Enjoyable...with some skipping
OVERALLThis drama is really the prototype of "slice of life". Watch it if 1) you like dramas with a mature feel, 2) you're looking for a fun couple and cute lover antics, 3) you're a fan of character development. Think twice if 1) you can't stand a drama with no main plot, 2) you easily find small holes in plots and that annoys you, 3) you are expecting a FL like the one of Yanxi Palace.
THE STORY
I feel like this drama is very niche. Only the true fans of slice-of-life series will appreciate all of it. I'm not one of them...so I could only watch it with consistent fast-forwarding. On the plus side, it's gorgeously done and feels very mature and natural. No childish, quirky background music like in many historical C-dramas. No slapstick comedy or in-your-face jokes. THAT I like A LOT. It takes ages before the OTP gets going, but when it does, you fall for it. The romance is definitely the best of the show, not just because they have fun scenes or they're cute, but because there is some relationship growth (which almost never happens in dramas). I wish the drama had spent more time on it! FL is depicted as a mature, smart, strong character, and the best part is that we really get to see her evolve throughout the drama, resolving traumas she has due to her upbringing. There's really a lot to like about Story of Minglan.
But, but, but...it's WAY too long. I understand why the drama includes certain parts (to set up the character development), but many of them could have been much shorter - like maybe 2-3 episodes long instead of 10-15. Honestly, apart from the first 5 episodes or so (which are fast-paced because they're about childhood events), I almost get the feeling that the story only begins around episode 30. That's nearly halfway through the drama! If you know anything about storytelling arc, that's like spending half of your story on the exposition/introduction! It's too much. Something else that bothers me about Story of Minglan is the obvious decline of FL after her marriage. As a single girl, she's smart and cunning, always five steps ahead of others, but as a married woman, she can't even see what's in front of her and constantly needs the help her husband *sigh*. There are smaller issues with the drama, such as some aspects that seem unbelievable, some repetitive lines or the very unsatisfying ending scene (the ending isn't bad per say, it's just kind of random?), but these two are the most serious problems in my opinion. If you're fine with the pace and the decline of FL, the drama is definitely worth you giving it a try.
THE ACTING
I heard FL and ML were played by a married couple. That explains a lot haha I didn't feel that there was chemistry between the leads but they looked comfortable and natural with one another and that's what sold the couple. Individually, I liked her more than him. Minglan goes through hell, and because Zanilia is expressive, she really makes you feel that. Secondary cast was also quite good, especially Minglan's legitimate mom. I just have a problem with the villains. It's just so stereotypical the way they act, I don't like it - but I'm sure it was on purpose and isn't a reflection of their acting ability.
THE MUSIC
Mild and fitting background music. Cute opening too. There's nothing I'll listen to now that the drama is over, but I was digging how music was so scarce, and you had lots of scenes with only silence or ambient sounds in the back. Such a breath of fresh air, when compared to the excess of sound we get in many dramas!
REWATCH VALUE
Completely? Not very high. I think I will definitely go back to this drama but I'll skip the first 1/3 and start when the real action begins...and even then, there'll be skipping involved. That's the problem with slice of life. Since it's not a story, but just a collection of episodes in someone's life, you don't necessarily care about all of them.
Was this review helpful to you?
A masterpiece
This was one of the first cdramas I watched. The number of episodes intimidated me at first but I’m so happy I decided to watch regardless.The storyline is amazing, it’s slow paced but it doesn’t feel like the drama is dragging. All the actors played well and the love story was just beautiful. Watching this feels like a real historical life of upper class. The acting is mature, the script is amazing, the costumes are beautiful and so on. I don’t usually rewatch dramas but this one is definitely one that deserves to be watched a few times. A solid
10/10.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I love Zanilia and William, and how cute that they are now married and pregnant! This drama isn't very "action packed" if you're looking for Zanilia to do stunts like you've seen her do in Princess Agents. It's more like Lu Zhen if anything, she can speak her way out of any issues! This one is not really "palace intrigue" but details the life of a middle-class (can you even classify them as that?) and their struggles with rankings (Main wife, 2nd wife, 3rd wife, etc) and their children's struggles trying to "find their place." Sadly, Ming Lan grows up in a house where her mom is a lower-ranked wife/mistress and they are not treated nicely by the main and 2nd wives. There is a lot of plotting from the mothers down to the daughters!
The romance part of the drama doesn't really kick in right away, but we pretty much root from Zanilia & William since they're kids (well I did!). It doesn't get lovey-dovey until the end where he claims his love for her. But still so intriguing to watch it from beginning to end.
Overall, I liked this drama and I thought they were cast so well to play a couple!
Was this review helpful to you?
This show is amazing
Originally I dropped the show around episode 8 because I couldn't understand why the show to some were awesome. But, I came back to it after I had nothing else to watch and I'm so happy I did! The show (without going into too many spoilers) have the best plot and subplots that weave into each other without being too cliche. The fact social hierarchy, gender, and family name matters in the story is great as it shows how some things back then just couldn't happen. Also, what I liked was that the FL was no pushover! She was smart and let people walk into her trap by letting someone else be manipulated into doing it on their acord. The romance is good as well; love the ML.Was this review helpful to you?
The characters executed their roles brilliantly. You know you are good when your character is hated. I hated Big Madam Gu. If I could get in there and slap her face myself I was willing to do it. But her evil plot was foiled.
The main couple had good chemistry, their relationship was very real, with a range of human emotion.
This drama is a win, the costumes and the dishes were fantastic and modern. the modes of transportation looked precarious and small.
The plot was comprehensive, well written, no dragging or going around in circles. I didn't like the music too much, it didn't add anything to the overall plot or general ambiance of the drama.
Overall I loved this drama and will definitely be watching again.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
huahhhh... finally i finished it!! i'm glad Ming Lan ended up with Gu Ting Ye!! They look cute when together!! When smart people end up with smart people HAHAHHAAA...I hope as newly weds, both of them can share love and happiness together forever in real life!! Congratsss!! so happy for you both!!
I love when GTY helped ML, it's mean to be destiny!
Zanilia Zhao as Ming Lan and William Feng as Gu Ting Ye is the best couple!!!
When i have time i will re-watch this drama......
okay, let's move to another drama!!!!! Asssssssssssaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I was always trying to avoid watching this because I felt that it was too long. But by the tym I reached episode 30 I knew that 73 episodes was not going to be enough.The story started out slow for me but once I got into it I finished the whole drama in 5 days. Minglan is such a loveable girl and honestly I never saw her with second uncle to begin with but I was proven wrong. The schemes with 4th sister OMG and that mother of hers I wanted to scratch their faces.
And the at first mistress of 2nd uncle I knew as he was trouble from that gentle pretense she did but I thot she was going to rily be a concubine then reek havoc. Man did she reek havoc that one. Great actress.
I loved how 2nd uncle finally won her over and she gradually fell for him.
This drama was just good on so many levels that they are not enough words to describe it. One of the best dramas I have watched.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The beginning definitely drags and I wasn’t fully hooked until maybe episode 30 but this is only because I like watching dramas where the lead couple gets together and tackles situations together which is exactly this drama! Strong female lead with a strong male lead! The romance isn’t the best but the story definitely adds on to its effect. Everything that our leads have gone through makes me really happy that they were able to get their happy ending. I just hope there was more to their happily ever after since the whole time our main leads were just trying to survive. Was this review helpful to you?
The acting is superb and everything about the production looks very authentic and you would feel as if you were there in that period. It has many well developed characters and is worth a second viewing
Was this review helpful to you?
Fortunately there is a good cast and interesting characters, otherwise this wouldn’t work at all. But the cast of characters is so large that sometimes it takes half a scene before I figure out who they are. The romance is very slow-burn, but fun. The court intrigue is long and complex. The harem drama is among prominent families not the Emperor, but it’s no less bloody and scheming. A few bad guys are so over the top, you do wonder why ANYONE helps them.
If you’re in the mood for a luxuriously paced saga about a few families (with somecourt intrigue and fighting thrown in towards the second half), this is a good option.
Was this review helpful to you?
Updated Review at the bottom
The first two episodes will draw you into the storyline. Afterward, I just felt my life slipping away and could not bear to finish the series. First, there is no sever mistreatment that Minglan receives from her family, just pettiness. I would almost say it's very similar to Cinderella, her step-mother, and step-sisters. The antagonists are not sinister, just annoying and petty. Deal-breaker: There are many episodes of two characters talking almost half or three-fourths of the episodes with nothing exciting or essential that would genuinely help the development of the story. Honestly, you can fast-forward frequently and still get the gist of it all. I love historical plots, but this isn't it. It's hardly a romance. I would place it under the light romance category. I truly do not want to add any spoilers, but again some conversations last too long and scenes that could have ended within the first several minutes. This series could have completed within 20-30 episodes. It's painful to watch at times.Also, I don't know what was going on with the background music... It just added to my frustration. SMH. I was rooting for this series. Maybe I'll come back around to it after I've cultivated a few months. It sucked at least 5 hours out of me.
***I'll update when I have viewed the entire series.
During the quarantine, I did finish this series. The main characters' chemistry together melted my heart. It took a while, but I grew on me. Everything came to full circle.
Was this review helpful to you?
