Wrong Carriage, Right Groom (2001)

An oldie, but goldie?

This drama is a classic romp, with a plot as old as Shakespeare, but it still has a fun appeal. This isn't that deep, it does what it sets out to do, romance, comedy and some intrigue.

This drama is actually difficult to rate, because I am very aware that it is an old drama, and somehow feels older than it actually is at the same time. I grew up in Asia, so I am aware that 22 years ago the standards for what can be done on screen, acting and technology were just still very different. But this drama in a sense feels like it is from the 60s, maybe because of the garish costuming. On the other hand, I find the sets really interesting, more realistic than all the current historical dramas that are filmed in the same film studio, this looks rather rough around the edges. This includes the lack of a filter, even though the quality of the cameras itself is kind of a filter... I loved that the General wasn't a wiley, handsome man with pale, flawless skin. No, with this guy you can believe he is a man that battles other men for a living, he also has the manners to boot.

Minus points for the sometimes drawn out side-plots, but since this is a simple, fun drama, at least you can color your nails or knit a sweater without missing too much?

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Classy and heartwarming, if a little bland

This was a short and charming drama I loved full of 古韵, basically that aura of ancient Chinese culture and styling you find in a lot of the older historical cdramas. The two new versions they made based off of this just can't compare—one is too plastic, the other too shallow.

It's a simple, comedic, and romantic romp that actually has 4 couples' stories between the two FLs and the princess (there's an older married couple who has sweet moments too). Both FL had their charms: the tomboyish martial artist Li Yuhu and the refined scholarly Du Bingyan. Even the princess was cool—she was a little bratty, but also very refined and carried the aura of royalty about her, and genuinely good/innocent at heart.

The romance for all FLs was well developed and fleshed out, but I agree with some reviewers that treatment of the villain fell flat. How could they let him run rampant for so long?! And I really wanted an epic sword fight where Li Yuhu got to show off her sword skills (that we only get glimpses of in her practicing and occasional spar with her husband) but instead in the last episode she's just hiding beneath grandma's bed and even pushed back inside by her while the villain threatens granny. Then he goes into the secret vault himself and granny locks him in permanently?? THAT'S how he gets his comeuppance?? It was a neat way to deal with it and I guess aligned with household customs of the time (it'd be a scandal if there really was a swordfight in grandma's room) but after all the prep and buildup the lack of a real faceoff with the villain was a bit of a let down. I guess they wanted to show that he really was nothing in the bigger scope of life.

Well, whatever! Both FLs reunite in the end at the temple they first met to rest from the rain and they're both pregnant, yay! Happy ending for all.

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