New Life Begins

Too good for you to ignore!

First, if you like slice of life and family dramas, this one will definitely please you. Its also very funny in the beginning, Second that I have never seen a historical drama where the female characters unite as much as it does here. The sisterhood is amazing. It's impossible not to get attached to these characters and the sisterhood they share. They fight for their rights and always helps each other. and although the romance is not the main focus, the couples scenes are extremely cute and we easily become attached to the them. The two main leads are wonderful too. Li Wei the very first feminist in the world, I loved her! She can be annoying for some people but for me her actions were really plausible and I liked how she cared more for herself in the beginning. Later, she begins to grow up and deal better with things and wow, she become even more wonderful. Our Prince Yin Zheng is really a prince. Always treated Li Wei as she deserved and he was just so sweet with her and with all characters. I also loved him.

The secondary characters are amazing too, especially Yuan Ying who was one of my favorites. Speaking of her, she could become an obstacle for the main couple and be a boring character as usual in romantic comedies, but here the character is given a importance and she does not disturb the couple, on the contrary, she helps them and creates a very beautiful friendship with Li Wei. Most of the characters here have a very satisfying ending too and the ending was perfect. So yeah, this drama was a very good surprise for me and Im happy I gave a shot and watched until the end.

If you're looking for a romance drama, this one might not suit you so much and I think that's the only negative thing I would say about this drama because I started looking for something more romantic and I do wish we had more romantic scenes especially between main couple. but still, I love a good slice of life and family drama and this one was AMAZING. Please give it a chance like I did because this drama has too many good points to ignore. I will miss them :(

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FEELS GOOD SERIES YET SO UNDER RATED! YES TO SISTERHOOD!

*** Spoiler Alert (PERSONAL FEEDBACK)
Title : New Life Begins - 2022 (Complete 40 Episode)
Personal Rating : 9/10

FEELS GOOD SERIES YET SO UNDER RATED! YES TO SISTERHOOD!

New Life Begins is on top of my list. I watched this initially because of Bai Jing Ting and came to love Tian Xi Wei. Their chemistry is so good and the relationship between the ML and FL is relaxing, natural, and without any heavy drama.
This drama was so funny from the from the start that’s why it got me hooked. Yin Zheng is smart, strategic, secluded, who keeps a low profile and a bit sickly chooses to be with Li Wei who is adorable, foodie, who knows what she wants, stands up for herself and wants to live comfortably in her hometown.

The two became a support to each other even though they were not into a deep relationship from the start. Li Wei doesn’t want to marry a man she doesn’t love, and she wants a one-man-one-woman marriage with equal rights practiced from her city Jichuan whereas Xin Chuan still follows the traditional polygamous system. But in the end Yin Zheng follows Jichuan traditions of one-man-one-woman marriage because of his love for Li Wei.

Each couple has stories to tell. Each prince is married to woman from different cities with different mindset, cultures and characteristics which will they showcase of how to handle each others wife or husband from being just fixed marriage to true love. 😍

What makes this drama different from other dramas is that woman in this drama (The wife of the princes) supports & protects each other back instead of scheming like other dramas. They start a food business which is not typical Xin Chuan kingdom specially they are woman. But despite that they still pursue it with the back up from the princes. And this drama shows women experiences like postpartum depression and domestic violence.

Overall, this drama is on top of my list. It’s a beautiful, light romantic comedy drama with a happy ending!

GENRE – Historical, Comedy, Romance, Life

CAST – Bai Jing Ting , Tian Xi Wei

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Feel-good

I don't watch a lot of historical dramas but I found this one modernized in a way that made it very easy to get into and easy to love. The balance of humor and serious topics was done really well, and I will always love a drama that also focuses on female friendships — especially one that subverts the evil second female lead trope. The communication between the leads from start to end is very refreshing, and it made this drama a very pleasant watch overall. The leads are super cute.

I do wish a little bit that the romance developed more slowly. The pacing isn't bad by any means, but they get together pretty early considering how many episodes the drama is. Still, this was a really delightful watch overall. If more historical dramas were like this, I would tune in more.

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Sisterhood and Brotherhood above all else

This show is very much a life drama about a family of young lords and the woman that go on to shape who they are as men. Every single female character is a whole human, with her own feelings, emotions, ambitions, thoughts, and plans. They aren't all the same nor do they want to be. They all help and uplift each other throughout the story. There are both male and female villains, some that get redemption and some that don't. There are gray characters that float between. Each personal feels like an actual person. The responses to conflict and misunderstandings feel real and earned. The love stories sprinkled in are strong and healthy depictions of what a balanced and mutually respectful relationship should look like. They also show you the bad side of toxic and one-sided relationships, and how just because you got yourself into a bad place doesn't mean you can't also get yourself out. Everyone deserves respect from their spouse.
Just the sisterhood alone with all of the young lords' wives and concubines is worth the watch. Very progressive in their storytelling in a fictionalized country. When 7th's wife feels nervous and unsure about herself because she is slower to do things, every single one of the women around her validates her and complements her on her care and attention. When the 2nd Crown Lord shows his true colors the women band together to help their friend Hao Jia. His wife even plays one of the largest roles in getting Hao Jia and herself out of a horrible situation. And with that storyline Yin Zheng(6th) gets closer to his own mother after realizing she was struggling with a similar situation as Hao Jia was.
But the best relationship is that of the 6th Lord's wife(Yuan Ying-Jin State's Princess) and side wife(Li Wei- FL). There are like true sisters. The Jin Princess immediately takes Li Wei under her wing and trains her to become the lady of a royal household and partner to Yin Zheng(6th lord). Yuan Ying becomes like a sister to both Yin Zheng and Li Wei, and they all share a bond that could never be broken. She becomes one of their fiercest allies.
The understanding and refusal of Yuan Ying to cause any misunderstandings between Li Wei and Yin Zheng is peak supporting female character energy.
We have a simple girl who has the protentional and drive to make great change.
A warrior princesses trying to find her happiness.
A woman who doesn't want to follow in her mother's footsteps. And though she miscalculates finds her feet again.
A princesses who is smarter than all the men and knows it.
A group of women who band together against their trying husband, and protect and care for each other as they fight for there individual wants and needs.
A kind and quiet girl, who just would rather be left alone, if that's okay, who finds her other half.

I could go on and on, because the characters are all great fully fleshed out. But just know that it's worth the watch. Even though it's 40episodes there are enough smaller story arcs that start and end every few episodes that keeps the momentum of the story going. You will laugh, cry. and kick your feet from this slow-burn romantic life drama.

PS: We don't see him much, but I have a soft spot for the 9th little lord as his is just like his sisters-in-law...and that punch in ep40....bravo.

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Light (but not goofy) slice of life rom com

Light (but not goofy) slice of life rom com set in misogynistic ancient China. Some dark themes are touched with abuses on women at centre stage. Despite these elements in the story, the drama is still a lovely journey down a common path to love. The characters experience a few scary moments and unpleasant surprises but with luck and some stretches in probability at times, it all works out.

The middle was a bit dull for me, but the last 8 eps get better again. The ending ties up loose ends and gives the group a pretty ending.

I am a fan of both leads and a good handful of the other actors.

ML is not as swoonworthy as he is in some of his other dramas, but he is still very attractive as a handsome green light prince. He is a calm, reliable, and sweetly dedicated husband. He's cute and insecure at times, making him very endearing.

The FL is a kind woman with a strong moral compass and healthy love of self. She has simple dreams but they are made difficult by the discriminating attitudes towards women at that time and especially in the county where is finds herself married and far from home. The FL excels in these roles as a woman who must use her brain and positivity to influence change in the world around her. She's always a pleasure to watch.

5th brother is my 3rd favorite actor in this. He always makes me laugh. He comes across very natural and sincere in every role. The growth in him and many of the side characters is nice to see as they are given more moments to shine alongside the leads. Towards the end this does feel more like an ensemble cast lead drama just 1 or 2 mains.

This drama is a nice way to pass the time without too much angst, abuse, or any incredibly despicable people.
Music, costume, and set design are all good to above average. This has been added to my feel-good rewatch list.

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Not heavy on romance

I came for the romance and wished there could have been more.. I stayed for whatever romance I could get because it was so sweet and nicely developed, just wanted more.

Everyone grows, there is some interesting stuff happening

But it does drag somewhat. And some parts I was bored. Wish it didn't do this. Probably could have cut it down a few episodes to tighten the storyline.

It was cute and funny and lite hearted. Not hilarious or all that laugh out loud all the time. But I enjoyed that there wasn't too much scheming and over the top drama

It was interesting to see the sisterhood and the feminist takes.

The minor characters' story was not bad

Not much of an ost behind it

I wouldn't rewatch, even for the sparse romance... Or even for the chemistry of the leads..

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Women empowerment & powerful couple in politics

I came across this drama accidentally on IQIYI because Xiao Bai was on it. Honestly, ep 1 was enough to get me hooked and invested in the drama :(
I really love the idea of smart women, and behind every women are actually women ourselves. At first I thought this is about fights between royal harem over the princes but it is so much more than just love and marriages. It tackles issue like forced marriage, gender inequality, post-partum depression, domestic violence, status and position. You would never expect a historical palace cdrama with these themes and you can expect good laugh too! All the leads have solid chemistry and I thought they must have done quite a lot of adlibs because there were so many spontaneous and impromptu scenes LOL.

What I love:
1) Yin Zheng, the sixth prince appeared to be very un-heroic and weak male lead (this is very rare in cdrama scenario) however as the story unfolds, he has so much potential due to his smart and wise thinking in decision making and politics. I love that writer focuses on this side of him. He is also very witty, silly and goofy, but only with Li Wei, 3rd prince, 5th prince and Butler Su.
2) Li Wei. I love her character so much! She knows what she wants, she does not put that aside for love. To her, friendship and the women come first. During that scene where she is willing to let Yin Zheng divorce her as long as she can save Hao jia jie. She is a woman with dreams, high spirited, matured, and smart. This is why she is a match for Yin Zheng even though she is not coming from a powerful family background that can support Yin Zheng. She is an intellectual that will think smarter for any solution to issues faced by Yin Zheng and the women. She is also a foodie HAHAHAHA that makes her 10 times cuter. She is a brave young lady, to her 'do not touch them (people she loves) or you die'. This is so obvious when Hao jia's suicidal attempt and Yin Zheng failed to send her letters.
3) The bromance between Yin Zheng, 3rd prince and 5th prince. 3rd prince is evil to his wives but at least he is very nice and supportive to his brothers HAHAHAHA and the 5th prince is so funny, I love his character. Hence, these differences in characters make their relationship dynamic was so much fun to watch.
4) Sisterhood - their relationship is gold. I love how they unite to beat the nannies HAHAHAH and to fight and beat those rude and useless men in Xinchuan. DEFINITELY EVERYTHING TO ME
5) Sweet relationship between Yin Zheng and Li Wei. they are so fun to watch, ideally it is nice to have a relationship like them. They joke with each other, they make fun of each other, they communicate, they are helpful, they are lovely and adorable couple. Yup Relationship Goal!
6) Smart move in politics.
7) Food from each regions - very creative for the women to establish a restaurant that made food from each regions

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Positive and calm drama

All in all it was very positive and quite calm drama. It was watching with pleasure :) Main roles were lovely. It's about friendship, loyality, assiduty and girl power as well! Girls were the best in the world and had strong bonds. On the other hand we could also see relations in the crown family, where children almost didn't have a happy childhood. No ties, no parents, who often were absent in during child's childhood, raised with a nanny. Poor kids from villages got more love and happiness than these wealthy.

Another time I am complaining about ending :P wanna see, how they're raising their child and Yin Zheng's coronation! I'm almost sure, it's a girl ;) she will continue reforms of her mom! :D

Anyway - New Life Begins is a drama really worth seeing :)

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Funny? Yes. Novel Idea? Yeah!

Its is a good series but it feels empty for some reason. I had a good laugh but it felt dragging sometimes. The cast is good and production wise its also great.

Its definitely not for binge watching. After the first few episodes the drama falls back into the cliche thinking of introducing 'our common day ideas' as modern thinking and drags it thoroughly. Some episodes could be combined to form a single episode.

Needless to say its a modern day feminist drama where all men are dumb and stubborn but its lets out some stress the women felt in the those eras.

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Funny, Heartwarming, and Surprisingly Meaningful

I had been putting off watching New Life Begins for quite a while, but after getting bored of a lot of the newer dramas, this one really hit the right spot. It hooks you from the very first episode, and I absolutely devoured the first part of the show because it was so funny, lighthearted, and genuinely entertaining. The chemistry was on point from the start.

Honestly, I think this is the definition of a feel-good drama. More than that, though, it's a show about women. It really highlights why feminist movements became necessary in the first place, and I think it handles those themes very well. It doesn't feel preachy or like it's pushing an agenda; it simply shows the reality many women had to live through and their struggle for basic rights and respect. A lot of the situations the women faced genuinely frustrated me because of how unfair they were, but that's exactly why their growth and eventual freedom felt so satisfying.

One of the show's biggest strengths is how it introduces such a large cast while still making every character feel distinct and memorable. By the end, almost everyone has meaningful development, and it's incredibly rewarding to watch.

Now, I need to talk about Bai Jingting. I genuinely don't know how I manage to love this man more every time I watch one of his dramas. He was absolutely incredible here. His micro-expressions are insane, and he brought so many layers to his character. He portrayed someone abandoned, calculating, intelligent, loving, respectful, supportive, manipulative when necessary, and hilarious all at the same time.

What impressed me most was how naturally funny he was. Half the time, he didn't even need dialogue—his expressions alone would make me laugh. He added so much charm and lightness to the show. At the same time, whenever he got angry or serious, he completely dominated the screen. He had so much presence that every scene felt stronger when he was in it.

I also loved his character. He was such a green flag. He genuinely wanted to help and support his wife, and I think a lot of that came from his upbringing. Since he wasn't raised by his mother and grew up more with servants than family, he never fully adopted the traditional mindset of the society around him. Because of that, he allowed Li Wei to blossom and become her own person instead of trying to control her. For me, he was the heart of the show. Whenever he wasn't on screen, I genuinely missed him.

As for Li Wei, I absolutely loved her. She was such a delight to watch. She was strong, but also incredibly cute, free-spirited, and warm. She brought so much life to the show while still having depth as a character. I loved that she didn't want to be constrained by society's expectations, and her development throughout the series was wonderful. Watching her grow into the rightful lady of the household and learn to stand up for herself was incredibly satisfying. She also served as the bridge that brought all the women together, and I loved seeing those friendships develop.

And the chemistry? Oh my God. They had so much chemistry. They balanced the cute moments, the tension, the emotional scenes, and the serious moments perfectly. Especially in the first episodes, they were amazing together.

That being said, one of my biggest issues with the show is how long it takes them to officially get together. The story starts off heavily focused on them, but after the marriage situation changes, the narrative shifts away from their romance. I know this isn't really a romance-focused drama—it's much more of a slice-of-life ensemble story—but I still wanted more of them. We spend over fifteen episodes waiting for them to get together, and within the story itself, years pass. The fact that they spent so much time together without becoming closer romantically felt a little frustrating.

I also wish we had gotten more moments as an established couple. When Li Wei tells him she's pregnant near the end, I wanted more time with them together. Their relationship was one of the strongest parts of the show, and I would've loved to see more of it.

What I really appreciated is that the drama never focused solely on romance. It's filled with stories about women supporting each other, growing, finding independence, and creating lives beyond simply existing for men. Watching all of the women gradually free themselves from the limitations placed on them was one of the most satisfying parts of the series.

The relationships between the brothers were also fantastic. It wasn't just the women who had great chemistry; the brothers did too. The wives had chemistry together, the brothers had chemistry together, and the cast as a whole worked incredibly well. Everyone had a purpose, everyone had a storyline, and everyone got a chance to shine.

The political side of the story was also surprisingly engaging. However, I do think the middle section dragged at times. For a slice-of-life drama, I feel like it could have been shortened by a few episodes. There were moments where I felt a little bored, even though the story was still moving forward.

Visually, the drama was beautiful. The cinematography was lovely, the costumes were gorgeous, and I liked how the costumes evolved alongside the characters' development. The different locations also helped keep the atmosphere fresh throughout the show.

Overall, New Life Begins is a drama with something meaningful to say. It's not just entertaining for the sake of entertainment. It's warm, comforting, funny, thoughtful, and full of heart. I wouldn't recommend it to someone looking for an intense plot-driven drama, but if you want something comforting with excellent chemistry, lovable characters, strong female friendships, and plenty of humor, this is absolutely worth watching.

To sum it up, I think the show starts stronger than it finishes. It begins as a story centered around the main couple and gradually shifts into a collection of interconnected stories, which means the romance takes a backseat. Personally, I would've preferred seeing the main couple face more challenges together rather than spending so much time apart. I also think Bai Jingting deserved even more screen time because his performance was phenomenal and honestly one of the biggest reasons I kept watching.

Still, I understand what the drama was trying to do. At its core, this is a story about women shining, supporting each other, and finding their own paths. And in that regard, I think it succeeds beautifully. The ending was lovely, and although I missed some characters by the end and would've loved more closure for a few of them, the overall feeling the show left me with was incredibly positive.

It's funny, heartwarming, comforting, and full of lovable characters. Even though I wanted more romance, I can't deny that I had a wonderful time watching it.

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A heartfelt drama about sisterhood and feminism with a dash of humor and romance

I thoroughly enjoyed this drama. It was definitely humorous at the start but the drama shifted to a more serious tone about halfway through. I love how the main characters faced a variety of issues such as socioeconomic disparities, female rights, natural disasters, and even in-home power struggles! Our main characters were able to tackle them in a way that shows their true generous character. We saw the main characters mature without losing their true selves.

The development in the romance department was also slow but steady. Li Wei is not a princess in distress and Ying Zheng was completely supporting her from behind without overstepping his position. I honestly love that. He knows his wife is capable but is still willing to lend her a hand. They also didnt have any major miscommunication issues which was refreshing.

I thought 40 episodes would be too long but upon finishing the drama, I felt the pacing was very fitting for this kind of story. We grow along with the characters at a very natural pace. I didn't feel any part of the drama being too rushed. It is very common for dramas to have a rushed ending just to wrap up the story. I am pleased to say, that is not the case for New Life Begins. Bonus points for the flashbacks in the last episode! It made me realize how much everyone has grown.

Pros: Family bonding, sisterhood, steady pace, empowering
Cons: Music wasn't catchy and oddly really melancholic. I felt like that didn't really match the mood.

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