Not bad
Before proceeding i'll let you know that i watch yanxi palace after ruyi's royal love (different drama with similar focus-the same emperor and era), so i'll admit that i might be biased. That being said, let's start!Yanxi palace tell the story of a palace maid wei ying luo, and her life in the qing imperial palace. It's a palace drama, so you can expect a lot of intrigue and scheming, fortunately for our heroine, she is smart, ambitious, and really got some backbone to survive. For you who are tired with damsel distress then this is the drama for you, the pace is also pretty fast unlike a lot of other costume drama that tend to drag things around, it's good drama for people who aren't used to this genre. All in all i think yanxi palace is quite an entertaining watch. The set and costume (the jewelries!!) are exquisite too, however, i feel like the cinematography is flat and boring, especially compared to ruyi and other drama like winter begonia (same maker). Yanxi palace just like many chinese cotume drama was shot in hengdian studio and the costume design was amazing as well, so i don't think the problem is caused by lack of effort or lack of money. I won't lie and say that i'm an expert, but i guess the lighting and the way they shot yanxi palace is not as dramatic and tasteful as the other two, therefore it doesn't really have the same nuance and grandeur the others successfully created.
The other problem that i have with yanxi palace is the simple writing for the character, wei ying luo is not a typical chinese drama heroine, and yet she's still a mary sue. Every step she makes is perfect and deliberate. I get it that she is the main protagonist, but i feel like in every situation that arise, the external factors really support her. For example, in the earlier episode wei ying luo is discovered by the emperor while punching the so called "spiritual tree", the emperor initially want to punish her, but she weasel her way out by speaking up the reason why she was punching the tree. It's a very simple scene, but if the action wasn't done by her and instead a side character, the emperor probably would't give her a chance to explain it in the first place. Another example would be when wei ying luo tricked one of the noble ladies in the first episode, i think it's a bit unrealistic because it was her first day in the palace, therefore she obviously doesn't know the emperor's character, then how does she know that her trick will works ? What if the emperor turns out to be a frivolous man that care about nothing but beauties, and decided to overlook the tricked noble lady's mistake. The protagonist halo is too strong.
The side characters are also a bit too simplified. i'm not sure whether if they do it accidentally or purposefully to make the main protagonist look even smarter, but everytime the empress have some troubles, there's wei ying luo to smooth the wrinkle. Either way i'm a bit disappointed with the writing, especially because court drama is always a good place to showcase abundant cast and their skill, as well as nice friendship/ally between the court ladies to overcome the antagonist, and they didn't maximize it.
That being said, yanxi palace is still a good drama to watch if you have a lot of time, there are even some impressive lines that i really like. Please don't let my complains immediately damper your will to watch it, as many of the problems that i faced while watching it were caused by my personal preference (and i'm a very nitpicky person).
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70 episodes about palace intrigues and not a single dull moment
When starting Story of Yanxi Palace I wasn't sure about it. Palace intrigues are nice a while, but 70 episodes? And within a harem?But wow! It never ever gets boring! Not one episode I stalled, om tje contrary Iwas binge-watching it until the very end.
It's mainly the story about a sister (Wei YingLuo) who enters the palace as a maid to discover what happened to her sister, who died. She will go through many hardships throughout the series while trying to climb the ranks within the forbidden city.
The -:
I can't name any.
I will just state that you won't have any action-scenes (no fights, only perhaps small hand to hand fights). And if you watch for Xu Kai alone, don't, he is not the main character.
I was a little annoyed by the constant background music during conversations, but it's ok.
I didn't like the way they aged the men during the last few episodes, those beards were ridiculous.
One character was forgotten (a son).
As you see, I'm really being petty just to find some "-".
The +:
The storyline is incredible! How is it possible to write this many episodes of intrigues without getting boring? I'm still amazed by this fact.
The actors are amazing. The growth of all the characters is well depicted and each actor lived up to his role.
You get to know the life of the servants as well as the consorts and concubines.
The story contains heartbreaking scenes as well as happy moments, so as to leave you with a good feeling after each storyline.
All over all, this is more than just worth watching.
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Stayed up 5 nights to finish this
I had heard of this drama but had put it off because you have to be in a certain mood to watch 70 episodes of anything. But i was so caught off guard by the strength of female lead. I’m typically a romance drama watcher but this one sucked me in. The relationships of the cast with each other were so well developed. The development of each of the harem’s motivations was deep. The lines are beautiful and i just loved Wei Ying Luo. I loved her strength of character, her intelligence, her resoluteness, and i loved watching her and the Emperor’s relationship. I wish i had gotten just a few more moments with her and Fuca Fuheng. :)Was this review helpful to you?
A detailed production (I especially love the costumes) and a satisfying if bittersweet ending help make this a worthy binge watch and re-watch.
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Do not give this a miss!
Yanxi is a drama that needs to be rated 10/10 in my must-watch drama list. I am usually not drawn to overrated shows because they will turn out to be under whelming as compared to the public response, but I am super thankful that I didn't give Yanxi a miss because everything about this show is beautiful.Yanxi is one of those typical harem politics show where women fight for love, ranks, etc. EXCEPT with the twist of a badass female lead that is smart and very good at adapting to different situations. I believe smart female leads are not rare in chinese shows but Wei Ying Luo (FL) is extremely quick-witted. This makes it so fun to watch how she survives in different environment, be it with the maids or even the emperor. Just when you thought she is defeated, SHE IS NOT.
We also watch her romance with Fuheng which explores the other side of her personality. I love their relationship so much (although it's meant to break my heart at the end.. ). I would say if you're looking for a show that has a huge part of romance, then this show is not for you.
FINAL VERDICT: if you want to watch a never-say-die female lead, satisfying show where evils are punished, pls watch! i wouldn't give this a miss :)
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A must watch drama
Love this drama..it is very interesting story through start to end. Never a dull moment . The characters had done their job performance perfectly. The acting of each and everyone is very good. I love ying Lou how she played character . And had taken her revenge on who has hurts her and her love ones . I really like how much she loved the empress and being faithful to her . And the last how she had promise to take care of FUHENG in the next life. I love the empress how sweet she is and faithful to the king and holds the sense of justice .. many people will think that she is too soft and don't know what's happening but actually she knows .and the emperor was good to being an emperor we just can't accept him to be perfect because he being the emperor must be have tyrann symptoms. FUHENG being the sweetheart how much he loved the Ying Luo and protected her and their love is sweetest . I really recommend to watch thisWas this review helpful to you?
a piece of art
An extraordianary drama, an absolute must-watch. The actors give an outstanding performance, even the samaller side characters. The main leads are perfect for and in their roles. Kudos to the screen writer Zhou Mo, who succeeded in showing the roles and fates of women in this era. Their only purpose to serve the family and the system put up by men, to give birth to continue the bloddline, to be obidient, to behave undoubtedly chaste in general and at the same time be alluring to their spouse, who normally has been chosen for her. The same chackles of the system apply to men who have more freedom but still cannot overcome the pressure of the society. The actors spoil the audience with breathtaking expressions of their feelings and the main leads are owning their characters to perfectness. The directors supply us with beatiful takes and scenery, the costumes are splendid. Although being a source of heartbreak for the audience it was an absolute joy to view this performance. KUDOSWas this review helpful to you?
Yanxi Palace
- Characters are all unique, with their own personalities.- The plot twists are amazing.
- Some episodes are heavier and harder to watch than others.
- Every episode is unique, having their own climaxes.
- The music gets the suspense going.
- ITS LONG (70 EPISODES?!?!)
- It's hard to rewatch 70 episodes. (Unless you're really into it.. )
- The clothing and embroideries as well as the infrastructure of the set is amazing.
- Some comedic value.
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This review may contain spoilers
I was initially hesitant to watch this drama due to its length—70 episodes felt quite overwhelming. However, with quarantine leaving me with little to do, I eventually decided to give it a try.In my opinion, the drama is somewhat overrated. I did not find anything particularly exceptional about it, and much of the storyline felt unrealistic. Viewers who prefer more grounded and traditional narratives may find this series lacking.
I did enjoy the first quarter of the show, particularly the early scenes where YL stood up to the bullying seamstresses. Unfortunately, the plot soon became increasingly implausible—especially the way she frequently spoke back to the emperor without facing any real consequences. The level of plot armor surrounding WYL was excessive, and the story began to feel repetitive and tedious.
In terms of performance, I found the lead actress unconvincing. Many of her scenes came across as cringeworthy, and I struggled to feel any emotional connection to the characters.
That said, the costume design was impressive and one of the few redeeming qualities of the show.
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This review may contain spoilers
I have this weird love-hate with this series. Despite its flaws, it’s still one of the better palace intrigue stories out there. So I put it on my “guilty pleasure list” and endure the bad for the sake of the good. To start with the good, this has all the elements of the addictive story. You see many nasty palace denizens plotting against our heroine, Wei Yingluo. Just when you think Yingluo is trapped, she turns the table on her enemies and knocks them down ten notches. It’s very gratifying to watch, especially when it cycles along at a steady pace, using a formula that feeds into the addiction center of our brains.
The near fatal flaw with this series is its absurdity. Case in point, Yingluo exacts revenge on a consort by throwing molten iron on her. Someone else adds fecal water to the iron so it will infect her wounds, ensuring to a slow and painful death. Since bacteria could not possibly survive in molten metal (a thousand plus degrees temperature here), the entire scheme is ridiculous. Equally ridiculous is the lighting rod scheme that struck the right person at exactly the right time. These are the kind of things that defy logic and insult the viewers’ intelligence. But we can still enjoy the show, as long as we accept it for what it is: mindless entertainment.
Years from now, people will still remember the show for its costumes. The muted color palette is very pleasing to the eyes. The traditional kingfisher feathers, velvet flowers, and the embroideries are beyond beautiful. The designers create a very distinctive look and authentic feel that sets this far apart from any other Qing era series. The set pieces are luxurious, too, although some of the rooms look sterile and not lived-in.
Notable performances are from Qin Lan and Charmaine Sheh. Qin Lan has depth as the gentle, virtuous empress who is actually broken on the inside. Charmaine is a master at facial expressions and the slightest shift in her smile alone can convey so many different emotions. Her Xian Fei is technically the main villain, but she is extremely sympathetic. I find myself rooting for her half the time, simply because life is cruel to her and she has to be cruel to survive.
The weakest link here is our leading lady, Wu Jinyan. She is given an interesting character, one that is clever and loyal, but with a ruthless streak. She comes across as this reckless girl who shows an attitude to her masters and pushes the boundaries of rules and etiquettes. In the strict Forbidden Palace, this attitude would get her killed a thousand times over. I have a hard time believing she’s that lucky or smart enough get away with it every time. Wu herself doesn’t have much range or subtlety to her acting. When she tries to act playful, it comes off as stilted. Worse, she has “dead fish eyes,” eyes that are large but mostly expressionless. However, she does look unique in period clothing and seems to have potential. Charmaine was awful in her first series, too, and look how far she came now.
The men’s acting are fine, nothing memorable in a story dominated by women. Fu Heng is your stereotypical second male lead who loves our heroine devotedly and unconditionally, as if there are no other good woman in the world. I’m glad they didn’t make Qian Long a jerk or a fool easily manipulated by his wives.
So after watching so many women fighting over one guy, we have to ask: which of his wives does Qian Long really love? No one, I suppose. As Qian Long himself said, his father trained him to be good ruler, and a good ruler cannot rule with his heart. He was raised not to care much about any woman. That’s why he greatly favors Yingluo, because she is the only wife who does not demand his love. She puts no pressure on him and does her best to amuse him. She asks only for gifts and favors - things at are easy for him to give. Does that cheapen their relationship? No, because there is real affection there. For Yingluo, the emperor represents the practical, while Fu Heng represents the ideal. You can marry a Qian Long, but good luck finding a Fu Heng in real life. That man only exists in dreams.
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One of the Greatest TV character ever made
The name Wei YingLou sent shivers in the hearts of people in the forbidden city. She turned that city on its head. She wrought havoc and avenged her sister. She came into the palace with a mission and boy was she laser focused on that mission. Everything on her part was annihilated. She knew who she was. She wore it like a badge of honor and made no freaking apologies for who she was.Wei YingLou is IMO one of the greatest TV character ever made anywhere in the world.
I freaking loved everything about her character.
And boy oh boy that lightening striking scene was beyond iconic.
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BUTTKICKING FEMALE LEAD
AMAZING!!! The main female lead is a total badass and fracking awesome. She is scheming and so smart. She is one of the type of political figures that started from the bottom (literally the bottom of society) and climbs her way up while knocking her competitors flying. She is fierce when someone tries to harm who she loves and she never forgets nor forgive. Ultimately, she gives the audience a guaranteed protagonist character that everyone will love and root for. She is cunning and clever and remains so until the end (doesn't magically become "dumb" like a lot of dramas that need the male lead to come and rescue). Of course we all miss the characters that didn't make it. All the actors were incredibly talented, especially the villains. The convincingly pull watchers into the story and truly invoke really emotional responses. HIGHLY recommend (if you can pull through bc it is quite long).Was this review helpful to you?
