This review may contain spoilers
A Beautiful Masterpiece
I had been in a slump for over 2 years because i couldn't find a good c-drama according to my taste. This year i suddenly came across this drama and started watching this because of Song Zu Er. I never write any review for any dramas but this drama had me writing for it. The starting, and romance , the plot , the comedy everything was perfect till the end. It would've been nice if Wei Liang did't die at the end but well........i think it was bound to happen. This was one of the true enemies to lovers where there relationship really took time to form based on mutual trust and feelings for each other, not like other where they become lovers suddenly. I really, really love this drama and would watch this again and again.Was this review helpful to you?
do NAWT hesitate to watch this show. WATCH IT
it was a really great drama😛🤞!!! IM REALLY IMPRESSED, THEY SERVED US A GOOD ENEMIES TO LOVERS. THE PLOT WAS PLOTTING. NOT A SINGLE EPISODE WHERE I GOT BORED (but i did skip some scnees that included ANNOYING people) i love all the good characters especially the FL, the 4 generals and the grandma. i also like the character development of the mother throughout the end. as for the cousin, he pmo at first but gradually i liked him. THISSSS IS MY TYPE OF FEMALE LEAD. song zuer played Qiao Man so well. shes strong(not physically), cunning, smart and mature. shes not a baby childish FL🙏 SHES A BADDIE. in some scenes i fr thought shes playing an empress. for the ML, i liked him too! I like LYN character here as Wei Shao/ZL compared to in story of pearl girl. Im not rly a fan of the ost tho! i would rewatch this maybe when im old old bc i tend to rewatch dramas these days🌚🌚 this drama is a masterpiece. glazing or not i think it is. GREAT chemistry, plot, writing, visuals, cinematography, fighting scenes. i rarely write reviews so basically this drama, i zont regret watching it. if you love a calculating female lead and strong male lead, PICK THIS SHOW UP RN. anywayz LOVEDDD IT!😼Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
As A Couple Should Be!
I was fortunate enough to not have to wait 2 or 3 years for this drama to release due to the delay. I don't know what my expectations would have been due to the anticipation so this is my review based on watching an unexpected drama a few days after it was released.What made me decide to watch this drama?
A tiktok edit of when the two leads met each other the first time. I was hooked.
Was the plot good?
Let's get the obvious fact out of the way. So the leads' clans became enemies and we all understand this is an enemies to lovers trope drama and we all expected them to fall for each other no doubt. Cliche but we all wanted it right? What I truly like about it was how the relationship of the couple grew and they built trust over time and not over night or within a few days. It took them a whole freaking year to 101% trust each other gradually. This to me represents reality. If it was any quicker, it wouldn't be so enjoyable for me as much since it may have seemed rushed just to please fans. The overall plot may be predictable for most but it was a great journey.
My beloved 2nd couple:
When life happens, not everything goes your way all the time. I'm sad about Wei Liang's death but I'm also glad that Xiaotao has his brothers their for her support - lifelong. Like I said, life happens but that doesn't make you stop loving people.
Was the HE rushed?
I think it was okay. Not brilliantly great but not bad either. It was just enough. Usually cdramas cram in happiness in the last 5 mins of a baby being born etc and all that but the only thing stopping me giving it a full 10 stars is I wanted to see Wei Shao's reaction on meeting his baby for the first time and possibly an extra scene or two with the new family of three.
Overall thoughts:
I give 9.5 stars to this beautiful drama telling a story of growth and trust between a couple - loyalty, faith and love are great contributions towards peace. Some characters definitely deserved to die and they did. Some deserved to live as a worse punishment than death but unfortunately that didn't happen. Some didn't deserve what happened to them at all and some did their most to maintain relationships as best as they could.
Life is a rollercoaster.
Give this drama a chance but be prepared with a box of tissues for the last few episodes.
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Great beginning but falls off later.
I want to get to the good before the bad. The cast for ML and FL was great. They had such amazing chemistry and their acting was on point. The first 10 episodes had me in a choke hold. The hate, angst, and attraction was so yummy. I adore friendships and this drama had a really funny bromance between 4 (5 if including ML). I love their interactions and they mesh well with each other. I also really like the maid and the soldier relationship (😭). I love it when the ML isn't a spineless mama's-boy. I do like that they both standup for each other. I am just so used to the ML caving in and not doing shit when the FL is obviously being set-up.What I didn't like was everything else. The reason this fell off so much for me, was that the political parts and villains were such a bore. It feels like nothing was happening in that aspect. Meanwhile, the romance department was flourishing. I thought the random ass one-sided love triangle with the cousin was a waste of time. It doesn't add any value to the story or plot. There was no chemistry between FL and the cousin. They didn't have a lot of moments together so I don't get how he was in love with her.... The side characters (not including the cousin) was so... meh? like omg they did absolutely nothing for me.
Would I rewatch this again? Yes and no. I think I would would the beginning again if I am craving for enemies to lover. But I will absolutely not finish it again. I will watch MV or clips once in a while LOL. My rating is between a 7 or an 8. The acting and chemistry between the leads was banging. The leads carried this drama. I would have dropped this around 25-30 episodes in because everything else was not keeping my attention. Honestly, if the actors was different, I would have rated this 5 or below.
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This review may contain spoilers
I always like Liu Yu Ning, recently he has great dramas that impressible but as it progress might not as good as I thought it would be (like the Pearl Girl with Zhao LuSi). Enough suspense, character development is very poise, story flows very smoothly, everybody seems to know how to act and what their character should be. It's the story of Xiao Qiao Man, a clever girl from the Qiao family, marries Wei Shao, the sharp and kind master of the Wei family, as part of a family alliance. Wei family has hatred for the last 14 years as Qiao family betrayed Wei and their brotherhood, with option to create peace in two powerful families, they're agree to form marriage alliance. The title of this drama is fitting with the synopsis; they both prisoners of each other. As a wife Xiao Qiao is restricted and she's under surveillance because of her birth name, trust must be earned. Wei Shao is captivated by her beauty, a prisoner in domesticate way.The two started with distrust, wary but they know their marriage will eventually happen. Wei Shao would rather get rid of her than marrying her that bring out the saddest memory of losing his grandfather, father, & brother. Liu Yu Ning has great posture with power and charisma, looking real good with his costumes, he has preserved face expression. I love the ep 1 when he open curtain to see ManMan (Song Zu'Er) for the first time, he has that little jolt on his eyes indicating he surprise seeing her beautiful face. Liu Yu Ning is great on that. Song Zu'Er also has young cute voice, beautiful make up. She came toward to her grandfather, give an approval of marriage arrangement with Wei by blinking her eyes as signal. I think she did well.
As episode progress, it's too much of PDA for me. I am okey with little romance but not too much of it. I am kind of pull back with so much 'wooing' or 'bonding' or 'courting' the love interest. Ep 15 on ward slows me down, start tiring me with all loving scenes, they spent too much air-time in romance & domestic scenes. I think her cousin Da QIao Fan (He Hong Shan) has great acting on ep 30 when she refused to lend her husband's soldiers to help Wei Shao because she presumed it's a hopeless war she didn't want to lose a husband General. No longer loving cousins they were after that. This drama has postpone it's airing by few years because of Song Zu'Er tax scandal so it just suddenly premier. I like her, she has 2 dramas back to back, she also did good with Allen Ren in the Demon Hunter's Romance' too. One thing though, she cute but can't dance can't do fighting scenes....she's stiff like wood.
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Liu Yu Ning and Song Zu Er were absolutely incredible actor and actress
The acting in The Prisoner of Beauty was absolutely stunning. The main cast brought so much depth and raw emotion to their roles that it felt incredibly real. The lead actor/actress captured the inner struggles and pain of their character so naturally—it was impossible not to feel every moment with them. Their expressions, tone, and subtle gestures made even the quiet scenes powerful.Every emotion—love, heartbreak, longing, despair—was portrayed with such intensity that it stayed with me even after the show ended. You can really tell how committed the cast was to their roles. It’s rare to see such chemistry and dedication on screen, and they delivered it perfectly.
The Prisoner of Beauty is a masterpiece. The emotions, the storytelling, the characters—everything was on point. I was hooked the entire time."
"This story took my breath away. So raw and beautiful. Highly recommended to anyone who loves depth and drama."
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Chinese BEAST & the BEAUTY & the group of nasty villains
Clan wars leads to an arrange marriage of Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao. Wei Shao has 14 years of bitter hatred of all Qiao including Xiao Qiao. The tall menacing Wei Shao keeps his distance and heart from his petite wife Xiao Qiao. Xiao is both beautifil and brilliant. The real battle is earning trust. Xiao earns the respect of a heartless mother in law. Wei Shao fights off concubine schemes, and resolves a villian beauty who know every trick there is. Watchng Wei Shuo fight his new respect & growing affection for his own wife. And how to earn her love. Added humor is the portly assistant to Wei Shao and chubby maid of Xiao finding love along the way. Many interesting side characters. Well done battle scenes. Cinematography is gorgeous. Direction is the best. Cast is steller. We finally get to see the great Liu Yuning play mean and funny in one brilliant character Wei Shao. Song Zu Er is beautiful and deserves total respect as the lovely Lady Xiao. This was *worth* the 3 year wait. Let us also give high marks to outstanding screen play by Nan Zhen ( Romance of Tiger & Rose) completed with good character development and humor. And appealing soundtrack by mostly LiuYuning. The 9.8 fan scores tells the appeal and facinating storyline. A must watch more than once. This will be a class among dramas. Added bonus a bath scene with hottie Liu Yuning cooling off from an aphrodisiac slipped to him. ✅️✅️✅️✅️✅️.
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Rewatch value? I’m already rewatching it as I’m waiting for new episodes!
Just a heads up - Do not start this drama if you value your sleep. It is THAT addictive and me and all my friends are willing victims. Liu Yu Ning and Song Zuer absolutely nailed this one. They look amazing next to each other and their chemistry is on fire. So cute and so sexy. Their story about forgiveness and trust is so realistic, one of the best enemy to lover story.This drama is what I’ve been waiting for a LONG time.
The story, pacing, acting, costume are absolutely stunning. Everything just made sense and there are no boring episodes. This drama saved me from my cdrama slump!
JUST WATCH IT!
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This review may contain spoilers
Loved every single second
I was really excited when I found out this has enemies to lovers tropes. Literally one of my favorites. There are so many Manman and Zhonglin moments that I adore. Them being so soft and communicating under the moonlight, the drunk Manman scene, and the steamy parts 🤭 The comedy was surprising (for me) especially how they made the first ep dark and serious, I didn’t know it has so much humor!I do agree how Manman is sometimes too forgiving. I feel like she's too considerate with the lord. I understand how she got that trait, but it makes me think how she'll survive if she didn't end up with Wei Shao. But she's smart and prove that countless of times I'm sure she'll be okay. That water plan was so good, I just didn't expect she'll talk her way out of that situation lmaoo.
I also love how natural the romance with Manman and Zhonglin, and how he gradually let go of his hatred and accepted that his wife will still care for the Qiao Clan. He prioritized his principles and what matters most in the present than hold to that vengeance. Unlike Lady Yulou 🙄
The 4 Wei generals 😭 I love them so much. My Wei Liang you deserve so much better. His giggles are literally my favorite parts. I knew he was gonna die cause I got spoiled in Tiktok. But the moment Bizhi came to the screen, I immediately started bawling. I knew they're gonna use Bizhi to fucking kill him, that is just fucking cruel. My god.
"Tell Xiaotao not to wait for me." JUST KILL ME RN?! Xiaotao saying she's still gonna marry him oh my babies. I hope you'll find each other in the next life.
The guilt Wei Qu must've felt. I was already so devastated with Wei Liang, I literally lose it when Wei Qu saw and took his body. Whoever thought of that needs to pay my therapy.
Now let's talk about Bizhi and Qiaofan tragedy. I could write essays about them. I was saying from the very damn start that I would lose it if something happens to Bizhi and I didn't include the fact that there's Qiaofan. That was so horrifying. I understand Qiaofan's reasonings and actions. There are selfish people who will hurt everyone just to protect what's important to them. Even though it was the weakest way to protect someone. I was skeptical with their relationship at first, you can never be too sure with a man. But Bizhi getting sour plums and making Qiaofan's instrument (idk what's it called) really cemented how good he is to her, and she wanted to protect that love.
"You're my lover, not a beast to be controlled. Darling, if you ever think back on today, just remember, I never regret it." And there goes Bizhi running to catch her, so close on saving her but still not enough. What. the. fuck.
Now the villains. Lady Yulou finding out someone genuinely loved her but missed to experience it and chose to go in the path of destruction just so she can take revenge was so satisfying. She blamed everything and everyone but didn't prioritize those who cared for her was a nice touch. Liuyan was evil. He just had a weak ego and wanted power. Death was too quick for all that. Same with Qiaoyue. They needed to suffer more, hopefully karma chases them in their next life smh.
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No Conflict Overload—Just a Genuine Story of Love and Growth
Highly recommend this drama if you’re looking for something without unnecessary conflict or overused tropes. It’s a refreshing break from the usual recycled storylines. While it may seem like a revenge plot at first, the story quickly reveals deeper themes of healing, growth, and unexpected love.One of the highlights is how the main characters, who start off at odds, slowly build a strong and heartfelt connection. Their relationship feels natural and evolves beautifully through shared challenges. The chemistry between them is truly compelling and it draws you into their world and makes their journey feel real.
The background stories are well-written and give depth to the plot, while the supporting cast adds just the right balance without taking away from the main character’s story. Although the last few episodes felt a bit rushed, the overall pacing was smooth, and I never felt the need to skip a single scene.
Both the male and female leads deliver powerful performances, and their on-screen chemistry makes the romance all the more believable and engaging. Watching their bond grow is one of the most rewarding parts of the drama.
If you enjoy slow-burn romance, meaningful character development, and a story that focuses more on emotional depth than conflicts, this drama is definitely worth watching.
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Educational...
This drama reminded me of Ming Lan, in the sense that it can effectively teach young girls how to behave properly and smartly instead of falling for the bad examples they are surrounded with... It replaces boring lectures with a passionate story well written and superbly acted, and luxury costumes and interiors. The female lead starts in a very disadvantaged position but she slowly manages to gain everybody's respect in a credible way, using her strategic mind to serve her inner strong values, in the effort to concile the interests of her original family and people with the interests of her acquired family. Most difficult task, she stays always very feminine and yet not passive, refusing to be stepped on. The only thing that I didn't like was that the male lead wasn't simply distrustful at the beginning, which was perfectly understandable, but in a couple of scenes he was violent too, grabbing her by the throat. That's the only thing a woman should never put up with! Too many girls delude themselves they can change a violent man, and they need to be taught that it is impossible: you can change a cold man into a passionate one, but you can never change a man with scarce self control into a respectful one.Was this review helpful to you?
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The fictional story that come into your life like a tsunami but every waves makes you love it more
Very very late review but I needed to come back to that drama because I think it's the one who suits my taste the most out of the many ones I've watched.It was a perfect balance between enemies to lovers & arranged marriage, romance & politics and the comedic aspect was also great. The pace was perfect, I didn't feel bored at any episodes (and it's really important).
Last but the most important I want to praise the actors' performances because it made the drama even more good.
1. The Leads
- Wei Shao : I admit that I didn't like him at first not because the way he was treating Manman, it's an enemies to lovers so I couldn't expect less from him. I found that for a leader he was often blinded by his emotions and made hasty decisions, he was not what I call really smart 😭.
However after ep 6, he started to grew on me. Everyone around him had an agenda about him (his grandmother, his mother, his cousin even his wife...), he could get angry about that but he didn't held any kinda resentment and always tried to find a solution. I think that's the thing I liked the most about it him.
Of course I also loved how his romance with Manman was showcased, how he struggled between his feelings and his sense of loyalty toward his family and finally came across a solution to accept this situation.
- Qiao Manman : My girl 🩷, I think there weren't any moments she annoyed me, I love everything about her : her calm composition, her intelligence, wittiness, how shed stand for herself. Also loved how even if she had a strong character she wasn't made of steel and obviously could be swayed (ike when Wei Shao was putting an act in ep 6-7).
I think she was a good demonstration of a woman who can be strong without resorting to the cliché of the woman who can only be strong when she acts/fights like a man.
2. Side Characters
They blended well in this story. Some were annoying like the vilains but necessary to the plot I guess.
Wei Shao's little generals were my lights, they were so fun even if the end has broke my heart.
3. small small bad points
Some elements were lacking in the end firstly about Manman's cousin, they were close but grew apart so I wanted to see more about Manman's reaction about her cousin's death. Did she feel sorry, guilty because they couldn't reconcile before she died ? I don't know if I'm too curious but I think we should've seen it.
Secondly, I wanted also see a more strong reaction of Wei Shao about Wei Liang's death, I mean Wei Shao expressed that his generals were like his brothers so I wanted to see more.
Lastly I wanted to see more moments between our couple and their little daughter, yes I'm really greedy 🥹🥹
Anyway it was just me ranting about my beloved drama and I can only recommend this drama because it was true a mind-blowing experience.
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