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Almost Excellent, Ultimately Good
It’s a good drama. There were many moments when I thought it would be excellent, but after watching it all and reflecting, I’d say it ultimately remains just good.The protagonist works well for the story. I like strong and intelligent FLs, and while she’s not exceptional, she fits the drama and carries it competently.
The MLs are interesting too. Fuheng is very handsome and has an idealistic spirit, but he’s too weak to truly fight for the FL. Honestly, I’m grateful they didn’t end up together, ever since he failed to help her solve her sister’s murder, I knew that relationship wouldn’t work. The emperor, on the other hand, is average. I don’t find him particularly compelling as an ML, but he isn’t a problem either.
But! The best ML of all (though not for the FL) is Hailancha. My boy is beautiful, charming, and I absolutely loved his relationship with Mingyu. I really wish there were more MLs like him.
Speaking of Mingyu, I think the supporting characters are the ones who truly shine in this drama. Erqing, Rongyin, Chun, and even Prince He stood out, and Consort Gao in particular was fantastic.
It’s a shame that the story deviates somewhat from reality, but whenever it recounts events that actually happened, it becomes extremely interesting.
Some people didn’t like the ending, but I loved it. I would have liked a more dramatic ending for the protagonist, even if it had made me cry a lot, lol.
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This drama is perfect. The drama is really fun and interest to watch from the start to the end. You won't disappointed. The reason why it is so good because it's left the ideal of thought. It's really meaningful in life. (No matter how hard or struggle to survive, as long as you find a solution. you will be happy in the end of the result). This is great unlike any drama which it just lead to watch for fun and no meaning in real life.
This is not mean i addictive to watch this drama. and it's perfect in my brain. but it's really good for my type. people have different ideal. let test yourself.
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"Story of Yanxi Palace" follows life inside a palace harem.Ying Luo is a simple maid, but she has a lot of skills, which makes her stand out from the other girls, who are jealous of her and always try to frame her. At one point, she meets the emperor and Fu Heng, two men who will mark her life forever.
There is a purpose behind Ying Luo's arrival at the palace. Her sister was a maid there who ended up dying unexpectedly and there were rumors that Fu Heng was to blame for this, so Ying Luo ends up getting close to the empress, who is Fu Heng's sister, to get information about her sister's death.
The emperor did not like Ying Luo's closeness to the empress, he was suspicious of the girl's intentions, thinking that she did it for personal gain. As Ying Luo becomes like a personal maid to the empress, the two basically fight like children every chance they get, and it is from this that the relationship between Ying Luo and the emperor is formed. Ying Luo is an incredible character, she is not afraid to speak her mind and this is one of the reasons why the emperor ends up falling in love with her, without even realizing it.
The relationship between Ying Luo and the Emperor is very funny, the two seem like two children fighting, there were moments of love and hate, because she was the only person who didn't treat him as superior, but rather as an ordinary person.
The romance plays an important part in the story, but for me, what really caught my attention was the relationship between Ying Luo and the empress. The two created such a strong bond that you could tell when the empress died, a part of Ying Luo died too. She was like a mother and a sister to Ying Luo, helping her whenever possible and I even think she would have let Fu Heng marry Ying Luo, but with Fu Heng's decision to marry Er Qing to save Ying Luo, there was no chance of that happening.
Unlike other dramas that portray the harem of a palace, "Story of Yanxi Palace" is a more entertaining story. There are conflicts, conspiracies, and plots between the concubines for power, but this is done in a lighter way, because where else could we see an emperor basically being ordered around by his concubine? The one who had the real power in this story was always Ying Luo.
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Masterpiece
Everything about this drama is exceptional—the laughter, the excitement, and the tears it brought me. The “I promise” on the final episode completely shattered my heart! I could barely breathe in between sobs.The production, music, star studded cast and set design are top-notch, making this a true masterpiece. With 70 episodes, it was the longest series I’ve ever watched, yet I still found myself wanting more. It was truly an honor to experience this journey.
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One of the finest Chinese court dramas ever written.
The TV series "Yanxi Palace Sketch" tells the story of a woman who stands up for herself no matter where she is. In the royal land, it's hard to do what you want to do. It's almost impossible to "be yourself."In "Yanxi Palace Sketch," the actress portrays the young woman Wei Ying Luo, who enters the royal land to avenge the death of her sister, the most loved and important person in her life. At first, she is just a palace maid, and everyone advises her against investigating her sister's affairs as it might put her in danger. Even though she knows it will be dangerous for her, she still pursues her own goals. In the process, she makes some true friends. She does not give up despite warnings of the dangers involved in finding the real killer. She believes that she will be able to find the real culprit, and in the end, through her efforts, she finally discovers the person behind her sister's murder and avenges her death.
Throughout the process, Wei Ying Luo does not expect to meet people she can trust completely, especially in the palace. She meets the Empress, who is very kind to her, teaching her to read and write, patiently guiding her through her mistakes, and finding ways to help her if she is intentionally harmed as punishment. The Empress loves her as if she were her own relative. Due to this love, Wei Ying Luo eventually treats the Empress as her own sister. Once, when the Empress was almost trapped in danger by other concubines, Wei Ying Luo protects her in her own way, even though doing so exposes her to dangerous forbidden places. She acts according to what she believes is right. After careful judgment, she rationally decides not to trust people so easily, regardless of what they say. In the end, she not only successfully protects the Empress but also becomes a respected figure in the palace.
At the last moment when Wei Ying Luo is about to leave the palace due to the expiration of her service years, something unexpected happens. She must leave the palace to visit her sick family. Unfortunately, while she is away visiting her family, the queen is murdered. When she returns, it is too late to save the queen. She faces a life-changing decision: to stay in the palace to find the Empress' murderer while becoming the emperor’s consort to better investigate. Though her approach to becoming a consort was initially driven by a purpose, she always acts according to her own will. After much hard work, she finally uncovers the truth behind the Empress's death.
To many people, Wei Ying Luo is a unique character in the royal land because it is impossible for anyone to "be themselves" in such an environment. In the royal land, many people are forced to abandon their true selves for various reasons, and doing whatever they want is considered a luxury and an impossibility. However, Wei Ying Luo has always followed her heart in everything she does.
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a Whole Entire Yikes!
Listen, it's suicide, murder and mayhem led by an emperor with the strongest sperm this side of history and the lamest pull out game ever seen!😂😂😂This is a really good drama! I think many may be discouraged by the seventy episodes, and translating it to seventy hours, but you will fly through each one because the plot is captivating and the visuals do not hurt. The most pleasant thing is that the drama is available on YouTube which is available in most regions.
I would recommend this series very strongly, especially for those who love a period drama. Enjoy!
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Usually I start scrolling on my mobile phone, when I lose interest during episodes, but this drama had me hooked until the last episode. The strong acting (I love a strong and smart female lead and strong and stubborn male lead), the cleverness with which the palace game was played….sigh…. and I was even impressed by the acting skills of that crazy eunuch! Oh Eunuch...;) you had 'The Shining' written all over you....you dog you....
The villains in my opinion where formidable. Yes.....villains...as in multiple. The amazing thing was that every so-called 'villain' had u humanizing aspect to them, which made me understand were they were coming from. In some cases I rooted for the villain, but when it came to moment of truth I rooted for the leads more.
I also love how the female lead doesn't take bullshit from anyone. She fights for the ones she cares about and eliminates those who did her wrong. I'm easily annoyed by underwhelming female leads who waste my time with their almost saint-like attitude. I'm not vengeful and i believe in forgiveness, but continuously turning the other cheek to keep a female lead a pure and angel-like character, is plain boring. Nobody likes a goody two-shoes. I mean i certainly don't. I like women with integrity, good morals, passion and fighting spirit when the situation asks for it. I just like leads who play dirty, when the other side just doesn't want to back off. That's why i loved Wei Ying Luo and the actress who played her. I don't understand the crap they gave her for being an unexperienced actress. I thought she was perfect!
And Yuan Nie.......What can I say? I'm a sucker for older men of his kind. They just don't make them that way anymore…
I loved him as the emperor. He was a perfect asshole, with a bit of self-indulgence, intelligent but oblivious and lovable at the same time.
In short: Normally the Manchu style of the Qing Dynasty bothers me, but this time it totally didn't! It actually has grown on me in this drama! Don't want to spoil to much, but if you:
- can overlook the peculiar hairstyle;
- love a good historical c-drama's;
- enjoy engaging in palace politics and intrigues;
- are into love games (u know, the cat-and-mouse kind);
- love a-totally-in-denial , a somewhat childish, but somewhat adorable-at-times, unreasonably-stubborn and amazing acting Yuan Nie;
- are in need of a sometimes silly and going-overboard, but strong-and-kick-ass female lead;
than this is the one for you! Just press the button...don't hesitate….go on...you won't regret…go watch it and thank me later! ….You're welcome...;)
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What I love the most from this drama is how smart the plot is. The clever plot, interesting story line, and beautiful scene. It really is a must watch for all drama lover.
Story wise, the FL is so smart and witty, I am always being surprised. From the first episode to the last, there isn't any plot that I don't like. It is also very rare to have the kind of story where FL is this strong.
As for the casts, they are amazing. They really act well, nothing chessy, nothing too much, and less. They are perfect! I love the female lead, the emperor (even more when he acted childish around the FL), I even love the second male lead (ok, i kinda wish to find a guy like him in real life, although I ship the FL with emperor in the drama)
Music part is interesting, I won't spoil much, but you will be suprised the first moment you listen to the music choice for this drama's opening. And for this, I appreciate the music choice and varieties.
My rewatch value will be high, as I will only write lengthy review for drama I will re-watch (lol!) anyway, i will just say, watch this drama and prepare to be suprised of how well written it is. (not to forget, smart!)
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Enjoyable revenge drama with strong female lead
Unexpectedly, I enjoyed this drama. For me, episodes 1-10 and 40-49 were my favourite. I watched this in 2024 on YouTube after reading fan reviews. I heard that this drama was heavily censored in China and you can tell that some scenes were cut out. I would've loved to see the uncensored version.Acting:- All the ladies in this drama did a fantastic job, especially Consort Gao, Consort Xian and Er Qing. The emperor was also amazing in acting. I also cannot forget Li Yu (Emperor's eunuch) - his micro-expressions were always fun to watch! The only one who disappointed me was Fucha, the actor does not have a wide range of expressions.. sometimes his acting made me laugh, but he has a nice smile.
Characters:- I loved the FL, Ying Lou. I think she's my girl crush. I also liked her chemistry and witty banter with the Emperor. They were a pleasure to watch on the screen. If you liked the FL in 'The Double', then you will like her here. My favourite side-characters were Li Yu, Ye Tianshi (the only doctor who can treat diseases lol) and Xiao Quanzi.
Plot:- I think the revenge part is true and done well. The FL is an "eye for an eye" kinda character, so it is satisfying to watch. This is not a romance show, so don't expect that. It's a slow burn for sure. But it shows platonic love very well - friendship and sisterhood especially. The pace of the show varies and drags sometimes, so I found myself fast-forwarding especially when they discussed palace or war politics. This is the reason I deduct one star.
Rewatch value:- I very rarely rewatch shows. Since this is very long, I will rewatch my favourite episodes. I think you will like this show if you like smart female leads.
I rate it 9/10
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Don't let episode count scare you
honestly this drama was amazing. I typically don't like harem dramas and usually skip all the ladies fighting in other dramas but this one was just too good. It kept me invested. I could not put it down. Yinglou is an amazing female character, she's smart, stubborn and not willing to bend for anyone. There are twists and turns I didn't see coming. Most of the side characters are fairly flushed out. I would defintely recommend watching this drama, even if you usually don't like palace dramas, this one is amazing.Was this review helpful to you?
Behold! The Mother of Revenge Has Entered the Palace!
Story of Yanxi Palace follows Wei Ying Luo, a young lady who enters the palace as an embroider to investigate the truth and seek revenge over her older sister's death. When her investigation leads to imperial guard, Fuca Fu Heng as the prime suspect, Wei Ying Luo decides to approach his sister, Empress Fuca Rong Yin, where she eventually starts working as her maid. The kindhearted empress then teaches her how to read and write. In the meantime, Fuca Fu Heng also develops feelings towards Wei Ying Luo and aids her in her investigation. After finding the real perpetrator and avenging her sister, her journey continues on in the palace as she navigates harem's conspiracies and eventually climbing her way up to power.This drama features the intricate stories and conspiracies of the Forbidden City's harem during Emperor Qian Long's reign. Back then, it was no surprise that an emperor, or any able man of that time, would have multiple wives and concubines, inciting jealousy and rivalry among the women. It was interesting to see the schemes that the ladies came up with, as well as the devious incitements from third parties in the harem, all done for their own gains. I often question how they came up with such conniving ideas. The harem conspiracies in this drama are like a chain of conflict and retribution. Still, the never-ending conspiracies are well-paced and well-written enough not to drag the story out. All the conflicts are always solved right before it starts to wear you down. Not to mention, every devious scheme would always end with a sweet and painful payback, leaving you with a sense of relief. Compared to the many themes in this drama, the revenge plot definitely stood out and make you anticipate how it will all unfold. Despite the many conspiracies, this drama was well-written until the end, leaving no room for unanswered questions. On top of the well-written story, the characters also played a huge part in the success of this drama.
Wei Ying Luo is the embodiment of revenge. She is unlike any other women in the harem. Wei Ying luo is intelligent, witty, sharp-tongued, fearless, courageous, loyal, and playful. She refuses to accept injustice and always gives back what is given to her. If someone wrongs her, then she will hurt them back. If someone is nice to her, then she will do everything she can to protect them. Seeing her in this drama would give you a sense of relief. Although the conspiracies and schemes never ends, with Wei Ying Luo there, there is nothing to worry about! On the contrary, during the parts of the story when Wei Ying Luo is away, the effects of the conspiracies would leave you anxious, although it won't be long until injustice would be avenged. Wei Ying Luo is definitely the smartest most badass woman in the history of costume Chinese dramas. She is a character that empowers women. Although true, she also comes with some flaws that I find ironic.
[Spoiler]
I find Wei Ying Luo as a selfish character. She is a self loving character who, at the end of the day, always makes decisions that would benefit herself. Despite knowing Empress Fuca Rong Yin's love towards the emperor, as well as the emperor's romantic interest towards her, she still decides to seek protection from him by becoming his concubine after her death, which makes her come off as such a hypocrite considering the sincere bond she has with the empress. Her flirtatious and push and pull behavior towards the emperor makes me cringe at times to the point that it almost wears me out. In addition, the way she always take advantage of the emperor's affection towards her irks me in a way that I always remember Empress Fuca Rong Yin at the back of my mind whenever I see those scenes. Still, it is a relief to see how Wei Ying Luo does not fully give in to the emperor and always leaves him hanging whenever he tries to confirm her feelings towards him.
[Spoiler ends]
I can't imagine a better actress than Wu Jin Yan for the role of Wei Ying Luo. Wu Jin Yan's physique was befitting for the young and playful Wei Ying Luo. She possesses a different kind of beauty compared to other women in the harem. With her small figure, small face, round eyes, and plump lips, she was able to display the youthful and doll-like beauty of Wei Ying Luo that is different from the more mature, elegant, and poised beauty of other women in the harem. This, topped with her witty and sharp-tongue, easily catches the eyes of many people in the harem. Not to mention, Wu Jin Yan has always been great at teasing and acting flirtatious in her roles, to the extent that it would get annoying from a female audience perspective. Although Wei Ying Luo's personality remain constant, she did become more poised and elegant in the way she handles things and make decisions, which Wu Jin Yan did great at portraying as well. Wei Ying Luo's growth as a character was evident throughout the drama.
Compared to Wei Ying Luo, Emperor Qian Long is a character I dread watching the most. It got to the point that I had to take a break and almost dropped this drama because I felt so disturbed whenever he appears. He is by far the greatest hypocrite I have seen in all the costume Chinese dramas that I have watched. Emperor Qian Long is a hard-working and powerful ruler who is very masculine and strict. Just like many other emperors, Emperor Qian Long believes that he can get everything he wants. As a ruler, he sees the need to have many wives and concubines in order to guarantee a successor and for political alliances. However, I believe that these are just reasons to mask his sexual addiction.
[Spoiler]
Emperor Qian Long interest and affection towards Wei Ying Luo was very disturbing. Not only was Wei Ying Luo 16 years younger than him, but she also had mutual affection with Fuca Fu Heng. Noticing that her husband's growing interest, the Empress Fu Rong Yin even asked him for one dying favor, which is to leave Wei Ying Luo alone. Despite his wife's request and knowing that his brother-in-law, and trusted aid, was in love with Wei Ying Luo, Emperor Qian Long still sabotage their relationship by arranging another marriage to Fuca Fu Heng under the pretense that Wei Ying Luo is not good enough for him even degrading her status. While he constantly speaks ill of Wei Ying Luo to Fuca Fu Heng, it was distasteful to see that in the same time, he would pursue Wei Ying Luo, even enforcing himself on her and talking her into being with him. He was the embodiment of hypocrisy. It doesn't end there. Emperor Qian Long is a notorious womanizer indeed. Although the facts are unclear, Emperor Qian Long spent a night with Fuca Fu Heng's wife, which got me nauseous. Moreover, after making Wei Ying Luo his concubine, Emperor Qian Long's possessive and clingy behavior towards Wei Ying Luo was very hard to watch. The way he hugs her and goes to bed with her was so disturbing, considering their characters' age gap and how he snatched her away from Fuca Fu Heng.
[Spoiler ends]
Despite his capabilities in managing political affairs, he was nonchalant, persuadable, and rather naive when it comes to the harem. It often seems that he has no backbone when dealing with his many wives and concubines. He was easily persuaded and would easily soften up when it comes to dealing with his women's rants and antics. This was annoying considering that he was the one who brought all these women together to the Forbidden City. At least, take responsibility! Not to mention, it was sickening every time the women of the harem would do things to curry favor with the emperor. Nie Yuan was great at portraying Emperor Qian Long. Aside from his mature visuals that fits the 16 years age gap with Wei Ying Luo, he also exudes the charisma, vigor, and masculinity befitting for the role of Emperor Qian Long. His expressions were also above par in a way that it sends a chill down your spine whenever he expresses interest in a woman. It was satisfying to see how Nie Yuan's posture and gait would also support his role as Emperor Qian Long by imposing masculinity and vigor, even showing how he is in his prime.
In a place full of deceit, the Fuca siblings deserves better. Fuca Fu Heng is one of the most pitiful man I've seen in costume Chinese dramas. He got everything taken away from him and his life controlled by Emperor Qian Long. He even has to be responsible for a child that is not his. Yet, as expected from the kindhearted Fuca Fu Heng, he remains loyal to Emperor Qian Long as his most trusted aid. He is a character that you would root for the most. I wish he had a better ending, especially after everything he went through. Casting Xu Kai for the role was the right decision. Aside from his attractive face, his posture and built is perfect for the role of imperial guard, Fuca Fu Heng. He looks young, vigorous, strong, and dependable. Xu Kai was also great at displaying the lovesick side of Fuca Fu Heng towards Wei Ying Luo. He is the type of character that many would fall for in the harem. Aside from the revenge plots, I loved Fuca Fu Heng and Wei Ying Luo's scenes the most. Their chemistry was definitely special and would make you blush! His older sister, Empress Fuca Rong Yin, was a scene stealer in the drama. Empress Fuca Rong Yin is a character I loved seeing in this drama. Qin Lan's beauty surprised me as it tops all the other actresses playing this drama. Qin Lan exudes the elegance, maturity, and charm befitting for the role of Empress Fuca Rong Yin. She was the perfect actress to play Emperor Qian Long's first and probably, greatest love. She was perfect in every way.
Aside from the great casting, this drama is definitely in a league of its own with its production quality. The set was beautiful and iconic. The set of Yanxi Palace was surprisingly well-made. It was well suited for Wei Ying Luo's playful personality and it was unlike any other palace sets I have seen before. The costumes in this drama were also beautiful and graceful. Even the costumes of supporting characters were styled aesthetically. In addition, I love the color grading. As a 2018 release, the visuals of this drama made it seem like it's a new release. The color grading fits the overall setting of 18th century Beijing without making it look old but rather realistic. The colors of the costume and set also compliments one another, which adds to its aesthetic appeal.
Story of Yanxi Palace is a drama that tops other dramas when it comes to revenge theme. The conflict does not drag and the payback is sweet, so sweet that Wei Ying Luo deserves to be called, Mother of Revenge! This drama is a must-watch for those looking to see some satisfying revenge. However, do be aware that there are some disturbing age gap plots and hypocrisy going on.
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