Sweet + Entertaining + Fast Pace
Positives:-Entertaining: I tried so many of these sweet dramas (modern and costume) and this one stood out for entertainment value. Pacing is great and I never got bored. It actually does have a simple story to tell and the romance/jokes are not trying too hard. Their daily lives are full of interesting moments which made me smile, lol, squeal, excited, and wanting more.
-Perfectly cast: GORGEOUS respectable yet full of contrast male lead character (main reason why I watch dramas) plus a cute and assertive female lead, with a young and energetic cast of friends. They all fit their characters well, have fun interactions with each another and delivered good performances.
-Fight scenes: there are a good amount here done by male lead himself and the martial arts director and crew deserves recognition.
-Production: although not a big budget drama, everything from wardrobe, hair & makeup, setting, camera work, fight scenes, CG are done well. Nothing annoying stood out that takes away from story/characters. I can tell production cares and want to deliver a fun drama for people to enjoy.
Negatives:
-Some typical romance cdrama tropes but with a male lead like that, who cares...
-Over simplified throne struggles which is not a reason I watch this drama.
So if at the end of the day you just want to come home, relax, destressed, and enjoy something easy and fun, watch this. =)
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This review may contain spoilers
If it is SWEET THEN IT deserves a 10!!!
I am someone who only writes a review if I want to give it a 10 other than that I will not write a review. I watch dramas purely for entertainment purposes and I feel that this drama has made my day and warms my heart. It has the nice fluffy and soft feeling that I get watching some of my favorite actors whom I have been watching and following since that debut so I do recommend watching it again and again especially when you are in between shows and waiting on episodes to drop and this doesn’t make you feel disappointed or distracted by skipping and fast forward to just to finish watching it.Was this review helpful to you?
Strong ML
Song Wei Long looked so handsome in this drama! I'll just start there lol. This was a great "contractual" marriage drama and you will see why I say that. I got to say Tan was starting to frustrate me because she didn't want anything to do with him and yet when the Prince as showing affection/kindness she was still questioning his feelings (even though she didn't and also wanted him).Both Prince and Tan love grew stronger for each other. I am glad they didn't leave us too heartbroken at some of the characters that passed.
The political aspect of the drama was easy to watch and loved how smart the Prince is and oh not to mention his fighting skills.
Overall, it was good - I am always a sucker for these type of endings and I feel more sattsified.
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If it's ugly, don't show it
"If it's ugly, don't show it." — Jiang Xu’s icy words to a hopeful admirer, proof that love is the last thing on his mind... until Ming Tan forces her way into his life. Adapted from the novel Xiao Dou Kou (小豆蔻) by Bu Zhi Shi Ke Cai, Youthful Glory originally centered on political intrigue and government corruption. However, the drama adaptation shifts focus, turning the conspiracy into a backdrop for a sweeping romance. From the first episode to the last, the main couple is utterly infatuated with each other, their love story punctuated by two equally swoon-worthy side romances.The Story
Jiang Xu and Ming Tan first cross paths in a temple—he fleeing an assassination attempt, she gathering evidence to break off an unwanted betrothal. Their encounters multiply, yet Ming Tan remains oblivious to the fact that the man before her is the Prince of Dingbei. To her, he seems like a fugitive evading the law, a far cry from the cold, ruthless prince of rumors. This leads to hilarious misunderstandings when Jiang Xu unexpectedly petitions the Emperor for her hand in marriage.
Beneath the rom-com charm, a darker conspiracy brews. Jiang Xu is investigating corruption that has left his northern border troops impoverished, their funds embezzled by greedy officials. The villains retaliate with assassins, and when Ming Tan marries Jiang Xu, her family is dragged into the fray—her father framed for smuggling, his reputation in ruins. To clear his name, the couple must uncover evidence to expose the true culprits.
Characters & Acting
As the formidable general guarding the northern border, Jiang Xu has little interest in romance—until Ming Tan enters his life. Intelligent, disciplined, and a master strategist, he is fiercely loyal to the Emperor, who treats him like a younger brother.
Song Wei Long delivers a compelling performance, seamlessly transitioning from a wrathful prince bent on justice to a lovestruck man utterly devoted to Ming Tan. His chemistry here with the FL surpasses that he has with Angelababy in Everlasting Longing.
Ming Tan, the daughter of a deseased mother and an absent general/duke father, has managed her noble household since childhood. Sharp-witted, independent, and impeccably stylish, she occasionally indulges in brattiness—a forgivable flaw given her upbringing. Beneath her spoiled exterior lies a kind and compassionate heart.
Bao Shang En shines as Ming Tan, blending charm and believability, though her occasional startled expressions may confuse viewers. Her chemistry with Song Wei Long is palpable, and her dynamic with her cousin/best friend, Bai Min Min (played by Dai Lu Wa), adds warmth to the story.
Jiang Xu’s camaraderie with his three friends—particularly the comedic Zhang Huai Yu (Bai Shu), brother of the Empress—is another highlight. Bai Shu’s impeccable timing makes Huai Yu both endearing and laugh-out-loud funny.
The two side couples further enrich the narrative:
- Zhang Huai Yu & Bai Min Min: Their enemies-to-lovers arc is a riot, with bickering that slowly melts into affection.
- Shu Jing Ran (Quan Yi Lun) & Yun Yi (Ke Ying): Their love-at-first-sight romance faces potential societal scorn due to their differing statuses—until Shu Jing Ran takes fate into his own hands.
Final Thoughts
Youthful Glory serves heaps of romance against a backdrop of conspiracy and corruption. While the male lead battles enemies and uncovers truths, the female lead and her cousin hunt for ideal husbands. The contrast—girls daydreaming of perfect matches, boys prioritizing duty over love—fuels humor and lighthearted misunderstandings.
The pacing slows in romantic moments (of which there are many) but picks up during the sparser action and scheming scenes. Despite some repetitive editing, the drama remains an enjoyable watch—perfect for romance enthusiasts. If you prefer tightly woven plots over love-struck fluff, however, this might not be your cup of tea.
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A Guide To Happy Endings
Anyone who watches historical/xianxia/wuxia dramas knows that while they are excellent dramas more often that not they fall short of happy endings.In this one, however, we have a full episode dedicated to just that- a nice, warm happy ending. 45 minutes of love and joy and friendships and marriage and kids. I was very pleased with that. Pleased enough, in fact, to forget all the minor issues I had with the show and give it a near perfect rating.
The story has some flaws, the writing is not perfect, the acting is mostly good but lacks a bit here and there. The music was amazing. The costuming/styling however felt off in a lot of scenes- especially for the lead guy Jiang Xu. The cut and silhouette of the robes paired with the full tied up hair looked awkward across various scenes of multiple episodes.
This is a good drama for anyone who wants more romance than political conspiracy, more 'moments' than strategies and more fun than stress. A sweet drama that suffers from the limitations of its genre and succeeds in a way none have before- by focusing more on the heroes than villains especially in the last two episodes.
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Story line is well well developed but nothing original.
It is good to watch but nothing to shout about.
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This review may contain spoilers
Contract Marriage Becomes True Love
Can a contract marriage turn real? As us drama lovers know, the answer is YES!What can you expect from this drama?
- ML dominating the well choreographed fight scenes
- Several scheming, greedy, villainous characters
- Loyal servants who are more like family members
- FL frequently misunderstanding the ML
- Familial drama, both the good & bad kind
- A contractual marriage that never felt “fake”
- Political espionage & backstabbing
- Fun bromances & sismances
- Sweet flirting & yummy kisses between Leads
- Multiple side love stories that flow with the overall plot
- Scenes that’ll make you laugh & others that’ll make you cry
- A main couple who fights for justice together against all odds
I loved the ML. L.O.V.E.D. Loved. He was such a great character with so many layers. He seamlessly switched between his intense, tough-guy public persona & his playful, teasing persona with his closest friends & the FL. He’s extremely smart, very caring, 100% loyal, deeply protective, & to-his-core honorable. And let’s not forget suuuuuper talented when it comes to his fighting skills. 🔥
Sadly, I wasn’t as impressed with the FL {character, NOT the actress!!} I found her to be quite childish, honestly. Which confused me at times because she’s so smart & mature at other times that it felt like she was two different people in some scenes. So while she did have her good qualities (loyal to her loved ones, not afraid to stand for what’s right, willing to work for her goals) & showed decent character growth, she acted petty, judgmental, jealous, & self-righteous too often for my tastes.
She made it hard for me to really love this story, but the ML made it impossible for me to hate. And the duo does have some really cute & sweet moments together. They’re a good team when they work together to bring the villains to light & get justice for those they’ve wronged. And they definitely aren’t lacking in the chemistry department!! 🫠
So while this drama won’t be added to my “love it!” list, it was still an enjoyable show that I’m glad I watched. Don’t let my opinions stop you from watching it & deciding for yourself, though. Just because it’s not one of my new favs doesn’t mean it won’t be one of yours! 🤗
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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.14 💋
- Together : ep.8 👩🏻❤️👨🏻
- BreakUp : Nope 💖
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This review may contain spoilers
The best way to describe my feelings toward this drama is that it had the potential to be great but it was held back by the writer’s limited vision and lack of creative effort.. There were too many cringe and unnecessary jealousy scenes.. It was just too much to sit through.. On top of that there were characters who were totally not needed in the story.. The drama would have been shorter and much better if all these stupid scenes were cut..I really wish they had shown more of the fiery Prince in the drama instead of just a lovestruck puppy.. I get that romance is an important part of the story but the characterisation was all over the place considering how badass he is supposed to be..
It’s not inherently a bad drama and you can probably tell from my rating.. It was a decent drama.. It’s just that the good parts were overshadowed by cringey and unnecessary scenes..
Like I mentioned earlier, the drama feels held back by trying to do too much.. The whole subplot with Wen Zong felt unnecessary.. Nanlu’s attack, his suicide, and the FL’s reaction didn’t really add much.. It just distracted from the main story.. Honestly the drama would have been stronger if it focused more on the core plot instead of stuffing in side arcs that go nowhere..
Overall, it was good for the most part.. I liked the core of the story and some of the side characters too.. Anyway, it’s not exactly surprising that the script turned out to be a mess.. Sorry Song Wei Long, this just felt too all over the place.. I will be watching The Seven Relics of Ill Omen soon... I hope it's not another disappointment..
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A Pretty but Painfully Shallow Idol Drama
I went into Youthful Glory expecting Song Weilong’s nuanced acting (after his standout role in Go Ahead), but what I got was a low-budget, logic-defying idol drama dressed up in wuxia cosplay. Imagine a school play written by a lovesick teenager - filled with over-the-top romance, fight scenes that defy physics, and characters with the emotional range of a cardboard cutout. That’s this show.The "Glory" Here is Only Skin-Deep (And Even That’s Questionable)
Let’s start with the leads, because oh boy, do they test my patience.
The Male Lead (Song Weilong): A flawless, suffering saint. He’s a genius commander, a martial arts prodigy, a devoted husband, and so morally upright he probably rescues kittens between scenes. Yet, his entire personality collapses into "I LOVE MY WIFE" - to the point where he forgets how to function like a normal human being. From a cool, composed leader, he devolves into a love-struck nincompoop who can’t focus on anything but his childish wife. Character assassination at its finest.
The Female Lead: Imagine a spoiled trust-fund baby who's never worked a day in her life. Her limited hobbies include pouting, looking doe-eyed, and being inexplicably adored. She's framed as the epitome of perfection but her only talents? Recognizing luxury goods and making men fall for her for no reason (only for existing, perhaps?). If this were real life, she’d be canceled on Weibo for sheer audacity and blocked on WeChat for being insufferable.
Their romance isn’t #CoupleGoals—it’s #WhyIsHeWithHer. She’s a walking red flag, and he’s the human equivalent of a golden retriever who’s lost all survival instincts - yet the show insists this is #RelationshipGoals.
The "F4" Knockoff & Other Nonsense
The supporting cast? A watered-down F4 with zero chemistry and paper-thin personalities. They exist purely to fill screen time and occasionally look cool in slow-motion. Ok, and to form side couples.
Martial Arts? More Like Martial Farts
The fight scenes are so absurd they border on parody. Characters freeze mid-air like buffering YouTube videos, levitate like they’re in a low-budget The Matrix and fly like they’re in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on a budget. I've seen better fight scenes from the 90s era, when technology was way less advanced. It’s more anime than wuxia - and not in a good way. Ok, but I do have to admit, I love the way the male lead spins his sword around. Very flashy and cool lols.
Makeup & Aesthetic Crimes
Song Weilong, a man blessed by the visual gods, looks ghastly in some scenes - chalky foundation, lips that look like he had a bad filler appointment, and a general "why do I look like a wax figure?" vibe (did the makeup artist hate him?). Though to be fair, he’s still ridiculously handsome 70% of the time - as he should be.
The female lead is forever stuck in Bambi-eyed pout mode, as if she’s permanently surprised by her own existence.
Final Verdict: So Bad It’s… Still Bad, but... Entertaining?
If you turn off your brain, Youthful Glory might be mildly entertaining as a so-bad-it’s-funny watch. But if you expect actual plot, character growth, or believable romance, you’ll be writing angry tweets by Episode 10 and screaming into a pillow by Episode 20.
Rating: 2/5 – Pretty faces can’t save this shallow, poorly written mess. And how this scored over 8 on MDL? Bribery? Collective delusion? The world may never know.
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Fluffy light hearted drama with happy ending
Honestly only watched it for the ML and the happy ending. The plot is simple, no nonsense and quite satisfying to watch if you’re looking for something to watch in between heavier dramas.ML is a treat to watch with his martial arts scene and face card but what is annoying is how the FL seems to never have to coax the ML which is kinda unrealistic. And she also can come across as borderline annoying.
Overall a good watch in between heavy drama, soft fluffy romance drama to watch during your free time.
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Youthful Glory: A Royal Mess with a Surprisingly Sweet Ending ?
Good casting all around! 🎭 The female lead started off a bit airheaded (honestly, girl, what were you thinking half the time? 😅), but thankfully she got her act together by the halfway mark and actually became likable. Major glow-up in personality!The male lead? Dashing as always 😍—seriously, this man could stand in a potato sack and still steal the show. Loved him ever since Go Ahead, and he didn't disappoint here either.
The side couples were cute and gave me plenty of laugh-out-loud moments 😂—a nice balance to all the serious palace politics and the usual corrupt old men shaking their fists at each other.
Plot-wise? Nothing new. The usual power struggles, betrayals, and sneaky ministers. But hey, the ending was satisfying and they gave us a proper epilogue! 🥳 A rare gem in the world of C-dramas, where they usually just ghost us after the wedding.
All in all, not groundbreaking, but definitely worth the watch. Bring snacks and stay for the slow-burn growth and the drama-within-the-drama. 🍿
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Good Solid Story-telling & an Excellent Cast! Well Worth Watching.
A well cast drama with excellent chemistry between ML & FL, and the secondary leads - both in terms of friendship groups and as couples. The lead and secondary leads all have well crafted and well developed personalities and evolve as the drama unfolds.The friendship between ML Song Wei Long (Jiang Xu), and Secondary Leads Zaung Haui Yu (Bai Shu) and Shu Jing Ran (Quan Yi Lun), and Jiang Xu and the Emperor seemed real, and the ML & FL were believable as a couple. I particularly enjoyed the lighter scenes between the two leads. For example, when Jiang Xu sees through Ming Tan’s actions but doesn’t ruin them for her and indulges her instead, and when Ming Tan messes up and is embarrassed in front of Jiang Xu. I also enjoyed the lighter moments which were not overly comical, ridiculous or grotesque.
The story is strong and there weren't any superfluous characters: all the characters, main, secondary, support or otherwise all have a place in the telling of the story. Also, the director/editor didn't let the story or any scenes drag on just for the sake of it. Yes, there were the usual scenes of the ML catching the FL and looking into each others' eyes but the director didn't over do these and the cameras didn't linger unnecessarily long.
A good quality and entertaining drama. Worth watching and rewatching.
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