Story of Redemption and Changing Fate with brilliant politics play out and interesting relationship
The moment it started, you can't stopped. Every episode is so intriguing that you keep wanting to continue, not boring, well pacing. The story is so solid, almost perfect political planning, thanks to Jiang Xue Ning previous life and the delicious cunningness of Xie Wei.There are a lot of twists and turns, from the strategic planning against the enemies (Xue family and the rebel King Ping Nan); added with interesting characters development a long the way, how the main characters are reacted to each other toward the plan, whether to trust or distrust each other; to unusual romance and relationship between the main characters (Xie Wei, Jiang Xue Ning and Zhang Zhe), from enemies to working together, then trusting and falling in love each other.
There is also a nice and touching sisterhood between the Jiang sisters, their sisterhood develops naturally and they support each other with fairness, not like the typical hating and plotting against each other as we normally seen in the drama. Best friends’ relationship between the characters (Xie Wei/Zhang Zhe/Lu Xian/fake Xue DingFei/2 Xie Wei's side kicks, Yan Lin/Jiang Xue Ning, Yan Lin/Shen Jie, Jiang Xue Ning/ShenZhiYi) are matured, full of loyalty, funny and understanding with each other.
The overall performance of the main and supporting casts are splended and well acted, although most of them are young actors and actresses in term of their age. Whatmore the actors are good looking.
They portrayed their characters beautifully and with a lot of tensions, especially for Zhang Ling He and Wang Xing Yue, and last but not least of course Bai Lu to whom you know what to expect from her, although she looks much older than her supposedly her real character's age in this drama. As for Zhang Ling He, Wang Xing Yue and Zhou Jun Wei, this is my first time seeing their acting, but love them all, looking forward to see their other dramas.
Overall, this is the best cdrama in 2023 I have seen so far, full of excitement and fun, and the best part of it is it has a happy ending. Don't miss out, it is a must watch historical cdrama.
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Kept me watching
It kept me watching and had some good twists and turns. But it was frustrating because at some point, the main character stopped being proactive and went all reactive instead. I like a good isekai as much as anybody else, but the whole sucked into a fantasy world, dies, and reborn felt forced and useless. I didn't feel any connection to the character in the modern world, so that nixed any efftect an ending for that character would have.This poor actress... Is she going to be stuck playing emotionally stunted characters her whole life? She does a great job, but the lack of/snail pace character development in the emotional department got old.
I didn't know I could like the ML in something more than The Princess Royal, but he was spectacular in this!
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This review may contain spoilers
Can we have more queer coding and less toxic men plz?
The Story of Kunning Palace has a fantastic premise. It starts where most historical Cdramas end: a despotic empress dies after losing a coup d'état. But lo and behold! She suddenly wakes up, reincarnated in the same life but as an 18 year old again, with a chance to set things right.For fellow fans of the latest isekai craze that has hit the anime scene, this plot may sound familiar. But unlike the comedic anime takes that places anime FLs in otome games, Kunning Palace takes itself far more seriously. Our FL is determined to do the right things by the people she wronged the first time round and does not mind using some underhand methods to do so. Along the way she (once again) meets the ML who, similarly, has good intentions and subscribes to an ends-justify-the means approach. A perfect match, right? So I thought initially.
Frankly, I quickly lost interest in the political intrigue of this drama and stayed around for the romance. Unfortunately, a gross error on my part. What the drama tries to construe as romance – I can only assume this from the sappy romantic soundtrack – is actually just the ML sexually assaulting the FL. Sorry to be blunt, but that's what it is.
This sexual violence would not have been an issue if the drama treated it as such. But with both the soundtrack and with the ML lead 'winning' the FL in the end, what the drama does instead is normalise violence in a romantic/sexual relationship. Ultimately, this ruined what I liked about the drama – two deeply flawed characters finding each other as soulmates.
Given this situation, I would have loved to see more romantic development with the FL and other characters. Obviously being a Chinese production, there's only so much you can do given censorship (especially recent crackdowns), but there was already clear queer coding happening between Jian Xue Ning and the Princess and You Fang Yin respectively. Perhaps this can be my pitch for a Kunning Palace baihe spin-off :)
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Another side of Zhang Linghe
ML is always playing a hero, it’s refreshing to see he has a mean streak. I was bored at first, but the more I watch, the more I wan to watch. Bai Lu is excellent as usual, but ML is definitely the one to watch. He needs more roles like this. Most disappointing series for me was My Journey To You. The script was terrible. But this one, I’ll watch again and again. I’d love to see him in more anti-hero roles. And matching him up with the right FL is a MUST. Nothing more to say right now. I shall continue watching and hope it gets even better.Was this review helpful to you?
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tw: toxic relationship | not for the judgemental!!
Honestly I really liked this drama, it's definitely a slowburn that's worth waiting for unlike most fluffy dramas. I definitely love the FL and ML, had such great chemistry in the bts. I don't wanna spoil anything, so just gonna briefly describe the story.1. Story. Not too harsh for the heart, definitely a smooth and satisfactory story that I really like. The plot(s) weren't that surprising either which is good imo, because complex stories are harder to understand but this drama definitely gives a nice ride.
2. Acting. Of course, per usual, well done. ZLH's expressions definitely do make me feel some type of way, smirking, grinning and scoffing I love it! For me, I really hate it when characters have a really stale expression, small details really do matter just like micro expressions so he did them really well. Bai Lu, insane acting skills however I do think she could use a little more expressions as well that isn't written on the script, in order to emphasize her character even more. (As a Bai Lu fan)
3. I think the music was alright, but I do think it's low-key overused, but definitely can't blame them as the OST's that are used for the scenario must fit the situation. When I first heard of the opening scene of SOKP, I was rlly invested though, I liked the unique idea of it.
4. As for rewatch value, I don't think ut deserves a 10 because everyone have their different preferences and opinions, so I'll leave it open to everyone's own idea.
5. Overall, I think this drama definitely should be watched, toy can watch it during your free time (recommended) or anytime!!
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From story of BORING palace to story of LOVING palace
Well !! I would have rated this show a solid 9 if it weren't for the boring first half. No doubt the story is good, but the way it is written failed to impress me ... The issue is stated on the screen pretty much within the first two episodes after that they are just beating around the bush with absolutely no rigid substance being added the development of the story . Honestly I thought of dropping this drama a multiple times but I like bailu a lot so I kept going.Around Episode 18 the plot picks up some momentum and remains the same till the end.
There is nothing much to pin point about the casting as all actors including leads are veterans and they known how to deliver the best.previously I wasn't much of a fan of the ML actor but he was amazing in his role here ..I guess I like him now ❤️❤️❤️ ok might as well check his other shows.
Ost was just so-so.
Rewatch value ..well that's subjective.. If i were ever to watch it again I might skip ep 3-17
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watch this or else
I'm not very good with words but here I am. 😅Hooked from start to finish, this drama has been worth the wait. Despite the limited budget, this drama delivered a high quality production. The script is quotable, there's so many lines that are memorable. It would've been better if iqiyi made more effort in translating them. The acting is top tier. It made me starstruck and engrossed. It felt like i'm there with them, I kept holding my breath not to miss anything. The costumes are also good. I like xie wei's hairstyle with his hair down and the ribbon on his back. He also looked great in his court official attire, that's my most fave look of him. The women's dresses are also so fine. I love the pastel colors. The gold on the royalties are also so fitting. I like a drama that invest in costumes because it adds to my watching experience.
I'm not sure how the drama plot stayed true to the novel but the drama plot was well done. I liked the pacing. There's something significant happening in every episode. There's no unnecessary fillers. Nothing was dragged or rushed. I think my main problem was the romance of xie wei and ning'er. While they have a lot of interactions in the first 30 eps, the love line hasn't really started there though from xie wei's perspective it's been going on from the earliest eps. Ning'er still hasn't have that kind of feelings for him yet. This is the slowest burn i have ever experienced in my cdrama life. But those moments of xie wei and ning'er from the first 30 eps are still serving chemistry. They're not doing romantic but they're burning of chemistry. bailu and zhang linghe did so well in that department. Came ep 31 onwards, some may say love was forced to ning'er but no. From the start, she might have develop something but only at later eps did it awakened. And mostly, xie wei's love for her reached her and she took it. They have such a toxic development but they're both intense so I think it suited them both fine.
I am not into love triangle, what more reverse harem. I liked how every men and woman in jxn's life are important to her story. I was stressed and seething of jealousy (for xw) when seeing her with zhang zhe though. Such a sad love story. Their moments were sweet.
When it comes to palace dramas, the scheming will always be present. Mostly, I get stressed watching those but this one our mains are mainly involved in the scheming. As the saying goes, they may not always win but they will never lose. That's how powerful our main leads here that I never have to sweat about them losing anything. They will pass through challenges again and again.
I think this is the kind of drama that I would want to marathon and watch with friends. Never a dull moment. Watch it, highly recommend!
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Very Entertaining Story
This one features a FL who goes back in time to fix mistakes made the first time. The supernatural element is gotten around by the censors by having this actually be a story that the author is creating. This has modern scenes framing the story, but these modern scenes are short and add nothing to the plot.The FL is capable and strong. Because she lived this life before, she is able to use her knowledge to change or attempt to change fate from the first time. It’s interesting because in changing circumstances, things don’t play out like she expects. We get just enough glimpses of her past life to see the difference but we aren’t overburdened by flashes of the past.
If you don’t like a dark hero, then this is not the drama for you. Xie Wei is not your typical Chinese drama lead. He is scheming, ruthless, and legitimately mentally unwell. The translation was schizophrenia but his illness get closer to PTSD. Nevertheless, though he is super intelligent, he is hampered by this fugue state he gets in when it snows. I felt the actor playing him overdid it with the crazy eyes at times. But overall his character was interesting and intriguing.
The romance is slow burn. It doesn’t really ramp up until the last 10 episodes or so, though there is enough of it throughout the show to keep even romance fans like myself interested. Highly recommended.
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Satisfying Watch
I've never really written reviews before, but there's a first time for everything. The story from the very start is genuinely gripping. This drama includes everything: the usual selfless characters who give without expecting anything in return, along with characters of grey and neutrality. Our female lead is a blend of selflessness and cunningness, which is perfectly acceptable – a multifaceted character adds depth. She's not your typical damsel in distress; instead, she possesses a strong backbone. Is she silly sometimes? Yes, but who isn't? That only makes her more human. Our male lead exists in the grey area, understandably due to his backstory, yet we witness significant character progression by the end. It's undeniable, brilliant casting and a great storyline, which often overshadow the occasional directing errors.Was this review helpful to you?
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Perfect combination of Politics, romance and my ever favourite trope-TIME TRAVEL
Usually I can never get myself to complete any drama with a lot of politics. But this one had me hooked from the start to the very last episode. The six month wait after it's initial declaration was absolutely worth it.The drama focuses on Jiang Xuening, who gets a chance to REDO her mistakes while further exploring her efforts, her relationships with the various characters.
Our Queen, Bai Lu, as usual never disappoints us and gave us yet another ground breaking performance thereby showing her versatility as a scheming empress(1st life) and as Ning'er(2nd life).
As for our ML, it was his second drama I watched with him as ML- the first being My journey to you, and the contrast between the characters he played shows his versatile acting skills. It's not easy to play a grey area character like Xie Wei and now i don't think anyone could have played this role as good as Zhang Linghe. The chemistry between the leads had me squealing at all times. Xie Wei's character screams- "a hero will sacrifice u for the world but a villain would sacrifice the whole world for you." especially with his dialogue-" Neither my qin, my revenge, nothing in this world compares to her." and Zhang Linghe portrays it exceptionally well.
Zhang Zhe may be the best person but Xie Wei was the most suitable one for Ning'er.
The OSTs especially the one by Zhou Shen, had my heart from the beginning.
A mix of various genres.... I would definitely recommend this to every cdrama lover!!!!!!!
No doubt one of the best chinese dramas of 2023 !!!!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Story of Kunning Palace has one of the best pacing of any 2023 drama. The storytelling is intriguing, with suspenseful arcs from the very first episode. The show does a great job of introducing the many characters and establishing their motivations. For the first 30 episodes, the twists and turns, as well as Jiang Xuening's personal growth, captivate the audience. The female friendships are beautiful and the discussion of female power is interesting.The romance isn't the main focus of most of the show. In the beginning, Jiang Xuening struggles with her best friend's romantic feelings for her, while trying to save him and his family this time. In order to achieve this, she begins to plot with her teacher Xie Wei, but only in the last arc does she develop feelings for him. Instead, she longs for her former love, Zhang Zhe, an upright official with a strong sense of justice. One of the main themes of the show is that Jiang Xuening is not a good person, not in this life and certainly not in her last, but she is trying to be better. While Zhang Zhe is not a good match for her, the scheming and violent Xie Wei is. The story of Kunning Palace is not about love, but about intrigue, friendship, ambition and doing the right thing. It's only in the last 8 episodes that there is a real romance, and then the show loses its intrigue.
I was rooting for them right up until the moment their actual relationship developed. Firstly, I'm generally not a fan of the trope of men forcing themselves on women and women giving in until they like it, even if it's under the influence of trauma. Is it reasonable for his character to react that way? Yes, it is. Did the writers have to make him do it? Absolutely not. Especially when it is all framed as sexual tension. They were great as partners in crime, but at that point, is just using trauma for the sake of drama.
Overall, Bai Lu really stole the show. She was absolutely perfect for the part. As for Zhang Linghe, his performance again lacked nuance, but it was better compared to other shows I have seen so far. As for the side characters, the only other one that really stood out for me was Lui Xiening as Princess Le Yang/ Shen Zhi Yi, as well as the scheming Xue Yuan (by Huang Haibing) and his sister, Empress Dowager Xue (by Liu Min). These two were such great villains!
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binge-worthy
This is one of my 2 favourite dramas of 2023 (the other being The Blood of Youth). Would regularly watch 3-5 episodes at a time, probably took me less than 2 weeks to get through entire drama from start to finish.For me the sign of a good c-drama is when I don't fast forward through scenes or episodes or just drop the drama entirely. This drama had a great story and the plot moves forward every episode, never once had the urge to skip scenes. The cast was excellent and there was not a single actor or character that annoyed me or felt out of place. It's about a lady that goes back in time to try to fix the past. It is a similar concept to Bai Lu's other 2023 drama (Till the End of the Moon) but Kunning palace is far superior to that one. It does a good job of inter-twining her past life with the present as she seeks to change outcomes. I could nitpick at some of the familiar plot devices used in this drama, for example, the evil empress dowager or the corrupt high-ranking official but there was so much that was good about this drama that these can be over-looked. Also liked the music in this drama and how it was used, they don't overdo it with the song interludes which was a nice change. Finally, the ending although a bit predictable was very satisfying and much better than many of the c-dramas from 2023.
This drama is a definite binge watch, once you watch the first few episodes you will be hooked
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