The Glory ep 27 spoilers
NOT beating the Dengwen drum/The Drum of Appeal again smh. I'm very tired of this over-romanticized badass/girl power/matriarch whatever FLs beating the Appeal Drum to save the beloved men in their lives trope. Dressed in their finest, looking pure and pitiful and in such an intentional "heroic but feminine way".
It's like the ultimate consolidation of the idea a woman doesn't have the means or power to get the thing done instead of begging to a higher entity (who is ultimately a man). A male lead always saves his women so heroically, on horseback and going to war and political connections and other "manly" methods. (Now don't come at me with "but back then women couldn't do much..." because 1. They did a freaking LOT actually 2. These are not actual historical dramas 3. Just don't)
How about we have a ML for once, who is out of his wits and options and grovels at the Dengwen to save a woman in his life? I'm sure in Chinese history there were instances. In my culture also there are stories of appeal drums and people of all walks of lives used it, not just wronged noble ladies. I dislike how in period dramas it has now become synonymous with the highest plot climax moment a FL can have.
Btw you can read some interesting articles about Dengwen drum here and below too
The Dengwen Drum of the Northern Song Dynasty was established outside the Xuande Gate. During the reign of Emperor Zhao Kuangyin, the Empero