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alias_sqbrI don't know how entertaining this will be, I just have Feelings and noone sufficiently interested in het cdramas for me to feel comfortable rambling to them in sufficient length.
I'm only up to episode 11/45 and already have enough rambling to fill multiple posts, so am just going to start with a masterlist and character guide and go on from there.
So!
The Sword and the Brocade is a Chinese m/f live action TV romantic drama.
I was inspired to watch it by this spoilery ffa thread where a couple of people agreed that it is far from the objectively best cdrama but somehow makes it's self indulgent wish fulfilment incredibly enjoyable.
The slightly less spoilery but long Viki summary starts with:
tl;dr And then she gets into an arranged marriage with an emotionally distant famous general and they Uncover Mysteries and Fall In Love.
Based on the first ten episodes I agree with the people at FFA: this is not the best cdrama in any objective sense but it is sure COMPELLING.
Also, every remotely complex plot point and important character dynamic is explained repeatedly. There are multiple characters whose main role is to ask dumb questions so someone has to explain everything to them. It's not very subtle but is great for my sleepy brain, which can otherwise find subtitled historical dramas a bit confusing.
Viki has the whole thing available for free if you make an account.
Content notes: Not involving the main characters: Terminal illness, miscarriage, sick children, violent spouse
Involving the main characters: Violent abuse from heroine's sort-of-parent. Love interest is sometimes kinda mean to those he has power over. Heroine is technically underage but the actress is in her 30s lol. People in arranged marriages being pressured to have sex they don't want, though in every onscreen interaction they say no and this is respected. Past rape.
Posts:
Character guide:
Names are those generally used in the Viki subs. I know referring to someone by their given name alone is not really done in Chinese, and also I get the strong impression it would be more correct to shorten the protagonist's name to Yiniang rather than Shiyi. But if I don't follow the subs I'll just confuse myself.
Luo Family:
Shi Yi Niang: Protagonist. The unfavoured daughter of a concubine of Mr Luo.
Shiyi's mother: Mr Luo's concubine, adores Shiyi.
Mr Luo: Shiyi's dad. A weak willed government official whose position is tenuous and who tends to go along with whatever his wife says while acting the Righteous All Knowing Patriarch.
Madame Luo/"Mother": Mr Luo's wife. Mother of Yuanniang. Despises Shiyi and her mother. Rules the Luo family with an iron fist.
Luo Zhenxing: Shiyi's older brother, the Luo heir. Seems nice enough, doesn't do much except go "Mother, that seems too harsh!".
Yuanniang: The only legitimate Luo daughter. Married to Lingyi. Terminally ill and ambitious.
Erniang: Shiyi's Mean Girl sister. Daughter of a concubine but has gained Madame Luo's favour. Bullies Shiyi. Has the vibe of... ok I can't find any videos but that Chinese woman who does funny videos with an exaggerated 'sexy' walk and bossing around men. The actor was given the assignment Mean Girl and WENT for it.
Wuniang: Shiyi's nice sister, also the daughter of a concubine. Engaged to a nice boy. Doesn't do much.
Dongqing: Shiyi's stupid but very loyal maid with bad hair.
Amber: Shiyi's less stupid maid, assigned by Madame Luo.
Xu family:
Xu Lingyi: Love interest. A Marquis, whose jobs are government policy, fighting in wars, and hunting down criminals. Wife Yuanniang, concubines Wen and Qin, sons Zhun and Yu.
Xu Lingkuan: Lingyi's cheerful younger brother.
Princess Danyang: Lingkuan's somewhat snooty but not totally awful wife.
Xu Lin'an: the dead heir, Linyi's older brother.
Xiang Yizhen: Widow of Lingyi's dead brother Lin'an. Seems nice and sensible, doesn't do much except say "Mother, that seems too harsh!".
Xu Qian: Yizhen and Lin'an's dead son.
Madame Xu: Lingyi's mother. Adores Lianfang, who is her niece.
Qiao Lianfang: Noble woman, Madame Xu's niece. Fell in love with Lingyi as a girl and once Yuanniang started dying became determined to become Lingyi's next wife.
Concubine Wen: Lingyi's concubine. Merchant's daughter. Bitchy and materialistic but not super cruel.
Concubine Qin: Lingyi's concubine. Ex-maid. Shy and well meaning.
Xu Zhun: Lingyi's legitimate son via Yuanniang. About 8? Shy, prone to crying, and not very accomplished.
Xu Siyu: Lingyi's son via Concubine Wen. About 10? Well behaved and competent.
Xiaoying: Lingyi's valet
Steward Bai: A competent steward
Ou Family
Marquis Jingyuan: Leader of the Ou family
Ou Lixing: eldest son, always trying to impress the Marquis.
Ou Yanxing: the younger son?
Others:
Master Jian: Shiyi's embroidery teacher and mentor. An independent single woman with a prestigious embroidery shop.
Wang Yu: A drunken lecherous nobleman noone wants to marry.
Nice Merchant Whose Name I Forgot: Helps save Shiyi's life at the start of the show.
Hu Jin: A government official who was friends with Lingyi, and got killed for treason.
Duke Wei: A government official who was also friends with Hu Jin.
General Fu Linbo: Lingyi's deputy.
I'm only up to episode 11/45 and already have enough rambling to fill multiple posts, so am just going to start with a masterlist and character guide and go on from there.
So!
The Sword and the Brocade is a Chinese m/f live action TV romantic drama.
I was inspired to watch it by this spoilery ffa thread where a couple of people agreed that it is far from the objectively best cdrama but somehow makes it's self indulgent wish fulfilment incredibly enjoyable.
The slightly less spoilery but long Viki summary starts with:
Born a concubine’s daughter, Shi Yi Niang (Tan Song Yun) was very well aware of her low status and lack of social connections. However, her low rank never once stopped her from speaking her mind or pursuing her dreams. Believing women should be free to pursue a life outside the home, Yi Niang hoped to someday use her embroidery skills to secure her freedom. But destiny had something else in store for her.
tl;dr And then she gets into an arranged marriage with an emotionally distant famous general and they Uncover Mysteries and Fall In Love.
Based on the first ten episodes I agree with the people at FFA: this is not the best cdrama in any objective sense but it is sure COMPELLING.
Also, every remotely complex plot point and important character dynamic is explained repeatedly. There are multiple characters whose main role is to ask dumb questions so someone has to explain everything to them. It's not very subtle but is great for my sleepy brain, which can otherwise find subtitled historical dramas a bit confusing.
Viki has the whole thing available for free if you make an account.
Content notes: Not involving the main characters: Terminal illness, miscarriage, sick children, violent spouse
Involving the main characters: Violent abuse from heroine's sort-of-parent. Love interest is sometimes kinda mean to those he has power over. Heroine is technically underage but the actress is in her 30s lol. People in arranged marriages being pressured to have sex they don't want, though in every onscreen interaction they say no and this is respected. Past rape.
Posts:
Character guide:
Names are those generally used in the Viki subs. I know referring to someone by their given name alone is not really done in Chinese, and also I get the strong impression it would be more correct to shorten the protagonist's name to Yiniang rather than Shiyi. But if I don't follow the subs I'll just confuse myself.
Luo Family:
Shi Yi Niang: Protagonist. The unfavoured daughter of a concubine of Mr Luo.
Shiyi's mother: Mr Luo's concubine, adores Shiyi.
Mr Luo: Shiyi's dad. A weak willed government official whose position is tenuous and who tends to go along with whatever his wife says while acting the Righteous All Knowing Patriarch.
Madame Luo/"Mother": Mr Luo's wife. Mother of Yuanniang. Despises Shiyi and her mother. Rules the Luo family with an iron fist.
Luo Zhenxing: Shiyi's older brother, the Luo heir. Seems nice enough, doesn't do much except go "Mother, that seems too harsh!".
Yuanniang: The only legitimate Luo daughter. Married to Lingyi. Terminally ill and ambitious.
Erniang: Shiyi's Mean Girl sister. Daughter of a concubine but has gained Madame Luo's favour. Bullies Shiyi. Has the vibe of... ok I can't find any videos but that Chinese woman who does funny videos with an exaggerated 'sexy' walk and bossing around men. The actor was given the assignment Mean Girl and WENT for it.
Wuniang: Shiyi's nice sister, also the daughter of a concubine. Engaged to a nice boy. Doesn't do much.
Dongqing: Shiyi's stupid but very loyal maid with bad hair.
Amber: Shiyi's less stupid maid, assigned by Madame Luo.
Xu family:
Xu Lingyi: Love interest. A Marquis, whose jobs are government policy, fighting in wars, and hunting down criminals. Wife Yuanniang, concubines Wen and Qin, sons Zhun and Yu.
Xu Lingkuan: Lingyi's cheerful younger brother.
Princess Danyang: Lingkuan's somewhat snooty but not totally awful wife.
Xu Lin'an: the dead heir, Linyi's older brother.
Xiang Yizhen: Widow of Lingyi's dead brother Lin'an. Seems nice and sensible, doesn't do much except say "Mother, that seems too harsh!".
Xu Qian: Yizhen and Lin'an's dead son.
Madame Xu: Lingyi's mother. Adores Lianfang, who is her niece.
Qiao Lianfang: Noble woman, Madame Xu's niece. Fell in love with Lingyi as a girl and once Yuanniang started dying became determined to become Lingyi's next wife.
Concubine Wen: Lingyi's concubine. Merchant's daughter. Bitchy and materialistic but not super cruel.
Concubine Qin: Lingyi's concubine. Ex-maid. Shy and well meaning.
Xu Zhun: Lingyi's legitimate son via Yuanniang. About 8? Shy, prone to crying, and not very accomplished.
Xu Siyu: Lingyi's son via Concubine Wen. About 10? Well behaved and competent.
Xiaoying: Lingyi's valet
Steward Bai: A competent steward
Ou Family
Marquis Jingyuan: Leader of the Ou family
Ou Lixing: eldest son, always trying to impress the Marquis.
Ou Yanxing: the younger son?
Others:
Master Jian: Shiyi's embroidery teacher and mentor. An independent single woman with a prestigious embroidery shop.
Wang Yu: A drunken lecherous nobleman noone wants to marry.
Nice Merchant Whose Name I Forgot: Helps save Shiyi's life at the start of the show.
Hu Jin: A government official who was friends with Lingyi, and got killed for treason.
Duke Wei: A government official who was also friends with Hu Jin.
General Fu Linbo: Lingyi's deputy.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-03 06:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-09 03:56 am (UTC)Yeah this show knows how to create DRAMA.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-03 11:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-05-09 03:55 am (UTC)That's so nice to know, I'm really glad you enjoy them!