This review may contain spoilers
Update: It gets better starting with episode 6. At first, it was bad!
Although, I genuinely like the male lead actor, I was disappointed to see him play the male lead character. To be honest, as of episode 3 I don't think he is doing as good of a job as he did in his prior historical dramas. Not bad, but not great either. I believe this drama would have been better if they casted an actor between the ages of 30-45 (this doesn't mean the character has to be the same age), with phenomenal acting experience in political based historical dramas.While the storyline is good, the script and production is lacking. What I mean is, in episode 1 the male lead and the army won a war and the first thing he does after returning home (well, waiting outside of the gate) was to leave and investigate a case. The political plot in the first 10 episodes, felt rushed, and unrealistic; it was as if they were looking for a way to find a quick way for the female and male lead to link up with one another. Also, there was no significant moment shown to us to explain why the male lead character liked the female lead character.
Next, the female lead characters mom, hadn't seen her daughter since she was a baby, and instead of embracing her with love, she embraced her with rules that could have waited until she started spending good quality time with her daughter. For goodness sake, she heard that her daughter often was starved by her grandmother and aunt. Additionally, at one point, she was left to die outside of their town. The mother's behavior is not endearing but it seems very cold, and harsh. Her character is enough to make me want to drop this drama. I'm hoping that the writer allow her character to develop.
If the script, acting, and mothers' character doesn't improve by episode 6, I'm going to drop this drama! Note: The mom's character doesn't become tolerable until episode 20.
Update:
You will start to like this drama by episode 6. Things definitely make a turn for the better. However, I still don't like the male lead character storyline. It seems unrealistic. Additionally, the actor is overacting.
My favorite episode was episode 15. I hate the political plot because it's not logical nor is it well written. However, the female lead character storyline is pretty good. Additionally, the female lead actress did a phenomenal job acting, as well as the actor who plays Yao. Kudos!
I'm currently watching episode 21, and when I see the male lead character, I sigh due to disappointment. UGHHHHH WHYYYYY I don't know if it is because of his character, or the actor, or both! Btw, who else is sobbing after watching episode 21? Where's my tissue? Also, episode 24 (towards the end) is the only time that I liked the male lead actor and character in this drama. Unfortunately, the mom in this drama reminds me of the relationship that I had with my mom. My mom has narcissistic personality disorder, and used to belittle me in front of others. So the end of episode 24, definitely was a trigger.
After watching episode 25, I realized that part 1 was focused on the female leads family and part 2 will be focused on the male leads family, and their marriage. I LOVE how the male lead rides (supports) the female lead at Yao's wedding (the end of episode 25). By episode 26, I finally start liking the male lead character (although, I think the actor could have done a better job acting).
The flashbacks at the end of episode 27 was much needed (I forgot how much the leads interacted with one another), and was a perfect way to end season 1. After watching episode 27, I raised my rating from 8.0 to 8.5.
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This is the best drama I have watched in a while!
I am only on episode 12 and will allow that I am checking two or three times daily for previews or further episodes. It is that good. It has everything. A very good story line, a female lead who is more than 2 dimensional and men who are also more sensitive than usual. It has humor, which makes some of the harder themes bearable. The secondary women are also interesting. The mother is a hard ass, not lambastic at all. (The Grandmother and one aunt fill that role..neither will appear in any further episodes as their roles where filling in the backstory. ) The cousin is a wet noodle but good hearted, I think it is the third aunt who plays the role of a kind hearted mother figure to the MF. So, I guess what I am trying to say is that all the main women in this show dominate the screen and is worth watching if for no other reason than that. I am not good at writing reviews, but this show is so good it is a shame no one has done so as yet.Was this review helpful to you?
Family rivalry
I was very excited to start a new ZLS drama since I really liked WRTW, but this one was different... It starts off really slow with the romance. I mean like I'm half way throughout the first part of the drama and I do not see any feelings between the leads. I also do not get how the male lead has feelings for the female lead without interactions. It just seems a bit unrealistic. The drama is actually more focused on family matters than actual romance or at least for what I can see. I feel like there is a lack of suspense as there is any major plot change yet. Despite watching through half of the first part of the drama, I felt like there was not much going on besides family problems. After all the wait, it was a bit of a dissapointment for me. Overall, not the most interesting!Was this review helpful to you?
just gets better
story - to sum it up, the female lead was neglected throughout her child and became rebellious as a result. she loves to play tricks on the people she dislike, but she still has a heart of gold. from what I’ve seen so far, she begins to quickly adapt to a series of tragedies relating to death and war, which is obviously quite shocking and difficult for a young girl. general ling, the male lead, is a stoic character who shows small hints of emotions but never truly opens up (yet). less than 25% of the show has aired but im sure this story has immersed many viewers.acting/cast - zhao lusi and wulei are young but talented actors. from past films and shows, they’ve displayed a wide range of characters, which is why i knew the acting was going to be top notch. you can quickly sympathize with shaoshang, the female lead, because lusi portrays her sheltered but adventurous character well. since the show hasn’t reached the climax yet, we’ve seen only hints of general ling’s character. however, it becomes apparent that he is slowly opening up to be more than just the cold faced general he’s seen as. many of the comedic moments are carried by the side characters, the expressions in this show just add an entire level of comedy. maybe im sensitive but some of the scenes where the side characters cause misunderstandings and hurt everyone really brings me to tears as well. only 12 episodes in and im attached to all the characters <3
music - i would honestly rate the music a 10/10 but at the moment the show hasn’t reached the climax yet, meaning how the rest of the ost fits the show is unknown. music changes the mood of the show really fast. for a show that has a twist of comedy but also some heart-wrenching scenes, the music is really well-made. i know this show will make me bawl like a baby bc the ending song is so beautifully tragic. looking forward to the rest of the ost as the drama continues airing!
rewatch value - this rating is quite random and technically incorrect since the show is still airing, but it’s based off a prediction. the comedic and lighthearted scenes make you easily attached to the story and the cast, but never forget the first rule of historical cdramas: “if it has over 40 episodes, it will rip your heart to shreds”. you can tell that this show isn’t going to be 100% comedic and the cast has carried out each genre very well. 10/10 for rewatching plot and cute interactions but points deducted bc this drama will most likely make me cry for days straight.
overall - my rating numbers: “10 10 8 8” seem quite simplistic mainly because I’ve never been able to use numbers well to measure a show’s greatness. words do the trick! 12 episodes and im hooked. i usually drop shows not even past the first episode because after watching masterpieces like love and redemption, ashes of love, not many dramas can build up angst properly while still being entertaining. i have great expectations for this drama and so far, they haven’t been let down. to those who can’t stand slowburns: with a great cast and plot, all pain and waiting is worth it! 10/10 recommend. my review after the dramas finished airing is most likely gonna be mainly me sobbing and crying over the tragic moments (56 episode drama definitely means there’s gonna be angst)
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So-so Big Budget Historical Soap Opera with 大木头
It's a so -so story with a big focus on slice of life and family dynamics. It isn't very plot driven, mostly revolves around family issues and romance. The FL has been neglected by her parents due to their responsibilities for the kingdom as military officials which required them to leave their home. The FL is treated poorly by her grandmother and extended family while her parents are away. She is smart and has a strong personality which is great especially when it comes to standing up against people who are bullies. At times I found it to be too impulsive, abrasive, and overdone. I understand it is a part of the story and the novel as the FL is supposed to be fairly young but it was too much at times and it was grating. Her parents played their roles beautifully. The general is stuck between his daughter, wife, and mother; it makes a man want to run and hide from all the drama but the general handles it deftly and with humor. The wife has also been a part of the military campaigns with her husband so she is strong willed and feisty. She clashes with the FL repeatedly and at times is pretty harsh with her treatment of her daughter to rein in her behavior.The ML was pretty wooden and stiff in his acting abilities, not sure who takes the Big Wooden (大木头) Acting Award for 2022 but he's a top runner for it. His role is to be the good looking stiff cold general ML who keeps saving the FL and has lovey dovey puppy eyes only for her. He was slightly better in his acting in The Long Ballad but he had more chemistry with this FL than the FL in The Long Ballad.
The FL acting is good and she plays the character well. There were repeated references to the FL's extraordinary beauty in the show, from a male perspective I would say she's cute girl next door in terms of looks but not an extraordinary beauty. When the series pushes that narrative to tell you versus to show you, it demonstrates a lack of proper story telling and heavy handed tactics.
Didn't really like the instalove thing with the male suitors, it was too quick with how the ML falls in love with her. Even the SMLs had this instalove thing going with the FL. They meet her for the first time, she solves some puzzle, and BIM BAM BOOM I'm so in love with her and ready to devote myself wholeheartedly? There is a love triangle and reverse harem with her three suitors, it isn't over the top which is good, not big on the love tri and quad thing.
At times it was slow and tested my patience but its watchable for most of the characters. Its a big budget series so the settings, historical costumes, production, editing, and cinematography are excellent.
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Wow, one of the best last few years
This is very similar to Sword Snow Stride in terms of story telling and character development but the BIGGEST thing it's so much better than Sword Snow Stride is NO SLOW MOTION. So so much better without those slow motion scenes.I would rate this one over Sword Snow Stride. Much better character development and story telling. I really like the female lead so much. FINALLY a show worthy of Zhao Lusi. She is one of my favorite actresses but I cannot finish any of her last several titles because the shows were so boring and silly. This show finally is able to utilize her talents to the fullest. Love her so much as an actress. One of the funniest actresses but when it comes to serious scenes, she's equal to the task. One of my favorite scenes is her in that cooking comedy where she yells outside the door of the rich guy at the hotel to introduce herself. That is pure comedy genius... alas, show was such a disappointment and I could not finish it.
I am on episode 12 and this is so good. It gets really good after episode 6. I finished Dream of Splendor and while I liked that one, this is so much better. It is so hard to miss a single episode here. No wasted fillers and everything moves quickly. No long winded conversations that go nowhere. No stupid silly music effects like some other shows to show comedy.
I only wish I could binge all the episodes now!
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Expected something better
I have been reading the reviews of this drama and expected something out of this world but I was left disappointed. I am currently watching two dramas because of the great reviews. This one left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.I am comparing this drama with another one in extraordinary attorney woo and while I find that one great and this one less so.
The acting is good but not sure so much of the story. The music is not so great.
I don't like only moments in a drama that are great but I want the whole episode to be great.
This is not really for me.
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The story and all the casts
I had watched up to 12 episodes and found the story become more interesting. It has drawn the real situation of human situation, behaviour and attitude. We can learn much from the story how to respect to olders, how to educate the children to be better and how to love a match person ( no need to be perfect) as your heart want. At the end, your heart choice will be the winner for your happiness.So far all the casts from the main leads until all support roles did their great job. I love them!
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My first historical cdrama, and I couldn't wish it to be any more perfect
Everything is just so perfect and mind-blowing here,, oh how I wish they had actually shown us a wedding scene though cause all throughout the drama we'd been prepared for this grand wedding and then in the end they just ended it like that. I feel betrayed as much as the emperor felt in that last scene 😭😭 the script was so unique, and well put out. My favourite characters were the emperor and the empress and concubine Yue, they literally had the bestest relationship. It's the first time I've seen such sibling relationship between an empress and a concubine. They really deserve everythingWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Skip if you don't want to read spoilers
I honestly feel sad that I didn’t discover Love Like the Galaxy earlier in any apps i have, I enjoyed it SO MUCH that I barely slept for two days just to finish it.You can never really go wrong with Zhao Lusi—she was amazing as always. What surprised me the most was the tone of the drama. It had politics, but it wasn’t heavy or draining. In fact, a lot of it felt light and even comedic at times, which is so rare for a historical drama.
And can we talk about the palace characters? For the first time ever, I watched a drama where the consort and the empress weren’t toxic. Empress Xuan was so kind, understanding, and emotionally intelligent. Same with Consort Yue—calm, wise, and fair. And the emperor? 😂 He was so biased, but in a funny and lovable way. It made the whole palace dynamic feel refreshing instead of stressful.
Of course, there were still characters that tested my patience, especially the Fifth Princess and Third Princess—but thankfully, they didn’t dominate the entire story.
Ratings
* Conflict: 10/10
* Acting: 10/10
* Overall: 10/10
If I had one small issue, it would be the relationship between Cheng Shaoshang (Niaoniao) and her mother. I understand that her mother was trying to protect her, but at times it felt too overbearing, and the misunderstandings could have been resolved sooner. It was a bit sad to see Niaoniao find more comfort and motherly warmth from the empress instead of her own mother.
On the brighter side, her relationship with her father and brothers was incredibly heartwarming and refreshing. Wished there were more scenes with her family, more bonding with her brothers and father too.
I also appreciated how the drama avoided excessive toxicity and unnecessary backstabbing plots. It focused more on growth, relationships, and emotional development. Although the later part of the story became a bit heavier, it still felt meaningful.
I do wish we had more romantic scenes between Ling Buyi and Niaoniao, but overall, this was such a satisfying watch.
Final verdict: A well-balanced drama with heart, humor, and depth. Definitely one of my all time favorites.
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A MUST WATCH DONT HESITATE! IT GETS BETTER AS YOU PROGRESS I PROMISE!
I honestly had a tough time wrapping my head around the heavy politics but by the end it all made sense. I’m glad I didn’t drop it. Itsssss soooo goooddd. The trauma in this drama makes sense. I absolutely hate it when every drama uses trauma as their plot, here using trauma as a part of the plot made so much sense.Can we pleaseeee thank the writer they have done so well. The balance between fun,sadness,pain,happiness is just perfect 🤩 .
For me it’s def a 9.5
However I wish I could see them get married & have kidssss 😭 Ik it isn’t necessary but their chemistry asks for ittttt.
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Such a captivating story , brought to life by remarkable actors !
In principle, I don't usually enjoy historical series, but given the positives reviews, I gave it a try and couldn't stop until the end of season 2 🤩.The story intertwines military circles, with some dedicating themselves to their country at the expense of their large families, and high-ranking dignitaries who exert influence over everyone around them.
It's a psychological story about the difficulty of family communication after an abandonment, and about revenge following a huge murder.
It's more than just romance, it's family links, filial piety, trauma, political and revenge plots.
Shao Shang is a determined and intelligent very young woman who seeks independence in all aspects of her life, including her relation with Ling Buyi.
The scenes with the Cheng Family's brothers and father are some of the warmest and most joyful.
Wu Lei (Ling Bu Yi) 's performance in this series is masterful ; he brings to life a character who is cold, calculating and utterly dominant.
Zhao Lusi (Shao Shang) is ideal for this part, masterfully expressing the story's most powerful emotions. His chemistry with Wu Lei is off the charts ; their connection just leaps off the screen.
The selection of supporting actors is also perfect. I was thoroughly impressed by the Emperor (Bao Jian Feng), the Empress (Tong Lei), Consort Cao (Cao Xi) and Yuan Shan (Li Yun Rui) .
Happily, the main characters, Ling Bu Yi (Leo Wu) and Cheng Shao Shang (Zhao Lusi) will overcome all their problems and difficulties while remaining loyal to their country.
The best historical drama I've ever seen 👏🏻👏🏻🤩🤩💐💐😍😍.
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