Hello everybody!
At this time I’m sharing my episode 1-4 notes on The Princess Royal, as a result of I’m having fun with it very effectively, and I used to be questioning if you happen to’d like to hitch me? 🤗
These are my episode 1-4 notes, precisely as they seem on Patreon, ie, with out screenshots (I’m saving these for the precise assessment).
I hope you all get pleasure from, and I hope you’ll take into account becoming a member of us over on Patreon, for the remainder of the discussions! ❤️
Episode notes:
E1-4. Shock, my buddies, I’m opting to cowl The Princess Royal right here on Patreon – and I hadn’t even actually been planning on this present changing Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale, actually, as a result of, as is the case with many c-dramas, we simply didn’t know when this present was going to air.
I used to be in-principle on this present, based mostly on the premise and the solid.
To me, the premise is mainly a Chinese language interval model of Go Again Couple, which was a kdrama that I loved very a lot.
After all, this being the Chinese language interval model of it, issues are far more complicated and there are (or shall be) layers of intrigue, as a result of our feminine lead isn’t simply getting an opportunity to dwell her life once more – she’s a princess, with all of the political trappings which may go along with that station.
On the coronary heart of it, although, it’s a really comparable story to Go Again Couple, the place our OTP begins the story at bitter loggerheads.
Not like Go Again Couple, the best way our OTP will get to their do-over level, is by dying – which wasn’t the case in Go Again Couple.
This side of the story is far more like Story of Kunning Palace, the place the feminine lead dies and goes again in time, to relive her life once more.
The distinction right here, is that as a substitute of simply our feminine lead getting a second likelihood at life, her loggerheads husband will get a second likelihood too (additionally by dying).
In truth, I’m very tickled by the truth that Zhang Ling He performs the male lead in each Kunning Palace and The Princess Royal.
It’s nearly like he was all, “No honest! I need an opportunity to get reborn too!” – and that’s how he adopted up Kunning Palace with The Princess Royal. 😂
Which brings me to the opposite key motive that I used to be on this present.
I do have pre-existing affection for each Zhang Ling He and Zhao Jin Mai, who play our leads.
I assumed Zhang Ling He was very first rate in My Journey To You, and I lately actually loved Zhao Jin Mai in Amidst a Snowstorm of Love. And he or she was additionally nice in Reset.
Having mentioned all that, I’ll say that it did take a number of episodes for me to determine that I favored this one.
I believe the primary motive, is that the story begins when our leads are about 40 years outdated, and neither Zhang Ling He nor Zhao Jin Mai is convincing enjoying that age.
It’s not simply the truth that they give the impression of being method youthful than 40 (effectively, she’s 38, however shut sufficient), they each don’t have sufficient gravitas or presence to persuade me that they’re that age.
I’ll come again up to now quickly, however first, I additionally needed to say that I discovered the wire work missing, in episode 1, the place loads of motion occurs.
I’m no knowledgeable for positive, but it surely seems to be to me like there’s one thing off in the best way the wires are arrange; it’s apparent even to the untrained eye (like mine) that these persons are on wires and never truly propelling themselves by way of the air utilizing their very own energy.
The way in which they carry off, and the best way they land, particularly, are occasions when the shortage of wire work precision is noticeable.
This was distracting to me, and undoubtedly took away from Present’s sense of polish, of which I’d had moderately excessive expectations, based mostly on the very stunning opening credit.
So.. yeah. The visuals is usually a little uneven, typically.
Primarily based on these two issues, I used to be actually in two minds about whether or not to stay with this present, as much as about episode 3.
I say this as a result of, even after our leads return to their younger our bodies (she’s 18, he’s 20), I discovered the supply a little bit missing, as a result of, as I discussed earlier, each Zhang Ling He and Zhao Jin Mai don’t really feel like 40-year-olds.
And whereas they very a lot look the half as soon as the do-over begins, our characters retain their older consciousness(es?), and subsequently, I anticipate that they need to nonetheless have an air about them that signifies that they’re mature past their bodily years.
Nevertheless, by the episode 4 level, I discovered that this someway wasn’t an actual downside for me any longer.
I believe my mind has managed to persuade me, that they should mix into their environment and act their (youthful) age, and that’s why they don’t actually vibe like true outdated souls.
I don’t know if that actually is the case, however that’s working effectively sufficient for me, in order that the interior age to charisma-gravitas ratio not fairly including up, doesn’t trouble me a lot anymore.
I don’t but have a agency grasp on all of the details, and that’s par for the course, as a result of Present is dropping context in a somewhat piecemeal style.
We’re rapidly again up to now, and we solely get items of context from their previous lives, when both of them thinks again to how issues had been, earlier than they’d died and are available again.
So in that sense, I really feel like I’m nonetheless piecing loads of issues collectively.
That mentioned, I do really feel like we’ve acquired a adequate sketch of the massive image, to anchor our appreciation of the story.
Primarily based on how bitter their emotions had been in direction of one another earlier than their deaths, I can see why Li Rong would set her coronary heart on NOT marrying Wenxuan, and as a substitute, units her sights on Rongqing, the man whom we’d seen wait on her, in her first life.
In a short time although, I really feel like we will see Wenxuan’s concern for her exhibiting by way of his sardonic gaze.
I imply, the dude simply can’t assist himself in the case of Li Rong’s affairs, can he?
He claims that he has no real interest in being chosen as her husband, however he can also’t tear his eyes away from Li Rong, to see who she’s speaking to, and what she could be pondering.
He retains analyzing the professionals and cons of her varied marriage prospects, and simply.. can’t appear to maintain away, can he?
It turns into clear fairly rapidly, that he does have affection for Li Rong, regardless of how strained issues had gotten, of their previous life. 😁
One factor I actually like, is the truth that Li Rong and Wenxuan know one another so effectively, that they’re every rapidly satisfied that the opposite particular person can be there for a do-over, due to the best way the opposite particular person is enjoying weiqi.
I actually actually love that.
They could not have gotten alongside for a lot of their marriage, however they positive do know one another effectively, and I like that that data is mutual, and so they each determine it out earlier than the sport is over. 🤩
After which, despite the fact that they comply with henceforth by no means see one another once more, neither of them is ready to maintain to that settlement.
First, she is fast to ship him anti-itch remedy to assist with the citron fruit that she’d pressured him to eat, understanding that he’s allergic and would get away in a rash straight away after consuming it.
And, she makes positive to incorporate a cloak, in addition to a complete tray of silver.
As for him, as soon as he realizes that she could be in hassle, with these masked males using in direction of her residence, probably to kidnap her, he simply can’t assist however get entangled, to attempt to save her.
These mutual demonstrations of care and concern undoubtedly make up an enormous motive for why I really feel fairly significantly invested on this story already.
I can clearly see that these two folks don’t hate one another the best way they are saying they do; I can see that they care greater than they are saying they do.
And now I simply wish to watch them discover their method again to one another, and discover a higher strategy to be collectively, on this new life.
We don’t know most of the particulars, but it surely’s changing into clear to see that loads of the dangerous blood between them, had arisen from misunderstandings that had by no means been cleared.
For instance, she assumes that he’d had another person in his coronary heart, but it surely’s clear from our standpoint, that that wasn’t the case; he’d simply felt that it was pointless making an attempt to clarify the state of affairs to her, and he’d let issues be.
I actually discover it fairly endearing that Wenxuan goes out of his method to assist Li Rong, and even finally ends up carrying her on his again, when she says that she’s too drained to stroll any additional.
They bicker and all, however he nonetheless takes care of her and provides her the grilled fish to eat first, and even makes a hay mattress for her and provides her his cloak, whereas he makes do with making an attempt to heat his arms by the fireplace.
After which, when she sees that he’s chilly, she lets him lie down along with her beneath the cloak – a proposal which he hilariously doesn’t hesitate to take up. 😁
Moreover these sensible demonstrations of care, I additionally actually respect the little bit of sincere dialog that they’ve, mendacity there beneath that cloak.
Importantly, it’s throughout this time collectively, that Li Rong accuses him of killing her, and their dialog results in the conclusion that the one that’d engineered her demise, had been none aside from Rongqing, the person whom she’s pondering of marrying on this new life.
If that’s true, that Rongqing had plotted her demise whereas serving her for 17 complete years, as a result of her brother had annihilated his household, then that’s darkish, and he or she actually shouldn’t attempt to marry him, on this new life. 😅
I’m truly pleasantly shocked that Li Rong believes Wenxuan when he tells her that the perfume pouch had been pressured on him by Rongqing, and that each attendant in Li Rong’s palace wore an identical pouch.
It seems to be like Li Rong could have grievances towards Wenxuan, however she does belief him, that he wouldn’t lie about one thing like that.
I additionally respect that Li Rong is the one who asks that they not discuss concerning the previous any longer, and cease being enemies on this life. I discovered this olive department a little bit surprising, although very welcome.
Plus, when he asks her what her plans are, she does open up, and discuss how she’d wish to dwell this life free from being surrounded by suspicion, from witnessing the brutality of her brother when he’d ascended the throne, and from seeing Rongqing’s household get destroyed.
And, when she asks him what his regrets are, he doesn’t say it out loud, however we do hear him suppose, that he hadn’t let anybody down – however her.
Aw. If I’d already been on board for this OTP to seek out their method again to one another, I believe this second makes me much more wanting to see that occur. 🥲
..Which is why it pleases me fairly a bit, that they finally comply with marry once more – if just for strategic functions.
Sure, they’re agreeing to get divorced someday down the highway, when Li Rong has extra energy and doesn’t want him anymore, however.. absolutely that’s not going to occur, sure? As a result of absolutely they’ll understand their love for one another earlier than we get to that time? 😁
First, although, we have to get this wedding ceremony to truly occur, as a result of despite the fact that Li Rong and Wenxuan have agreed on it, we nonetheless want the Emperor on board.
It does appear like Wenxuan’s acquired a agency sufficient deal with on that, although I’m curious to see how he truly manages to win the Emperor’s favor.
All in all, this turned out to be a fairly participating begin to our story, and I’m now correctly purchased into the OTP, and able to cheer them into one another’s arms. 😁
*This present is being lined on the VVIP Early Entry Plus (US$20) Tier on Patreon*
To view episode 1-4 notes in Patreon, together with everybody’s feedback, you may go right here!
You could find my Patreon web page right here, and for all future episode notes for this present you may click on right here. At present, notes for episodes 1 by way of 8 can be found.
Episodes 9-12 notes shall be out quickly! I hope you’ll take into account becoming a member of us!
It’ll be a strategy to have enjoyable, and help me on the identical time? 🥲❤️
PS: For extra data on what the Patreon expertise is like, you would possibly like to take a look at my Patreon replace put up for July, which yow will discover right here!
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