cyn lynn : Love in Pavilion


Zhang Yun Long: Wangquan Hong Ye	Liu Shi Shi: Dongfang Huai Zhu

Zhai Xiao Wen: Yang Yi Tan	Wu Xuan Yi: Wangquan Zui

Zhao Yi Bo: Li Qu Zhuo	Shen Yue: Dongfang Qin Lan (Gong Jun's mom)

Ding Yu Xi: Zhang Zheng [2, 3, 20+]	Meng Zi Yi: Qingmu Yuan [5, 6, 20+]

Chen You Wei: Li Zi Zai	Sun Zi Hang: Deng Qi Yue

Lin Bo Rui: Jiu Huo	Peng Xiao Ran: Jia Lan

Hou Ming Hao: Demon Lord Bai Mu [1, 2]	Chen Yu Qi: Poison Lady [1, 2]

Chen Ruo Xuan: Mu Xiao Wu [4, 6]	Zhang Ruo Nan: Yang Yan [2, 4, 6, 19]

Qin Xiao Xuan: Mu Mie [12-19]	Zhou Jie Qiong: Ciuyu Ming Luan [12-19]

Zhang Bo Zhi: Nangong Chui	Huang Zhi Wei: Jin Ren Feng


Main Story	Child Story

Romcom/Romance Checklist

How much of the plot is angst/romance?

0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

The ML:

Cold–Lukewarm–Warm / Timid / Tsundere / Falls in Love First / Noble Idiot / CEO / General

The FL:

Bold / Cute / Cool & Independent / Falls in Love First / Better than ML / Noble Idiot / Business-woman

Describe the Relationship (the tropes):

Annoying Love (F/M) Rivals +++ / Bickering Start / Childhood Connection / Cohabitation / Contract Marriage or Fake Couple / Enemies to Lovers / Hidden Identity / Harem / Love Triangle / Married Couple (Real) / Rebirth / Secretly in Love (F/ML) / School to Adulthood / Star-Crossed Lovers

Relationship Progress (officially together; first (official) kiss; breakup*):

Ep 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31 / 32 / 33 / 34 / 35 / 36

# of CPs (including main CP):
0 / 1 / 2 / 3+

Ending:

Happy / Sad / Open Happy / Open Sad / Bad / Rushed+++

Remarks

[Drama Info]

This drama is the second instalment of Fox Spirit Matchmakers. There's 3 in total:

Red Moon Pact (Yang Mi, Gong Jun)
Love in Pavilion (this one)
Sword and Beloved (Li Yi Tong, Cheng Yi).

Pavilion (#2) with the FLs (Liu Shi Shi and Shen Yue) is the parent drama. Shen Yue gives birth to Gong Jun, and that's why we have Red #1. Liu Shi Shi gives birth to Cheng Yi and that's why we have Sword #3. Therefore Gong Jun (Red #1) and Cheng Yi (Sword #3) are cousins.

Thanks to Red #1, the ending of Pavilion is spoiled.

Director Du Lin is involved in all 3 FSM dramas. This instalment shares the most overlap with Love You Seven Times because not only does it have the same director, but also scriptwriter, Miu Wen Jing

Wrapped on December 4, 2023.

[Ending]

Ending Spoiler (click to expand)

Most are dead. Only survivors are Wangquan Hong Ye, Li Qu Zhuo, and Dongfang Qin Lan (sister). Even so there are offsprings to continue their legacy. At the end, Wangquan Hong Ye and Dongfang Huai Zhu poured each other with love, so their tragedy felt better :')

Drama Overview & Review

🎭 Zhang Yun Long's Wangquan Hong Ye. Zhang Yun Long's visual peak! Acting-wise, he also got to flex his range. I really like his character. He's adorably silly when he's in love, but not in a way that feels OOC just to serve the romance. Apart from the romantic scenes, he still feels grounded and consistent. Then he got all vulnerable at the end. *Sniffles* It's his journey that sealed it for me. He also managed to shine among the stellar supporting cast. Great character, great writing, great acting. [Skip »]

Let's try this again

He makes flowers bloom!

And then the doom.

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💔 Wangquan Hong Ye & Dongfang Huai Zhu. They may have been the weakest link midway through (maybe because the other CPs shone so bright) but in the end, they NAILED their ending. Their deep love. Their shared dream. Their sacrifices. Theirs was the romance that echoed the loudest to me by the end. [Skip »]

Ending Spoiler (Click to expand)

Because they cherished each other so deeply, giving "infinite love in their finite time", the tragedy felt beautiful and complete. A sad ending, but a good sad-ending. But uh, yes, LSS's acting does leave much to be desired. She was enough for me at least xD

They’re both so broken, but in each other, they find the only piece that gives them hope. They know they can’t go on without the other.

Cue: "Every shard that breaks still belongs to her." 💔🥺

The family 🥺 Looking up at dad

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🧶 Yang Yi Tan & Wangquan Zui. Three-Eyes has a childhood sweetheart he'd do anything for. But when he turns into a wimp, she stands tall and charges ahead. He's got the vision; she's got the backbone. [Skip »]

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🥟 Zhang Zheng & Qingmu Yuan. Broken Boy + Fearless Girl = Love that drags you out of the dark. They always, always lead each other out of the darkness. It's the heartbeat of their romance – from the very beginning to very ending. [Skip »]

He's allergic to asparagus, but continues to have them because of her. Men have it so bad in this show.

Not his first time admiring our sleepy head:

Love is reciprocated! Now they can "go" together and we can call that a happy ending.

"They always, always lead each other out of the darkness. It's the heartbeat of their romance – from the very beginning to very ending."

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🐶 Li Qu Zhuo & Dongfang Qin Lan. These toddlers who may or may not be Gong Jun's parents. They are literally the 姐狗CP (= Sister-Dog CP, which is used to describe Jie-Di (OWYM) romance where the younger guy is like a puppy to his older crush). [Skip »]

The burning question. Is he Gong Jun's dad?

She's definitely Gong Jun's mom.

Their "love" started at the first wink.

They're the only ones alive "together", but aren't together, and never will be.

He is not Gong Jun's dad :(

WAAHH > <

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🫱 Li Zi Zai & Li Qu Zhuo. From literally nowhere, they become the most emotional "CP". This brotherly love hits even harder on a rewatch, especially when you notice all of gege's expressions. Li Zi Zai would give anything for his brother. [Skip »]

Gege reflexively fixing didi's clothes.

Li gou tells his brother he’ll protect him from now on and again, there’s Chen You Wei’s knowing expression 😭😩😭😩

A hand? His passion for inventions? That's nothing for his didi's life.

When they lost each other, they didn’t even get to SEE each other or say goodbye like the other CPs. 3rd bro could only look ahead and 4th only saw his back the whole time 😭😩😭😩

Li gou is the most tragic 🤧

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🦋 Jiu Huo & Jia Lan. Surprisingly enticing, twisted, and charming. (I just ignore Dragon-hater's acting (Li Bo Rui's)). [Skip »]

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🕷 Bai Mu & Poison Lady. The itsy-bitsy spider slipped and never climbed up the water spout again. (Ineffective CP, but at least short).

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❄️ Mu Xiao Wu & Yang Yan. "Go watch real snow" 😢

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🕯 Mu Mie & Ciuyu Ming Luan. Girl, it was always you 🐇. Of the side-story CPs, they're hands-down my favourite. Does anyone know what their future is??

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🏠 Other "CPs". It's not just romance. [Skip »]

I was very amused by this awkward lunch xD. It's particularly funny when Zhang Yun Long and Shen Yue continued the bickering offline/online.

They both have bratty meimeis :)

Yang Yi Tan and his nephew:

First and last meeting :(

6th – the dude we barely know

The Boss and his Loyal Follower:

Li Qu Zhuo's growth 🥺

The one ~~dog~~ man I wish could stay innocent forever.

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🦊 Final Battle. Ep31+ Spoilers. [Skip »]

An interpretation I paraphrased from Psychae: Wangquan Hong Ye and Dongfang Huai Zhu were able to intercept the Black Fox's word-domination schemes perhaps because of our Masked Alliance's "futile" sacrifices. Their resistance was driven by Romantic Love (Qingmuyuan for Zhang Zheng), Family (Li Zi Zai for Li Qu Zhuo), and Altruism (Yang Yi Tan for everyone).

[Review & Rating] By cynlynn.