Loved it!
I love this drama! again this in my favourites rewatch list. I found this to be a very deep drama with a very slow romantic storyline. There's no witty comedy in this drama but you will find the odd joke to break the ice.This was my first drama watching Wallace Chung (Xu Ling Yi) and Seven Tan
(Luo Shi Yi Niang) their acting in this drama was really good the chemistry really bounced off on another. I really hope I get to see them in another historical drama together.
This is a story about a young woman who is forced into being a concubine. We watch from start to finish on her trying to maintain role within the family.
This drama can come across being slow but it is one definitely to carry on watching. Every actor played their role really well superb acting. Each one played there part to keep this great story going..
Ionly had one issue with this drama I felt that the ending was rushed! I'd like to of found out what happened more within the family.
Like I said at the beginning this drama is in my top rewatch list so I definitely recommend it
PS
If you love some drama soundtracks you will love this one...
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LOVE!
I absolutely ADORE this show! It is now in my collection of top 10 shows. I've watched it twice all the way through, and it is even better the second time around!Whether you like this drama or not, will depend on if you can be patient enough to endure a slow burn romance. There is no "love at first sight" or an instant attraction. The romance between the two leads develops over a long period of time and at a slow and steady pace. It's a beautiful story of love! It is such a journey to see the two main leads come together through an arranged marriage, try and convince themselves that they will simply coexist and nothing more, and then have the ML slowly fall in love and woo his wife. Mistakes and misunderstandings along the way, the leads eventually realized that they were stronger together and their love made them better people. I've seen other people comment on this drama saying it is "slow paced" and "boring", but the slow pace is the beauty of this drama. It's wonderful to see the main leads overcome obstacles together, communicate, learn about each other's past, and grow stronger together. I've started to watch other dramas and I find myself laughing, like how do these other characters simply "fall in love" with each other?! The Sword and the Brocade depicts such a deep and meaningful love, that when I see other dramas, it feels so superficial.
What I love:
-The ACTING is some of the best! Wow-Wallace Chung and Seven Tan hit it out of the park with this drama. Seven Tan is a STAR! Her future is so bright. Her smile lights up the whole room. She did a great job depicting a strong and intelligent FL. Wallace is an incredible actor! He is truly a veteran actor and he did a fantastic job depicting a lonely and stoic nobleman. It is so refreshing to watch a drama with two high caliber actors. Their acting is convincing and mature. Many times while watching this drama I kept asking myself, who is the better actor (Wallace Chung or Seven Tan) and I couldn't decide because they both matched each other so perfectly! The supporting characters and villains also did an excellent job!
-The costumes, cinematography, camera work and directing is top notch! You can really tell this drama had a fairly good budget because the props, costumes and sceneries look beautiful.
-The MUSIC is fantastic! EVERY single song in this drama is wonderful and perfectly fits! Even the instrumental and back ground music was stunning. Between the instrumental music and the beautiful flower/nature shots transitioning to a new scene, it felt like a meditation.
What I didn't like:
-The last few episodes had a ridiculous story arc with the FL's maids. It was so unnecessary and quite frankly annoying. It's like the writer desperately wanted to squeeze in this side plot (hence my overall 9.5 rating). However, it only lasted like 2 episodes so it didn't negatively impact my view of the show. The last three episodes were amazing!
Overall: I truly enjoyed this drama! I laughed, smiled, cried, and experienced every emotion while watching. Do yourself a favor and watch The Sword and the Brocade!!
On a side note, I recently found out that Seven Tan's mother passed away at the end of 2018 in a car accident (before the shooting of this series). That explains so much. I can definitely see how much Seven Tan poured her heart and soul into her acting, especially with certain scenes in this drama!
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This review may contain spoilers
I enjoyed this one a lot when it came out in 2021. It's a great slow-burn romance, which might be frustrating to some because the leads do make mistakes initially. Their missteps threaten to undo their relationship altogether, but it's a journey worth watching as they learn to trust and love one another wholeheartedly. Additionally, great chemistry and acting from the leads, bolstered by a wonderful supporting cast and memorable soundtrack, help move the story along.It's not all about romance - life for a woman in the Ming dynasty is hard. The opening shot of the 1st episode lays out one of these main issues/themes: the difference between the legal wife/children and the "illegitimate". This plays out throughout the whole drama, with some to tragic ends and others with heartwarming journeys of redemption and reconciliation. Highly recommend, also a great one to rewatch.
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Look elsewhere if you are searching for a historical romance drama
The Sword and the Brocade was very high on my to-watch list since the day they released the teaser images. This drama stars two of the better (if not best) category actors in China. I thought there was no way they could go wrong because the synopsis and the BTS clips were all too good for me to expect that this drama would end up not delivering. Heck, I wish I went in with lower expectations and I wouldn't come out with such mixed feelings.PLOT:
I thought to expect a lot of politics and scheming since the synopsis mentions "a girl with a low birth status". But the promise of the FL reaching up high in the ranks was what caught my interest. The drama reads like a typical harem drama and for most part- it is. The harem politics is what kept me engaged and enjoying uptil ep 30 (with some glitches in the process) or so after which it started going downhill. The drama was absolutely phenomenal upto 30-something episodes and after that I just started getting bored. I would be lying if I don't say at times I struggled or even went to the skip button to get past some irrelevant plots.
WHAT WORKS:
Harem politics might not be everyone's thing but here it wasn't that heavy. I enjoyed the cattiness of the concubines but it became a bit too unrealistic by the end. Qianfeng was annoying but she actually made the drama more fun for me.
The next and main highlight are the leads. I've not seen such amazing brainy, calm and level headed leads in a drama since a long time. The FL is like a modern women who keeps her wits and knows how to survive in a cruel or challenging situations. The ML seems cold but is more tsundere as the story progresses. It was a bit cringey with him having so many women around him but his doting and dedication towards the FL was brilliant. Both leads have issues and go through the misunderstanding trope a few times but it never drags. I loved how they always resolved problems and their romance build up is enjoyable in spite of the age gap between the leads. However, I did wish for it to not lost steam later on. For still making it work, I give kudos to Wallace and Seven because they play their parts pretty well. I admit the slow/lack of romance was disappointing but the maturity of both and their little interactions were enough for me.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK:
The boring and draggy second-half. I wonder where that enjoyment went. This drama went downhill the moment they got rid of the main "villain". Later it made me realize that until then the harem and romance were the only things that could hold the drama. Unfortunately the drama chose to focus on other plots which I didn't care so much about. The leads getting together was acted well but should have been way earlier. Even the ending was underwhelming at best as the events leading up to it made me lose all my earlier excitement.
OST:
The OST and music of this drama is quite nice. I recommend a listen.
OVERALL:
This drama could have been my absolute favourite but I am sad it didn't work out that way by the end. Nonetheless, it's a good one-time watch with some skipping to make it more bearable. Wallace Chung and Seven Tan do not disappoint but I wish they had better scripts to work with. I still believe this story could have focused on other things and have been more enjoyable. I still don't hesitate to recommend it because I quite enjoyed the good parts of the drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
Reputable, Brave & Lovely Main Leads + Severe Polygamy delineation~!
This drama got me so whipped the entire time and put me in quite a few mood swings during its duration.A well planned, produced and written story that will surely touch you in every corner there is. I expected it to be Good but not THIS 'GOOD'. An example of a Solid drama that surpasses the Great tier and should be lined up along the BEST OF BEST!
I've got so much to say but lemme just summarize it to the best way I can cause this will be endless for sure IF i don't limit myself. Hahaha~
×× Things I LIKE and/or Love.
+ The characters are well-versed and truly showcases different views, situations and emotions that are relatable to probably anyone who would watch it.
+ Smart Story and Plot, It feels so surreal to be able to watch such production who's incorporated with proper planning and thinking after a long time. This drama provided it all beyond my expectation and truly nailed it.
+ Refreshing character development and world building. Something that is rarely seen these days due to 'recycling-whats-popular' trend nowadays. A breath of fresh air I must say.
+ The EVER reliable Main Leads who're always there to help nonetheless of the situation and is always ready to take charge and resolve things. Both of them are brave and responsible individials whose sense of responsibilty and understanding is beyond and above the normal/standard.
×× Things I Dislike and/or Hate.
+ Terrible presentation of Polygamy. I always hated the Idea of having more than 1 Wife and this show just infuriated me for doing so.
+ This is more like a compliment but I hate the villains here more than I do to other dramas antagonists I've ever watched.
Story - 10, Story & Plot wise it's top notch. No words needed. A story that is highly and worth recommending to almost everyone. This production won't disappoint one way or another.
Acting/Cast - 10, Oh God! Phenomenal set of Actors. 💯 All of them nailed it and it's really rare for a drama to do that. Their way of executing emotions and reaching out to their viewers is something to take note of. One of a kind.
Music - 10, I honestly didn't focused much on the music side cause I was so engrossed on how the story unfolds but simply base on the BGMs and insert music I've listened to, I can say that it's decent, Good even. No complaints at all
Rewatch Value - 9, For me, It is on the level of 'Nirvana in Fire'. A drama I wouldn't get tired watching of no matter how many times I watch it. It will always has that multiple spark that will glued your eyes on the screen gradually and consistently.
Overall - 10, This shouldn't even be a question at this point. This drama deserves more than what it has achieved. The way it's produced and presented to viewers felt so refreshing and relatively new. I can assure anyone that this drama will never disappoint.
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
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MUST WATCH!
This drama is so beautiful! GIVE IT A TRY! The music and outfits are greatly designed, the storyline is wonderfully written! JUST WATCH! :DThe main couple, side couples, and the kids are so cute! The romance between the main couple comes later but their interactions are so sweet! They understand each other and respect each other... any who I don't like writing long reviews so yeahh... just watch LOL! ................................................................................................................they required 500 characters when writing a review...............................................have a nice day! :D
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Families Fuel !!!
GREAT DRAMA!!!I 💜love watching Seven T. Her acting skills it’s very natural. She one of my favorite actresses. The Other act well too. Storyline is good. Lots of actions. Basically about Families, Power, Revenge, Tragedy and Concubines fighting for love and attention for the Prince. Typical Historic Dramas. Some of the characters I wonder what happens to them. It needs a little bit more supporting details. I feel it’s a little bit lack in some parts. If you don’t care about the details. The story it’s good all the way through. I finished in 2 weeks 😊. Watch it again…maybe. I still have lots of dramas to watch. Going down the drama list 😀😃
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This review may contain spoilers
Survival & empowerment within the husband's harem and politics.
• Contains spoilers, read at your own risk. You can skip to the bullet points if you want a more general review. •The Sword and The Brocade was nothing like what I expected it to be. When I first heard about this drama, I was a bit skeptical and a bit excited because I wasn't sure how I felt about a concubine's daughter marrying into Marquis Yongping's manor (meaning she'd probably be manipulated and schemed against a lot which came true but less than I thought) but I was excited that it was a Ming Dynasty based drama as they are usually uncommon so it was nice to see something different for a change. Shi Yi Niang proved herself to be quite an independent as well as intelligent woman throughout the entire drama. She married into Marquis Yongping's manor with a motive of investigating her mother's death and ended up catching Xu Lingyi's (Marquis Yongping) attention in the process. She fought through his entire harem (3 concubines) and made them believe that they succeeded in scheming against her when in reality she was the real successful one. She went through constant disapproval of her concubine's daughter status from her mother-in-law as well as her sister-in-law without complaining once about how they were treating her and instead earned their respect from everything she did. She defied the ethics of being a married woman back then when she got involved with Xianling Pavilion with her husband's support rather than approval. I absolutely loved her character because it shows so much female empowerment. It proves that it's not only every successful man has a supportive woman behind him but it shows that it could be vice versa even in ancient times when things like what she was doing were seen as shameful. Most of the drama was focused on family importance, the development of our ML & FL's romance, our FL's intelligent and politics in regards to the sea ban. Some parts of politics were interesting when the scheming was happening but all in all, I try to avoid those as much as possible lol. I would recommend this drama to someone who usually enjoys a slight mix of politics and the scheming tricks of a harem (with an intelligent FL).
To sum it up in bullet points:
• Mix of politics and harem schemes.
• Ming dynasty based drama which is uncommon so it was exciting to see all the different costumes.
• FL is very intelligent and independent which she proves throughout the drama.
• Small but interesting harem schemes.
• Defied societal standards of women in ancient times with her involvement in Xianling Pavilion.
• Message of female empowerment.
• Gained respect from mother-in-law and sister-in-law despite her concubine's daughter status.
• Would recommend to someone who enjoys a bit of politics and harem/family schemes.
OST: Personally I didn't find anything catchy about the OSTs in the drama but I thought they were very suitable to the drama. I have yet to find a drama where the OST doesn't match the development of the drama. It gives calm but slight powerful tunes. I mainly remember the ending song because the beginning of it was the catchiest to me.
Acting: I had actually never watched Wallace Chung in a drama before this one and I can safely say, he was worth the watch lol. I personally think he was a bit too emotionless and could've fixed his facial expressions better when he was upset but overall he did pretty well in his role. I loved Seven Tan's acting in this. She played her young lady role amazingly and her body language/expressions were outstanding. The one thing I think that wasn't that believable was her at the end when she had become an more developed woman (after she had a kid). I think that is due to her sort of baby face though so that may be why.
Ending: It was a happy ending. It fulfilled what the drama wanted to fulfill throughout and it showed one big happy family together. I do wish that Shi Yi Niang had more children with Xu Lingyi because I believe they could've but for the purpose of protecting the eldest son's importance, I think the screenwriter/direction settled with just giving them one child. Overall it was cute though seeing how everyone was happy and the scheming was over.
Rewatch Value: I would definitely rewatch but I don't see it in the near future. I think I'll find myself coming back to this drama when I need a less intense drama to watch that still includes politics and scheming.
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This review may contain spoilers
Watchable,, amazing ost, amazing acting, i enjoy the story
## ABOUT ACTING ##I really admire Tan Songyun's acting skills！！ When she was filming "under the power", I felt a little weird because I havent watch her historical dramas, but when watch it i feel it was not bad ,
but this time it made me admire her! Omaigot! Tan song yun acting is very good! And the othes artists aren't bad either ,, sometimes there are only a few that are annoying, im not sure is too deep in acting or not
##ABOUT EDITING, STORY, PLOT##
at the beginning of the story, in my opinion, the words used are quite complicated and require subtitles, but when it is at the end of the story, as long as you can listeningb Chinese and read the chinese subtittle is easier to understand(i need the chinese sub even i use english sub or my country sub)
### at first there are also scenes that are missed but still acceptable because they are not too important, but hence foward,, the more important and awaited scenes are not shown, very frustrating!!!
Detail good enough ,but sometimes i feel the flashback for explaining how that thing happen a little bit unimportant (not related),,, good enough, but the annoying is when there is a scene that happens directly or i expected to know how its happen,,but is not shown how it happened ,, or the flashback is not related to the scene (ep 19 opening scene ) (ep 45 how shiyiniang can get free?! Omaigot! Frustrated! Im waiting for this but!
### And and the timing was pass very absurd ,, it could shuddenly already passed 1 month and sometimes when flashback how the thing happen the timing is unclear, like when they plan that, and whether the flashback is the 2nd meeting or the same meeting (it is unclear because their clothes are the same, but impossible at the same meeting) like oulixing and xu family spy meeting,, wheb the first meeting xu family spy not knowing about HUPO
and sometimes they seem to plan something but immediately do the plan , and not told out , so didnt know whan the plan is , when ouyanxing help shiyiniang for cure erniang ,,and the most is when oulixing planning something for framing marquis ! not said at all
## the scene that I think happened suddenly (spoiler) ##
1. When yuanniang know the next xu mistress candidate is shiyiniang? ,,, even though it has been changed to erniang,, and change back at the same day when yuanniang be in agony
2. When Shiyiniang was thrown back to Luo manor when investigated yuanniang death
3. when marquis know that erniang hand was injured? And he warn wangyu
4. how can the woman who provoked xianling pavilion worker escaped?
5. when madam luo know about the real cause of yuanniang death
6. when marquis stuck at shandong (It doesn't make sense, suddenly 1 month and Madam Xu just found a clue about what hurt the marquis,and then marquis plan a trap then come back like that)
7. how shiyiniang escape from death?! Omaigot they skip the scene! Frustrating me!
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This drama infuriates me to the point of no return
I'm not even going to bother write a long descriptive review for this drama. That would simply be a waste of my effort.Among the cast I really used to like the ML, saw him in General and I, as Chu Beiji. He was really cool there. But here he appears annoying solely due to the story. I absolutely hate the Fl and Tan Song Yun's face doesn't help at all. This is the most infuriating FL I've come across in a while (and I've read tons of crappy transmigration novels, none of them are this bad).
This kind of dog blood dramas should be banned. People have nothing to do than just get up and scheme all day long with the most annoying tone of voice ever. I have seen many many palace dramas, and none of them harem schemes are as bad as this. This is just plain boring and dumb. The FL lead has such a annoying face, makes my blood boil. I really wanted her to suffer more but she didn't. The ML looks attractive in other dramas is reduced to a pig trotter here. What sword and brocade, rename this to “The Green tea b1tch and the pig trotter+ his 101 useless concubines”.
The only likable thing about this drama is not even in the drama, it's a teaser trailer with the red string of fate concept. Though I'd appreciate if it didn't include the Fl's face.
0/10 would never come close to anything like this.
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If you want to sit through hours of lessons on how to be the perfect woman centuries ago, then this drama is for you. It was not for me. Shiyi, our main female lead, may gently lose her way but she is always selfless, looking out for others and willing to take blame. Ever patient, she uses her intelligence and skills only in the service of the causes of others.
Everyone around her, from her husband, to her own family, to her inlaws, is frustrating, narrow-minded and stubborn, though there is a nice growth and bond that forms between Shiyi and the Marquis Yongping over time. There's a fair amount of overacting from the side characters.
The music is nice, there really is nothing to rewatch. I grade on other criteria as well:
Complex Themes: 5.0
Be selfless and center others, your family, and your country and you will be rewarded with a contentful, joyful life.
Character Growth: 6.5
Shiyi becomes a more mature character, and her husband loosens up over time, but there isn't much character growth.
Relationships between Women/Complex Women characters: 7.0
On one hand, there's a lot of women, they interact a lot, and the discussion is not quite all about men. On the other hand, they are all stereotypes with very little depth.
Cinematography/Production Values: 8.0
For a smaller period drama, the costume, set and jewelry design is all excellent, really beautiful and creative with interesting flourishes and color combinations. The sets are a bit small and claustrophobic (almost nothing is shot in the 'real world' all on 4 or so established sets). There's very little action or complex scenes. The camera shoots straight on with very little creativity.
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harem, harem and harem!
harem!!the drama theme that i mostly avoid watching becauze harem is always full of backstabbing women and bullying. but this time i gave it a try.
turned out just like i thought. full of bullying and backstabbing. but i managed to make it to ep 43 with lots of skipping scenes.
story:
doesnt suit my taste. harem, harem and harem. the story flow feels too draggy. it could've been better if it only had 30 eps. 47 eps full of backstabbing is just too much for me.
casts:
- tan song yun is good. she suits for the role. she looks very mature. i like it when she smiles. however i feel like something is a bit off.
- wallace chung is a bit dull here. idk. probably the character needed him to. i dont like him here despite his good acting.
- daddi tang xiaotian, this is the first time i watch his drama. his acting is a bit stiff, but he has potential, not so disappointing.
music:
music is good. especially the one that zhou shen sings. he always amazes me. every song he sings sounds so beautiful.
is it recommandable?
i might say yes, but not much. if you can handle 47 eps of backstabbing then you're good to go. if not, i doubt that you will enjoy this drama.
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