Story of Kunning Palace

After scheming her way to becoming Empress, Jiang Xuening is forced to take her own life after a coup staged by the equally scheming Xie Wei and her former childhood friend Yan Lin upends the state of Qian. She awakens to find herself back in time before she entered the palace and is determined to change her fate and the fate of others around her. Little does she know that the seemingly treacherous Xie Wei has a painful past and is much more than he seems.

While the setup is nothing new, the drama manages what I feel is a rarity these days in Chinese drama land - sustaining my rapt attention for the full 38 episodes. The script wisely stays focused on the story and characters - balancing the political storylines with the slow burn romance that is allowed to develop organically, without anyone acting out of character just to create a sense of forced drama or romance. The supporting characters are given time to develop as well and actually add to the overall story. They support our male and female lead in their journey of finding their true selves and each other.

What prevents me from giving this a 10 is the often heavy-handedness of the direction - blinding lighting, distracting camerawork and odd framing of shots give an overall unpolished look. There is a tendency to make things a bit over the top, but these are small quibbles and a matter of taste ultimately. The cast overall do a solid job - I am most impressed with Wang Xing Yue. Despite his young age, he is able to hold his own in a very stoic role.

This is a great one to binge and re-watch. It's not meant to be an artsy, profound expose on life, death, fate vs self determination, etc. It's just great fun to watch.

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There's Just Something Missing.

Let me start off by saying this - this was a DIFFICULT show for me to finish in the beginning. The beginning of this show was incredibly slow. I don't mind the concept of shows setting the stage and foundation for whatever story they're attempting to tell, but I felt like this was one of those shows that would easily lose a potential viewer in the beginning. The only reason I kept going was because I'd been told by several people on various platforms that the set-up for the show makes the rest of it that much more worth it. That's what I was told.

Now, the complaints I have for this show are not with the actors. The actors did .. fine, I guess. They did the best with what they had. We can honestly say that. This show could have been so much BETTER but it wasn't. I'm actually quite disappointed with what this show turned out to be. The premise is intriguing and appealing, but the execution leaves a LOT to be desired. The execution fell flat, and that's my primary takeaway from this show. Months into the future, I'll probably think about how amazing this show truly could have been if given to a set of more competent writers (or directors?) Anyway, this show sounds good on paper but it doesn't deliver on those promises.

Starting off, I love Bai Lu. I love her to pieces and I find that she's quite talented for the most part. Now, I must say that I finished watching Till the End of the Moon prior to watching this show so some of this review mostly comes from my inner comparison of the two shows. Mainly for no other reason but because of the fact that Bai Lu stars in both. Let me start off with one of my biggest pet peeves EVER when it comes to watching dramas - there was a very distinct lack of chemistry between Xue Ning and her love interests. It's the strangest thing because all of her love interests were attractive. Yet, there was a strange lack of sexual tension and chemistry between her and any of them. I don't know how or why they manage to do THAT but it was one of the first things I noticed after I got through the first 10-episode slump. Again, I'm wondering if this is due to the director or something else, because I didn't ship her with anyone. Her first two love interests were decent men for the most part. They weren't downright awful or cruel, but it felt like the writers didn't know what they wanted to do. Meaning - it's almost like they were gearing up for a very specific endgame for Xue Ning and then decided to change their minds in the last 5 episodes of the show. Also, she had amazing chemistry with her girl friends. Xue Ning's relationships with the Princess and Fang Yin were some of my favorites in the entire drama.

People often complained about TTEOTM suffering due to those set of writers not knowing which way they wanted to commit regarding Ye Xiwu/Li Susu's feelings but I felt the same way about this show. I felt like the writers were building the foundation for Xue Ning to end up with Zhang Zhe and then suddenly decided not to follow through. I'm not saying this because I shipped them or anything like that. I'm saying that based on the way Xue Ning acted towards him. There is a very distinct way she looked at him that she never replicated with Xie Wei. Xue Ning looked at Zhang Zhe like he hung the fucking MOON! She had the heart eyes every time she talked to him and it was very very obvious that she liked him. It may not have been obvious to him because he's the duty before honor, hero type so his only purpose is to bring justice to the kingdom and blah blah blah blah. He was gorgeous but his character wasn't interesting enough to be the endgame. If they would have shown him struggling to do the right thing while understanding that following the rules and decrees of an unjust, indecisive leader would have sent everyone straight to hell, then I would have been rooting for him honestly. Xue Ning's interest for him was there. Their interactions were decent too, but his character was too much of a Lawful Good for me to root for him. Rules ensure that order is maintained but some rules need to be broken, and I don't truly believe he ever realized that. At least not by the end of the show, that is.

Someone else said it and I'm inclined to agree, but it appeared as if Xue Ning was simply going through the motions when she got with Xie Wei. It didn't seem as if she even LIKED him. It seemed like she was mostly tolerating and humoring him for some reason? What reason would that be? I don't know, but that's what it felt like. We know he liked her. That was obvious! But I couldn't tell if she liked him or not. She never looked at Xie Wei with the same kind of awe and adoration like she did with Zhang Zhe, which is why I said it seemed as if the writers (or director) didn't know how they wanted to play this. Not to mention the fact that there was truly no real reason for Xue Ning to dump Zhang Zhe in the end. Absolutely none. Also, Yan Lin was a sweetheart but it was never going to be him and that was also obvious. He was a good man who really cared about her, but I knew he wasn't going to be The One. He bowed out gracefully and that just goes to show what kind of a man he was. He loved her but he knew she didn't love him the way he wanted her to; it didn't change how he treated her. He still cared about her. He still protected her. He still wanted her to find happiness, even if it wasn't with him. He's a good man, Savannah!

Now, let's talk about her and Xie Wei. I typically don't like the enemies to lovers trope. I'm usually not a fan of it, but I can be if DONE PROPERLY. That last part is the most important distinction about that statement. The teacher-student thing didn't bother me. The idea that he would be awful and toxic to her also didn't bother me honestly. What DID bother me is the fact that there was no real sexual tension between the two of them. I wouldn't consider a man walking around choking you and telling you at every juncture that you belong to him to be sexual tension. Granted, that could be hot under the right circumstances. However, it wasn't hot in this one. I don't know if it was because the director (or writers) didn't know how to write the receiver of this type of dynamic or not. What I mean is this - in this type of dynamic, the receiver has a very distinct and specific role that would determine how the audience responds to the dynamic as a whole in the long run. Xue Ning never responded to Xie Wei like a woman who was just barely holding on by a thread because she wanted to jump his bones so badly but she couldn't because she's a lady who has to suppress her feelings and maintain her reputation. She didn't respond like that. She responded as if she was being threatened. Her responses came off more like fear rather than suppressed sexual desire. Which didn't make sense due to who she was in her first life. Who she was in her first life would have THRIVED with a man like Xie Wei. The Empress would not have shown fear like that; she would have gave as good as she got and responded by giving this man a run for his money, but that didn't happen either.

Another thing - someone else mentioned that we never saw Xie Wei supplicate himself at Xue Ning's feet, and I think that's another piece of the puzzle that would have changed the finished product of this relationship. I love a man who is possessive and obsessive (in fiction) for the most part, but I still need to see that man's willingness to submit to the woman he claims to be in love with. I don't want this misconstrued. I'm not saying I want him to go through some halfhearted, shoddy redemption arc, but I want him to beg and grovel for her sometimes. Whenever they would argue and he would be in the wrong, we never saw him supplicate himself to her and show her how deep his love is. He never apologized to her for his reactions to her. Yes, he never hid how he felt in front of the world. Yes, he put his life on the line to save her multiple times, but what about the words? We need to see you submit to her in private too. When it's just the two of you, why not? He never established himself as a safe place for her to land, in my opinion.

Sidenote: The one couple I actually found myself interested in was Fang Yin and her husband (whose name I can't remember for some reason). Now, those two had the potential to be great. There was just something about him wanting to lift that weight off of her shoulders and shared the burdens of life with her that I found intriguing. He saw her and he knew that she could have been the love of his life eventually. Yes, he wasn't in love with her initially but he could have been. If the writers had allowed them the opportunity to blossom and thrive, they could have fallen in love with each other and it would have been interesting. I wanted to see where it would go. I wanted to see more of it, but we didn't get that and that's unfortunate.

It bears repeating - this show could have been SO MUCH BETTER. I'm disappointed because it didn't live up to its potential. My expectations were so high based on what I'd read from other people, but I should have lowered them. Will I rewatch this show? Maybe some scenes because there were some scenes I found unintentionally funny, but not a complete rewatch. Would I recommend it though? Ehhh, maybe. It's not downright terrible but it's not as great as people claim it is. It's just okay.

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Immersive Narratives and Flawless Portrayals: 'Story of Kunning Palace' Delivers

What struck me most about the series was the undeniable chemistry between the main leads, creating a captivating dynamic that held my attention from start to finish.

Zhang Ling He's portrayal of Xie Wei was nothing short of phenomenal. His ability to convey the complexity of his character, from childhood trauma to the intricacies of mental health issues, was done with a finesse that left a lasting impression. His eyes, in particular, became a powerful tool in expressing the depths of a man in love. Bai Lu, as the female lead, equally delivered a commendable performance, carrying herself with grace and skill throughout the series.

The storyline itself was a rollercoaster of emotions, with each episode presenting something new and intriguing. I found myself hooked, eagerly anticipating the next twist or revelation. It's rare to come across a show that keeps you engaged at every turn, and "Story of Kunning Palace" achieved just that.While the editing could have been polished in certain scenes, the compelling narrative and stellar performances by the cast overshadowed any minor shortcomings.

The power-packed storytelling and the actors' prowess managed to seamlessly compensate for any editing hiccups, ensuring a consistently enthralling viewing experience.In my opinion, "Story of Kunning Palace" stands out as one of the best dramas of 2023. The recommendation for this series as a must-watch is resounding. The thought of these talented actors gracing the screen together again is enticing, and I can't help but express a desire to see them in a modern drama, exploring a different setting and dynamic.

"Story of Kunning Palace" is a triumph in storytelling, character development, and on-screen chemistry. It has certainly set a high standard for dramas in 2023, leaving viewers like me eagerly anticipating future projects from the brilliant cast and crew.

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Intriguing plot with a mediorce romance

This is one of the few times where i was more invested in the story rather than the romance. I liked jiang xuening, i liked xie wei, as separate characters, not together.
It doesn't help that zhang linghe is just not as good of an actor as bai lu, like he did well mostly but any time the story demanded more emotion he failed to deliver
also this drama was released in 2023, why do we still have the forced kiss trope, it was really horrible to watch. i couldn't believe that ning'er would actually like him either, it felt abrubt and all over the place.
but the actual core story? was pretty interesting
i honestly liked the other mls more too, both zhang zhe and yan lin were pretty great(but also not suitable for ning'er as well, just in a different way)
i was hooked into it at the time but thinking back there were many weird elements

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Been a while since I watched a smart female lead drama like this

This drama was why I renewed my iqiyi premium subscription. My kind of drama, a smart male lead, a smart female lead with a no-nonsense wit that knows how to scheme and give back to bullies. Been on a drama drought for awhile now but this drama gave me back the will to watch a drama. Good casts with good story and beautiful costumes. A very, very satisfied watch for me. If WY from story of yanxi place had a sister andi also considered ML from the story of Ming Lan as well, JN of SOKP would have been her sister although it's a different period and era but it's how I see it especially seeing how smart she is.

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This bustling world is a battlefield!! Suspence, angst, romance, scheme all in one….

This is one of the best Chinese historical drama I’ve ever seen!!! Just right amount of sumspense, perfect angst and like a cherry on top the slow burning deep romance, everything is perfect for me. Though I’m new at writing reviews but I am a veteran drama watcher. I’m watching k-drama and c-dramas for last 9 years. But basically got attracted to historical, political c-dramas just recently. And what a masterpiece it was!!!!! And if I start writing about the amazing casts I will be blabbering whole night! Bai Lu can initiate chemistry even with a block of ice and here she got my personal favorite Zhang Linghe…who is equally good looking and got a talent for acting!!! Surprisingly both the leads don’t come from entertainment background, but they proved that talent can be anywhere. Loved their morally grey character and yes, they may not be best as human beings but they are perfect for each other!! And the character XW, it was really tough to portray this kind of character…he is a double spy!!! And for some reason I really like smart leads in a drama rather than air-headed ones, specially the FLs. So this drama was so in tune with me and I enjoyed every moment. Not a single second I felt that should skip this part. So my advice will be even if anyone feels bored with first few episodes please try to continue. You won’t be disappointed….

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BEST Historical Drama

I started watching C-dramas for the wuxia genre, which is still one of my favorites. Still, I have recently been watching more historical dramas, and this drama, by far, is one of the best historical dramas that need to be on everyone's watchlist, the last historical drama that I really loved and would recommend is "Love Like the Galaxy," but that is now number two on my list. For one, ML and FL are two of my favorite actors, and they portrayed their characters perfectly, the chemistry between them was amazing, I also liked how the ML showed his feelings towards the FL towards the ending spoiler it's intense but amazing. The plot from the beginning to the ending is done amazingly, as well as all the characters in the story their actors portray them to great, making the story more emotional in scenes.

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A dream that felt too real

This drama is definitely not the typical historical Chinese drama you would expect. It is based on the story of a strong female lead who wakes up from a dream that felt too real. In that dream, she was a selfish woman who would do anything and use anyone to achieve her ambitions. However, when she wakes up again, we see her character development as she tries to be a better person and make up all the mistakes she made and all those she hurt in her dream.
I really enjoyed this drama as it was really realistic and relatable, especially the relationship between the characters. I especially loved the chemistry between the main leads Jiang Xue Ning(Bailu) and Xie Wei(Zhang Linhe) and how they went from enemies to cooperating together to save the Yan family and many more. Jiang Xue Ning was the only light in Xie Wei’s dark view of the world and end up being the most important person and support to eachother.

Acting of the main leads were quite good but I felt like the supporting characters could have a bit more and better changes in their expressions to show their character development.
Music was good and I loved all the songs, Bailu actually sang one of them aswell!

The biggest flaw in this drama for me would be the pacing throughout the episodes. I just felt like the ending felt way too rushed, especially after seeing and getting used to the slow moving plot (up to around ep 33). The female lead only seemed to truly understand the male lead in the last 5 episodes and his intentions behind his decision and only then did she confirm her feelings for Xie Wei (with only 5 episodes to go). I felt like it could’ve been better paced to make the episodes flow more consistently and make it comfortable to watch.

Overall, it was a very unique drama and enjoyable to watch. Recommended.

Ps. This is my first review hahaha

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Bailu and her male entourage

Very much enjoyed this drama!!
Story: the trope of going back in time but I still love it lol. Will give 9.5 since it's overused.

Acting: bravo everyone. I liked all three stories with the male leads. I just give 9.5 because everyone could have improvements. Love BL but felt ZLH a bit awkward sometimes. Maybe the camerawork?

Chemistry: Lulu has chemistry with everyone be it males or females. Just love how she gets along with everyone!!

Rewatch: this one I would rewatch for sure.

Music: zhou sheng and Lulu's songs were awesome!! I still listen to them.

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A "Dream" Not for the Faint Hearted

As a novel fan anticipating this drama, and waiting out those extra months for SoKP to air, I was worried at various points that this adaptation won't meet viewers' expectations. And whilst I felt that it started a tad slow, the momentum picked up and soon turned into a wild rollercoaster ride.

This isn't your typical palace love story. Therefore, you need to be ready for the heart-tugging tears, the constant bloodshed and the playing of your emotions as if you were a Chinese zither in Xie Wei's hands. Add in political palace intrigues and you have a story that keeps you wanting to watch on.

The storyline was always going to be solid. What took it to another level was the cast and their perfect articulation of their characters. Zhang Linghe's Xie Wei is a dark character that screams red flags, but you can't help rooting for him and Bai Lu's Jiang Xuening. They share so much in common and in essence, need each other to heal, to complete each other's lives.

A special mention needs to go to Wang Xinyue's Zhang Zhe. For the first half of the show, I wished that it would be a happy ending for him with JXN, all the whilst knowing it wouldn't be. I am hoping for a third collaboration between him and BL, where he finally gets the girl!

And most importantly, after so many c-drama's awful endings, SoKP gives us the perfect wrap-up. XW and his interactions with his children are one of the cutest scenes in C-drama history.

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absolute ROLLERCOASTER of emotions. love it

Such such a good show i'm actually so sad it's finished I wished I could've seen more of Ning Er and Xie Wei together. Absolutely AMAZING acting, I'm not even gonna lie originally I thought Zhang Linghe was justt a hottie and not all that skilled in acting but...boyyy am I SO wrong. Bro is TALENTED and he can seriously act. Zhang Linghe portrayed xie wei so amazing literally every emotion was conveyed so brilliantly through his eyes.....and lowkkk I love it when he has the crazy eyes 🤭. Bai lu never fails like u know girl will always come in clutch w her acting that's without a doubt. And the chemistry OMG, main leads chemistry is actually insane this shi needs to be studied. anywayy Side characters all did amazing too and the villains... well they sure are good at being villainy I'll say.
ANYWAYSS, highly recommend a watch do NOT miss out on this top TOP notch drama soo good I promise u will love, however get some tissues ready bc this is a rollercoaster, but a brilliant and thrilling rollercoaster.

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