When a legendary general met a legendary beauty...Mousie's perfect drama was born

[dangermousie]

OMFG EVERY OTHER DRAMA IS ON HOLD



asjsunjujrcfgvuhjdkrujfkmhjgfkgjhfkhgkfhg I am literally making barely human noises because I just got my hands on The Stories of the Han. What is it? It's a 50 ep cdrama from 2005 all about Xiang Yu (and Liu Bang, of course). My obsession Hu Jun (OMG have you seen him in Demi Gods and Semi Devils) plays Xiang Yu. And there is a lot of shippy stuff with him and Consort Yu. Check out this MV (spoils for ultimate fate of Consort Yu in case you didn't know it already).

Horse-riding! Her riding to his battles! Rescues from fiery death! Coed naked bathing! Hurt/comfort! Swords everywhere! OMFG it's everything I want in an otp.

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I have been obsessed with them as an OTP since I saw them as the secondary pairing in The Myth (scene which literally gave me hysterics bad enough to make me puke involved them). To have a whole drama where it's a big part of the storyline - I am going to die of hyperventilation!

For anyone who needs a quick primer - Xiang Yu was a legendary general who overthrew the Qin Empire. Eventually he and his one-time ally Liu Bang became fell out about who should rule China and got into a major civil war. Considering that Liu Bang is styled "Father of the Han," you can figure out who won that one. Concubine Yu was Xiang Yu's consort and a legendary beauty. Their love story is the basis of a lot of art, including "Farewell My Concubine," the opera which gave the title to the famous movie.

Here is a VERY spoilery scene from the drama. OMFG this is going to be my obsession, isn't it? I am already sniffling just from the clip.

This is going to tide me over nicely until the Feng Shao Feng/Liu Yi Fei movie airs. And the Chen Jian Bing drama. And the Daniel Wu/Yang Mi movie. (Not that I am complaining, but why the sudden movie/drama obsession with Xiang Yu?).

Comments

[kainee.livejournal.com]

LOL, I think it's because of timing of the pre-production and also entertainment in Asia tends to be in waves and in this case, it all coincided. Kind of like how they released a whole bunch of time travel media of which Palace was the most popular example. The oversaturation led to rumors that Palace 2 wouldn't involve time travel and be an AU non-sequel that just shares a name but I think now they will include it after all and it'll be a direct sequel.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Is Ming Dao still slated to be the lead in Palace 2? In which case...pass. (Also, his is the sole Xiang Yu take I am going to pass on - not as much for him as for the whole XY/Lu Zhi thing).

[kainee.livejournal.com]

I think what's going on is they're treating Palace as a franchise and Palace 2 will have the original love triangle reappearing but Dong Li Ya (she played the girl who loved Si Ah Ge) won't be in it from what it looks like.

Ming Dao is still the lead in Palace but it's Palace the Movie. So Yang Mi's character isn't Qing Chuan and Ming Dao is actually playing General Nian. So it's like an AU adaptation that happens to share the same name with completely different story and characterizations. From the sense I get, it's supposed to be a bit more comedic.

But this could change once they're actually released since my info is secnd or thirdhand since it's from following the news as repeated/leaked to the Chinese media. I do understand the fans going hulk smash though if the movie with Ming Dao in it was the only follow up to Palace and there was no continuation of the story. I just hope Palace 2 will have a good plot and doesn't fall prey to curse of the sequel a la Meteor Garden 2.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

They are still going forward with Palace 2? I thought only the silly movie was going to be made (I loathed Gen. Nian in the drama btw, so no interest in his story, whoever plays him). If there is Palace 2, I feel cautious but marginally better.

[kainee.livejournal.com]

Yeah Palace 2 started filming recently. This is for the TV series. I haven't heard too much about the movie version of Palace which is the one Ming Dao is attached to. The movie version's General Nian will be completely different from the series so it's better to treat it as another time travel related story that happens to share the franchise name.

I really do hope Yu Zheng and Feng Shao Feng are ok since that'll affect the writing but I haven't heard any news about it. We'll see.

[hanjae.livejournal.com]

Oh, they've actually gotten as far as filming now? I'm so behind on news. Has there been any spoilers about what Palace 2 will involve? There was so much speculation on Baidu that I don't know what to believe anymore.

[kainee.livejournal.com]

Yeah I still have no idea on the plot. I only know they did the ceremony to kick off shooting where they pray for safety/success and all that. I'm worried about the plot too since I really really don't want to needlessly rehash the love triangle because in my mind, FengMi win. I have the feeling there'll be time travel because I saw a vid where Yu Zheng got interviewed on the day they started filming where he was saying FSF had to film his modern day scenes first because he couldn't shave his head yet but Mickey He was available so he could.

[hanjae.livejournal.com]

What I originally heard was that 8 Ah Ge went to the modern day with Qing Chuan, but couldn't handle the changes and ended up running away. Qing Chuan chases after him, and both of them end up back in the past again, somewhere midway during Yongzheng's rule.

That would fit in with BOTH the need for FSF to film modern day scenes AND shave his head (if he goes back to the past), but frankly that plot would severely piss me off - I totally agree that there's no need to rehash the QC/8 Ah Ge thing after it was wrapped up in the first season. I'd actually rather they do an AU version or something so that it doesn't run the risk of ruining the story.

[hanjae.livejournal.com]

Nah, apparently they're going forward with Palace 2. Or at least they plan to. I remember Yu Zheng said something on his Weibo; can't quote or anything now since it was too far back, but he definitely separated the two (Palace 2 and Palace the Movie) as completely different things. There's still a HUGE potential for disaster, but at least no Ming Dao?

[iheartkleenex.livejournal.com]

Oh, that scene was so beautifully filmed. But why did she kill herself?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

In the historical/literary version, she kills herself because they are on the verge of total defeat - are trapped and surrounded - and she doesn't want him to be distracted and weakened by his love for her but instead to concentrate on nothing but battle. It doesn't work - he cannot win after all and kills himself rather than escape. Chirpy! They are kinda the ultimate doomed historical OTP. I like her because apparently she refused to stay at home and rode with him into every battle which is pretty badass :)

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Does this have Zhao Wei in it? If so, I think I have it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I don't see her in the wiki cast list but it doesn't mean anything. I am about to start so will let you know if I spot her.

Have you heard that they are making Painted Skin sequel btw?

[kainee.livejournal.com]

Feng Shao Feng and Yang Mi are actually appearing in the sequel although the details of their roles are unknown so dunno if they're couples yet. They just started filming on it too.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I've heard his role has been really reduced though because he pissed off Yu Zheng. Booo!

Also, seeing the dedicated FengMi shippers, I bet once both Xiang Yu flicks are out, there are going to be some fun intercut MVs, manips and things :P

[kainee.livejournal.com]

Yeah I don't know about if he pissed off Yu Zheng. I'd be pissed at him if that affected the storyline since regardless of FengMi shipping, the story pretty much said Ba Ah Ge won so I don't want a rehash of the angsting or whatever.

But a bit of bad news on the Xiang Yu flicks in terms of FengMi, a video I just watched on YouTube showed Yang Mi being interviewed and saying she had to drop out of her Concubine Yu role due to schedule constraints so no intercut MVs. :(

But FengMi wise, there's the Hu Fu Quan Qi (forgive me if the romanization is off, I always suck at it) where they play lovers whose nascent love was sacrificed for the greater good, Ming Yun Jiao Yao Qu where he plays her dead first love in an idol drama and he was originally going to play a 2nd love who helps her recover from the 1st love but then had to drop out so it got recast (I think but there was some fan outrage so not sure), Painted Skin 2 and then Palace 2. So yeah, lots of stuff. :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Boooo! Leaving aside manip vids, I was looking forward to Daniel/Yang Mi.

I am so psyched for HFQQ, you have no idea. OMG. I want! I heard the same thing about MYJYQ which means I am out. No FengMi as endgame, no me as a viewer. I am excited for Painted Skin 2 because I love the franchise.

[kainee.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure FSF plays the dead 1st love in MYJYQ (such a long name in English!) since I saw a BTS clip of the car accident that kills him-- it was actually really funny because after the director says cut, Yang Mi says "why are you bleeding so much?"-- but I haven't heard too much about the endgame OTP because in the press conference all the focus was on FengMi.

HFQQ also doesn't have FengMi as endgame OTP though because they're playing historical roles where Yang Mi's character ends up as FSF's sister-in-law so their UST is all through looks but no touching. So it's a tragic love story. I don't know how I feel on that.

I have higher hopes for Painted Skin 2 since there's almost no details and I'm hoping they'll have them as a couple that ends up together.

Speaking of manip vids, people have started doing manip vids for Mei Ren Xin Ji where they put FengMi together even though their characters never shared a storyline much less a scene together. Which is kinda funny because that series had Fenolie and YangMi with Mickey He. I also just realized there will likely be a manip vid opportunity for the sequel series to MRXJ (aka Schemes of a Beauty), Mei Ren Tian Xia, which also has Ming Dao in it. Yang Mi and FSF both guest star in separate storylines but there's been no news of what FSF plays in his storyline only what Yang Mi plays. Her character is actually kinda cool because she plays a white fox demon who becomes the Emperor's favored concubine so becomes the future Wu Ze Tian's rival.

Wow... this is a long comment. I'll shut up now.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I don't mind lack of happy ending for FengMi in HFQQ as long as they are the doomed otp :P

[zhuer.livejournal.com]

actually, according to several sources, Yang Mi will be playing a bird? spirit, or some other spirit, and she says that this time she will be the "aggressor" and will kinda be the one who chases after FSF :) really bold

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Ooooooh yes!!!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

It's not listed in her profile, so I guess I was thinking of something else.

And yeah, I've been waiting for the sequel for a while...I think that it was announced around when I first saw the movie. At one point, I think it was supposed to be set 20 years later and the mains had a son (experience with fiction tells me that that means there's 99% chance Sun Li and Donnie Yen would also have a daughter) though I don't know if that changed.

[puion.livejournal.com]

Will you still watch Family Honour?!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I am taking a little break from it anyway, to gird my loins for the angst :)

[(Anonymous)]

Out of curiosity, what scene in the myth cause you to hyperventilate so much that you almost puke? Link, maybe or an episode number?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Ep 48 :)