Scent of Time

Best Drama/Romance series of 2023 / You will learn many lessons from this series

You will learn many lessons from this, one of them is to correct our mistakes and we can no longer go back to what we have done but instead continue on the right path.

I am picky about the shows I watch but this one caught my attention. It is a story of a female villain who made many mistakes because of her intense regret and was given a chance to be a heroine and correct her mistakes in a dream. The story of this series is unique. Here I realized the side story of the villainous characters in a series that literally they can also be good. In the romance series I watch, I always drop them but this series I can’t stop until I fall asleep. The story is also beautiful, where ZXW, who was supposed to be the second lead, became the lead. The rotation role of the characters is beautiful. Another thing that impressed me about this series is that you will learn a lesson that the mistakes you made can no longer be undone and all you can do is continue your life as a righteous person. I can’t list them all, just that this is good and highly recommended to watch, you won’t regret it. Many don’t like the ending but for me it’s fine because the story became realistic and not fantasy.

Read More

Unearthing Timeless Aroma: 'Scent of Time' – The Must See Drama of 2023

"Scent of Time" surpassed all of my expectations and proved to be an exceptional drama. From the very first episode to the last, it unfolded as a well-crafted and beautifully executed masterpiece. The show cleverly dropped hints throughout the series, keeping us engaged, and ensuring we wouldn't be disappointed when the truth was revealed that it was all just a dream.

I wholeheartedly give this a solid 10/10. This drama is not only my favorite of the year, but it has also earned a special place in my heart as one of my all-time favorites. Its compelling storyline, exceptional acting, and remarkable production quality make it a must-watch for anyone who appreciates top-notch storytelling and entertainment.

I couldn't recommend this drama more highly; it's a true gem in the C-drama Land.

Read More

Interesting 2nd life (redemption arc) but unsatisfying romance

“Scent of Time” does not seem to be a very popular drama and the main reason is due to its unavailability. I believe Youku did not have the drama available for their international audience. But HBO seems to be picking that up! The synopsis of the drama on MDL is also incorrect as this is not a drama about transmigration (since it’s a censored topic in China). The novel is about transmigration, but not the drama.

I don’t have much expectations, but because I liked Zhou Ye very much in “Back from the Brink”, I want to check this out for her. And, she did not disappoint. Her acting was a standout among all the younger actors and she carries the show on her back. Her character, Hua Qian, is very easy to root for. She's smart, observant, and courageous. She was given a second chance to correct her past mistakes so that there’s a better outcome for her and her family in this second life. The redemption arc is a highlight of the show and I think it’s pretty well-written. There are plot twists I did not expect and the story is very engaging throughout the 30 episodes. I just wish the ending was a little better and longer.

Before I watched the show, I thought the romance plot with 3 male leads would be the highlight for me. You would think a reverse-harem would be a focus. Not quite what I expected. This story is about Hua Qian’s growth as a person. The men in her life are just a part of her character development.

Zhong Ye Lan was the first man in her life. One she was obsessed with in her past life and tries to undo all of that. Zhou Ye Lan has a lot of screen time in the first half of the drama. Though I like parts of their story, I do find Peng Chu Yue’s acting a little lacking, especially when compared to Zhou Ye. His character is more muted, and more quiet. Thus, it requires good acting to not appear bland and wooden.

Zhong Xi Wu as the Lord is an interesting character. He has a unique relationship with Hua Qian and has much better chemistry with her than the other two male leads. I just wish we got more screen time of the two together. Their romance is quite subtle on Hua Qian’s part. It was hard to see whether she had feelings for him, except for that one item (which I shall not spoil) and was shown in the later part of the drama. It’s also interesting to see Zhong Xi Wu lose his cool when it comes to Hua Qian. He actually lost his cool a little too fast and uncharacter-like for a lord.

Hua Rong Zhou is the trusted guard who vows to protect Hua Qian with his life. This character appears too perfect and boring. He’s also bland in the beginning and Zhang Yi Jie’s acting is a little wooden. He was much better when he wasn’t a lovesick puppy following Hua Qian around. I like that when he’s talking back and being a little bossy. Other than that, Hua rong Zhou is not charismatic enough to be a male lead.

The rest of the supporting cast isn’t bad, except for Mu Yao, played by Zhao Qing. Her acting is the worst of the bunch for me. She has that one bland look and dead eyes on her face all the time. The veteran cast (Elder Princess and FL’s parents) obviously did a much better job than the younger cast.

The production quality is pretty good. I like the hairdos, accessories and the costumes of the female cast, and the sets and props look decent. “Scent of Time” only has 3 songs in its OST but they are lovely, just a little overplayed. I am however disappointed with the dubbing. I wish the main cast had used their own voice.

Overall, I had a great time watching this drama. It has its fault, but as a whole, I like the pacing, the redemption and character growth, and I am really becoming a fan of Zhou Ye.


Completed: 11/9/2023 - Review #375

Read More

A beautiful story about a woman’s growth journey of love and life

This drama tells the story of a villainous type female lead who, due to her love obsession, ends up causing the death of her family. Before her seemingly final breath of life, she loses consciousness, only to suddenly wake up two years prior to all events that had happened. Convinced she is living a second life, she decides to do everything in her power to fix her mistakes and change her family’s fate.

The drama is not a love story but about the female lead’s growth journey as she learns valuable lessons about life and love. A strong message about unconditional love is shown in this drama as well as how every person could be good or bad, depending on the perspective. There are three love interests. No kiss scenes however the intense, fire chemistry between the main leads makes up for it.

POSITIVE:
- All characters are morally grey. No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes and learns their lessons.
- Well written perspective for each character. At every moment the viewer clearly understands everyone’s motives (good or bad) which makes the drama very human and realistic.
- No predictable, draggy parts or cliche plot lines.
- No love triangles. Even though there are three love interests there is no typical love rivery and cliche jealousy shown.
- Conflicts are resolved quickly. Mystery aspects are done well and the audience learns everything alongside the female lead.
- All characters are well-developed and fleshed out, nobody does stupid things without a reason.
- Fantastic execution of seeing the flashbacks of the female lead’s first life that are parallel to the second life. We clearly get to see how she is acting differently and changing things in the second life.
- Beautiful message about unconditional love at the end of the drama.

NEGATIVE:
- I would have loved it if there were more romantic scenes between the male and female lead.
- Second male lead (who is the husband) does get quite a lot of screen time at the start compared to the male lead which can annoy some people.

LOVE INTERESTS:
- Male lead - a Lord, who secretly loves the female lead.
- Second male lead - female lead’s husband and the man she is obsessed with at the start of the drama.
- Third male lead - an orphan who the female lead helps and later becomes her loyal guard.

OVERALL:
If you are looking for a mature, slow paced, historical drama about a woman’s growth journey related to love, with morally grey characters (no one is just good or bad) and beautiful messages about all types of love (unconditional love, selfless love and self-love), this drama is for you.

Read More

It could have been better if only there was no censorship…

This could have been a good story if only China does not censor time travel / going back in time genre.

I understand that the director wanted the audience to understand that you cannot change your mistakes/past but instead of focusing on the fl dreams of wanting to change what her family did, it would have been better if she woke up earlier. She could have owned up to her mistakes and tried to be a better person (basically redemption arc) in real life.

Too many filler scenes and not enough time to build up the relationship between real ml and fl that you’ll end up questioning if it was really the ending. There were a lot of problems/issues that were not resolved because she only came back to her real world in the last episode. Its like they ended the drama right before the climax of the real story.

Final thoughts:
Not really a fan of dramas with female lead - 3 male leads because not enough screen time to wrap up everything (too many unnecessary scenes that could have been removed).

Actress playing ZY is really good, showed different emotions and interpreted her role well. Score 8/10

ZXW actor also good, he was able to play the role of unrequited love convincingly. He’s also very good looking with his manly face and broad shoulders (he does look like a lord / nobleman). Score 8/10

HRZ is cute like a puppy who fell in love for the first time and was willing to do anything for that person. Needs more practice / exposure to other genre. Score 7/10

ZYL actor okay-ish. To be fair, even in the novel he was cold, aloof and did not express his feelings much which he showed in the drama. He was always poker face even when he was supposed to be worried, angry etc. Score 5/10

MY actress is a disappointment. This is the first time I’ve seen her in a bigger drama project but girl, her expression from the start up until the finale is the same. I wanted to see anger, disappointment, jealousy etc but her face remained the same all throughout. She was the damsel in distress, the audience is supposed to understand her but I ended up liking the villain more. Her eyebrows and forehead do not even move when she’s conveying emotions huhu. More acting workshop for you girl, her role did not convince me at all. Score 3/10 (and this is me being generous).

Read More

One of the best

I have read most reviews and I think they have reviewed too prematurely. HRZ is a definitely an odd character... too perfect.. in the entire plot but the ending (last ep 30) wraps up beautifully and unexpectedly.. and explained. I'm not going to give spoilers but this show is one of the bests, great acting. It got me chasing ep by ep. I was having mixed feeling for the ML's character but great wrap with happy ending.

A word of advice to all.. dont review before you watch till the end. I hardly write reviews but cant help correcting and adding on. Enjoy the show.

Read More

Reality is What It is

I started watching this because of FL, Zhou Ye. However after I started, I was totally drawn into the story of a FL being a villain desperately seeking redemption.

It’s my first time seeing the ML, Wang Xin Yue. I am impressed by the CP’s chemistry and ML’s mature acting skills despite his young age. And Zhou Ye is fantastic in this role.

The story…warning on spoiler.
Begins with dark setting, where the FL, Hua Qian(HQ) who was on a run but was caught by official. Her family, Hua family, had done lots of misdeed, hence her father was executed by the emperor and both her mother and elder brother were also put to death. HQ, FL was on the run but soon was caught and badly beaten up, injured and fainted.
The next scene HQ woke up on her wedding day, which was 2 years ago. So here we get a background set up on FL’s time travelling back to her past. But as we understand C regulation of censorship, this story has a twist.
FL, HQ with all her knowledge of her past, is determine to change her and her family’s fate. So she went on to plan to undo her marriage with Zhong YanLan (ZYL) which she obtained through unscrupulous ways. She tried to gather her father’s misdeed and attempt to make him change his mind and retire early to country side.
In her previous arc, she was a villain who manipulates and plot to marry ZYL. She is one track mind deeply obsessed with her love to ZYL. She lies and broke up ZYL and his childhood love with Mu Yao (MY). MY and her family were victim of Hua family(father)’s scheme to gain power. MY’s family is on exiled. MY was rescued by ZYL, so with his help in the previous arc, she found evidences, she exposes HQ and brought down Hua’s family, which we saw at the beginning of ep So HQ knowing all the likely events, she attempted to reverse her fate.
To redeem herself, in this second arc, she decided to tell ZYL the truth and her misdeed, she plots to divorce him and brought ZYL and MY together. She rescued a beggar, Hua Rong Zhou(HRZ) who became her loyal admirer and protector. Her revealing her true self caught ZYL’s attention and interest. As she lost interest and divorce ZYL, Zhong Xi Wu (ZXW) ZYL’s junior became bolder and decided to confess his long hidden love for her, which put HQ in a dilemma. As HQ would never imagine herself in Zhong’s residence and fighting with women politics. So she accepted ZXW’s mother offer to fake death.
With HQ’s changes, she made peace with ZYL and MY, knew about ZXW’s love for her. But her brother still died protecting her. And her father’s misdeed was still revealed but they weren’t executed, instead retired to a small town by ZXW’s order. ZXW realised at the end that he can’t keep HQ and make peace by letting her go.

Which we were brought to the end (last ep., major spoiler ahead): the plot twist - it’s all HQ’s dream. So after ep. 1, she has been in coma, for 2years, ZXW rescued her and have been nursing her, he manages to convince his Mom to let him manage the business and also take care of the comatose HQ. Finally she woke up but fainted back into the dream as grief stricken of the reality. Then hearing ZXW talking to her in her sleep, she decided to wake up and say goodbye to HRZ who is actually a symbol of herself in the dream state. She makes peace and woke up, calling ZXW’s name, and the story ends.

After thought:
The novel is slightly different and gave HQ a time travel arc, where she gets her redemption and gain her freedom, save her parents and she lives quietly with HRZ in that village. But in this drama, we knew in order to pass C regulation, the screenplay has to be changed to show that reality cannot be changed, and there is no possibility for time travel to reverse your wrongdoing. Hence this story has to add the dream concept and she has to wake up to face her consequences. I understand and felt overall this drama is quite well done, just felt such cruelty on HQ’s story. But with the end is a new beginning, and we knew ZXW will be there for her.

Read More

Worth Your While

Well, I actually didn't expect it to be that good. I was delighted to see Zhou Ye not being the quirky kind of girl she so often portrays. I really liked her as the FL and she easily pulled that of, too. Makes me looking forward to what she will work on in the future. Of course Scent of Time is not flawless, but overall I highly recommend it.

The strong point is the story telling, which is a weak point in far too many dramas. A really unusual, interesting premise and start (or at least one I haven't encountered before). Executed quite brilliantly. All leads are marvellous and a legion of well cast support characters makes it interesting and captivating. Especially as the characters are allowed to evolve which leads to some of the support characters exhibiting some unexpected, rather surprising, but believable behaviours which creates these little moments that make you really fall for a drama. Refreshingly (nearly) no unneccessary drama just for the sake of it. And I have to admit, I didn't see that twist coming. Not.At.All!

And never ever has the sight of a bowl of noodles make me cry that hard.

Read More

"Why is it so hard to lead a simple life?"

I went into Scent of Time without reading the synopsis. I was more than a little trepidatious when I discovered in the first episode that it involved time travel. The Chinese government’s rule against hopping through time meant that it wasn’t going to really be a true time travel so I braced myself. That’s not a spoiler, that’s the sad fact with the current state of affairs. How the writers worked with and around the regulations would determine how satisfying it would be.

Hua Qian has made some poor choices along with her family that has led to the deaths of nearly everyone close to her. As she collapses after being captured, she hears a voice asking, “If you had the chance to start over, would you change anything?” She says yes and awakens 2 years prior on her wedding night. From that moment on she endeavors to be a good person and to find a way to save her family and herself. She’s helped on her quest by her right-hand woman Qian Zhi, bodyguard Hua Rong Zhou, and the lord of an incense empire-Zhong Xi Wu. The damage to others from years of conniving behavior will have to be undone with few people willing to give her a second chance.

I thought this was an interesting take on a typical romance and historical drama. The scheming 2FL from the original story was given a redemption arc and the chance to put things right. Hua Qian methodically planned to save not only her family but also that of her rival’s, Mu Yao. After two years struggling to survive, she came back with new skill sets and sympathy to those in lower social positions. Because of her new life or death goals, romance was not on her list of things to do. That didn’t keep at least two men from falling for her---hard.

Zhou Ye brought a wide range of emotions to Hua Qian as the reformed selfish social climber. Wang Xing Yue also made the most of his portrayal of Zhong Xi Wu. The two had great chemistry even though Qian’s responses let him know she was aware any chance of them ever being together was remote given the social circumstances which kept her at a distance. Peng Chu Yue’s Zhong Ye Lan and Zhang Yi Jie’s Hua Rong Zhou were rather flat, both the acting and the characters. Zhao Qing didn’t create any depth to Mu Yao either. Zhou Ye, Wang Xing Yue, and the older cast provided the acting chops for this drama.

It took around 8 or 9 episodes for this drama to sink its teeth into me and once it did, I was hooked. Scent of Time was addictive even without much overt romance. I do love redemption stories and Qian was a young woman for whom suffering and loss became harsh but invaluable teachers. The ending I feared would “incense” me due to censor restrictions turned out to be tolerable.* (Thoughts on ending and TROP connection below) This drama may not have been “scent-sational” but it was entertaining.

21 July 2024




**********************
Spoilers for Scent of Time and The Rise of Phoenixes

Hua Qian and Hua Rong Zhou’s relationship felt a little like TROP fan fic if Feng Zhi Wei and her bodyguard Gu Nan Yi had developed a relationship. Zhong Xi Wu had the same, “the business/country comes first” platitude that Ni Ying had which was detrimental to relationships. ZXW became rather overbearing in the rerun life near the end as well. Story-wise, Hua Qian should probably have ended up with Rong Zhou and stayed in the alternate timeline with him or had him available to go out into the vast world and start over with when she woke up. Overall, those writing choices would have made better narrative sense. Chemistry-wise Qian and ZXW had way more chemistry though not enough scenes with her showing she cared if they were truly endgame. By having her awake from the coma, she had to deal with the consequences of her actions which was decidedly painful but more realistic. Though it did make the prior 29 episodes feel irrelevant. I suppose the rerun life gave her life training lessons on how to be a better person. And realistic is a relative word, without feeding tubes and IV’s Qian would not have survived 26 months in a coma. The esophagus closes when a person is unconscious, making force feeding impossible. Despite logical and narrative lapses, I “whiffed” through this drama and its tantalizing “bouquet.”

Read More

Some things cannot be undone or unsaid, and the consequences of our actions are still the same.

Do you ever look back on a decision you’ve made and thought, how might my life be different if I chose a different option?
If only we could go back in time…

In this wonderfully heartwarming and heartbreaking tale of loss, sorrow, redemption and self-forgiveness, you will be able to experience a myriad shades of gray.

It is Hua Qian’s personal and internal struggle with the evil she has perpetrated. Her mind, her body, her very essence rails against her past actions and leads her down a journey of acceptance and the possibility of redemption.

I loved this drama in so many levels for its unapologetically sentimental slow burn story, its challenges, and for making me reflect and confront my own. For it’s part of being human to feel genuine remorse over our bad actions and voluntarily take steps to rectify those, that leads to change and growth.

The core message of this cleverly weaved tale is powerful;

Some things cannot be undone or unsaid, and the consequences of our actions are still the same. It is with this sentiment that I applaud fervently the ending and treasure deeply this drama.

Read More

JUST CREATED AN MDL ACCOUNT TO RATE THIS GEM!!!

Honestly, i'm not new to MDL, and this is the first drama that urge me to rate a drama. I've been a fan of Kdrama's and Cdrama's for years now and no drama got me feelin' this way. This plot feels very new to me; so at first this got me thinking if i should GO for it or NAH. But, guess what?? I've got no regrets at all... This drama got me feelin' like im in a roller coaster. Especially the TWO LEADS!!! I SHIP THEM SO HARD AT THE VERY BEGINNING T__T this drama got me all thinking what goin to happen in the next episode, especially in the last episode. I gotta say for those people who haven't watch it while it's airing Y'ALL ARE LUCKY
(• ▽ •;) you don't have to overthink especially if there's going to be atleast one intimate scene between the leads. I'm a romantic person BTW, so it really got me all fed up to the bickering and want some romancing, because the TWO LEADS GOT SOME SIZZLING CHEMISTRY... Especially Zhong Xiwu MAN!!! he seems so controlling in the dream but he's the opposite in the reality.. I'd say if the dream hasn't taken up so much time than the reality I'd fell for his character LIKE, SHEEESH!!! this man got some sleeves THE PATIENCE, THE STARE!!! HUA QIAN IT'S THE BEST CHOICE TO WAKE UP, BECAUSE IF NOT YOU'RE GOING TO MISS THIS MAN AND WHAT A BIG LOSS.. GIRL. YOU GOT A HUSBAND MATERIAL COME ON!(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Read More

If What You See or Do Is Really What You’re Seeing or Doing

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
Some stories entertain you.
Some stories haunt you quietly.
Scent of Time does the latter.

I went into this drama thinking I knew exactly what I was getting another “villain gets a second chance” story, something in the same lane as Story of Kunning Palace. That familiarity is exactly why I didn’t even bother reading the synopsis. No warnings, no spoilers just the idea of a second chance, and that was enough. And honestly? Getting to watch both of these dramas in the same year felt unreal. Two brilliant stories. Two complex women. Two very different kinds of second chances.

But here’s where Scent of Time sets itself apart.
The difference lies in the hand of cards each female lead is dealt. Jiang Xue Ning in Story of Kunning Palace is sent back to a point early enough to truly alter her fate before marriage, before her sins harden into something permanent or many things.
Her future is difficult, yes, but still flexible. There is space to handle.

Hua Qian doesn’t get that mercy.
She wakes up only two years earlier on the night of a marriage she schemed her way into, when many of her family’s crimes are already in motion. The damage is half done. The wheels are already turning. No matter how desperately she tries to be better, there are limits to what repentance can undo. Her second chance is not freedom it’s restraint. And that makes all the difference.

What I expected was a familiar redemption arc.
What I got instead was a slow, aching meditation on regret, responsibility, self worth, and the unbearable truth that knowing better doesn’t always mean you can do better.
Scent of Time is not about fixing the past it’s about learning how to live with it. And somehow, I lived it with them.

This drama doesn’t rush to comfort you. It doesn’t hold your hand. It sits beside you quietly and asks: what if you could see all your mistakes clearly… yet still be powerless to undo them or escape them?

Watching Scent of Time felt less like binge watching and more like living inside Hua Qian’s heart like her fear, her resolve, her guilt, and her desperate desire to protect the people she loves. You don’t just observe her journey you carry it with her.

And I have to say this drama came to me as a recommendation, and no one warned me I’d be walking into this cast. Every main lead is visually striking, emotionally convincing, and good at what they do. Peng Chu Yue as Zhong Ye Lan and Zhang Yi Jie as Hua Rong Zhou were revelations for me, and yes I fell completely for Hua Rong Zhou. He deserves far more attention than he gets.

If you’re watching for the first time, keep an eye on the supporting cast too. Li Yun Rui as Wu Shuo Mo carries that quiet “future star” energy, and Ai Mi as Qian Zhi is effortlessly charming pretty, cute, and memorable.
Zhou Ye and Wang Xing Yue hold this drama together with grace and intensity. Looking back now, Scent of Time feels like the moment where their rise truly began. Since then, they’ve grown in every way acting, screen presence, and project choices and this drama stands as an early, powerful chapter in careers that are still unfolding beautifully.

Scent of Time doesn’t just tell a story, it invites you into one.
It lingers.
Like a scent you can’t quite name but can never forget.

𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲:
At its core, Scent of Time tells the story of Hua Qian a woman who once lived as the villain everyone loved to hate. She schemed, manipulated, hurt others, and devoted her life to a love that was never truly hers. The cost was devastating: her family destroyed, her life lost, everything reduced to ashes.

Then comes the impossible mercy: a “second chance.”
Or so it seems.

Hua Qian wakes up two years earlier, on the night of her marriage not before her sins, but after many of them have already been set into motion. This is what makes the story cruelly honest. She is not given a clean slate. She must live with the aftermath of her past self’s choices while desperately trying not to create new ones.
She doesn’t seek power anymore. She doesn’t chase love. She wants only one thing: to protect her family.
And yet, the drama keeps whispering an uncomfortable truth some things cannot be undone. The dead do not return. Fate bends, but it does not break easily.

The story unfolds slowly, deliberately, forcing us to sit with moral ambiguity. Redemption here is not about becoming “good.” It’s about accountability, restraint, and learning when to let go.
And then comes the twist the revelation that this second life is not a second life at all, but a dream born from a coma, sustained by incense, memory, and longing. A fragile space where Hua Qian confronts herself, piece by piece.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
What makes Scent of Time unforgettable is not plot twists, but people. Every character feels flawed, human, and painfully real.

𝙕𝙝𝙤𝙪 𝙔𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙃𝙪𝙖 𝙌𝙞𝙖𝙣:
She plays her not as a saint seeking redemption, but as a woman drowning in regret, trying to breathe without hurting anyone else. Hua Qian is sharp, composed, and quietly devastated. She doesn’t cry loudly. Her pain lives in her eyes, in her pauses, in the way she carries guilt like a second skin.
She loves fiercely especially her family and that love is both her salvation and her curse. She is not innocent, but she is sincere. Watching her feels like watching someone talk to their past self every day and choosing restraint instead of destruction.

Hua Qian isn’t rewritten as “good.” She is rewritten as aware.

𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙓𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙔𝙪𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙕𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙓𝙞 𝙒𝙪:
Wang Xing Yue delivers something rare here: restrained intensity.

Zhong Xi Wu is not loud in his love. He watches. He waits. He carries devotion without demanding it in return. In the dream world, he is controlling, dangerous, shaped by Hua Qian’s fear of power and love. But in reality, he becomes the quiet constant the one who waits 26 months beside a comatose body, speaking softly to someone who may never wake.

His love isn’t perfect, but it is enduring.
What makes Zhong Xi Wu compelling is not romance, but patience. He does not ask Hua Qian to erase her past. He asks her to live.

𝙕𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙔𝙞 𝙅𝙞𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙃𝙪𝙖 𝙍𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙕𝙝𝙤𝙪:
Hua Rong Zhou is devotion made flesh. Fierce, loyal, reckless, and entirely hers, he loves Hua Qian without conditions or expectations. He’s the embodiment of protection, tenderness, and longing all at once.

But then the gut punch: he isn’t real.
Hua Rong Zhou is the version of Hua Qian that longed to be loved wholly, without judgment a mirror of her deepest desire for forgiveness. Losing him isn’t just losing a person, it’s losing a part of her soul, her innocence, her escape.

He’s not perfect he has flaws, missteps, limits but that only makes him achingly human. I love his character, and if anyone was meant for Hua Qian, it’s him. Saying goodbye breaks your heart because it’s a farewell to unconditional love, even if it was only ever a dream.

𝙋𝙚𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙝𝙪 𝙔𝙪𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙕𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙔𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙣:
Zhong Ye Lan embodies a quiet, complicated kind of hypocrisy. He judges Hua Qian’s misdeeds while excusing Mu Yao’s, punishing betrayal selectively. His love is conditional, his morality flexible but he is never a caricatured villain. From his perspective, his feelings and judgments are earned, honest, and deeply human.

Scent of Time doesn’t let us look away from this discomfort: from Mu Yao’s point of view, Hua Qian would be unforgivable. And yet, Zhong Ye Lan forces us to sit with the truth that regret does not undo harm. He remains calm where others might act cruelly, seeking distance rather than revenge in Hua Qian’s second life. Even as he begins to see her differently, his feelings never fully escape the shadow of the past. Some emotions soften, but they cannot rewind time and in that quiet, measured restraint, he becomes one of the drama’s most painfully realistic and compelling characters.

𝙕𝙝𝙖𝙤 𝙌𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙈𝙪 𝙔𝙖𝙤:
Mu Yao is not evil she is pain made visible. Starting as a wronged, wounded soul, she gradually lets revenge consume her. The drama never excuses her actions, but it never paints her as a villain either. Watching her spiral is uncomfortable because she reflects Hua Qian’s own darkness from the first life a mirror showing how unchecked pain can twist the best of us.
And yet, Mu Yao finds her way back. She remembers who she truly is, rising from the shadow of hatred to reclaim herself. Her journey is a quiet testament: even when we become what we despise, redemption remains possible.

𝙇𝙞 𝙔𝙪𝙣 𝙍𝙪𝙞 𝙖𝙨 𝙒𝙪 𝙎𝙝𝙪𝙤 𝙈𝙤:
Li Yun Rui absolutely nailed it as Wu Shuo Mo such a deliciously wicked presence. Loved seeing him fully embrace the villain energy, it was oddly satisfying. Definitely hoping he takes on more roles like this in the future, because wow, he makes mischief look so good.

𝐇𝐮𝐚 𝐐𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬:
Hua Qian’s story is about love, regret, and growth. She begins with Zhong Ye Lan, the man she once obsessed over. In her first life, she did everything for him schemes, manipulations, even hurting others. But in the end, she lets go. She pushes him away, accepting that love cannot be forced. Watching her do this is heartbreaking but also beautiful. She grows, even through pain.

Then there’s Hua Rong Zhou, her devoted protector. His love is one sided but pure. He keeps her safe, understands her fears, and supports her without expecting anything in return. Slowly, Hua Qian begins to trust him and care for him in return. Their bond is quiet, tender, and so moving. I adore them they feel like everything you hope for in love: loyal, safe, and unconditional.

And finally, Zhong Xi Wu, the Lord. At first, he stays in the shadows, quietly watching her. But he loves her deeply and patiently, despite her mistakes and obsession with Zhong Ye Lan. He sacrifices, waits, and fights for her happiness. His love is selfless, unwavering, and heartbreaking in its intensity. Wang Xing Yue’s acting is incredible his eyes say everything. He deserves Hua Qian’s love, even more than she realizes at first.

The dream twist is clever: the Hua Rong Zhou in her dream is actually a reflection of Zhong Xi Wu. Her mind created him as someone to love and protect her unconditionally. The real ZXW has always been there, quietly loving her through everything. The ending shows her waking up, facing reality, and recognizing ZXW’s love. It’s painful but hopeful.
In her dream, the Lord became obsessive because her fears and insecurities influenced the dream. HRZ remained pure because he represented her safe space. This story is about learning that true love isn’t possession it’s patience, understanding, and sacrifice.

𝐇𝐮𝐚 𝐐𝐢𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲:
Hua Qian’s family was such a whirlwind of emotions. At first, I couldn’t stand her father, but watching him redeem himself? Pure magic he grew into someone worthy of love and respect. Her brother and mother were this tangled mix of love and frustration, I had this love hate rollercoaster with them. And omg, her brother dying for Hua Qian didn’t see that coming at all. I thought I’d feel nothing, given all the terrible things he did, but seeing Hua Qian’s heartbreak made me ache too.

𝐇𝐮𝐚 𝐐𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐬:
Before the heartbreak, Hua Qian shared warmth and trust with her three maids, a quiet world of loyalty and care. Two betrayed her, shattering that fragile sanctuary, but Qian Zhi stayed steadfast, her devotion pure and unwavering until the very end.
Lol, it was kinda like Zhong Xi Wu’s two guards one calm and collected, the other a little chaotic but both bonded to him in their own way, just like the maids’ different ties to Qian.

𝐀 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬:
Hua Qian’s journey broke me and healed me all at once she fought, loved, and sacrificed so fiercely for her family and for a life she barely dared to dream of, only to wake and realize it was all a fragile dream, yet in that dream she became stronger, wiser, braver, and even created a love that was hers alone in Hua Rongzhou, a pure reflection of her heart, while Zhong Xiwu waited patiently in reality, silently loving her enough to let her rise, fall, and choose her own path; I ache for her, I grieve with her, and I marvel at her courage, at her unshakable resilience, at the quiet beauty of a woman who suffered, survived, and, in the end, found herself.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧:
This drama teaches that redemption is not about undoing the past, but about choosing differently now. That regret is not weakness. That love does not always arrive as romance sometimes it arrives as endurance.
Most importantly, it reminds us that running away, even into dreams, is still running.

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚 & 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞:
Scent of Time understands trauma deeply. Love here is not romanticized it is questioned, feared, reshaped. Loving someone does not mean saving them. Sometimes it means letting them wake up.

𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝:
The final episode shattered me. I truly believed Hua Qian was living her second life every quiet struggle, every fragile happiness with Hua Rong Zhou felt real. I let myself believe in it with her. And then the truth landed: it was all a dream.

I wanted to stay there. I wanted to pretend that world was real, because it was gentler, warmer, and forgiving in ways reality rarely is. But that’s the point. The dream was never meant to rewrite fate. It existed to give Hua Qian the courage to face herself.

Hua Rong Zhou was not real he was the love she needed to give herself. Pure, unwavering, without judgment. Zhong Xi Wu is the life she must return to: imperfect, painful, but real, and waiting.

The ending isn’t about who she chooses. It’s about choosing reality over illusion, even when illusion feels safer. Even when waking up hurts more than staying asleep.

Many people criticize this ending, but to me, it feels painfully honest. I know myself well enough to admit that if I were in her place, I would want to stay in the dream too. I would want to believe it was real and never come back. But life doesn’t let us hide forever. At some point, we have to wake up, face what we’ve done, what we’ve lost, and who we are becoming even knowing the cycle of pain may begin again.
That’s why this ending stays with me. It doesn’t comfort you. It tells the truth. And sometimes, that’s the bravest kind of storytelling.

𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲 & 𝐎𝐒𝐓:
Scent of Time is hauntingly beautiful soft lighting, muted colors, lingering shots that make the world feel fragile. The scent motivates memory, truth, and illusion together.
The OST is delicate and emotional, wrapping the story around your heart. It doesn’t just show the story it is the story.
I love all Osts, and here is the full playlist: https://youtu.be/ki9VKEZd2Dk

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:
It was so, so good. I’m over the moon finishing this on the last days of December, feeling happy knowing these characters will move into 2026 with me.
Scent of Time isn’t perfect, but it is sincere. The story made me laugh, cry, ache, and think about choices, consequences, forgiveness, and love. Hua Qian is smart, strong, and unapologetically herself, a female lead you can root for. Zhong Xi Wu is patient, kind, and deeply devoted the kind of male lead who makes you believe in love without needing perfection. Hua Rong Zhou is the protector you wish you had, loyal and fearless, giving so much heart to the story.

This drama lingers, not because it comforts you, but because it respects your heart and intelligence. It’s clever, emotional, and unforgettable a hidden gem, a story about waking up, and a scent that stays long after the screen goes dark.

It’s a must watch if you want a heroine to admire, a love that feels real, and a story that stays with you, along with character development.

Read More