Almost a good drama
The 73 episodes of The Story of Minglan is too draggy.... IF they had made into a 40 episodes series it would have been perfect! They have a lot of scenes which are totally unnecessary and doing it for the sake of making the series a long one is just waste of time and money. IF you are wise you just fast forward some of the episodes or skipped them entirely.Minglan supposedly a very intelligent person who can predict and foresee what's going to happen and can find a way out of predicament she is in.. at the same time she can be the most stupid person in all of Sung Dynasty. When she is stupid there is just no way of describing it except verging on idiotic.
I blame it on the writer/ writers who wrote the script! What could have been a really good drama turned out some of the most stupid scene in dreamland. I would keep an eye up for the name of the writer for future avoidance. IF you want to make someone smart and intelligent, you make sure the character is consistent all the way. It only shows the lack of understanding of the what the main character demeanour. You don't write a scene just because you have to... IF Minglan were in the real world and behave the way the writer led us to believe, she would have died in episode 20 if I feel generous,
I know China is turning out more than 500 dramas a year and even though there are plenty of stories to tell out there, but one thing for sure, is the lack of really good script writers. Minglan could have been a really entertaining to watch, but all it take is a few badly senselessly bad and stupid scenes to bring the series down... Its like you got passed the first bad one dn then it picked up again and then it just pushed you over the cliff with another bad one and gets better and then presented you with another bad one. If you want to write about a intelligent and smart person, then I suggest the writer should read Langya Bang and finds out how brilliant story are told and how smart character should be.
What I do love about the Story of Minglan, is the loving interactions between Minglan and Gu Tingye, the best couple I have seen in Chinese Dreamland, which almost always filled with virgins right til the end. Thank god Minglan isn't a she virgin after her marriage.. Love the main couple.
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Most fleshed out series IMO
Before I start, I watched Story of Yanxi Palace then I watched this, I did the same thing again with the rewatch. I rewatched Yanxi & right after rewatched this again.I didn’t review this after watching it the 1st time. Now I’m reviewing after the 2nd watch.
Having watched both twice I still prefer Story of Yanxi Palace majorly because IN MY OPINION Wei YingLou is the greatest female character ever made anywhere in the world. Wei YingLou is everything i am. She’s so fearlessly badass, she’s extremely loyal to the people she loves and most of all is not shackled by useless emotions that have been designed & perpetrated to keep women obedient. She’s cunning and ruthless and that’s one of the reasons I love her. I love you forever my most iconic Imperial Noble Consort Wei YingLou aka Empress aka literal QUEEN.
MingLan was ruthless when she was pushed to a corner and she’s super smart and calculating, she knew to guard her heart, and I really liked her character a lot.
This series is the definition of character development. The main characters were so fleshed out (this is the most fleshed out character driven series I have ever watched) we knew who they were, what their motivations & desires were, their short comings and strengths.
Our power couple did turn out relatively well and “normal” when you realize that the both of them came from families that were competing for the worst family of the year awards. Gu’s family ended up winning the award in a landslide..
The only thing that irked me was that we didn’t get to see how Molan was treated upon entry into her matrimonial home, I badly wanted to see the shock/heartbreak on her face as she entered and saw a very pregnant concubine chunke (Sue me I’m petty like that). Also the demise of Gu TingYe’s stepmom was so anticlimactic. I feel she died so easily. I wanted her to experience real long drawn out pain/anguish but alas it wasn’t so, like I said sue me, I’m petty like that.
People need to stop telling women when and how to feel anything. A lot of men in this show & in the real world will be dating/sleeping with different women and not love any of them. When the women are now seeking for the men’s attention, these women will be called clingy (especially in C & K Dramas) but when a man falls in love with a woman she is automatically expected to reciprocate those feelings, like she should be grateful and happy that he loves her, (that was one the foolishness that pissed me the hell off in the VIKI comment section where I watched), the audacity of a woman to not reciprocate a man’s feelings simply because he’s handsome & loves her, gosh the travesty. *Insert sarcasm*
I do thank God I wasn’t born in that era because I know I wouldn’t have survived it, so in my opinion, the good/kind women of the era portrayed in this series are definitely the real MVPs.
If indeed they had such evil vile scheming women then in that era, then damn, too bad, because it seems like women supporting women have been a farce since the beginning of time & I can’t see any end to it. At least that time they were not dressing it up prettily like they are now. #MeTooMovement my ass.
All that being said, shoutout to MingLan’s girl squad they were literal goals. I loved each and every one of them.
The best scenes were when the sisters (Big Madam and Madam Kang) fell down (happened at different times/scenes) Gosh I watched those several times.
Nanny Chang’s rant to Madam Kang that caused her fall was so epic, it was a masterpiece.
To end this, it was a really good series and I will be back in a few years to rewatch again.
But for now, adios to my scheming power couple…..
Rewatch Value 10/10 ( I have watched twice and will rewatch again)
Overall 10/10
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Don't be discouraged by episode count.
Story of Minglan can feel like it's on the slower side but every moment does matter. Minglan portrays a different kind of feminine strength than what we are used to seeing in historical dramas. She's not loud, physically tough nor picks fights with anyone. Her strength retains grace and class and most importantly, smarts. Her growth throughout the drama is very satisfying to watch. Gu Tingue is also a very lovable male lead. He never forces anything on Minglan and quietly encourages her to be herself and supports her when she stands up for what she believes in. I like how they start off as mere acquaintances but gradually start realizing how compatible they are.Everyone's performance in this drama is superb. And every character, including antagonists, has many layers and is not one-dimensional.
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This review may contain spoilers
The Story of Minglan had a lot of buzz going into it, due to the fact that it was 1) a Daylight Entertainment drama, and 2) it would mark the first time that the famous production company would team up with a female liu liang actress, which many saw as an acknowledgement of Liying's acting skills. Not to mention the source novel is quite popular. So expectations were quite high for the drama, especially with the dating rumors circling around the leads at the time. All things considered, this was quite the pleasant surprise. I was not fond of the director's previous works, but the scriptwriters have a good track record, and what we ended up getting was a gorgeous slice of life historical with colorful and memorable characters. It's so rare that we get historicals that are focused on the life of civilians outside the palace (though the palace does play a part), and it was refreshing to see the depiction of day to day life in the household of a low/mid ranking official, against the background of the Song dynasty.
Story:
I loved the first half of Minglan, probably even more after a rewatch. The portrayal of Minglan's journey from neglected child to a young adult yearning - but also fearful - for love was beautiful, as was the parallel of Gu Tingye's journey from rebellious and misunderstood son to a responsible, bold but loyal commander. The antagonistic relationship between the wives, the sisters, the idea of what a woman's role is...they were explored well and really fleshed out.
Romance isn't really at the center of the drama, but it does play an important part, and I absolutely loved how it was played out and how it stayed true to what we knew of Minglan and Gu Tingye's characters. Minglan had three suitors in her life, and as someone who has never really been put first by anyone, it really made sense that Gu Tingye, who was the only who went all out in pursuing her and actively prioritized her, would be the one to win her over.
That said, after the wedding, that's when things began to drag a bit. The episodes became extremely repetitive and drawn out (and Hunan TV probably has a lot to do with it), but the only times we saw the story being moved forward was through the episode previews. The stakes were higher, but rather than enjoying the ride, I often felt frustrated with the lack of plot movement. There was also less development in the couple's relationship, which fell a little stagnant until close to the end.
Still, I loved the detailed glimpse of life in the Northern Song Dynasty, and most of all - Sheng Minglan, who was a wonderful protagonist.
Acting/Cast:
The drama was helped by strong performances across the board, anchored by Zhao Liying's wonderful take on Minglan. There was a quiet dignity in young Minglan, which became more of a forceful but steady quest for justice as the character grew up and realized she had to take action to protect her loved ones. Zhao Liying has a great ability to balance vulnerability with inner strength, and it shone in spades here.
Feng Shaofeng's Gu Tingye was also great, and it was a good reminder of the acting range that he possesses when given the chance. The Sheng family was a delight, with Liu Lin and Gao Lu in particular giving fabulous performances as the bickering wives. Cao Cuifen is my MVP though - I absolutely loved her performance and chemistry with Zhao Liying's Minglan.
Music:
Loved the instrumentals used, and the theme song grew on me over time.
Overall:
If you're a fan of Chinese historicals, would really recommend giving this one a shot. It's a lot quieter, and probably more slow-paced than what you may be used to, but it's a beautiful journey.
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Based off of the higher than average number of episodes, I couldn't find many areas to fast-forward on because I didn't want to miss those key conversations and key events. It was refreshing to have a strong female strategist in a role that didn't revolve around historical royalty, war, or blind revenge. It should be noted that I equally fell for our male lead here as well and if he wasn't a fictitious character, I may have very well developed a crush. Following the two of them through their different lives of torturous endurance, the political moves they make separately (and together) for survival and to break free from those who've attempted to crush them was very satisfying.
The historical portrayal of the power play between multiple wives and concubines was also enticing. You will come across intense emotional manipulation and butterfly effects in choices made. You will feel for the ones you want to smack in the face and you'll want to smack the faces of the ones you originally rooted for, only to feel empathy for them again. You will gradually understand why some chose to live the way they do, what others held onto out of desperation, and what sacrifices were made in order to get there (or fail to get there).
Now let me emphasize that I usually try to avoid romance-heavy anything, and this happens to be one of those special ones (our lead couple) where I actually looked forward seeing them on-screen together. You have two equally strong individuals who are equally capable of supporting of one another- can't get better than that.
As much as the series took me on a lovely unexpected ride, nothing is perfect if you really want to nitpick. The actions scenes could have maybe been done better and minor parts of the character developments could have maybe been progressed more smoothly. But eh, it doesn't dampen the memorable effects it had on me.
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My Favourite Cdrama All The Time
This show had everything for me. …. A stellar cast, an intuitive director, thought-driven writers, and the crew behind the scenes deserve a raise! ….. a master example of how to write a great screen play and to create an amazing high adrenaline narrative. Do not judge a book by its cover, as strength and truth comes in a variety of forms, as does so does love. Zhaoliying character potrays it has that make you want more type of feel!!! Like honestly she was so strong throught her life and mange to pull through those plots. I love Grandma too heartwarming to see them protect each other earnestly…. GuTinye’s relationship with Minglan from the beginning when they are kids to the end of the show is just so cute when they are together!! The Story of MingLan is just amazing Highly Recommended Watch It Now.Was this review helpful to you?
A story adorned in rich culture and reflects real life beautifully
This drama is set in the Song Dynasty. It tells the story of Shen Minglan born in a family of officials. Though they're officials that work in the royal court, they're not exactly upper noble class. The Shen daughters are three sisters. Minglan is the youngest one born of a unfavored mistress that died during childbirth.This story is very beautiful. Unlike most stories that depend on excessive drama and action to make them worth watching. The Story of Minglan takes pride in detecting the highs and lows of daily life. The conflicts in the first part of the drama are mainly based on the Shen family's struggle to solidify a footing in the capital, and finding suitable husbands for the three daughters. This part is akin of a good slice of life story. Every detail is brilliantly portrayed to paint a picture of those times. It makes you feel as if you're living in those times.
The later part of the story has a heavier plot, as Shen Minglan has married a noble general. So the plot drabbles more into royal politics and conflicts. This part of the story is quite adventurous and fun to watch. The love stories in this drama are nothing crazy but manage to portray real life relationships in a very raw way. Shen Minglan has two suitors before marrying the general. One portrays puppy love where the other is just convention.
The main leads Zhao Liyin and Fang Shaofeng were married irl at the time of this drama's filming hence the chemistry is quite good. The characters are flawed making them more relatable. The side characters are all very lovable. The drama has extremely beautiful ost and cinematography. It feels like a poem about the Song Dynasty in itself.
But the most special thing about this drama for me personally, is the rewatchability. Very seldom I find a drama where every now and then I feel like rewatching it. Even if I like a drama very much, I usually don't find myself wanting to revisit it, or even if I do I almost never watch the entire thing from start to finish. But with this drama I've already watched it twice. The second time I watched it while simultaneously reading the novel (there's barely any change in the plot). And I was thinking about watching it for the third time and hence decided to write this review.
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This review may contain spoilers
In this series I really had a love-hate relationship. I could not wait for the next episode but sometimes I really wanted to flush him. First the chemistry / love between the main characters was just so nice to see. But then a bad thing..minglan was even so smart but was so stupid to her own man.De love between grandmother and 5th sister was so heartwarming to see.Minglan her in-laws was too bad also the devil women remained much to long in the series.
The whole series was really nice to see though I would rather have seen more about the marriage of molan. I would not want to look at this series myself again, just because for me the bad people stay in there too long. Another plus minlan her servants were really super sweet to her .. And the end was very nice and happy. Sorry for my bad English but you must have seen this series
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This review may contain spoilers
Nice but a Bit Annoying Too
This is the first time I don't really ship the main couple. They were cute in the beginning, but that's before they got married to each other!!!The first half of the drama was good. Then Ming Lan got married to Gu Ting Ye and the ship sailed. I fast forwarded most of the episodes afterwards as I really couldn't get myself to care about the story of Ming Lan in the Gu Manor. Before they got married Gu Ting Ye told Ming Lan that they are going to live in their own place (to avoid clashing with Gu's evil stepmother). Yet, it never happened.
The palace story (which took place after the marriage), I also couldn't be bothered about. I find the characters in the palace as weakly written. So I fast forwarded most.
The only reason I did a lot of fast forwarding, instead of skipping those episodes altogether, was because I didn't want to miss out on the story of Ming Lan's first love, Qi Heng. My heart broke for him. Yes, he's a bit naive but he's a good man and he did all the right thing. I'm satisfied with the ending as he found his good match (who's tragically, in my opinion, much better than the heroine Ming Lan - maybe the writer also secretly doesn't like Ming Lan? Haha). He so deserves it!
But, I can't believe Molan could live "happily ever after" (meaning, not dead nor imprisoned) - she's as bad as her mother. She made sure all of the pregnancies of her husband's concubines/mistresses couldn't survive full term)!
My favourite character in this drama would be Ming Lan's eldest brother, Chang Bai.
Overall, a bit disappointed. The acting of the main characters are good though, so that's why I'm not giving it less than 7.
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First, the characters! Ahh, I live for the character development here! Contrary to my previous expectations, everyone in the drama is fleshed out, flawed, and so very human. From pesky villains to even our beloved protagonists, the show breathes life into them by artfully showcasing the motives behind their actions and allowing characters to be changed from their environment. Also, kudos to everyone who acted in the drama! I can’t count the times I’ve laughed, cried, got angry, and laughed again.
Our female lead Minglan is my ideal protagonist character. Many dramas boast of “strong” female characters, but I have seen few that truly back up their claim. While Minglan may not be physically strong, her temperament, composure, and intelligence is more impressive than any martial arts sequence I’ve seen. Others may choose to directly confront their enemies in a show of valiant bravery. Not Minglan. On the inside, she’s as crafty as fox, but on the outside, she maintains the facade of a dimwitted lamb. Protagonists often remain as static character, but it is quite refreshing to see Minglan mature and learn to confide in others...
And here comes the romance! Please don’t give up on our male lead Gu Ting Ye! You may have your doubts, but he also undergoes a change (a rather drastic one) that will make him a perfect accompaniment to Minglan. Honestly, these two are a match made in heaven. Watching the two on screen always made my heart warm. No cringey teen romance here! With that said, however, don’t focus too much on the romance! It takes a side seat to the plot and characters.
As for the story, I fear I’ll get too excited and just blabber out spoilers, so I’ll just say this. Other have said that the pacing is rather slow, but I feel like it was perfect! No parts were rushed and each scene had a point in the drama. You won’t feel the need to skip at all, so don’t fear the 73 episodes! In fact, I could go watch another 73 episodes lol.
While I love this drama to bits, I won’t say that it doesn’t have any flaws. Minglan does get through her problems a *little* too easily and her villains weren’t as terrible as some others, but other parts of the drama were so outstanding that those points didn’t matter that much to me.
Anyways, congrats to whoever made it this far and bore with my vomit of words. Now, cast away your doubts and go watch Story of Minglan!
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Definitely a must see Drama!!!!!
I finished The Story of Ming Lan last night and my heart feels so full from watching such an amazing drama. I want and need more stories like this. Ming Lan while not perfect by any means was pretty badass and held her own as she grew to become the strong female protagonist of my dreams! Her maturity, loyalty, strong held convictions and cunningness were so refreshing to see in a character. This was my first time seeing Zhao Liying in anything, at first I wasn't impressed at all but like most things you gotta give it time. As time went on, episode 20 at least, I was sold as her being my FL. Midway through and near the end of the drama is where Zhao Liying really stepped into her character and made her shine oh so brightly. Her sweet, innocent smile yet wondering plotting eyes really made Ming Lan come to life.But our ML, Gu Tingye, has now become my favorite ML of any Cdrama I've watched thus far was ::chef kiss:: Can we talk about how cute he was?!!!! Feng Shaofeng has the sweetest smile, sexiest voice and laugh, and I swear he was flirting so hard while in character like O M G yeeesss.
The supporting cast was stellar with some of the best supporting cast acting I've seen. Loved Changbai and petty Roulan 😂😂 but geeez hated Molan, her mama and their evil ass Nanny the most 😡🤬. Grandma Sheng is the MVP of this drama by a mile! Living through that time afforded her the knowledge, skills and know how, to navigate the crazy ish Ming Lan had to go through. Her ability to listen, be empathetic, and understand Ming Lan was remarkable. Little had to be said and she knew what her granddaughter was thinking and feeling. I just wanted to hug her, she's too precious for words.
The bromance between Tingye and Changbai was probably the best friendship I've seen in a long while.! Their loyalty, love and respect they had for each other awe inspiring. But the silliness and trust each shared really catapult ed these two characters. If Youran wasn't so petty and weak he could've experienced it too... lol The sismance between Ming Lan and any of the girls she befriend and her cousins on grandma Sheng's side of the family was so cute and genuine. These two really built their tribe, their friends and true family had their backs when they needed it the most.
Just like the dad in *The Sword and The Brocade*, Papa Sheng was weak and easily manipulated. Ooff he made me so damn mad! I get that his main concern is the entire family but geez, try to have your daughters back just a little!
TSOML's story unfolded so well the mind games was freaking incredible! When you thought it was a simple deed, it was a whole other reason as to why that was said or done and the next steps were far from obvious... The cinematography and lighting really set this drama apart. The nuance in background sounds especially when Big Madam Gu was on the screen really elevated this drama. Just wow, Solid 10/10!
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