New Life Begins

If you need a mental pick-me-up watch this drama!

I started this drama with 0 expectations on recommendation. I was hooked from episode 1. The first 5 episodes of this drama were so funny they had me laughing out loud so much that I had to keep rewinding because I would miss the next scenes. When Li Wei first met Yin Zheng and thought he was dying soon and prepping all the gifts for him was just comedic gold. Also, this couple pairing is perfect. LW is very independent, sweet and a total foodie. YZ is a genius striving to gain recognition and power in the palace but he is also humble about it, determined to make something of himself based on his own hardwork and honesty. What these two have in common is that kindness is second nature to them and they will always put helping others, especially each other, before helping themselves. They slowly start to depend on each other and become inseparable by the end. Watching these two strong characters fall in love was like watching a piece of artwork come together. YZ definitely fell first but when LW falls she actually explains why to her best friend. She loves doing the simple things with him like eating, reading, daily life etc...it was soooo sweet. They also give you enough romantic treats, such as a kiss by ep8, to make the slow burn worth paying attention to.

Acting:....This is my first time watching Tian Xiwei and I found her acting surprisingly good. She plays cute & silly but not too whiney. And her emotional scenes were heart wrenching when she cried. She's also undeniably and strikingly pretty so I found it ridiculous when they called her plain in the beginning... I don't think Bai Jingting's full talent was on display here but he made the character of YZ come to life and made him more loveable than any other actor could. He also has a nice voice and isn't bad to look at so that helps. Honestly, I find it more impressive sometimes when the two leads don't seem to like each other off camera, but are still able to create strong and convincing chemistry on screen. When watching the BTS you can tell they are comfortable and friendly with each other but they keep their interactions professional. There doesn't seem to be any BTS attraction or extra playfulness going on between them like you can observe with a lot of other BTS from other dramas.

Side characters:....This show is considered in the "feel-good, lighthearted, disney-ish" categories. There are no real love rivals for either the FL or ML, which is refreshing. Also there are many, many supporting characters of which none are really more important than the others but all still pretty loveable. All of LW's girls are awesome, especially Shan Guan Jing, Dong Hai Tang and Yuan Ying. Yes, Yuan Ying does come in as a potential issue for the main CP but they squash that immediately. As for the men the 3rd & 5th lord are both ridiculous people but sooo hilarious. In the end their sincerity and care towards their brother and their wives does make you love them. But my absolute favorite has to be Su Shen. He's not just YZ's butler but he's also like his parent and his number#1 fan. But this man is the definition of funny without trying to be. In some scenes he doesn't even need to be talking and I found myself laughing at his expressions and antics.

Main plot:...YZ's fight to climb the political ladder and LW's fight for women's rights are the main focuses of this story. Their goals often intertwine and bring them closer in the end. Both of these plots were both interesting enough but I could really care less about the women opening a restaurant together or YZ creating new currency. That got a bit draggy. But other than that I still do support the themes and there was justice for everyone in the end. The main villain is the 2nd lord and YZ's older brother. He is sexist, greedy and has no conscience. He's also really dumb and gets outsmarted by YZ, his own wife and his concubine constantly. He gets what he deserves in the end, which you could easily predict given his stupidity and predictability. As far as villains go, he's not the greatest or most memorable but it works for a light-hearted drama like this.

Overall, this drama is worth rewatching because it just makes you happy inside, which is more credit to the actors/actresses than the story but who cares. Also the visuals are stunning from the costumes, setting and the food looks delicious. SPOILER>>>there is a VERY happy ending and that made me VERY happy.

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Cozy, charming… and a little too busy for its own romance

I’m late to the party — but I finally got around to watching New Life Begins, a drama that had been sitting patiently on my “plan to watch” list since 2022. And you know what? I’m glad I did. If you’re craving a historical drama that lifts your spirits instead of dragging you through the mud, New Life Begins seems at first like a perfect fit — charming, lighthearted, and warm in all the right places. And to be fair, it does deliver plenty of those cozy, positive vibes. But it also stumbles in ways that keep it from being as satisfying as it could have been, especially if you’re here for romance first.

The opening stretch is delightful. There’s a simplicity and slice-of-life rhythm to the drama that makes it comforting — shared meals, seasonal shifts, moments of humor and everyday living. Add to that a refreshing emphasis on female solidarity: women supporting each other instead of tearing each other down for male attention. That aspect felt fresh, hopeful, and genuinely uplifting. Watching friendships blossom and sisterhood take center stage was one of the drama’s brightest strengths.

But here’s the catch: the central romance — supposedly the beating heart of the story — slowly gets pushed aside. What begins as a sweet, steady, and authentic relationship between Li Wei and Yin Zheng ends up feeling almost accessory, drowned out by side plots and the “girls power” agenda. At times, it felt less like a rom-com and more like a thematically scripted statement piece, where the love story was politely told to wait in the corner. For a drama billed as romance, that sidelining left me disappointed.

The lack of nuance in most of the male characters makes this imbalance even more obvious. Outside of Yin Zheng, who is empathetic, emotionnally intelligent, and beautifully played by Bai Jingting, the male cast is painted with embarrassingly broad strokes — hapless, useless, comical, or simply obstacles. On paper, this was probably meant to heighten the women’s empowerment, but in practice it undercut the message. True empowerment shines more when it coexists with nuance and balance, not when the “other side” is reduced to caricature. Instead of elevating the story, the flat portrayals of men cheapened it, making the intended message feel thinner and less impactful.

That imbalance trickled into the romantic subplots too. While Li Wei and Yin Zheng’s relationship initially felt grounded and believable, several other pairings lacked credibility or emotional weight — leaning on clichés more than real character development. Some of them left me scratching my head, wondering how these people were supposed to make sense together.
And then there’s the pacing. With forty episodes, the drama inevitably bloats. Secondary arcs stretch far too long, court politics and sibling quarrels repeat themselves, and attention drifts. Combine that with the sidelined main romance, and you’re left with a drama that sometimes forgets its own strengths.

That said, I don’t want to undersell what New Life Begins does well. When it leans into warmth, everyday joys, and small but meaningful growth, it shines. Li Wei’s journey is relatable — spirited, flawed, and human — and her bond with Yin Zheng, when the drama remembers to show it, is genuinely sweet and steady. There’s a lot to love if you’re patient, and if you appreciate female friendships as much as romantic ones.

For me, this lands somewhere between 7.5 and 8.5 out of 10, depending on how much tolerance you have for caricatured male roles or the slower pacing. Personally, I lean toward the higher end, because the warmth and positivity stayed with me long after the credits rolled. The charm, the sisterhood, and the cozy atmosphere are real strengths, but the sidelined romance and lack of male character nuance weigh it down more than they should. Would I recommend it? Yes — but with caveats. If you’re looking for a feel-good ancient slice-of-life with a strong dose of female solidarity, you’ll probably enjoy it. If you’re in it primarily for romance, be prepared: the heart you came for might feel like it’s beating quietly in the background while the drama pushes a louder agenda to the front.

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Comedy and satire around a feudal chauvinistic society

In this drama, you would meet eight princes of different characters. This drama was apparently based on a novel with a theme of time travel back to the Qing dynasty. If you had followed Chinese dramas closely, you might know that one of the most famous events in the Qing dynasty was the fight for the throne of the eight princes during the reign of Emperor KangXi.

This drama was however based on a fictitious kingdom call XinChuan with four other feudal states and the eventual winner was not the fourth prince. The story started with a selection of brides brought in from these states. The bridal candidates came from different backgrounds and with different objectives. These states had different attitudes towards the status of women in society - from the most backwardly chauvinistic like that of the Qing Dynasty to the most liberal where a female monarch reigns and women could be warriors.

Hao Jia, daughter of a concubine of a noble family, wanted to become the concubine of the Crown Prince as he was going to be the next king. She wanted prestige and power, and scheme to avoid the fate of becoming selected for the fifth prince, Yin Qi known to be a useless bum.

Li Wei on the other hand worked very hard not to be selected so she could returned home. She came from a humble family and tried to sell herself short. She introduced herself as a connoisseur of foods. She was not favoured of course and it looked like her feudal state was going to be short of someone in matrimonial alliance to XinChuan.

Unfortunately for Li Wei, one of the princes stepped up and volunteered to marry her. This prince was talented but unfavoured and lay low most of the time. He decided it was time to emerge from obscurity. She became the pawn for him get the attention of the King.

Each of the different marriages would have different dynamics. Each of the different brides struggled to adapt to their new environment and met different fate. Also, inevitably, fight for the throne ensued.

Comedies come with clowns. This drama presented two: the third prince who had an elevated opinion of himself and thought that the world revolved around him, and a chauvinistic clueless fifth prince who married a female warrior. Then there was the Crown Prince who harboured an inferior complex and took it out on people around him to show who was in-charge.

Overall, I think this is a very entertaining drama.

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Enough of everything, enjoyed it❤️

A good historical romance series ❤️

Everything was great, only reason for 8.5 rating is that the cheesy moments were so much that it was cringe at times. I understand that the main take away, which I feel the writer wanted to bring across, is of a New beginning, i.e. changes that are made for a better life.

All actors did a great job of portraying their respective characters and enjoyed the different personalities of the princes (the good ones). The angst and court policies were needed especially with the cheesy parts, but would have been better if there were a titbit more.

Enjoyed the OST.

Won't necessarily rewatch but perhaps my absolute favorite moments of Prince Yin Qi and princess Shan Guang Jing, really enjoyed the interactions between them and it would have been absolutely boring if it was not included along with Prince An's stupidness.

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Just leave ur prejudice before watch this

Watch this due to watch YT short clip. At first not planned to watch this drama this fast, but that short clip really intrigued me. And I'm not disappointed watching this. Haha...

Ok. Just like I said just leave ur prejudice before watch this. I mean leave what you know about harem or Palace drama. Because this drama nothing like that & really gonna overturned what you expect about harem or Palace drama.

What I like / different about this drama:
+ All the sisterhood. Nobody really anybody enemy in this harem. All the woman are in the end friend and helper of each other. Especially in 3rd prince house is really funny & unique, how all the woman become friend instead backstabbing each other just to get prince attention.
+ All the brotherhood between the prince. Well so glad finally to see the real brotherhood between the prince for once. Where the prince live like a real brother & have support one each other, then just see they purely just rivalry and scheming between the prince for get power.
+ The feminism. How the woman try to change century prejudice or rule about woman. Like woman supposed to be at home only looking after their house, but here Li Wei (LW) build business instead.
+ Talk about depression after childbirth. Very sensitive issue to touch here, but they pulled it.
+ The couple. I really like how every couple’s relationship is developed & not only focus to our main couple (LW & Yin Zheng [YZ]). Especially I really like how Shang Guan Jing & Yin Qi relationship develop.
+ The beautiful introduction about all the other district. They not only talk about what special about that district but also about martial status in some district. Like how ji chuan is monogamy, xin chuan like every kingdom (poligamy with many wives) and dan chuan dominated by woman.
+ The most weird thing is the king is not called by name king or Emperor but just lord. So unusual...

What feel like force / minus in the drama
- Yuan Ying really fit the role of legal wife of the prince that in the end really fit for the role of Empress/Queen. But because of our FL, LW, the real/true love of YZ, of course she must move aside. And her obsessions with becoming minister is really just doesn't make sense.
- The crazy part when LW about to become legal wife from just consort. All the action is just doesn't make sense. Like they already do the first night, yet YZ still try to get LW's dad approval & to do all the procedure to do marriage ceremony in the 'right' way. Yeah maybe some of you will think that what YZ did looked like oh so sweet, but for me it just like wasting duration. They should be able to wrap sooner.
- Too many episode. For me everything that comes after YZ appointed as the crown prince is a little bit just wasting duration. It's like they need some more story just to make the episode into 40 ep long.

Really funny actually, before I watched AvenueX on YouTube, I've never really think about this. But what she said that true for me:
- all too easy for our ML. Our ML, Yin Zheng (YZ), got it so easy. It's like everything settle for him without he really need to do much. Like when LW struggle with her restaurant, we see YZ not really do much for her, LW rely more on her sister (all the princes wife) & herself then hoping that YZ will do something for her.
- All the problem so easy to solved & all the bad person so easy to change their mind & attitude. Like Yin Jun / 4th Prince so easy to change his attitude after his father scold him.

Overall this really unique historical drama that worth your time to watch it...

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Strong friendship and resilience

I really enjoyed watching this drama because it portrays women's struggles in patriarchal ancient Chinese society, where the rules limited many women's potential in court and in their daily lives. The women were forced to marry either for business profits or for their family's sake, like Hao Jia. What makes this drama very interesting is that among the women who were forced to marry the Xinchuan princes, some of them found good partners who helped them break the law of the marriage selection across the nine regions and changed it to be more beneficial towards women, giving them freedom to start businesses and explore their opportunities and not to limit them to only marriage and childbirth.

Furthermore, I loved the friendship between Li Wei and the other girls, as they supported each other through the tribulations they faced and stayed together. This is what I liked the most in this drama, alongside the romance genre. Also, I laughed most of the time because of Yin Qi. He is such a good comedic character.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this drama to people who like strong friendships between characters alongside romance and comedy.

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A Funny and Thoughtful Look at Women's Lives

I mainly watched this for the comedy. It was dynamic, weaving in power struggles involving social class and gender, sibling rivalry, and sharp social commentary on institutional gender bias. But what I loved most were the hilarious situations, the witty banter between characters, and the well-crafted dialogue that really delivered the humor.

Personally, I’m not a fan of family dramas—and this borders on one—but with its slice-of-life tone layered over a palace setting and strong social commentary on the treatment of women, it was easy to forget the family-driven aspect. I genuinely enjoyed it.

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Wholesome show indeed!

This is one of those cdramas that come silently, not star studded, not many anticipated it, and turn out to be surprisingly great, better than a lot other hyped shows. Initially i moved past this one after reading the synopsis because  it wasn't my cup of tea and i am no fan of family/life dramas because they tend to be melodramatic but this was far from it and the synopsis does the show justice but makes it sound so bland, not the best description imo. It was a breath of fresh air with the whole vibe of the show, so much positivity, merriment and good things happening everywhere. Watching it felt like looking at people living a good daily life in happiness and peace with love. It was such a peaceful and feel good show.

The pacing was great. It spans over about 4 yrs in 40 eps, there wasn't anything boring or anything rushed, editing was good, no plotholes or abrupt scene changes.

Coming to the acting, Tian Xiwei is such a cutie but her voice bugs me so much. Her acting as a cheerful optimistic girl was good, but nothing fabulous about it. Her character had developed quite a lot, and she was mostly likeable when she wasn't being rash. Bai Jingting, his acting was on point, perfect. His character was rather flat one, but enjoyed it. But in some scenes how much he looked like Cheng yi was creepy. I liked all the characters except 4th consort and 2nd former crown prince. Special mention i loved Yuan Ying, but i was so worried that they'd make her fall for the ml and ruin the whole relationship dynamic in the family but luckily they didn't do that and she had a strictly platonic relationship, as a mentor. The 4th prince was annoying but grew to be so adorable. And Su shen was so sweet. The solar term ladies and all other princess consorts were very good and their unity and friendship, sisterhood was a rare theme to see in a cdrama because usually all females are in love with the ml so they are collectively bitches to the fl. Here the ladies had a beautiful bond with each other and it was so good to see. Even some characters that i didn't really like at first sight had developed into likeable characters, like 2nd princess consort, Song wu, 3rd prince, Mls mother, etc. Importantly, they all have their own characters which are unique and different from the rest, and none of them is willing to morph their originality to please others.

The story highlights deeply on the themes of women empowerment and modernization of society in a traditional state and gender discrimination too. Other important themes were sisterhood among the ladies and brotherhood among the princes. It was well executed. There were mostly happy things going on, but nothing in life is only good, so there was a fair little share of bad things too, but not to the point of tragedy or melodrama. The story was heartwarming, how the leads managed to achieve their each individual dreams without sacrificing someone's life and all the other characters too got their own happiness and deserved endings. The writing of the story and the characters was smooth and very well done. The last 5 eps had a lot of romance that it lacked in the previous eps. The ending was very happy. The family life was well portrayed with warmth and no ultra evil characters who were doing black magic to ruin the leads. Not everyone was out to get the main couple and i liked this uniqueness, since everyone had their own thing to do and it did not have anything to do with harming the leads. A family/life drama written, executed and done so well is rare for sure.

Overall it was a pleasant watch and I'd recommend watching it for the positivity and warmth it spreads. The characters and storylines are good, the ending is sugary sweet and wonderful. It is happy and peaceful, perfect for a break from other heavy dramas.

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Historical Humor & Heart

Their story starts with a marriage selection that the FL is determined to fail, but surprisingly gets chosen for instead…

The ML is the least favored sixth son of ten (?) royal heirs, relegated to menial tasks due to his poor health, while the FL is an unassuming girl with no status who just longs to return home and lead a quiet life with her family. Being forced into a political marriage isn’t the easiest beginning to their relationship, but with time, might this duo come to realize their arranged marriage is a blessing in disguise? Can they defy the odds and find a love that transforms their lives?

Because this is a longer drama with 40eps, you can expect to see lots of filler scenes and side stories. This isn’t meant to deter you from watching it, however, as each character adds to the fullness of the story. I’m merely warning you ahead of time that the episodes don’t always show a lot of interaction between the two main leads (but no worries, they still get lots of screen time.)

If you like historical dramas with
- familial scheming
- brotherly love
- hidden agendas
- loyal servants
- wives and concubines
- delulu girls
- “court politics”
- protective men
- justice being served
- beautiful sismances
+ more, then I say give this show a watch.

The Leads are both great people. I love that, from their first interaction, the ML only has eyes for the FL. Not so much in an insta-love kind of way, but she intrigues him like no other ever has. The things that she’s constantly getting berated for are the very parts of her personality that he enjoys most. And he’s never afraid to defend her and protect her against those who seek to put her in her place. He always keeps her in mind with every decision he makes. And though some things are out of his control and he has to do things he doesn’t like (iykyk), he still does his utmost to care for and protect her from the potential pain it will cause. He’s a total green flag! He never wants to use foul means in his schemes for recognition, nor is his goal to hurt his brothers. In all his attempts to make a name for himself and achieve some power, he’s never malicious or unkind. He’s genuinely good and trustworthy. He’s hidden his talents and downplayed his smarts for year - now’s his time to shine!

The FL is so cute and sunny, but not in a TSTL or annoying way. She’s innocent, but not dumb; naive, but not clueless. She’s uneducated in the ways that are important for an official’s wife, but that doesn’t mean she’s not smart. Her strengths simply lie in other areas. And I’m so glad that we get to see her blossom under the protection and nurture of the ML. He never tries to hold her back, but rather wants to offer her the sky to soar in. And soar she does… She works hard to be “worthy” of the title and position of his legal wife (which, side note: she’s married off to him as a concubine because her status doesn’t earn her the position of his true wife.) She matures and grows, but never loses herself along the way - she stays true to her beliefs and morals, no matter what difficulties arise. She’s a constant source of strength and encouragement to everyone around her, bringing smiles to their faces and ease to their hearts.

And speaking of being his “side wife”, I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I will just say DON’T PANIC when the ML’s parents force him into another marriage. It’s all going to be okay and, honestly, this show has the best plot line for this portion of the drama. So don’t let that trope keep you from watching this - the trio are aces together! 🙌🏻

The Leads are honestly such a good duo throughout the whole drama. I wish we’d gotten more of them being them without all the surrounding drama, but alas, that’s not how these shows typically go, haha. Their bond of friendship and love was so strong and pure. I really liked when they celebrated the things that set each other apart from what their society deemed acceptable/proper. They were always encouraging one another to follow their hearts rather than allowing the constraints of the rules to break them. They supported each other’s endeavors and defended the other against any slander/malicious attacks. They were loyal, steady, honest, and true. I’m definitely glad I took the time needed to watch their story unfold.

This is filled with both humor and heart. Not only do they have a beautiful relationship with each other, but they share great friendships with others as well:
-The FL formed tight bonds with her husband’s legal wife, the second and third female leads, and the Solar Term Ladies (the name of the third lord’s wife and SIXTEEN concubines!! 🤯).
-The ML had a great relationship with his fifth brother, then later with his third as well.
-They both had super cute and humorous friendships with their closest servants.
-Their servants formed tight friendships too.

So, yes, there’s a lot going on and sure, some scenes could’ve been cut/shortened to make it less episodes but I still enjoyed this drama and recommend it to those who enjoy their historical dramas a bit on the lighter side.


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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : ep.8💋
- Together : ep.21 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp : Nope 💖

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A Wuxia with a feminist twist

Let me just say, I absolutely adore this series so much! Definitely on one of my top C-drama faves.

Though this series may not be for everyone. It actually does not follow the traditional way, and if you're looking for heavy romance or dramas without politics, this might not be for you. The first few episodes may seem to be on the romance route, but it'll take the backseat of the drama.

Just to put this in, this might be a TRIGGER WARNING but there are abusive relationships in this series and a suicide attempt.

STILL! I'm hoping that new watchers could still give this a try and watch this whole series.

Things I like about this drama:
- I really love the sisterhood between all the women in this drama. At first there might be several women that are rude and actually there is one that I really dislike, but they do change throughout the series. There are no evil scheming women in this drama, and this was just really refreshing to see. I absolutely love their friendship with one another.
- There are no love triangles! You may think that there might be for the main leads, but there is not.
- The series really does tackle issues about gender equality, political corruptions, family problems and etc.; and seriously love how they bring women empowerment into this series and how they really push for changes in such a chauvinistic world.
- Main leads have good chemistry, I wish they extended the drama a bit because I really wanted more romance since it did take the backseat of the drama for a while. But every scene where their characters flirted or bantered throughout the whole drama, I seriously love it.
- It is a very light and feel good drama, there may be some parts that may seem heavy; but they are not.
- Everyone's acting! Please everyone really did a great job bringing each their characters to life and show how different each of their characters are. Seriously kudos to them!
- Comedy, for me I really loved the comedy in this series and it was actually the reason why I got hooked to the drama. The comedic timing and conversations would have me bursting into tears of laughing so hard. If you find the comedy in the first two episodes really hilarious, you'll definitely like the comedy further in the drama.
- All the arc in this series. Everything was really put together, each arc connecting to one another. To be honest, I've seen some reviews saying that the series is draggy, but that's really not the case. There is a lot of characters, and their stories do unfold in this drama and why they are connected to the main plot. You get to see each and every individual character (important characters), how they differ from one another and how several of them strive for changes in their world and/or have a huge character development.
- I love the brotherhood between the 3rd, 5th and 6th princes; these three looking out for one another unlike the others.
- I've mentioned it earlier, but both main leads and the other important characters have a character development. It's really nice seeing their growth and how they do mature.
- Please the food in this drama, they absolutely looked delicious. I actually crave to eat Chinese food because of this series.
- Music, seriously love every music and background music they used throughout the series. Even the tune they use on the comedy scenes was just so perfect, that it would just make me laugh.
- The ending, it was just so satisfying!

Cons:
- To be honest, I did not like several of the character's decisions because they were a bit rash.
- Second couple, to be honest I did not like how one of them was abusive. Their abusive relationship was for comedy, but to be honest I find it a bit too much. There were several instances they push and pull; and it got a bit tiring.
- I'll be honest several regions in this series, sounds almost the same. At first I thought that several characters came from the same region, but later found out that they don't. So please do pay attention to the first part of the first episode as they do talk about the regions. If not, you can also check the discussion thread here on MDL that shows all the regions if you do get confused.

Overall:
I seriously loved this drama to bits! It is really refreshing to see a drama like this and definitely will be re-watching this again, as I really did enjoy this series! Maybe I might see any details that I've missed.

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a light comedic drama not entirely to be taken at face value

at first glance this is a very usual costume drama, somewhat indeterminate point in time, attractive actors, light and bright colours. it starts with comedic scenes, not entirely unusual. what is unusual is that it retains this tone overall even though it gets quite deep into what is a set of very dark topics, many juxtaposing ancient practices and modern feminism - domestic violence, women's economic rights, arranged marriages. a particularly positive aspect is the way that most of the women in this drama support each other, a far cry from the usual divide-and-rule harem politics.

overall thoughts: occasionally silly but a delight.

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