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Top 3 historical cdrama
I loved it. The acting was great and so was their chemistry. I loved the ost as well. The little snippet of their wedding left a smile on my face during the whole thing. I wish they got into a relationship sooner, but he was so insecure and there was a lack of communication from both of them. I understand why she was hesitant in the beginning, she knew another version of him, so of course she was scared. They had very cute moments in the last I believe 10 episodes, very small and short ones but got me giggling. I wish You Fangi didn’t die and wished we saw more of her and her husband’s married life. In the end him basically bullying his son was so funny, he’s so insecure over Zhang Ze (was only funny to see on the show, if it happened in reality that would’ve been disappointing).Was this review helpful to you?
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Started ok, Finished Wonderful
The high score attracted to look into it. Than i saw Bailu and Zhang Ling He and i was convinced to proceed further :). At the beginning i was thinking why is so high rated, yes they play well, yes is filmed nicely, yes to the environment, yes to the music, but i couldn't get that emotions to keep me engaged. Is a lot of Palace dialogues and plans on revenge from different sides of the story. From ep 12 it started to move a little bit, emotions between Ning and Zhang Zhe won me to continue. I felt that love from both sides, the sadness, the helpless, the powerless, the sacrifice - played beautifully.All story goes well, I can't say that it was something really new, but the way story goes along and how is transmitted from flashbacks and back is executed gorgeously.
The last 10 episodes made me stay hooked wholly. The first kiss is absolutely dashing, ohh boy Xie Wei - this is when i said, is all worth watching it - don't get me wrong i am not a pervert :)), but sometimes in the dramas you need this to won the scene. It was rough, craving, longing for it and i could feel his desperation, the strong desire for love and caring.
Overall is a beautiful masterpiece, absolutely all characters played well, the bad ones, the good ones, the passer by's. I loved the many locations and places they used, the decorations, the nature, this gives richness to the drama. A little bit of abuse of camera to go into eyes and see the others, or the faded colours, it didn't spoil too much, but overly done is not good either.
The only thing i didn't like is the sister story - the prince didn't tell her that she is not the chosen one, yes they show at the end as a happy family, but it got me very frustrated (i know on those time that was something ordinary, but i still don't like it :)).
Enjoy!!!
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An Addictive Historical Drama!
I didn’t expect to enjoy this show as much as I did! I went into it blindly, but I really loved the ride. Normally, I find it hard to finish Chinese historical dramas, but this time, it didn’t bother me at all. There were no cheap plot twists or an overly dragged-out storyline filled with unnecessary filler. In fact, I could’ve watched many more episodes!This is a high-quality drama—there are no awkward cuts or overplayed music. Even though the same songs are used throughout, they are rotated and placed so well that they never feel repetitive or annoying. Everything about the production feels polished and well thought out :)
I highly recommend this drama!
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You must watch this masterpiece!
*Story of Kunning Palace* is a historical Chinese drama that delves into themes of power, ambition, love, and redemption. It centers around Jiang Xuening, a woman who once became the empress but met a tragic fate due to her pursuit of power and the ensuing political schemes in the palace. After her downfall, Jiang Xuening unexpectedly gets a second chance at life, waking up in the past before her ascent to power.With the opportunity to rewrite her destiny, she decides to take a different path to avoid the mistakes that led to her tragic end. However, this is no easy task as she navigates a web of palace intrigue, dangerous political factions, and personal vendettas. In the midst of all this, she forms complex relationships with key figures in the court, including a conflicted romantic dynamic with the male lead.
The drama blends palace politics with personal transformation, as Jiang Xuening evolves from an ambitious, power-hungry woman to someone more introspective and compassionate. The second-chance element adds tension to her every decision, knowing that one wrong move could lead her down the same tragic path. There's also a balance between romance and palace drama, with the love story subtly woven into the larger narrative of survival and redemption.
*Story of Kunning Palace* offers a mix of suspense, emotional depth, and historical intrigue, making it appealing for viewers who enjoy character-driven stories with a strong focus on personal growth within the perilous world of royal courts.
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She doesn't look like someone who had reincarnated.
TL;DRML is toxic, abusive, doesn't take no for an answer and manipulative, things that i personally hate. But amidst all that, what really infuriates me is that she doesn't look like someone who had a second chance when she did everything she could in the first life to become the empress, in this life, she simply became a cornered lady waiting for her savior. She was portrayed as merciless, badass and strong empress then, now, all of sudden, became a puppy in front of ML, it really turns off... to the point i had to drop it.
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Bad camerawork !!! Bad direction !!!
The number of times I had to turn away from the screen because of very bad camerawork , its incredible I completed this drama.I really must award myself for the immense patience ... lolThe premise really intrigued me , a shrewd empress tries to rectify her mistakes in her second chance and this really had potential for a good series ahead - I dont understand who was behind the camera for this whole series - shitty camerawork making all the actors look bad , making the emotional scenes laughable , it was just a visual torture .
Bai lu , Zhang ling he , wang xing yue are decent enough actors to hook me into this series but it was quite a feat to reach the end of the drama .
I really feel bad for zhang ling he especially in this show - he really had the most unflaterring screen presence inspite of being a good looking guy in real life .
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Zhang Linghe's best acting happened in this drama
This drama is one of my fav. Not just because of BaiLu but because of Zhang Linghe's character Xie Wei. That possesive and psychotic behaviour in Xie Wei,god how much I love it. And not to forget,his and BaiLu's kissing scenes..I can say I've never seen such passionate kissing scenes in cdrama. MAN WAS EATING HER. THAT JAW CLENCHING 🤌🏻✨ Even after years I still can't get over of Xie Wei daren. This is ZLH's best character out of all the characters he played so far. 10/10 recommended if you like possesive psycho male leads!!Was this review helpful to you?
Watch, watch, watch...especially if you want a short break from exaggerated xianxia magic!
I am still 'newish' to cdramas so please do forgive me if my review is not as detailed as others, or if I have missed anything about chinese culture and history, I am still learning so I can't add what I don't know yet!If you are looking for 'far from innocent', even doubtful main characters, enjoy period cdramas ( and possibly looking for a break from over the top wuxia and xianxia storylines) then add this to your cdrama binge watch list!
The cinematography, tone and entire vibe of the drama are very mature, and realistic ( no xianxia style magic in sight) which I personally enjoyed for a change, but there are moments when you 'remember' that you are watching fiction - the fake blood used is not the best, very obvious ( more like unedible cherry sauce), whenever the characters display their frustration or anger, I noticed the camera zoomed in on their clenched fists..nearly EVERY time and.......WHY?! It did start to annoy me the more I observed a pattern of that as the plot and characters developed! Even the actor who played one of the 'revealed' villains, Lord Pingnan , had more than a few scenes with exaggerated facial expressions more suited to a pantomime, but he did get better towards the end!
As for the main characters, both the male and female lead are not innocent, but 2 opposing magnets that match each other in manipulation, ruthlessly know one another's flaws and darkest secrets, and there are times where you might find it challenging to 'root for' or really support them as some of their choices and decisions are greyish at best, but equally display a level of shrewdness that even a leading anti-hero may not show!
It would have been really cool to see the 2nd male lead ( a rising military general- like character) and his father have more visibility and screen time in the middle episodes - without spoiling what happens to them, but there are approx. 5 episodes ( can't remember exactly) where they don't appear.....at all! I know why, but I would have liked to see the 2nd male lead get shipped with another female character and what both he and his father do.....with their unfortunate yet temporary fall from grace ( I'll leave it at that!)
I don't know if this was intended but even the name of the palace in the story, Kunning = is very close to the word 'cunning' in English, so maybe that can be a hint to international/ English speaking audiences about the 'cunningness' that is threaded throughout the drama by several characters, and of course, by the main characters!
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Not Just Another Palace Drama—This One Will Wreck You (in the BEST Way)!?❤️
Okay, so I just finished watching Story of Cunning Palace and OMG I am OBSESSED!! Like seriously, this drama took over my whole brain—I can’t stop thinking about it. The story is just SO good, not like the usual time-travel palace stuff we see all the time. In this drama so many things are happening, and you're literally going to be so hooked!!Normally, the female lead goes back to the past n got confused etc, trying to get out like that. But here? The twist is that in her past life, she was actually the villain. Yep—the scheming, power-hungry villain who did all the dirty tricks to become Empress. But when she gets a second chance at life, she decides she doesn’t want to repeat her mistakes. She chooses a different path, and that’s where everything gets sooo interesting. The drama shows that nobody is born a villain—sometimes life just pushes them into that role. I LOVED that message.
The best part for me is how mature the whole drama feels. Like, everyone’s character is so well-written, and they actually trust each other, which is so rare in political dramas. The emotions?? Wow. You can laugh, cry, get mad, feel shy butterflies—literally every emotion is there. And the political side of the drama is done so smartly, it never feels boring.
Like you're going to be- INVESTED!!
Also, can we talk about the Emperor?! Thank God he’s not an idiot like in so many other palace dramas 😂. He’s smart, aware of what’s happening, and no one can easily fool him. I actually really liked his character because he knew exactly what it meant to be Emperor.
Now about the love story… oof, my heart. The female lead didn’t choose the man who loved her the most, and honestly, that was sad because that man was just… perfect. 💌 Like, he REALLY loved her. But instead of turning jealous or petty when she fell for someone else, he just accepted it. He was genuinely happy for her. That level of maturity??? So rare in dramas. I adored his character so much.
The male lead had a tragic past, but after meeting her, he grew into such a strong and inspiring character. His love for her was so deep—he wanted to live for her, but he was also ready to sacrifice himself if needed. The only thing I didn’t like was when he sometimes kissed her forcefully just to show his feelings. That made me uncomfortable. But aside from that, their relationship was full of love, care, and understanding.
In the end, Story of Cunning Palace is not just a drama—it’s an emotional rollercoaster. It has politics, love, heartbreak, maturity, and so much depth. It’s the kind of drama that keeps you hooked like, “Oh my god, what’s going to happen next??” I love ZHANG N BAI LU 😭❤️
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One of the Best Palace dramas
One of the best political Chinese dramas I’ve seen. Very well written and the acting was phenomenal. I enjoyed that the main characters had a dark side and through that darkness they were able to find the good within themselves. The passionate love between the main characters and how it developed was outstanding, they saw each other for who they truly were and loved each other regardless. It was also refreshing to see strong female characters that were mature and not so childish and helpless. I don’t mind seeing a female character start off innocent and then grow into a mature woman but some dramas just portray the female extremely childish til the end. Not the case with this drama, all the females held strong roles with personality.
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Contreversial romance dynamic
fl background wasn't described well enough which made the story fall short especially the zhang zhe arc, however I loved the dynamic between fl and ml , i know its not for everyone but I loved it , I also think if they took more time on the romance development it would've made ml seem less creepy. Fl not acknowledging all that ml did for her was really irritating and I hoped that she would've acknowledged that but the story ended as is , either way I enjoyed the drama but you have to stay strong and endure 1-20 before you see things start to piece togetherWas this review helpful to you?
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Love this drama in so many aspects!!!
This drama touches on a lot of genres and plot types.1. It's a redemption type drama in the re-incarnation do-over so you get some cool prophetic ability in the FL at the beginning and some information asymmetry. And overall feel trying to be better and the question on whether things are pre-destined or changeable.
2. Overall plot is laid out like a revenge drama but interestingly not for the main character (FL) but the secondary character (ML) so it also doesn't start off the show like a regular revenue drama.
* It's a drama with hidden identity which I'm a sucker for. Though in this one, the hidden identity, while obvious, you don't learn of until a few episodes in. But each reveal was still worthwhile and somewhat satisfying. And also very cool that at one point, there was 2 other people with his identity (Dingfei and the Hermit) haha.
- So kind of two stories in one, the FL hiding one thing and then the ML hiding another.
What I loved:
- FL and ML characters that were not fully good people. A lot of dramas now have mains as these idealistic good people that somehow don't get themselves killed or don't behave like real people. But these leads were relatable and have made mistakes, bets and sacrifices.
- The characters were relatively smart and logical, not only the FL and ML, but side characters like the sister Jiang Xuehui, the Emperor, Yan family, other counselors. A lot of other dramas make the side women stupid and the counselors like sheep.
- There was no stupid troupes like masked people that you don't recognize etc.
- The pacing of the story was consistent and made sense, there was no lag in the middle of the story and the ending didn't have a huge rush to get everything crammed together like a lot of the newer shows now. (Though it did spend more time than necessary on the earlier classroom pettiness)
- The ending itself was satisfactory with believable ending to the antagonists, a big show down and not a whole bunch of people dying (though even the one death was kind of unnecessary)
- Interesting love narrative where the FL goes through a journey on who she liked. I've never seen a C-drama where the FL liked someone else first before the ML
- Along those lines, for me specifically, I love an aggressive ML on the romance side so there was some great kissing scenes.
- Less important to me but the OST was great, usually I download one song but this show got me to download 2 which is a lot for me.
- I'm also less of a good judge on this but I thought acting was good. First Bai Lu drama for me and I love her (and her voice). I have seen Zhang Linghe before but I think this was one of the better ones (over Love between Fairy and Devil and Journey to You- probably because Xie Wei was a more complex character)
Other things that were a little odd that gives me questions (but less than other dramas so still a win!):
- FL was resisting ML for awhile before it kind of flipped a little too suddenly with not quite enough inner dialogue to understand why. So that part could be fleshed out a bit more.
- Also FL while great actress was not very believable as an 18 year old. I had to constantly remind myself that she was that age and ML's student. Since it kind of seemed odd when he was ordering her around or when she behaved more childishly.
- FL somehow barely took note of the politics and the intrigue that lead up to the rebellion in the last life and the reason given was that she was too focused on becoming empress. Okay... and somehow she was able to take note of the timing of the silk price increase down to the day and a random well invention?
- ML's disease was a bit weird. Not much context was given for that. And also why there was a wild cat after the massacre 20 years ago? Felt very Nirvana in Fire with the sickly scholar ML.
- Very small detail but where was the princess and second prince 20 years ago at the massacre? I guess they got out of the palace earlier?
- At the end Xie Wei was the Prime Minister but why does it look like they retired in a country home outside of the capital?
But overall amazing mix of revenue/redemption drama with hidden identities!! To me, it's a romantic, lighter and more layered version of Nirvana in Fire.
I also think the English title should be 300 Souls or something. Story of Kunning Palace is very one sided and it makes it sound limited to inside of the palace.
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