Popularity and Criticism
Amongst Hong Kong's office workers, the feuding and shifting alliances of the Imperial women, with greater issues being sacrificed for personal piques and gains was taken as a metaphor for the office politics familiar to many. The exploits of their characters were followed in minute detail in online forums, with each betrayal or stab in the back leading to flaming, denunciations, accusations and denials amongst the rival factions. It created a high rating just below War of the Genders.
The show was not without its critics. Many sociologists, psychologists, and academics have criticized the show as promoting hatred and backstabbing as a "natural" matter in society, and fears that the drama will twist the youth's perception of social relationships in general. However, many ordinary citizens simply believe the show was a reflection of the real world.
When one such psychologist was asked about his views concerning the series, he stated "I think we must remind ourselves that even if the intentions of this are represented as merely fictitious harm, we should still focus on this harm nonetheless, especially when its in respect to our youth"
However the creators and fans alike strongly deny such existence of 'harm', and that there are no such subliminal connotations behind the series.
Read more about this topic: War And Beauty
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