DTMFA in action

[dangermousie]

So, ep 21 happened, Qing Chuan found out that Four was a manipulative user who was trying to off family members and have her killed and promptly broke up with him.

This is probably the sole time I've seen DTMFA in action in a drama. Ever. Drama heroines always put up with a ton of crap from the man they love but not Qing Chuan! I love it! Because

Comments

[hanjae]

See, I think that was the main difference. It WAS really sad/touching that Four was ready to give up his ambition, dump Jin Zhi and go off to start a quiet life with QC together, but then you contrast it with Eight, who has a totally different way of doing things. Basically, you've got two men who have different approaches:

1. Four would be willing to give up being a prince, his house and property, to be with QC. He thinks that's enough. Being with QC makes him move backwards; I don't think he's conscious of this thought, but he's literally acting like he has to reduce himself to match her.

2. Eight would be willing to give up his life, forget being a prince and everything else, to be with QC. But here's where they differ: he doesn't think it's enough, he wants to constantly better himself so that he's worthy of her. Despite him being a world away in rank and probably better at everything than QC is, being with her motivates him to move forward

[rectherapyfreak]

I totally agree with everything you have wrote!

[dangermousie]

That is a great write-up about their differences. Eight is just very persistent and positive and Four is not - at least not in relationships. He's a lot more damaged than Eight is (probably due to Consort De).

But the thing is, I think for Four giving up ambition and house was to become a better man - he never lacked ambition or drive - he needed to have that care and self-denial to become a better person. While Eight, with all his flaws of thoughtlessness at the beginning, never had the ruthless ambition that would put throne over all. He doesn't need to give up ambition to be a better person - he's only ambitious for QC's sake not his own (side note - seriously, QC, stop pushing him into dynastic infighting).

And no matter how much QC manages to change Four, I wonder whether she'd be able to change his inherent character.Interesting point. I wonder if once the bloom is off the rose, Four would be fine with giving up everything he worked for, for a woman. He might though (he really commits 100% to everything and he seems to have

[hanjae]

I think Eight and Four actually had similar results from their family problems. The only reason why Four turned out worse is because of their difference in personalities. Four grew up with Imperial Consort Tong, who reportedly doted on him, but in the end all he could focus on was that his mother didn't care half as much about him as she cared about 14th. The sense of neglect made him feel resentful, and his way of dealing with it is closing himself off, wallowing in self-pity that he has no one to trust and unable to see that there are people who'd care about him if he'd let them. In a way, he's rather selfish; for his own sense of fulfillment, he'd do anything, including burning a brother to death

[dangermousie]

I love this whole comment and want to marry it only that would be bigamy.

I don't really mind QC pushing Eight for emperor but she's really thinking with 21st century mind. Killing siblings would make Four a horrible person but probably even more efficient as an 18th century emperor, sadly.

Re: Four v. Eight. True. And if you think about it, even before QC, Eight has Nine and Ten who have his back. While Four could have others (Two, wife, Su Yan) if he only allowed it but he won't. Also, you are right, reforming for someone else is always a bad idea - if one wants to truly change they should do it for themselves.