I hope you can get back to it. I had to sign off and do laundry in the middle of yesterday’s episode before coming back to it. I haven’t had the courage to watch today’s episode yet. I know my blood continue to boil.
That said, I’m really enjoying it but like you I am astonished at how much stress Tian Xiwei can give us every single second the villainous sociopath Jundai is onscreen. It only takes two seconds before I am wishing her offscreen every time she appears as Jundai but keen to follow the story of her physically identical character A-Chou/Wei Rao.
The creepy expressions and body language combined with the high pitched nasal vocals (which TXW does herself) for Jundai make us know instantly which of the two ‘Wei Raos’ is onscreen in any given moment.
***Where the Mask Ends*** may be one of the most unhinged and shamelessly tropey long format Idol dramas in years but it’s taking it all to such an _extra_ level that it’s at the *must watch* level.
Face slapping is only the beginning of what the women will do. Several seem to have no lower bound. This is the first cdrama I have seen where a matriarch grandmother literally kicks a member of a prince’s guard in the gut.
There are generations inner court politics, at least three matriarchal grandmothers in the mix not to mention an Empress Dowager and a noble consort.
The production values are high and it never hesitates to have masses scenes of scheming nobles going at one another in every possible way.
Having the title OST waltz sung by Liu Yuning come into overlay in counterpoint in the background every time there’s a scene of particular viscousness, plotting or mayhem (and there are many), just adds to the overall sense of a psychopathic train wreck that this cdrama leans into.
I’m not sure if this drama meets the coproduction requirement for Netflix to be able to submit it for Emmys, but this OST deserves a nomination.
Here’s a good link for Liu Yuning singing ***Entering the Game Under Another Name***. PeacheyBlossom’s video with the Mandarin, Pinyin with their English translation. (Peachey Blossom does not monetize their channel but relies on patreon donations instead.)
#cDrama #Netflix #OST #TianXiWei #Television #Emmys #WhereTheMaskEnds
