The Princess and the Werewolf (2023)

Wasted Potential

This is a good drama if you're looking for something light and fluffy, but with little depth. The story and romantic subplots all started off well, but ended up fizzling out well before the show ended. Some connections were made too early, others too late, and wasted screen time with filler, only to rush the climatic episode instead of giving us three episodes at the end that has that satisfaction of being able to see all their hard work pay off. Where was the smarts? The epic fighting? Where was the pleasure of seeing the villains pay? Even the ending between the two brothers felt hollow and undeserved, the resolution making me angry more than anything. His brother only felt sorry for his actions after being caught, and provided no support or redeemable qualities except for falling in love with an assassin who was bland and weepy.
As for the SL couple, I was disappointed to have such an interesting wall dividing their feelings and yet we only got 2 minute glimpses every few episodes of their relationship which didn't give me anything to look forward to or to root for.
As for the lead couple, they didn't develop so much as suddenly have an insta-love moment.
This was a highly anticipated drama as I waited for it for 2 years, and while it kept my attention to watch to the end, it disappointed, and ultimately wouldn't bring me back to rewatch any scenes.

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Watched it only for the cast

I actually wrote another lengthy review but refreshed the page by mistake and it was gone😅

For the first 10 episodes I kind of enjoyed it but seeing she has no improvement toward the ML really disappointed me.

Only watch it if you like a frustrating FL who acts like a 15 year old sometimes. Knows for a fact that wolves have only one partner for life and love only one woman but still does some bullshit things with no sense and no respect for the man that is supposed to be the king like trying to get him another woman.Stupid selfish things that cause only trouble for the poor ML who has to clean afterwards the mess she caused and also she has no gratitude for the man that saved her life like 20 times in a row. Yes maybe he did kidnapped her but that was the only bad thing he did. He treated her with outstanding respect and protected her gave her anything she asked.

The love QMulang /Li Xiong has for her is just endearing faithful and loving, protective and just beautiful. On the other hand we have Qi Pa who is just annoying for the most part of the drama.

She falls for his daylight appearance Li Xiong and doesn't have a clue for like 22 episode that the wolf and the HUMAN form is the same person. I mean how stupid do you have to be not to realise he is the same person. The same voice the same hight the same eyes the same face for God's sake it's not like she hasn't seen him and he wore a mask all the time. It's like she was blind for 22-23 episodes not for 2. After being a total bi*ch with QMulang for like 22 episodes she falls in love in 1😅 almost forgets about the other side of him Li Xiong that she kissed and promises to be with.

The so called Pearl that needed a true love kiss to get out of her was like accessible for anyone in any condition i mean Su He took it out without a problem. Ok maybe she did almost killed her but still😅 she did it in one go.

Slow paced with to many filling scenes and to many side couples cute couples but to many i mean 4 it's a lot . If you cut the scenes between the side couples you are left with 20 ep at most. She is kinda stupid and does stupid annoying things and yet he is so calm letting her do whatever. To slow paced it takes them 13 ep to get married 10 more for her to find out the 2 guys are actually only 1 and not because she is smart or she is torn between the feelings she has for his human form and the animal form or maybe the way she knows it 2 different guys. There is no indication that she has feelings for QMulang up until ep 23 😑 it's just frustrating.

It's like how can you not recognize him not realize he is the same person especially when he has the same face it's like he is wearing a Halloween mask. How can one not recognize the man she loves when he looks the same just baffles me. And the fact that she did not realized it herself shows how shallow her love was. Thank God his brother told her otherwise she would have gone like this for another 23 episodes

All in all a weak drama but with good actors and stunning ML 😅 and SML's .

A 8 for the drama and that is because i gave the actors a 10 otherwise i would give it a 5 but because i really like Chen Zhe Yuan ever since i saw him in Mr.Bad😅 and Wu Xuanyi loved her in Douluo Continent.

They dragged it for dear life, the antagonist just disappeared without any fight whatsoever and they just wrapped it so fast without any explanations.

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Humurous, Must Watch if you want a break from reality

This is a rom-com series that will get you laughing from beginning to the end. All the actors delivered their punchlines so well.
The story is hyper-focused on the love between Princess Qi Pa and Kui Mu Lang / Li Xiong. The historical setting, the theme and even the internal war conflict was just thrown to build a story around the couple. The plot was there for just the sake of having it. If you're looking for an elaborate political tactics, government affairs, character's historical background, plot twists and ulterior motives, your too serious mindset should skip this. Its not for you.
But if you're looking to just fall in love, have fun and leave you refreshed every after episode, then you must see this.
- Contrary to all the negative and seemingly synchronized reviews here, Its NOT a drag! I'm up to Ep.23 in no time.
- Real passionate love communicates physically and you just can't help it. The director and actors allowed enough room for physical romance. Wu Xuan Yi and Chen Zhe Yuan is not awkward with each other and didn't hide behind birds for a fake kiss.
-While all the roles here are one-dimensional, they all have remained consistent through to the end of the story. Not one has acted out of character which exemplifies the simplicity of the narrative.
-When Chen Zhe Yuan hugs, he hugs with open palm and not closed fist. I noticed he does the same with Hidden Love. Kudos to Zhe Yuan. There's never an awkward moment.
-Wu Xuan Yi looks so tired on episode 1 despite her make up and has terribly lost weight. I know she's too busy with projects because, why not? She's a dedicated actress who takes time to study her role, highly creative and puts in an effort. There's no doubt, I will see Xuan Yi in a better and more challenging roles in the future.
-Just when I am thinking that this whole series has zero great character, General Ma died. Though it was given screen time, it failed to invoke the expected reaction from audience with the death of Ma Ying Xiong.
-I think this is running on a tight budget given that the Beast City Palace is running on 20 men soldiers, 3 commandants, 3 Elders, 1 kitchen staff, 1 lady-in-waiting 1 right hand man and 14 women soldiers who are sometimes assigned as palace maids. It wasn't too obvious because it was highly compensated by the costumes of Princess Qi Pa and specially by the grandeur of the Beast City Palace. Its also rare to find a decent sound effect and music background—a very good one at that.

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"Warm On A Cold Night" meets "Royal Rumors" and adds fantasy to the mix

This is more of a rant/after thought upon finishing the drama than a review. Please don’t read it if you really want to watch it.

But first let me get the good things out of the way:
- the intro OST is very fitting, down to the lyrics.
- ML is a good actor with facial (especially eyes) expressions that bring the character to life
- The initial set up is different from other dramas
- No parents are interfering or seen for more than 1 episode (this is always is a plus for me)
- FL is pretty independent, thanks to her parents (although she is clumsy once she enters the beast palace/ is taken hostage)
- The references to S1 were funny although they were few (like english words or the statue)
- No love triangle or people saying Leads can’t be together
- The first few episodes were a lot of fun

Now to the rant:
Drawing direct ties to my feelings when I watched "Royal Rumors" earlier this year… I kept waiting for "IT“ to happen but that never came.
Both dramas had enough of a unique set up / character dynamic for the drama to be exciting. However both dramas had low budget and nothing ended up happening. Most of the interesting stuff happens in the first few episodes and then the characters stay at the same location for the rest of the drama.

It’s unpredictable in the worst way - because non of the things that I thought might happen happened and although it did all romance to-do‘s, I thought there would be more to the plot given the beginning of the drama and the overall set up. The romance was good, especially near the ending. But I didn’t quite catch the moment where they fell in love. Especially on his side. It kinda just happened.

Like so many asian dramas that include werewolves, vampires, etc in romance dramas, it’s a let down.
I love asian dramas and think they’re superior to American TV but when it comes to Werewolves & Vampires American TV is just miles ahead.

There were some funny moments and scenarios that I wish they had explored more but from the target audience and set up, I didn’t expect them to go down that route anyway.
If it was higher budget then it could have been able to pull of comedy like "The Starry Love".

In the case of "The Princess and The Werewolf" I had expected there would be much more back and forth between the beast realm and daxia (also thought they’d be the villains) but was disappointed when the princess is basically stuck in the beast palace the entire time. She goes back one time for no more than one episode and we don’t see anything about Daxia.
Quite disappointing when you think that this is season two of "Go Princess Go", which only had daxia(and the modern world)and it was a quite funny place.

Another drama that did this - but the other way around was "Warm on a Cold Night", where they never went to the wolf tribe, despite that looking like a exciting place. They only stayed in the human city. So in a way these dramas have quite a few similarities but switched.

Kui Mulang - is like that old vine "on all levels, except physical, I am a wolf“… because that boy looks like a dark elf or mage but most definitely not like a wolf.

I Understand they had a low budget but why give a werewolf elf ears??
Just call him a dark elf at this point- the wolf in "Warm on a cold night“ didnt do much wolf-ing either but he was much more convincing, since he transformed into a wolf once and generally had more wolf-human features than Kui Mulang.
On top of that he hides his "wolf“ appearance from the beast tribe because they‘d call him a monster. -It’s the beast tribe.
Aren’t they supposed to look like beasts?!
What they going around acting shocked when they see a "beast"?
I mean for god’s sake there is a farting(!) butterfly (tbh i find that funny tho).
Plot hole is all I can say to that.
Because ofc there needs to be struggle for the ML, otherwise how would we feel empathetic towards him?

The male lead actor is good, I like his facial expressions (specifically his eyes) Convinced he can pull off all sorts of romantic roles at this point… whether that’s modern, fantasy or historical.
Female actress was okay, although I was very frustrated with the character she played at certain points. Random thing I noticed: Did she get veneers/dentals without fixing her overbite first or does she just have super prominent upper teeth?

The villains in this drama are unnecessary and worst of all - uninteresting. They just kinda appear and start doing their secret plotting. And once we get to the end it’s way too easy for them to take over the situation. Honestly this just felt lazy… but also very on point with it being low budget.

I did my fair share amount of complaining and ranting but I did complete it and if I had hated it or found it very boring I would have dropped it. So ultimately- yes it’s watchable but it’s quite silly.
Best enjoyed if you turn off your brain.

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Come for the ML, stay for the ML

Plot was amusing. FL was funny at times (and sometimes irritating). The supporting cast was lovable and did their jobs well.

BUT.

Chen Zhe Yuan as the male lead absolutely stole the show.

If you’re looking for a drama with the sweetest, prettiest, most devoted man ever, this is for you. It’s a light-hearted Beauty and the Beast retelling with an intrepid princess as the FL and a part-time king, part-time monster boyfriend as the ML.

TROPES:
- ML falls first (long before the FL) and quickly
- royal leads
- fantasy, magic, portals, etc
- multiple secondary couples
- no love triangles, minimal skinship

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Fantasy Romance That Delivers More Than Just Love

The Princess and the Werewolf: A Fantasy Romance That Delivers More Than Just Love

When it comes to The Princess and the Werewolf, it’s easy to get lost in the magnetic pull of Kui Mulang (Chen Zheyuan) and Qi Pa (Wu Xuanyi), but what makes this drama truly special is its ability to balance deep emotions with humor and an engaging world of side characters that shine in their own right.

Kui Mulang is a ruler bound by fate, his golden eyes carrying the weight of responsibility and loneliness. Chen Zheyuan’s performance is deadly—every glance, every moment of restrained emotion pulls you deeper into his world. He is fierce, possessive, and yet heartbreakingly vulnerable when it comes to love. His chemistry with Qi Pa is sizzling, but it’s her fiery spirit that keeps him grounded. Qi Pa refuses to be a passive princess, constantly challenging him, bringing light into his dark existence.

But let’s not forget the supporting characters who add so much color and depth. All the beast kingdoms characters with unwavering loyalty and comedic timing, is an absolute scene-stealer. They brings a fun dynamic to Kui Mulang’s brooding intensity, often acting as both a warrior and a much-needed voice of reason. Every scene with them is either hilarious or heartwarming, making all the roles presence unforgettable.

The other side stories weave seamlessly into the main narrative, making the world of The Princess and the Werewolf feel rich and alive. From unexpected friendships to budding romances, each character—no matter how small their role—feels like they belong in this universe. The drama masterfully blends fantasy, action, and humor, ensuring that even when the stakes are high, there’s always a moment of lightness to balance it out.

At its heart, this drama is about love—love that defies reason, love that fights against destiny, and love that transforms even the coldest of hearts. Kui Mulang and Qi Pa’s journey is captivating, but the world around them makes it even more unforgettable.

#ThePrincessAndTheWerewolf #KuiMulang #QiPa #ChenZheyuan #WuXuanyi #LiXiong #FantasyRomance #CDramaMagic #UnforgettableLove #SideCharactersMatter #DramaThatHasItAll

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Cute, goofy and cringe but just for fun

It has very cute actors but a lot of second hand embarrassment moments. Everyone is so goofy it looks like some gen z author wrote this story. But somehow its funny and entertaining so its good for binge watch.

I really like our itsy bitsy cutsey male character... The designer was also on crack or some shit cuz he used neon color and stuffed toys. Like come on its just way too oblivious. But still its funny. Another thing I noticed is that some of the props keeps on changing either their size or shape. They legit used a key chain as a token of love lol. Jewelry was cute. Overalls it was so gen z coded like its so cringe that it is actually funny and interesting lol...

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DUMBNESS OF FEMALE LEAD TOWARDS THE MALELEAD

One of my favourite thing in historical dramas is "latern festival" cause it looks like "Firefly's" in darkness. And about this drama i enjoyed everything ml, fl and all the characters. But in my opinion this drama should have 24 -26 episodes. It's little long to have 30 episodes and I felt dragging when fl tries to Escape from the beast clan while ml always flops her plan to keep her by his side. In 24th episode only she's knowing that "kui mu lang and Li Xiong" are the same person that also she is checking that when mls brother saying that to her in 23rd episode. Lol my question is if ml's brother guessed after seeing mls both looks at one go why fl can't?!. It's really hilarious and dumb!! What is use of makeing the fl in funnier and bold. And if I was her I'll know the reason first that why he did that to me and since I like him and it's not his fault I'll help him atleast for my lovers sake. But she didn't!! Even tho fl character annoyed me a little bit, I liked her with other side characters especially with "cat". I hopelessly started this drama but i liking the cat's character her loyalty is "insane" she is my second favourite cat character in drama. Even tho this drama is Little logicless I liked the each character. But if female lead liked "kui mu lang" little earlier it would be great. My favourite episode is 23rd & I liked "kui mu lang" more than "Li Xiong" anyways overall I liked this drama. I like to give this drama 👇

My ratings - 8.3/10 but i couldn't rating like this in mdl so I'll give 8.5/10. ❤️

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Story good. Characters to be desired

I watched the entire drama because it was funny, the story itself i thought was interesting and i liked that they added modern references to what is supposedly a historical fantasy drama. But throughout the entire thing, i just found the characters to be lacking and infuriating. There was no development of the villan’s character or the king’s brother’s character. Even by episode 23 you still dont know what is motivating the hate and/or desire. You can assume that its power, but nothing in the show indicates that or why they want that.

The one thing that is the cause for this low rating is the character of the princess. The actress did a wonderful job in portraying the character, I believe, but the character was just a contradiction. She’s supposed to be lovable, charming, and a free thinker, but all I got was narcissistic, selfish, and superficial. She never even tried to give the king a chance and was always just chasing after her own agenda. This character may not affect everyone, but for me, it was just infuriating to watch. I did not like her at all.

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"Fractured Fairytale" Fails to Fascinate

Firstly, please allow me to state that I don't like to rate shows poorly, and always look for the positive so that a review can be fair and not a waste of the reader's time.

There are many positives here. FL and ML both employ excellent acting skills with the roles they are given. I would expect a high standard from ML in particular; I do like both of these actors and consider that they did a great job of showing the way it affects a relationship and the individual feelings of the two people involved when someone is considered to be repulsive or monstrous in appearance.

The secondary couples have to carry a heavy load in keeping the story moving along when it is has such a tendency to drag heavily due to very little action in the plot. I particularly enjoyed the Kitten and the Snake. Their acting was good, their characters credible and enjoyable, and they kept me going when I wanted to give up watching.

The plot was paper thin and many characters alarmingly shallow, to the point of being unbelievably stupid or just downright annoying. One had to suspend logic a number of times. I would expect that in a fairy tale, but when it grates, it means it isn't really working.

For example, the princess was, as some reviewers state, "kidnapped" and therefore well within her rights to behave a certain way. OK. Well, if CZY wants to kidnap me and hold me hostage in a palace with a full time servant, deal me in. Many of the obstacles in the story arose from the princess's own selfishness, sense of entitlement, and lack of regard for other people. She caused a problem in the very beginning by rudely barging in on someone's private space, and that caused an ongoing issue for which she continually blamed the other person and insisted on receiving an apology for, even though she herself was the cause of this and many other misunderstandings. She had no problem with being dishonest herself. I was particularly upset by the princess using drugs to manipulate somebody; the first time was potentially excusable, but by the second time she knew she was doing harm. Nevertheless, she continued to fully believe in and throw herself into her "victim" role.
As such, it was very difficult for me to "warm" to the princess character.

The FL's costumes were gorgeous but ML's make up was a bit dodgy. And a criminal over-use of false eyelashes!

All the usual C-drama tropes were there - do they have to be there or a show doesn't get funding?
*girl whirls under falling blossom
*obsessed unwelcome girl turns up out of nowhere (in dire need of a psychiatrist)
*nasty dad uses innocent victim daughter
*cute child
*spoilt didi
*pushy a-yi
*nasty suitor
*spitting up blood
*camera angle from the bottom end of the sword blade
*slashing self with sword for essential blood products
*heroic self-slaughter
and so on...

Some lovely songs which I shall continue to listen to, and a very creative use of durian.

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