This review may contain spoilers
Headache-inducing heartbreak but sooo worth it!
Second watch: 10🌟… I could fill an ocean with my tears right now. I love this show so much, but I’m yet again broken lmao. I just love Ruo Xi, and her consistent character. The years in the palace took her girlhood, her youth, her beauty, and most importantly, her healthiest years. This time, the romance between her and the 4th prince made more sense to me. I could feel how they gravitated towards each other, and how they could feel the other’s presence before seeing them. They also had similar views on certain matters. The little romance she had with the 8th prince wasn’t as weird this time, although I STILL think he was greedy lol. I appreciated it this time because those early years are so peaceful and calm compared to the rest. The series gets progressively worse after episode 20. That’s when every scene, every plot, will hurt like daggers, when the characters start to suffer the most. Regardless, I love the show and its characters; I also love the setting, the costume, and the beautiful OST…. When I watched the show for the first time, the timeline confused me to be honest, but after some research it became clearer, which made the second watch even better… What a show, but I need something healing yet again…. So, I’ll watch “Meet Yourself” now lmao.
First watch: 9🌟
I have a headache, I cried so much. At first, I didn’t even cry, but the last 10 episodes hit me as if a train and truck and bus had run me over. I thought I was okay in the last episode, but then they had to kill the 13th brother too… my heart hurts just a little bit 👌🏻.
To be honest, I wasn’t crazy about the romance because I found 8th prince’s advances … not that cool lol: he wants the throne AND his sister-in-law? Like, let’s not be greedy, you have her sister already, and she doesn’t even like you, bro. But, in comparison with the 4th prince, later emperor, the 8th wasn’t so bad, I guess. It was at least a lot more peaceful lol.
My poor Ruo Xi looked so… drained, tired, and exhausted from the second half on that I just felt so bad for her. Just like her sister, she longed for freedom and not for the palace’s restraints and the prince’s schemes.
I really enjoyed the political intrigue and scheming of the drama; the storytelling and pace were great too, there was never a boring episode! Especially in the later episodes, I felt tense and I was anticipating the next plot… I really LOVED the costumes/styling and the music a lot too.
Anyway, I’m sad now and need a no drama-drama to heal my heart💗🧍🏻♀️. Might (probably) rewatch once I feel delusional again.
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This review may contain spoilers
If you're looking for a nice heart warning drama that makes you feel light...let me just stop you right there and tell you that you're not only looking at the wrong show but the wrong genre as well. Exit stage right immediately.This drama was definitely good, I enjoyed it. Right away you fall in love with the story however it does lag a bit around some parts. I really liked it...I finished it in 2 days...HOWEVERR be warned that this drama has a love triangle of sorts and its not the casual one either.
One of the things I absolutely loved about this drama was although politics was obviously involved, it wasn't the typical continuous plotting and scheming and backstabbing and twists and turns...Don't get me wrong plotting and scheming occurred...just not on the down-low. In most cases, everyone was always aware of what was happening. Another thing I loved was the women weren't the villains who were plotting and scheming in this drama or whispering into their men's ear to control them. The men did their own thing and the woman had their own thing happening (I say this because in most cases when the drama did focus on the women it was in relation to their station in life for e.g the wives not getting along...but not in the extreme drama sense where they are always trying to get rid of each other).
Be prepared to cry or at least sniffle. I almost forgot...This drama gets a little dark depending on your preferences...but for me, those dark moments were some of the best scenes in the show...it just added to everything. You'll get used to the hair eventually.
I thought the drama was good overall.I saw a lot of people raving about it and decided to give it a chance but I wont say it was exceptional for me it was just good.
*SPOILERS BELOW*
1. One of the main issues I had with this drama was the love triangle. Initially, the main female lead falls in love with the 8th prince who is married to her sister. Them falling in love was so uncomfortable to watch for me (I watched this drama on Viki and I noticed in the comments a lot of people felt the same way). The female lead prides herself on being modern and she absolutely hates the idea of women sharing men...however, she still manages to fall in love with her sister's husband..it was weird to watch because the writers really explored their relationship it wasn't the usual oh they like each other but she's only with him because he's a rebound and always loved her troupe. They genuinely loved each other. Anyway, if things like that don't bother you then jump right into this drama because this was the only issue I had with it but after this storyline ends (ep 14) it really picks up full steam ahead.
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Really a tearjerker
Where to begin... this was an awesome drama. I watched it online and quality may not have beengood but overall the story was pretty good. This is a grand narrative about a modern women stuck
in centuries old aristocratic society. WIll her heart which leans towards modern values of friendship
and monogamy win against dogmatic aristocratic rules and hierarchy?
She was liked by most of the princes, became sweetheart of two of them but they were not able to
let go of their obsession with the throne and mutual hatred it bred.
The 4th prince who was supposed to be the fated suitor for Ruo Xi (lead female character) made a small
mistake due to his deep seated haterd and missed the chance of his last good bye with Ruo Xi.
Ruo Xi also suffers from curse of Omniscience. She is anxious most of the time knowing
the bloody fate which awaits most of the princes. It makes her sick.
Towards the end of the story however she discovers that it was infact her involvement with the 8th prince
which had a cascading effect and resulted the history as she knew it (weird time paradox)
The drama is kind of dark. All the actors have done a brilliant job. Cecilia Liu was fabulous as Ruo Xi.
Nicky Wu was excellant as 4th Prince. Their chemistry was impeccable.
Their sad scenes made me jerk tears. Lots of longing and regrets.
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Good time travel drama
I didn't like to watch this drama at first, because I didn't really like the bald styling of this era. I ended up watching the korean version first, but dropped that because I didn't enjoy it for some reason. The korean version had young, good looking actors "with hair", but the acting just didn't do it for me and it had way more drama e.g. ML with mask/scar w/c I felt was unnecessary. Here, the acting was on point and the storytelling was well executed and made sense. The ending was satisfying, and to be expected from this genre.The beginning soundtrack is great, and good to listen to over and over.
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In the end you cannot help but wonder if she should have a stronger personality. After all she is from the modern times and should not have put up so much shit.
I have seen many of these Kangzi Dynasty drama and the fight between all the princes always left me mesmerized.
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This review may contain spoilers
Anti-feudal tragedy
She knew everyone's fate, yet could never foresee her own. In this world, who doesn't walk on eggshells—save for the lofty Emperor? And even he is but a solitary prisoner on his throne.What makes this story remarkable is how each vividly-drawn character chooses the path that suits them best, only to collectively march toward tragedy. Their struggles lay bare the drama's anti-feudal core.
The cultural depth runs rich—remember when the Fourteenth Prince sang in youth:
'I resent climbing mountains, gazing at waters,
Plucking my seven-stringed zither,
Watching wild geese fly home.'
Yet in his imprisoned old age, he chants:
'A young knight's spirit,
Befriending heroes from five capitals.
Hearts transparent,
Hair standing in wrath.
In brief talk,
We pledge life and death.'
Such heartbreaking contrasts—this is where life's true bitterness flows.
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Characters:
Character development is where this drama really excels. None of the characters were solely good or evil--they were gray characters, developed to perfection, with backstories and individual motivations/goals/desires that supported their actions in the drama. I LOVED seeing the characters change, grow (albeit sometimes negatively). This drama could have easily been overwhelming, seeing as how there are just so many characters and all the major princes (2nd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 13th, 14th) aren't referred to by name but by number. But the characters are all so well-developed that I was never confused. I empathized, I hated, I loved, and even after the end of the drama, I still cannot decide between Ruoxi's love interests, 4th and 8th prince, because they are so flawed, yet both so admirable, sympathetic, and real.
The friendships in this drama were so deep and moving that I thought they were more interesting than the romantic relationships. Two of my favorite relationships in this drama were the friendships between Ruoxi and 13th, and between Ruoxi and 14th. Key word: friendship. Despite how both 13th and 14th prince were both handsome and charming (and very much husband material), I never felt like romance was lacking in their relationships with Ruoxi. That's what was so beautiful about their relationships. And especially with 13th prince, the friendship was filled with trust and loyalty, steady throughout all the 35 episodes. Ruoxi and 13th prince profoundly changed each other's life, not through romance, but through a platonic love and desire that the other would find happiness.
Ruoxi herself was a strong, female character who steadfastly held onto her beliefs and didn't let her romantic relationships change who she was. Ruoxi's character development was very well done, stretched out throughout the course of the drama (which spanned for decades) so that it was believable. She matured both emotionally and intellectually, though her physical appearance was unrealistically the same throughout the drama. One thing that I would say, however, is that I wish this drama delved deeper into her modern life and ideals and then showed more of how her 21st century life influenced her actions/perceptions in ancient China.
Plot:
What I found refreshing about this drama was that almost every scene was necessary in advancing the plot. Very rarely did I fast forward to the interesting parts like I've had to do for most of the Korean dramas I've watched. The plot also felt cohesive, not a string of little episodes of conflict and resolution like many long period dramas. It started off lighthearted, but became more serious and sad as the drama progressed. It felt like I was watching life progress--starting off innocent, then encountering more obstacles and hardships along the way.
My only major complaint about the plot was that romance between Ruoxi and 4th prince, which was mostly interesting, bordered on sappy and overwhelmed the drama. The weakest scenes in the drama were the classic, cliched romantic scenes in which Ruoxi is walking, staring at flowers or the sky, then 4th prince steps out of the blue and staring longingly at her from behind. The drama could have been tighter if these scenes were cut, but that's just my non-filmmaker opinion.
Acting:
Liu Shi Shi (who plays Ruoxi) is a phenomenal actress and did a good job of showing Ruoxi's development from a naive, immature 16 yr old girl to a mature, elegant, strong woman. Nicky Wu did a good job of portraying 4th prince as stoic and silent on the outside, but filled with emotions within. My favorite actor and character, however, was Yuan Hong, who played the dashing, loyal, free-thinking 13th prince. He was downright perfect for the role. In fact, all the actors/actresses were perfect for their roles. Everyone in this drama knew how to actually cry in this drama (which I'm starting to think is a hallmark of good acting, especially in the asian drama realm). More importantly, they made me care about their characters and love this drama.
This drama blew up in China and it's easy to see why. I'd highly, highly recommend this to everyone, especially those who love a deep, complex series and who aren't afraid to cry, laugh, and fall in love with the characters.
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This drama is a masterpiece in dramaland.
It is a must watch for many reasons :
- Incredible acting (especially for a cdrama).
- Beautiful, realistic and well developped story.
- Amazing work from the makeup and costume artists, very good OST.
Cecilia Lui really outdid herself in this drama, and the other actors didn't fall short.
There is only one main character for me, that is her Maertai Ruoxi. Although in many scenes, we see things from the eyes of other characters, that is mainly to allow us to watch in an entertaining way what she will hear or read from others.
Because of this, we don't know more than Ruoxi and I could empathize completely with her thanks to this setting.
Every character is somewhat realistic and consistent, I really liked that.
The evolution of Ruoxi was very well described. After being uprooted from her modern day life, she valued relationships even more that in her past life because that was the only way to take roots in her new life.
Thanks to this drama everyone living in a socio-liberal democracy can fully appreciate the benefits of a modern society.
The tragedy for Ruoxi then began when she entered the Palace, putting her in the eye of the maelstrom, where she could only anxiously wait for the events she knew would happen.
Although the tragedy began then, Ruoxi cannot fully realize it, and blooms like a magnificent flower surrounded by her friends and loved ones.
But the Palace is the Palace, and history cannot be prevented, so Ruoxi still feels a veil is between her and the world. And the fear of the inevitable is already poking at her heart.
During her stay in the Palace, she could never fully realise her love, and eventually lost almost every root she had taken in this new life.
The agony of it is portayed so well that your heart will also bleed. At the same time, the watcher can predict the end, and let go, like Ruoxi.
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This kind of yearning is hard to come by...
Ruoxi… you suffered so much.This drama is beautifully rounded, well-written, and exquisitely executed. Not every story makes me feel the true weight of time travel, but this one did.
It stirred a thought within me: that my closest friends and lovers might have lived in another time and space, where I was once cherished—part of a family I can no longer claim. To return to the present and find faint traces of myself in forgotten history, and to yearn with my whole heart for them… ah, bittersweet and tender.
As I journeyed with Ruoxi, I realized I became her. Though imperfect, I still liked her—her quiet strength, her vulnerability, and her legendary secret that no one could ever fully comprehend or believe.
This drama left me wondering: perhaps there are people among us who carry such hidden stories, who have lived through worlds we cannot imagine, and whose hearts still echo with the weight of another time.
Min Min Gege’s arc felt a little unnecessary. Yet it tied into the main plot and helped Ruoxi bond with the princes.
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A Classic!
Loved the Korean adaptation and definitely enjoyed the original Chinese version as well!I was bored and suddenly thought of Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. Since I've rewatched the Korean adaptation a lot of times and was also bored of Korean dramas, I remembered that it was an adaptation of a Chinese drama. I decided to watch Scarlet Heart with no expectation and ended up finishing it in 2 days.
Released in 2011, the production quality was definitely outdated. The story, however, was well-written to the point that it kept me hooked even if I already know, more or less, how it goes as I've watched the Korean adaptation first. I do have to applaud the actors though. Honestly, the only ones I was most familiar with were Liu Shishi and Li Gengxin. However, as expected from seasoned actors, everyone did an incredible job and exceeded my expectations. Nicky Wu and Kevin Cheng definitely left a lasting impression on me. Nicky Wu's charismatic aura as the fourth prince and Kevin Cheng's portrayal of quite strength and vulnerability just got me so immersed. Liu Shishi also did an amazing job at portraying the cheerful and bubbly Maertai Ruoxi turned weak, apathetic, and helpless. Li Gengxin was also great at portraying the loyal, kindhearted, and affectionate fourteenth prince. All the actors definitely did an amazing job! I have to say, their use of older actors, the men especially, for the main characters gives the characters a different sense of charismatic, manly appeal compared to newer costume drama these days.
That said, this drama is definitely worth watching, especially if you've watched the Korean adaptation. I wish we could see more new costume dramas featuring older, seasoned actors like this one.
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The music was ok. The cinematic stuff was ok. I mostly just enjoyed the story. I'm just disappointed that it took such a melodramatic turn towards the last 15 episodes. It took me down a dark path that I wasn't prepared for. Yes, I was prepared to watch the emperor murder all his brothers, and even to watch their relationships all fall apart because of scheming and plotting. But, that's not what I got. Watching Ruo Xi Suffer was the hardest part in all this. Some warning would have been nice.
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