The biggest surprise was how versatilethe cast was and how the director was able to draw out everything from serious to comedic scenes from them. At times it gave me the feeling that someone like Mel Brooks was at the helm (especially for the really campy scenes). It's not an expensive production but I think they were able to do a good job job with sets, locations, and costumes. The ending had some surprises but overall it was a solid light romantic drama that I would definitely watch again (speed through for the most part). The primary leads didn't have the hottest chemistry but it could be somewhat explained by their lack of life experience. I did appreciate many scenes between them as they worked out their relationships. Come for the romance but stay for the funny and sometimes thoughtful storyline!
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Waste of storyline and actors
This is a review of both season 1 and 2.I was shaking my head at this one. It had a great cast and could have been excellent. Instead it was confusing, campy, and disjointed.
Starts off campy and silly, goes full Game of Thrones red wedding and ends happy but disjointed, rushed, and unexplained.
Season 1 was interesting and silly. It was a rather common theme but with a slight twist. I like the concept but it lacked depth.
Season 2 started off well but the last 2 episodes seemed like the middle of a whole different drama. It ends rushed and confusing... but happy... I guess.
The sets were colorful but garish. The OST was catchy and sweet.
I wouldn't purposely watch this drama again.
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Finally, the end. Wait, what?
So, the story continues where it left in S1.But for this season, it is more stronger than S1 but I still feels the lacking inthe storyline.
The screenwriter do have a good plot ideas but the breakdown is a bit too draggy and unnecessary.
This can be a good simple 24 Episodes of drama instead of 21 episodes x 2 season = 42 episodes.
If they stick with 24 eps and only 1 season, I truly believe the story-line will be much stronger and less boring.
By this season you can see how they fight to get her release, unsure how she was connected to the tribe that was wronged by the grandma-queen.
The very twisted on how there are some dark sorcerer and how the granny fight to keep the throne within her tribes, I starts skipping throughout all this.
The most good part is how all couples develop. Dali and her man is still my favorite here! But it's very heart-wrenching end to their love story. In fact, they made a stupid last 2 episodes to wrap up the drama - Like, it is not necessary, hello! Even if the FL is to leave the world, we need a good wrapped up ending for all side couples!
They need more explanation on how the two worlds cross and the ending was really questionable, like what really happen? Definitely a too rush ending to make it a happy ending to 'make up' the stupid story-line on the previous episode.
Anyway, I still think the same as in S1, you only watch the romance part and skip everything else. It's a good watch for a rom-com drama. Not very light since there are many other element added to 'spice' it up to not make it as romance focus drama.
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"Oh! My Emperor 2" continues the story of the first season and the quality doesn't change much, it's still very childish, I just couldn't like it, it's really not my style.Fei Fei is a fun character and the romance between her and Tang Yi is cute, but everything developed so quickly that there wasn't a single moment that marked the beginning of their relationship as a couple.
I also didn't understand why Fei Fei never tried to go back to her time, it was like she didn't care at all about being stuck in that place forever. I understand that she fell in love with Tang Yi and wanted to be with him, but there were probably people she cared about, family... I always found it a bit strange that this never bothered her.
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A comedy and time travel fairytale
Most Chinese dramas that make it onto the international platform are generally good in the hygiene factors: good cast with good looks and acting skills, beautiful costumes, beautiful backdrop. But when it comes to the story, more creativity and originality are needed and more thoughts need to be put into the development of the story.This drama is entertaining but the story is very average with all the regurgitated themes: blocking the sword for the lovers, time travel, falling in love with a feather headed girl because she is different, triangle love, ditto, ditto. Story lacks originality. And Zhao Lusi's image seems to be fixated as a feather headed girl in time travel dramas, which is not necessary a good thing.
As a comedy and fairytale, I guess it is still worth watching if you are short on other things to do. Also, if you are a fan of Xiao Zhan and are satisfied with just enjoying his good looks and a bit of laughter, this is still a good drama to follow. Afterall, series 1 and 2 total to 42 episodes of about 20 minutes, which makes it only the equivalent of about 18 episodes with the regular length of most dramas.
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Entertaining but not the best
Finished watching season 2 of this drama. Disappointed with the ending. The first season was good. Really entertaining, many funny moments that made me laughed. This drama is simple, not many complicated plots, so it's good if you want to watch something entertaining that you don't have to think too much. I like the OST, especially the ending theme song and the song that Zhao Lu Si sang. Costume and design is also so-so, kinda shows that this drama is made with a low budget. The best part is the characters, they are fun to watch. I hate the ending though :)Was this review helpful to you?
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I am somewhat satisfied but I wish the ending wasn’t rushed
This is a review of Season 1 & 2. I mean it could all just be one season but nevertheless..Look I didn’t cate much about the FL per se. I didn’t hate her but didn’t like her as much. She is funny though. I came to watch this because I am on a Jason Gu train at the moment and its an added bonus that Xian Zhao is in it as well. I like them both, although I have touch of SLS.. I think there is an injustice done to Prince Chen’s character.
This lighthearted story are full of plotholes. Don’t take it too seriously and you’ll be alright. I feel like the writer was a fan of GoT particularly The Red Wedding.. that is penultimate episode, if you get what I mean. But don’t you worry, our girl revives everyone and disappears into the ether, then back to her present time.
Now, I was really eager for the “present” episode. I would have loved to see all zodiac lords and ladies in modern day, not just a glimpse of them!
I am just speculating that they are immortals? And live through the modern times? They all retained their memories.
Overall I enjoyed this however I just wished like everyone else here that the ending could have been better.
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Not the best but ….
Let me start by saying it is because is Zhao Lusi that I decided to watch this series. I’m not a big fan of 24-29 minutes series wherein the first 3 minutes are for recall of previous episode and credits.I have always thought that any actor will have a good chemistry with Lusi but I stand corrected. The lead male actor and Lusi has no chemistry whatsoever.
It’s most likely a man limited budget production because it is obvious.
Love the characters and twists they added in this series but amazingly, even with a certain power each characters possessed, it doesn’t seem to be used when needed the most - it’s confusing
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What even...
I laughed so much during the last two episodes I can't even.S1 of this show was nice. Xiao Zhan really grew as an actor in a very short time and I loved Beitang Moran. Wu Jiacheng was pretty solid in both seasons and Zhao Lusi as Fei Fei was amazing. This show could have been an 8 on 10. But the last two episodes...
Now that I've watched a few Chinese dramas, I've seen the same thing happen in a few dramas. They will be perfect for the most part, but towards the end, either the writers are in a hurry to tie off the show or something is going on with the producers but it just ruins the show. I don't want to say too much about what happens in the last two episodes but it was such a 180 degree shift in terms of tone and writing that it really disorients the watcher.
But again, this show has Xiao Zhan crying beautifully, Xiao Zhan talking to a turtle, Xiao Zhan moving elegantly, and Xiao Zhan in that silky black robe, so most of it is forgiven.
In short, Xiao Zhan is the highlight of this show. If you're going to watch it, watch it for him. Have no other expectations.
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BTY Still Can’t Emote, BTMR Still Deserves Better, and the Ending Is a Crime (SPOILERS)
Going into more detail here than I did in my Season 1 review, since this is mostly a review of the series as a whole. I’m also going to jump around a lot because my thoughts are all over the place, so bear with me.BTY’s Emotional Stiffness (aka: Twenty-Four Episodes of :| )
In episode 3, there’s a scene that perfectly sums up BTY’s ongoing battle with emotional expression. FeiFei says, “Do you know why, even though Uncle (BTMR) is more handsome and more polished, I still like you?”
BTY cuts her off, deadpan as ever: “Perhaps you’re blind… How is he more handsome than me? More talented?”
Then—miracle of miracles—the corner of his mouth twitches upward. The first hint of emotion in twenty-four episodes! FeiFei sighs, shakes her head, and walks off in disgust. Honestly, same. At least she’s self-aware I guess.
In another scene, a couple of episodes later, a drunk FeiFei imitates BTY, and she is spot on! :| Though she (with her flushed cheeks and drunken sway) still manages to capture more emotion than her stone-faced Emperor.
Sismance
I LOVE the sismance between FeiFei and Yuran. Their punishment from the Empress Dowager had me giggling the whole time. They were acting like two little sisters who got caught sneaking snacks after bedtime. Their drunken escapades, their whispered gossip, their general chaos… easily one of my favorite dynamics in the show.
BTMR vs. BTY: The Great Emotion Gap
In episode 5, LFF ruthlessly friendzones BTMR. Damn… This scene really shows the difference between the two male leads. He’s got so much emotion and heartbreak written all over his face and in his voice, while BTY just stands there like :| and delivers his lines in the most monotonous tone imaginable. I genuinely felt bad for BTMR here—his pain was so palpable it almost hurt to watch. That’s thanks to both XZ and ZLS; their performances made the moment hit way harder than I expected. You can feel every ounce of tension and heartbreak between them without either one overacting (or underacting. ahem).
BTMR is also way more upfront about his feelings. And yes, BTY has improved this season, but nothing beats BTMR’s near-constant attempts to confess his undying love for LFF in basically every scene they share. On top of that, ZLS and XZ just have way more chemistry. It’s hard not to root for BTMR.
BTY’s Character Growth… and Remaining Issues
To BTY’s credit, he does show solid character development this season—verbally expressing himself, being kinder to FeiFei, and actually participating in scenes rather than just standing there like well-dressed furniture. My lingering issue is the lack of facial expressions. Even the smallest hint of emotion would go a long way in making me sympathize with him.
I do think he’s improved somehow. Yes, he still has zero emotion on his face, but his actions and words feel more honest and straightforward now, which makes it seem like the acting got better. Realistically, I think the biggest difference is this: in Season 1, he could have been replaced by a cardboard cutout and it wouldn’t have changed anything, because he literally just stood there doing nothing. But now he… well, moves occasionally. And talks. Sometimes. So progress?
That said, he remains such a boring character. He just agrees with whatever anyone says. I will die on the hill of wondering why Luo FeiFei liked him so much—especially early on.
I know this was one of Jason Gu’s first projects, and I haven’t seen his later roles, so I genuinely hope he’s improved since this web series aired in 2018.
BTY & LFF: Cute Moments, Painful Triangles
Despite his faults, I do really like BTY as a character, I swear. BTY and LFF are very affectionate this season, and honestly, they’re adorable. He’s so gentle with her, and the rain kiss scene was precious. Also love that he didn’t jerk away in embarrassment when everyone interrupted (or tried to).
But BTMR watching from a distance? NO. MY HEART. PLEASE.
Someone get Yuran to drag him into a rebound arc ASAP because I can’t keep watching him be sad on my screen.
Also FeiFei often calls BTY “foolish,” and I agree… but it is endearing.
Comedic Highlights, Supporting Cast, and Production Issues
FeiFei’s regular visits to the prison were hilarious. Her banter with the guards—and the fact that everyone, including the Empress Dowager, eventually knows about it—never failed to crack me up.
No complaints about the rest of the actors. They were all phenomenal, and it’s obvious the cast had fun filming.
The production value, however… oof. The green screens (especially in court scenes) were painfully obvious. The low budget took me out of the show at times, but honestly? I ended up finding it charming in its own way.
The plot itself is creative, fun, and surprisingly well-written. The comedic timing is genius. But I genuinely think the story would’ve been stronger without the time-travel angle—and this is coming from someone who actively seeks out time-travel/transmigration stories. The only real narrative purpose it served was BTY getting jealous of his alternate-universe doppelganger (Jia Cheng) and FeiFei having an endless supply of face-mask ads.
The friendships and side characters were also so well done. Bai Wu Chen and General Chu? Adorable. The only downside to liking everyone so much is that we didn’t get nearly enough backstory for all of them. Like I said in my Season 1 review: why did no one use their powers in the final tournament? Yes, they were using non-lethal weapons, but they still could’ve done something silly or creative with their zodiac abilities.
The Ending (contains spoilers!!)
This season easily would’ve been an 8–8.5 (Season 1 was an 8 for me) if not for the ending.
Killing every single character was already a terrible decision. Stabbing the pregnant woman was especially unnecessary. But then bringing everyone back to life within one minute? Somehow even worse. If you're going to make a bad writing decision, at least commit to it.
And the way everyone died makes zero sense to me because the zodiac lords apparently forget they have literal superpowers whenever the plot needs them to. Meanwhile, the people of Orion State seem like normal civilians. Except that one weird smoke guy who possessed people out of nowhere with zero explanation. The only person who even attempted to use her powers in the final episodes was Dali… and it didn’t work. Which, to be fair, is consistent, because the only other time she tried using her powers in the entire show, it didn’t work then either.
But seriously. Seriously.
Twelve constellation lords with magical abilities can’t defeat a handful of men with wooden clubs? SUPERPOWERS, and y’all can’t beat a couple of extras from Home Depot Lumber Aisle? Be for real.
The Ophiuchus people disappearing at the end was the biggest slap in the face. The entire show was about FeiFei helping them regain justice and rejoin society, so wiping them out narratively is just lazy and depressing. Why would you build two seasons around their redemption only to Thanos-snap them at the finish line?
FeiFei disappearing makes more sense — she’s from the modern world — but that loops back to my earlier complaint: this story didn’t need time travel at all. If she had simply been a girl from the zodiac world who discovered she was the new Ophiuchus Lord, freed her people, and lived happily ever after with her friends and her foolish stone-faced husband and it would’ve been stronger and emotionally consistent.
But no. Instead, we get the “was it all a dream?” cop-out — the worst trope known to humankind. It negates everything. If none of it was real, why did I spend 42 episodes getting attached? Why care about people who turned out to be just extras FeiFei saw the day of her accident? And then BTY shows up at the end anyway… how? Why? Pick a logic and stick with it.
Even during FeiFei’s tearful goodbye, BTY’s face didn’t move. We got one tear, but he looked mentally checked out. At least we got the longest dead-fish kiss in history (two full minutes of the camera spinning around them as they barely touched lips).
I hate rating a show I genuinely enjoyed this low, but the ending absolutely ruined it. I can’t give it anything higher than 6/10.
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Absolutely fantastic!
This series has absolutely so much humor and cheekiness in it. Couldn´t stopped laughing even from the 1st episode itself! But then again, series with Zhao Lusi is always nice and refreshing without that much of stressy drama. A time travelling series, this is indeed a very interesting series to watch - with alot of funny moments, slight romance and definitely no extreme stressy drama - and I would definitely recommend it. Spanning 2 seasons, it has remarkable storyline, awesome paired music and the entire cast definitely did an awesome job with this series. The male lead is especially good, without his always expressionless facial features.Was this review helpful to you?
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Season 2 gives a better execution than in Season 1, notably in acting, cinematography, and costume. Other characters besides Fei Fei gets more screen times, especially the establishment of the romantic couples and bromance/sismance friendships. This is good especially in Season 2 Fei Fei is more serious and mature (which is not too hilarious anymore) especially after she is an established master of Ophichus and the Emperor's bride-to-be). The introduction or building up of new antagonist characters from Orion Land are refreshing for the climax of the new plot of this season. The flight thru desert scenes of and the final bloody battle are outstanding. The costumes are more diverse and glamorous, possibly due to bigger budget after the succession of the Season 1, especially Fei Fei's elegant master and Xiao Bing's desert princess costumes. Actor/actress Zhao Lu Si (Fei Fei), Sean Xiao (Mo Ran), and Song Nan Xi (Yan Ran) did great jobs in longing and broken-heart scenes, especially Lu Si in the last episode. Notably also the romantic and melodrama scenes between characters Tang Tang - Xiao Bing and Wu Chen - Da Li. My only critic is I still did not see ML Jason Koo acted better in the Season 2 and was still overshadowed by Sean Xiao's emotional character. No wonder little Chong Chong called him the Mean Looking Brother versus the Good Looking Brother Mo Ran.Last scenes are the best ones in the whole Season 1 and Season 2 together, so be patient to watch until the end Oh, My Emperor! story.
Although fans are rooting for Season 3 and it did look like the end was set up for continuation, but I don't think it is necessary we need Season 3, let the other characters' time traveling remain mystery and fantastical.
High rewatch value for both Season 1 and Season 2, due to actress Lu Si's comical and Sean Xiao's emotional acting, the abundant hilarious scenes, and the X Nine eye candies.
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