This review may contain spoilers
I don't usually watch dramas that is longer than 40 episode,but then I'm a fan of xukai that's why i gave it a try.. as soon as i started watching it, I can't help myself from watching till i reach the finale😁The story is nice but then i wish that fuheng also have his happy ending,my heart really aches for him.. he sacrificed alot for yinglou. Though i understand that if only fuheng didn't gave up and fight for their love. I don't like the role of the emperor to be honest, he's a scumbag and selfish. He already have lots of concubines but still didn't want to give fuheng his love,he sacrificed alot and yet ... Haysst. Anyways. Maybe it's their fate.
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This review may contain spoilers
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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This review may contain spoilers
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?
Unforgettable!
I originally entered this world through Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures, which was also a part of my introduction to historical Chinese dramas. My interest was peaked because I first recognized Nie Yuan and Wu Jin Yan, who have become some of my favorite actors. When I realized this was the original story I was overjoyed and so glad I finally set aside time to dive into it! At this point i pretty much watch anything that Wu Jin Yan leads because her acting is so versatile and always pulls me in.I absolutely love this story. From all the ups and downs to the great chemistry between all the actors. I love it much more than Legend of Haolan, but both stories captivated me nonetheless. Even though there are so many episodes I would eagerly rewatch anytime I want to take a trip back to the Forbidden City!
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Story
The story is about a strong who enters the palace to investigate and avenge her sister’s death. I was always a fan of strong female lead dramas, and this one was no exception. Seeing Wei Yingluo so mentally strong and her way of solving things are indeed very interesting.
The story is very tight and the costumes are very colourful as well.
I can’t find any loopholes but seeing irritating characters such as Erqing is such a pain in my ass.
Cast
Wu Jin Yan was very impressive in her role of Wei Yingluo. She was not very beautiful but her way of acting was very good. Fuca Fuhen and the Empress both did a pretty good job. The empress was my favorite character in my Yanxi Palace.
They all left a good impression in my heart.
Music
The songs and osts are just average
Rewatch
I would definitely watch it again as I will miss Wu Jin Yan
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Hooked me!
I started Story of Yanxi Palace hoping for something longer I could watch for a while between waiting for new release episodes to finally come out for the dramas I was dumb enough to start before all the episodes were available—something nice and long to settle back to, and I'd heard great things about this one. 4 days, almost no sleep, and 70 episodes later...........I was confused and a bit disappointed with the last ten episodes and the direction they took the story, but it makes more sense now that I know that it was loosely based on actual historical events. I'm not a fan of love triangles, and this one was awful, especially after hearing that it's not historically accurate. So dumb.
But overall, it was a drama that kept me hooked. Now, to go watch Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace (which I've heard is more historically accurate).
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Story of Yanxi Palace – A Must-Watch for Everyone!
Hello, drama lovers! This is my honest review of Story of Yanxi Palace, coming from someone who has watched a lot of C-dramas and K-dramas—I actually stopped watching C-dramas as frequently after 2021 because they started feeling too cliché and dragged out. I became a full-on K-drama fan. But every now and then, I come back to check if a C-drama can reignite my old love… and in 2023, this was the one that brought back the teenager in me who was obsessed with C-dramas! ^^(Disclaimer: I just finished watching, so I might be a little biased. Bear with me! :P)
What Makes This Drama So Special?
First things first—the casting and OST are absolute perfection! I can’t even imagine other actors in these roles. The intro song alone is so exciting and nostalgic. And the actors? Iconic. (Okay, maybe the king has a few cringe moments, but we’ll let that slide! :P)
The story is beautifully crafted, using real history as a base, which makes it way more interesting than your typical palace drama. And finally—a strong female lead who isn’t just a helpless, miserable, crying mess the entire time! :) Watching her get revenge and take down villains one by one is so satisfying. Call me petty, but I am so over weak, tragic heroines who do the most illogical things just to suffer even more. This FL? A breath of fresh air!
Oh, and can we talk about the breathtaking costumes?! <3 Even after watching so many historical dramas, this one really stood out in terms of traditional fashion—it’s pure eye candy. Honestly, this is one of the best costume dramas ever!
Romance, Palace Life & Emotional Damage Alert!
The romance in this drama? Absolutely adorable and so intriguing! <3 It starts off slow but is beautifully built, making you completely invested in the main couple. You can feel their emotions, and their chemistry is just chef’s kiss! :)
But aside from romance, this drama also does an amazing job portraying the life of a woman in the palace during ancient times. It shows just how tough, strategic, and smart a woman had to be to survive in that world. It’s not all glitz and glamour—the palace is a battlefield, and every decision can mean life or death.
And beware—this drama also serves up a major second lead syndrome. (Not gonna spoil anything, but trust me, it hurts.) As the story unfolds, you get super attached to the characters, so prepare yourself to cry your eyes out. ^^
The Only Downside?
Sometimes, it feels like there are jump cuts or that a part of the story is missing. I found myself thinking, Wait, did I accidentally skip an episode? :P It would have been nice if they added a little more depth to some characters.
Final Thoughts – Is It Worth Watching?
Since this drama is based on real history, they probably didn’t want to over-fictionalize it, which makes sense. But even if you hate political dramas (like me!), you’ll still find this one way more enjoyable than most of today’s over-the-top, dragged-out historical dramas. It’s engaging, visually stunning, and filled with emotional highs and lows—the kind of show that any type of viewer can enjoy. :)
So, if you haven’t seen Story of Yanxi Palace yet, what are you waiting for? Highly recommend! <3
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This review may contain spoilers
I was very reluctant to watch this show because Harem/Palace settings are not at all my "thing"...But as soon as it started, itdived me in completly!.
- Characters, historical attention to details (Qing dinastie), Ost, plot, ...everything got me in just within few minutes and I didnt care anymore for those 70 episode lenght :D...
Every single character is deeply portraited, and even the evil ones are so well written , acted, that you simply sympathize, and are fully driven to understand with each of them :
Each woman has it's own tool to outshine others, and none are stupid-like or meaningless. They all have something very personnal to express ( my favorites are Empress Fuca Rongyin and Gao Ning Xin ). The main female lead is a pure joy to watch dealing with each impossible situation she was forced to step in. While never forgetting neither herself or her goals. While always progressing.
-Wang Mao Lei who is portraiting Yuan Chun Wang is so subtil that whenever I see again this actor in other drama, I just cheer to see him again...
I Gave it not a full 10 just because I wanted her to - after all she have been trought - end up with her first and protective love, rather than the Emperor.
But trust me...this historical drama can be taken as an exellent farandolle of 70 cup of tea !
Enjoy :)
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