The Story of Pearl Girl (2024)

Why is it always Liu Yuning? ?

*** Spoiler Alert (PERSONAL FEEDBACK)

*** It was a roller coaster of emotions! 🥹🥺😭 .. but why is it always Liu Yuning? 😭😭😭 ***

Seriously, I just finished watching it... I'm still crying, my heart is still aching, and at the same time, I'm so pissed off with the ending...😭

The Story of Pearl Girl was one of my most anticipated dramas because I love Liu Yuning and Zhao Lusi. They are one of the tandems I’ve been waiting for, and I was very excited to see Liu Yuning as Zhao Lusi’s male lead. Well, we can’t deny it—their chemistry is to die for. The way they portrayed their characters felt so sincere, like they truly embodied them. You could feel their love and sincerity for each other—the way they looked at each other, the way they held each other—it felt so different, so real. You cry when they cry. I even felt embarrassed for Duanwu in front of Yan Zhijing sometimes…😅 My emotions were so invested in this drama.

I was so pissed off at the ending, but then I reminded myself that this is The Story of Pearl Girl, not The Story of Yan Zhijing…😆 Of course, the story revolved around Duanwu—how her life transformed from being a pearl diver to a powerful, successful female merchant. Along the way, she met Yan Zhijing, who was connected to her through their parents. Yan Zhijing started to teach her about life and how to survive while also taking revenge for the massacre of his entire family. This drama makes you go through a lot of emotions…😅 And if you’re not ready to be heartbroken, I think you should prepare yourself first before watching it… because it still hurts.😭 I even told myself that I would hate this drama if Yan Zhijing died… and he freaking did. Even though I knew he was poisoned, I was still hoping for a happy ending…😭

Overall, I rate it 9/10. It was a slow-burn, deep romance drama. The storyline was okay because they didn’t drag it out too much. What I mean is that they focused on her story—her growth from rags to riches with a clear mind. How she tackles the unfairness of society to a female merchant. How strong she is during tough times (Shrimp death and Yan Zhijing sickness) and the story also shows how Yan Zhijing did everything to avenge the unjust death of his family and finally finding peace once their reputation was restored.

I rated it 9/10 because the actors and actresses were all superb - top class acting.. Zhao Lusi and Liu Yuning chemistry is perfect.. best of the best.. but I really didn’t like the ending. I’m not even sure if he died before the contest or if he left…😭😭😭 I know, I know… maybe the story was meant to show that Yan Zhijing was the type of man who comes into your life to teach you, guide you, love you, and make you strong—someone who leaves a deep impact on you so that you’ll never forget him, no matter what happens… and then, in the end, he leaves…😭😭😭

GENRE – Costume, Politics, Business, Romance, Revenge

FAV OST - Only Wish by Liu Yuning

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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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Love Zhao Lusi, her acting was fantastic in this drama, but I did not like the script.

The Story of a Pearl Girl is a custom drama about Duan Wu, who was raised, physically abused, and grew up in a harsh Pearl Farm environment without the protection of her parents. She learned to fight, stay alive, and become a well-respected jewelry designer and entrepreneur. She ran her own business in a town full of corruption.

I admired Zhao Lusi for taking on a challenging role that stretched her acting ability. Her character was mature and ambitious, wanting to better her life and the lives of the people who grew up with her in Pearl Farm. I enjoyed watching her, but the script could have been better because it did not do justice to her character and the story as a whole.

Her on-screen chemistry with Liu Yi Ning did not work well in this drama; they had a better story and characters in The Long Balad. The men in this story are useless; it is more of a women-centric tale, which they should focus more on.

It would have been better if she ended up with Zhang Jin Ran's character rather than Yan Zi Jing. ZJR is a better fit for her than YZJ. I did not like the ending either. I would rather see that she spent her time caring for and departing from YZJ since he did not survive due to poisoning. The ending was bad and felt rushed.

Synopsis: After escaping a brutal pearl farm, Duan Wu, a skilled diver, meets merchant Yan Zi Jing and noble Zhang Jin Ran. Joining Yan's caravan, she gets drawn into the glittering world of jewels while uncovering secrets about her past. Along the way, she faces betrayal and loss but stays determined to find the truth. Renamed Su Mu Zhe, she starts her own "Clear Mind" business and teams up with Zhang to right an old wrong. In the end, Su Mu Zhe thrives at the Jewel Exhibition, inspiring women to take control of their destinies.

My Reviews:
1. Good acting from ZLS.
2. The storyline could be better. It is draggy and boring, especially about the jewelry-making process and the corruption surrounding building her own store. It is too repetitive and draggy.
3. LYN and ZLS's on-screen chemistry is better in the Long Balad drama than this one.
4. ZLS is expanding and stretching her acting ability. She acted so well in playing this role where she was oppressed and mistreated by people, yet her optimism, assertiveness, and bravery helped her elevate in society as a jeweler.
5. I agree with Douban's rating of this drama. However, because of the bad script, I give it a 6.5.

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Great start however

I was excited and so looking forward to this series, the outline of the story was interesting and had real potential but i think in the end it failed to deliver . FL is a good actress and i really like ML Lui Yunning. so what could go wrong.
I felt the start was really really good and interesting and kept me waiting for the next episode but it started to drift. The actors did the best job they could with what i think was a confusing and chaotic story line and script. Or maybe it just wasn't for me. it was in the middle i felt it became lost so the writers threw everything at it, unfortunately it just meant that the middle part was not realistic and neither was it survivable. There it lost me. i did go back and watch the remaining episodes but not with the same enthusiasm that i had at the start.
I think the writers became lost so decided to throw every conceivable plot against the main characters, so it lost its appeal. when you are lost you should keep it simple, The actors are certainly good enough so they could showcase their talents, they did not need to be swamped with the chaos that followed.
I still feel a little cross and sad about it, Excellent actors, great story, what could go wrong.

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Liu Yunning and Zhao Lusi- I waited for this duo since the Long Ballad

I won't go as far as declaring it a masterpiece or the perfect drama of the year. Cdrama tends to go down the drain towards the second half most of the time which was the case here as well. Story wise, the premise was really good, though it depends on your personal preference for me I found myself skipping a lot especially in the second half. In the beginning it felt quite a mix of Novoland pearl and Princess Agent. The torturous life of FL and her evolution from a slave to an independent strong woman is what reminds me of the other two shows. Plus I am a sucker for a strong female sort of storylines hence I continued watching it despite everything. ML on the other hand looked like a jerk, snobbish and a typical cdrama ML but he was more than that. The more you watch the more you understand his pov. His own experience and the way he represented a life that was not full of roses to FL made his character more grounded. He never helped her in things or showed any affection to her, never bend his harsh rules for her or showed leniency whatever may come. His reasons were simple. 'You won't find kind hearted people out there so one should be strong enough not just physically but mentally as well to deal with a world like that without expecting someone's help.' That was the biggest contrast between him and the SML, who showed her a world full of kindness and goodness shit and what not. I understand him to some extent but would not agree with his ideologies of kindness returns kindness. This only works only in some cases but rest of the time it is pretty much what happens with FL during her business ventures in the beginning.
Side cast in my opinion was not explored enough that I would find myself thinking about their characters. Except for another tomboy female (Shijie) I do not think there was anyone worth remembering. Her character though was strong and tried to portray an antagonist which people could sympathize with but she felt little extra at times and I couldn't feel much sympathy for her. Music was good and costumes were beautiful. l am Not a fan of CGI here they could have done better there but overall it was an intriguing drama. And obviously with one of my fav CPs. I wouldn't say it has much re-watch value but it is definitely a one time watch.

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The story was draggy...

I watch anything with Lusi in it, but this is not for me.

I stopped watching when most of the supporting characters died in the first half of the show. The lore and worldbuilding are interesting at first, but the narrative's shift towards angst and drama made it unenjoyable for me. I was so engrossed at the start of the story arc, when the FL was freed from slavery then her becoming part of the ML's merchant crew. Her learning how to trade and becoming a businesswoman was what made me stay at the beginning.

But the story completely threw that away and made her start from scratch again because of a supposedly betrayal from the ML. It's just so stupid that the ML could overcome all the previous plots by the antagonists but couldn't have foreseen a possible betrayal from someone he knew after being gone so long? Then he just let the misunderstanding grew after all of what they experienced... seriously?

Could have been a wholesome watch if it weren't for the forced angst.

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The Rise of the Pearl Diver

The series started off well. It was really appealing. It was the same in terms of plot. It was the same in terms of actors. However, after certain episodes, especially after the ship landed and fell into the desert, there was a decline in the script. The series drifted back and forth. Afterwards, I was not happy with the scriptwriter or writer resorting to simplistic things that would overshadow the credibility of this beautiful series. I objected to this. The idea is good, the plot is good. The story of the rise of a slave Pearl Diver woman. Similarly, the story of a member of the Yan family clearing himself and his family against the injustice done to his family. The intersecting paths of these two, the events that developed in parallel. The revenges taken, the fight against injustice and unfairness. There was friendship, brotherhood, a little romance, and a little sentimentality. The actors were good. Only the scriptwriter was not good. He reduced this beautiful series to simple in my opinion. He was a waste of this group of actors. I reduced the series, which I was going to give 10, to 7.5. Especially our leads Zhao Lu Si and Liu Yu Ning were very good. They were in harmony. They also performed very well. I liked it. Tang Xiao Tian surpassed himself. He was very successful. He suited the role. I liked it. But the one who played the most striking role was Chloe Xie. She was extremely good. She stood out. I liked it very much. I think she will play the leading role now. Similarly, Shan Wan Qing showed herself. She also proved that she deserves better roles. What surprised me was Yu Yong Hai. His image was very good. He played his lame self as if he was really lame. It was perfect. I had watched a few more of his dramas. I think he surpassed himself in this drama. Well done. The child actor was very good. He left the drama early. All the actors were very good. I did some auditions, I drew attention, but the acting was extremely good. The direction was good. The shooting was good. The only thing I wish the writer or the scriptwriter had not resorted to some simplicity. If they had added a little more credibility to the stories, it would have been better. However, if we evaluate this as the writer's dream, we will not criticize it any further. That's how I evaluated it. Because in the darkness of the Middle Ages, it is impossible to even imagine a woman being thought of in this way. They even went so far as to establish a women's solidarity association. So I said no. Of course, I support our author's dream. And his understanding of justice and equality. But these were things beyond impossible at that time. That's why, in my opinion, its credibility could not go beyond a dream. The series also ended uncertainly. I was not very happy with the ending either. My grade is 7.5 out of 10.

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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.

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Story of Pearl Girl: A Tale of Resilience and Lost Focus

Review of Story of Pearl Girl

Story of Pearl Girl is undeniably a visual and auditory masterpiece. The acting, cinematography, costumes, and soundtrack are some of the best I’ve ever experienced. Every frame is meticulously crafted, and the performances of the cast bring a depth of emotion that truly captures the essence of their characters. The soundtrack beautifully complements the scenes, enhancing the story’s emotional impact and immersing the viewer completely.

The first few episodes are especially raw and gripping, setting a strong tone for the series. These early moments pull viewers in with their intensity and showcase the promise of an extraordinary journey. However, the portrayal of the female lead (FL), Duawuan, fluctuates throughout the series. At times, she’s a mastermind and an impressive genius, while at other moments, the male lead (ML) and second male lead treat her like a fragile Cinderella. There isn’t a clear learning curve to her intelligence; instead, her decisions feel erratic, ranging from brilliant to inexplicably foolish, as though the story is playing roulette with her character development.

While the central plot holds promise, the drama becomes repetitive and stagnant due to its over-reliance on familiar themes of killing, revenge, and corruption. These elements dominate the narrative, making the story feel monotonous and dragging the pacing. By the end, side characters continue to overshadow the main storyline, leaving the viewer yearning for a stronger focus on Duawuan and the core narrative.

Adding to this issue is the sheer number of supporting characters. While some add depth and intrigue, many feel unnecessary and detract from the main plot. This excess of subplots involving side characters dilutes the emotional impact of the main storyline, leaving pivotal relationships and developments underexplored. For example, Secretary Kang and the FL’s friends—those who left before the journey in the desert and her widowed pen pal—had potential for significant impact but were ultimately sidelined.

That being said, Duawuan’s story remains one of resilience and success against all odds, delivering an inspiring message to women who strive to stand on their own. Zhao Lusi’s portrayal of Duawuan is a highlight, showcasing her unmatched ability to convey both toughness and vulnerability. Her performance shines in emotional moments, whether crying or laughing, and solidifies her reputation as a skilled actress. This dark, angsty, female-centric narrative captures the essence of resilience while exploring themes of empowerment.

The Pearl Girl’s character is another strong point, starting as a bright and bold individual who immediately captivates the audience. However, as the story progresses, her presence becomes muted, and she retreats into a more withdrawn, somber version of herself. While this aligns with the darker tone of the narrative, it feels like a missed opportunity to further develop her character’s vibrant personality.

The relationships also suffer from inconsistency. The bond between the FL and ML escalates abruptly, going from 0 to 100 with little development or buildup. While some plot twists are engaging, they could have been more impactful with subtle foreshadowing. The ML’s acting is strong, but his casting feels slightly misaligned as a supposed native of a specific region, creating visual inconsistencies when compared to others from the same area. Additionally, the inspector character often overshadows him, further affecting the balance of the story.

The bittersweet ending is another divisive element. While Duawuan’s story ends with heartbreak, the choice not to show his death spares the audience from greater emotional devastation. Conversely, the Pearl Girl’s story concludes on a more satisfying note, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.

Ultimately, Story of Pearl Girl feels like a show of missed opportunities. While it dazzles with its artistry, compelling themes of empowerment, and Zhao Lusi’s stellar performance, its lack of narrative focus, repetitive themes, overabundance of side characters, and unresolved subplots hold it back from being truly unforgettable. That said, if you’re looking for a female-driven, angsty drama full of great dialogue and rich details in its mysteries, this is the show for you. Despite its flaws, it leaves a lasting impression and is a testament to the power of resilience.

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