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I loved it but writers failed on the ending
I’m a Zhao Lusi fan. She has always been appealing but lately her acting been more mature and effective. This pairing with Liu Yun Ning was the highlight of The Long Ballad , so happy they are matched again here.This is one of the best Chinese series, I have yet seen. Excellent acting, the production values were awesome. The storyline was very exciting. I saw it with english subtitles so the script appeared to be good,although my main complaint is the ending.
SPOILER;
I would have liked to see a “Jane Eyre” take. Mr. Rochester is not a pure hero lead, so cannot have an idyllic ending. The same for Yan, who will torture and kill in order to achieve his revenge. Mr. Rochester, blind but content surrounded by his family… Can you imagine Yan ending the same?
Instead, the last scene is a distance shot of a caravan with a voice over. -Boring and confusing. Maybe, this leaves a season 2 opening?
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BRTV interview
In response to BRTV who pointed out how #ZhaoLusi always cares about others' feelings. While shooting #TheStoryOfPearlGirl underwater scene, despite shivering from the cold, she kept saying "It's fine" and continued to cheer everyone up ☀️"It was a situation where an Introvert person like me needed to act like an Extrovert. I just thought that the conditions were already so toilsome and I'm already the one being taken care of. So if I'm still unhappy at that point in time, everyone else will be feeling uncomfortable too.
Working with discomfort is still a day, and working with happiness is also a day. A day is a day. So I thought I should just share some positivity."
*source from someone who actually knows Chinese , English and translate it perfectly
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I will never move on...
Overall 11/10✨🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
What an incredibly outstanding drama! I still cannot get over how beautiful TSOPG is. Everything from the plot to cinematography to acting was a full 10/10. Zhao Lusi was absolutely stunning along with Liu Yuning, who has blown me away with his acting and he has sung so many OSTs! The story subjects the viewers to very realistic portrayals of grief and the relationships of the characters are beautifully cultivated. The drama also does a wonderful job at portraying female empowerment and resilience. To sum it up in a few words I'd say: Incredible, bittersweet, heart wrenchingly beautiful. Highly, HIGHLY recommend watching! Also worth mentioning is the OST!!
Bonus: Episode 14 campfire scene is the most memorable scene and by far my favourite. I wish I could freeze time in order to live in that moment!
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OSCAR WORTHY
This is not your typical C-drama. It has more of a Hollywood style of storytelling.The grounded, realistic approach in The Story of Pearl Girl is what makes it stand out. The characters don’t have a fairy-tale experience, and their growth is earned through real struggles and hard choices. There’s no idealized hero who swoops in to save the day, which makes their journeys feel more authentic and relatable.
The drama also stands out for the way its characters are brought to life, with the cast delivering powerful performances that bring depth and authenticity to every scene. Each actor brings a unique layer to their character, creating a dynamic and believable world where every action and emotion feels earned. The relationships between the characters are rich and nuanced, adding further depth to the already compelling plot.
This drama stands as a testament to the power of storytelling—one that doesn’t shy away from the hard truths of life but instead uses them to create an emotionally resonant and profoundly moving experience. The Story of Pearl Girl is more than just entertainment; it’s an exploration of resilience, justice, and the grey areas that define the human condition. It’s a timeless work that will continue to echo in your mind long after you’ve finished watching.
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The Emotional Rollercoaster you don’t want to get off! Zhao Lusi Delivers EVERYTIME
So far… I felt the emotion of each character that if it ends as a tragic love story, I would completely understand why. From the very first episode, Duanwu is no punk! I love how Duanwu as a character even though she is naive in some aspects ai ly because she’s grown up in the Pearl farm but she’s also exceptionally smart for someone who has had to Literally fight for everything she’s ever had. The fire in her eyes is that of a survivor! She’s realistic. So far we’re seeing the development of an intimate storyline between ML and FL and it’s one of understanding, they’re from the same world, they make sense together. In the same light we’re seeing the expressions of interest to the FL by the SML and she’s shut him down at every turn. Like I said, she’s no punk so she’s not going to feed into his sugarcoated sweet talk! I love this aspect of the drama especially because there’s no dilly dallying of leading the SML on just to have an unnecessary additional plot line! She knows that in the world they live in, they could never work! I especially loved when she challenged SML when he spoke of the mermaid and the scholar story! She’s an ambitious dreamer in the sense that she knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to Grab it. She’s realistic (see her interactions with SML and his advances) and she doesn’t believe in fairytales which is what I’m sensing from the SML! I loved when his attendant asked him if he would be willing to go against his family for her, and judging by his character, a person who at every turn seems to do what is right, he probably wouldn’t.Her journey with ML leaves us as viewer anticipating and trying to guess if they will make it! You may be thinking, why should she fall for someone who essentially abused her physically from the day he met her, but again this story is not that of roses and fairytales! KJ explains that he wanted her to become resilient because that’s essentially how he grew up. Then we get to see a little bit of insight into his survival story and we realise the beating she received at his hands was cherries compared to the tragedy he faced to become who he is. Again ML and FL make perfect sense together… there’s no other way to describe it!
Every single character so far in this drama has understood the assignment and has delivered! There has been no miss-cast and the drama engages you from the first scene in the first episode, I mean get your tissues ready. You’re thrown into a world that’s completely different from other CDramas! I think the story really sheds light into what life was like for the majority of people back then, because it wasn’t all fairies and a fight for the throne and power! There were people who were killed senselessly, kidnapped and thrown into slavery, tortured, raped etc! We get thrown into a world in cdrama that we as viewers are not particularly familiar with because most stories are usually toned down or they are Palace dramas so we know what to expect. With TSOPG we don’t know what to expect so it allows us to relate to FL even more because she’s taking us on that journey.
The soundtrack 10/10
The visuals 10/10
Casting 10/10
This show has been amazing so far and I really hope the momentum continues to build until the very end. I’m giving it an early 10 stars because of how captivated I have been from the first episode. I mean I was crying from episode one, I’ve laughed with them as well and I’ve cried again. The casting is EXCEPTIONAL! Ms ZLS NEVER DISAPPOINTS.
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Incredible
I have to say after watching this drama, that I have a whole new respect for Zhao LuSi. This role allowed her to show everyone that she is not just a pretty face made for rom coms.Her range of character development from abused slave to an incredible business woman in a time where women were anything but respected and cherished by a male dominated society that treated them as punching bags and were sold like cattle at auction was breathtaking.
This was a hard watch for me, especially knowing the abuse and overworking issues she has recently made public with her health from things very similar to this drama. It must have been extremely hard for her to do. I could see even when this was made how she had started to decline in regards to her health.
I have rad a couple of reviews here that say the script didn’t make sense and they dropped the drama. That is too bad, because the finished product seems to have had a lot of footage cut out. But it is a story about a woman who fought against incredible odds to make a life for herself and to help other women along the way.
The ML, Yuning Liu was impressive. I had seen him in the Long Ballad and found him to be a very good actor - giving the role such a performance that you both hated and pitied him and loved him at the same time. His performance of Tang Zi Jing was stellar, and has made me want to see more of him.
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Absolutely beautiful
"The Story of Pearl Girl" is a breathtaking journey of love, resilience, and destiny. Zhao Lusi delivers a powerhouse performance as Duan Wu, a fearless woman who rises from hardship to defy fate and carve her own path. Liu Yuning’s intense portrayal adds layers of passion and intrigue, making every moment between them electrifying. The stunning cinematography, especially the ethereal underwater pearl-diving scenes, transports viewers to a world of beauty and danger. With heart-wrenching betrayals, gripping rivalries, and a love that defies all odds, this drama is an emotional rollercoaster you won’t want to miss.Was this review helpful to you?
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If Pirates of the Caribbean had a baby with a C-drama. One of the best drama's of 2024!
The Story of Pearl Girl had me hooked from the first episode. I give a lot of credit to Zhao Lusi for learning to swim for this role because the under water shots were amazing. I'm not going to rip apart the CGI because I could really care less how the waves look or how realistic the sharks looked. The budget was used in the right places. Everything looked stunning and I give credit to all the set and costume designers for making this a truly beautiful drama to watch.The story: ... This drama took risks! So a lot of people are hating on it. But I personally loved it. Duanwu's story grabbed me instantly but her tenacity and sincerity is what really made her character so likeable. Then the romance between her and Yan Zijing was a sweet addition. The show was definitely dark and did not sugarcoat anything but I found it refreshing. But it also wasn't so dark that it made me depressed and the characters still showed so much relatable emotions that kept it interesting. I think it was a good balance. Sometimes when dramas are too serious the characters are too cold and emotionless, but all the characters here did amazing at showing all sides of the human heart. I'll admit that I almost quit watching midway after what I like to call the "red wedding" episode. And it's because of this episode where we lost Shrimp that this drama doesn't get a 10/10. I'm still grieving! But I'm glad I came back and finished this drama because it was truly a great watch.
Lead characters: Duanwu started out as my favorite but YZ took that spot once their romance started. He was one of those male leads that is obviously pleasant looking but his looks didn't really strike me at first. But by the end of the drama I found him to be one of the most handsome and charming male leads. I give credit to the actor for that. I'm familiar with Liu Yuning's songs but his acting here was top notch. He gave life to this character. I particularly love YZ because although he is cold-hearted in his decision making and hell bent on revenge, he is not the typical robotic tsundere. He has a cheeky/playful side from the beginning which makes him more human and likeable.
Supporting characters: I didn't love Cu Shiju. She is beautiful but her acting was just okay, she wasn't evil enough to be a memorable antagonist so I didn't hate her either. Her ending was lackluster for all her efforts throughout the show. I actually loved the second male lead, which I usually don't care for. He was just adorable, sweet and earnest without being too pushy or annoying. Shrimp and the others grabbed my heart in the first half but Lady Shi Qui and the others in the second half took over that spot by the end.
The ending: I did not mind the ending. They set the precedence from the very beginning that this story world was cruel and no one was getting free lunch. We knew from the first few episodes that YZ was sick. I think that if they had showed him as a domesticated man in the end it would discredit his character. He was never going to be a loving husband and father. He was lucky enough to have found love in an unexpected place. And I'm glad they didn't show his death either because I didn't need to see it. The only alternate ending I would have liked to see was if DW had a baby with him and that baby could grow up and carry on the Yan family name and business as well.
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Not all that...for me hard to get through all 40 episodes
Story:-The story is too disjointed from scene to scene, you don't develop a deep care for any character really except maybe ML cuz his family is killed and he is beaten to a pulp as a kid.
-Lots of dead time and scenes that could have been a faster pace which made it drag on in the middle
-It starts out with the cruelty of being a pearl diver which I appreciated the honesty of that situation but didn't like the ML being cruel to FL as well in such an abusive and violent way that it doesn't produce any bitterness or resentment...not humanly honest.
-Didn't produce too many new characters so it was easy to guess who the villains were even the "hidden" one - there's only one that they showcased in the desert.
Acting:
- I like Zhao Lusi but it just wasn't her best role. She was able to be emotional and cry well in many scenes. And you see some maturity and growth and appreciate the designers changing her hair/clothes to show the progression.
-However, the name changing wasn't really explained per se...so someone can just change it as they please to remake themselves? And yet she's a merchant dealing with legalities which doesn't make sense.
-Small details gave it away...as a pearl diver her nails looked like she had gel nail polish on-too nice and neat
-ML was good in his role but it didn't make you really like him til much later. His sidekick was someone you like Kang Ju.
- Good chemistry between ML and FL and some of the couples in this cdrama esp Cui and Zheng
-Supporting cast did a good job: 1st set was fun to watch and good performance. but second set...how they meet and become fast friends is a little too quick for me to develop a trust and fast friendship like that
Scenes
Lots of beautiful scenes in the movie
Costuming was gorgeous
Overall: I wouldn't watch it again, there wasn't any character that was significant nor was it unique. REvenge plot
And the ending was meh in my opinion...FL lead says not to leave and then we are left to assume he left
Or maybe they left together to the desert for him to die? Who knows
Subtitling: Andthe subtitling on Netflix was many times inaccurate and/or did not capture the Chinese meaning behind what was said. So those watching with subtitles may be cheated of some of the story or what the character was trying to convey in a scene.
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A visually breathtaking, emotionally unforgettable mature masterpiece that defies expectations
✅ What Makes The Story of Pearl Girl Absolutely Breathtaking🔥 A Story That Refuses to Take the Easy Route
• The lazy thing would have been to write a typical happy ending—but this drama chooses depth over comfort.
• Instead of predictable romance, it delivers a layered, intricate story of fate, love, and power.
• The emotional impact is staggering—this isn’t just a drama, it’s an experience that leaves you shocked and haunted.
🎭 Acting That is Beyond Phenomenal
• Zhao Lusi (as Duan Wu / Su Mu Zhe) delivers a performance so subtle and controlled that every glance, every tiny shift in her expression speaks volumes.
• She embodies strength, vulnerability, and quiet resilience in a way that is truly powerful.
• Her emotional depth is breathtaking, making her one of the most unforgettable female leads in historical dramas.
• Liu Yuning (as Yan Zijing) is stunning, not just visually but in acting.
• His performance is layered, deep, and incredibly nuanced, showing a character who is both powerful and vulnerable.
• Even in small gestures, slight changes in his expression, or the way he looks at her—you can feel everything.
• Tang Xiaotian (as Zhang Jinran) brings another level of complexity and charisma, adding an essential depth to the story.
💎 Even the Side Characters Could Have Had Their Own Show
• Unlike many dramas where side characters feel like filler, here, every single character feels fully fleshed out.
• Each of them has a story, a struggle, a presence—so much so that they could each carry their own drama.
• Their arcs add richness to the world, making it feel fully immersive and alive.
🎨 A Visual & Cinematic Masterpiece
• Every single frame is a work of art.
• The costuming is exquisite, with attention to detail that makes each outfit feel luxurious, elegant, and authentic.
• The coloring of the cinematography is breathtaking—soft, dreamlike tones that make it feel like a living painting.
• It has that timeless aesthetic that makes you want to pause just to take it all in.
• And everyone is so incredibly beautiful—this is one of the most visually mesmerizing casts ever assembled.
📖 A Story That is Truly Incredible
• This is not just another historical romance—it’s an intricately woven story about survival, power, and destiny.
• The emotions feel raw and deeply personal, making every moment land with impact.
• It’s not predictable, not exaggerated—it just flows beautifully, with a narrative that feels both grand and intimate.
👥 A Story That Stays With You Forever
• It doesn’t just end—it leaves an imprint on your heart and mind.
• Even after finishing, the weight of the story, the characters, and their journey doesn’t fade.
• It’s the kind of story that leaves you in awe but also leaves an ache behind.
😭 Where The Story of Pearl Girl Wrecks You
💔 It Stays With You—Possibly Forever
• This is not a drama you “move on” from—it lingers in your mind, your heart, your soul.
• Even after finishing, the weight of the story, the characters, and their journey doesn’t fade.
• It’s the kind of story that leaves you in awe but also leaves an ache behind.
🐌 The Pacing is Patient, But Intentional
• Some moments are slow, but they are never wasted.
• This is a drama that takes its time with emotions, with storytelling, with atmosphere.
👑 A Drama That is Simply Extraordinary
💡 It’s one of the most beautifully crafted dramas I have ever seen.
• The story, the visuals, the performances—everything is carefully done with love and detail.
• It doesn’t just tell a love story—it tells a story of resilience, sacrifice, and power.
💪 It is deeply, profoundly feminist in a way that actually makes sense.
• Instead of inserting modern ideals into the past, it showcases the strength of women within their historical reality.
• It highlights how women navigated power structures, fought for their survival, and found ways to carve out their own destinies.
• This is far more powerful than any forced modern feminist narrative.
💡 It is visually one of the most breathtaking dramas ever created.
• If you appreciate artistic cinematography, historical beauty, and storytelling that feels like a painting, this is perfect.
• It doesn’t just tell a story—it makes you feel it, see it, and live it.
🚨 Final Verdict: A Must-Watch Historical Masterpiece
⭐ Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅ One star for the breathtaking cinematography and costuming.
✅ One star for the deeply feminist, historically accurate storytelling.
✅ One star for the emotionally charged performances.
✅ One star for the incredible depth of every single character.
✅ One star for the sheer beauty and artistry of the drama.
💎 A True Masterpiece That Stays With You.
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My success is nothing without you | Love that is true & intense but is short lived.
First of all, I want to thank this drama for not slapping me with such a heartbreaking ending—when I know for a fact that it's going to be a sorrowful one no matter what.I truly appreciate the thought and consideration of whoever is behind this idea of minimizing the impact of YZJ death by giving us lowkey signs instead of shoving it in front of our faces. Like, thank you so much for going easy on us by delivering that tragic scene in a milder and less distressing way. I totally commend you for not using it as a clickbait to gain more attention and views for the finale of this story.
Diving into the story itself, am I the only one expecting Duanwu to go pearl diving again? Like, I waited patiently for it to come but it never happened. Then it finally occured to me after 30 episodes that she'll never gonna go back doing that job again as it's the sole reminder of how rough and painful her life was growing up, and how she had to work hard in order to vouch herself out of that predicament. It also made me realize that there are people who stops doing things they excelled the most not because they want to but simply because doing so suffocates them. So they would rather choose to avoid and completely abandon it by honing their other skills in order to gain more experience and transition to other things they have potential in doing.
Another thing I want to talk about is the exceptional execution of our main and supporting leads of their characters' role in the show—Yan Zi Jing as the revengful soul, Duanwu as the hardworking, wise and clever individual who want success and comfort in life, Zhang Jin Ran as the upstanding official who values justice and righteousness above everything else and Cui Shi Jiu as the redeemed villain who went through a handful of agonizing event which taught her to how to love and appreciate life better. This drama revolved around these characters and how they face their own demons and traumas in order to achieve their dreams and goals in life. They're the core elements of this drama who molded and animated it to be the outstanding show it is right now.
Love stories/relationships on this drama are one of the most sweet, memorable yet heart-rending for me. I totally appreciate the healthy rivalry and friendship between the Yan Zi Jing and Zhang Jin Ran so I never really expect them to pull off Yan Zi Jing dying and Duan Wu getting left behind. Specially after what they've done with Cui Shi Jiu and Zheng Zhi Heng...the progress of their love story was promising only for them to slaughter ZZH mercilessly—it was truly heroic and valiant though so I will give them credits for that—nonetheless, I would say that this drama is a tragic-themed story intricately enveloped in an enticing love story.
Phasing overall is good as they were able to highlight each stage of the main leads progress in terms of their personal growth and their romantic relationship. I even think that they did great in arranging the sequence of events in a logical and natural way on how they have to go through the trials and hardships in their respective lives to obtain the position and success they're trying to achieve.
Design, Costume, Colour Scheme, Editing and everything related to effects - are mostly nicely done aside from the Ship scenes. LOL I was never against of green screen utilization so I find it rather clumsy and funny whenever I spot some unpolished details but I am sure it's going to be big deal for others. In addition to that, the size of the ship doesn't add up to the number and size of the rooms being showed. Like, what do you mean multiple rooms of approx. 20sqft+ can fit that mid size looking ship? are you kidding me? When the ships interior is bigger than its exterior. Hahaha!
Lastly, I just wanna mention how crazy Zhao Lusi and Liu Yuning's chemistry is. Everytime they're on screen, it feels like they're some kind of breathtakingly gorgeous scenary I can't stop looking and taking a picture at. Their spark is so vibrant that I feel like they're illuminating the entire screen which makes me smile unconciously. + The thumb kissing scene on Ep.31 was the most phenomenal, romantic and iconic kissing scene I have ever seen for a couple or so of years now. Dang! They really got me rolling over my bed, all cramped up because of how thrilled I was during that scene.
I just wanna say here as well that I have watched Tang Xiao Tian as the 2nd male lead for multiple times now that I have automatically branded him that way in my head. I would love to see him take some cool and amazing main lead role cause right now I still can't see the main lead aura in him.
P.S. Cui Shi Jiu and Zheng Zhi Heng's love story is the dark horse of this story...too bad they killed ZZH. I still feel bad and regretful about that. Grr! What a bad decision!!!
Story - 9.5, Don't get me wrong, the plot and how it unfolds was good. It's just that the ending made me a bit disheartened, and not to mention how I see so much potential with CSJ and ZZH romance but they ended up using him as a plot device to redeem Cui Shi Jiu. Additionally, I feel like something's really off towards the end when Zhang Jin Ran was dealing with Prince Ying. It feels like he's got too much authority and power in him while the "Prince" felt powerless which made me watch those scenes with critical doubtful eyes.
Acting/Cast - 10, No words needed! I love every artists in this production and I would never have them any other way. Liu Yu Ning here was insane!!—his acting is so suave to me that all of his facial expressions, specially when he's smiling and mad are so attractive. Love him a lot. <3 + I would love to see Chloe Xie's other acting projects too. My attention was so drawn to her during the end.
Music - 10, I honestly didn't pay much attention to the music but the opening was exceptionally done. + I never felt bothered by any of the insert songs during my entire watch experience. I even feel like it helped heightened the emotions of the events at some point.
Rewatch Value - 10, Will definitely re-watch this drama if I happen to have some more spare time to do so. + This is the fastest drama I finished this year (I only procrastinated watching the last episode because I got no time to write my review) Hehehe...
Overall - 10, An overall good drama to watch for sure. I highly recommend this specially to those people who loves to watch empowered and skilled women succeed through their hardwork, ingenuity and dedication.
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