Eternal Brotherhood | Open Thread

An uncanny hero and his two bros protect the country, but who are the enemies?

Notable Actors/Actresses

Yang Xu Wen: Zichuan Xiu

Liu Yu Ning: Di Lin 

Zhang Ming En: Si Yi Lin

Director

Zhang Meng, Wei Li Zhou

Screenwriter

Tian Liang Liang

Chinese Title

紫川·光明三傑

Purple City: The Three Light Brothers/Bond

Genres: Period, Slight Romance, Palace, Bromance

Network: iQIYI  (Tencent Video)

Year: 2024
Episodes: 24

Jump to Remarks | Reviews | Recs | Comments

Cast

Yang Xu Wen: Zichuan Xiu / Lin He	Liu Yu Ning: Di Lin
Zhang Ming En: Si Yi Lin	Li Mo Zhi: Zichuan Ning
Cai Zhuo Yin: Ka Dan	Ma Shao Hua: Zichuan Can Xing
Xiu Qing: Ge Ying Xing	Zhang Fan: Yang Ming Hua
Huang Hao Yue: Bai Chuan	Zhang Yi Wen: Luo Ming Hai
Wu He Lun: Ma Wei	Chen Jia Wen: Li Qing

Screencaps

[Ep1]

[Ep2]

[Ep3]

[Ep4]

[Ep5]

HAHAHA

"Shifu, am I pretty?" 

[Ep6]

[Ep7]

What do we have under here?

Read more about the idioms below

There's more than one throuple!!

[Ep8]

[Ep9]

"You're my own people"

"My family's pig"

[Ep10]

Quotes explained

[Ep11]

The young trio: 

The old "trio"

Bai Chuan & Zichuan Xiu

[Ep12]

Our young trio

The old trio....

The lightening exposing the dark

My girl crush!

[Ep13]

"Da ren, let's go home."

[Ep14]

[Ep15]

[Ep16]

[Ep17]

[Ep18]

[Ep19]

[Ep20]

[Ep21]

[Ep22]

[Ep23]

[Ep24]

Remarks

[Drama Info] 

Filmed in 2021. 

The director(s) stepped on dog poop to cast these three MLs: 1) Yang Xu Wen (2017) will forever be tagged with a suicide homicide whether it was his fault or whether it wasn't his fault (but legally, he is cleared), 2) Liu Yu Ning (2023) picked up the most criticism he's ever had in his career after A Journey to Love, and 3) Zhang Ming En (2020) was exposed for cheating on Xu Lu with Hu Bing Qin (who later clarified, and is cleared from this scandal). 👏👏👏  Based on timing though, the directors willing stepped on dog poop for 2 guys. 

There was also an alteration on set between crew and "daipai" (photographers taking HQ celeb pics on set for fans), which was maliciously edited (according to production). With so many problems, no wonder this is airdropped with no promotion. 

This is Liu Yu Ning's 2nd time collaborating with one of the directors (Ultimate Note). 

[Episode 7 Idioms] 

1) 苦海無邊 Sea of bitterness (abyss of worldly suffering) knows no bounds….
2) 回頭是岸 …turn around and see the shore. 

• The 1st idiom immediately made her stop in her steps because it’s the first half of a well known phrase. She knew he was going to say “Repent and ye shall be saved!” from #1. 

3) 迷途知返 To get back on the right path
4) Last dish is a bowl of soup

• Her guess: 金盆洗手 = To wash one’s hand in a gold basin = to abandon the life of an outlaw 
• His answer: 駿馬跳水 = The fine horse commits suicide by jumping into the water.
• Her follow up: Where’s the horse? (From her pov, she’s thinking he’s telling her to die)
• Our ML was waiting for her here: 懸崖勒馬 = To rein in the horse at the edge of the precipice = to act in the nick of time. (He isn’t asking for death. He just wants her to turn back. She still has a chance.)

[Ending] Incomplete. Stops at a spot where no one has a definite ending. Cheer to brotherhood, though. 

Reviews

Submit Your Review | Rating Guide

Five (5/5)

Four (4/5)

Three (3/5)

Two (2/5)

Reviewer: cynlynn

Date: March 2024

I was captivated by the political intrigue and machination, the bromance, and the sleek aesthetics. The most unique was the supernatural element: Zuo Jia Ming Wang. He doesn’t age, doesn’t die, and doesn’t perish. He can manipulate time, but his most mystifying power is actually invisibility. Why? It's like he was invisible in the plot! He’s introduced once, seen twice, and the end.

First half was the high-achiever with the high cerebral. I love the insidious characters, and the ambiguity between friends and foes.

Second half is the under-achiever with no purpose. At best, it was set up for the next big battle that will happen in 2025. I can’t even blame the show for not ending because the S2/40-episode-limit rule did not exist when the show was filming.

The stronger bromantic throuple – I can’t believe it – is with the old geezers. In terms of acting, story, and even chemistry, the younger boys (main leads) had nothing on the old guys. The older trio were down one man too because he’s finnito. The two veterans were just so intense and emotional for each other.

The stronger FL is in the supporting cast too: Bai Chuan. I honestly have no idea which girl is meant for Zichuan Xiu (or if he ends up with anyone for the matter of fact). Bai Chuan, though, is like his soulmate. He has her complete faith and loyalty, and all her side-eyes, slit-eyes and rolling-eyes.

My highlight: Bai Chuan’s tearful confession in Ep9 and how Zichuan Xiu is her family’s pig. (If I wasn’t a hopeless romantic, I’d choose Yang Ming Hua’s tap-taps)

My gripe: I wasn't that into this bromance.

Random Recommendation: Pledge of Allegiance

One (1/5)

Recommendations

Genre List: 

Scheming / Palace Romances

Dim	Bros	Schemes