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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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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This review may contain spoilers
Tear jerker have some tissues ready
Updating my review as I have now finished. The middle of this drama was a real tear jerker. I couldn'tbring myself to like the male lead and the last few episodes felt uneccessary.I've had to press pause on this show because I've only gone and done the worst thing you can do when watching a drama. Yes i have fallen for the second male lead. I know he won't get the girl. Infact I suspect he will probably die.
The story is a bit of a slow start. A lot of uneccessary storylines in the beginning but I guess its to set up the characters and show us thier personalities.
The empress and our female lead have a very strong relationship so i am quite interested to see how she ends up falling in love with the emperor, its kinda like falling for your older sisters ex-husband which is a bit icky.
I am getting a bit tired of the continuous power struggles between the harem, the story of so many women fighting over one man does kind of make you want to smash your head in, yes i get his the king but surely there are other men out there. In fact I'd love to see a drama where at least one or two of the harem have no interest in the king what so ever. You know just tp change it up.
Sighs let me unpause and watch my guy not get the girl.
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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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This review may contain spoilers
Truly a masterpiece!! Must watch
Hello everyone this drama made me fall in love with Chinese dramas again. From the setting, costumes to the storyline every episode keeps you wanting more. The main actress plays a servant in the palace seeking revenge for the death of her sister and she slowly becomes the most powerful woman in the palace. Unlike many dramas the female lead isn’t a soft weak lead who cries at every obstacle. She’s smart and clever and able to navigate the palace and become on top. Xu Kai is the male lead at first but there’s a twist with her love interest which I loved! The costumes and cinematography are stunning and very accurate for the times. It’s a tale of revenge, romance, redemption and sisterhood. If you love revenge tales or historical dramas especially set in Qing Dynasty this is a must watch you will not regret!Was this review helpful to you?
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A Game of Concubines
This CDrama started as "Once upon a Time in the West" and then turned into Seasons 5-8 of Game of Thrones.As you can see, I have not finished this CDrama. I watched it till Episode 38 and then basically "rage quit". Though I know the full Story since I have then read Spoilers of the Story of the remaining Episodes. It only served to justify my Reasons for quitting.
To be fair, from Episode 1 to 27, I was completely hooked and could not stop watching. It was basically like a Drug and I could hardly stop. Although it was nowhere near perfect and had some issues, the overall premise and the "Revenge Arc" were so well done and engaging, that I was more than willing to overlook small issues.
One such small issue was the waste of otherwise incredibly promising Characters, among which the Character of Consort Gao stood out the most. She was portrayed so much as a stereotypical and one dimensional "Evil" that it bordered on Cartoon Villain levels. The Actress and the Role could have offered so much more than that, that I felt it was a huge waste but as I said, I was willing to let this go and up to Ep. 27 would have given this Drama still a 9.5 out of 10 without thinking about it.
Then came the "Lightning Strike" moment, which I now define as the "Jumped the Shark" Moment of this Drama. Up to this point, the main Lead was basically this "Supermind" who could come up with all kinds of sneaky plans to get things done but suddenly she becomes a crazy lunatic who bets her life on the occurrence of something whose probability is possibly less than winning the Lottery. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
The main Lead was already bordering on "Mary Sue" with her abilities to fool basically the whole Court including the Emperor. However, I could live with that and excuse it as "superpowers granted by the goddess of Revenge". Since she had such a huge motivation driving her (finding the murderer of her Sister who was like a Mother to her), one could still suspend disbelief by thinking "yeah this is a little over the top but Revenge, like love, is a strong emotion that can enable People to exceed their Limits". However, after her Revenge Plot was basically completed and she got the Murderer, this motivation was gone and what remained was no longer feasible. What was her Reason to become Empress again? might just do that as well while I am here? very weak Motivation that no longer serves as a good Excuse for her ridiculous "superpowers".
Another Problem I have with the main Lead, she was quite fitting as the young Girl seeking Justice for her Sister but unfortunately she remained that "young Girl" up to the very end where she is supposed to have given birth to not one but FOUR Children. I have seen the End of the last Episode where she sits on the Throne in her magnificent Robes and it just looks like a Teenage Girl Cosplaying, hardly convincing.
Her Romances also took a wrong turn. The Guard was believable enough to some degree but the Emperor? complete nonsense! I saw little to no reason why the Emperor would fall for her. The reason given (because she has a big mouth and she cant stop insulting him) is so weak and nonsensical, that I take it as an insult to the Viewer honestly.
Then there is the "Court Schemes" of the Concubines. They are repetitive, little thought through and rely too much on tropes and accidents and conveniences. When I read in Spoilers that the Empress loses her second Child as well because of some scheming, I could only shake my head. This is what I like to call "generating Drama for Dramas sake". It feels forced, artificial and unnatural and it is really tiring after some point. Also, none of the Consorts/Concubines had the same screen impact of "evil" as Consort Gao did and they felt like cheap knockoffs.
Speaking of turning Evil, the amount of Bait and Switch in this Drama is sadly too much. "Look how nice and friendly this Lady is....oh no, she turned evil because of a good looking Palace Guard" is done one too many times. Twists dont work so well if they are overused.
This Drama is somewhat of a "Dr. Jekly and Mr. Hyde" kind of thing for me. The Revenge Arc is brilliant and kept me hooked but the "based on History" Arc is nonsensical and lacks a solid Motivation/Foundation.
I want to end this Review on a positive Note because I think this Drama overall deserves it and I dont like to cheapen the great Efforts that clearly went into this by many talented People.
This Drama was very near to perfection and shows what Chinese Movie Industry might be capable of in the Future. It has a lot going for it and although I was ultimately disappointed, the parts I enjoyed were true and deep Enjoyment. I look forward to more of this kind of Dramas where maybe lessons are learned and some of the more glaring mistakes corrected.
Disclaimer:
This is a personal Review by a private person and is therefore subject to personal bias or taste. I do not claim to be objectively perfect in any way and therefore implore you to keep this in mind when reading my Reviews. My main goal with this Review is not to harm or boost a series but to help Audiences by offering one particular Viewpoint since I am profiting from others who do the same as well. If you made it this far reading this humble amateur Reviewers "Opinion" than I thank you very much and hope there was something useful in it for you.
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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 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
A Must Watch Series
Chinese historical dramas are not my cup of tea as they tend to cover more on xianxia. But this series blew my mind. The cast and acting. The plot. The music. Everything was so well-thought and detailed.Wei Yinglou's mc shield is strong but aside from that, everything was so good and realistic. It's not slow and I have been binged watching for a week now. None stop. I just couldn't help myself to see what will happen next. The plot of internal palace harem schemes and drama is expected. But because of her personality, you'd always wonder what will she do next.
I love how they expressed each character. I want to hate them but I can't, they have reasons why they just used the wrong method and got the best of themselves as any normal person would. From Noble Consort Gao, Empress Hoifa-Nara, Noble Consort Chun. The only one I truly loathe would probably the emperor.
Everything was just a roller-coaster ride of emotions, especially on the Fuca Siblings. The love and devotion Yinglou has for the two was probably the only strong emotion she has given to anyone other than her sister. The strong bond she had with empress Fuca was breathless. She sacrifices herself, for her. She let go of the only man who she truly loved just to give the empress the justice she deserves. This is one of the highlights for me. It didn't focus on (OTP) romance it showed that it's not only romantic love that exists.
But what was the saddest for me was the love Wei Yinglou and Fuca FuHeng had. Yinglou isn't the type of person who falls in love or even thinks of that. She's independent and strong. While Fu Heng had long been used to women flocking over him and is neither interested. I think was they had was true and pure love. They loved each other through their best and worst. He loved even every evil thing she did. And she still loved him even though she swore to forget him and she never did. This kind of love is hard and rare to find. And with their type of personality, they're the kind of people who only love once. They're each other's the one that got away.
Even though she ended up with the emperor, I never think she loved him even a bit. Emperor fell in love with her. But she stayed just to do her role and respect to the late empress to take care of him. I felt that she still has Fu Heng in the back of her mind. And the emperor knows that. I still question his love for her tho. If he loves her. or he loves her because she reminds him of the empress Fuca.
It felt like the series is trying to convey that even though you're meant to be. Reality still slaps. We're humans tend to be vulnerable. Easily to get the best of our emotions. Example: the emperor's selfishness, the harems jealousy, and fu heng's selflessness.
Kudos to the director. Because even though I'm watching beautiful scenes of Fu Heng and Yinglou, the emperor and empress Fuca. I feel so much joy but still ended up crying to such beautiful scenes knowing everything in the palace is short-lived.
The series doesn't need a sequel. And I'm okay with the ending though a very depressing one. It will always be in my heart that Fuca FuHeng and Wei Yinglou, Emperor Qianlong and Empress Fuca Rongyin are the ones made for each other.
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I cheered, I cried, I gasped
I don't even know where to start writing a review for this show. The story is incredibly complex and detailed, and with so many different characters that in the hands of an even slightly less skilled team of writers and directors, it would have been a complete mess. Something seemingly minor could happen in episode 10 and end up being important in the final arc. No detail, character or action were there superficially, everything had a purpose. There were times when I wondered how on earth they could solve this in a satisfying way and somehow they always did. The characters actions almost always made sense (there were a small number of occasions where I felt a character's motivation could have been better set up, but this is quite minor) and they genuinely felt like real people. The acting of course plays a big role in this and it was fantastic throughout. The costumes and sets were stunning, truly there is always so much to look at.This show has it all; scheming, murder, revenge, love, tragedy, power, art, music, friendships, the list goes on. I cheered, I cried, I gasped. I haven't felt this emotionally affected by a show since watching The Untamed. I can't wait to rewatch it in a year or so and see all the details I didn't notice the first time.
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Story: Not new - Qing era - power - harem & survival- politics- love- abuse of powers - loyalty. The writers & production team brought us into the Forbidden city, behind the doors and inside the lives of the women & men who are simply wanting to live - some greedily others - some for revenge - some just for love.
Actors/Cast: YL & the Emperor were MAGNIFICENT with screen chemistry rivaling any modern drama. They both portrayed their roles with grace, power and depth. There were so many moving parts(cast members) that performed brilliantly, all the while convincing us the power & survival within - surrounding the harem life. Not one terrible actor!
Music: the score was PERFECT for the drama, while the opening soundtrack of the opera singing set the tone for the entire drama.
ReWatch: at 70 ep, may come back after I get some rest. Worthy of re-watch - REALLY!
Overall: Costumes, scenes and actors delivered a compelling drama riddle with logic, philosophy and relevance to survival & love, period! The final ep of the dialog with YL and Chun is the final learning offered to us as to survival in the forbidden domain of love. Watch if your are serious about Cdramas. Brilliant!
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