The Rise of Ning

A toxic masterclass in gaslighting disguised as a romance

40 episodes at approximately 45 minutes each and I was basically hate watching from episode two.

I would be here all day talking about the problematic elements of the show, but the only thing I’m gonna talk about is the grandmother.

her love is conditional and though she is the only protector Luo Yining (FL) has, her kindness is heavily tied to family reputation and bloodline. It’s frustrating to see her dote on Yining while remaining completely cold toward Luo Shenyuan (ML) simply because of his illegitimate status. Her niceness has sharp edges when it comes to anyone she deems unworthy.
She enables the father who is a coward, but he’s a coward because the Grandmother allows him to be. She keeps the peace by letting him indulge his mistress, only stepping in when things get messy enough to hurt the family's reputation. Her silence is essentially a green light for the abuse Yining and Shenyuan suffer.
She sits on her high horse acting like the moral compass of the house while watching a young man (ML) freeze in the snow or get beaten without lifting a finger. It’s that refined cruelty—she doesn't get her hands dirty, she just lets the lesser people suffer because of their low birth.
She uses tradition as a weapon. She demands respect and "filial piety" while giving absolutely zero genuine empathy to anyone who doesn't fit her perfect mold of a noble family member.
She doesn't apologise for treating the ML like dirt; she simply starts treating him better once he proves his worth and becomes the family's only hope for political survival. It’s not an apology; it’s a pivot.
The show frames her past coldness as her "doing what she had to do" to keep the Luo name respectable. It’s a classic trope where the narrative makes excuses for the elderly character’s bias by blaming "the times" or "the rules of society."
I guess it’s so popular because it sells a specific kind of social pornography: the fantasy that if you are abused, neglected, and treated like dirt, you can "win" by becoming so undeniably successful that your abusers are forced to depend on you. In my logical mind, this is demented. To the target audience, it’s "aspirational".
This storytelling is acceptable to a demented audience because it prioritises Social Stability over Individual Truth
The actual Truth is the Grandmother is a child-abuser or at best an enabler for child abuse by his so-called father.
For Storytelling purposes The Grandmother is a strict matriarch who eventually sees the light when the child becomes a genius.
Honestly, this is truly horrific if this is what the culture sees as entertaining and popular and a good story. Crikey! Smh

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ML face is like a mannequin

The story was interesting in the beginning but as it progressed ML developed feelings for the FL as soon as he knew that she is not blood related.

Sibling relationship is one of the purest. You need a convoluted mind to jump into a loving relationship with someone whom you knew lifelong and called sister. Even after getting past this complicated relationship, I couldn't enjoy this because of the ML acting. He is like a statue with no emotions(This is not the only drama that I have noticed). Eyes should speak volume but he barely blinked his eyes. A great actor uses eyes to convey sentiments and passions but I noticed none of those.

Many people in the comments praised the ML voice. Just remember he is an actor not a voice actor. One should possess great acting if not the other.

I continued watching this for the FL , SML and the step-mom acting. The legal step-mom character was so bold and refreshing and she portrayed it very well.

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sweetness and controversy

It's a slow-paced period romance, some people won't have the patience to watch it, but it has interesting and somewhat taboo themes that are treated lightly.
Luo Shen Yuan and Luo Yi Ning are raised as siblings, children of the same father, which already generates a discussion about possible incest. After a few years apart, Yi Ning returns to the Luo residence and the two, now adults, are one and the same. There is a mystery surrounding Yi Ning's mother. Shen Yuan discovers that they are not blood siblings, to his relief, since he is already head over heels for his "sister". There is fighting, competition between the family, imperial competition, revenge, everything a historical romance has to offer. The second couple is the cousin of the two protagonists with the Sixth Uncle, brother of the Lady of the house, the wife of the main couple's father. Although there is no blood relationship in the second couple, it is also a taboo subject. They are cute and you root for them too. The ending is super happy.

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Ambition, Resilience and Complex personal relationships,

"The Rise of Ning" is a compelling drama series that explores themes of ambition, resilience, and the complexities of personal relationships. I was addicted and eagerly awaited each new episode. In my top 3 costume dramas 2024 so far…

Overall, "The Rise of Ning" is a captivating series that successfully blends drama and realism, offering viewers an insightful look at ambition and its consequences. With some refinement in pacing and dialogue, it could elevate its impact even further. Fans of character-driven narratives and social themes will likely find it an enjoyable watch.

Strengths
Character Development : The central character, Ning, undergoes significant transformation throughout the series. Her journey from obscurity to prominence is well-crafted, showcasing her struggles and triumphs. Ning reintegrates quickly and smoothly back into the Luo family.

Narrative Structure: The storyline is engaging, with a balance of tension and emotional depth. The pacing is effective, keeping viewers invested in Ning’s challenges and victories.

Cinematography: The visual aesthetics are noteworthy, with vibrant colors and dynamic camera work that enhances the storytelling. Locations are beautifully captured, contributing to the series' immersive atmosphere.

Themes: The series addresses important social issues, including gender equality and the sacrifices made for success, making it not only entertaining but also thought-provoking.

Supporting Cast: The ensemble cast adds depth to the narrative. Each character has a distinct role, contributing to the overall storyline and helping to highlight Ning's evolution. Each actor executed their role really well, especially the ML and FL. Duke Wei was a particularly uplifting well thought out character.

Areas for Improvement

Subplots: Some subplots are not as well developed as the main story, leaving audiences wanting more depth or resolution for certain secondary characters.

Pacing Issues: While the series generally maintains a good rhythm, some episodes feel rushed, particularly during pivotal moments of character development. More time could be spent on these transitions.

Dialogue: At times, the dialogue feels overly scripted or dramatic, which may detract from the authenticity of the characters' interactions. More natural dialogue could enhance viewer connection. The story was left a little waning in places, the main male protagonist behaviour with the FL was not historically correct - entering and leaving her abode at will…

Predictability: Certain plot twists may come off as predictable, which could diminish the impact of major revelations in later episodes. Introducing unexpected elements could enhance the suspense.

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It's allright

Eventhough the series started off with this feeling of copying the story of Ming Lan, I like that it adds lighthearted cute YiXiu and twist of charming brother who's perfect in everything, seriously unreal.

As a political drama it is full of gap and missing logic. How can one young Duke request a title for a girl so easily.. and what's his achievement that he's so highly favoured by the emperor?

The last episode has too much flaws, how can the duke set the firework to explode without Luo family knowing suddenly everone just died and the bride was kidnapped and her family thought she was dead. And its very surprising that her dad who once despised her for being a outofwed love child of her mom then looked so shocked upon her dead that he didnt even respond to his mom fainting? Because of that I thought he's involved in the scheme.. it didnt make sense.

And the part when Lu jia xue used his body to take on the arrow when he's highly skilled in martial art, seriously unnecessary.. the author just wanted him to die.

FL acting is just average and her voice is kinda annoyingly pitchy to me.. but the ML voice on the other hand is so charming it fills the gap. I thin support roles like Yi Yu shows better acting than leads. And i like the merchant born mom who's a very straightforward person too. Her and YiXiu probably are my 2 favourite characters in this drama. Although i dont like the fact that YiXiu easily testified against her birth mother, authors could have made her sturggle more with being filial but meh.... quite disappointing

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It's a cool story that holds the attention

It's a dorama that starts slow, but it already starts well. As the episodes go by, you can easily get attached to the characters and the story. There are some slower scenes (like most doramas), but nothing that hinders the development and timing of the plot.

The novel, as for, is nice to watch, but don't expect something hot and a breathtaking chemistry. It is built little by little and in a subtle way.

The secondary characters are great, fill the story well and are well explored.

In general, the story has no errors and holes, and manages to hold a lot of attention.

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Inverted Corners

It was a good series in general. It wouldn't be a lie if I said I got bored towards the end. I watched it by skipping some parts. I was surprised in the 39th and 40th episodes. The scriptwriter wanted to make us twists and turns, and good things happened in the first twist. In the second twist, the Jia Xua character, who was assigned to the border, is removed from the Guard Command and asked to go to a new duty station. A couple of scenes later, this character kidnaps Yi Ning, detonates explosives. He kills many people. He also breaks the Prime Minister character out of prison. Then, to the Shen Yuan character who wants to stop him, he says I am the Guard Commander and I am arresting you. The scriptwriter is saying what a diet, what a pickled cabbage. You know, this guy was removed from the Guard Commander and was going to a new duty station. How did he become the Guard Commander again, and block the road with a lot of soldiers, kill people, and kidnap people? It didn't work. Because the Emperor dismisses him. A man who is dismissed can never do that job again. He took it but he still can't say Commander, I'm still here. A Commander was already given in his place. These parts were left vague and in the end, this person suffered the consequences of what he did. He died. The incident ended. It was a happy ending. But these last two episodes overshadowed all the previous episodes and unfortunately left a bad impression on me, causing me to give the series 7.5 instead of 8.5.
The series actually started well but the plot got complicated. This prevented a good progress. The story did not continue the same from beginning to end.
I think the shining star of the series was Ci Sha. I have watched her before but she really made her presence felt in this series. She played a fixed-minded, obsessive lover and a despotic man beautifully. She was very successful with two separate identities. She overshadowed the leading roles. I like Zhang Wan Yi. I have watched a lot of her series. She has a certain line. It doesn't spoil it. She is a good actor. I liked it. I can't say the same for Ren Min. I watched one of her series before. It wasn't bad but I felt like she was a bit flighty or something, she couldn't give herself to the role. I didn't like his voice either. They didn't grin much as a duo, but Ren Min fell short. My opinion. He should focus on his roles a little more. He should get into it. The voice and dubbing should work. I liked all the other supporting roles. The acting was very good except for a couple of grins. The costumes were very nice. It was sparkling. The shooting was very good. Congratulations to the director. I don't congratulate the scriptwriter. You can watch it to pass the time.

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