Sheng Minglan a concubine born daughter used her own wits to survive and gets revenge on the evil who tries to either frame her or her loved ones. She’s a very loyal and devoted character and Zanilia perfected Minglan. William feng perfected the unruly, stubborn, playboy, but deep down caring, loyal, and smart.
Gu Tingye and Sheng Minglan literally is a match made perfect character we get to see their growth to their devoted self for each other.
Minglan was first cowardly due to circumstances in her family since she’s a concubine born daughter but we get to see her growth from small little schemes to bigger plans like getting revenge.
Gu Tingye a playboy that is pretty unruly due to the bad influences and his father not trusting him but later as get met Minglan he became and overall better person. Although he was a good person to begin with he never really showed or even cared to refute the lies/schemes that were made about him. Although it is not the fastest show but one of the most intricate plots I’ve ever watched!
As said before all characters in here perefected their roles the one that we were shown on how evil, smart, loyal, devoted, caring, loving these characters can be. Some will be hated while there are others that we viewers will be cheering on throughout the story.
Music isn’t that good nor memorable but it’s okay.
Overall I would 100% recommend this show minglan to anybody and everybody. It’s a solid 10/10 one of the best show I’ve watched this year 2019.
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Life's Lessons Learned in a Well-told Story
Yes, 73 (on Viki) but really 78 (?) episodes are long.Yes, you've been burned by long episode cdramas before and have been burned, so you're wary.
Yes, it's a 10 star story line acted so perfectly by so many actors.
Yes, it is worth it.
* edit* OMG, this story will STICK with you, wow. I came back to edit my review after I thought, "no way am I rewatching something this long" when rating it with a rewatch value of 2 stars right after I watched it. Sadly, I then went from snack drama to fancy drama to heavy drama and couldn't find anything as almost perfect as this story-wise so guess what? I started rewatching it. The MC just slaaaay this thing, guys. Oh, by the way: I don't think this was dubbed, which makes it feel more authentic to me somehow.
I won't give a synopsis since other reviewers have done so well already BUT I wish I knew a couple of things going in, so here goes...
1) Yes, there is a romance but it's more of a love story that grows as the characters grow together so it doesn't start until after episode 30.. Since both the ML & FL's characters are complex and unique, the first half of the drama explores the experiences that shape their perspectives and world-views before they start their household together in the 2nd half. His pursuit of her is really cute because of how he handles/massages/coaxes her into accepting him.
Some people compared it to P&P but aside from the social climbing & backstabby gossip mongering of drawing room witty repartee, I don't see any Austen here. Maybe the fact that it satirizes the prestige of social class & snobbery with & between families, marriages included, okay sure. But that's about it. The ML is not a tsundere--actually the FL is the one w/the uncrackable cold exterior. Both characters are strong, intelligent, independent-minded individuals who are also courageous, tenacious and refuse to shirk responsibilities. They are both pretty awesome in their own right. Even better? The ML recognizes the absolute GEM that our FL is early on but has circumstances and then reasons for not pursuing her until later. (I'll be honest: I didn't like him for her at first but that's only because they weren't right for each other then & hadn't figured themselves out yet; there was an ick factor in his background for me but I understood how he needed to learn from that experience, so I rolled with it but it was pretty painful. Ack.) By the end of the drama, you felt like they were formidable either together or apart. A serious power couple. I didn't find the romance super compelling (little to no wooing since he kinda master-minded their marriage) but I liked their relationship a lot & thought they were a great bonded couple once they got married.
2) You might get bored in the beginning but STICK WITH IT. The reason why you spend so much time in Ming Lan's childhood home at first? To get to know the people that teach her the difficult life lessons that seem to reoccur later in Ming Lan's life. The ones that roll and twist you through dialogue and action like an ever-churning whirlpool. You're slowly getting sucked in, okay? The story is sooooo well written. You have to settle in and just wait for it to build all of these layers in each of the characters, so it just feels slow at first because it IS. Just have faith & pay attention because the eventual pay-off is worth it. Once you hit episode 30ish, you will want to have a weekend to kill off the last 40 episode---yes, the rising action & climax of the show is that perfect that you don't want to tear yourself away from watching it unfurl in one long arch. The tie-up is perfect, too. No loose ends. Each of these characters were so well-crafted that I was never tempted to skip (well, maybe a couple of times tbh) & because the story really is about Ming Lan & HER family (which also later becomes her & her husband's family as well) you have to watch through so much of the earlier interactions to understand how everyone is interconnected.
3) Everyone's acting is bad a**. I am seriously impressed with so many actors & actresses here. The crazy women are realistically batsh*t crazy & as antagonists, terrifyingly unrepentant. They were crafted with just as much love as the protagonists and so they are just as complex. I would say this drama has a powerhouse of female actresses killing it in so many different ways. Every character that was close to Ming Lan had a point of view that was so understandable I developed some empathy for them. Even the most hateful ones, which was unexpected.
4) The story is well-detailed and rich, like a tapestry. Layers upon layers upon layers. It is enjoyable just for the fact that it's a seriously well-told story. Once I committed to Ming Lan's story, I didn't feel the need to cheat on her. I didn't hop back to watch another show I had started and stopped or felt like I needed to take a break with something else for a while. Once this story catches you, you are just along for the ride. For some it may be earlier than Episode 35, but at that point you really can't stop yourself from hitting "next" over and over again because you can't wait to see what's going to happen, oh-my-gosh what are these characters are going to do & how the antagonists are going to get their just desserts in the end. Because they do! Karma smacks the serious sh*t outta them. It's SUCH a smart show, too!!!!
Music was decent. Really just a couple over played songs but at times employed effectively.
**Edit** I've already gone and rewatched this when I REALLY didn't think I would. I kinda missed them. *sniff* So....yeah, I originally thought I would rewatch from episode 53 on (when it really picked up action-wise) but I ended up rewatching from the start of the love story, around episode 30ish.
Basically...
Yes, you should watch it. ;p
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It has such a comforting flow of events. Everything is thought out. You start feeling like you're in there with the characters.
The episodes don't feel dragged even though there are sooo many episodes. In the end you'll just wish that there were more episodes. I miss them sooo much😭😭
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This review may contain spoilers
The Story of Ming Lan - Review
The Story of Ming Lan - one of ZLY's best dramas. The story is smart, has a great message, and great script. Some of the lines, especially Ming Lan's are really wise, and like quotes. about life about everything. It's a long series, with 73 episodes, but i didnt get bored of it. I'ev watched it 3 times and still find it so wise and interesting. the proper male lead doesnt properly come in until nearly halfway through the series, and they dont actually have any intimacy until the last 20ish episodes, but there is so much going on at the same time, but i can still easily understand it. I dont know how the director did it.Was this review helpful to you?
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Stunning story and acting one of my all time favorites!
Let me first say before going into the details that this drama is recommended by me and I'm 100% sure you would rewatch it if you have time.Music:
I don't have to say specifically what parts of the music were nice and where there were nice 'cause without a doubt all the composing and directing was beautifully done. The music matched perfectly with the scenes which was simple yet elegant, allowing you to feel and understand a lot about the culture of that time alone. It did not have too much of the factor that most music have nowadays, which is used to attract the younger generation or the audience of ages 20-30, which made the whole drama and itself more distinguished and refined.
But of all the music present in the entire drama I especially loved the opening OST. And after experiencing all of it yourself you too will love it.
Story:
The story moved perfectly even during the time skips, the way it transited from one year to another was done effortlessly and did not show or allow myself to ask questions such as How many years has it been? Did the years change? Was that all a flashback? etc which I feel curious about in such transiting moments.
The plot was of full of entertainment in terms of comedy, romance, politics and life. But to say it depicted life, it cannot be considered, as it was still a bit romanticized to call it as such and had elements that can't sometimes be considered to be present in all lives. But it was still a very good depiction.
Though the drama was lengthy and had over 78 episodes it neither felt dragged or over written.
It showed the life of the people of that time, the politics, how a family was run and all the problems faced by a woman at that time. It didn't feel heavy or tiring in the middle of the program and there weren't many unnecessary misunderstandings which made the plot flow properly with a clear picture and wasn't confusing some parts.
The whole story revolves around The FL's family mainly and also the other two ML's families, didn't feel rushed and showed a vivid picture of sacrifice and the trials that one family faces in those times.
I especially loved the relationship between the FL(ming'er) and her grandmother specifically the part of Sheng Ming lan (FL) marrying Gu Ting ye, the way her grandmother cried out tears got me myself crying along with her which was very heart touching moment and showed how mush she cared for Ming lan (FL). The FL found solace in her grandmother, though not her own biological one but acted as one in her heart, as she lost her mother at a very young age. I also loved how the FL's father always concedes to his legitimate wife. These added more heartwarming scenes and comedic factors to the whole of the story. I didn't feel pressurized when watching it which was another point that rather made me appreciate the whole work as most of the other dramas just have me worried and anxious so it felt nice for a change to watch something with a pleasant and a subtle storyline.
After watching the whole drama I found myself pairing both the MLs (Ming Lan and Gu Tingye) but to my surprise they're actually married in life too!
And of course like the other dramas that I've seen this too has a happy ending.
Acting& Characters:
Now I don't have to say much more about the acting, from what I've stated above I can conclude that both the acting and characters were written and acted perfectly. This added the show another charm that most dramas don't have.
The dramas nowadays released focus more on the MLs in the entire show and don't give a platform for the supporting roles and cast to showcase their characters more vividly and in depth or just don't show the importance of them regardless of whether it was intentional or not. When I found this point in this drama I observed it had more people liking it including the audience that most dramas couldn't reach out to.
The participation of most of the cast in the story gave it a feeling of more in depth and detail ness that made it seem complete and enjoyable.
Overall it was an elegant yet simple story and wasn't overbearing and is definitely a classic in my watchlist!
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I understand the appeal but it just wasn't for me
There was such a dissonance between the story and the actors. Did the director and casting unit not read their own script before congregating 40-year-old actors to play the role of boys on the cusp of manhood? I could forgive most things but this one issue completely drew me out of the story. To compound that, wardrobe choices in the first half had the men in ill-fitting clothing and atrocious hair pieces. Again, that diluted the authenticity of the story.The best part about this was watching the family dynamic, especially Minglan's relationship with her grandmother. So precious. Likewise, Ming's sizzling relationship with Gu Tingye in the second half. So hot. Yet, even these couldn't offset the evil that permeated the entire story. It was too much and it dragged on for far too long. Yes I know, the villain is very villainy but did we need to see her repeat the same playacting over the course of 40 or more episodes?
Did we need all that back and forth at the Gu mansions? Did we need to see the minutiae of their daily lives, especially the ubiquitous eating? Did the characters in the Sheng family have to speak obliquely when they all could have benefitted from some showdowns and home truths? Minglan's father was such a waste of space and to think three women were actually fighting over him. Why would Tingye risk the lives of Minglan and his children just to save the Emperor? Have the heavens fallen?
Seventy-three episodes is a lot no matter how lovely or compelling the story and sadly this drama was unconvincing.
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It took me 4 tries to finish the Story of Minglan
For the life of me, I found the first 20 episodes or so to be boring and unoriginal. But the drama started to be enjoyable midway and seriously, I was glued to my screen then. I dropped this drama like three times before reaching the ending, but I can say that the Story Ming Lan is arguably one of the best Chinese Dramas I've watched. First of all, the soundtrack and filmography are just *chef kiss* and the editing is seamless. The leading actors are top-tier, and the other cast members are just as good. The sluggish start may be a deterrence, but I'm glad I pushed through it.Was this review helpful to you?
Gets more interesting around ep 16
I have rewatched episodes from 16 to end multiple times after finishing the drama the 1st time. The first 16 episodes were too slow and the villains (evil concubine and daughter) were too annoying for me. So this is one of the few dramas where I skipped to future episodes after watching first 1-2 episodes, and then came back to watch the earlier episodes I skipped (to understand the plot better).My favorite parts were the polo matches, FL's relationship with her grandmother, FL's relationship with her friend (wife of ML's general friend in latter episodes), scenes where FL solved problems for empress, and when FL/ML started living at their own place/FL running her own household.
Others were confused that FL appeared not to notice/understand ML's feeling for her right away. IMO, she knows how ML feels for her, but also knows that feelings can be fleeting and may not be enough for a relationship to last. She was guarding her heart so she would not be devastated if the worst happened.
I loved the interactions between the FL and ML. Sad to see that it didn't last for them in real life.
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Beautifully written story line and superb actors
The story of Ming lan is a historical masterpiece. The story line is beautifully written. It’s not just about the mundane type of plot but is like a combination of a lot of exciting situations. From the first episode, the continuation of the plot through to the other episodes was steady and flowing. It had me on my toes! The female lead is one of my favorite actresses. She was perfect for the role. I love how they portrayed her as strong and intelligent. This is no doubt my favorite historical drama!Was this review helpful to you?
I Mean It's Such Amazing Drama.! Story Is the One of Greatest I ever Watch In Dramas In Asia.! I glad They Pair Willim feng/Zanilia Zhao Cause They Really Fits This Character at least for me.! Their Chemistry Is Out Of This World.! Ofcauae It is Since they r married in real life.! also for Those Who Says It's Slow drama or boring.! They R worng cause Few eps later from Ep 5 its gets keep getting better and better! U will Love it.! as I did.! Don't Hesitate Just Watch The Masterpiece.! and U will Never Regret.!
I LOVED THIS BEAUTIFUL/SWEET MASTERPIECE.! ??
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After the hype, I was underwhelmed
I have heard about this series since I started watching CDramas about 3 years ago. I tried twice, and this time got farther than 2 or 3 episodes and managed to watch the entire series. I like these long dramas - you can get invested in the characters, and be immersed in the story which has time to explore many arcs and aspects. The story itself was interesting enough for me to keep watching till the end. It was hard for me to keep track of the characters (who were not main characters) but whose story arcs got thrown in for some reason or another. Brother this one, cousin that one, fourth, second, eighth, you get my drift... that was a bit confusing at times. Then the little plot holes that had people coming in and out for no apparent purpose, and then left us wondering what happened to them in the end (especially when they deserved some comeuppance).I really gave the drama a chance because I had just watched FSF in Shining Just for You - and I liked him in that one, and I liked him in this one too. His character took a little getting used to, but he played it well. He (and so many of the other actors) played their roles so well that you liked the ones you liked and despised the villains. I found myself yelling at the screen when characters like Minglan's father and stepmother were on - and Gu Tingyu's stepmother (probably the most evil character in this). Some characters could have been developed a little more - and a little more attention to other relationships would have been better than the boring court/minister scenes and the battle/war scenes. A lot of time was wasted on the concubine's fawning on Father Sheng - and his stupid obsession with the family reputation. Same with his wife's obsession with petty revenge and spite. Still, it made for emotional watching - even if that emotion was disgust and frustration.
The chemistry between the ML & FL lead was obviously there given their real-life situation (which sadly ended). But I have never been a big fan of Zhao LiYing. She did a much better job in showing her emotions in this one, but she's just not high on my list of actors (apologies to ZLY fans). I loved the characters Grandma Sheng and Nanny Chang. Loved Shitou and Chang Bai.
It was hard to digest the conditions that women endured in that era - always hard to watch because these roles are based on historical facts. But I know that these are stories, not real life. Still makes for a lot of mixed reactions.
I enjoyed the series. Hope for another long drama soon. However, wouldn't re-watch this. After a while I was fast-forwarding through some of the scenes which I thought were repetitious and unnecessary, or when a character came on who I didn't know or recognize - but realized had a side-story that really wasn't important to the main story.
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