One and Only

truly heartbreaking ending.

the drama made full use of 24 episodes without any fillers impressed me much.

from story, acting to its execution and breathtaking cinematography, this gonna be one of my top personal favourite drama that scores high in every level.

the slow burn, unspoken romance was heartfelt and emotional. my first drama from BL, 2nd from RJL, their chemistry was off the chart just by staring at each other, mesmerising!

Nanchen Royal Mansion, it’s army, as time passed, it felt that has become my home and the army, my family. how I felt and connected with the supporting characters and their warmth.

ending wrecked me hard. beautiful tragedy.

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One and Only – Wasn’t Expecting to Love This

To be honest, I only started watching One and Only because I wanted to get to Forever and Ever. I’d heard that this show was the first part of the story, so I thought, “Why not?”

At first, it felt smooth and easy to watch—something I could just coast through. I was enjoying it, but I definitely got too comfortable with the storyline. I thought I knew exactly where it was going.

Spoiler alert: I had no clue what was about to happen.

I really loved how the show explores longing and yearning for a future that may never materialize. That’s probably the best way I can describe it without giving anything away. But fair warning—there will be a lot of crying. I cry pretty easily, so maybe it won’t be heart-wrenching for you… but it really got to me. It might very well be just me.

I think I ended up enjoying this much more than I expected—maybe not entirely because of the ending, since I was already enjoying it quite well before the plot twist. That said, the ending definitely played a big part. I don’t know if I can call it a plot twist exactly, but the way things wrapped up really hit me.

As you can tell, I’m completely avoiding spoiling the plot, because I think this show is best experienced blind. If you haven’t seen it yet, I recommend giving it a chance. Go in with no expectations—you might be surprised.

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Historical and deeply frustrating series (tragic love) starring Bai Lu & Allen Ren

Part 1 (past life) of the novel by de Mo Bao Fei Bao

PLOT: The ML, uncle of the new emperor (6 y-old), has moved to another state to demonstrate his loyalty. To secure the emperor's throne, he has sworn never to marry or have children. The FL, the only daughter of the Cui clan (the Imperial preceptor), was betrothed to the CP (ML2 - the emperor's nephew) from childhood. After her father's death, she becomes aphasic and is sent to the ML as an apprentice. They gradually develop a very strong bond. When the emperor is an adult and more robust, the betrothal is broken off. But the ML2 will do everything to possess the FL and the kingdom...

+++ Bai Lu and Ren Jia Lun bring all the power and emotion to this tragic love story.
+++ Lots of excellent actors (including a very young Wang Xing Yue as the obsessive ML2)
+++ Top-notch cinematography (high-budget series): costumes, sets, war and fight scenes... everything is perfect!
+++ Superb OSTs

BUT
### The characters' behavior isn't always logical, especially from the ML, foolishly obstinate in keeping a promise made to the deceased emperor, even if it means trusting traitors (the Dowager Empress, ML2, etc.). Is he supposed to be smart? The FL who lives in a military mansion for years and doesn't even learn the bare minimum to defend herself? The FL who agrees to marry a man she doesn't love rather than become a nun? Etc.

=> I watched this series (reluctantly), praised by commentators, to get some background before watching "Forever and Ever," but I found it extremely frustrating despite the quality of the acting and production. I certainly won't watch it again.
*************************************************************
Série historique et très frustrante (tragic love) avec Bai Lu & Allen Ren
1e partie (vie passée) du roman de de Mo Bao Fei Bao

PLOT: Le ML, oncle du nouvel empereur (6 ans) s'est éloigné dans un autre état pr montrer sa loyauté. Pr sécuriser le trône de l'empereur, il a juré de ne pas se marier, ni d'avoir de descendant. La FL, seule fille du clan Cui (Précepteur Impérial), a été fiancée au CP (ML2 -neveu de l'empereur) dès son enfance. Devenue aphasique à la disparit° de son père, elle est envoyée comme apprentie chez le ML. Ils dvlpent peu à peu 1 lien très fort. Qd l'empereur est adulte et + solide, les fiançailles sont annulées. Mais le ML2 est prêt à tout pr avoir la FL et le royaume ...

+++ Bai Lu et Ren Jia Lun qui donnent toute la puissance, l'émotion, de cet amour tragique.
+++ Bcp d'excellents acteurs (dont Wang Xing Yue tout jeune en ML2 obsessionnel)
+++ Top cinématographie (series high-budget) : costumes, décors, scènes de guerre et de fight ... tout est parfait !
+++ Superbes OSTs
MAIS
### Les comportements des personnages ne sont pas toujours logiques, en particulier ceux du ML, stupidement obstiné à respecter une promesse faite à l'empereur défunt, quitte à faire confiance à des traitres (impératrice douairière, ML2, etc.). Il est supposé intelligent ? La FL qui vit dans un manoir militaire pdt des années et n'apprend même pas le minimum pr se défendre ? La FL qui accepte d'épouser 1 homme qu'elle n'aime pas plutôt que de devenir nonne ? Etc.

=> J'ai regardé cette série (à contre-coeur) portée aux nues par les commentateurs pour avoir les références avant de regarder "Forever and ever", mais je l'ai trouvé extrêmement frustrante malgré la qualité des acteurs et de la production.
Je ne la regarderai certainement pas à nouveau.

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Ugh

So I just came across this c-drama, and let me start by saying that even though this series is from 2021, it's still amazing.

I'm only 15 episodes in, and I absolutely despise the empress dowager. At first, I wasn't really drawn to the male lead in the series, but his acting talent is impressive. However, I sense no chemistry between the two main characters.

I already know that this series is going to be heart-wrenching because I accidentally saw a clip from TikTok. However, this series is so remarkable that it cannot be skipped; it's not the kind of series you can fast forward through in a few minutes.

In my opinion, what makes this series so captivating is the range of emotions evoked in each episode as the story unfolds.

Also commending the entire cast. There are both likable and unlikable characters; you'll smile, laugh, cry, and get frustrated. It's a whirlwind of emotions.

I have enjoyed a wide variety of C-dramas over the years, and this is perhaps one of my top 10 favorite Chinese series.

I'm not a big fan of Bai Lu's character. It might just be me, but I find her to be quite stagnant and a bit lacking. I find some of her scenes to be quite boring and frustrating. Like a helpless puppy pitifully waiting for its master, too fixated on the ML with no self-ambition and growth. Ugh. However, I have enjoyed a few of her series like "Kunning Palace," "Till the End of the Moon," "Only for Love," and "Love is Sweet."

Anyway, there are 9 episodes left, and I'm preparing myself because I know there will be more emotional and heartbreaking scenes moving forward.

UPDATE:
Currently on episode 20, with 4 episodes to go. The latter episodes feel rushed and unpolished; some events from the palace were barely discussed properly. There were scenes that I wish were explored more, etc.

I finished it; it was devastating and heartbreaking. However, I felt that it was rushed as I mentioned previouslyIt wasn’t a perfect series; there were still some letdowns. Overall, it’s a tragically beautiful series. Prepare your tissues.

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A slow, deliberate masterpiece that sneaks up on you—until it leaves you unexpectedly heartbroken

✅ What Makes One and Only Special

🔥 A rare kind of storytelling—slow, intentional, and deeply immersive.
• Unlike most dramas that rush into emotions, One and Only builds everything with care.
• It doesn’t waste time on unnecessary scenes, but instead, layers details slowly—so that every moment matters.
• You may not feel its full impact right away, but by the end, it stays with you.

🎭 A Mature, Subtle Love Story
• This is not about grand romantic gestures or fiery passion.
• Instead, it’s about love that exists in unspoken words, in loyalty, in deep trust and sacrifice.
• The chemistry is intensely restrained—which makes every glance, every pause, every decision feel even more powerful.

🎨 Visually Stunning—A Cinematic Experience
• The costuming, color palettes, and cinematography are gorgeous.
• Every frame looks like a painting, rich with detail and elegance.
• If you love the beauty of traditional Chinese aesthetics, this drama is a masterpiece.

❌ Where One and Only Falls Short

🐢 It Starts Slow—Too Slow for Some Viewers
• It takes patience to get fully invested.
• Unlike other dramas where you’re hooked from the beginning, this one creeps up on you.
• If you’re used to fast-paced storytelling, the first few episodes might feel too slow—but once the emotional depth kicks in, it’s completely worth it.

💔 A Heart-Wrenching Ending That Comes Out of Nowhere
• Throughout the drama, you know the story isn’t going to end well.
• But even knowing that, the final blow still hits harder than expected.
• The heartbreak is sudden, shocking, and deeply felt.
• If you’re looking for a feel-good romance, this is NOT it.

👑 A Story That Lingers After It’s Over

💡 Even after finishing, the emotions don’t fade right away.
• While One and Only *didn’t wreck me in the same way as The Story of Pearl Girl or My Dearest, it still lingers in a quiet, lasting way.
• It wasn’t overwhelming at the time, but days later, I still found myself thinking about it.
• The ending leaves a sense of loss, nostalgia, and quiet sorrow that stays with you.

💡 It’s different from most tragic dramas.
• Where Korean historical dramas focus on struggle and survival, this one has an unshakable confidence in battle.
• It doesn’t rely on constant war and hardship—instead, it’s about duty, restraint, and fate.
• That makes the tragedy hit differently.

🚨 Final Verdict: A Quietly Powerful Drama That Builds, Then Breaks You

⭐ Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
✅ One star for the stunning cinematography and costuming.
✅ One star for the rare, mature way it tells its love story.
✅ One star for the emotional impact that sneaks up on you.
✅ One star for the deeply restrained yet powerful acting.
❌ Minus one star for the pacing—some viewers may struggle to get into it.

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I really only have this to say: The actors understood the assignment.

This was so well done. It was honestly one of the most beautiful and well-acted shows I'd ever seen.

The longing, yearning, love, depression, ache . . . everything was acted to perfection.

I cried so much. I've rewatched the ending scene maybe five times now, and I rewatched the scenes with the couple together so many times as well.

I'd seen Bai Lu's other work and I think she has great chemistry with her other co-stars but this was unparalleled. And these two didn't even kiss. Just the tension and deep feeling they had was perfect.

That's all I have to say about this.

Please watch it. You will not be disappointed.

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A Romantic Tragedy

ONE AND ONLY was a great Cdrama, especially if you like historical period and costume dramas. I admit, I had a difficult time getting into this one at first. I had a few false starts and dropped it several times before going back to it, due to the seemingly predictable and generic romance. It really did develop and pull me in.

Once I finally got going however, I discovered it was a really good show, and quite short in terms of average Cdrama length (24 eps instead of 60-80+ eps). I noticed it used flashback scenes, not overly frequent, but perhaps more so than other dramas in order to condense the storyline. While I do enjoy the longer series (as they create a depth and deeper emotional bonds), but this was a nice change of pace.

" A young man determined to become a general takes a mute, ill-fated princess as his disciple, forming a forbidden bond amid palace power struggles."

The actors were all very good in their roles, and the characters were all very likeable as well. The story was a bit slow starting, focusing on the friendship and blooming romance aspect rather than on the rest of the story, but gradually became more interesting and compelling, especially as villains and other main characters stepped into play. I really enjoyed the music as well, it was very fitting.

Overall, ONE AND ONLY was a great watch. I recommend if you like historical romantic Cdramas. Must warn, it is tragic and emotional.

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A poetic screenplay about a grim, downward spiral that I grew to hate . .

The premise is 'witness a historical, grim epic power dispute, through the eyes of a wide-eyed girl/woman aged 14 - 24.' Nirvana in Fire and The Rise of Phoenixes are my gold standards for tragic male dominated political battles, and this drama falls far far short. Yes, there is a tragic/forbidden romance element that is introduced strong at the start. But, Shi Yi is a passive character and neither she nor Zhou Sheng Chen are focused on their romance as much as their duty to a crumbling and corrupt empire.

Rating it against my gold standard, the court intrigues and strategies of this drama are simplistic, and the villains overacted, cartoonish and not given sufficient back stories. Zhou Sheng Chen lives with integrity, is a talented general, and is made noble by his constant self-sacrifice, but he's also very one note and does not develop any complexity, nor displays any sort of talent for politics or romance.

There was a great use of poetry in this show, very touching beautiful lines . . . and that was the only highlight.

Once I realized that the political intrigue elements, which are the weakest points of this plot, were going to dominate the last 1/3 of the drama, I decided to drop it.

Acting is so so, chemistry is good as child with crush on teacher, but fizzles as Shi Yi becomes a full adult. Music set the mood fine, and I would not rewatch.

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Beautiful, breathtaking romance

Beautiful, breathtaking and heartbreakingly sad romance drama.

I put off watching this drama because of being told how sad it was. Let me tell you, I was missing out on a beautiful romance. There are a lot of gorgeous scenes between Zhou Sheng Chen and Shi Yi. Although their love story isn't in words they say out loud but in their eyes and their actions towards each other. Each wanting, needing the other but there are reasons he has to keep his distance.

If you like Ren Jai Lun, you won't regret watching this. He is an awesome actor, who without one kiss scene can show more depth of love and romance than all the more 'spicy' dramas combined. From the moment he steps on screen he is the heart of this story.

If you decide to give this drama a chance please remember this isn't a happy story... for anyone, have a box of tissues ready (although the sad parts won't come until the last few episodes) and have Forever and Ever ready to watch immediately after this.

For me one of the saddest parts was when she was reading the blood letter he wrote before dying.
"I’ve never let down or hurt anyone in this world, expect Shi Yi."

Even though it did break my heart and leave me crying buckets of tears I don't regret for one second watching One and Only.

and on a related note Wang Xing Yue was phenomenal as the villain Liu Zi Xing.

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