Youthful Glory

Sweet light romance

If there was a parallel universe with ML and FL from LLG being their most happiest lightest versions this drama would be it.
the plot is very everyday like. its a drama you can trust to not get on your nerves, not raise your BP.

Pros:
- Silent ML, very very supportive of FL. ultimate wife lover. Blossom grade.
- FL is very "feminine". she behaves exactly like one would expect a child left alone in wealthy estate to grow up would. She wasnt ever mistreated, always pampered, but one can always sense the unsureness and lack of security that comes with having lack of elders in family around to look for reassurance.
- FL has lot of sismance.
- ML lot of bromance, he has his own bro gang
- FL supportive father. very green flag.
- FL not mistreated by step members in family - or dealt with swiftly.
- even the most high stakes situations viewers get the idea that everything shall be ok
- Smart and supportive emperor......very big green flag for drama in CDrama
- interesting side characters' romance

Cons
- can be not engaging. too light weight.
- the FL got a lot of hate for being too girly and prissy. i got a lot of 2nd hand embarrassment at times. "reputation" and "narrative" are significant matters to her. she wouldnt exactly smack someone she didnt like, but would make it explicitly clear in very polite ways. very feminine indeed. buut i dont mind. thats just her character charm.
- misunderstandings bet ML and FL. there is a very humorous take on relationships. like "make a fool out of yourself in front of your loved ones". the misunderstandings dont amount to great damage (if any), but they are present in quite a few number. little cringe at times.

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This drama was fine at first within the first 10 episodes but then it just gets really boring. This is your typical average ancient Chinese drama where there's a superior figure that is trying to find all the corrupt officials and deal with government embezzlement.

The story was interesting in the beginning but then it moves really fast, and it rushed. The main leads literally get married on ep 8 and they don't have any feelings for each other. They've met like 4-5 times and the male lead just simply asks the king to marry her not because he likes her. Their chemistry doesn't really get any better after being married.

The hair, costume, and props were very bland. The costuming for this drama was an issue to me. Now this might be accurate based on ancient Chinese history for their outfits, but I cannot with their outfits. In most Chinese dramas their clothing choices are solid matching colors but in this drama, they use patterns and colors that don't match and it makes me very mad.

The acting for this show is fine, I've seen a couple Song Weilong dramas, but honestly kind of dissapointed.

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Lighthearted, Romantic, and Tropey in all the best ways!

If you’re thinking about starting this drama, you should probably read this (one small spoiler but not much else). Sorry for the length, but I hope it will help a little bit.

Not all female leads have to be extremely smart, capable, independent, and never need a man to save the day. I’m so baffled by the comments not liking female lead, when in reality, there are all types of women who all have different stories to tell because we are all multi-faceted. I consider myself high maintenance with standards that I do not bend for anyone, and I have a partner who understands and accepts that and he is willing to be with me and love me even when I can be bratty, bossy, and princess-like at times. I think that is why I relate to Ming Tan so much. To me, the typical “heroine” in a cdrama who is capable of anything are such Mary Sue archetypes that I also get tired of it, too. I just can’t relate. This drama is NOT one of those stories, and if you are wanting that, this is NOT the drama for you.

The female lead is imperfect, spoiled, rich, and extremely feminine. But from those traits, Ming Tan also brings kindness, youth, savviness, and the feminine touch that Jiang Xu lacks and needs in his life to develop his character; she makes him question how he treats those around him and gives him space to be thoughtful and caring because Ming Tan is so receptive of his taking care of her (she fully embraced that about him); there are women out there who like to be taken care of and men who like to dote. This show is that dynamic and I love it all the more for it. Ming Tan gives back in her own quiet and gentle way, such as accepting the fish knowing she is allergic because she values his efforts, and/or pushing back at him when she thinks he is being too harsh. She is not trained in martial arts and is a true girly girl who continues to be targeted by everyone around her, so he is there to protect her because she is put into situations where she absolutely cannot fight back. Ming Tan needs Jiang Xu physically while Jiang Xu needs Ming Tan emotionally. They balance each other out.

You often see Mary Sue characters who never need the male lead’s help and he’s always helping her anyways, but the female lead always takes it for granted. I am not a fan of those stories where the male lead has to love silently forever until the female lead finally accepts him after 80 million years. That is why I am so happy to see a female character like Ming Tan completely embracing her femininity and loving the male lead who is protective and fully capable and willing to save her no matter what (he is an acts of service man). That does not mean that she is useless as we have seen time and again that Ming Tan has her own thoughts, opinions, and strength by how she’s managed her household, how fairly she treats her servants and even her stepmother and stepsister, how capable she is now that she’s starting to manage Jiang Xu’s businesses as well as the refugee crisis.

With our male lead, Jiang Xu is stoic, ruthless, and impartial in every way because he is a man with solid integrity and morals that paint the world in black and white. Hell, I noticed he literally ONLY dresses in black and white before Ming Tan came along. She brings colors and emotions and whimsy into his life because she wears her feelings on her sleeve, be it her gentle nature, sassy princess upbringing, and/or her embarrassing antics. She strives for perfection but falls short because she is human, not a Mary Sue who does everything right. Those are boring characters with no flaws. Ming Tan is supposed to be high maintenance and the facade of perfection in a society that demands it of their nobles, and especially their women in such a patriarchal society. Her reputation is ALWAYS on the line because everyone is jealous of her being renowned and painted as being perfect. I’m sure there is so much pressure on her to always be perfect, but she is genuine in wanting to ensure she does not sully the family name. She is vain, but it is because she bears a responsibility to upkeep that image for her family’s reputation. She also grew up with everything at the palm of her hands, so if her criteria list for her husband is long, then it is fully within character and her right to choose someone who matches it. She is high in status and has many positive and high quality traits that a man in that era would want as well. Why can’t our girl be picky? She’s a complete catch! But the thing that I love is that Jiang Xu has seen it all and knows she is not perfect, but he falls for her in spite of and because of all of that, fully embracing the side of Ming Tan that no one else knows about. He sees her as her, completely beyond the reputation that precedes her.

Yes, this is a drama where you can turn your brain off a little bit to enjoy. It’s a lighthearted romcom that isn’t pretending to be what it’s not. The show does not take itself seriously, but there is still an interesting love story and lead/side character dynamics that are intriguing, fun, and adorable to watch if you want chemistry, fluff, and two beautiful people who make you giddy and swoon. Their scenes together are electric.

Just like Ming Tan and Jiang Xu, the drama is not perfect. It does need more backstory than what 13 episodes have given us so far, especially the court/emperor/empress dowager struggle for power, and yes it utilizes lots of tropes in romcom and dramas, but that’s what it wants to be. It’s not here to subvert tropes, and it doesn’t want to. It just wants you to happily enjoy a blossoming love story with cute antics and some potential climactic angst/crisis that will test our two leads. Nothing here is groundbreaking, but I am here for the tropes, the romance, and the characters. So far, it is serving and I am feasting.

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Beautiful everything but the chemistry

Rarely I see beautiful colorful dresses in period drama and loving it. The storyline also not bad. Song wei long handsome face is a sight to behold dat makes me still watch this drama. FL character is also like able. She is smart, kind, without being too helpless.

My main disappointment only their acting and lack of chemistry. D simple gestures is very much lacking, people in love will instinctively touch each other, but during meaningful scene, they will move everywhere but each other. Their hug and gaze feels forced, even tho d writer seems to give them enough background story. You will feel this, esp after you watch TPOB with ample chemistry and amazing acting. I even prefer d 2FL and 2 ML chemistry compared to d main leads. Wasting lots of potential of such a beautiful drama..

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