Ashes of Love 香蜜沉沉烬如霜 Drama Talk

Hamster is exceedingly sad that my tumblr feed has no GIFs for Ashes. So my good friend and I decide to do a pimping post for this show (it’s really just our daily spazzing over Messenger 🙂

“What was given cannot be asked back. Moreover, what I lost to you is more than just a phoenix feather. Either you return everything to me, or don’t give anything back.”

Hamster: Is this your 2018 crack drama? Like… the one we’ve been waiting for since 3l3w? I know you were high on Oh My Emperor for a while there.

Superlatte: Definitely 2018’s crack drama. I can already see myself rewatching the best bits again many many times after this wraps up. Definitely what it looks like when an adaptation is done right.

Hamster: I was already rewatching clips on loop as we speak 😀

Superlatte: Ditto!!!! I can count on one hand the league of awesome (chick lits) novels that also became unforgettable dramas. BBJX, 3l3w, and this

Hamster: Top 3? I’ve been fairly happy with Gu Man’s modern ones too, but I don’t think you watch modern.

Superlatte: You know me too well. BBJX is the indisputable forerunner

Hamster: BBJX is too depressing for me but I think Ashes might trump Peaches if they don’t screw up the latter half

Superlatte: IKR? BBJX is definitely toxic for the health, can’t stomach a rewatch of that drama even knowing they married and got their happily ever after. Ashes is definitely leaving Peaches for dust atm, I don’t remember being this over the moon and giddy for YH and BQ. YH is awesomeness but BQ is a woman only he can love. He and his brother -lol- I see a common theme

Hamster: I think I do remember being giddy for YH and BQ… but mostly for YH. Whatever makes that man happy I’m all for. Whereas I’m really invested in Jinmi’s happiness here. Even though I couldn’t care less about her obliviousness in the book. I think it’s a good change that they made her oblivious without being unfeeling. Because she certainly cares.

Superlatte: In the drama you can see their untainted happiness when they are in each other’s presence, and for Jinmi, even though it’s a feeling she cannot recognise or name, she does worry for him and seek him.

Hamster: OMG the way they light up around each other. Even if she isn’t the brightest 💡

Superlatte: 🎄🎄 I had my doubts about this cast and it’s an overwhelming relief to be proven wrong! They bounce off each other with toe tingling chemistry

Hamster: Oh I never doubted this cast. Yang Zi is adorable. But who knew their voices were so good!

Superlatte: Yesssssss! *insert squeal* Her voice is adorable and his is dark chocolate… decadent, smooth, whispery, who said you need to shout to make an impression

Hamster: I can’t get over that scene where he fusses over her taking down the Fengling because it can protect her. Like all of a sudden his voice dips into this softness

Superlatte: Oh oh when they met in the flower realm for his farewell? (Yes!)

!!! She was literally bouncing a path to him and he by then had perfected the smiling fool for love look complete with puppy eyes and all.

I think what they have done to perfection is the one-on-one times of the OTP. You never doubted they were meant for each other. They just gravitate to each other and their conversation.

Hamster: Omg yes. I didn’t remember that from the book at all. I just thought Jinmi was super dense and stringing the guys along and there was no reciprocation ever.

Superlatte: Most of the trailers for Ashes have been 3-5 min clips of just the two of them talking

Hamster: I can watch them talk all day. And kiss… but I’ll take the talking too.

Superlatte: Ditto. I cannot get enough of those clips. The shadow puppet scene o.m.g Probably one of the cheapest scenes to make in the whole drama and one of the most memorable ❤

Hamster: Yeah, still dead. This is my ghost talking to you.

Superlatte: You are not alone hehe you know she is good when she can pull off 8eps with only her eyes and brows visible. And boy are they animated!

Hamster: Dude her eyes in that scene. They coordinate with her voice that threatens to choke. And then I remember what we put up with watching Guan Pipi.

Superlatte: *shivers* at the thought of that painful viewing. What a waste of a hot male lead on her… Cannot wait for the fans to do a mash up of all their scenes together once Ashes wraps up. THAT will certainly be on loop until the next crack drama comes along, which at this rate looks like once every year or two

Hamster: Someone made a compilation of YH’s swoony smiles. I’m sure they’ll make one for Phoenix