American Perspectives: I appreciate Ruoxi's assertiveness "Scarlet Heart" C-Drama Response

I finished watching the C-Drama version of Scarlet Heart about three days ago.  I didn't want it to end.  I'm aware there's a Season 2, but I heard it was so bad that it should have never been made.  Because I liked Season 1 so much, I'll take their word for it, as I don't want to ruin the magic.  I am amazed that I got through this show rather quickly. (I am much too old to stay up all night watching every single episode). There were times when I'd watch 3 episodes back to back instead of the usual 2.

I had no desire to write about how the last three episodes made me cry (and they most certainly did).  So many people have written at length about how sad both the Chinese and Korean versions are, that I don't feel like I'm adding any additional insight to the discussion.

Instead, I want to write about how Ruoxi has been completely assertive from start to finish.  She doesn't get what she wants by looking doe eyed and helpless, or by sympathy seeking.  She gets what she wants by acknowledging her place, and then implicitly, sometimes explicitly, shows a better way.

For example, when 4th Prince crosses the line and kisses her without her consent, she is angry and disgusted by it.  She also lets him know that she isn't okay with it, while also acknowledging that when he makes the moves, she has to oblige.  For the record, not so much because women were considered property (as that is the Western default view when it comes to women and non western cultures), but because he is significantly higher up than her in the hierarchy.  The way she addresses it, I feel it snaps him back into reality and makes him realize that he doesn't want to force any physical or romantic contact onto Ruoxi.

Another excellent example of Ruoxi's assertiveness is when she was demoted to be a water maid, as she refused the Emperor's decree that she marry the 14th Prince.  In "Scarlet Heart: 려," 해수 was bullied by the water maids, she does nothing about it, and we're expected to feel sorry for her.  Ruoxi, on the other hand, is also bullied.  She has to deal with the water maids stealing her things.  She lets them have all of her things, except for two gifts that she received from the 4th Prince.  There is push back at first, and the hairpin she received from 4th Prince gets broken in the process.  She keeps her composure, and she is able to turn the tables, and take on a leadership role among the women.  In fact, when she leaves the laundry department, she is able to get them to call her "auntie."

It's just a nice break from the sympathy seeking bullying victim narrative.  She doesn't fall to pieces, she doesn't cower in the corner, waiting for someone to save her. She acknowledges her place in the hierarchy, and then subtly (or not so subtly) shows a better way.