#wanderer's palace

[rivenroad]

[trysta-rider]

Wanderer's Palace, La Noscea

[bexplaysffxiv]

[shaylogic]

Really thinking a lot about Monty's perspective on this scene

[danmeidiaries]

Ranking Cdramas

I've seen 10 cdramas and I decided to rank them all. If the cdrama is based on a book, I will only be taking the drama into account and I will not be including donghuas in this particular ranking. These are all my personal opinions but I would love to hear some others! Let me know if you agree or disagree.

10. 'Love Game in Eastern Fantasy'

Plot: After a rough day at work and being disappointed by her favorite author's latest web novel, Ling Miaomiao finds herself transported into the story as the villainous Lin Yu destined to meet a miserable fate at the hands of the protagonist's brother Mu Sheng. Tasked with making Mu Sheng fall in love with her 100% in order to return home, Ling Miaomiao tries to change the novel's original tragic ending.

Episode Count: 32

As a Scum Villain fan, I love a good transmigration plotline. This show had all the potential and the first half is excellent. However, after they get to the Capital, it all starts to unravel and although there's still a few funny scenes and some great action, it's nowhere near as good as the first half of the show.

5/10

9. The Story of Yanxi Palace

Plot: Historical drama about the rise of Wei Yingluo (the Qianlong Emperor's Third Empress) in the imperial harem. Beginning as a palace maid investigating the murder of her elder sister, Wei Yingluo must learn to naviagte the machinations of Qianlong's consorts as they all vie for favor and power within the palace.

Episode Count: 90

The first cdrama I ever watched. Wei Yingluo is an excellent protagonist and the show has many intriguing mysteries and plot lines. The long episode count does mean that some of the middle has a lot of filler, but there is a lot to enjoy in this fun show. Although there is a love triangle element, I really enjoy Qianlong and Wei Yingluo's interactions as they have a very atypical love story.

7.5/10

8. A Familiar Stranger

Summary: Painter Shi Qi is forcibly face-swapped with the Prime Minister's daughter Shen Qin who doesn't want to go through with her arranged marriage.

Episode Count: 18 (10-12 minutes each)

This webdrama available on YouTube has an intriguing plotline and some great chemistry between the leads. However, in an exact opposite problem to Yanxi Palace, the short episode count and length leave some things unexplored that could have been interesting in a longer show.

7.8/10

7. Guardian

Summary: In Haixing, the SID led by Zhao Yunlan investigate mysterious deaths related to a subterranean alien species known as Dixingrens who possess powerful unique abilities. As cases become more frequent, Shen Wei, a professor at the university, seems to have some kind of connection to them.

Episode Count: 40

This might ruffle some feathers. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Guardian and Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei are one of the best cdrama couples out there. (Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng also have a cute side relationship), but i think the amount of censorship and having to rework parts of the novel ended up harming the cohesiveness of the show's over-arching narrative. Still a great show and the final stretch of episodes are some of my favorites in cdrama overall.

8/10

6. Till the End of the Moon

Summary: To save the world from the Devil God Tantai Jin, Li Susu travels back 500 years to when he was human with the task of killing him and preventing him from becoming a devil god. Unexpectedly awakening as Tantai Jin's abusive wife Ye Xiwu, the two begin to develop real feelings towards one another.

Episode Count: 40

Now we're getting into the home stretch of cdramas I genuinely don't have any issues with and it's just coming down to personal preference. The chemistry is amazing, the CGI is the best I've ever seen in a cdrama, the plotline is masterfully done. But by god these biches need to work on their communication issues and misunderstanding plotlines make me want to claw my face off (there's quite a few).

8.5/10

5. Love Between Fairy and Devil

Summary: Xiao Lanhua, a low-ranking flower fairy in Shuiyuntan accidentally and unknowingly frees Dongfang Qingcang, the Moon Supreme devil god imprisoned 10,000 years ago. After a bond is formed where Dongfang QIngcang can feel all of her physical and emotional pain, he is forced to keep her safe as he tries to work out how to break it.

Episode Count: 36

Another show with fantastic chemistry between the leads, a villain reveal I genuinely didn't see coming, and has some of the funniest and most tragic scenes I've ever seen. Did I cry watching this show - yes. Unashamedly. Dylan Wang is too good of an actor. And I'm a sucker for a good Hades x Persephone romance.

8.8/10

4. Fangs of Fortune

Summary: 8 years after attacking the Demon Hunting Bureau, the demon Zhu Yan shows up on the doorstep asking to work together with them.

Episode Count: 34 + Bonus Episode

This show has something for everyone. Great CGI, bisexual polycule (or GL and BL, or just het) vibes, a great story and some of the best stunt work and action choreography I've ever seen. I wish there were more episodes and that it had fully committed to the ZYC + ZYZ angle.

9/10

3. Justice in the Dark (ongoing - could jump in the rankings dramatically if the ending sticks the landing)

Summary: In the futuristic Xinzhou City, 1.3% of the population are affected by a radiation caused genetic defect that leaves them unable to empathise. These 'Apaths' are considered prone to criminal behaviour and their crimes are investigated by Luo Weizhao's Special Investigation Division (SID). Pei Su, a young millionaire at odds with Luo Weizhao due to events in their past becomes connected to a series of unusual crimes with thematic ties to classic literature read aloud by a mysterious broadcaster.

Episode Count: 30 (25 aired as of this post)

Thank you Japan for releasing the rest of the episodes. Excellent chemistry between the two lead, the cases are all fascinating and I'm a sucker for a good literary reference. If this show sticks the landing with the finale it could very well jump to number 1 on this list. I can't wait to see how this show concludes.

9.5/10

2. Word of Honor

Summary: Former assassin Zhou Zishu quits the Window of Heaven and goes into hiding. With only a few years left to live, he plans to live out the rest of his days alone until he meets Wen Kexing - a mysterious man who sees through his disguise and proceeds to follow him everywhere he goes.

Episode Count: 36 + Bonus episode

Insane chemistry, great stunt choreo and a great story. The show that made everyone say "hey, doesn't China have censorship???" This show was meant to have 45 episodes originally (cut down to 36) and it does show a bit in the second half, but Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu are my 2nd favorite cdrama couple for a reason.

9.5/10

The Untamed

Summary: 16 years after his widely celebrated death, demonic cultivator Wei Wuxian is suddenly resurrected in a new body. After reuniting with Lan Wangji, a man from his first life, the two work together to solve the mysteries of the present and the past.

Episode Count: 50

The one, the only. The TV show that changed my life. PERFECTION. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji remain my favorite cdrama couple ever. The directions this show took altered my brain chemistry and changed my outlook on so many things. The gold standard of cdramas.

10/10

Reminder: These are all my personal opinions but I'd love to hear other people's!

[cosmicnovaflare]

Cinder again!!!

[wandering-jana]

Schloss Augustusburg

Brühl, Germany

March 28, 2025

[rileys-battlecats]

I must know. How was Murr acquired? Was the mold spore found in some trash can and smuggled into the castle?

anon thank you for asking I would LOVE to talk about Murr. She was 1000% smuggled into the palace.

Some time after becoming friends with Vaitus, Minare finds a street cat that has snuck in and had kittens in a storage room of her home. She and Vaitus take care of the momma cat and kittens until they're weaned, then find homes for all of them. Murr, the runt of the litter, is the last one left, and Minare basically looks at Vaitus and goes "PLEEEAAASSEEE Vai you gotta take her, look at her big sad eyes, she already loves you, she needs a home 🥺🥺". And Vaitus? He knows this is a terrible idea. He's not supposed to leave the palace at all, and randomly Acquiring A Cat is suspicious as hell. Minare doesn't know he's the prince, doesn't know just how much of a Bad Idea this is. He has to say no.

He says yes. Just folds like a wet paper towel. He's been getting more and more attached to Murr the whole time they've taken care of the kittens, and he literally Cannot Bring Himself To Say No. He sneaks Murr into the palace and keeps her in secret for a while. This only works because he is Incredibly Isolated (killer combo of chronic RBF + magic power to Kill With A Touch makes him super unapproachable) and no one gets close enough to notice the cat hair on his clothes.

Eventually Murr decides to sneak out of his rooms and go on walkabout, and the palace staff become aware that There Is A Cat Around. No one is sure who the cat belongs to, or who takes care of her, but she’s well fed and friendly, if impossible to catch. She becomes their unofficial mascot, and they call her Kitty

[mystiffox]

— God won't save you, either

can you tell i love this animation of hero. even after a decade i still come back to it its that good. if u didn't know, this is a redraw of a scene in "Gods don't die." animated by dilongoo!

[wandering-italy]

The entryway of Palazzo Vecchio.

Florence, Tuscany

Dec. 2019

[xiachino]

Moments in Zapolyarny Palace #10

Risa: [Trying to hold in tears] "Please don't make me go in...."

Scaramouche: "You lost the bet."

Risa: "That's not fair.... I bet it would be 8%"

Scaramouche: "It was 8.76%, you lost."

Risa: "it's not that big of a difference! Just round it!"

Scaramouche: "I never agreed to rounding, i said to be specific. Now get in the damned room, we're late."

[The meeting place of the Anti-Dottore league.]

Arlecchino, Pantalone, Signora, & Sandrone are drinking tea.

Scaramouche: [Kicks open the door dragging Risa, who is dressed up like a little girl with her hair in twin-tails.]

Pantalone: [Spits into his tea, covering his mouth with his free hand to hide his amusement] "Pardon me."

Signora: [Smirks behind her teacup]

Sandrone: [Takes a picture with her Kamera for future blackmail] "Idiots."

Arlecchino: "I wasn't aware you could pull off... such a look." [Her expression didn't change, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes.]

[battleonthebigbridge]

MerMay

[quesadilla-day]

Wanderer, Desert Pavilion Chronicle - also on Albedo's Creations >:)

[zealouswerewolfcollector]

I know it in my heart Turgon was Finwë's favorite grandchild.

[cloverlilies]

Listen... Emperor!Satoru x Crossdressing!CourtJester!Reader

[revoltingbones]

In the battle against Cazador, he doesn't comment on the party outside of a few lines when you leave Astarion at camp, but I wonder why.

There's a good chance it's because he's so close to his victory, and already such a lethal threat, that he doubts anything could stop him. I don't think that's why though, it stems more from the fact he doesn't see Astarion as an independent agent.

Cazador's dialog and diary make it pretty clear that it's not just malice that makes him treat his spawn like unthinking pawns. He genuinely doesn't see them as actual people. He can remember being a spawn after all, and how exactly he got the upper hand on Velioth isn't made entirely clear to us.

He has no reason to actually think Petras understood what was happening with Astarion, after all, they can be tricked. Cazador 'made' Astarion, surely he'd feel their connection be severed in some way, like a leash going slack.

Astarion's friends don't matter because Astarion can't have friends. That would imply Astarion can think and feel for himself and can want things for himself, it just doesn't compute.