This review may contain spoilers
Review: Sword Rose Rating: 9/10
Sword Rose was genuinely a very good drama. I initially started watching it because of Dilraba, but what kept me was how different this role felt from what we usually see her in. This was a modern setting where she wasn’t framed as “just pretty.” Her character had weight, responsibility, and emotional depth, and she carried it brilliantly.
One of the strongest aspects of the drama was its portrayal of kidnapping victims. It felt disturbingly realistic. The show didn’t romanticize survival or pretend that everything magically becomes okay once victims reunite with their families. Instead, it explored the uncomfortable truth: people move on, trauma lingers, and relationships don’t always return to what they once were. Sometimes, the only option is to keep living through the pain. That honesty made the drama feel grounded and painfully real.
I also appreciated that the story avoided easy, happy resolutions. Life isn’t always neat, and Sword Rose didn’t insult the audience by pretending otherwise.
That said, there was one element that consistently pulled me out of the story: the subtle—but persistent—propaganda. By the end, it became very obvious, but even before then, it was hard to ignore. The police force was portrayed as almost flawless. No dirty cops. No internal failures. No laziness. No administrative incompetence. The only obstacle was a lack of clues.
This felt unrealistic, especially considering how intelligent and calculated the villain was. We’re talking about a criminal mastermind who could plan years ahead, infiltrate industries from the ground up, and run multiple criminal operations. It’s difficult to believe that someone like that wouldn’t think to plant people within the police force or use bribery to gain advance warnings of raids. In other crime dramas—especially Western ones—small oversights, internal corruption, or past mistakes often explain why cases go unresolved. Here, that layer was completely absent, and it came across as intentional rather than organic.
Another thing I noticed was that the writing felt somewhat stiff at times. While Dilraba delivered a strong performance, there were no real “aha” moments where one character suddenly pieces everything together. Every breakthrough came from collective effort. While that’s realistic in theory, it sometimes dulled the dramatic impact.
Still, despite these issues, Sword Rose remains a compelling and well-acted drama with a mature tone and a surprisingly realistic portrayal of trauma and recovery. It’s gripping, thoughtful, and emotionally grounded.
All in all, it’s a solid jammer—and an easy 9/10 for me.
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What A Good Investigation But Should've Been Better
This is exactly my type of drama — thriller, investigation, and zero romance. It’s actually my first Dilraba drama, and I’m not gonna lie, it’s good. The intensity is on point for this genre, and the cast? Not a single disappointment. Everyone delivered their roles perfectly.Some cases really stuck with me, like Lawyer Sun’s. The man who adopted his son was a genuinely good elder, and the boy couldn’t bear to leave his adoptive grandpa. It broke me a little seeing Lawyer Sun let his own son live with the adoptive father instead of him. Then there’s Xiao Xing’s case — equally heartbreaking.
But… I can’t ignore the flaws. Some cases felt like they were cut short. One moment I’m invested in a big, high-stakes investigation, then suddenly it’s solved without us seeing how they got there. Meanwhile, smaller, less important cases get the full intense treatment. It’s like the priorities got flipped.
And don’t even get me started on the ending. I’ve been waiting for Mrs. Zhang and Lin Ran’s reunion the entire time, only for it not to happen. That’s the case I was dying to see resolved — especially after showing Mrs. Zhang patiently waiting for her daughter. Honestly, I felt a little scammed. This drama deserved at least 33 episodes to wrap everything up.
Still, flaws aside, if you’re into thrillers like me, this is highly recommendable. Just be ready to feel both satisfied and mildly robbed at the same time.
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The noble fight continues
Set in 2009 Linshan in China, this series depicts a small anti-trafficking police team's efforts to uncover a sex/child trafficking operation. The drama shines when it focuses on the realistic portrayal of police work and the raw, devastating emotional toll on the police and victims and their families. Unfortunately, it cannot fully shake off some of its more melodramatic tendencies (particularly at the end) or the rah-rah support for the police that really is not necessary given the already huge amount of pathos the human stories hold for the audience. Still, I enjoyed it for allowing Dilraba to be in a very different kind of role (at least of late). Additionally, many of the guest/supporting characters (including the child actors) were outstanding.Was this review helpful to you?
A Bold Take on Society’s Dark Truths
The plot of Sword Rose was truly inspiring, shining a light on societal issues we often overlook, such as abduction and corruption. The female lead’s performance stood out her ability to express emotion with depth and clarity made the audience connect to the pain and struggles faced by many families. Her portrayal carried a sense of empathy and strength that gave the series authenticity.However, as the episodes progressed, the main male lead’s character became less engaging, which slowed the momentum. Still, the supporting cast, especially those in the anti-abduction department, added meaningful layers to the story and helped reinforce the central theme. The narrative was well-structured and reflective, though the ending fell short of expectations.
Overall, the series delivered a strong message and impactful storytelling, despite a few weak spots in execution.
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A Seminal Work for Dilraba, a Landmark Project for an Industry & Society
For the legion of people across the globe who have long recognized and appreciated Dilraba's exceptional talent, brilliant intellect, purity of character and tenacity of spirit, the resounding and transformative success of Sword Rose was a long-expected inevitability. In terms of acting, topic, plot, and presentation, Dilraba and her collaborators have set a new standard and benchmark for entertainment that is both engaging and socially conscious. I will continue to elaborate as I watch future episodes.Was this review helpful to you?
Everyone should watch this drama!!!!
As someone who doesn’t usually watch police or crime dramas, I didn’t expect to enjoy Sword Rose as much as I did. One of the main reasons is the strong performance by the actors. Dilraba Dilmurat did a really good job as Hua Deng Yan. She made the character feel strong but also very human which made it easy to connect with her even for viewers like me who are not into this genre. In conclusion, i think Sword Rose is a meaningful and engaging drama that shows the reality of human trafficking in a clear and honest way. The story is a bit emotional but realistic, supported by strong acting and well-written characters. Even though some parts are heavy, the drama delivers an important message about justice, courage and caring for others. Overall, Sword Rose is worth watching. I willdef rewatch this drama.Was this review helpful to you?
Female officer investigating the disappearance of her old playmate
A fantastic show that focused on real-life human trafficking cases. The stories in the episodes are very touching, and I wanted to cry so many times. The main female lead, Dilraba, has delicate acting skills and looks like a cold-faced but warm-hearted policewoman who has a sad past. Since not a lot of dramas set their story on human trafficking and are based on a female-led police team investigating crime, I think it's definitely worth watching. First episodes are already brilliant, and personally, I believe this is one of Dilraba's best dramas and acting. Hopefully, this drama can raise the awareness of normal people and raise awareness of bad people out there. Last but not least, I hope all lost children and people can find their way home!Was this review helpful to you?
Amazing and Rellevant Drama to Watch
At first, I was doubt to watch this drama, but then I finally watched this drama because the topic of the drama that is Human Trafficking which is quietly rellevant to the conditions these days in some countries, especially in South East Asia. After I followed the plot and the story of the drama, I am amazed with the acting of all the casts. They are really brought me to the story, deep and deep. Congratulations for Dilireba, Jin Shijia, all the casts and teams, you guys are amazing!! This drama is amazing and really worth to bring the awards home! 🫶🫶🫶💕💕💕Was this review helpful to you?
Slightly Annoying
I understand that child abduction and trafficking cases are difficult as there are so many children that get abducted and trafficked. BUT...the police in this drama are not even fully prepared on stakeouts. For instance the stakeout in episode 3. Why were no officers staked out back at the establishment and abductors got away with one girl? The arguments with suspects are truly annoying and get no where. Why aren't the police not fully bringing in all the people whose names were mentioned (like the cousin in Lishuan who helped the couple that bought a baby) and questioned. Another thing that bothered me was they chased a van with a false plate with a baby inside that was supposedly their child. Go back to the house where they got the plate on camera and search it. The script is lame, not the actors. Don't know if I can finish watching thisWas this review helpful to you?
Drama anti mainstream pertama saya
Actingnya keren banget weyh.. dari para aparat, warga sipil (keluarga korban dan korbannya). Set latarnya juga bener² kaya di tahun itu. Trus adegan fighnya amaze banget, gak sia² kalian belajar pelatihan juga 👏Menurutku minusnya karena gak terlalu kompleks penyelesaiannya.
-Aku nungguin scene para korban dan keluarganya ngumpul lagi di restauran reuni 🫂
-Aku nungguin moment dengyan, linran dan bibi zhang bertemu 🥹
-Aku nungguin juga para pelaku di hukum (hukum mati/seumur hidup)
Thank you Dilraba berkatmu aku berani nonton drama anti mainstream yang katanya kesukaan warga mainland 😁
Ditunggu karya²mu selanjutnya 🩷
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Лучшая дорама этого года
Смотрите и наслаждайтесь игрой Дильраба Дилмурат,да это не комедия это скорее всего драма, трагедия но такое тоже нужно смотреть.. Думаю вам понравится дорама если вы борец за справедливость ,и не можете пройти мимо торговли людьми ..однозначно 10/10Was this review helpful to you?
