First, a bit of Eight/Qing Chuan:

And now onto Four. Ah, Four, how I love you. You are an amoral, power-hungry psycho and I long for someone to stab you to death (not that this will ever happen) but in some ways you are my favorite character in JPLH and I can certainly see why you win the dynastic struggle - you are smarter than anyone else around you and more ruthless than most.
Yes, Eight is awesome and my crush (not to mention that Feng Shao Feng somehow looks hot even with the terrifying Qing hairstyle. I have no idea how he manages) and Qing Chuan is a gem of a heroine, being smart and justice-seeking and fearless, and together I ship them rabidly, but ultimately, there is a reason why Four trumps over them both in any conflict. Smart + no scruples = wins every time. I kinda love him.
As you can tell, I restarted Jade Palace Lock Heart and am currently on ep 9 of withs2's subbed version (they are using the DVDs unlike viki which is using aired broadcast so ep 9 of withs2 ends a bit earlier than ep 9 on viki). I am trying to be good and wait for withs2 subs because I can watch such gorgeous quality raws, but chances of my falling off the wagon and binging on viki pretty soon are about 95%.
Four, rocking some major hat style. He's in some ways my favorite character. First Cao Cao in 3K and now Four in JPLH? I guess I have a thing for smart and ruthless villains (though Cao Cao could of course run circles around Four). I don't view them as misunderstood woobies or think they can be redeemed but they make fascinating characters. Seeing that Cao Cao remained my favorite even after he made mincemeat of my sole OTP in 3K, and one I was madly obsessed about, clearly it's not about goodness or likeability for me, but how interesting I find a character. Four and Cao Cao are both monsters but maybe that is what makes them interesting.


Su Yan, who's obsessed with Four and so does anything he asks even though she knows he's only using her. I sort of like her, but get some self-respect, woman. If you murder someone, do so on your behalf, not on orders of someone who's using you.

Qing Chuan, our heroine. There are no words how I adore her, though I cannot wait for her to realize she's crushing on a man who wants her dead - i.e. Four. Seriously, just not worth it.

Eight, ILY! Honestly, I don't know any more if it's his looks or if my love for the character is mixing in, but somehow he manages to be attractive despite that hairstyle.

Emperor Kang Xi. Now, here is someone I definitely dislike. He seems both easily manipulated and ridiculously execution and punishment-happy with his family members, be they children, wives, or concubines. Geee, I wonder if anyone loves you for real except for pious second wife? Probably not.

Kang Xi and Eight. Yes, this is how Royal family does bonding.


Eight, Nine and Ten. I really do like their friendship as finding siblings who genuinely like each other in this family is as rare as snow in July.

Concubine Xi. I love her scheming, ruthless self. Just the wife Kang Xi deserves.


I kinda feel sorry for hapless, dim Two, very much not a match for Four.


I love that Four is currently actively planning to have QC killed but is all smiley and pleasant and invites her to listen to his music when he sees her. Oh, he's amazing. Of course, unsuspecting QC's crush gets bigger.




Guess who saw!


And broods.


So he tracks her down and my fave scene so far follows. I love everything about it. I love that he kisses her against her will, out of frustration and jealousy and desire to claim her as his, but the second later he's horrified at himself and apologizing. I love that he's such a contrast to Four, who's outwardly pleasant but is actively planning QC's death. Eight is capable of hiding nothing and whatever the outbursts of unregulated behavior, he'd rather die than harm QC.















Qing Chuan is accused of witchcraft, thanks to Four, and Two and Eight beg for her life, for very different reasons, while Four is sitting there supremely satisfied.







Prettiness:








And now onto Four. Ah, Four, how I love you. You are an amoral, power-hungry psycho and I long for someone to stab you to death (not that this will ever happen) but in some ways you are my favorite character in JPLH and I can certainly see why you win the dynastic struggle - you are smarter than anyone else around you and more ruthless than most.
Yes, Eight is awesome and my crush (not to mention that Feng Shao Feng somehow looks hot even with the terrifying Qing hairstyle. I have no idea how he manages) and Qing Chuan is a gem of a heroine, being smart and justice-seeking and fearless, and together I ship them rabidly, but ultimately, there is a reason why Four trumps over them both in any conflict. Smart + no scruples = wins every time. I kinda love him.
As you can tell, I restarted Jade Palace Lock Heart and am currently on ep 9 of withs2's subbed version (they are using the DVDs unlike viki which is using aired broadcast so ep 9 of withs2 ends a bit earlier than ep 9 on viki). I am trying to be good and wait for withs2 subs because I can watch such gorgeous quality raws, but chances of my falling off the wagon and binging on viki pretty soon are about 95%.
Four, rocking some major hat style. He's in some ways my favorite character. First Cao Cao in 3K and now Four in JPLH? I guess I have a thing for smart and ruthless villains (though Cao Cao could of course run circles around Four). I don't view them as misunderstood woobies or think they can be redeemed but they make fascinating characters. Seeing that Cao Cao remained my favorite even after he made mincemeat of my sole OTP in 3K, and one I was madly obsessed about, clearly it's not about goodness or likeability for me, but how interesting I find a character. Four and Cao Cao are both monsters but maybe that is what makes them interesting.


Su Yan, who's obsessed with Four and so does anything he asks even though she knows he's only using her. I sort of like her, but get some self-respect, woman. If you murder someone, do so on your behalf, not on orders of someone who's using you.

Qing Chuan, our heroine. There are no words how I adore her, though I cannot wait for her to realize she's crushing on a man who wants her dead - i.e. Four. Seriously, just not worth it.

Eight, ILY! Honestly, I don't know any more if it's his looks or if my love for the character is mixing in, but somehow he manages to be attractive despite that hairstyle.

Emperor Kang Xi. Now, here is someone I definitely dislike. He seems both easily manipulated and ridiculously execution and punishment-happy with his family members, be they children, wives, or concubines. Geee, I wonder if anyone loves you for real except for pious second wife? Probably not.

Kang Xi and Eight. Yes, this is how Royal family does bonding.


Eight, Nine and Ten. I really do like their friendship as finding siblings who genuinely like each other in this family is as rare as snow in July.

Concubine Xi. I love her scheming, ruthless self. Just the wife Kang Xi deserves.


I kinda feel sorry for hapless, dim Two, very much not a match for Four.


I love that Four is currently actively planning to have QC killed but is all smiley and pleasant and invites her to listen to his music when he sees her. Oh, he's amazing. Of course, unsuspecting QC's crush gets bigger.




Guess who saw!


And broods.


So he tracks her down and my fave scene so far follows. I love everything about it. I love that he kisses her against her will, out of frustration and jealousy and desire to claim her as his, but the second later he's horrified at himself and apologizing. I love that he's such a contrast to Four, who's outwardly pleasant but is actively planning QC's death. Eight is capable of hiding nothing and whatever the outbursts of unregulated behavior, he'd rather die than harm QC.















Qing Chuan is accused of witchcraft, thanks to Four, and Two and Eight beg for her life, for very different reasons, while Four is sitting there supremely satisfied.







Prettiness:







no subject
Date: 2011-02-27 10:31 pm (UTC)On another note, i just want to run some birth secret theories by you for New Tales of a Gisaeng.
Rara: she is definitely the daughter of the sister-in-law (aka greedy lady, right?)
Saran: is she adopted? i mean there was significant glances btw her and limping lady and Rara's "grandparents" recognized her. I think she may be limping lady and Rara's "father's" love child.
or am i totally wrong?
no subject
Date: 2011-02-27 10:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-27 11:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-28 07:22 am (UTC)Anyone else digging the OST? I love it. So beautiful.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-28 12:24 pm (UTC)And yay, so glad you are watching, isn't it wonderful?
no subject
Date: 2011-02-27 11:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-28 12:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-28 02:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-28 12:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-28 03:40 am (UTC)Thanks for the screencaps...also one of my fave scenes...more yumminess to follow!!!
no subject
Date: 2011-02-28 12:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-28 12:38 pm (UTC)btw, just saw the interview that they conducted with Feng Shao Feng and Yang Mi about the sequel, and the look he gave her when asked to just fess up to their 'lurve'...hahahahahaha! that boy just doesnt know how to hide his emotions does he. well, either that, or he is just painfully shy and uncomfortable with all the personal stuff! either way, it's just too cute!
no subject
Date: 2011-02-28 12:54 pm (UTC)OMG lol!!!!! I can't wait for the sequel btw.
his living concocting beauty creams and cosmetics for women, and going around styling their hair, and yep, being a metrosexual, albeit in period costume (it's set right after the fall of the Qing dynasty).
Bwahahahaha. Standing out as a metrosexual must have taken some doing seeing how colorful the outfits were back then. (But did the characters have *shudder* Qing hair?)
no subject
Date: 2011-02-28 09:43 pm (UTC)starting from about 0:59 where they first gets asked about them being 'together' by the female compere, to 1:08 where the male compere directly asks Eight 'so, can you just clarify if you are together or not?' and his look at 1:27-1:29 is PRICELESS!!! he finally, says at 1:39 'we...do a lot of filming together'
no subject
Date: 2011-03-01 04:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-13 02:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-14 01:50 am (UTC)