Love Like the Galaxy 星汉灿烂 [2022]

[40somethingahjumma]

5 hours ago, Tofu said:

I'm up to episode 10 now, so I'll be back to add my thoughts. 

 

I really like seeing LBY and CSS together but they barely have any scenes. How am I supposed to buy this love story? Hahaha! 

 

Wait till you watch Episode 12. Wowsers wowsers. 

 

This director is very good.

[abs-oluteM]

I just completed till eps 6 . Tell me what’s wrong with SS’s mother? I get the idea of discipline & tough love but I don’t think this is helping SS whom she has not raised since birth . She ignores her daughter completely & shows too much favour to the niece. Thankfully SS’s dad & brothers are very sweet to her 

 

And finally the leads meet face to face . Felt like forever 

[IpohBanana]

@Tofu Wu Lei topless and very, very close physical contact with ZLS... stay tuned, sizzling. lol

 

@abs-oluteM she thinks she's disciplining a soldier and she's still in the army.

Edited July 12, 2022 by IpohBanana

[40somethingahjumma]

5 hours ago, abs-oluteM said:

I just completed till eps 6 . Tell me what’s wrong with SS’s mother? I get the idea of discipline & tough love but I don’t think this is helping SS whom she has not raised since birth . She ignores her daughter completely & shows too much favour to the niece. 

 

And finally the leads meet face to face . Felt like forever 

 

It is perplexing on so many levels. But I did write a few things about it on the previous page. Guilt is definitely a part of it. 

The part that really boggles my mind is the fact that she's trying so hard not to show favoritism that she ends up showing egregious favouritism. She thinks she's just rewarding good behaviour when what she's in effect doing is just playing favourites because Yangyang has the right kind of personality and doesn't rock any boats.

 

It is true and I agree that she thinks she's training a soldier. But I also think she believes that Niaoniao is turning into another version of Mdm Ge, the sister-in-law. She's always going on about justice but she was very unjust (and all the kids knew it too) about the writing desk incident and really, she was the only one that looked bad in that incident.

 

For a supposedly capable, shrewd woman, she seems to be lacking in self-awareness. 

 

However, I still think these early episodes are vital to understanding Niaoniao and the kind of choices that she makes down the track.

 

I really like the build-up and the slow burn. Zhao Lusi is good as expected but Wu Lei is really good in this. Better than I remember him in The Long Ballad. Whenever he sees Niaoniao or hears things about her, his entire face visibly softens and there's even a detectable ghost of a smile. Even his sidekicks can see it. 

 

@IpohBananaand the gentleness in his voice as he tries to soothe her nerves. Ah man, I can live on that scene for days.

 

It's such a good show and each new episode is better than the last. Episodes 11 and 12 are the best so far. 

 

I think I've found my new crack drama for 2022.

 

 

 

Edited July 12, 2022 by 40somethingahjumma

[IpohBanana]

@40somethingahjumma I agree, Wu Lei is nailing this character. Indeed, his voice acting is spot on, then again, he's been acting since he was a kid, so the years of acting and watching his seniors act must have helped him hone his craft, also read somewhere that he's been to an academy too.

 

To be honest, I've seen the preview till E20, and I am getting edgy, partially because of the way the trailers are presented and partially because I am impatient,

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and there's still nothing going on between them both (well not officially anyway, though he's made it clear to her that he treats her differently) at the 35% milestone. Don't tell me they only get together in Part 2? 

I have a growing suspicion that the drama's angst is going to peak when he is sent into exile or wherever he is sent as punishment for whatever he does and their engagement is broken and there's a supposed 5-year separation. 

 

Btw, folks, I saw a BTS of ZLS on the horse, the scene where Wu Lei is trying to teach her horse-riding...and guess what??? Apparently all that screaming from her, as in the fear of being on the horse wasn't acting. She was really terrified because the horse went into a full gallop and she didn't realise that the cameras had started rolling (though Wu Lei knew which is why he got the horse into that kinda pace). The poor girl really had tears in her eyes and it was really funny because the director didn't know she wasn't acting, he told her she nailed it in one cut. My goodness, what a lark! 

 

Everytime I watch a comical scene, I imagine seeing the director telling a joke with a straight face. I swear he must be half British, with all that deadpan humour. I just watched the latest E13

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and the scene with the Emperor questioning LBY's men gave me just those feels (and later in E14 when he said CSS' father was useless for having only one daughter).

And there's more laughter after that, the funny scenes come from the most unexpected places. I hope this continues throughout, so that the heart-wrenching scenes later are moderated by laughter, even till the very end.

 

I've finished watching E14, I conclude that the laughter/joy isn't enough to compensate for the sadness /sorrow in between;

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be it unrequited love, be it an overbearing and self-righteous mother, or be it the untimely death of a child. Even if that death was necessary for the growth of the adolescent CSS. And I absolutely hate how LBY appears late to the game, even if I know that 'and this too shall pass.'

 

Edited July 12, 2022 by IpohBanana

[N3buLa84]

@NiteWalker@TofuHello! Oh wow I need to catch up so I can discuss. I’ll be back. 🙂

[NiteWalker]

19 hours ago, abs-oluteM said:

I just completed till eps 6 . Tell me what’s wrong with SS’s mother? I get the idea of discipline & tough love but I don’t think this is helping SS whom she has not raised since birth . She ignores her daughter completely & shows too much favour to the niece. Thankfully SS’s dad & brothers are very sweet to her 

 

And finally the leads meet face to face . Felt like forever 

 

i dunno how to feel about the mother....

 

she was all about asserting herself as the household leader...and she is using her daughter as a the tool instead and not her daughter....

21 hours ago, movingwheel said:

@NiteWalker yes ZLS was really scared..... they thought she is acting but in reality she was shitt scared... Wu Lei is a master horse rider..

 

@Tofu watch it by today and join us on real time watching...

 

WuLei is an active boy...there are times he will cycle the work instead of using the normal route where they have ppl to send him there...he told LuSi he had the horse under control and infact both the director and WuLei thought that Lusi was completely in her character and they were so happy that it pass thru with 1 take? lucky her....hahaha

 

i dunno what was it that ppl complain he is too stoic? i find it fit the character completely...

[Lodestar]

Epis 11 & 12 were all about CSS becoming more aware of the world beyond her own well. She had no idea about the larger implications of some of her actions- be it turning over her uncle in 1st epi or playing hard & fast with aristocratic brats who are above her station. This skirmish with death has brought the larger picture into stark clarity. She has also come to a realisation that the idealistic picture of her family being together without her was not as rosy as she thought - they were dealing with death most of the time.

 

A person's true nature shows in times of adversity & CSS has emerged as a pretty good leader. She is cool headed & resourceful. She has strong protective instinct for her people. The entire sequence of events from their party being attacked on the road to their defence at the hunting manor was realistic. She dispatched LY to get help & made use of what they had to delay surrender. Once they were rescued by LBY & his soldiers she helped by treating injuries. She also has the guts to kill if necessary & watch the rebels being killed as well. She is going to be such a skilled woman when she completes her studies. 

 

These set of epis also marked her being becoming more aware of romantic interest. She till now had not seen any of the men who interact with her as real suitors but LY has made her think in that direction. She is still so naive about the idea of marriage. She has yet to learn to consider things beyond the suitor- his family, his standing in the family, etc but more importantly her own feelings for the suitor. She thinks that she would be happy with an obedient husband. She will be bored within an hour. 

 

 

CSS- LBY interactions were so good. She has started seeing him in a new light. She is learning how he operates as a general & the heavy responsibility that he has towards the empire. I think she can now dismiss her childish notions about him that he puts her trouble. LBY is so obvious about his feelings for her. CSS may not understand them yet but a deeper feeling for LBY is indeed taking root in her heart subconsciously. 

Epis 11 & 12 were all about CSS becoming more aware of the world beyond her own well. She had no idea about the larger implications of some of her actions- be it turning over her uncle in 1st epi or playing hard & fast with aristocratic brats who are above her station. This skirmish with death has brought the larger picture into stark clarity. She has also come to a realisation that the idealistic picture of her family being together without her was not as rosy as she thought - they were dealing with death most of the time.

 

A person's true nature shows in times of adversity & CSS has emerged as a pretty good leader. She is cool headed & resourceful. She has strong protective instinct for her people. The entire sequence of events from their party being attacked on the road to their defence at the hunting manor was realistic. She dispatched LY to get help & made use of what they had to delay surrender. Once they were rescued by LBY & his soldiers she helped by treating injuries. She also has the guts to kill if necessary & watch the rebels being killed as well. She is going to be such a skilled woman when she completes her studies. 

 

These set of epis also marked her being becoming more aware of romantic interest. She till now had not seen any of the men who interact with her as real suitors but LY has made her think in that direction. She is still so naive about the idea of marriage. She has yet to learn to consider things beyond the suitor- his family, his standing in the family, etc but more importantly her own feelings for the suitor. She thinks that she would be happy with an obedient husband. She will be bored within an hour. 

 

 

CSS- LBY interactions were so good. She has started seeing him in a new light. She is learning how he operates as a general & the heavy responsibility that he has towards the empire. I think she can now dismiss her childish notions about him that he puts her trouble. LBY is so obvious about his feelings for her. CSS may not understand them yet but a deeper feeling for LBY is indeed taking root in her heart subconsciously. 

[Tofu]

On 7/9/2022 at 7:38 AM, 40somethingahjumma said:

I hope we get some real kissing scenes in this show because Wu Lei is a big boy now.

Hahaha! Since they are only a year apart, here's to hoping we get something better than parakeets kissing. 

 

CSS traveling with her uncle and aunt made her become more aware of the world and its struggles. She's been pretty sheltered up to this point and this trip has opened her eyes to so many things. I don't know it's it's because of how she was treated growing up, but she handled the crisis very well. I'm sure she must have been scared but she tried her best not to show it. 

 

I am completely Wu Lei bias so I have nothing but good things to say about him. He is an actor I won't hesitate to watch because I know he will do justice to his character. I'm very glad the drama did not dub his voice. I love the softness in his tone when he was reassuring CSS during their intimate scene in episode 12. 

 

My good friend either read the novel or knows about it (I forgot what she said about how she knows what happened). If you're interested, I'll put everything in the spoiler tag. 

Spoiler

CSS agrees to marry LY but they end up breaking their engagement. Something happens to LY's ex-fiancé's family and she's left alone (I think my friend mentioned that her family will die). LY feels guilty about this and CSS asked that they break their engagement. 

 

CSS and LBY will get engaged, however, a few days before their wedding, he murders a family for revenge. He is expelled because of this. CSS goes to save him but he pushes her away. He falls (I think from a hill or something high?). I suspect that this will be the end of season one. 

 

CSS will enter the palace as an empress court lady. She learns what maternal love is through the empress, who she loves and respect. The empress doesn't have much longer to live and wants to see CSS get married before she dies. The entire time, YS (the rhapsody/poem guy) is trying to make advances at CSS. She rejects him each time but due to the empress's wish, she accepts his proposal. I think she thought that he was the most suitable man for her. 

 

While this was going on, LBY did not come back for five years. Besides being expelled, he also went to war so his return was always postponed. After many more events, the engagement with YS is broken. CSS and LBY finally gets married after all those years. 

 

 

I love the way LBY is always admiring CSS from afar. 

(Credit)

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(Credit)

 

This scene came out so beautifully. 

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Credit

 

Lots of preview released. 

Ep 15

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Ep 16

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Ep 17

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Ep 18

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Ep 19

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Ep 20

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[movingwheel]

@Tofu me too Wu Lei biased....lol...

 

@NiteWalker i agree with your opinion about mother...and i also find it really really weird that ppl are criticizing Wu Lei and his stoic acting...lol...i am like ...dude , he is a freaking hellish General....he has to be stoic..

[Tofu]

@40somethingahjumma I found a BTS, there is at least a forehead kiss scene. Haha!

 

BTS of the shirtless/arrow scene.

Spoiler

 

 

If you have the extra time and you want to watch their press conference. 

 

[IpohBanana]

@NiteWalker didn't know he is so active.

I'm still drooling over the scene where he had the arrow removed, sorry I meant drooling over that upper torso not the arrow. lol

 

 

@Tofu I watched a Youtube video narrating about the background story of the Empress and how CSS goes where you mentioned, so I know that's part of the story but whether the drama will closely follow the novel.. hhhmmmm.. dunno. There's also an interview with Wu Lei about his character and he actually explains that LBY is completely focused and hell-bent on revenge. Everything he has done has been carefully planned up till the climax where he does get what he's after, he can be totally brutal and cruel, and he can put his feelings aside, even if it involves pushing CSS away. Then again, every other drama does that, doesn't it - which is why noble idiocy was coined and used so often in dramas. 

Ditto...agree with @Tofu that his voice is really suitably expressed and as @40somethingahjumma said the look in his eyes..to die for!

 

@movingwheel it's being critical for the sake of it, so they've got to find something wrong with it.

 

Does anyone have any idea when part 2 will be out? I am seriously considering not watching after this week, till more of part 2 is out. I don't want to twiddle my fingers as I sit and wait.

 

Edited July 13, 2022 by IpohBanana

[movingwheel]

@IpohBanana apparently it comes one week after the first season....

[Lodestar]

Just watched epis 13 & 14 & found them bittersweet. 

 

The little girl was so brave & kind... really sad that she had to die. CSS's childhood flashbacks were so hurtful...poor baby. No wonder she is so hungry for affection & appreciation. 

 

Poor LBY had to witness CSS-LY making promises to each other....well you snooze you loose general...ha ha...

Frankly I don't mind that CSS-LBY are not getting together quickly. Both of them have different priorities in life currently. LBY though likes CSS, his revenge is still his priority. I bet next time when CSS becomes available, he won't lose anytime in courting her. 

 

CSS & Yao on the other hand remind me a lot of LJJ & shou ran from go ahead. They are really friends but are mistaking it for romantic affection. As much as I continue to dislike CSS's mom, I have to agree with her that CSS has no idea about what she is doing with regards to her relationship with Yao. She has correctly surmised that CSS won't be accepted easily in the Lou family. Add to that she can clearly see that both the kiddos hardly behave like lovers - they are playmates. So sustaining this relationship will be difficult. Right now they have been in a bubble in the Hua county so all is well without any interference. Real test will be when Lou family comes into the picture. 

 

Based on the previews, seems like CSS & Yao will have a long engagement period. During this time LBY's interest in CSS would become more clear to CSS as he doesn't seem to be hiding his benevolence for her. She already has some feelings for him but they are deep within her subconscious. Also she is not even looking at him as a prospect as he is way out of her league status wise. So unless LBY tells her his feelings for her upfront she herself will wilfully ignore her own feelings towards him.

[NiteWalker]

25 minutes ago, Tofu said:

@40somethingahjumma I found a BTS, there is at least a forehead kiss scene. Haha!

 

she want full smack on the lips!! not a forehead kisses 

[movingwheel]

@NiteWalker they were sooo cute.....

[NiteWalker]

48 minutes ago, IpohBanana said:

@NiteWalker didn't know he is so active.

I'm still drooling over the scene where he had the arrow removed, sorry I meant drooling over that upper torso not the arrow. lol

 

hahaha...ya...they are cute together and since this is not the first times they collaborate together i felt they are at ease with each other totally...

 

23 minutes ago, movingwheel said:

@NiteWalker they were sooo cute.....

 

yes very, not to mention they are in the same age group so maybe they are good together besides this is the 2nd project together

[40somethingahjumma]

6 hours ago, NiteWalker said:

 

she want full smack on the lips!! not a forehead kisses 

 

@Tofuand @NiteWalker

Don't worry I've seen every available spoiler now and there is at least one lip to lip kiss to my knowledge. 

So it's all good. ;)

 

Speaking of Wu Lei I love every scene he's in and the way he uses his voice to command scenes that he's in. There's little doubt in the way he's framed all throughout that Ling Buyi is a powerful figure.

 

I'm really looking forward to the leads at least getting engaged but I don't mind the slowburn. I wish I liked Lou Yao more. He's too much of a boy and a bit dull. With him I feel like she's practically engaged to one of her brothers.

 

The thread is really moving today. Good to see so many watching this drama. 

Edited July 13, 2022 by 40somethingahjumma

[Tofu]

Wow! Only LBY would propose like this, so much confidence -- I love it! 

 

 

The innocence of these two, learning what a romantic relationship is from a book. 

 

[Tofu]

@IpohBanana I don't doubt it either because after he saved CSS, he was asked why he wasn't the one to escort her and he said the rebel was more important. Even though he has fallen in love with her, he doesn't forget what his goals are. They are both so young at this point. They still have things to learn and achieve. I'm all for the slow burn, just not too slow. Haha!

 

7 hours ago, IpohBanana said:

Does anyone have any idea when part 2 will be out?

Usually when a series is divided to two parts, there's about a week gap between the two. 

 

7 hours ago, Lodestar said:

I have to agree with her that CSS has no idea about what she is doing with regards to her relationship with Yao.

Same. I don't think she has completely thought this through. She went from rejecting all his advances to accepting him within a short time. CSS's self confidence is so low because of her upbringing. She is deserving of the love she dreams of but she's deciding to settle. I think she has to go through this engagement with LY to truly understand what she wants. 

 

I also agree with you that CSS is unable to see that she's growing feelings towards LBY. If this is to work, LBY has to be the one to confess first. 

 

Wu Lei appreciation post. Hahaha!

 

 

[IpohBanana]

@Tofu and finally the trailer on E21-22 at least shows they are getting somewhere.

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Seriously though, why is the Emperor giving her a hard time? I thought he would be all too happy that his foster son has finally set eyes on a woman. And that scene with the thighs and underwear exposed in the presence of Qi Qi, I wonder whose it was? CSS' brother? my goodness, that would be truly embarassing for the guy, though Qi Qi would take it in stride.

As for the horde of women, poor Yuan Shen, he must be terrified. Were aristocratic parents so liberal then, allowing their daughters to run wild like that... hahah 

 

@40somethingahjumma thanks for the tip of a full kiss, I don't think it would be anything sizzling though, would it?

 

Judging by the disdain CSS has for LBY at E22, their relationship won't go into full bloom by E27, could it?

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I am just wondering out loud, the gory blood-filled massacre can't possibly be in Part 1, I think it will be somewhere in Part 2. I reckon that's when the 5-year separation will occur

 

 

if anyone has watched Good Luck to you Leo Grande, I feel like I am Emma Thompson, asking permission if she could touch Daryl McCormack's chest, when I saw the twitter that @Tofu posted with Wu Lei's chest. 

Edited July 13, 2022 by IpohBanana

[Lodestar]

@Tofu Based on the epi spoiler you have posted of CSS & Yao reading a romance book together for the 1st time we can definitely see that both of them have no idea about love. Both of them have low self esteem & have banded together to improve themselves by each other's support. Such a relationship would have my approval anyday except for the fact that there is no attraction between them. 

 

@IpohBananaEpi 21 & 22 spoiler - Well good riddance to the doomed betrothal. Looks like LBY is moving very fast indeed to court her but I think he still hasn't cleared his intentions to her. The emperor seems to be scolding her in jest. Looks like we will get Song-Qiqi ship that I have been hoping for. No idea who to ship with YY yet. I am so glad that the sisters are not eachother 's enemies despite their mothers meddling.

Edited July 13, 2022 by Lodestar
Edit

[Tofu]

Hahaha, this is so true! 

 

[Yana]

 

LOVE IS THE EYES

[Tofu]

Here's the preview for episode 21 for anyone that's interested. 

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