One and Only

The Prince Who Doesn't Want to Be King

The story started off well. It progressed well for a while. Then it turned to the Prince Who Doesn't Want to Be King story. Although he chooses all the kings, he doesn't want to be a king himself, and he doesn't even accept getting married and having children. Such a personality. However, our hero is someone who has taken in and raised a lot of orphans, and made them into men. The woman also wants to be an apprentice to someone who fits this name. But she falls in love with her master. However, her master stands by his words even though he loves her. Good. It's understandable to some extent. However, later on, he consents to the woman he loves marrying someone else, even though she doesn't want it. This marriage breaks up. Then, the man insists again and wants to marry her again, and they get engaged again. He says yes to this. In other words, just as he plays with the woman's nerves, he also plays with the audience's nerves. Such a character is unacceptable. It's wrong. This character doesn't kill his opponents and surrenders himself to them in the last episodes of the series, despite his own soldiers coming to the rescue, despite having the opportunity. Our hero turns into a paper tiger. Because he wants to save the little king, he sacrifices himself instead. It's understandable. But it's advantageous. The little king comes to him. When he comes, he can kill both enemies in front of him. But he doesn't. He is torn to pieces by these enemies. It's not going to happen. It's not possible. But they did it. It's wrong. Likewise, let's leave aside our paper tiger hero. Our smart female hero also marries that prince. She says if my mother allows it. She agrees to marry without saying a word to her mother. Why doesn't she talk? Finally, the female hero also commits suicide. The mother says I'm guilty etc. So no matter where you look, I only have the last episodes. It didn't happen. It was like a comedy of errors. Some things didn't make sense to me. There was no sticky love affair. It seemed like loving from a distance was the most beautiful of loves. These places were good. These kinds of loves of the secondary roles were also handled well. The director was very good. The actors were very good. I really liked the cast. But I can't say the same thing about the script. I was going to give the series an 8, but I have to give it a 6.

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Beautiful in every way

I started this drama after hearing it had a sequel series already completed for it right after. I was intrigued so I planned to watch one episode and got so invested I watched 5 before I knew it. Its a beautiful drama. The cast, the cinematography, the directing... everything is great. And to top it for the story is amazing. The characters feel real and their motivations and the world they live in feel like they have actual stakes. The main leads have great chemistry and are good actors. The supporting cast does well too. The reason this is not a 10 is because the side relationships needed work. To have some couples have amazing chemistry and others fall flat was a loss for me. There are certain scenes with side characters I skipped and missed nothing critical to the plot. But overall I loved this drama and I recommend it to those who love romance filled political historical dramas.

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the story is actually not bad, even though the ending is... ,, but the storyline is not clear, it seems very perfunctory,,

what to expect from a 24 episode drama? it's impossible to have clear details,

The interesting of the story in this drama starts at the end of the drama


Watching until the end i don't know how old they are, this is my main questions from the beginning of the story ,because always birthday birthday and birthday ,,don't know how old they are when she go to westernstate(xizhou),how long time ,, and how much time has passed, but when the young emperor died they said he was 19 years old,and he reign when 6 years old,, when emperor 6 years old it was half a year from Shiyi's 10th birthday, which means they were 4-5 years apart, if the emperor was 19 at that time, it meant that shiyi was 23 years old? did they not take that into account?,, and zhoushencheng said he and she age difference is not more than 10 years,that mean 9++ ZCS maybe 31 years old?


when i just met shiyi everyone in the manor already understood the sign language,, well i pretended not to see it

And what the mean of lotus painting?

All incident happen suddenly!

Death is necessary, but is it a bit too perfunctory?


The story ,,saying what and doing what ,different !

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A SUPER tortuous love

Everyone loves this drama and everyone has seen it several times. If you are looking for a review that is lower and is curious to why, well, I’ll tell you my thoughts and feelings and why to me it wasn’t a 10 star drama.

Did I like One and Only? Yes, it was good. Did I love it like everyone else? No. And here’s why.

First off, I love Bai Lu, even though she’s fairly young, she looks and acts older. I like that the dramas she picks are usually romantic, sweet and very funny. One and Only is a melodrama and when I first watched it, I didn’t know that.

Allen Ren dramas are hit or miss for me. I love some of them (Under the Power) and some of them were tough to watch (Miss Crow and Mr. Lizard). Usually I have a problem with his fake kissing, but he doesn’t do that anymore (not that it has any relevance to this drama). It’s just something I associate with his character.

The casting was 100% point in this drama. I agree with the other reviewers that Bai Lu and Allen Ren really brought their A game. If you want to watch an epic love, then this is it.

Now, I went into this drama, not knowing anything and maybe that is my problem. I think I was in the mindset for a very typical C drama (even if it’s a melodrama). I have my C melodrama expectations and to my surprise, I didn’t get what I usually get. Was this good or bad? I’m not sure. It was different.

What makes everyone love this drama so much and maybe that’s where I started to fall apart, was the tortuous love between the leads. It’s a very simple concept. Two people who have a very strong relationship, but can never be together. That is a very common storyline for many C dramas, but in One and Only, I felt like this issue was just amplified.

You feel the tortuous love between the two and a simple thing, like a glance can make your heart beat a million miles or wreck your insides (depending on how the glance is taken). It’s a SUPER slow burn romance and it’s super focused on feelings.

You have to go into the drama in the right mind set. It’s a slow burn. It’s a complex love. It’s a super melodrama amplified. You will be left with overwhelming feelings when you finish the drama.

Overall, I totally understand and respect why everyone loved this drama so much. For me, I found it somewhat painful and uncomfortable to go through. I think I am glad I watched it so I could appreciate the actors and the storyline, but I wouldn’t say I enjoyed watching the drama.

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Well, everyone got what they deserved

What's done is done, but I believe this drama was miscast. Change the leading man to the smoking hot Monk guy (Zhou Lu La) and we at least would believe the guy was indeed a general because he had the right form plus an expressive face that conveyed more emotions than Ren Jia Lun has done in all his dramas combined.
Moreover, and I can't emphasize enough, this drama suffered from the screenwriter's depiction of the protagonists and antagonists who were done a disservice by being characterized with such clearly delineated qualities. There were no gray areas, everyone was either white or black. Our ML was entirely too selfless while our heroine had less gravitas than cooked noodles. The combination of the two of them kept me entertained because god knows nothing good would ever come out of their combined idiocy. Perhaps I'm being too critical but having just come from watching the masterclass acting and screenplay that is "Royal Nirvana", I'll give myself a pass for being dissatisfied with a drama that needed a couple more re-writes.

While it's normal to romanticize star-crossed lovers, I still need them to not offer themselves up as sacrificial lambs. Zhou Sheng Chen as a character didn't quite ring true for me and for a drama that's this character-driven, I needed to believe he was being tormented by the vow he'd prematurely taken. How could he have been allowed to have his cake and eat it too? Yes, I know he died and all but he never actually suffered unrequited love since whatshername was basically handed to him on a golden platter. What a joke.

In all, the clusterfuck that was the premise could have only worked if they all died, which they did. So, all's well.

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i already watched until ep 12 and what i can say is AMAZING,not only the story line,the actor,cinematography in this drama is really at another level

usually i dont watch historical chineese drama like god/angel/demon all that but this historical drama is not related about that fiction,it was adapted from popular novel and i want something not too much romance,little sweet but give me such big impact

actor
bailu and allen did a good job and i respect with both of them as i know allen have that no kiss scene policy when acting but im sure u will not bother about that, cus the storyline already amazing and im okey if they dont have kiss scene in this drama

story
story is well organized, u can easily adapt with this drama with not much too think about, there not many problem from ep1-12 and we can easily follow the story and the problem,and i know the climax will be when bailu(shiyi) need to marry crown prince and im waiting for that, and for one and only they will have tragic ending so be prepared but dont worry they will continue their love story on forever and ever sequel for this drama, so i have high expectations for modern times p/s i love tragic ending

song
omggg i keep repeating this drama ost everyday in youtube, allen voice is really soothing ❤️🤤

rewatch value
because i watch this drama when it still ongoing, i cant let go if this drama while waiting next ep another week i dont watch any drama,i binge rewatch every ep, i cant handle watching other drama cus i cant focus(my head was like omg bailu and allen) 😂😂

overallll
good drammmmaaaa ❤️❤️❤️

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I have a headache from crying so much

Cried so hard that I got a headache, my heart is broken and my chest is heavy. I'm taking this personally; I am in severe pain. This show was… absolutely sickening.

I was immediately in love from the first episode. The cinematography and tones in this show are so beautiful, the production feels rich and completely took me away. Every episode felt like it was only 5 minutes. The quietness of the show and deep affections of the characters is what makes this drama a high-quality show. None of the characters had to explicitly say anything, it was always understood. The longing, the adoration, the respect – it was all in their actions, in their eyes, in their behavior – I’m getting sad again as I’m typing this.

The actors… Bai Lu is absolutely insane in this show, and so was Ren Jia Lun. His eyes said so many things. He knows eye-acting to a T!

Visually, the show was stunning. The music was beautiful too. The acting was the cherry on top. I don’t have any words to describe this heart-shattering show, but despite my pain right now, I love it. Watching “Forever and Ever” is a must though… this heart asks to be mended – and quickly. ❤️‍🩹

P.S.: don't take my rating for the rewatch value seriously lmao. I'm extremely sad right now, how could I want to go through this pain again❤️‍🩹?

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I’ve never loved being heartbroken this much

If you’re looking for a drama that will break your heart in the most beautiful way possible, One and Only is it. Bai Lu and Allen Ren deliver performances so powerful, so deeply emotional, that you can’t help but be completely drawn into their tragic yet breathtaking love story.

Set in a world of political intrigue and duty, the drama follows Zhou Shengchen (Allen Ren), a loyal and honorable general, and Cui Shiyi (Bai Lu), his devoted disciple. From the start, their love is restrained by obligations and circumstances, yet it shines through in the smallest gestures — a lingering glance, an unspoken promise, the way they sacrifice for each other without hesitation. Their bond is profound, not just in romance but in mutual respect and unwavering loyalty.

Zhou Shengchen is a man shaped by war, bound by duty, and driven by an unshakable sense of responsibility. He was raised to be a protector, not a lover — to defend his people, to stand unwavering in the face of danger. And yet, when he meets Cui Shiyi, love becomes his quiet rebellion, the one thing he allows himself to cherish even as he denies it.

He is not a man who expresses love in words, nor does he allow himself the indulgence of longing openly. Instead, his love is in the way he shields her from harm, in the way his eyes soften when she speaks, in the rare moments when his control slips and emotion flickers through. It’s in his unspoken promise to always keep her safe, even if it means staying at a distance.

What drives him? Duty. Honor. The weight of protecting a country that sees him as a warrior first, a person second. What he fears most is that his love will bring Shiyi harm. That in choosing him, she will be condemned to the same burdens he carries. That she will suffer because of him. Yet, he does love her, with everything he has — silently, fiercely, and without asking for anything in return.

And when fate is cruel, when choices are taken from them, his sorrow is unbearable — not because he weeps, but because he does not. Because he endures it, because he swallows his pain as he has done all his life, and because, in the end, his love for Shiyi is the one battle he could never win.

Cui Shiyi is born into nobility, but she has never been truly free. From the moment she is betrothed to a man she does not know, her life is dictated by duty. Yet the moment she steps into Zhou Shengchen’s world, she finds something she never expected — a place where she belongs. She may have been sent to his manor to learn, but in truth, she was always there to love him.

Devotion drives her. The quiet, unwavering kind that expects nothing in return. She doesn't love Zhou Shengchen for his titles or his victories but for the man he is — the one who treats her not as a political pawn but as someone with a mind and heart of her own. What she fears most is losing him. Not to war, not to duty, but to the silence between them. To the love they both feel but cannot speak aloud.

She loves him gently, selflessly, with a patience that makes her love all the more devastating. She waits for him, even when she knows there may be no future. She watches over him, even when he does not realize it. She holds onto his every word, his every kindness, as if they are the only things keeping her heart beating.

Her love is not loud, but it is unshakable. She does not cry out when she suffers, does not demand more than he can give. But in the moments when her voice breaks, when she speaks his name like a prayer, when she looks at him as if he is her entire world — you feel it. You feel the depth of what she carries inside her, the love she would have spent a lifetime giving him if only fate had been kinder.

Beyond the love story, One and Only is also a tale of family — not one bound by blood, but by loyalty, shared hardships, and unspoken understanding. Around Zhou Shengchen and Cui Shiyi stands a family of disciples, a wise and compassionate monk, and a trusted military advisor. They are more than just followers or subordinates; they are the people who fill Zhou Shengchen’s world with warmth in a life that would otherwise be lonely.

Each of the ten disciples carries their own story, their own devotion to their master, and their own silent love for the family they’ve built. They look up to Zhou Shengchen not just as a general but as a mentor, a father figure, a man they would follow to the ends of the earth. And within this circle, Cui Shiyi becomes one of them — not a noble lady to be served, but a cherished sister, someone they protect not out of obligation, but because they love her as much as he does.

The monk is the guiding presence, the voice of wisdom who understands the depths of the love between Zhou Shengchen and Cui Shiyi, even when they do not speak of it. The military advisor, ever loyal, sees the burdens his master carries and shoulders them alongside him, never letting him stand alone. Together, they are not just warriors, not just scholars—they are a family, built from the quiet moments, the laughter between training sessions, the shared meals, the unspoken knowledge that they would give their lives for one another.

And when tragedy looms, when sacrifice comes knocking, it is this bond that makes it all the more devastating. Because One and Only is not just about the love between two people — it is about a home that was built, a family that was cherished, and a loss that is felt by every single soul who called that place home.

Allen Ren’s portrayal of Zhou Shengchen is one of quiet strength and heartbreaking restraint. He embodies a man who carries the weight of his responsibilities, never once faltering, even when it costs him everything. Every emotion — his longing, his pride, his sorrow — is in his eyes, in the way he holds himself, in the slight tremor of his voice during those gut-wrenching moments.

Bai Lu gives us a Cui Shiyi who is both gentle and resilient, her love for Zhou Shengchen so pure yet so painful. She doesn’t need grand declarations — her expressions, her tears, the way her voice breaks when she calls his name — it’s enough to shatter you. And perhaps one of the most striking aspects of her performance is how she embodies Shiyi’s silence.

She arrives at Zhou Shengchen’s manor unable to speak, her voice locked away by years of repression and the weight of her circumstances. Yet, through love, through trust, through the quiet safety he provides, she slowly finds it again — learning to speak, to laugh, to call his name. It’s a testament to how deeply he becomes her anchor, the person who gives her the courage to exist as more than just a noble lady bound by duty.

And then, when the fateful moment comes — when her world is ripped apart, when she loses the very person who gave her voice back — her silence returns, more deafening than ever. Watching her revert to muteness is utterly heartbreaking, because it isn’t just the absence of sound — it is the absence of life, the loss of the one thing that had made her feel whole. Bai Lu plays these moments with such devastating grace that it leaves you breathless, as if you too, have lost the ability to speak.

Despite its sorrow, One and Only is a drama of stunning beauty. The cinematography, the poetic dialogues, the soft yet haunting soundtrack — it all adds to the atmosphere of a love story that is as doomed as it is unforgettable. Every moment of happiness is fleeting, every tender interaction tinged with the knowledge of inevitable loss. And yet, you can’t look away.

I’ve never loved being heartbroken this much. There’s a rare kind of beauty in a story that makes you ache so deeply, and One and Only delivers that flawlessly. It’s not just a tragic love story — it’s an experience, one that lingers long after the final scene fades.

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Throughout my life I've never let anyone down, but Shi Yi

first i would say this lives upon their name One and Only, the story is shown beautifully by the actors not just main couple but everyone did amazing, they express such emotions and i would say my every tear worth it because i never cried so hard for a drama.
i watched very late because i don't like watching sad endings but i have to watch it because i missed this so much, after 8 ep. i put this drama on hold because i get to know it has sad ending but recently i just saw a clip and i say that rather than ending focus on story development maybe there is rarely any other drama that can compare with this one oh right i would say TTEOTM can but not this much though their endings are almost like this but i would say One and Only is far more than that.
in this its feel like you are feeling the real emotions of them and your tears are automatically rolling down.
Ren Jialun and Bai Lu really did put lots of efforts and i have no words to describe this any further its just literally too good but it will make you cry more than you cried ever but just give it a go and you will find out the beauty of this drama ans ost.
THIS IS TRULY BEAUTY WITH BONES...

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Oh my God! This is just an amazing heartbreaking and heartbreaking drama! I was hesitating whether to start watching it and oh my God! I watched it. I am so used to seeing Chinese dramas with strange video footage of childish acting by Chinese actors (I have nothing against it), that I am more and more surprised to see such high-quality Chinese series. Filming, picture, quality, acting, staging of fights!!! It is all wonderful! Oh, what a beautiful, but incredibly sad love story. The main characters are simply charming, it is impossible not to love them. I have liked Bai Lu for a long time, but I did not focus on this drama before, and after watching "Blue Whisper" with the main character (I have not yet remembered his name), who impressed me and became a find for me, I still decided to watch this drama. I am very glad that almost the entire drama showed moments with them (because usually the interaction of the main couple is not enough for me), but they also did not deprive other characters. 2 failures in the plot, I still found for myself, at the end of the series the director had to make a fuss, to arrange a tragedy ... but otherwise there is absolutely nothing to find fault with. I'm running to watch the 2nd season. Judging by the reviews, everything is not as sad there as in the 1st, I hope that this is so! Oh, I won't be able to move away from this drama for a long time (if I don't find what to watch next

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The best Melodrama I have watched till Date!

It's just too Perfect, the show has absolutely everything! Even as a Standalone I just doesn't disappoint. The Characters are so well Presented and that too with the acting of Ren and Bai Lu. It is a show which will make you cry but at the same time it would also warm your heart. The set, story, production and the OSTs are all just perfect.

In the end if you really feel you need more you can check out Forever and Ever although that is more of a slice of life show unlike this one which is set in the present time!

Keeping all this aside I ll highly recommend everyone to watch this!

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