This review may contain spoilers
What do you prefer? Style or substance
Within minutes of watching this show you should realise that this is a different beast from the usual idol costume dramas. There is a rawness and stylistic flair that is missing from many mainstream productions. This drama does not hold back on challenging themes. Confronting acts are on full display and it made no apologies.This is a double-edged sword. No doubt the director has an unique style. Some scenes are rigged for maximum visual impact. There are bold contrasting colours, dramatic weather effects, poetic imageries and big close-ups of the leads. Get used to it.
This can be polarising. You will either be hooked by impactful scenes or be put off by the over-the-top theatrics. This show is not about finding a comfortable middle ground. For me, it was quite a ride and I was loving it! To be fair, the story does settle into a more comfortable pace towards the middle of the run.
I won't lie, the storyline is fundamentally tropey. The overarching A-plot is a classic revenge tale with a side order of the Cinderella trope and an extra large helping of palace intrigue. The writer is clever enough to mix up the plots and kept the pace fast so that we have little time to examine the plot holes. The production team is also a daft hand in hitting us in the feels which further distracts us.
It is obvious that the show is being manipulative. So much of the pain and suffering is purely there to pull at our heartstrings and to remind us that no character is safe from harm. Even a well-loved character can be killed off to get a rise out of us. It works but it is exhausting.
To wit, the FL is in no position to fight back at the start of the show. We watch and cheer on the FL as she gains strength, made new friends and plan the ultimate revenge. It is very gratifying to watch and there are certainly many bittersweet moments.
This is further aided and abetted by the ML. He might be in his early 20's but he acted well beyond his age. I am most impressed by him. I can't fault the pairing of our leads either. There is always tension between them, but it is the delicious kind. You know they are attracted to each other, but they must play by the rules. Their interactions will get the heart fluttering. While sparks fly between them, there is not a lot of actual skinship until the end of the show. It is poor reward for fans who are shipping the OTP hard.
A fundamental problem with this type of drama is that it is usually fanciful. The FL was a meek wife one minute and the next moment she is full of fight and steely determination. There are also conflicting views on societal values such as a woman's reputation. We must switch off our analytical mind to truly enjoy this show. There are just too many lucky escapes and fortuitous coincidences. It keeps us in our happy place, but it doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. It is very entertaining but a pair of industrial strength rose tinted glasses helps.
Speaking of the ending, it is both satisfying and ambiguous. All the antagonists got their just deserts. The OTP is allowed moments of bliss but then the production team went gaga on us.
It would have been a no-brainer for the story to end on a high. I'd paid to see the OTP ride off into a glorious sunset to live happily ever after. They have certainly earned it. So why was the ML shipped off to the furthest corner of the kingdom to fight a never-ending war? cliché? Yes. Dramatic? Yes. Necessary? NO!
This is not helped by the last scenes of the show which is beautifully staged but so ambiguous. Is it a dream sequence?
Acting wise, it is fairly solid but there are moments when it feels like characters changed tracks as the script shifted in a different direction but the subtle change was not communicated to the audience. The impact is not significant but can be a little disconcerting.
Overall, I enjoyed the show very much. It is impactful and engaging. The production team certainly knows how to keep our attention even if the plot itself might not stand up to close scrutiny. Some might find it too stylistic, shallow and tropey. It will be a love/hate thing. Caveat emptor, my friends.
*** SPOILER ***
There is a 5 mins postscript ep that confirmed a HEA ending but why is that even necessary?
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What a ride
Wow, is all I can say. From the very beginning, the drama has caught my attention. I started this drama because of Wang Xing Yue, but I stayed for the ENTIRE cast.Let me start off with the most memorable actors and actresses in this drama. EVERYONE did an AMAZING job! The casting was perfect.
Wang Xing Yue
Where do I even start. I fell in love with him in First Love with Tian Xi Wei and I have watched his other historical dramas, but I didn't think it was up to par to what he can do as an actor, but this one, it just blew me away. He did a fantastic job as Xiao Heng. He is so young, but he surely can act and portrayed a very compelling character. Xiao Heng was a complex person with a sad background, but he stood by the emperor and fought for Great Yan. I loved his relationship with the emperor as well. He is loyal to the emperor, Great Yan, his people, and Xue Fang Fei. I was happy that he was able to resolved his sadness and let go of his pain.
Xue Fang Fei/Jiang Li
I have never seen any of Wu Jin Yan's dramas before but she did an amazing job playing two characters. As Xue Fang Fei, she was killed by her own husband who she had trusted. As Xue Fang Fei she was naive and innocent. She portrayed Xue Fang Fei fairly well, even though we didn't see much of her as Xue Fang Fei. I loved how strong she was to stand up when she was at the lowest point of her life. As Jiang Li, she stood up for the injustice and used her noble status for the greater good. As Jiang Li, she learned how to be strong and vicious, but not to be too greedy. When she first became Jiang Li, she was still naive, but as she spent more time with Xiao Heng, she learned how to stand and scheme against others. I loved her as Jiang Li. She did an amazing job in clearing the real Jiang Li's name and give her the justice that she deserved. She had lost a lot along the way, but I feel that what she lost, made her stronger.
Real Jiang Li
Yang Chao Yue did an amazing job playing the real Jiang Li. Her scenes were little, but I feel that she put her all into the character. The real Jiang Li has a very sad life and I was glad that through Xue Fang Fei, she was able to move on peacefully.
Wen Ji and Lu Ji
The two actors that portrayed them did such an amazing job that I am looking forward to seeing them in more dramas. Wen Ji brought comedic relief at the right time and Lu Ji was the trusted partner who was serious. I hated how they both ended up dying because we needed the three musketeers together. There's no Xiao Heng without Lu Ji and Wen Ji.
Shen Yu Rong
The actor that played Shen Yu Rong, I have no words for him. He portrayed Shen Yu Rong so well. He was tormented by Xue Fang Fei and it showed how conflicted he is when he first saw Xue Fang Fei/Jiang Li. As the show progressed, we saw his greediness and how it destroyed him. Yes, the princess was the cause of his demise, but he made those choices. He was just pure evil. He turned his back not only on Xue Fang Fei but on Princess Wanning too. His obsession with protecting his mother and sister and climbing the ranks caused him to lose everything at the end. I did not feel bad for him one bit. He got what he deserved. He was a coward to the bitter end. Taking his life was the easy way out.
Princess Wanning
Li Meng (I just learned her name) portrayed this character so well. Princess Wanning was a psychopath that was created the moment she was sent to Dai Country. Her past was so sad that I felt sorry for her, but it does not excuse what she did. She killed so many people along the way to help her brother with the uprising. I have to say though, I adored Li Meng. I am looking forward to more of her as the female lead. She was just a pawn that was used not only by her father, but her brother and her most beloved as well. She has only loved Shen Yu Rong even when he betrayed her. She was willing to die for him.
Ji Shu Ran
Joe Chen. What can I say about her? She's a veteran. I have loved her from the very beginning and she just made me fall in love with her all over again. Portraying Ji Shu Ran was something I would have never guessed that the sweet Joe Chen would ever do I hated Ji Shu Ran to the core. Joe Chen playing the evil stepmother was something new and it gave me a new appreciation for her. I feel that Ji Shu Ran deserves more than what happened to her, but I am satisfied that she can no longer hurt Jiang Li and Jiang Ruyao.
Of course, every single person in this drama did an AMAZING job. But the ones that I mentioned, I have found new appreciation for them all.
As for the plot, it's the same when it comes to historical dramas. Political issues, revenge, and overthrowing the current emperor. So, it's not something different. However, I did enjoy the storyline.
I have this an 8.5 rating because of the last couple episodes. Not going to lie, I feel like they rushed the entire ending. They should have spent more than the last 5 episodes on building up the uprising. All of the rebel died so easily. They should have added more episodes or taken out some other plots.
The ending did not live up the beginning and that was the biggest reason why I rate it how I did. Don't get me wrong, those who deserved to die did die, but I felt that by killing off Wen Ji, Lu Ji, and Tong'er was not necessary. I feel that both Xiao Heng and Xue Fang Fei/Jiang Li needed them by their side. When those three are by their side, they are better.
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100% Worth Watching
==Breakdown==Background plot - 65%
Romance - 25%
Misc comedy - 10%
Background plot - Excellent
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Good
Production value - Meh
Basically, the main's acting/cast and story were excellent. The direction was pretty good. The production values, music, set design, etc. were just mid.
This is one of those rare dramas where the production values didn't do justice to the acting and the story. Usually, it's the other way around.
I've seen Wang Xing Yue in other dramas, but this is my first time watching anything where he's the ML. This role suited him perfectly. Even though he wasn't the primary focus of the story, I couldn't imagine anyone else in his role.
The FL was new to me and she did a great job carrying the show. I appreciated her range and steady, thoughtful performance. Her chemistry with Wang Xing Yue was pretty good, though romance seemed to be secondary to her revenge plots, which usually would've irritated me (I watch Cdramas for the romance) but I actually enjoyed this story more than I thought I would.
THE STORY: If you like revenge stories, this show is for you. The story was the best part of this drama, which is why it's such a same the production values didn't match the potential of the story. I plan to look up all the other scripts written by this author and try to watch them.
Overall, I highly recommend this show. I did fast forward sometimes, but not nearly as much as I do with most CDramas. Very little filler, engaging story, great acting, mid-production values.
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Revenge drama done exceptionally well!
PLOT-This drama was engaging from the get-go and remained that throughout. The plot and characters just hooked me, there wasn't a single scene where I felt like skipping, It was interesting how it started with Xue Fang Fei's revenge story mainly but if looked closely, almost every character was on their journey for revenge in some way or the other which made the show even more colourful. They showed how revenge and power can take people in so many different directions, the same ambitions can lead you anywhere because, at the end of the day, it all depends on your choices. The show never dragged for me. The beginning, the middle and the end were equally gripping and completely action-packed. One of the highlights for me was that the XFF to take revenge was never careless, always precisely calculative.
ACTING/CHARACTERS-
Wu Jin Yan and Wang Xing Yue, both gained a fan. I still question my ignorance of Wu Jin Yan before this, such a great actress. Wang Xing Yue made an impact as well. I am still in awe of XFF's character just like Duke Su, this lady has brains and she was always a step ahead. Actors playing Shen Yu Rong and Princess Wanning are impressive here as well. The cast overall has done a phenomenal job. One thing which I like the most is the backstory of the characters which helped me understand them a bit better, to know the WHYs behind them. so no one came across as arbitrary. They made me feel bad for them here and there but you never stop hating them as well. One character who creeped me out throughout was SYR, kudos to the actor. It is a job well done. Way too many characters I hate and love, quite balancing.
ROMANCE-
My favourite kind of romance is when FL and ML gradually build trust helping each other along the way and supporting each other through thick and thin eventually leading to the healthiest relationship with lots and lots of respect, and unwavering trust in each other. The slow-burn romance ended up hitting all the spots, loved the couple way too much. Their scenes together were making my day.
ENDING-
The ending was satisfying, especially after watching so many 10/10 dramas with such crinkled endings, this one was done well. Nothing came across as random.
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Unique and stylistic, don't think just feel
Like the actress said there were SOOOOO many close-up shots of the faces it was funny. She mentioned in an interview they would just tell her to look at the camera and she asked "what for" and they said "just act out your lines to it." It's definitely a unique stylistic choice hahahahaSpeaking of which this whole show oozed style as expected from the director of Go Princess Go and there were lots of memorable moments and an amazing soundtrack. I still love on the two insert songs 一世聰明 and 凋零 from it both because duh, they played during the most tragic scenes.
I also adored what they did with the characterization, like even the minor characters had personalities and even though there were less scenes of them later in the drama (looking at you, Jiang Li's schoolmates and 3rd sister) you still remembered them for their personalities and motivations, so they felt like real people.
Some unintentional humor: why did the Li family head always meet with his son in that one specific canyon place to plot evil plots? It was kinda cartoony. Also he plays villain dad in Scent of Time too which gave me a double take when I watched it after this because he actually has a chance to be doting loving father in that one ahhhh I love veteran actors they deliver so well.
Wang Xingyue is absolutely gorgeous and charismatic in this series, they should get him to play a fox demon sometime he rocks the eyeliner look soooo well. Love his guards (there's always 1 smart guard and 1 doofus guard) and I'm sooooo mad the last episode just!! Had them end like that!!
I appreciate the open ending and all that but my heart tells me that the boys probably didn't make it home; still better to have love than lost than never loved at all. Anyways, we can still say they did and it's a happy ending!
This drama has stuck with me through the next 2 dramas I've watched, which says something for its lasting value. The visuals are super strong, the plot is fun and full of twists (my friend thought it was slow, I was like "girl you kidding me 5 episodes feel like 1 to me"), and I love love the music. That guzheng competition scene is still my favorite even with the ridiculous effects, I unironically love it and saved a 9-min clip version of it from YouTube just to watch okay ahhahaha you can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kELdyIxwFQs
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MAGISTRAL!!!
Plot: The FL, Fangfei, married to an official, is buried alive by him. She survives and is taken in by Jiang Li, daughter of the Director of Administration at Court. She had been sent to an evil monastery for 10 years, following the shenanigans of her mother-in-law. Jiang Li dies and FangFei promises to avenge both of them. She will intelligently use the ML, Duke Su, to achieve this, gradually revealing the conspiracies & power struggles.What I liked:
+ revenge. rather dark atmosphere!
+ a great casting : I am an absolute fan of Wang Xing Yue, sublime in this role. I like less Wu Jin Yan, a little too old for the character, but I admit that she has talent...
+ The cinematography is magnificent: the images, the framing, the costumes, the sets,... Everything is top notch!
+ The narration is fast, without downtime (or even with somewhat abrupt cuts)
+ The OSTs know how to amplify the emotions of each scene.
+ The story is well constructed, logical, coherent.
=> A great series, addictive, memorable, worth watching again.
*******************************************************************************
MAGISTRAL !!!
Plot : La FL, Fangfei, mariée à un officiel, est tuée & enterrée vivante par celui-ci. Elle survit, est recueillie par Jiang Li, fille du Directeur de l'administration à la Cour. Celle-ci avait été envoyée depuis 10 ans dans un monastère malfaisant, suite aux magouilles de sa belle-mère. Jiang Li meurt et FangFei se promet de les venger ttes les 2. Elle va intelligemment utiliser le ML, Duke Su, pour y parvenir, dévoilant peu à peu les conspirations & luttes de pouvoir.
What I liked:
+ vengeance. atmosphère plutôt noire !
+ TB casting je suis une fan absolue de Wang Xing Yue, sublime dans ce rôle. J'aime moins Wu Jin Yan, un peu trop âgée pour le personnage, mais j'avoue qu'elle a du talent ...
+ La cinématographie est magnifique : les images, les cadrages, les costumes, les décors, ... Tout est au top !
+ La narration est rapide, sans temps mort (voire avec des coupures un peu brusques)
+ Les OST savent amplifier les émotions de chaque scène.
+ L'histoire est bien construite, logique, cohérente.
=> Une super série, addictive, mémorable, à revoir.
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One of the Best CDrama I’ve Watched
One of the best Chinese drama I have ever watched. I never got tired or annoyed with the leads. The high rating is 100% deserved. If you are wondering if you should watch it, just go ahead and do it. This is your sign!The chemistry between the main leads, phenomenal.
The story is amazing, so well done and everything flows so perfectly.
There are some differences in the novel (haven’t finished it yet) but they made everything make sense so it’s fine.
I only wish we got more couple time. Sometimes a drama can get boring if we see too much of the happy couple but with this pair I don’t think I’d get tired of them. Have they made the special available yet???
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Best Drama of 2024
This show has been nothing but amazing from start to finish ! I was not expecting a performance like this .First let me start off with the Music. I LOVE it ... It was so suspenseful I loved it. The Actors omg every did there part in the show . I am so grateful to them. The plot not predictable . Most shows that start off strong cannot keep the momentum going . This show was not a let down.
I love the customs the accessories are outstanding
shout out to the directors . The make up artist they did there thing when planning out this show .
I am in love with everything ,
Thanks for everything
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When the main male character turns out not to be the main one after all...
The drama didn’t live up to the potential that the story offered. Everything was fine until about episode 25, then the intrigues, politics, and exploring the side characters killed it into total boredom. The potential of the beautiful, mysterious, and hot main character Duke Su and his relationship with the main female lead was not used at all. A million glances, a million moments of tension, and in the end, one kiss that “the world didn’t see” (by candlelight). At that point, I was like WTF!!! If you like politics, you’ll get plenty of it. If you like romance, this drama won’t satisfy you.Was this review helpful to you?
face slapping done right!
outside of the gorgeous osts and cinematography, i can't stress enough how much joy it gives me seeing a series adapt a female lead who can stick to revenge to the end while also punishing those who did her wrong. all the villains had the most satisfying ends.the stand out performances are definitely jiang li and wanning. the actress who played wanning is an incredible actress and to be able to evoke the audience to hate and sympathise with you is an affirmation of her acting prowess.
jiang li is a talent of her own, the amount of times i cried with her is uncountable. her determination and perseverance to end moved me and if there's one word i can describe her as is a chameleon. her ability to change and adapt her personality and mannerisms depending on who she was with blew me away. great actress
overall the drama is just *chefs kiss* the ending was downright tragic (yu zheng when i catch you) but i was able to placate myself with a bonus episode 😭
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A-MA-ZING
I am really new to watch Chinese dramas. ( You know nowadays Korean dramas… How can I say… not like old days) I guess I just have watched 6-7 Chinese dramas and I don’t prefer the history dramas.I am shocked when I started to watch this drama. I saw the poster and said why not…. Then I addicted and waited every day.
Women revenge is amazing. Everything is very smooth and flowing. Every time I said they couldn’t connect this part but they found the way.
Evils are really evils. They think everything they made everything. But FL isn’t angel. She thinks everything. Clever, brave and beautiful. She isn’t a princess. Doesnt wait for rescue.
If you ask me which evil is the best sayko my answer is Shen. I really want to kill him. In the beginning he is just pushover. but in the end most hating character he is. I can understand the princess. she wants to loving and loved. but Shen is shameless and sneaky. Duke Su should punch him at one before ep 35. How he can dare to married again with FL. at the end he still thinks he made one mistake. Dude you kill your wife, make crazy her dad and put the jail her brother with princess. Then try to married again your wife who is kill by yourself. do you really think it is just one mistake.
And Duke Su. Before ep 20 he wasn’t around but he always watched FL. He is man but doesn’t walk around I am man and I have to do everything. He waited to FL can take her own revenge.
I really sorry about Tong . she is so lovely. I was shocked when she was died. Also why Duke Su’s mans died in the end? don’t be so deamatic give us happy ending for everyone . They are good guys.
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