This is revenge for all the awful princes in CDramas
Tian Xi Wei is the sun and I’m just happy we get to gaze upon her glory. I fell in love with her portrayal of Fan Changyu and I fear I’m going to fan girl every role I see her in. Her character is a bit of a Mary Sue but it suits the feel of this show.This is an ensemble show and like Bridgerton our “lead” couple seems to not get enough screen time for a large part of the show. I found myself fast forwarding through parts but this is an easy feel good watch with lots of feminist narratives without the blatant Proselytizing found in other female forward CDramas.
As much as I loved Yin Zheng and Li Wei’s story this show is for the girls. I loved the constant show of female friendships and connections, the joy of pouring into each other and being the beauty of found family. I definitely crowns in Ep 40 where the girls saw themselves in the newest selection group.
I do think the main villain left too early. As much as I hated him he kept things spicy. This will definitely become a show that I’ll rewatch just for the nostalgic feeling.
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It's a great series you just have to be patient with it.
At some point in the last few episodes, I really just wanted it to end.It's great, super wholesome, funny, and I like the romance and how they can still show the individuality of the FL and ML/ how they are in their own lives (ML being a prince/court official and FL being a business owner and having time with the other ladies).
Some might say that the leads don't have enough momenbts together, but I feel like it kinda suits them. They both are ambitious in their own ways, I don't think it makes sense that we would always see them sticking to each other bc I don't think they would want to lose their own lives just to be together (if that makes sense). For me, there wasn't really a moment when I was watching where it felt like "Where are they?" "Whya aren't they together?" bc I can see how they still value their individual selves/goals while being in a relationship. They aren't too dependent on each other and it's great, and that's what makes their relationship really healthy. They are both green flags.
Another great thing about this drama is the women. I love how they all grew and supported each other. I love seeing empowered and empowering women.
I just feel like it drags at one point and I just want to get it over with. Nonetheless, it's still a great series, probably gonna be one of my faves.
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This review may contain spoilers
Fun show
This is not a historical drama. This is a drama set in a historical period while applying modern concepts of female empowerment, which will never work in ancient China. Take this drama for what it is - entertainment, not an accurate representation of history.The acting and chemistry between the characters was great. The relationship between Yin Zheng and Li Wei was endearing, wholesome, and very cute. They were the whole package - mutual respect, understanding, devotion, and love. Yin Zheng was unspoiled and dutiful. Li Wei was optimistic and loving. Even the side characters were fun.
The only minus is that the drama did not really have a coherent plot. I guess the central idea was the relationship between ML and FL, except most of the story centered around female characters and sisterhood. At the beginning, ML and FL met and started liking each other. Then the story switched to female characters, making the romance kind of a side story. And, towards the end, the story switched back to the relationship between ML and FL. Some characters wholly disappeared after they reached a certain milestone. Song Wu was completely written off after she got marred, even though she was a constant semi-annoying presence at the beginning. The same was with the second prince after he was exiled. It seemed the writers were not too focused on the conflict. Nevertheless, the drama had a pretty good pacing, character development, and wholesome relationships. This is one of those rare stories were women do not undermine and betray each other for men and power, but instead, help and uplift each other.
If you are looking for a feel-good story without a deep plot, this is it.
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one of the gorgeous dramas in China
At first, I was sick of unnatural comical performance of the female lead and almost gave up watching it. However, I gradually realized this drama was quite gorgeous because it covered various themes such as politics, romance, cooking , after-birth care and etc. Especially, feud between legal sons and illegal ones added a comfortable tense in the story. There were so many beauties. My favorite one is the actress as a legal wife for the male lead. She looks talented. sophisticated and cool. I also found this was a high budged drama.Was this review helpful to you?
A Palate Cleanser of a Show.
I just wasn't overwhelmed with this show. Should you watch it? Sure! If you need a simple story with a variety of characters, this will do.Was every episode good? No. Did I hate it? Not really. Will I rewatch? Only certain portions and there weren't a lot.
I have complaints but I would have to go full Story-Theory-Mode and analyze the dickens out of this. And this show isn't worth that.
I watched for Tian Xi Wei. She personifies the girl who doesn't care about society's expectations. She fit this role very well. This was my first exposure to Bai Jing Ting and I look forward to seeing him in other things. I wished the show focused more on them and less on the gaggle of girls who wanted to start a restaurant. That was interesting to a point, then it just felt preachy.
I think the script had a hard time focusing on the 'newness' in this 'new life beginning.' A script should provide our characters with some break from a constant supply of new circumstances. I understand, it's in the title, but why couldn't some characters grow out from a 'newness' hurdle before another 'newness' hurdle begins? Why couldn't the wind settle before it picked up again?
The show was not dramatic. It was lighthearted and fun. I would label this as a palate cleanser show. Watch it between other shows to recalibrate your mind.
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Sweet and endearing
I found myself enjoying this a lot more than expected.The main leads were very sweet, and I felt they acted out the different emotions well.
It was a bit on the long side, and as I am writing this review now several months after I watched it, I must admit I don't remember THAT much from the story, but more the overall sweet feeling it left me with.
I do remember that I found some short scenes felt a bit unnecessary - they didn't really matter/add anything of importance.
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Light drama with a lot of girl power and sisterly love
It was a light drama. I say light as there was some conflict as there had to be to make a story, but there wasn't a ton of unnecessary angst or misunderstandings. If there was angry it was resolved pretty quick. I really liked all the character's even prince An even tho his character was a putz. The actors all did well and had good chemistry. The music was fine ,I suppose not anything memorable and nothing that made me need to look up the music to add to playlist.I did stop watching at episode 35 and not because i wasnt enjoying it but because i was naughty and watched the last episode to see if it had a good ending. I would definitely watch again all the way thru but right now i have to many half watched shows and was getting confused. I think it will be one of those thats an easy watch when I need a calm down after to many intnese dramas.
Overall sweet, some hilarity and lots of sister from anothet mister love.
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This review may contain spoilers
Feel good drama
Accidentally started watching this because I was a fan of baijinting, and end up liking the FL as well. I think this was my first drama of hers and i like her acting. Not sure if it was her voice or was dubbed, but the voice suits her character. She played innocent but steadfast character well and it’s not coming across as annoying as some actress came to be when trying to be ‘innocent’. The character building was also done well in my opinion. From the spoilt village girl who was brought up in a monogamous family, to a lady who understood well how the palace politics work, and able to adapt to it well to support her husband, without sacrificing her values.Plot was very women empowerment centric, and love how the wives found support in each other. The ML though at first appears calculating owing to the fact that he was brought up as someone who was overlooked from child, matured to a capable leader under the pillar of his wife’s support. It was a feel good drama with a lot of conflicts, but not an earth shattering ones, just something they have to solve along the way. Lol. I love not having to think so much while watching dramas, sometimes too many a plot/crisis makes me feel like i’m doing homework instead of watching dramas for fun. Lol
Ost was not that hyped up, none that sticks to mind that is. But the costumes was quite nice and even though there were nine states to be kept track of, they were introduced well during the leads’ adventure. Villains are appropriate and served their purpose. Lol. I love how the second prince was brought down and sent to the border while the fourth prince received different fate just because he realised his fault earlier and atoned.
Might not rewatch this, but my first watch of this is fun and i was well entertained. Lol
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it drags
I'm on episode 26....of 40, and I'm losing interest. They characters are cute, and the ML and FL are good in the parts. The villans are good. there are comedic elements throughout. The chemistry is not bad. But agree with others that the romance is nearly non-existent and awfully slow. I like the portrayal of empowering women and the struggle they overcome to go through to get their voices heard. Have at this point put it down and picked it up several times. I will ultimately finish it, but I suspect it will take several months.Was this review helpful to you?
Love after marriage troupe
I was really entertained by the story of 9 regions and how people are different from each other. It's really an interesting plot, but I wish they could've elaborated more on the origins of each regions as to the diveristy of each individual.The fl is really fun to watch and the ml is the introverted, but wise kind of person. A girl is picked from each region to get married to the prince and this is where the story starts to unfold. All I can say is that each of them has a distinctive character and they found theirselves relying unto each other as they face difficulties with their husbands. There, they built an unmatchable bond with each other.
The thing is, I thought this was a female eccentric drama, but the script just focuses more on how everything can be resolved with their husbands and that is the problem here. It feels like they need permission from their husband, first before making a decission and it's as if a wife's decission is always wrong. Nonetheless, I hope this will change as it's just the start of the drama and there will be a sudden turn of tables. If you're into love after marriage plot, this is definitely for you.
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Heartwarming!
Young woman enters the palace. How many Chinese dramas have started with such a premise. And yet, what a joy and what a startle to see this series' fresh take on a subject matter overly done in Chinese period dramas ...I loved every minute of it, every bit of acting and story line.
It really gave me the fuzzy heartwarming feeling as when I am enjoying comfort food. Do give it a try. I am sure you will experience the same.
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What a gem!
Update: The story focused too much on sisterhood and feminism. The spark and romance from the first few episodes are pretty much gone. They are acting like friends or a couple that’s been married for at least 15 years.Also didn’t like how the FL is always so rash and getting the ML and everyone in trouble. It’s like she doesn’t think before she acts. Then she would have a a bag full of tears while she justifies her actions to the ML. A pity because it started out so strong.
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After finishing Love Like the Galaxy and Love Between Fairy and Devil I struggled to find a show (cdrama, kdrama and even jdrama) that held my attention. I was literally dropping dramas left and right for a few months. I was bored out of my mind. Kept seeing New Life Begins everywhere so I decided to give it a try without any expectations.
I would just like you guys to know that I am officially HOOKED. The story is so fresh, characters are so engaging, clothing is stunning and the chemistry is 💯. The leads are so cute together and I can’t stop smiling every time they are together.
It is hysterical!
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