The Story of Ming Lan

Cons: -The pace was a bit too slow for my taste.
-It's sometimes easy to lose track of all the different characters. But that's usually the case for most historical dramas so it's not a particularly relevant con.

Pros:-Awesome payoff for each plot line, although it was a bit slow. But the upside is that the conclusion of each arc feels especially satisfying.
-The chemistry and acting of the cast was so good, especially the two leads. I was smiling every time that they were on screen together (which is a rarity from someone who often experiences second lead syndrome).
-Interwoven and detailed plot and a strong protagonist who navigates through the constraints of her time.

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Dropped this and picked it up again - missed nothing. I dedicatedly watched episodes 1-9 and 40-56.

The Story of Ming Lan is not a political drama like Nirvana in Fire or even Story of Yanxi Palace. It's more like a family drama set in a historical era - two good, kind generous people are mistreated by their cruel families. Slowly, eventually after some misunderstandings, they find each other and build a life together.

There is no real overarching plot, just bad act x, counterstrike y, over and over again. The one strength of the drama is the two main lead characters radiate such goodness while also being clever and brave, that you really cheer for them as they try to overcome their bad circumstances.

Acting is really good across the board - you really believe from the main characters to small side characters that they are who they say they are. Music is fine - not particularly remarkable but works.

There might be a scene or two I go back to, but nothing really stands out for a rewatch.

I have other criteria I score by:

Complex Themes - 5
(There are some vague themes on abusive/toxic family dynamics and how to defend yourself whilst maintaining your own moral code - they are not very strong.)
Character Growth -6
(How the main characters relate to each other changes over time in some sweet/interesting ways, but in general the characters are all very fixed and do not surprise)
Nuanced Women -7
(There are lots of female roles in this production, and they often have interesting and complex motives - if rather one note).
Cinematography/Production Values - 7
(Everything is shot in a competent, cinematic type way, but there are only a few basic sets and exteriors, and competent but not particularly exciting costuming)

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"Growth in tough times: How Minglan's wit won me over".

Okay so I dropped this one twice just because the female lead looked like a kid next to the male lead who gave middle-aged man vibes lol.

The start was kinda slow-paced but not boring at all, which made me come back and pick it up again - and I'm so glad I did! This one easily shot up to my top 3 fav dramas.

And I came to love these characters to death! The male lead, who I thought would be just some old man, turned out to be super charming and had great character development. The female lead is my absolute favorite - beautiful, mature, and so witty. I learned a lot from her character and how she tackled every challenge that came her way. I was taking mental notes every time she surprised me with her unique ways of handling difficulties 😂

I was rooting for her so hard!

Loved how Gu Tingye and Granny were always there supporting her though - seriously, poor Minglan needed a break sometimes!

Was so happy when they finally got married! They bring out the best in each other. Total power couple! I miss their chemistry so bad.

Trust me, this series just keeps getting better and better with every episode.

Definitely worth a rewatch!

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A masterpiece and a must watch

A masterpiece.
Truly one of the greatest dramas I’ve ever watched, and easily my all time favourite. I revisit it at least once a year because it’s such a powerful reminder of resilience, family, and overcoming hardship.

The story’s focus on the children born to the main wife, the madam, and the concubine is incredibly compelling. Every character is written with depth and intention. I normally don't pay attention to the villains but after rewatching I really felt their pain.

The acting is phenomenal, the speeches are unforgettable, and it makes such a difference hearing the lead actors use their own voices. The lighting and cinematography are realistic, atmospheric and very immersive (Especially when they are moving around the manor). The line delivery is sharp, the plot makes sense and the character development was a fun ride. Especially for the male lead, he is well written and convincing. I love that he isn’t the typical perfect male lead (or maybe he is with all his flaws); his flaws makes his fall from grace and rise to power even more satisfying.

There was also a decent love line between FL and second male lead. It genuinely made my heart ache.
Also I love granny! So heart warming. An absolute pillar of light and wisdom, everyone needs in their life.

At its core, this drama is a reminder of how difficult it can be to be a woman, yet how much strength, resilience, they can claim for themselves.

"If a persons life is too smooth, they will go blind and deaf. You must be always awake"

I absolutely love it.

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Family feuds, women's and men’s social ambitions. Beautiful production and story!

This drama is one of the best family period dramas I have watched.

Funny enough, around episode 15, I almost quit. I wasn't sure to be able to watch 73 episodes of women's fights. So I fast-forwarded and stopped at the love scenes. Then, I went back to where I stopped to continue the story. The more I watched, the more it became addictive. I think the turning point was when ML explained his strategy to marry her and her true personality came out; No longer a doormat but a very smart strategist knowing inside and out how to survive her family and in-laws. The chemistry exploded on my screen, I was hooked.

This drama is far from being a typical romance drama. It portrays the harsh reality of women's lives, including the hierarchy, jealousy, hate, nasty stepmothers, loving grandmothers, nannies, children, maids, sisterhood, concubines, and complicated relationships with men. The drama also sheds light on the forced marriage, ambitions, and clans, and how men were granted the freedom to have mistresses ranging from prostitutes to bed chambers to concubines, to first spouses, heritage, and succession. Moreover, it highlights how women were conditioned to submit to strict social codes and family hierarchy, and how their lives were tightly supervised.

I was completely engrossed by the transformation of the main female character in the drama. She started as a meek and submissive young woman, but as the story progressed, her true strength and determination were revealed. It was impressive to see how she fought tirelessly for her husband, child, and loved ones. Every aspect of the script was so well thought-out and executed that it felt entirely believable. The attention to detail was exceptional, and it allowed me to immerse myself completely in the past. The film provided an authentic glimpse into how families were structured and how people lived together, following strict rules and structures. Overall, it was an incredibly fascinating experience that left a lasting impression on me.

The love story was a complex and multi-layered tale of two individuals who were deeply in love with each other, but their relationship was plagued with challenges. There were moments of pure cuteness and loveliness, but there were also times when it was enormously frustrating to see them struggle. It was evident that their love was genuine, but it was also clear that they were conditioned by their childhood experiences and societal expectations, which made their relationship complicated. The man was like fire, passionate and intense, while the woman was like ice, calm and collected. Despite their differences, they remained committed to each other, and their love was the glue that held them together. There were a few instances where I chuckled at the adorable moments they shared. However, their story also highlighted the gender-based differences in status and the societal pressures that come with it. Overall, it was a beautifully written story that portrayed the complexities of relationships and the power of love to overcome challenges.

The performance was absolutely stunning! The actors and actresses involved were all seasoned professionals, and their skills were on full display. As always, I found myself completely smitten with the two male leads. It's hard to pick a favorite between them, but the ML was particularly adorable, especially in the way he portrayed his deep love for his spouse.It was crystal clear that respect was the foremost priority, and love was considered an exception.

I easily recognized two highly talented actresses. The first one played the lead role in "Princess Agents" - a drama that I absolutely adored, except for the lackluster finale. The second actress, who played the fifth villain princess in "Love Like the Galaxy", also showcased her remarkable acting skills with a completely different character. I must say, I was thoroughly impressed with both of them! I must emphasize that every actor in the drama was exceptionally great, despite the fact that the male leads were outstanding. The grandmother's portrayal was particularly touching, and it was hard not to have a soft spot for her.

I must admit that I am usually very critical of scriptwriters and directors, but in this case, I must give credit where credit is due. The plot was easy to follow and everything made perfect sense, making it a truly fluid and enjoyable experience.

I was impressed by the thoughtfully chosen music that complemented the atmosphere without being too loud. Additionally, I couldn't help but appreciate the attention to detail put into every aspect of the production, from the intricate houses to the stunning costumes and sceneries. It was truly a feast for the eyes and ears.

This reminds me of other family period stories that I also recommend. They are completely different stories but similar with in-depth conflicts and heavy social hierarchy and rules: “New life begins”, “Royal Feast” and “Chef Hua”.

This drama was very complex and gave me a full overview of how women and men lived and survived.

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First time watching: Feb, 2019 Rewatch: Jan. 2024 Still fantastic!!!!

This is an amazingly well told story about a girl named Ming Lan. Don’t expect a torrid romance; the lead couple’s relationship takes time to develop but, once it does, it gives way to a great fusion of mind and soul. Understanding, and remembering throughout the drama, that Ming Lan grew up holding back her real emotions while cultivating her intellect, will be less frustrating. This drama has everything, from an excellent cast to cinematography, choreography... but what makes this drama great is the way the story evolves and how Ming Lan and Gu TingYe become a powerful force of love and brilliant minds working together, and sometimes, apart. Take your time and be patient because, although the drama can be considered slow paced, every episode really brings out all sorts of emotions. Enjoy it!

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Long episodes, but definitely worth the time

First of all, I have to admit guys, that maybe at some points I have a bias toward Zhao Li Ying. Hahahahahaha! ;p
But for this c-drama I even get to like Feng Shao Feng as well when he was in here --> coz not in his other works. sorryyyyyy \(>.<)/
ZLY have a unique aura (?) and subtle facial expressions that almost could explain a lot (if you try to watch this drama for the 3rd time). You got more and more points from every subtle gestures in every part of the roles (main or support as well). The more you watch, the more you understand this story of a very unique lady to survive in the era.

Sooooo, here it goes!
I almost directly fallen in love with this drama at the 1st time watched. It's either you love it, or hate it, no middle ground here! Trust me! *spoiler* You need to be very patient to understand the plot, but mostly it's not that hard to digest. Don't worry guys! Childhood --> Teenage --> Adult part of Ming Lan will be told here, so be ready to take some notes! haha ^^
The story itself is interesting, to be honest i spent 4days nonstop to watch this, I was hooked. Serious? Nooooooo... not really, if you listen (in this case read the subtitle) carefully, you'll find many funny moments too. A bit long? Yesssss... to get at some points concluded and told, there were no part that can be taken from the story, the editing is quite understandable.
The acting, the actors, the setting, the props, are perfect. But I guess, I just wishing for cdramas to be more real when it comes to special effect of injuries and wounds, they tend to just make it too pretty as you know injuries are not pretty. It's okay to let them be a little messy at some parts, like I got from Ming Lan, When the character sleeps, most of the time they don't even look like they really sleeping (as for the head accessories still intact and the hair is not even a little bit messy). Thank God I don't see it in here, looks natural. Even the interactions between characters are quite natural and understandable, nothing too much. I enjoyed MingLan and Gu Ting Ye's banter so much!!! (>o<) They are so adorable. (Knowing they also dated in real life helps too, although it wasn't last long)

hmmmmmm

What else???


Nothing more to say babes, MingLan is just a story of a woman surviving in the era where women have a difficult social positioning about marriage, before or after the marriage happens. So understand it will be a challenge, be patient and enjoy the show!!

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Excells within the limitations set by its storytelling's purpose

I'll begin by citing the most obvious flaw that might deter most people: The pacing.
The first half moves at a glacial pace, what could've been done in 10 episodes is instead stretched to 20. This first half is more of a slice-of-life ensemble show, we get to meet the different families that we'll follow, we get to see their dynamics within their homes (especially parent-child) and with each other (their place in the hierarchy), the cultural practices and beliefs that dominate this time period and we get to see Minglan as an underdog that hides her skills and intelligence in the name of self-preservation.
Thankfully once the second half starts (marked by her getting rid of those awful bangs), the pace picks up considerably. This is because the playing field has gotten more dangerous and requires bolder moves, and Minglan now has more power and agency to make the moves herself.

Story:
Your standard underdog female character in a harem drama. No surprising twists or deviations that make this drama standout but it is adequately engaging and entertaining.
The FL doesn’t make moves that are too smart or beyond her capability, nor is she gifted a strong plot armor. Similarly, her allies help her with skills and power that is suitable to their status.
The traps set by her enemies are simple enough (which is a positive) but dangerous enough to raise the stakes and create tension.
The ML is also given a good independent story/emotional arc that familiarizes us with him even though his love story with the FL will take a while to unfold.
The ending is a bit rushed.

Themes:
- Parents’ duty towards their children: “If you love your child, you must prepare their future”.
A nice theme to explore in a society that emphasizes filial piety. We see a range of mothers who love their children but have different visions as to what constitutes a good future, sometimes ones that run counter to the desires of said children. The skills and teachings they bestow upon their daughters (and sons) play an important role in shaping these children’s decision-making and their ability to secure a good future.
- The blood thread that ties people together:
We saw many examples of how blood relatives aren’t necessarily a boon or a treasure but often a dead weight and sometimes a malicious existence that forces many of the characters into making decisions that go against what they wish for.
- Women must be kept away from power:
Giving the sheer amount of women that misuse their power and who our "heroes" must stand against, it is hard to call it a coincidental choice on the part of the writers.

Acting:
Every actor delivers a solid performance but the older cast is a standout. The actors who portrayed the grandmother, the father and the main mother are excellent, infusing their characters with much life.
Zhao Li Ying portrays a delightful Shen Minglan, adorable and frail but whose strength and boldness emerge in critical times. The character in the second half retains these characteristics but with a more confident air.
Feng Shao Feng does right by Gu Tingye, giving him the necessary charisma and volatile air this character needs.

Costumes:
I don’t know if they were historically accurate or not (and I rarely care for this aspect) but I thought they did the required job of being consistent enough and lending a “period piece” feel to the drama. I was never impressed however.

Music:
Unremarkable for the most part. I really like “Don’t You Know” by Hu Xia and Yu Kewei though.

By any measure, it is a perfectly decent and entertaining drama with a colorful cast.

Now to the main critique:

Stories like this one are a dime a dozen. I might not have watched many but I have read many. Many mediocre, some average and some even good. Minglan is of the good variety. So it gets a 7 but no more.
My main critique of Minglan is actually a critique of the philosophy underpinning these stories.

A young girl/woman is born into a noble house where the father is neglectful and the wife/concubines are running amok. She is disadvantaged in some manner (dead legal mother, an unfavored legal mother, an unfavored concubine mother, a dead unfavored concubine mother, etc.) and thus is the victim of a grand atrocity committed by one of those rogue harem women. But our heroine is smart and resourceful, talented and special (unlike her half-sisters) so she bides her time, sharpens her claws and awaits the right time to strike and get revenge. She side-steps the traps set for her and thwarts the plans of her enemies. In the meantime, she forms a connection with the ML (usually of bad repute -could be fake or real -, of upper status, has great power and is secretly a devout monogamist who's just waiting for his one true love to commit to) who will marry her and they become a power couple. Together, they take on the other aristocratic families (sometimes even the imperial one), emerge victorious and lead a life of bliss and peace.


If one would pay attention, they will notice that our heroine's enemies are almost exclusively women and she deals them the cruelest of fates. The men, inexplicably, despite being at the top of the power pyramid and whose neglect/unfair treatment leads directly to the death of many women, receive a stern talk at most. All the ire is directed at the women. To make this ire acceptable to the audiences, to make them crave it even, the writers would often opt to portray these women in a manner that is so absurdly detached from their lived reality giving us the audience and our heroine the moral superiority by being “not trouble seekers” and thus justifying the miserable endings of these “bad” women. Whatever fate befalls these “bad” women, they have earned it.

At its very core, it is a patriarchal power fantasy.

Patriarchal storytelling portrays women's evil as an incomprehensible and unique force of nature that they are born with and leads to great chaos unless contained, thus the necessity of keeping women under strict control and subjugated. In these stories, the harem system is a perfectly acceptable and functioning system, it is these women who cause trouble by being irrationally evil. Had they been “good” women, all would have been perfect. This where our heroine steps in, she must straighten them out and get rid of these evil doers! And if your story falls within the benevolent patriarchy territory, you might see your heroine give the men a stern lecture.

The Story Of Minglan is patriarchal. Hell, we even get a mini "false rape accusations ruin men's lives".
Many of the female characters act in an illogical manner and their plans are consistently motivated by inexplicable jealousy.
Concubine Lin killing her mother makes no sense as she is heavily favored with a son and a daughter in tow.
Zhu Manniang’s motivation remains a mystery to me, I initially thought she was spy sent by Gu Tingye’s stepmother but she's not, she's just a hateful and crazy woman who abandons a man who cares for her with no prospects in view, I might have understood if she left him for a richer man but she didn't.
Lady Kang picks up a fight with a married Minglan for no good reason, they have no history nor any ompeting interests with each other. She's just Satan incarnate i guess.
Tingye's stepmother has a seemingly compelling back-story but the writer has no interest in exploring her mindset.
Cong Xing’s concubine doesn’t even try to hide her attempt to murder his wife and unborn child.

It’s one thing to have one or two characters act in an irrational malicious manner, but most of the female cast?!
I suspect the director is aware of these shortcomings, hence the reason all these actresses were asked to deliver the most unhinged-over-the-top-crazy-woman performance that they could manage (and they did very well) so the entertainment value would obscure the terrible writing for these characters.
Further exacerbating this trend, almost every woman who manages to gain some effectual power misuses it in some manner. So the need to strip her of said power becomes a moral imperative. By the end, the men are the only ones in charge.
By contrast, the men are treated as innocent lambs who only commit minor infractions like: being neglectful husbands and fathers, slapping their wives and daughters, being womanizers, visiting legal rape centers (brothels and prostitution houses), letting their daughters suffer at the hands of abusive men, etc. Whatever they might have done, it is nothing that a stern lecture and regretful look can't fix. You are forgiven. The women though? The most hellish punishment.
This is why Molan's ending didn't upset me, if that terrible father of hers gets to live happily ever after, she can at least be forgiven (she's already stuck with that husband of hers which a harsher punishment than most of the men have received).

An attempt at feminist storytelling, in other words one that is rooted in the belief that women are human beings, would have humanized these women. It would have afforded them the dignity of creating realistic events and realistic mindsets that would explain how these humans came to be this way and why they make the choices that they make, however evil they may be. It would not have glossed over the men. At the very least, Minglan would have found a way to punish her father. It is especially egregious when this drama pays lip service to women's pain and how women are positioned to be punished while the men gain it all, only to delight in the destruction of these women. Something that i also want to remark upon is the sheer amount of slurs thrown at women (bitch, slut, whore), it is very unsettling. I don't know if it's a translation choice or original to the story but it's awful.

Minglan is what benevolent patriarchy considers a “virtuous/good woman": A competent woman who saves the worst for the women, lectures the men for not being proper patriarchs who lead their women and keep them from causing chaos, and respects the institution of marriage and harem. For that, she is rewarded with the monogamist ML who loves her so much.
So you see, this is a power fantasy. One for patriarchal women who wish they could play the system and win while not making any effort to buck it. They might make some comments on how women suffer or live unfair lives, but those comments are only said to mask their monstrous loyalty to the system.

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One of the best historical drama

I have to admit taking 4 episodes until the main characters grow up feels too much at first, but it gets so good after that. This is probably the longest drama I ever watched and I don't regret it, I actually wanted more... 70+ episodes and I can watch it again.

I find that it has a balance of dramatic characters in the otherwise tense story of scheming elders and treacherous politics, such as crazy Man Niang who's so pretentious and her initial act in Yu family even makes me laugh. And then there's the concubine who keeps fainting for pity lol

Except for Man Ning being able to steal the boy under his nose, the ML seems to be solid calculative strategist, I wonder just how he didn't watch the kids after rebuking the evil woman, maybe he just didn't expect her to be so evil.

Other than that, it still a drama with bias for the FL and ML being saved by luck / fate multiple times in facing death situations. But I like how consistent the characters are, and they didn't force the romance above all. It also shows how struggling the women in that era against not just gender bias but also legitimate vs concubine born and how Ming Lan used her brain going along with the culture instead of fighting it heads on (except when it involves her mom and grandmother she confronted the enemy plainly). And she did say that she will risk her life for these two, and Gu Ting Ye should be happy to be the third person. I really like this moment as this is when Gu Ting Ye replied her, "How about your future husband?" Turns out he's already aiming for that position back then.

A small disappointment for me is how at the end Mo Lan was still not divorced by the Count even after all her scheming and killing the babies were revealed. And then she found comfort in Shen family welcoming her warmly in the Gu residence.. She better has learnt her lesson then.

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