only love is not fate

乐游原 I honestly cannot believe how good this script is??? Rhythm-wise you can really see Fei wo si cun’s novel experience in how many of the plot shifts and cut scenes are reminiscent of novel plot progression, and on screen the effect is a much quicker pace than is the norm in guzhuang drama these days (case in point: if a character states their plans, the next scene simply shows the action progressing accordingly, instead of a different group of characters finding out about the plan and thus essentially repeating the same info at the audience).

The other point I’m really pleasantly surprised by is the care taken with cultural and historical background. Even though this drama is technically ahistorical 架空 and changes all dynastic & place names, it’s very clearly an early Tang crossed with Three Kingdoms inspiration. And the script shows very adequate research to support that worldbuilding—all the titles of officials, organization of military circuits vs regional civil governments, dynamic of non-Han generals vis-a-vis the imperial clan, it’s all!!! Correct!!! The poems they quote and the classical references they make, while not especially erudite, are all appropriate and correct (including the title, which comes from one of three poems by Li Shangyin titled 乐游原 about ephemerality & the passage of time). Even the simplified Classical Chinese is mostly grammatically correct and natural sounding!!! I’m about to cry at that alone given how utterly inane and frankly offensive most classical usage is in idol costume dramas.

Also a huge shoutout to the supporting cast; while I love both leads very much, I absolutely cannot overstate how much the seasoned supporting actors add to the atmosphere and worldbuilding of the show. The leads are whip-smart youngsters in an adventure rom-com, but the old guys like 老鲍、孙靖、and 符元儿 make the show feel like a rom-com taking place in ‘94 CCTV Three Kingdoms.

In terms of worldbuilding and verisimilitude in its own genre (idol guzhuang), the last shows to do it this well were 琅琊榜 and 周生如故.

@asiandramanet january - february bingo: layout

Wonderland of Love (2023)

@asiandramanet january - february bingo: symbolism ⥇ a'ying's hairpin

Wonderland of Love (2023)

@asiandramanet january - february bingo: tropes ⥇ enemies to lovers