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Just... *sigh it's good
I'm upset as I'm writing this. This drama was totally good from the cinematography and everything. It just I'm upset I feel like someone made a fool out of me. At least... Can you give more for the ending, it just I've been crying for the last few episodes and I was hoping it would be worth it if I could see them together, their wedding ceremony, she and muyao buried the hatchet and she wld totally try to win his mom and does. I can't see it tbh... Them being together when I look back at her personality. It was totally Xiwu's fault and lead to her evilness.Idk what to feel. I think the ML's screen times in this drama were less than 2ndML even though I got it. I'm upset at the plots, I feel like the ML and FL meetings were not that many to form and show how they were deeply in love. It was definitely short-lived tho. I was cursing the ML and later feel hurt for him that he loved her so much.
Male Lead, Zhong Xiwu, the heir for the century incense-maker from a noble family. He was a strict, kind man and a fool when he was jealous. Xiwu became protective(some of his actions' were wrong way to go abt it tho) and very caring toward Qian's well-being.
Female Lead, Hua Qian, a daughter of head butler for Zhong Family. Once she did evil things to get the man that she wanted but when given a second chance, Hua Qian was clever, bold, graceful and kind. You know I cannot really tell abt when she fell in love bcs it was like so short and was ruined by ML. Most of the time, she was busy, racking her brain and saving her family and friends. OK maybe I can tell, it was when he confessed to her during the dark of the night after she visited her brother's grave :) and sure she kept what he gave to her and brought it everywhere. That was it.
Happy for those couples that got their happy ending. You know I've never experienced this, trying to squeeze my brain telling about their "love-story". Sure, it was there but it was almost nonexistent. I was confused a bit why 2ndML Hua Rongzhou got more screen times than him, always always with her any where even though I understand it at last. This even lead me to say, "in another universe, it wld be qian and rongzhou" few times when I was watching it
I'm sorry. You can definitely tell how upset I am.
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Compelling Drama with Exceptional Acting
The story in this drama is super interesting—I watched a bunch of episodes and got totally into the plot. However, when it was getting towards the end, I took a break because I had to wait a long time between each episode. Recently, I decided to get back into it after seeing some cool scenes on TikTok that reignited my interest. I've got to say, the acting is not just good, it's seriously impressive. Zhou Ye, even though she's young, is an awesome actress, and her performance is top-notch. It's like, she really brings the characters to life. So, if you're looking for something worth your time, this drama is totally worth checking out!Was this review helpful to you?
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Down understand the attraction of the two men who love Mu Yao, she is unattractive tome, I guess beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but she doesn’t even have a nice disposition either. Even getting beyond her being upset about her family’s situation she still is very ordinary to me expect she can fight and play an instrument. She was going after someone else’s boyfriend in the first place, despite the fact that she knew him and comforted him in the temple. Whoop doo. Didn’t like her, or Zhong Yelan, either I don’t he was confident about what wanted, and was too concerned with images. It’s to bad he got he wanted in the end , because he humiliated Hua Qian , and he could have just divorced , without humiliating her, she did need to be punish for what she did, but humiliated. The prince and Hua Rong Xiang were the only ones who deserved her. I enjoyed that this drama had a little different twist on the jealousy angle. Love Zhou Ye. Was this review helpful to you?
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It wasn’t what you expected and I’m sad for the romance
I really enjoyed watching this series and the first time I’m writing a review! I waited every day to see every episodes that comes!I wanted her to make a corrections of the mistakes she did in the her past life so I believe for her reincarnation!
As her wishes, I wanted to keep her family alive too but unfortunately it’s all a dream 🛌 and she’s been in a coma for over 2 years which made me disappointed 😢 from what the writer did ! She didn’t want to wake up from her happy dreams but when she finally accepted that the only one alive that really love her was Song Wie , she wakes up ! It’s not really romantic for me but I was hoping for a happy ending! I hope 🤞 so 😊 if his mother will finally accept her 🤞
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I loved the story
I found the story unique and interesting, it reflected something deep and honestly it was emotional for meIt is one of the drama that I believe was worth more attention
If anyone into deep stories i highly suggest this drama but be emotionally prepared.
The female lead was impressive i didn’t think she can do such a role but she nailed it
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A new outlook on villainess(es)
I was on a search for time traveling story plot right after watching A Time Called You with Ahn Hyo-seop and Jeon Yeo-been with a great twist compared to regular time-traveling dramas these days.I watched two of Zhou Ye’s previous works and loved her sparkling eyes, her acting needs some improvements however. So
I ventured on another one with her acting as a main lead hoping this will be something that would make a mark. And it did. More than expected. The feeling of overachieved is so much better than a disappointment. FR!
I didn’t think I’d have liked it as much as I do, probably 2 eps and left. Well, I finished 11 eps in one night. Needless to say, though I could hardly stay awake the next day, I couldn’t wait for the night to come so I could continue with her time-traveling adventures.
The story isn’t new yet how the director’s and script writers’ new takes on villainess(es) was beautifully done. The viewers get to see the reason behind the villainess(es)’s action. They are not a bunch of bad eggs. Sometimes, circumstances and their over-achieved character aka passion for love drive them to a rather darker road especially, when there are no one who would wait for them in the other end. The villainess(es) can change once they realize the ugly truth thus, knowing they are loved, care for like every other person.
On the other hand, the so-call kind and smart protagonist such as Mu Yao, Zhong Ye Lan could be so annoyed and heartless when the camera rolls are on them. The situation makes us viewers feel sympathy towards them however; their stubbornness and silliness (with a weak nature) are part of many reason we feel frustrated towards their decisions and actions. How could you be so one dimensional and still be loved by many (male partners?!)
This storyline gives me hope in a smarter, calculated yet kind and strong characters. For those that not naturally evil, they simply are strong-willed and know what they want, and go get it. As human, we all make mistake. They can change the path if they are given a new start. Though not everyone is lucky enough to have that. The same goes with Hua Qian, she thought she was given a second chance to revert her action and be a better person, to fix almost everything.
*******Spoiler: however, it was only a dream. She still needed to wake up and deal with the consequences. She was lucky to have someone who cared and stood by her the entire time. Some were perhaps not that fortunate.
I wish there was a couple more ep to really define a happy ending and how she recovered from her mental breakdown, start over. But, I understand how the writers wanted to leave it at that for us to linger, to imagine and to wish her a new start with her man, who had loved her since the beginning of time.
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Worth watching!
No drag scenes. Sad/painful moments in the drama can make you cry too and heartbroken. Especially in her dreams,it felt so real. I just love that in her dream, she didn't become a damsel in distress though she dont know martial arts and no other important skills (like best in making poison ,medicine or business*she owns shops but not the one who actually manages it*). In other dramas,i hate it when FL was not given any skills coz they become damsel in distress. But not Qian. I never skip any scenes. The only thing that this drama can't be 10 (for me) is because i need more of it. Surely i am happy that Ziwu's smile at the end means he's happy Qian already woke up from her dreams and she called his name. I JUST WANTED A FEW MORE SCENES LIKE THEM BEING A HAPPY COUPLE.Was this review helpful to you?
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Dream to escape reality
Very interesting drama of redemption. Making up for mistakes you made. I have to watch Hua Qian's eloquent dialogues is what I like the most about. I really admire Zhou Ye's acting prowess. I saw her at Love Me Love My Voice, totally different kind of romance from this - the reason I watched Scent of Time. I wanted to see more of Zhou Ye.After episode one I knew, I would want to continue watching more episodes. I thought I will see some kissing scenes but none. That did not stop me though. Even without it, I was very interested on what she will do and say next. All the supporting cast including the main leads acted very well. I really like the ending that's for sure unexpected, she created Rong Zhou in her dream because of the trauma she experienced in real life. He symbolized her safety someone she can rely on for help, protector savior, worth living for. Rong Zhou played a very important part in making her wake up from her dream and return to Xi Wu whom she really had feelings for.
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And in the end she throws everything over the edge
It has an excellent plot, an incredible story, an ambiguous romance and in the end... it throws everything over the edgeEverything was excellent until episode 29 in the middle... basically if the plot had ended there it would have been perfect, we don't care as viewers that the idea of time travel isn't possible, but really giving it that ending wasn't pleasant at all and I'm not referring to who she ended up with, but that in the end basically all her efforts were useless...
In the end she has no choice but to wake up and continue with reality
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IAM BEING CHEATED BY WISHFULNESS
When I got to the end of series, I felt like I am being cheated by Hua Qian. At first I thought 'Scent of Time' is another drama version 'Story of Kunning Palace', a story of reborn woman whose redeeming her mistakes to her new life but there's a twist that makes it different from other. The tragic love between 4 individuals Zhong Xi Wei, Hua Qian, Zhong Ye Lan & Mu Yao. Beginning episode Hua Qian was being hunted by soldiers and witnessing the dead of her mother and brother. She's collapse and wake up in different reality on the time marrying Zhong Ye Lan, the man she's fallen in love with since childhood. Hua Qian realize then that she's reborn and determine to redeem her mistakes from previous life so instead of being a jealous and hateful wife, she tries to reconnect her husband Zhong Ye Lan to his childhood love Mu Yao, she approves her to be concubine and demand divorce for herself. Hua Qian comes clean for all the wrong doing and determine to be a nice person to people around her. While Zhong Xi Wei is still in love even after her marriage to his brother, as the head of Zhong family he happily agrees to give divorce degree so he can pursue her as a single woman. As taboo as it sounds, a divorcee woman can't remarry the brother of ex-husband. He pursue her tirelessly...convince her that he'd be there if she would just trust him. Besides all the disputes between Hua & Mu family, fragrant big family business, death of love ones, hatred and misunderstanding, also appearance of faithful lowly guard Hua Rong Zhao (Zhang Yi Jie) as her sole console and protector in her position.Hua Qian's desperation is the fruit of hope to start her miserable life all over again, admitting mistakes as a new person . Curiously this drama should be ended in ep 26 but no...continue to more lighter version to finally grand finale. I like Zhong Xi Wei (Wang Xing Yue) here although Xing Yue has been taking similar character in his other dramas (Zhang Zhe in Story of Kunning Palace & Liu Zixing in One and Only) the guy with irreconcilable love, in this drama though he's more stellar to fight for the woman he loves. Wu Shuo Mo (Li Yun Rui) is outstanding, better than his role the Last Immortal, he can take role both coarse or dignify (in LLtG) character as his next project. Hua Qian (Zhao Ye) though isn't too convincing in few of scenes (drunk scenes and traumatic life experience scene on last episode) her dimple is so pretty when she smiles. Sadly, none of them smile. I find this despondent love story is beautiful...we implore emotion in love, regret, hope, struggle, trust just to be forgiven.
What I like about this drama?
* Beautiful costumes in my favorite dynasty with little hair ornaments and bare make up
* All actors are collaborating nicely, great supporting actors, love the OST
* Unusual plots and twist in very creative story telling
* It's a beautiful tragic love stories with happy ending
Last episode Hua Qian says sober farewell to Hua Rong Zhao as she go back to consciousness after 26 months coma where she's been recreating her imaginative longing different life as the real life struck in bitter facts that she has to deal with. All 29 episodes are wishful aspiration from a woman who realize many flaws and errors she committed but there is a man who won't give up on her and love her no matter what. Whispering calling his name soft 'Zhong Xi Wei'.......he's so happy. That's love.
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Scent of Time - a truly apt title
Little hints are dropped throughout the drama and I am so happy to be surprised with the twist during the final episodes. Heartbreaking as it was, it felt so much more real in many senses and so very well grounded when compared to Story of Kunning Palace.While this drama and SOKP both have a do-over storyline, I was more touched with this storyline and how it was told. Not overly dramatic and more relatable showing the FL as a real person - hair completely down and no make up when sleeping - something SOKP wasn’t good at as they seemed overly focused on giving us a FL and ML to drool over all the time.
The romance between the FL and the various men were very well portrayed and provided just enough angst to keep me watching to find out how the events would unfold.
Some minor things left hanging and I would have liked a longer happy ending but overall, I am surprised by how much more I liked this compared to SOKP. Once the twist is revealed, it’s best not to think too much as certain events doesn’t bear close scrutiny. Bittersweet ending…
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Refreshing and Unpredictable Chinese Drama Experience
I recently had the pleasure of watching this drama which has truly left a lasting impression on me. Unlike many others I've seen, this particular drama managed to captivate my attention from start to finish, offering a refreshing departure from the typical clichés and predictable storylines often found in the genre.One of the standout aspects of this drama was the exceptional acting. The performances were top-notch, devoid of the exaggerated expressions and over-the-top bloodshed that sometimes plague Chinese dramas. Instead, the actors skillfully portrayed their characters with depth and nuance, drawing me into their world and making it easy to emotionally invest in their journeys.
What truly sets this drama apart is its ability to keep me guessing. Throughout the series, I found myself pleasantly surprised at every turn, unable to predict the outcome. This rarity in Chinese dramas allowed me to experience a sense of loss and emotional attachment that lingered long after completing the series.
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