Although New Life Begins is more light-hearted, both dramas shine a light on the hardships and prejudice women in Ancient China are confronted with.
They take the audience on an enlightening and inspiring journey as these women fight against the patriarchal society to flourish both in business and marriage. We're shown not only the bad marriages but also the good ones, where husband and wife can work together to achieve gender equality, harmony and prosperity.
They take the audience on an enlightening and inspiring journey as these women fight against the patriarchal society to flourish both in business and marriage. We're shown not only the bad marriages but also the good ones, where husband and wife can work together to achieve gender equality, harmony and prosperity.
both drama show a strong woman who face same situation in childhood .After her mother’s death in a conspiracy, FL learns to control her emotions and move forward with strength. She hides her true talent from the world, using her pain as fuel to grow wiser, more resilient, and fiercely determined. Over time, she transforms into a strong and decisive woman, no longer driven by grief, but by purpose.
Both of the main character's love interests had a tough time growing up.
In both dramas the main character's sister(s) did unnecessary things to make her life hard.
Both of their mother's died when they were little.
Both are historical.
Both helped their love interests positively change their reputation.
In both dramas the main character's sister(s) did unnecessary things to make her life hard.
Both of their mother's died when they were little.
Both are historical.
Both helped their love interests positively change their reputation.
Both dramas look visually amazing with fantastic acting from veteran casts. The chemistry between the two leads are really great, in fact the leads from Ming Lan eventually got married in real life. The lead females come from humble beginnings and struggle to overcome the familial expectations put on them. They are highly intelligent, but must hide it due to the the social stigmas that women should just be housewives. The male leads grow up in comparable wealth and comfort, but due to a series of events suffer a huge fall from grace at the hands of their own family. The romance is cute in how the leads bicker with each other, but both are a little darker in tone.
Set in the Northern Song dynasty, the story follows Sheng Ming Lan, an unfavored concubine-born 6th daughter of an official. After losing her mother at a young age, Ming Lan is raised by her paternal grandmother. Growing up, she learns to hide her true genius self and use crafty and cunning methods in order to survive the tough conditions where family members are plotting against each other and where no actual familial love exists.
She then meets Gu Ting Ye, the second son of a rich marquis household, who is supposed to inherit wealth from both the parents and a noble title. Unlike Ming Lan, Gu Ting Ye is straightforward with his actions and never hides his true self, causing him to fall victim to all the planning and plotting against him, where he ends up losing everything.
Ming Lan and Ting Ye join forces, and through cunning schemes and daring endeavors, they both rise in position and work to obtain justice from those that have wronged them.
She then meets Gu Ting Ye, the second son of a rich marquis household, who is supposed to inherit wealth from both the parents and a noble title. Unlike Ming Lan, Gu Ting Ye is straightforward with his actions and never hides his true self, causing him to fall victim to all the planning and plotting against him, where he ends up losing everything.
Ming Lan and Ting Ye join forces, and through cunning schemes and daring endeavors, they both rise in position and work to obtain justice from those that have wronged them.
I mace this rec because both characters have to cross a lot of barriers because of their birth.
Both must face obstacles related to others with power trying to bring them down.
They hide in plain sight, in their own way, from enemies but the manner and method is different.
Both are intelligent but overlooked.
Both experienced loss that impact the choices they make.
The similarity ends there. I think Dong Yi is more dramatic (and it is subtle for a Kdrama) and this show is much more subtle and as grounded in reality as a period piece can be. Dong Yi is after all a palace drama. This drama is not campy at all. There is no fluff, in my opinion. No filler.
Both must face obstacles related to others with power trying to bring them down.
They hide in plain sight, in their own way, from enemies but the manner and method is different.
Both are intelligent but overlooked.
Both experienced loss that impact the choices they make.
The similarity ends there. I think Dong Yi is more dramatic (and it is subtle for a Kdrama) and this show is much more subtle and as grounded in reality as a period piece can be. Dong Yi is after all a palace drama. This drama is not campy at all. There is no fluff, in my opinion. No filler.
