating earthly and heavenly realms. I love linda-palapala’s suggestion that Wuji’s teasing about Fuyao being heavier refers to her pregnancy.
What that means for their respective kingdoms is beyond me. You couldn’t pay to slog through the novel (which was loosely adapted anyway) so I’m content with summaries assuring us that they’re alive and making babies.
After thinking a few days about it and re watching it, they were overlooking their peaceful realm. It was quite beautiful, really. No matter what the ending, you’re never going to satisfy everyone!
The novel’s name is “Empress Fuyao”, I think. And what else could his comment mean! Although I wouldn’t have picked up on it if someone didn’t mention the novel’s ending. And another twitterer said the same thing, that meant she was preggers.
What’s funny is I watched the last second of their bloody selves holding hands and the camera panning out a dozen times and they were still moving…so I parsed that moment to say yeah, for sure they’re still alive.
What did you hope to see in the series finale?
Is it too much to ask to see their squad celebrate their triumph over evil? A glimpse of their wedding night? A trio of bee-yoooo-tiful toddlers?**
**Note: In real life—even as a parent myself—I don’t think having children is the end-all-be-all of human existence. In the context of this story, having legitimate progeny or “heirs” is essential for their royal houses.
Yes, but this is fantasy, not reality and those of us romantic ladies always want babies at the end, beautiful babies (not toddlers though, or crying infants).
4:30 am here and I couldn’t sleep so I’ll just say one thing right now. After watching the finale about 10 times I’m satisfied they’re not in some heavenly realm but in the real world. I really didn’t need any more than that, as they’ve been lovey dovey thru the whole series (and I can use my imagination anyway). I’m re watching and in an early episode the doctor tells Wuji because he’s kind he will bring peace to the world. There’s so much more exposition at the beginning that I remembered.
4:30 am typo: there’s more exposition THAN I remembered.
I’ve been worried we hadn’t heard from you in so long, that you might have been really upset with the ending. So glad you’re back!
I got slammed with work and was too tired to even look at DB this week. Now I’ll rewatch some of my favorite bits and take a break before starting something new. This is why I generally don’t watch more than one C-drama at a time.
Watching with you and other Beanies definitely made it more fun, @linda-palapala ;D
I did have a couple of questions I don’t quite get. Don’t remember the exact words but he kept saying he’d follow her to the “mortal”? world, or was it the mundane world? I don’t know enough about Chinese cultural beliefs or perhaps it’s just Chinese fantasy tropes (which I’ve found is called Xianxia not wuxia). Perhaps we’re trying to put Western afterlife as opposed to human life ideas instead of Eastern beliefs on it. I’m looking for some tropes of the particular genre and also belief systems such as Taoism, but this is so new to me it takes awhile to get a grasp. I love learning new things and being introduced to new worlds and concepts to broaden my Western view of things.
If you’re interested here’s a link, but I think it’s incomplete to what info I’m looking for. I did try to watch another fantasy but immediately noticed similarities and didn’t want to ruin LoF right now! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xianxia_novel
After reading a bit more about Xianxia I’m not sure LoF quite fits.
And I agree with you, I tried to watch something else but I’m still not over LoF and especially can’t start another fantasy yet! But I usually re watch really good dramas because I never catch everything the first time around. If you get time to read the wiki article on xianxia I’d like your opinion of the 1) heavenly realm, 2) mortal realm as it applies to LoF because I’m unsure about it. Was the Firmament the heavenly realm? Was Wuji an immortal? As you asked, did he accept his position in the Firmament as well as being Crown Prince, now emperor and she’s Empress? So many unanswered questions!
This is very interesting, @linda-palapala! Thanks for sharing the link on xianxia novels. You are right to place Empress Fu Yao in the xianxia genre!
You’ve probably already seen this: The last lines of the drama come directly from the novel’s introduction. The speakers aren’t identified and for all I know, it was originally Wuji talking to someone else about Fuyao. Translator seems quite professional and includes footnotes too.
I’d glanced at this translation when the series started but didn’t have the stomach for reading an online novel. (It’s enough work keeping up with my book club!) Plus, there are so many differences between the novel and drama that I just wanted to stick with the drama.
The recapper also summarized the novel’s ending. In the comments, Ninjareflection also chimes in on the show’s conclusion, acknowledging that Wuju’s poetic imagery about the “mortal world” added to the confusion of whether the protagonists were still alive.
@tsutsuloo: Oh, wow, thanks for the links! Going to check them now. I don’t like certain reviews or recaps if I love a drama so much I don’t want anything negative at all to burst my love bubble! I’m especially wanting to read the LLIT And – the last line comes from the intro, ooh. I’m glad they didn’t do the time travel too. Now I’m off the check the links…
@tsutsuloo I loved the link to the novel’s ending. What an enjoyable read. The ending words in the drama that were the first words in the novel, I can’t help but think though it was nice, it might have had more to do with the fact she time traveled.
I had originally thought Chang Qing was the real bad guy too, not the father. Don’t know why, except that in every nation they went to they got rid of the bad guys and replaced them with righteous rulers (his friends..).
I loved the explanation of Wuji being the reincarnation of the first Master and how FuYao was the lotus. That was beautiful.
Looking forward to reading the recaps of LLiT but that will take awhile. And thanks for the links!
The only novel I’ve read is the one that Love Me If You Dare comes from. Talk about racy. Wow.
Last thoughts: I guess for you the ending was incomplete because you would have loved more time with them in their happiness. While that would have been really really nice…
For me, the question was were they in the mortal realm at the end or the heavenly realm. I choose to think they were in the mortal realm and their view was looking over their kingdom.
However, my question is what did he mean when he said he would follow her anywhere, specifically mentioning he would follow her to the mortal realm (or mundane world, can’t remember which term. Viki and DF translates things differently). It doesn’t really matter to me which realm they’re in, but I think they’re watching over the mundane world. (and she preggers).
But what happened to the evil witch (name?)? She said she was ascending. If there was any reason for another season with this couple to continue the fight, I’d be for it.
I’m content with the ending. When I recall the worst k-drama or c-drama head-scratching endings, I’m happy enough.
As for what happened to Fei Yan, I hope she just went *poof* along with that stupid rock when Fuyao stabbed herself.
Someone on ninja-reflection brought up the point that other half of Di Feitian’s consciousness (or whatever Chinese Voldemort was) was still under the lava lake in Xuanji kingdom. Yeesh, I don’t want to think about it. Can we just agree that he’s gone to same place as witchy Fei Yan and call it day?
One question I had was how the heck did Xiao Qi get so good at fighting? We first saw him fight valiantly to protect the people of Yao City. But he like a damn superhero on the bridge on Mt. Emotionless.
Well you can never truly defeat evil. (According to one of my little Buddhist students who’s not only precocious but she’s also a genius in the making).
I’m wondering at all their fighting skills. I’m wondering why Wuji had so many supernatural powers – did he learn them in the Firmament or did he have them naturally? I still don’t get how he was a descendant. So either re watch because I missed something or learn more about fantasy tropes and Chinese spiritual beliefs (any suggestions on links to info?).
His martial arts skills were part of his cultivation in the Firmament though he begin his training as a child at home. He never sparred with his uncle though, who was amongst the best swordsman in their kingdom.
An anonymous commenter on ninja-reflection said the c-drama The Rise of Phoenixes features a woman named Feng Zhi Wei, apparently a descendent of Fuyao. The source novel’s author is Empress Fuyao’s author, Tian Xia Gui Yan.
The 70-episode series just started on Tuesday and seems to be a dialogue-heavy palace drama. The main female protagonist is the beautiful, intellectual Feng Zhi Wei (played by Ni Ni) who flees to an academy to (improbably) pass as male scholar to survive after being cast from her home. Similarly to Fuyao, Zhi Wei first encounters her future lover, 6th prince Ning Yi, when he’s disguised as someone else.
If this series ever gets translated, I’ll consider watching it in a few months if the reviews are good—and if there are moments of levity. It’s not available on legal streaming sites either. Trailers look sumptuous though. This trailer has English subs if you click on the CC button.
@linda-palapala—Keep me posted on other C-dramas or Chinese-language films you might watch in the future. Once schools starts next month (for my kid and for myself), I’m severely curtailing my dramas. I hope to make time for films a few times a month. ;D
A descendant of FuYao? Well there you go. That seals the deal they were in the mortal world and had kids. I did see a trailer for Rise of Phoenixes (I believe) or it was on DramaPanda site which I like.http://www.dramapanda.com/2018/08/the-rise-of-phoenixes-ratings.html
Interesting you mentioned “moments of levity”. It just struck me last night that was one reason LoF stood out among the others to me, because it didn’t take itself too seriously (though there were plenty of serious moments) and the moments of levity were so good, mainly due to Ethan and Mimi’s good acting and directing. Although Prince Fiend (DF’s translation) was pretty funny too.
As far as curtailing dramas, after LoF I can’t get into anything else. This is worse than usual. Do you have any other suggestions where the drama doesn’t take itself too seriously? I have Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace on my watchlist when it begins but the trailer seemed way too serious, so I dunno.
But if you have a whole month before school starts to watch…I haven’t seen many Chinese dramas, but my favorites are Lost Love in Times, Nirvana in Fire 2, Wu Xin Monster Killer, Siege in Fog (though the writing wasn’t quite as good). I tried Peach Blossoms but can’t get into it, maybe after a few months when I’m over LoF. There are others I like, but not as much as the above. Have you seen Secret of the Three Kingdoms?
There are some films I have on the Watchlist. Ethan Ruan: Paradise in Service is really good. I have New York, New York to watch. These are heavier though.
School here has already started. Since I teach piano the kids are now coming back and I’ll have to limit time to watch too.
I have thoroughly enjoyed our conversations and hope we can find another drama to share! I can’t imagine liking anything better than LoF in the future, but I have said those words before! Keep me posted every once in awhile if you find something interesting too.
Of the Chinese dramas you listed among your favorites, I’ve only seen LLiT. I’ll add the others to my watchlist for a rainy day. Although the book doesn’t interest me, I will likely watch Rich Crazy Asians in the theaters.
You’re a piano teacher? I figured your were a professional musician or academic because of your encyclopedic knowledge of music—I love how you pick out the faintest strains of background music! 😀
Since music is the language of emotions, music in dramas can either intensify the emotions or absolutely ruin it. I loved the musical score in LoF, either funky, lighthearted, it captured the mood of the scene beautifully and it was – different – from most other ordinary musical scores in dramas.
Siege in Fog is a Republican era so you have to expect a sad ending. Wu Xin, the same. I thought the ending of Wu Xin was cruel. These aren’t nearly as good or grand as LLiT or LoF, but 2nd best sometimes has to do. I don’t mind sad, bittersweet endings if it isn’t just random.
I loved how the recap/reviewer was just as confused with the ending of LLiT as I was!
The more I think about it, the more I think the last things Wuji said were an homage to the novel’s beginning lines. Those lines make perfect sense for the novel, but not so much for the drama.
Here’s a comment from Ally that I really like:
“And I finished Fuyao with the hubby lastnight. I see what the fuss was about! But I think the final scene was really the first scene of their story, when they started out as dieties and he says that he would go through the trials of the mortal world to find her and be with her if he had to—-and the ready of the story we saw was him doing that.”
That’s beautiful. The beginning and the end. (I still think she’s pregnant at the end”.
@tsutsuloo You “liked” before I could say something else…The more I think about it the more this statement really clears things up and gels the drama into a cohesive whole. Wuji makes the statement at the beginning but he doesn’t know it will be Fuyao he’s talking about. Then at the end of the drama, he restates. But was FuYao actually a deity to begin with? Somehow I missed that, which isn’t surprising with my adult ADD daydreaming.
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tsutsuloo
August 16, 2018 at 3:24 AM
@linda-palapala (and any other Beanie still watching)—It took me longer than expected to process the last two episodes of Legend of Fuyao. With the fate of the world at stake, I expected Episodes 65-66 to be bloody. Considering last week’s acute physical and emotional trauma, the lack of a more coherant denouement left me baffled and wanting more.
Thankfully, I’m not watching alone! I saw linda-palapala’s post about ending’s ambiguity and I’d love to hear what you think after having had a few more days to process.
More in comments …
tsutsuloo
August 16, 2018 at 3:25 AM
IS THAT ALL THERE IS?
Many fans are complaining the ending felt rushed. For me, the problem stems from the lack of catharsis and celebration. As an invested viewer, I needed a little more time in the new world Fuyao and Wuji are fashioning for themselves and the Five Regions. A smidge of exposition wouldn’t have hurt.
Don’t give us two relentless hours of this:
and only fleeting minutes of this:
tsutsuloo
August 16, 2018 at 3:30 AM
Comment was deleted
tsutsuloo
August 16, 2018 at 3:32 AM
DEAD OR ALIVE?
Given that our OTP triumph and are alive at the novel’s end, I was initially confused by the drama’s last scene. Are they dead or alive?
The last scene looks heavenly but I don’t think this is paradise in the sense of an afterworld. Wuji survived the Evergreen Palace Punishment—a feat unmatched in a thousand years—so does that mean he claims his inheritance of Firmament?
I believe they’re alive, having transcended the boundaries separating earthly and heavenly realms. I love linda-palapala’s suggestion that Wuji’s teasing about Fuyao being heavier refers to her pregnancy.
What that means for their respective kingdoms is beyond me. You couldn’t pay to slog through the novel (which was loosely adapted anyway) so I’m content with summaries assuring us that they’re alive and making babies.
tsutsuloo
August 16, 2018 at 3:50 AM
*Typo: You couldn’t pay me to slog …
Linda Palapala
August 16, 2018 at 4:30 AM
After thinking a few days about it and re watching it, they were overlooking their peaceful realm. It was quite beautiful, really. No matter what the ending, you’re never going to satisfy everyone!
The novel’s name is “Empress Fuyao”, I think. And what else could his comment mean! Although I wouldn’t have picked up on it if someone didn’t mention the novel’s ending. And another twitterer said the same thing, that meant she was preggers.
Linda Palapala
August 16, 2018 at 4:34 AM
What’s funny is I watched the last second of their bloody selves holding hands and the camera panning out a dozen times and they were still moving…so I parsed that moment to say yeah, for sure they’re still alive.
tsutsuloo
August 16, 2018 at 3:40 AM
Comment was deleted
tsutsuloo
August 16, 2018 at 3:43 AM
Comment was deleted
tsutsuloo
August 16, 2018 at 3:47 AM
What did you hope to see in the series finale?
Is it too much to ask to see their squad celebrate their triumph over evil? A glimpse of their wedding night? A trio of bee-yoooo-tiful toddlers?**
**Note: In real life—even as a parent myself—I don’t think having children is the end-all-be-all of human existence. In the context of this story, having legitimate progeny or “heirs” is essential for their royal houses.
Linda Palapala
August 16, 2018 at 4:32 AM
Yes, but this is fantasy, not reality and those of us romantic ladies always want babies at the end, beautiful babies (not toddlers though, or crying infants).
tsutsuloo
August 16, 2018 at 6:57 AM
LMAO ;D
Linda Palapala
August 16, 2018 at 4:26 AM
4:30 am here and I couldn’t sleep so I’ll just say one thing right now. After watching the finale about 10 times I’m satisfied they’re not in some heavenly realm but in the real world. I really didn’t need any more than that, as they’ve been lovey dovey thru the whole series (and I can use my imagination anyway). I’m re watching and in an early episode the doctor tells Wuji because he’s kind he will bring peace to the world. There’s so much more exposition at the beginning that I remembered.
Linda Palapala
August 16, 2018 at 4:35 AM
4:30 am typo: there’s more exposition THAN I remembered.
I’ve been worried we hadn’t heard from you in so long, that you might have been really upset with the ending. So glad you’re back!
tsutsuloo
August 16, 2018 at 7:01 AM
I got slammed with work and was too tired to even look at DB this week. Now I’ll rewatch some of my favorite bits and take a break before starting something new. This is why I generally don’t watch more than one C-drama at a time.
Watching with you and other Beanies definitely made it more fun, @linda-palapala ;D
Linda Palapala
August 16, 2018 at 9:25 AM
I did have a couple of questions I don’t quite get. Don’t remember the exact words but he kept saying he’d follow her to the “mortal”? world, or was it the mundane world? I don’t know enough about Chinese cultural beliefs or perhaps it’s just Chinese fantasy tropes (which I’ve found is called Xianxia not wuxia). Perhaps we’re trying to put Western afterlife as opposed to human life ideas instead of Eastern beliefs on it. I’m looking for some tropes of the particular genre and also belief systems such as Taoism, but this is so new to me it takes awhile to get a grasp. I love learning new things and being introduced to new worlds and concepts to broaden my Western view of things.
If you’re interested here’s a link, but I think it’s incomplete to what info I’m looking for. I did try to watch another fantasy but immediately noticed similarities and didn’t want to ruin LoF right now!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xianxia_novel
Linda Palapala
August 16, 2018 at 9:53 AM
After reading a bit more about Xianxia I’m not sure LoF quite fits.
And I agree with you, I tried to watch something else but I’m still not over LoF and especially can’t start another fantasy yet! But I usually re watch really good dramas because I never catch everything the first time around. If you get time to read the wiki article on xianxia I’d like your opinion of the 1) heavenly realm, 2) mortal realm as it applies to LoF because I’m unsure about it. Was the Firmament the heavenly realm? Was Wuji an immortal? As you asked, did he accept his position in the Firmament as well as being Crown Prince, now emperor and she’s Empress? So many unanswered questions!
tsutsuloo
August 17, 2018 at 12:55 AM
This is very interesting, @linda-palapala! Thanks for sharing the link on xianxia novels. You are right to place Empress Fu Yao in the xianxia genre!
You’ve probably already seen this: The last lines of the drama come directly from the novel’s introduction. The speakers aren’t identified and for all I know, it was originally Wuji talking to someone else about Fuyao. Translator seems quite professional and includes footnotes too.
I’d glanced at this translation when the series started but didn’t have the stomach for reading an online novel. (It’s enough work keeping up with my book club!) Plus, there are so many differences between the novel and drama that I just wanted to stick with the drama.
Ninja-reflection compared the drama’s characters to the novel’s. Keeping the time travel would’ve been interesting but I’m relieved the TV adaptation dropped the everybody-loves-Fuyao dynamic.
The recapper also summarized the novel’s ending. In the comments, Ninjareflection also chimes in on the show’s conclusion, acknowledging that Wuju’s poetic imagery about the “mortal world” added to the confusion of whether the protagonists were still alive.
Ninja-reflection is one of my favorite C-drama recappers, thanks to their thorough recaps (with generous screen caps) for Love Lost in Time. I clung to this site as I caught up with LLiT when it was already about 3/4 complete.
Linda Palapala
August 17, 2018 at 8:04 AM
@tsutsuloo: Oh, wow, thanks for the links! Going to check them now. I don’t like certain reviews or recaps if I love a drama so much I don’t want anything negative at all to burst my love bubble! I’m especially wanting to read the LLIT And – the last line comes from the intro, ooh. I’m glad they didn’t do the time travel too. Now I’m off the check the links…
Linda Palapala
August 17, 2018 at 8:23 AM
@tsutsuloo I loved the link to the novel’s ending. What an enjoyable read. The ending words in the drama that were the first words in the novel, I can’t help but think though it was nice, it might have had more to do with the fact she time traveled.
I had originally thought Chang Qing was the real bad guy too, not the father. Don’t know why, except that in every nation they went to they got rid of the bad guys and replaced them with righteous rulers (his friends..).
I loved the explanation of Wuji being the reincarnation of the first Master and how FuYao was the lotus. That was beautiful.
Looking forward to reading the recaps of LLiT but that will take awhile. And thanks for the links!
The only novel I’ve read is the one that Love Me If You Dare comes from. Talk about racy. Wow.
Linda Palapala
August 16, 2018 at 2:15 PM
Last thoughts: I guess for you the ending was incomplete because you would have loved more time with them in their happiness. While that would have been really really nice…
For me, the question was were they in the mortal realm at the end or the heavenly realm. I choose to think they were in the mortal realm and their view was looking over their kingdom.
However, my question is what did he mean when he said he would follow her anywhere, specifically mentioning he would follow her to the mortal realm (or mundane world, can’t remember which term. Viki and DF translates things differently). It doesn’t really matter to me which realm they’re in, but I think they’re watching over the mundane world. (and she preggers).
But what happened to the evil witch (name?)? She said she was ascending. If there was any reason for another season with this couple to continue the fight, I’d be for it.
tsutsuloo
August 17, 2018 at 1:10 AM
I’m content with the ending. When I recall the worst k-drama or c-drama head-scratching endings, I’m happy enough.
As for what happened to Fei Yan, I hope she just went *poof* along with that stupid rock when Fuyao stabbed herself.
Someone on ninja-reflection brought up the point that other half of Di Feitian’s consciousness (or whatever Chinese Voldemort was) was still under the lava lake in Xuanji kingdom. Yeesh, I don’t want to think about it. Can we just agree that he’s gone to same place as witchy Fei Yan and call it day?
One question I had was how the heck did Xiao Qi get so good at fighting? We first saw him fight valiantly to protect the people of Yao City. But he like a damn superhero on the bridge on Mt. Emotionless.
Linda Palapala
August 17, 2018 at 7:59 AM
Well you can never truly defeat evil. (According to one of my little Buddhist students who’s not only precocious but she’s also a genius in the making).
I’m wondering at all their fighting skills. I’m wondering why Wuji had so many supernatural powers – did he learn them in the Firmament or did he have them naturally? I still don’t get how he was a descendant. So either re watch because I missed something or learn more about fantasy tropes and Chinese spiritual beliefs (any suggestions on links to info?).
tsutsuloo
August 17, 2018 at 8:17 AM
His martial arts skills were part of his cultivation in the Firmament though he begin his training as a child at home. He never sparred with his uncle though, who was amongst the best swordsman in their kingdom.
tsutsuloo
August 17, 2018 at 1:59 AM
Comment was deleted
tsutsuloo
August 17, 2018 at 2:06 AM
An anonymous commenter on ninja-reflection said the c-drama The Rise of Phoenixes features a woman named Feng Zhi Wei, apparently a descendent of Fuyao. The source novel’s author is Empress Fuyao’s author, Tian Xia Gui Yan.
The 70-episode series just started on Tuesday and seems to be a dialogue-heavy palace drama. The main female protagonist is the beautiful, intellectual Feng Zhi Wei (played by Ni Ni) who flees to an academy to (improbably) pass as male scholar to survive after being cast from her home. Similarly to Fuyao, Zhi Wei first encounters her future lover, 6th prince Ning Yi, when he’s disguised as someone else.
If this series ever gets translated, I’ll consider watching it in a few months if the reviews are good—and if there are moments of levity. It’s not available on legal streaming sites either. Trailers look sumptuous though. This trailer has English subs if you click on the CC button.
@linda-palapala—Keep me posted on other C-dramas or Chinese-language films you might watch in the future. Once schools starts next month (for my kid and for myself), I’m severely curtailing my dramas. I hope to make time for films a few times a month. ;D
Linda Palapala
August 17, 2018 at 7:55 AM
A descendant of FuYao? Well there you go. That seals the deal they were in the mortal world and had kids. I did see a trailer for Rise of Phoenixes (I believe) or it was on DramaPanda site which I like.http://www.dramapanda.com/2018/08/the-rise-of-phoenixes-ratings.html
Interesting you mentioned “moments of levity”. It just struck me last night that was one reason LoF stood out among the others to me, because it didn’t take itself too seriously (though there were plenty of serious moments) and the moments of levity were so good, mainly due to Ethan and Mimi’s good acting and directing. Although Prince Fiend (DF’s translation) was pretty funny too.
As far as curtailing dramas, after LoF I can’t get into anything else. This is worse than usual. Do you have any other suggestions where the drama doesn’t take itself too seriously? I have Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace on my watchlist when it begins but the trailer seemed way too serious, so I dunno.
But if you have a whole month before school starts to watch…I haven’t seen many Chinese dramas, but my favorites are Lost Love in Times, Nirvana in Fire 2, Wu Xin Monster Killer, Siege in Fog (though the writing wasn’t quite as good). I tried Peach Blossoms but can’t get into it, maybe after a few months when I’m over LoF. There are others I like, but not as much as the above. Have you seen Secret of the Three Kingdoms?
There are some films I have on the Watchlist. Ethan Ruan: Paradise in Service is really good. I have New York, New York to watch. These are heavier though.
School here has already started. Since I teach piano the kids are now coming back and I’ll have to limit time to watch too.
I have thoroughly enjoyed our conversations and hope we can find another drama to share! I can’t imagine liking anything better than LoF in the future, but I have said those words before! Keep me posted every once in awhile if you find something interesting too.
tsutsuloo
August 17, 2018 at 8:15 AM
Of the Chinese dramas you listed among your favorites, I’ve only seen LLiT. I’ll add the others to my watchlist for a rainy day. Although the book doesn’t interest me, I will likely watch Rich Crazy Asians in the theaters.
You’re a piano teacher? I figured your were a professional musician or academic because of your encyclopedic knowledge of music—I love how you pick out the faintest strains of background music! 😀
Linda Palapala
August 17, 2018 at 8:58 AM
Since music is the language of emotions, music in dramas can either intensify the emotions or absolutely ruin it. I loved the musical score in LoF, either funky, lighthearted, it captured the mood of the scene beautifully and it was – different – from most other ordinary musical scores in dramas.
Siege in Fog is a Republican era so you have to expect a sad ending. Wu Xin, the same. I thought the ending of Wu Xin was cruel. These aren’t nearly as good or grand as LLiT or LoF, but 2nd best sometimes has to do. I don’t mind sad, bittersweet endings if it isn’t just random.
I loved how the recap/reviewer was just as confused with the ending of LLiT as I was!
Linda Palapala
August 17, 2018 at 6:33 PM
The more I think about it, the more I think the last things Wuji said were an homage to the novel’s beginning lines. Those lines make perfect sense for the novel, but not so much for the drama.
Linda Palapala
August 18, 2018 at 12:43 PM
Here’s a comment from Ally that I really like:
“And I finished Fuyao with the hubby lastnight. I see what the fuss was about! But I think the final scene was really the first scene of their story, when they started out as dieties and he says that he would go through the trials of the mortal world to find her and be with her if he had to—-and the ready of the story we saw was him doing that.”
That’s beautiful. The beginning and the end. (I still think she’s pregnant at the end”.
Linda Palapala
August 18, 2018 at 3:10 PM
@tsutsuloo You “liked” before I could say something else…The more I think about it the more this statement really clears things up and gels the drama into a cohesive whole. Wuji makes the statement at the beginning but he doesn’t know it will be Fuyao he’s talking about. Then at the end of the drama, he restates. But was FuYao actually a deity to begin with? Somehow I missed that, which isn’t surprising with my adult ADD daydreaming.