[Current Mainland Chinese Drama 2019] Ming Dynasty 大明風華

[Takingthehighroad]

 

How terribly sad that it's come to this. I just finished the episodes & I have lost all interest in watching. The first 35 or so episodes were fantastic, with marvelous actors, an exciting script. What is there now to look forward to? My 2 favorite characters will be dead - RW was fine w/ZJ (kind of like calming (RW) the storm (ZJ) but I'm just not sure she can carry the rest of the drama. LAY - don't much about him 'cept he's a idol - will that do it? I just don't know; therefore, if I don't post quite so much it will because I won't find anything to talk about, a rarity in itself.

[Le_Amarant]

@Takingthehighroad Concur. There's nothing to chase after ZJ leaves. Despite TW being touted as this show's star, Zhu Yawen's ZJ stole this show. TW doesn't have the acting chops to keep this show going, and I have even less faith in Lay, who is an idol and this is his first time acting.

[A1mm3]

2 hours ago, Takingthehighroad said:

 

How terribly sad that it's come to this. I just finished the episodes & I have lost all interest in watching. The first 35 or so episodes were fantastic, with marvelous actors, an exciting script. What is there now to look forward to? My 2 favorite characters will be dead - RW was fine w/ZJ (kind of like calming (RW) the storm (ZJ) but I'm just not sure she can carry the rest of the drama. LAY - don't much about him 'cept he's a idol - will that do it? I just don't know; therefore, if I don't post quite so much it will because I won't find anything to talk about, a rarity in itself.

I am sad too. I do agree that ZJ stole the show of this drama but I will give TW the benefit of the doubt to see her shine after he pass. Lay’s character isn’t really special but isn’t it supposed to be about TW’s character helping him?! Oh well. Let’s see how it plays out.

[insertusernamehere]

1 hour ago, Le_Amarant said:

@Takingthehighroad Concur. There's nothing to chase after ZJ leaves. Despite TW being touted as this show's star, Zhu Yawen's ZJ stole this show. TW doesn't have the acting chops to keep this show going, and I have even less faith in Lay, who is an idol and this is his first time acting.

It's not his first time acting, but I also haven't seen any of his other shows so I don't know either.

I thiiiiink given Ruowei's more prominent role in this era hopefully Tang Wei will get to shine. It's not entirely her fault that they gave all the storyline to ZJ.

[Kilawolf]

Aww...reading all this makes me so sad...

 

I'm not sure if I can even watch the following episodes now...maybe then I can pretend he's still alive or at least died less tragically.

 

I was thinking I might stop watching after he dies but...idk the lead up to it sounds too awful to even endure to that point

 

Also, the fact that RW never loved him is like another stab in the heart

[roli]

Ok...I am donne...I do not like the twist it has turn on the story. I am going to pretend is over by yesterday. Do not think I would see the rest of the episodes. 

[smhelen]

I have not been able to post here until now. I have to say, this drama is confusing to me. The passion scenes happen to be with the sheeming empress and the passive scenes were with the woman, whom I believe, he cared most about. 

 

I am not sure why he is made to die before we see those two do something more than hold hands. 

 

I am disappointed to say the least. The lead actress is certainly taking a second lead role in this drama. I am not sure if she will take the drama to the next level. 

[Le_Amarant]

I'm done too. They turned ZJ into a pitiful character, and it was too much. 

 

The rest of the story has jumped the shark. RW's son is an (literal) idiot, her mother in law and her are battling it out, her sister is still scheming. It's turned into a telenovela. 

[insertusernamehere]

3 hours ago, Le_Amarant said:

I'm done too. They turned ZJ into a pitiful character, and it was too much. 

 

The rest of the story has jumped the shark. RW's son is an (literal) idiot, her mother in law and her are battling it out, her sister is still scheming. It's turned into a telenovela. 

Wait what's happening with her mother in law?? I thought they had a good relationship?? (In this drama at least)

[Takingthehighroad]

I'm not watching, just reading the forum. Now as I read your posts, those who continue on, I can only say: "I'm so glad I'm not watching this drama." I keep thinking of the synopsis with the words - love for her husband, helps her son become a wise & virtuous ruler, etc... To me the drama ended with the sister being deposed & RW becoming empress. The rest I'm going to say I accidentally stumbled upon the wrong drama & watched it a few minutes. 

[Le_Amarant]

1 hour ago, insertusernamehere said:

Wait what's happening with her mother in law?? I thought they had a good relationship?? (In this drama at least)

 

Mother-in-law turned on her, blamed her for her son being an idiot, coddles her grandson, and the two are engaged in a power struggle. That's the gist I got from skimming over videos. And then I noped out of there.

[Pia-mia]

The show is going at the speed of light. ZJ is a multifaceted gem, and I’m heartbroken to see him go. He is my absolute favorite, and the main character in my opinion. I think his breakdown shows that he actually has a lot of heart. If he didn’t care, then he wouldn’t have been so affected. He emerged victorious but the cost was too great. He is really a vulnerable soul behind that ruthless arrogance. ZJ brought RW back from the brink, and RW brought ZJ back from the brink as well. I’m probably the minority here, but I find their relationship touching from beginning to end.

The editing of the later episodes is problematic. This seems to plague most C-dramas (the recent Royal Nirvana, for example, which started so well). The shifts and changes are too jarring. There is so much missing. The show did spend 30+ episodes on Zhu Di’s reign, there is just not enough time to cover everything else that came after. I feel like there should be more to ZJ’s reign, and we didn’t get it. Now we’re onto the later generation, whose caliber is nowhere near that of the earlier generations, but isn’t that true of most dynasties? I would have been fine if the story ended with ZJ.

Just like RW, I am also waiting for Huang Da Ren to escort her home in his horse carriage. Or if there is no carriage where they are going, that dreamy ship would be just fine. Or any mode of transportation, really. Camel, scooter, flying magic carpet, anything! Please drama gods, make it happen for your steadfast fans!

[insertusernamehere]

I think the show is actually still interesting. Ruowei now has room to show her true power and personality. I'm honestly confused why they robbed her of any development after she got married. I think that made the transition from an obedient concubine to a powerful queen mother so jarring. Also a few more points of confusion:

- Zhanji said he knew she killed the monk (the advisor to his grandfather). She didn't deny it or explain to him what happened. I remember being confused then too because the monk definitely asked her to cut the rope once she thought he made it to Nirvana/the other side of the mountain. She didn't cut it when she could still see him. She asked him "did you make it?" And cut the rope when she didn't hear back, assuming he made it. Granted, this is all my interpretation. They never let us into her inner thought. I guess we'll never know!!

- another point of confusion: till the end, she said she had no regret, and implied in response to Zhanji's question that she didn't regret not leaving on a boat with Xu Bin. But....I think she did?? She even asked him to take her? But maybe that convo was just all metaphoric and she didn't really want to leave, because once she chose to do something she would do it? 

- also when he died she said she'd wait for him etc. Does she even mean it?? Or is it just lip service??

 

Tang Wei has been fabulous in the last few eps as the queen mother. But I feel like I'm watching a new character, and not the previous Ruowei. I blame the poor writing! It's like they can only write one good character at a time...

[sssf]

19 minutes ago, insertusernamehere said:

I think the show is actually still interesting. Ruowei now has room to show her true power and personality. I'm honestly confused why they robbed her of any development after she got married. I think that made the transition from an obedient concubine to a powerful queen mother so jarring. Also a few more points of confusion:

- Zhanji said he knew she killed the monk (the advisor to his grandfather). She didn't deny it or explain to him what happened. I remember being confused then too because the monk definitely asked her to cut the rope once she thought he made it to Nirvana/the other side of the mountain. She didn't cut it when she could still see him. She asked him "did you make it?" And cut the rope when she didn't hear back, assuming he made it. Granted, this is all my interpretation. They never let us into her inner thought. I guess we'll never know!!

- another point of confusion: till the end, she said she had no regret, and implied in response to Zhanji's question that she didn't regret not leaving on a boat with Xu Bin. But....I think she did?? She even asked him to take her? But maybe that convo was just all metaphoric and she didn't really want to leave, because once she chose to do something she would do it? 

- also when he died she said she'd wait for him etc. Does she even mean it?? Or is it just lip service??

 

Tang Wei has been fabulous in the last few eps as the queen mother. But I feel like I'm watching a new character, and not the previous Ruowei. I blame the poor writing! It's like they can only write one good character at a time...

Yes I was going to ask about ZJ’s comment about how he knew RE killed the monk. The fact was she didn’t and why did she defend herself? 
 

Yes I agreed about the character transition between RW as a concubine to bring a 太后. And was ZJ intention to make sure his mother has ultimate control (and not RW) because he remembered what the Monk said about RW has Emperor’s life? 
 

What was written on the decree from ZJ’s grandfather about RW? 
 

And what did ZJ say to RW about giving her life back to her? And she was begging him to let her son be the heir despite the fact he was sick? 
 

 

[Le_Amarant]

@sssf Protocol would be for RW to accompany the Emperor to death after he dies. RW was dressed up to be buried with him in the last scene and said that she is willing to fulfill her duty to accompany him in death, but pleaded with him to give her a few more years so they don't leave their son an orphan, since she herself knows the pain of losing both parents.

 

ZJ told her that he put in and removed her name from list of ppl to accompany him to death 7x. He didn't want to go to the afterlife and to a world without her, but decided to "free" her and give her life back to her. Part of it was to not separate mother from son, and part of it was guilt for dragging her along into marriage with him. 

[sssf]

1 hour ago, Le_Amarant said:

@sssf Protocol would be for RW to accompany the Emperor to death after he dies. RW was dressed up to be buried with him in the last scene and said that she is willing to fulfill her duty to accompany him in death, but pleaded with him to give her a few more years so they don't leave their son an orphan, since she herself knows the pain of losing both parents.

 

ZJ told her that he put in and removed her name from list of ppl to accompany him to death 7x. He didn't want to go to the afterlife and to a world without her, but decided to "free" her and give her life back to her. Part of it was to not separate mother from son, and part of it was guilt for dragging her along into marriage with him. 

Thank you for the explanation. I got 60% of the conversation but wasn’t sure. So when you see Chinese period drama of the 太后, that means they were spared from the burial when their Emperor died? 
 

what was the decree about regarding RW ? ZJ’s grandfather wrote it and left it for him. Was it to warn ZJ about RW not to have control and power otherwise Zhu kingdom is over? 
 

thank you again. 

[Kilawolf]

Is it customary for the mother of the heir to be buried? I've never seen it brought up in other dramas before. Concubines - yes but not "future empress dowagers".

[sssf]

A look back at ZJ and RW’s relationship. I miss their early days ...  

 

 

[sssf]

21 minutes ago, Kilawolf said:

Is it customary for the mother of the heir to be buried? I've never seen it brought up in other dramas before. Concubines - yes but not "future empress dowagers".

That’s what I thought too but ZJ said he took her name off 7 times from the list ... confuse 

[Pia-mia]

I think Zhu Di's decree would have had RW killed (she's orphan, smart, well-read, ZJ loves her so she may have undue influence, etc). Please correct me if I misunderstood. I don't think ZJ truly wanted to follow this decree. He's using it as a way to test her. He does want her to be with him in death, but seeing her reluctance, I think he realizes that if he were to command her to do so, he would create discord between them. He held onto her so desperately in life, he must have felt that it wasn't right that he will hold onto her in death as well. Again, I'm heavily biased, but I feel like everything he does, he does with her in mind. That is love.