The Legend of Rosy Clouds

When a Stellar Cast Can't Save a Sinking Script

There’s a particular kind of grief reserved for a drama that had absolutely everything going for it and still managed to crumble into something nearly unwatchable. That’s the bitter taste "The Legend of Rosy Clouds" left behind, a lingering frustration that has nothing to do with a lack of talent or resources and everything to do with a story that seemed determined to sabotage itself at every turn. After years of waiting and a cast that promised sparkle and depth, I sat through all thirty-six episodes hoping for a turnaround that never came. The rating I’d give it now is a reluctant foive out of ten, and even that feels generous once you’ve catalogued all the ways it went wrong.

Let’s start with the tragedy of the casting, because that’s where the disappointment cuts deepest. These actors were visually arresting, charismatic, and fully capable of greatness, but they were handed material that kept yanking the rug out from under them. Yi Tong’s Fan Yun was introduced as a noblewoman thrust into a political marriage who would supposedly blossom into a sharp, capable official. Instead, the writing made her a contradiction in human form. One moment she was clever enough to see straight through her husband’s disguise and manipulate cunning merchants; the next she was stumbling into traps so obvious you wanted to reach through the screen and shake her. Her growth into a gate commander felt like a checkbox the plot ticked rather than a journey she actually undertook, and the romance at the center of it all was built on a shaky foundation of lies and manipulation that never evolved into the genuine partnership the story kept insisting it was.

Zeng Shunxi fared no better as Qi Zheng, the supposedly brilliant governor pretending to be a frivolous playboy. I’ve seen what he can do with the right script, and that knowledge made watching him here a mournful experience. His intelligence was told to us far more often than it was shown; the political manoeuvring came off less as strategic genius and more as the writers conveniently opening doors for him. The flatness wasn’t his failing; it was a failure of direction and a script that asked him to play the same few notes on a loop. When you compare this performance to his recent work, it’s like watching a gifted musician handed an instrument that’s out of tune.

And then there’s Deng Wei’s Zheng Shi, the second male lead whose arc I will carry with me as a cautionary tale about how to destroy a promising character. In a proper love triangle, you should feel torn, aching over two equally compelling choices. What we got instead was a slow-motion transformation into an obsessive, emotionally unhinged figure who progressed from charming suitor to manipulative “nice guy” to someone who literally tried to force marriage at swordpoint. He became the shadow master of a terrorist group, deceived his own family for power, and still the drama wanted us to find his final sacrifice tragic. By the time he refused the antidote and slipped away, I felt only relief. Not because the performance was bad—Deng Wei did what he could—but because the character had become a psychological horror subplot wearing the mask of a romantic rival.

The production itself seemed to be fighting its own battle behind the scenes. For a drama that spent three years in limbo between filming and release, the post-production cracks were glaring. Scenes were snipped mid-breath, transitions jarred, and the visual quality lurched from episode to episode as if different teams had worked on them without speaking. There were moments of genuine beauty, of course: the phoenix flowers blazing against a twilight sky, snow dusting the rooftops, costumes that deserved their own applause. But they were islands in a sea of inconsistency. The action choreography often felt weightless, lighting could change within a single conversation, and far too many sequences carried the cramped, hurried energy of a low-budget web drama rather than a full-length historical production. The comedy bits, especially the governor’s antics, belonged in a sketch show and clashed violently with the serious political undertones, creating a tonal whiplash that made it impossible to settle into either mood.

And the plot. The plot deserves its own elegy, because I have rarely seen a story so committed to shooting itself in the foot. The early episodes had a spark—Fan Yun seeing through Qi Zheng’s disguise right away, a poisoning attempt that seemed to promise intrigue—but soon the narrative started piling absurdity upon absurdity. There was the baffling subplot where the couple faked a divorce by pretending Qi Zheng suffered from erectile dysfunction, a creative choice so bewildering it felt like a dare. A simple piece of cloth somehow became an infallible disguise that fooled entire armies, the drama’s own version of Superman’s glasses. And then, gloriously, infamously, the dreaded Crow Army that had been built up as an unstoppable force was defeated with fireworks. Birds. Fireworks. All that tension dissolved into a puff of colored smoke.

Character motivations shifted like sand. Problems were solved through coincidence or a single miraculous discovery, the plague in Tong City being the prime example—a devastating pandemic that evaporated with one herbal remedy. The central relationship cycled through “we trust each other” and “we don’t trust each other” so many times that I lost count, and the political reform storyline, which had genuine conceptual merit, crawled along only to be wrapped up in a rush that made the entire arc feel weightless. The symbolism of the sweet dew tea was hauled out for love declarations, poison antidotes, and marriage rituals alike until it meant nothing at all. The show tried so desperately to make us cry over deaths and sacrifices, but you cannot mourn a character whose soul the script already hollowed out.

In all this wreckage, there was exactly one thing that kept me watching, and it was the second lead couple. Gao Ran and Wei Shisan had a quiet, unforced chemistry that made every shared glance feel like a secret. Their dynamic was built on earned intimacy, a slow-burn understanding that the main romance never managed to replicate. When they worked together, the air shifted, and I found myself resenting every cut back to the central pair. Their subplot wasn’t just a consolation prize; it was the proof that this drama knew how to write a compelling connection and simply chose not to give that gift to the leads. Giving them more screen time or a spin-off wouldn’t just be a treat—it would be a quiet act of justice.

What makes the whole experience so haunting is how clearly you can see the shape of the masterpiece that might have been. The cast, the visual ambition, the kernel of a story about class mobility and women stepping into governance—all the ingredients were measured and waiting. But the execution was a cascade of wrong turns. A love triangle with real stakes, where the second lead was genuinely good and the choice genuinely painful, would have anchored the emotional core. Smarter political manoeuvring that let the characters earn their victories would have given the reform plotline the gravity it aimed for. Consistent characterisation and a steady hand on the tonal rudder would have turned chaos into purpose.

As it stands, the recommendation is narrow. If you are a diehard fan of the cast, you might find enough flickers of their talent to keep you going, though frustration will be your constant companion. If you are someone who finds grim pleasure in watching a beautiful disaster unfold, there is material here in abundance. And if you care only about a side couple and can fast-forward through the rest, you will find a diamond in the rubble. But for anyone seeking a satisfying romance, a coherent political drama, or simply a story that follows its own internal logic, this is a warning, not an invitation.

The final image I’ll hold isn’t of the Phoenix Tree or the snow-dusted farewell, but of a production that had the wind at its back and still steered straight into the rocks. Fan Yun and Qi Zheng should have been a couple to root for; instead, they exhausted me. Zheng Shi started as someone I might have loved and ended as a cautionary tale about what happens when writers mistake obsession for passion. And Gao Ran and Wei Shisan, the true emotional centre, were sidelined in their own show. Five out of ten feels right, a score for the ghost of something wonderful that never quite materialised. What a waste, truly.

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Light-hearted Drama with a Stellar Cast and Lots of Fun (and Some Frustrating) Moments

Let me start by giving an old production warning since it’s something to keep in mind when watching this drama. The Legend of Rosy Clouds was filmed back in 2023 and suffered from censorship and copyright issues which means it has some questionable editing, random scene cuts and incoherent storytelling, especially in the initial episodes. To top it all, this drama is fairly low budget so you can expect some mediocre action scenes, beautiful but repetitive costumes and generally, a pretty outdated production quality.

Another problem is the plot. While the underlying story had potential, the drama failed to execute it properly. The plot lacked depth and proper build up, so events just appeared to happen out of nowhere. Some abrupt scene cuts meant you had to pretty much guess what happened and stitch the story yourself to make it make sense. The story also had a Wuxia/Fantasy backdrop which wasn't set up at all and made certain fantasy elements sorely stick out, unable to be integrated into the story.

So, if you are a fan of the original work or just a lover of the current high-budget costume dramas with strong plot and cohesive storytelling, it is best to approach this drama with some caution.

Then what’s good about this drama? I’d say the humour. Personally, the comedy is the biggest strength of this drama which makes it really engaging and fun to watch. At times, the humour is subtle, at times it's loud but it’s thoroughly entertaining and never failed to make me laugh. Most of the characters are also interesting (even if rather underdeveloped) and have really fun dynamics which don't feel forced and are naturally funny thanks to the strong acting by the entire cast.

Which brings us to the strongest attraction of this drama — its stellar cast. Joseph Zeng, Li Yitong, Deng Wei, Riley Wang, Dai Luwa, Tian Jiarui and Cheng Hongxin in one drama, need I say more? As this drama was filmed before most of them had their breakthrough, it’s filled with some big names in supporting roles, so rest assured the acting is in good hands.

I loved Joseph as our male lead, Qi Zheng. He is goofy, expressive and fun but also clever and clear-headed when the situation calls for it. He is sincere in his actions and has such a fun dynamic with literally every single character. I only wish they had toned down his jealously a bit which came off as a little too much at times. While it’s my first time seeing Li Yitong, I liked her as the kind and decisive Fan Yun who stepped up for everyone. She’s smart and rational with big dreams and very little interest in romance. It takes some time for the drama to properly establish the tone of her character, but I think it does somewhat get there eventually.

The romance is there but it’s not the central focus of the story. The love triangle is also there but again, not the focus. And I personally found the main couple cute and didn’t care much for the second male lead. Just watch it for Deng Wei’s duality and pretty visuals, and Zheng Shi's relationship with his grandfather which ended up being unexpectedly heartfelt.

The second couple on the other hand was a total scene stealer. Gao Ran and Wei Shisan were a refreshing contrast to the main couple, and their romance was really cute and wholesome. Riley and Dai Luwa were amazing together and have such great chemistry that I definitely need them as leads in another drama.

Tian Jiarui and Cheng Hongxin as a duo or with Joseph as a trio is literally my most favourite part of this drama. I’m admittedly biased but they lit up every scene they were in. I really enjoyed their interactions and loved every second they were on my screen.

In fact, this is one of those dramas where I was more invested in the fillers than the actual plot because it's that fun. So, if you have a cast member anchoring you to the story, it's definitely worth trying because the character dynamics, especially the side characters are really good and enjoyable. If you don’t but are in a mood for something light and fun, it’s might still worth trying to see if you can overlook the imperfections.

Overall, The Legend of Rosy Clouds is pretty flawed. On a normal day, I would not go around recommending this drama to anyone. But I do not regret watching it myself. As fan of the cast, I'm honestly just glad that this drama was finally released and generally enjoyed my time watching this thanks to all the fun moments. If you can survive the flaws, this drama is still visually pretty with some really nice osts, great acting and exceptionally good comedy.

So, if you are willing to give it some grace, you might actually be able to enjoy it too. Just keep your expectations low, don't think too deeply and simply go with the flow.

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Give Us Back the Real Saiunkoku Monogatari

Disclaimer: This review only covers the first 31 episodes as I have no inclination to proceed further + I'm not so patient to wait for the express package to come by in pirating sites.

Back in 2023, I was so exhilarated that Saiunkoku Monogatari would get a live-action adaptation into a C-drama. The synopsis was pretty convincing for me to dive in, plus we were served an assemble of eye-candy actors who could act well. Also a huge bonus for Tian Jiarui's fans because this was the first time he broke through Guo Jingming's shackles and became independent of himself. Nevertheless, this drama faced a huge setback as it was shelved for almost 3 years and served its sentence in iQIYI's dungeon. The reason of the shelving was due to copyright issue against its original author, Yukino Sai. After negotiating back and forth, she finally agreed to its broadcasting and the production team began preparing materials for its upcoming release. However, numerous high-quality dramas keep coming by, and they have to wait for a little while until there's an empty airing slot. And that's how "The Legend of Rosy Clouds" finally airs. Basically, I really hate their new names after the copyright issue because they just sound so fucking cringey to me (I'm going to use their real names here, so please don't get dizzy about who's who).

The story is actually set in a fictional country named Nine Clouds Country, but they decide to change the country into a mere city, and emperor becomes city governor. The protagonists of the story are Fan Yun (Kou Shuurei), a determined and resilient girl from a middle-class family who wants to change her fate through education so that she can help other people in need and restore the rundown Kou Mansion (besides, she also has her clumsy father Kou Shouka (working in the imperial archive's library) and adoptive brother Gao Ran (Shi Seiran) (taken in by Shuurei's parents during his youth and grows protective of Shuurei) to feed) (Shuurei is supposed to take the selection exam and clinches the third position, but the drama makes her into a special probationary official through Ryuuki's implore after she is forbidden to take the exam, which is a heavy disregard against the OG source), and Qi Zheng (Shi Ryuuki), the city governor/emperor (if you prefer it) who has been idling away and living a frivolous life as a guise of his true nature as a lot of officials are coveting his position. The two meet under an unfavorable circumstance where one of the officials/prime ministers (if you prefer it again) makes an offer to the Kou family to let her enter the harem/residence and become Ryuuki's wife in order to help him put things right. Due to the tempting reward, Shuurei can't resist to decline and soon has to put up with Ryuuki's antics as he keeps troubling her to make her go away. However, not only does his method fruitless, but Shuurei also grows more curious of Ryuuki's true self and begins to understand his troubled past behind his carefree persona.

Other characters are:
1. Gao Ran (Shi Seiran), the elder brother of Ryuuki who was exiled back in their teenage years. Seiran was supposed to have died during his journey, but a gang of bandits took him away and taught him some martial art skills. Seiran was nicknamed "Little Whirlwind" back then and befriended Ro Ensei (have been omitted from the drama). Seiran later was adopted by Shuurei's parents and he becomes the affectionate caring brother who loves to dote on Shuurei. Shuurei's parents literally know about Seiran's background, but decide not to pursue it as it may be bring back the unpleasant experiences that Seiran once faced. Seiran isn't supposed to be the second couple with Wei Shisan (Ran Juusan), but the screenwriter felt that both of them are compatible of each other. With Juusan around, Seiran lets down his guard and becomes less stoic as Juusan believes that Seiran also deserves love from other people.

2. Wei Shisan (Ran Juusan), the spoiled yet rebellious daughter of the Ran Family. In the OG source, Juusan is to be paired with other man, but thank goodness she is paired with Seiran here. Juusan is supposed to marry Ryuuki as his concubine, but she falls head over heels instead towards Seiran. Soon, she's going to chase Seiran all over the place even if he acts unbothered and wants to push her away. Juusan is also a loyal and sincere person.

3. Wei Ying (Ran Shuuei), the fourth son of the Ran Family. As one of Ryuuki's most trusted right-hand man, Shuuei is a serious and responsible person when it comes to official business. However, Shuuei is also a womanizer and has a tendency of visiting brothels, much to Kouyuu's displeasure. He has a bad time of disciplining Juusan and Ryuuren too.

4. Yan Jiang (Li Kouyuu), the adopted son of Kou Reishin (Shuurei's uncle) and one of the most remarkable scholars in his era. Reishin took him in after learning that his brother had adopted Seiran, so he wanted to taste what it felt like to have a son. So, Kouyuu was taken in to Reishin's residence and grew up guarded against his adoptive father. Kouyuu also develops a bad sense of direction (presumably because of Lady Yuri's (Shuurei's aunt) tendency to change the residence's formation so that Kouyuu couldn't escape easily). Kouyuu has a bad temper as well, and may blatantly lie to others who remind him of the real direction. However, Kouyuu's background in the drama isn't clearly explained and even his tendency to lose direction is omitted as well.

5. Wei Rong (Ran Ryuuren), the fifth son of the Ran Family. As the most eccentric person in the whole family, nobody can stop Ryuuren's wacky antics and most of them let him have his way. Ryuuren is a prodigy as well, securing the second place in the selection exam to become an official, but doesn't seem to be bothered to attend morning courts (by feigning illness of course). Ryuuren wears an assortment of weird clothing and always takes his flute with him, playing whenever he has the mood. Alas, a lot of people are troubled by this flute the most.

6. Jian Xing (To Eigetsu), a commoner academician and the rakes up the first place of the selection exam. Eigetsu is a kind-hearted and caring person who always supports Shuurei unconditionally as both of them are bullied by other officials. Eigetsu has an alter ego named Yogetsu, who only appears if Eigetsu gets drunk. In the drama, the screenwriter had altered Eigetsu's backstory, to the point of inventing a "nonexistent" cultist sister - as far as I remember, the OG source never mentions any family member related to him (Yong City is not Sa Province, but merely a plot device meant for Eigetsu's growth - as far as I know, the novel never mentions Eigetsu's hometown nor a devastating plague).

7. Su Yin (Kourin), Shuurei's former maid who secretly works for Sakujun's grandpa. Despite her initially ill intentions, Shuurei still forgives her and even lets her go to Sa Province as well. Kourin's love interest is Eigetsu.

8. Zheng Shi/Lou Qiyan (Sa Sakujun), the cunning second young master of the Sa Family. In order to get Deng Wei more screentime, the screenwriter had turned the tables to Sakujun's character. I literally skip all his scenes in the drama, but from what I know, he's obsessively in love with Shuurei and is willing to ride or die for her. Sakujun is a grey character - you can't say he's good, but you can't consider him as evil either. Sakujun is also flirty and his attractiveness has attracted dozens of girls in the Sa Province as well. He only appears when Shuurei and Eigetsu are sent as the joint governor of the province, while in here, Sakujun has appeared from the get go (ep 1). Sakujun also has an avaricious grandpa who stages the most uneventful coup d'état ever happened in the C-drama world. It stretches over several episodes and makes the drama more underbaked, but seriously a frail sickly old grandpa even wants to overthrow the current governor? After the death of grandpa, Sakujun resorts to take up the mantle of Sa Family's leader despite facing insurmountable pressure from other family members who don't approve of him. As the drama nearly comes to an end, they abruptly travel to Sa Province (Jing City) where the Sa Family holds absolute control of it. In order to quell the hidden threat posed by some of the sinister family members, Shuurei and Eigetsu are dispatched to Sa Province as joint-governors, with Seiran and Sakujun escorting them. Come to think of it, I'm not sure how many details the screenwriter is going to cram in this arc, since traveling to Sa Province is partially the second season of Saiunkoku Monogatari. Grandpa also manages to expose Sakujun's second identity as the bearded businessman (I must say grandpa has a pair of keen eyes, even with the moustache stuck on his jawline, grandpa can identify him as his grandson).

In the original story, Saiunkoku Monogatari promises a rich character building, poignant tale of love and duty (Shuurei and Ryuuki's chemistry can be the evidence for that), and the hilarious banters and comedic relief provided by several funny characters, especially Shuuei, Kouyuu, and Ro Ensei (I'm really pissed off of why they omit his character - he has so much history with Seiran in the bandit gang before). However, "The Legend of the Rosy Clouds" provides none of those qualities, and instead transforms a wonderful masterpiece into a trashy garbage that deserves to stay in iQIYI's dungeon as long as possible. If it hadn't been for the second couple and Shuuei-Kouyuu's pair, I would've dropped this long ago from ep 1. I don't really care about Sakujun and his scheming grandpa, I don't even want to see the superficial romance between Fan Yun and Qi Zheng - and she's caught up in a dilemma between love and duty that she can't even reciprocate Qi Zheng's sincere feelings for her. The final straw comes in the form of a severe plague disseminating the entire Yong City aka Sa Province - which I believe never occur in the OG source. What is more incredulous is the Spirit Immortal Cult that appears out of thin air. The whole arc is so badly done that I skip almost all of their scenes except the fighting ones. Not to mention the fake stones and boulders which make it obvious that they're shooting in a little set inside a studio. As the drama unfolds, Seiran-Juusan and Shuuei-Kouyuu pairs get literally minimal screentime, especially during the coup arc. More scenes are dedicated for Shuurei-Ryuuki-Sakujun love triangle trope, which is getting more and more tedious as it goes.

Now, to the acting. I've mixed opinion about Li Yitong's performance in this drama. Firstly, the atrocious dubbing makes her sound like a spoiled little girl. Secondly, she's trying her best to act over-the-top and perform several slapstick comedy scenes, all of which fail horribly. Thirdly, the screenwriter had made her character to be a damsel-in-distress as she needs constant rescuing from both male leads. Joseph Zeng is so-so, if you ask me - I've never been fond of him since "Mysterious Lotus Casebook" and now he's been in a hit-or-miss list for me. But, he does manage to convey the emotional impact of Qi Zheng, which shows how much devoted he is to Fan Yun even when she's in an uncertainty. But then, Qi Zheng grows into a ten-year-old kids begging for candies since he always implores Fan Yun to stay by his side and gets super duper jealous whenever Zheng Shi or Gao Ran speak affectionately of her. You're already a governor bro, so please do know your boundary - you can still have her in your free time. Deng Wei is also so-so to me - come to think of it, I don't see a point of him ruining the city for the sake of business or to make Qi Zheng furious - and I don't like his scholarly vibe as Zheng Shi too. Meanwhile, kudos to Riley Wang and Dai Luwa for being the MVP couple in this drama - their hot-and-cold personality complements each other and I like the way Shisan tries to remind Gao Ran that he can love and be loved too. Their push-and-pull relationship is fun to watch, even when Shisan is on the stalker mode. Special mention to Cheng Hongxin and Tian Jiarui for creating such a strong brotherhood too - if it hadn't been for them, God knows what would happen to this drama. Jerome Deng has less scenes, but he absolutely nails Wei Rong's enigmatic style and even his meh expression is superb to me. For Jian Yuxi (portrays Tian Xing/Tian Yue) and Fan Jingwen (portrays Su Yin), I should say their acting is better than my expectation, given that they play teenage characters. For those old men or grandpa sticking out their noses on others' business, I don't care what you wanna do, your lives is yours to control, thank you.

OSTs are meh as well despite inviting Zhou Shen, Liu Yuning, Huang Xiaoyun, Zhang Zining, Tian Jiarui, and Deng Dian. The costumes look drop-dead gorgeous despite being limited in numbers. Sets are limited as well, with the desert being the fakest of all.

Overall, don't touch this drama unless you want to suffer like me. I'm really fucking disappointed in "The Legend of Rosy Clouds" and hope that more OG sources can get the justice they deserve in the future. Thank you for listening to my yapping again (I'll continue yapping in "The Eternal Fragrance" if I may). Good luck and happy watching!!!

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A Brilliant Cast Trapped in a Messy Plot

The Legend of Rosy Clouds is one of those dramas that had so much potential but got held back by its own storytelling.

- Production & Technical Vibes
This drama seems to have had a complicated production history. It was reportedly filmed back in 2023 and then delayed for quite a while, with a lot of discussion around production issues and possible adaptation-rights problems. I am not saying that as a confirmed fact, but honestly… you can feel that something happened behind the scenes. The editing is rough, some scene transitions are very abrupt, and especially in the first episodes, the story can feel strangely stitched together. Add the fairly modest budget on top of that, and you also get action scenes that are not very impressive, some repetitive costume styling, and an overall production quality that can feel a bit dated at times. I also read that it was originally 56 episodes, so if that’s true, around 20 episodes were cut.

- The Talent vs. The Story
Underneath all the technical flaws, there is something genuinely enjoyable here. The cast is incredible—Yi Tong, Joseph, Dai Lu Wa, Tian Jia Rui, Riley Wang, and the familiar face we all missed, Deng Wei.
It might feel strange to see such prominent actors/actresess in supporting roles, but keep in mind that they hadn’t yet reached their current level of stardom in 2023. Regardless, you can rest assured that the acting is top-notch—this is truly a powerhouse cast that won’t let you down.

However, it’s frustrating to see such talent buried under a messy plot. No matter how strong the performances are, the awkward cuts and constant jumping between scenes ruin the emotional flow and take away the impact of the beautiful cinematography. In the first 10 episodes, it’s honestly hard to even understand what’s happening, which is likely why many viewers (and the rating) dropped off.

- The Characters & Romance
Rather than focusing on romance or a love triangle, the core of this drama is the FL’s struggle to establish herself in a male-dominated world and secure an official rank to serve her people.

*The Male Lead: I truly loved his simplicity and the sincerity of his love. His pure devotion—caring for the FL without expecting anything in return—really stood out to me.
*The Female Lead: She was a bit frustrating in the romance. For about 31 episodes, she seemed so confused, treating the ML as if he had no special place in her heart. But, I have to admit, her determination and hard work were truly admirable.
*The Second Male Lead: I’m not a fan of love triangles, but Deng Wei did a fantastic job with his role.
*The Second Couple: They were honestly one of the most interesting parts of the drama. Wei Shi San is completely and wholeheartedly in love with Gao Ran, while Gao Ran clearly doesn’t know how to express love, yet it’s obvious he is captivated by Shi San’s beauty. Unlike the FL, who disappointed me in the romantic aspect, Gao Ran did not.
Little by little, the way he looks at Shi San starts to feel special. Just that look of his, with a slight frown between his brows (especially in episodes 21 and 22), makes it seem like he’s truly paying attention to her. My heart melted for them.
Honestly, you could make an entire mini‑drama just from their scenes together

- Final Thoughts
Overall, don’t go into this drama expecting a masterpiece or your number one favorite. Just watch it with an open mind and focus more on its humor and romance. Yes, it has many flaws, and yes, it could have been much better, but it is definitely not terrible. It simply suffered from issues that made it feel more incomplete than it should have been.

As for the ending, everything was wrapped up so suddenly, and the dialogues felt a bit too short and blunt. Even at the very last moment, I’m losing my mind over these cuts. Ending the last scene abruptly in the middle of the OST’s climax? lol Such amateur editing, the editor was clearly just checked out. So don’t expect too much from the story — it’s not even worth rewatching. Maybe only the first and second couples’ romance, or some of the comedy (the humor is actually quite good), is worth rewatching; otherwise, it really has no value.

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2ML - The Most Intriguing Character

The Legend of Rosy Clouds is a pretty weird watch. Parts of it are honestly super boring, but the humor is quite good that it kept me hooked. I think the drama has a low rating because it starts with a trope that a lot of romance fans aren't crazy about: an immediate divorce and a messy love triangle. The main couple gets married right in the first episode, but they split up almost immediately, even though they still care about each other.

The reason? The female lead, Fan Yun (played by Li Yi Tong), doesn’t want to be a traditional housewife. Her dream is to become a government official. Her husband, Governor Qi Zheng (played by Joseph Zeng), sees her potential, grants her the divorce, and actually helps her chase her dreams. He is totally devoted to her, but unfortunately, she just doesn't feel the same way. Then we have a second guy who also adores Fan Yun. He will do absolutely anything to protect her, in his weird way, even though Qi Zheng usually beats him to it.

At its heart, this is a story about a woman fighting for equal rights so that everyday people and women can work in the government. It feels really modern, and it definitely reminded me of the real world, where older men still hold all the power.

The show takes way too long to get going. The first 20 episodes are a slow burn just setting up Fan Yun’s character, her goals, and her relationships with the two guys. Because it takes so long to build up, the first half of the drama feels like a drag. If it weren't for the funny moments, I might have dropped it.

Things finally pick up after Episode 20, but the writing is still all over the place. For example, a massive rebellion randomly happens out of nowhere. There is no buildup and no introduction to the rebels; they just suddenly appear. It felt like lazy writing just to force a plot twist. The villains are confusing too. One of the powerful "Elders" starts off looking like the big bad guy, but by the end, the show tries to make him a hero. It’s fine to keep the audience guessing, but it doesn't work when the character is just unlikable. To top it off, a whole new family (the Zheng family) pops up in the final episodes. Most of them are totally flat characters, yet they suddenly become a huge part of how the story ends, making the finale feel messy.

The best part of the show is how weird and quirky the characters are, though the writers didn't really do much with them.

There is a guy who constantly gets lost, but somehow he is a top official. There is a guy who plays a flute that everyone hates; he wins second place in the court exam and then just vanishes from the show for no reason. Then there's a boy medical genius who wins first place in the court exam and turns into a master martial artist whenever he drinks alcohol. He was cool, but his character development just stops, and he becomes background decoration. There is even a masked official who wears super bright, colorful outfits but never takes off his mask or contributes much after his introduction. They are all fascinating concepts, but they end up being pretty one-dimensional.

On the bright side, Joseph Zeng does a great job as Qi Zheng. The character isn't written very well, but Joseph’s acting and his big, expressive eyes completely save the character. I also really liked Deng Wei’s character, Zheng Shi (who goes by Lou Qi Yan when pretending to be a foreign trader). He leads a double life, defying his grandfather's wishes to become a top official so he can live a free life as a merchant instead. He’s a morally grey character, and Deng Wei totally aced the role.

For me, the sweetest part of the whole show was the relationship between Zheng Shi and his grandfather. It was so heartwarming. Honestly, I gave the drama a higher rating just because of them. It really hits home because anyone who has lost a parent or grandparent knows that feeling of regret for not listening to them while they were here.

Because I loved that relationship so much, I am disappointed about how the writers ruined Zheng Shi's ending. He was such a cool, complex character who started as a villain (kind of) but became a trusted friend to Fan Yun. But in the end, the writers turned his love into a toxic obsession. It totally ruined his image and ruined what could have been a really tragic, beautiful love triangle.

My Final Verdict
The Legend of Rosy Clouds has major pacing issues and sloppy writing. It spends way too much time spinning its wheels on character introductions and side characters that don't matter. But even with all the plot holes and frustrating choices, the comedy and the occasional emotional moments make it a decent watch. Watch it when nothing else to watch.

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Could be better!

I have to admit this drama had been on my list for years because of Deng Wei. But I also like the whole casts in general, and seeing them altogether is such a pleasure. I'm super happy to watch this one after it was shelved for three long years. Even after watching and I do have disappointments, I am grateful that we are able to watch it finally. And I am now relieved it is over. I will still recommend it to those who like the cast, not mind old school feel unserious drama.
The good thing is that I do like Deng Wei's character Zheng Shi&Lou Qi Yan a lot. It is just precious to see Deng Wei in this vibe, the cunning man who is morally gray although he had people he genuinely care that is his grandfather and Fan Yun. Moreover, him being a merchant is a bonus charisma. I am really glad to him together act with venteran actor who played his grandfather. Their scenes are my favorite in this drama, although they are brief the emotions were played out so well that made me impressed. (as well as the whole Zheng clan in Jing City arc in few last episodes is the most enjoyable for me), And maybe because I am a little bias, I am actually a little sad that he was loser in love here. Besides I also wished to be more convinced why he fell in love with her aside from he was fond of her playing erhu. And oh that ending tragedy of his doesn't make sense and after all this is a lighter tone drama, they should not cut the ending scene of him coming back at all. This is one of main reasons why I cut score from my rating.
(I'd love to see Deng Wei take more more projects as ML in upcoming days).
P.S I am very delighted with Liu Yuning song being played at his last scene. This song is truely for Zheng Shi.

I just finished Mysterious Lotus Case book not so long ago, and generally very fond of Joseph Zeng there. I like his acting in general. But I will blame the character writing here. That is absolutely feel like something is lacking. Joseph could bring out Qi Zheng, the character to a fun young emperor who looks idiot but is actually smart. I actually do appreciate on Fan Yun(female lead) and inspired to do as her. However the drama fail to convince me about his wholly being smart with him folllwing and stalking female lead to a ton. (I don't mind this in some other dramas but in this one it is unnecessary and feels more annoying than touching.) Moreover, they also make him jealous in such petty way throughout to the ending episode that didn't even stop when the other person was dead alread. And yeo the likely promisng of his back story seems cut outecd. This is another main reason I do cut some scores.

As for Fan Yun, I have less connection with her. I should be cheering her in her journey to being female official, that brings equality to woman in Rosy Cloud. I couldn't go in details for now why I think I am doubtful of sometimes as a smart woman. Besides while she thought about reforming on people and gender equality, why couldn't she open up her heart to someone who support her. And she looked so " icy cold" towards romance that it is so difficult cheer the main couple in the series or let say I do not see development as much as I want to see. And this is another one of three main reasons why I cut some scores out. Li Yitong is beautiful and cute, especially in A Dream Within A Dream back then. If her upcoming dramas are interesting I would like to try too.

All in all the main plotline is actually strong, the drama tells it in an a little unengaging way with choppy editing and some plot random plot that got loss such more scene for Male Lead background story, the random brief appearing of Tian Xi sister, and the whole scene of main cp sticking in burning house and he kissed and made her play erhu is rather ridiculous than romantic,.etc

Other than that I quite enjoy many support scenes such as 2nd CP scene in which she chased him and he finally give in. I like Riley and DaiLuWa chemistry. They need a good drama together as main cp. I adore the the elders who look after Qi Zheng. The man in mask I think is charismatic. The two main subordinates of Qi Zheng are fun , especially Tian Ji Rui character who lack sense of direction. And the Wei bro who play flute in lead life in his way. I think i want to see more of these character. I'd say apart my bias Zheng Shi, they are (their acting) main reasons why it is mostly enjoyable.

Okay..I will finish my review for now. This drama has excellent casting from main to support but choppy in storytelling. The production on cinematography is generally fine for me but it is bit old school and low budget. The costume are beautiful and the songs are nice. Nonetheless I feel this story of a inspiring woman who fight for human rights and woman rights is not touching enough. It actually failure for me as a love story. But i do have certain that keep me till the end and that I enjoy of. So overall I will rate it 7.5/10.
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My previous review
**
I am now half way through The Legend of Rosy Clouds. It was such a long waited drama. I believe many of us come to watch this show because we like the casts. We had been waiting for this to come out for three years. Despite all the low ratings, once this one meets the right audience, it's going to be a worthy watch and absolutely entertaining.

This drama is old school. Visually, it would mostly remind us of those older dramas before 2020s. There are certain themes that might be turn of to modern audience such reverse heram, male leads stalking and chasing and courting female lead who is hard to get, because she has other proirity. These theme are more common back then even though nowadays we have them too, they are more subtle. For me who used to watch these types before , I am very fine with these stuffs in TV dramas.

Our female lead, Fan Yun was a teacher and born not so rich. She had this compassion towards people equality. She wants to promote gender equlity in which she wants to become official at government office to inspire others. She was successful in persuading the governor, our male lead establishing commoners being able to take exam to became government official. Its obvious, our male lead fell in love with her and willing support her ideas and policy change in 9 cities he governing. There is also a second male lead who did fall for Fan Yun after hearing her music. The man who hold two identities. One noble, and another ruthless merchant. This is a love triangle indeed, that one needs to lose.

Apart from our three main characters, we also get the second couple which is very refreshing. That is Gao Ran and Wei Shi San, in which she did chase him throughout. And when she had to stop. He missed her. This second cp is super cute. Riley Wang and Dai Lu Wa chemistry is superb.

So far this drama doesn't really have evil hateful villain so far. All the characters have their own point of view in life. Changing policy sometimes tak e times. And sometimes people wont want to change when their lives are seen as good already.

The acting from the whole cast is majestic. But i do have to admit this drama suffer bad edits and cuts that can turn off some audiences too. However, the main plotline is still understandable which is why I won't ever say this is a bad drama.

The drama is light and comedy even with some politics and some of point of views to think about if you catch it. But not in a very serious way. And all the characters had their funny side. I normally like easy going drama and I like casts here so this drama is just for me. Im very happy we can watch it after all the issues in three years. I recommend it to anyone who likes the casts, likes comedie, noting minding being old school. Just try it.

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Lost in translation

Based on a Japanese novel series, The Legend of Rosy Clouds seems great on paper but has had a fitful journey to make its way on screen. Apparently set back with copyright issues, complying with censorship (I'm sure it was a bear trying to readapt this story to fit better with Chinese culture), and numerous edits, the final product is largely a convoluted mess but still with its charms.

Filmed 3 years ago, the main cast have since grown in the industry and moved on to better projects. Still, it is fun to see them here in a mostly lighthearted show. The supporting cast in particular bring a lot of humor and warmth, including some veteran actors who are simply hilarious and fun to see in a different light.

Ultimately, even without cutting out some of the backstory and forgiving all the edits, this drama suffers mostly from its incoherent writing, lacking in organic development of character arcs and plot lines. In adapting the original source material, critical things were changed that should ultimately change the trajectory of certain key characters and thus reshape the overall plot, but it seems that the writers still wanted to hold onto original beats without clearly thinking through the logic. Also lacking is the development of key themes: the oppression/liberation of women, the philosophies of government, and other themes could have been more thoroughly explored. And don't get me started on the romance writing - it is borderline insulting to anyone who has actually been in a romantic relationship.

Highlights are Zheng Shi and his grandfather's scenes and certain aspects of the Zheng family/Jing City arc. The music is actually very enjoyable, with my favorite songs being the opening titles song and Liu Yuning's angsty one.

Take a chance on this one if you need something to make you laugh (at least the first half of the show) or if you a fan of the cast. But there are many better dramas out them that better represent what the cast is capable of.

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Great cast but I wish I could get my time back!

I was so mad about this series that I put down my oath of never writing a review and signed up for MDL just so I could give this review. ***Occasional spoiler alert***

First things first: I watch historical c-dramas for their stories and (some of the) dialogue as I love exploring and learning more about China's history and past (yes, I know it's not all accurate but as I'm an author, I enjoy being inspired by other scriptwriters).

(*Please note that I skipped MANY scenes because there was a lot that didn't need to be kept in plus I got BORED).

1). Cast: EXCELLENT cast! I LOVVVVEEEE Dai Lu Wa & Riley Wang (hello, DIMPLESSSS) and thought they did the best despite the writing. There are many playful moments that I adored between Shisan & Gao Ran, Fan Yun & Qi Zheng, plus the brotherhood between Qi Zheng, Wei Ying, and Yan Jiang - all of it was great). Fan of Deng Wei but I couldn't STAND his character, Zheng Shi/Lou Qiyan here - UGH).

2). Characters: Now, I tend to like watching characters grow over the course of the series because that's what they're supposed to do but I couldn't believe how confusing and ridiculous some of these characters were (especially the main leads)!

2a). Qi Zheng: He probably had one of the better character arcs throughout the series. Starting off as a baffoonish governor who only lives a lavish life, he's truly hiding someone who cares for his people. First of all, why would you need to show it like this? He cares for the people - that's his JOB as governor. He SHOULD care for his people. I know that the 3 Elders are there to guide (aka hinder) him so they can see their dream of the Nine Cities play out, but come on. That's just silly. Either way, he goes from being super immature to a somewhat understanding person, but that isn't really until epi 35/36.

2b). Fan Yun: As the first female lead, one would think she should have the biggest character growth in the series. Only..... *crickets crickets* there was none. I wanted to smack her character so many fkn times throughout! How are you SO DUMB?? Even near the end of the series, you still couldn't see how Zheng Shi is hella manipulative and insane?! And for all the *strong female character* BS, all it shows is that whatever she wants, she gets. Which isn't always a GOOD thing. PLSSSSSS. And she can't tell when someone likes her? She doesn't understand how she keeps walking into traps, even by episode 30?! HUH? The way they wrote her is super embarrassing, even though it's meant to showcase a strong woman who won't bend to other people's will. But how can you have someone like this who can't even seem to read the room be a "gate commander" or official? That just shows how immature she is. And even when Shisan shows her 1 defensive move, she never uses it. I at least thought she'd would've used it on ZS in the end! But noooooo, she just whines and harrumphs about the unfairness of a man grabbing her. UGH.

2c). Zheng Shi: YO. YOOOOOOO. Y'all managed to get Deng Wei to be in your series and you wasted his talent on acting like some manipulative punkass b*tch who can't take no for an answer? STOP. Please. Just stop. It's 2026 (or it was 2023 when this was filmed, EVEN THEN it should have better writing than these lame tropes). You should be able to create better characters who can show growth instead of demanding attention through manipulation and tricks. That's just hella petty. And for him to keep telling FY how he hopes to drink the sweet dew tea (which signifies the love between 2 people) she brews for him, which was also the antidote to the poison he got from an arrow. (<--- also, this is such a device to use, this is hella lazy writing) In the end, he finally gives up because he realizes FY prefers QZ over him? AFTER HE KNOCKS HER OUT AND KIDNAPS HER?? And tells her that one moment of dislike in her life can pass quickly but one moment of happiness can be revisited over and over? They made him this super insane person who is too stubborn to save themselves from the poison and insists on FY to help him out, when he knew she didn't feel the same way as him? OMG, I wanted to smack him too so many times because at times he seemed decent, respectful, and never wanted to go against FY (his own words) but in the end, he couldn't even keep that facade up. ZERO character growth for him too! How disappointing! I get there needs to be tension between the 2 male leads but seriously? This was unimaginative.

All of the other characters I had zero issue with - it was just these 3 that had some of the worst writing/developments. I was SUPER disappointed, especially after seeing Li Yi Tong in A Dream Within a Dream. I do have to say that there are times when LYT seems to rely too heavily on her looks and being confused - I hope she can grow out of that.

3). Plot: WHAT DID I JUST WATCH?! The plot made ZERO sense to me (and I allow a lot of room for interpretation when it comes to c-dramas, especially historical ones and their ability to stretch the imagination - FINE) but this one? I have no idea what the writers were smoking because I think I want some of it.

3a). Right off the bat - FY is to be married to the governor, QZ. Okay, I can go along with this but for the governor, they paired him with someone from a fallen noble family?? Like that could EVER happen? I get why FY's fam did it for the money but come ON. Plus, the whole money aspect didn't come up (other than QZ feeling disgruntled by the fact that he's only worth 500 taels of gold).

3b). The fake divorce for FY to become an official - was that even necessary? I'm trying to understand this. And if they were trying to get it to this plot point, why wouldn't they just have her start off with petitioning to take the exam, discover that there are no rules (in terms of gender) when it comes to serving in court and building up her merits from there? And while in court, QZ could fall in love with her and the 3 Elders could come in and create a marriage between the two?

3c). Zheng family clan leader election - perhaps I missed the point of this, and I understand that the Zheng family are powerful in Jing City and can control a military but if anything, this should have been threaded throughout the series, not just plopped at the end.

3d). The love triangle - I couldn't stand how FY wouldn't just say something to either QZ or ZS. If you're such a STRONG WOMAN, you should be able to speak your mind more easily. Don't put forth this idea that FY is this incredible person who cares for the people, speaks up IN COURT, goes against the rules and is a timid person around the 2 men who like her? HOW? At least be consistent if you're going to write a strong female character. You can't have her go against the rules, speak out against the Elders and yet suddenly can't seem to say simple things to QZ or ZS! And also, how are you going to write a character who is betrayed by ZS in the end and yet she still trusts him? HUH? FY cannot be THIS DUMB.

3e). The 3 Elders - Look, I get that ancient China was all about being Confucian and filial and all that but the idea that 3 Elders who were there at the beginning of the Nine Cities would prevent the Governor from actually doing his job was ridiculous. There's no FKN way 3 old people could have that much power. Like it didn't make any sense! And when Elder Zheng started going off like a crazy person, why wasn't he removed from court for speaking out of turn? AIYAHHHHH

I know I missed a lot of the other plot points but these were the top ones that my brain couldn't deal with. It makes me so sad when there are great actors involved in a series and yet they had to produce something like this? I just finished the series today and my brain nearly exploded at how stunted so many of the characters were. Like how did this get greenlit?!

But seriously, ALL THE LOVE to Dai Lu Wa & Riley Wang cuz they were THE CUTEST TOGETHER!!! I hope they star as main roles for other series because their dynamic was OFF THE CHARTS!!

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Despite its flaws, I still enjoyed watching it

I decided to watch this drama because of Joseph Zheng, though the reviews were not good enough for the first couple of episodes. I am glad I did so, beacuse, yeah, I agree, that this drama relies heavily on comedy and the genre of 2 male leads always fighting for the female lead, but still, it managed me to keep waiting for the next episode.
The plot was very interesting to watch when it was genuinely serious.
All the actors also did an amazing job in portraying their roles. 👍
Deng Wei as LouQiyan/Zheng Shi really surprised me with his acting skills.
The 3 old lords ans their friendship was very good to watch.
Also, the relationship between Zheng Yuan and his grandson ,Zheng Shi, also was good👌
The costumes, locations, music and even the palace and house sets were also good.
The only drawback I felt was that the plot could have been developed into a much more serious storyline with few comic moments, instead it heavily relied on unnecessary comedy, especially in the first few episodes.
Anyways, I still enjoyed watching it and it is worth to be given a try to watch!!
A Good drama!!

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