Youthful Glory

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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The Misfits

The series started off well. I was watching it with pleasure. However, over time I saw that the series had become clichéd, had become similar to its peers, and the incompatibility of the leading actors had become noticeable. The story is like a familiar story, but it is scattered. It is not strong. It has been pulled in every direction, scattered, and has not been able to pull itself together. I could not get into it.
Especially our young actor Bo Shang En is a misfit. I think he has reflected his childish and childish side too much in his role, and when he is also inexperienced, he has shown a game in which his mistakes are very obvious. We can say that he is young, such things happen, but this person was given the lead role as soon as he started acting. I did not understand which of his talents, knowledge, manners and education, background and career were given. It would be more accurate to say that he has connections. The male actor Song Wei Long is not a great actor either. However, he is more experienced than the female actor and gives better pictures, looks better, and does better. I should say that he acts better. The actor has a certain stance. He looks older than his age. He is especially successful in costumed roles. He is also successful in action. But it's not great. It still has a long way to go. The couple is not compatible. They don't suit each other. They couldn't be a good couple. I attribute this to the actress being very young and inexperienced. I hope she will be more successful in the future. On the contrary, Dai Lu Wa was very successful in the second lead role. It would have been much better if they had cast this actress as the lead role. I loved this actress. She played like water. I liked her acting. I also found her very compatible with Bai Shu. I also found their love games with each other very sweet, suitable for a romantic comedy. I liked it. I also liked our third couple, Ke Ying and Quan Yi Lun. Although not as much as the second couple, I felt the bond of love between them. They also did their roles well. The supporting actors of the series were more successful. The leads were incompatible. I didn't like the actress. The plot of the series was known, messy, and low quality compared to similar series. It was a series that started well but didn't go well.

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Predictably sweet, it's for the feels, not the plot.

This series is pretty typical for its genre, a historical romance featuring a smart, composed heroine named Ming Tan. She’s set to marry into a “respectable” family, but surprise, they're a total mess. The whole thing is clearly a political move, but Ming Tan isn’t having it. Once she finds out her fiancé got his lowborn cousin pregnant, she starts digging up evidence to call the whole thing off.

Around the same time, she (accidentally) crosses paths with Jiang Xu, the Prince of Dingbei. He’s a royal and a military commander, currently on the run from assassins because he’s trying to get to the bottom of a battle gone horribly wrong. As he investigates corruption in the capital, he and Ming Tan keep bumping into each other.

Ming Tan’s no ordinary girl, she’s the fourth lady of the powerful Ming family, so her marriage has serious political weight. Her fiancé’s family is desperate to cling to that power, no matter how shady they have to be. Even Jiang Xu has to step carefully around her family at first. But as things unfold, he and Ming Tan start working together to break off the engagement, since it benefits them both.

Once the engagement’s canceled, Ming Tan is finally free, until Jiang Xu goes to the Emperor and asks to marry her himself. Because her marriage is practically a state affair, the Emperor agrees, and just like that, she becomes the Princess of Dingbei.

As for the rest of the story? It’s full of familiar tropes, the evil stepmother and stepsister, the funny and loyal guy friends, the sweet cousin, the overly trusting dad, and of course, our classic cold male lead who falls hard for the smart, kind female lead. Jiang Xu and Ming Tan are pretty textbook, but their chemistry is solid, and honestly, they’re fun to watch together.

Bottom line, don’t expect a groundbreaking plot. This is a comfy, costume drama with some light political twists, a few emotional bumps, and plenty of cute, cheesy, and feel-good moments. If you’re here for the romance, it delivers.

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Can be a good palate cleanser when overwhelmed with convoluted plotlines

The series has no compelling story, but the cliche still worked.

- It's light, easy, and simple, but fast-paced.
- Pretty straightforward in the story structure and it does not try too hard.
- No complicated conflicts and massive plot twists.
- Decent fight scene choreography.
- Song Weilong decently portrayed a wise prince, commanding general, and a lovesick husband, but I find Bao Shangen's expressions lacking in her character portrayal.
- I dislike childish characters and have no tolerance for them, but the imperfections incorporated into the FL's character greatly depicts a realistic noble woman in ancient times, which is refreshing.

All in all, it's not memorable, but it's neither good nor bad. Still, the ending has a conclusive dot/period, which is pretty satisfying.

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Mainleads mismatched

I was really looking forward to this drama, but now I'm really a bit disappointed.

First of all, the two main actors, who in my opinion have absolutely no chemistry with each other.
In "Everlasting Longing," Song Wei Long and Angela Baby made a truly beautiful couple. That's not the case here at all. There's absolutely no chemistry between the two main actors. It's as if an adult were playing with a child.
How can you pair such a striking, male actor with someone so bland and childlike? It really doesn't fit at all.

Of course, the whole story suffers from this, and I'm now seriously wondering whether I should continue watching.

I find myself constantly fast-forwarding; for me, there's just no tension. Others may see it differently, but unfortunately, for me, it's a no.

The story itself is nothing new. There are a lot of better dramas ongoing, with good pairings (Serendipity, The prisoner of beauty). I feel bad for Song Weilong, because i like his acting.

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Dragged Out, Inconsistent Writing

Youthful Glory had a pretty strong start. It seemed like we were getting a strong, smart female lead and a smart general male lead in a bit of a rivals to lovers story. I really liked the show at the beginning, when it was more focused on the romance and the leads entering into a contract marriage. The couple had really good chemistry and a lot of the side characters were interesting.

Unfortunately, the show really drags out the conspiracy and political plot lines in the second half of the show. Those parts were not interesting or well-written enough to be dragged out as the focus for that many episodes. A lot of what worked best in the beginning, especially the female lead’s cousin and her romantic arc, were missing for a long stretch towards the end. It felt like the pacing was really off, with the leads entering into their contract marriage way too early and then spending way too long on the conspiracy plot. The villains did not work at all and were incredibly underdeveloped.

The characterization of the female lead felt incredibly inconsistent throughout the drama. At the beginning, the female lead is portrayed as being very smart and scheming. She has been running her family’s household by herself seemingly since a very young age. She investigates and plots ways to get herself out of predicaments. But as the show went on, her character seemed to get more immature.

I feel like this drama could have worked way better if it put a much heavier focus on the romance, made the female lead a little more mature, and spent way less time on the politics and conspiracy. Both secondary couples also felt way more interesting than the lead couple, but they barely had any screen time. I wish her cousin was a bigger focus because she was one of the strongest characters and was a lot of fun to watch.

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youthful glory, but make it grown.

the story is just as described, straightforward and all. it's a decent watch and the performances are okay, but the writing especially for the fl was exhausting. she is innocent, sly, sharp, slow, class conscious,naive, self aware, gullible, genius business woman, vain, smart head of the household, pampered, sheltered, worldly, fragile, strong, child, woman... you get it. basically whatever the story needed her to be, whenever. that actress is funny though, the bits where she 'faints' literally had me lmfao.

the ml wasn't much better either, one moment he is menacing and dangerous, the next he's just a baby boy kicking it with his bros, or uncommunicative just to generate more angst, then hapless, then scheming, then, then! its like they created this very young couple and this youthful storyline, and then kept trying to put more meat on it for wider appeal but it just ended up looking like children playing dress up (think legend of anle)

end of the day I didn't find them satisfying, but I know this is bc I'm definitely not their target audience so. you watch it then decide if you like it. I didn't finish it, I might go back, but idc if I do, heh

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Youthful or Immature?

If you’re looking for an easy-to-watch love story, this isn’t it. Despite having 3 couples (and what the trailer would suggest), the genre is less of a romance and more of a palace drama.

The primary thread that ties many events of the series together is about a corrupt noble family and all the trouble they cause. The story follows the leads, played by Bao Shang En and Song Wei Long, as they uncover the conspiracy and face various obstacles together.

While Chinese costume dramas can often have irritating supporting characters, here it’s the primary couple that is poorly written, particularly the female lead.

I think she’s supposed to be in her late teens, so it’s understandable the character is somewhat immature, but her whining and self-centeredness makes her hard to like, especially early on. She tends to make reckless choices without considering the consequences for herself or other people. The inconsistent way the character is written doesn’t do a lot of favors for the actress. She’s spoiled and sheltered and somehow also manages a household and is a savvy businesswoman.

Song Wei Long plays the brooding type well and looks great doing it (that furrowed brow; those deep, dark eyes!), but his skills seem underutilized here. His male lead basically has two modes — “war god” or infatuated husband — and not much character depth or development.

The chemistry between the leads isn’t remarkable, and the two are at odds more often than not. Poor communication for the sake for dramatic tension is common in romance dramas (unfortunately), and that plot device is used several times in ways that seem unnecessary and unlikely.

Overall, a sloppy script that struggles to balance comedic and serious elements — including a rebellion plot that’s difficult to follow at times — make “Youthful Glory” a somewhat disappointing watch. There’s some cute relationship development and exciting, gravity-defying (though unrealistic) action sequences, but it’s not one of the better historical dramas released this year.

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Very mixed feeling because the (good) ingredients are clumsily used in the recipe

With Song Wei Long as ML

PLOT: The ML, Prince and general (fighting corruption within the Court), and the FL, daughter of a powerful official, enter into a marriage of alliance in an attempt to balance the powers. But after the marriage, to thwart suspicions, the Mastermind of corruption involves the FL's father. The couple will grow closer as they face the dangers and the multiple layers of corruption.

++ Song Wei Long ♡╰(ﾟxﾟ​)╯♡ is magnificent and charismatic in this series. [The FL is played by a young and beautiful actress who need to improve her acting skills]
++ Pleasant friendship within the Prince's Team (and only good-looking guys :)
++ OSTs well-suited to the context and emotions (but not memorable)
++ Director who alternates (often abruptly) between cute scenes, fights, humor, and investigations.
++ HE who takes his time :)

BUT the story is VERY poorly written!! Watched Part 2 on Speed ​​1.5

### The FL's character (described as intelligent) is immature, naive, inconsistent, ... to the level where it's unbearable.
### All the clichés (Prime Minister mastermind of conspiracies, marriage contract, floods, famine, etc.) but the story isn't subtle, the twists are poorly executed, the Great Villains are too clever and lucky vs. the good guys who are always caught off guard, ...

=> Song Wei Long carries the series on his shoulders. The drama could have been excellent with better writing :(

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Avec Song Wei Long as ML (heureusement :)

PLOT: Le ML, Prince et général (luttant contre la corruption au sein de la Cour), et la FL, fille d'1 puissant officiel, font un mariage d'alliance pr tenter d'équilibrer les pouvoirs. Mais pr déjouer les soupçons, le Mastermind de la corruption implique le père de la FL, désormais femme du Prince. Le couple va se rapprocher en affrontant les dangers liés aux multiples couches de corruption.

+++ Song Wei Long est magnifique et charismatique dans cette série ♡╰(ﾟxﾟ​)╯♡.
+++ Friendship agréable au sein de la Team du Prince (et que des beaux gosses :)
+++ OSTs bien adaptés au contexte et aux émotions
+++ Réalis° qui alterne (svt de façon abrupte) les scènes cute, de fight, d'humour, d'enquête.
+++ HE qui prend son temps :)

MAIS la story est TRES mal écrite !! Regardé la 2e partie en Speed 1.5

### Personnage de la FL (décrite comme intelligente) est immature, naïf, inconstant, ... à un point tel que c'est insupportable
### Ts les clichés (1e ministre mastermind des complots, contrat de mariage, inondations, famine, etc.) mais l'histoire n'est pas subtile, les twists mal amenés, les Great Villains trop intelligents et chanceux VS les gentils tjs pris au dépourvu, ...

=> Song Wei Long porte la série sur ses épaules. Le drama aurait pu être excellent avec une meilleure écriture :(

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A Light Watch of a Cliché Plot

Youthful Glory is a drama about Jiang Xu, Prince of Dingbei, and Ming Tan, a general's daughter, who agreed to do a contract marriage for political reasons but ended up falling in love as they work together to fight corruption.

With its simple and rather cliché plot, this drama has a high entertainment value. It has a good blend of romance, family, politics, and action. Although the writing was a bit sloppy at times, the pacing was great! I finished all 30 episodes in one sitting without ever feeling bored. I admit I had some prejudice before watching this drama. I saw the preview and thought that Ming Tan would be a cute but dumb character who constantly relies on the male lead however I was proven wrong. It turns out she was not only beautiful but also very smart, tactical, strategic, and independent. All the characters were well written, even the supporting characters were memorable.

The actors did a great job at bringing their respective characters to life. Bao Shang En was perfect for Ming Tan. She was able to portray her as a beautiful and intelligent young lady. Her styling and makeup were also great at supporting her character's personality and characteristics. Song Wei Long also did a great job at portraying the vigorous Jiang Xu. Although I think that his standing posture lacks the aura of a martial arts expert.

One thing that was a minor miss but left a huge impact on me was during the scene when Jiang Xu rescued the king, we can see that the figure actors acting as the army in the back were just softly clashing their weapons with one another. Some did not even fight. It gave me the cringe and ever since I saw that, I began to pay attention to the figure actors in the fight scenes of other dramas as well.

Despite so, I really enjoyed this drama. If you're watching for a light drama that you can watch after a long day, this drama would be the perfect option to go for. Youthful Glory will make you smile, squeal, addicted, and kick your feet against the air!

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It started off strong but ended kind of flat.

It started off strong but ended kind of flat. Still, they gave us a nice epilogue, so I appreciated that. 😊

This is actually the first drama I’ve finished for both the male lead (ML) and female lead (FL) — 😅 I started watching it because my mom recommended it and said it was funny and good. And to be fair, it was funny and enjoyable at first. But as the story went on, it started to feel flat for me.

The plot itself isn’t anything new. It’s your typical palace drama with the usual political struggles — fighting for power and position, deciding which clan should lead, corrupt advisors, and of course, a wicked Empress Dowager. The only refreshing part for me was the emperor himself. He wasn’t the usual harsh or tyrannical ruler — he was genuinely kind and reasonable, which felt different in a good way.😇😌

The ML married the FL for convenience, mainly to protect her and her family from being used by other political players. Her father had a strong reputation and commanded a powerful army, so the marriage also helped strengthen the emperor’s position. The palace was full of corrupt factions, and the emperor wanted to root them out with the ML’s help — so their marriage was both personal and political.

As for the ML actor — I’m not sure if it’s just me, but he felt a bit stiff in this role. 😅 It seemed like he had a hard time expressing emotion, or maybe that’s just how the character was written. I’ve also seen him in Everlasting Longing (which I dropped after two episodes), and his performance felt the same. I’ll try another one of his dramas to see if it’s just his acting style or if it was this specific role.🤭🫣😁

The FL was quite good, especially considering this was my first time watching her. Her character is someone who really values her reputation and image, and I think she portrayed that well. She’s very expressive and believable in her role.

For me, this drama is a solid 8/10. It’s not bad, not amazing — just okay. I wouldn’t rewatch it, but I don’t regret watching it either. I was especially drawn in at the start when the ML was strong and dominant, but the story softened a lot toward the end. Maybe they wanted to make it more entertaining and lighthearted. Still, since his character was supposed to be the “God of War,” I expected a bit more consistency in how he was written.

There were some sweet and romantic moments that I enjoyed, and the fighting scenes were done well — the ML really shines in those. But there were also some unnecessary side characters that didn’t add much to the story.

Overall, nothing in particular stood out too much for me, but it had a satisfying, happy ending — and that counts for something. 😉☺️

GENRE - Costume, Romance, Comedy, Friendship and Power Struggle

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