This review may contain spoilers
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It’s been a long time since I found a drama that made me want to watch multiple episodes at once, and even think of hacking somewhere to get episodes earlier!The story is probably nothing new for webnovels, but brought to the small screen, the story was surprisingly engaging, intriguing enough to keep me watching, with a good pace that’s not too fast nor too draggy.
The actors though not A list, are good enough eye candy with sufficient acting skills (is it just me or does everyone look too airbrushed in C dramas nowadays, to the point where I can’t see changes in facial expressions). I’m pleasantly surprised the cast fit each role well and together they managed to carry off the drama as a whole.
*Spoilers ahead*
This is not a sad drama, but damn I cried, from pretty much the start up to ep 11. I really hate the husband Zhong Ye Lan, for being indecisive in love, his cold violence (psychological abuse) of the FL and how he keeps delaying the divorce. I want absolutely zero redemption for him & I hope the divorce happens ASAP so FL can start living her best life.
FL’s showdown with her father/ family was heart breaking, because as someone who knows the future, she realizes that even if she tries to change events, it’s hard to change people’s character.
There are no clear villains yet, as the scheming cousin got dispatched quite easily & quickly. I’m kind of hoping that the “main character” Mu Yao turns out to be evil or at least not as righteous as she appears. Or better yet, let ZYL & MY just get together quick & get out of FL’s hair. She’s got better men to date.
I can’t put my finger on why this drama has me hooked. It’s like one of those not high budget non high expectations drama that unexpectedly just becomes popular because, well, everything just works.
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Is there a second chance?
Have you ever wished for the power to change the past and avoid regret? Huan Qian (HQ), the female lead in this story, faced the tragic downfall of her family and household. Captured and on her last breath, she's granted a "second chance" at life. The narrative takes an intriguing twist, emphasizing the importance of embracing our true selves, flaws and all, as no one is perfect. The characters are portrayed as refreshingly human, making it a compelling exploration of reality.If you're intrigued by Hua Qian's journey and her reimagined life, complete with complex love dynamics involving Zhong Xi Wu (ZXW), Lord Zhong, the "ex-husband" ZYL (Zhong Le Yan), and the trustworthy guard Hua Rong Zhou (HRZ), this drama is a must-watch. It weaves a captivating tale filled with intricacies and clues, much like the lingering scent of incense. Don't miss the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the story and its rich characters.
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It's on the 2023 best list without a doubt.
Well well well! This drama should be renamed Love yourself really,Never have I been worried about a drama ending so bad that I was willing to go looking for spoilers on the internet 😆🤓.
I think I cried a little watching the last episode. And I'm glad ZXW is here for our Hua Qian. I would have appreciated another episode where they're back at home with a few kids being spoilt by ZXW's mother, but I'll take what I'm given and move on. Show had a good run. It has my stamp of approval, hard to receive in my 15 years of gluing my eyes to tv screens in the name of worshiping the drama gods 😂
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This review may contain spoilers
I love it until...
I love Zhou Ye so I watched this due to her and so many positive reviews BUT my mistake was checking the last episode after I watched 5 episodes and ruined my mood. I just want a happy ending so I checked. And I am glad. So the episodes I only watched are ep 1-5 and 29, 30.Here's my take. Zhou Ye's acting is great. She made me cry on the last 2 episodes. I didn't like the ending at all. That was a cruel ending making the rest of the story useless. The whole story is just a dream so I was pissed. I actually hope it is not but I am glad I checked early on. The whole story was made up by her traumatized mind and spirit. This is why I am putting it as 5 star and no, I won't rewatch nor check other episodes because it's all a dream.
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A Great Ending (not saying sad or happy, it's not a spoiler)
First time writing a Review , bear with meAs you all know ending is very important in your opinion of how you value a drama after you see it.
A bad drama with good ending can raise the value and a good drama with bad and rushed ending can destroy it for you.
This drama had a unique and wonderful ending. You can see it that in the entire drama they were preparing for it and it wasn't like one those dramas that you feel the director woke up and decided that He wanted to end his drama some way depending on his mood. (LOOOTS of dramas are this way)
About the acting it was nicely done. PWY did a good job and I could feel his emotion through screen.
In the Back From The Brink I was completely disappointed in ZY and I didn't want to watch her dramas again. However, now I'm glad that I didn't make that mistake. Her acting was great and I will definitely continue her work.
Wish the best for both of them.
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Story
The story kept me on edge especially where the FL would land in her love life. The ending took me all by surprise and I appreciated it.Lesson learned: mistakes are made to learn from. Being honest with oneself will not fix the mistake but will lead you to a better path. Finally, no one is perfect.
I found each character had a story to tell and why they took the path they took. It is a good reflection of life.
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A story of redemption - of yourself and your family’s
Life has no redo - what if it does?Hua Qian got what she wished for as she found herself back to 2 years ago. And she wasted no time to right her and her family’s wrongs, one at a time.
The early parts of the story was intriguing, figuring out the dynamics between the characters and their respective reactions to Hua Qian’s changes. Hua Qian, in her 2nd life became ever the wiser and determined to stay on the right path, as it meant staying alive. And her greatest struggle comes was from changing her closest family, making the story and characters feel rather grounded - after all, change is hard when they hadn’t experienced what Hua Qian had already “experienced prior”. I liked that it was not a walk in the park for her just because she had additional knowledge about the events. And once she changed her earlier behaviours, they logically lead to different chains of events that would no longer give Hua Qian the same advantage.
Another thing I enjoyed about Scent of Time was how Hua Qian rely on her wits most of the time to get through her valuable 2nd chance. Sure, she earned her admirers and respect. But she was no damsel in distress and played an active role in her redemption arc. This made up for the rushed ending and [somewhat] plot twist on how she got her 2nd chance…just a little bit.
Another aspect that could be improved was the supporting cast’s characters development. There were many moments in the show I felt their involvement were just pushing the plots along. Though…since it’s Hua Qian’s story of redemption, I guess this is acceptable.
Overall, I would say Scent of Time had cohesive story line and an independent female lead who stayed focus on her goals. Can give it a chance if redemption and 2nd chance stories are your thing. For those who are into romance or comedy, I’d suggest to check out other stories.
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The story and casting are amazing
The Zhong family is the wealthiest and most powerful family in the city of Huang, selling incense and medicine to the royal family. The young Zhong Xi Wu is the head of the family and rules with a firm but kind hand. General Manager Hua has a haughty and arrogant daughter, Hua Qian, who would stop at nothing to marry a member of the Zhong family Zhong Ye Lan. With the help of her father, she successfully marries him and also disposes of a rival manager and his family, the Mu family. Her misdeeds do not go unpunished as the daughter of the Mu family, Mu Yao, seeks revenge against Hua Qian. Hua Qian’s entire family is sentenced to death or exile. She tries to escape but faints in the chase.She wakes up to find that she’s transported back to her wedding day to Zhong Ye Lan. Stunned at the turn of events, Hua Qian tries desperately to rewrite history and make amends to those she has wronged. However, she never accounted for how history sometimes will go a certain way exactly because of human nature. In her journey to change, she loses more than she bargained for but also forged new relationships in which she does not know the outcome.
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The story and casting are good especially role by wangxingyue
Scent of Time" follows the story of Hua Qian, an ambitious young woman, who becomes infatuated with Zhong Yelan, the heir to a renowned Chinese incense empire. Determined to claim his affection for her own, she craftily schemes to steal his heart away from another woman. However, her plans take an unexpected turn, resulting in her family's downfall. Trapped in the consequences of her actions, she finds herself slipping into a mysterious coma.Miraculously, Hua Qian awakens to find herself back on her wedding day, presented with a unique opportunity to rectify her past mistakes. Can she navigate the complexities of love, ambition, and redemption, rewriting her own fate? Join her enthralling journey as she embarks on a quest to right the wrongs that led her to observe the sands of time.
The talented Zhou Ye takes on the role of Hua Qian, showcasing her versatility and captivating performances and wang xingye as zhong ziwu
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This review may contain spoilers
great storytelling, worth your time
The subtle hints strategically woven into the narrative of "Scent of Time" during its first half foretold an ending that was neither abrupt nor haphazardly planned. The storytelling and sequencing of events showcased a commendable mastery, allowing viewers to appreciate the well-thought-out conclusion. Personally invested in the main lead (ML) from the very beginning, the 29th episode beautifully portrayed an unselfish love that comprehends when to hold on and when to let go, delivering the closure the story merited.Intriguingly, the reality portrayed in the drama proved even more astonishing than the dream scenario. The female protagonist experiences love, albeit not in the specific terms she envisioned. Yet, this reality is depicted with a certain beauty, highlighting the complexities of genuine affection. The last episode's flashback, chronicling the ML's journey of falling for her and his unselfish attempts to express love and loyalty, provided a poignant touch that stood in stark contrast to the dream sequence.
While the wish for more airtime dedicated to showcasing physical affection between the characters lingers, the overall viewing experience remains stellar. "Scent of Time" managed to sidestep clichés, offering a refreshing take on love and relationships. The drama's ability to balance intricate storytelling, character development, and unexpected twists contributed to its distinction in a genre often criticized for predictability. In essence, it emerges as a compelling watch that transcends the conventional drama tropes.
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This review may contain spoilers
one of the best c-series for me
Where do I begin?… I was able to finish this in a day technically, started it mid day and ended it today around past 1 pm.In my opinion, this has got to be my most favorite c-series, from lost you forever, this has became my number 1 c-drama.
I was so immersed in this, FL I love her from back to the brink but not in everyone loves me, she’s was excellent here. She had so much chemistry with all the cast tbh.
a whirl wind of emotions indeed, This series made me laugh, cry, mad, happy, touched etc. countelsss times. I have nothing but praises but of crouse there’s room for improvement, I hoped they added more episodes I kept wanting to know more about certain situations, but over all this is such a beautiful series… it’s not shallow, but it’s truly remarkable and enjoyable, you’ll get a lot of hope, realizations, and lessons.
I love it so muchhhhu!!!!
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I NEED EXTRA EPS AND SS2 SO BADLY!!!
I am very happy I found this drama. The story and plot was good especially the start and ending of the drama. I love our main actor and actress so much they did an amazing job playing the character. Others love the guard tgt with HQ, but I was team ZXW since the beginning and somehow the way they look at each other is just omg they have so much chemistry together. I just wish there is more eps or ss 2 to this drama because somehow ZXW doesn't have much screentime and I wish to see HQ and ZXW interaction after HQ woke up. AND they mentioned how ZXW has a mistress waiting for him to return for 2 years because he was busying taking care of HQ. I can tell how much ZXW loves HQ BEFORE & AFTER EVERYTHING without her knowing his feeling likeeeeeeee I need more of them.Pardon me, I am never the type of leave review but I just sign up to do it because I love SoT so much! IF anyone know where we can sign a partition for more eps or ss2 please let me know I would like to contribute!
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