Every princess needs a “fairy Godmother”
I struggled to give a suitable nickname for Pei Wen Xuan, Li Rong’s Prince Consort in The Princess Royal.By right, he is the Prince Charming, with all the memories of 1st lifetime to do the 2nd one right again. By left though, the story kind of fell through midway with Pei Wen Xuan’s role got outshined by Li Rong’s empowered moments and second male lead “villain origin’s built up”, Su Rong Qing. This feeling, is in spite of how I’ve already skipped and zoomed past most of the scenes to focused on the interactions between Pei Wen Xuan, Li Rong and their servants at the princess mansion, as well as Shanguan Ya and Su Rong Hua. However, even taking Su Rong Qing’s heightened feature in the story aside, I feel the overall plot kind of weak. Rather than Prince Charming, Pei Wen Xuan feels like Li Rong’s “Fairy Godmother” whose focus is to fulfil the Princess wishes. I am not against female empowerment story nor highlight on 2ML arc. The Princess Royal just doesn’t string the plots in an enjoyable pace.
What’s positive about The Princess Royal is the story premise and main leads interactions. It features a 38 year old married couple going back to their 18 year old selves, recognising each other remembering their first lives, and still trusting each other, more than they’d like to admit, to do life again, hopefully wiser this time.
Pei Wen Xuan’s and Li Rong’s teamwork, rapport and interaction is lighthearted and fun to watch. Zhang Ling He and Zhao Jin Mai are a cute pair of onscreen couple - youthful and pretty, …and maybe a tad slightly petty (in a good way of course).
In short, one can tune in to The Princess Royal if they are on a drama drought and want a light hearted do-over / second chances stories.
…However, I’d recommend Go Back Couple, a modern K-drama of 38 years old married couple who find themselves back in their 20’s if one wants a more solid couple do over story. And for female empowerment ones, my recent enjoyable watch is The Story of Hua Zhi / Blossoms in Adversity.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Imperfect But Rewarding Time Travel + 2nd Chance Romance + Palace Drama
*** INCLUDES MAJOR PLOT SPOILER***Not a perfect drama but quite satisfying if the viewer likes the time travel trope and enjoys a lot of plot with their romance. I've observed so much resentment and anger that the SML character even exists and is getting screentime and I fear that some people are missing out on enjoying the story because they're too preoccupied with making it about a love triangle instead of a story about family, personal freedom, how power traps and corrupts people, and the ability to change. The relationship between FL and her brother the crown prince is very well done, so much hurt and healing.
Having a 3rd time traveler with a different agenda, who can't let go of the past, is actually an interesting narrative device! If the viewer can just accept it as a badass time travel story with a good romance on the side and a struggle to win the battle of changing the timeline, with a big cast of characters who can make different choices this time... then it's a very solid drama.
The 2ML is not ever someone who FL was going to pick, the moment that ML decided he wanted a real marriage and understood his regrets. 2ML being a real love rival was only PWX's insecurities. FL was ONLY ever with SML because ML and her split up (over another woman). 2ML was always the guy she settled for, when she thought she couldn't have and trust PWX. Some annoying background music due to 2ML's pathetic pining shouldn't distract us so much from the obvious. He's a pitiful time traveler who ruins his second chance while our leads do not. That's all the drama ever intends him to be.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Twisted tale of politics and love
This tale involves a paronoid emperor who ends up killing his son with the crown prince eventually killing his sister amidst palace political intrigue and tragedy.The main story is about the politically savvy eldest princess, the Princess Royal Li Rong and her consort, Pei Wenxuan, who were stuck for 20 years in a loveless marriage. They both were killed and were ‘reborn’ to when she is 18 and he, 20. This gives them a 2nd chance to change their outcome in life and politics. But no matter how much they tried to right things, life seems inevitable to repeat itself. However, their relationship improves as past misunderstandings are resolved revealing their love for each other. It wasn’t until later that they discovered another person, the Princess Royal’s trusted childhood friend, Su Ron Qing, was also ‘reborn’. Su loves Li Rong but not enough to prioritize her over his family’s interest, Su also tried his best to change his and his family’s tragic destiny with his schemes running counter to that of Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan, thus undoing much of what the couple tried to achieve. Su is out for revenge for what happened to him in his previous life and scuttles many of Li Rong’s schemes by rationalizing he’s just protecting her. All this happening in a court where the powerful and corrupt nobles are colluding for selfish interests and an emperor who has a deep distrust of his own children and empress. A wrong step in the emperor’s eyes could mean death for his children. I find myself looking forward to every episode to see how LiRong and Pei Wenxuan would deal with the deadly situations dished out.
Because of all the palace political shenanigans, this drama needs good English subtitles to be enjoyed fully. Both male and female leads as well as the SML did a good job with their performances. The costumes and accessories are beautiful with great cinematography. This is a female centric drama and it is interesting to see how the Princess Royal dresses as an official in court. She is portrayed as a strong, intelligent and capable courtier, more suitable to rule than her brother, the crown prince.
Was this review helpful to you?
The acting of Zhang Linghe and Zhao Jinmai is so captivating
I really like this drama because the cast is Zhang Linghe and Zhao Jinmai, they portray the characters Peiwenxuan and Lirong very well, I hope they can meet in their next project as a couple.For the story of this drama, it is actually very exciting, but the development of the relationship between Pei Wenxuan and Lirong takes so long, and there are very few scenes of Pei Wenxuan towards the end of the episodes, instead there are more scenes of Su Ronqing, and in my opinion, that is very annoying.
Was this review helpful to you?
1This review may contain spoilers
A Captivating Journey through Love and Redemption
The Princess Royal is a remarkable historical drama that immerses viewers in a world of love, power, and redemption. The series shines brightly, thanks to the exceptional performances of its main leads, Zhang Linghe and Zhao Jinmai, who bring depth and authenticity to their characters, Pei Wen Xuan and Li Rong.What I liked:
1. Outstanding Acting: The chemistry between Zhang Linghe and Zhao Jinmai is palpable and captivating. Their performances are heartfelt and nuanced, making their characters' journey deeply engaging. Chen He Yi also delivers a commendable performance as Su Rong Qing, adding complexity to his character.
2. Emotional Depth: The series excels in portraying the emotional struggles and growth of its characters. Moments like the intimate boat scene, where Li Rong rests her head on Pei Wen Xuan's shoulder, beautifully showcase their evolving relationship and emotional connection.
3. Visual Excellence: The cinematography and production design are top-notch, creating a visually stunning backdrop that enhances the storytelling. The attention to detail in costumes and sets transports viewers to the historical period, making the drama an immersive experience.
4. Complex Characters: The drama masterfully develops multi-dimensional characters, allowing viewers to empathize with their motivations and struggles. This complexity adds layers to the narrative and keeps viewers invested in the characters' journeys.
Some people may not have understood li rong and pei wenxuan, and felt like they didn't like each other. Li Rong loves Pei Wenxuan as much as he loves her. Li Rong also slowly fell in love with Pei Wenxuan again. She was very insecure about relationships, so she slowly opened her heart until Hua Chuan admitted it, which gave Pei Wenxuan peace of mind. Pei Wenxuan was actually so jealous because his wife was taken away by someone else in his previous life, and he lived alone for more than ten years. In short, the two of them would subconsciously care about each other. After all, they always cared about each other subconsciously. In fact, both of them were very gentle and kind people.
The main reason why he didn't dare to divorce was not Su Rongqing. He knew that Li Rong loved him in this life and would not be taken away again. But because of the things in the previous life, he still had hidden worries in his heart. The main reason was that he understood Li Rong's heart in this life. If he agreed to divorce Li Rong without hesitation, she would probably lose faith in his love again and lose Li Rong again. He couldn't afford to lose her for the second time. He couldn't bear a life without Li Rong!
I think he was also afraid of changes. It was not just a question of whether Li Rong liked him or not, but also a royal marriage that depended on the emperor's words. What he wanted was Li Rong's love and a legitimate marriage, which was very important to him. He could not accept losing Li Rong in reality or in appearance. His attitude of "not being able to drive her away" made Li Rong more aware of their feelings for each other. Nothing could separate them except the interests of the country and life and death.
What could be improved:
1. Screen Time Distribution: One notable issue is the uneven distribution of screen time, with the second lead, Su Rong Qing, receiving more focus than the main characters at times. A more balanced approach would have strengthened the overall narrative.
2. Unresolved Plot Points: Several minor characters who played significant roles in the development of the main plot were left without proper resolutions. Their storylines were either abruptly ended or not given enough screen time to conclude satisfactorily.
3. Music: While the soundtrack includes memorable themes that enhance key scenes, it could benefit from more variety and standout pieces to consistently elevate the emotional impact of the drama.
Overall Experience:
Despite its minor flaws, The Princess Royal stands out as a beautifully crafted drama that offers a compelling and emotionally rich viewing experience. The strong performances, intricate character development, and visual excellence make it a must-watch for fans of historical dramas. I highly recommend "The Princess Royal" for its engaging storytelling and the captivating journey it offers through love, power, and redemption.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not Your Typical Rebirth Drama. This is a Love Story Across 2 Life Times ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Amazing drama with interesting hypothesis. The who drama is based on the assertion where both main characters are reborn after been manipulated and killed by the people who they both saw as family, friend and lover. And this was right at the beginning of the drama whic added a nice twist to the typical reincarnation drama. After been reborn, the two of them face the truth of the day and had to decide on whether or not to repeat the events of the past where they both lost their lives.The drama was well casted with each character playing to their roll very wall. The main couple Zhao Jin Mai (FL) and Zhang Ling He (ML) had an amazing chemistry adding a little romantic fell to a more intense drama.
Zhan Ling He really symbolises his character Pei Wen Xuan very well as a sunny, handsome yet slightly scheming Person. Whilst Zhao Jin Mai as the Princess Royal showed elegance, slightly cold yet assertive and also calculating yet both complemented each other very well.
The drama was well paced and was nice to see Pei Wen Xuan and Li Rong slowly fall in love again and well with the obstacle ahead of them together. Amazing cast all around, excellent story, great cinematography, brilliant drama with great ending. 10/10. Highly Recommended. 👌👌💕
Was this review helpful to you?
Pei Wuxuan deserves better
No character (except maybe Pei Wuxuan), plotline, family, dynamic is really worth cheering for in this drama. Pei's only major flaw to me is how much of a simp he was for FL, who till the end of the drama didn't really convince me in her love for him. I would be so insecure in that relationship if I was PWX.Overall, I really didn't like how much importance and screen time was given to 2ML. FL also gave him way too much of her attention to the point that he had more of a presence than PWX in her life, imo. In terms of the romance plot bw FL and ML, i didnt truly feel the chemistry between the actors at all, their scenes were cute but it didnt come across entirely natural. In comparison to FLs previous hit, AASOL, the chemistry was deeeefinitely much lower. It was still okay, but just not great.
Almost everything I hate about cdramas was present in this drama- foolish Emperors, misunderstandings, delusional villains we have to watch justify their dumbass actions for the entirety of the series, poor family dynamics (relationship bw Li Rong and Li Chuan was almost good till it got ruined), and more. It's dissapointing cos this started off strong but began falling apart from Ep 33.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Loved every episode of this show
Its a great production, costumes, cinematography and casting were good. I loved the initial banter between ML and FL. Their push/pull relationship made it interesting to watch. The secondary couples were adorable and you find yourself rooting for them too.Acting wise, ZLH and ZJM were perfect for the roles and they were easy to watch and believable. The light moments where ML and his servant cracked me up many times too.
I was annoyed by too much air time given to the SML. The show pissed viewers off by making Li Rong look ambivalent about her feelings for Su Rongqing. I think she felt pity towards him in the end, though that was not portrayed better, letting viewers think she had some romantic feelings for him. Her feelings for him were complex, it also showed she was a sentimental person in the way she treated her brother and Shangguan Ya who had previously harmed her.
Pei Wenxuan is actually a really smart and decisive character, they showed some of his capabilities. It was a shame the script did not allow him more time to showcase his capabilities. Instead the screenplay gave Su Rongqing soooo much airtime despite us knowing he's a deluded villain who will never see the light.
Li Rong actually loved PWX a lot, but it was mostly through actions and not words. If you look at her every move, she was always protecting him and would go to great lengths just to keep him safe. I just wished there was a scene where she'd tell SRQ flat out that she would never choose him even in this life or the next.
Overall i liked the show as it didnt have any draggy moments or useless fillers and i didnt skip or FF any scenes. Just wish they spent the time developing ML's character more, rather than giving so much airtime to 2ML. I couldn't get enough of the romantic scenes between ML abd FL either, wished they could have shown more of them together in the last episode.
Was this review helpful to you?
I Love both lead of this drama.
This might be some bias review.The whole cast are so great for me. ZJM & ZLH got chemistry.. and ZJM acting getting more improved a lot!.. well she got different kind of roles vibes this time. For the first few episode it make me excited... but somewhat from episode 20 something I get bit bored.. so i decide to put it on hold and wait the drama completed to watch.. the ending are great..
Well there's time when you watch this you might get carried out.. sometimes I Cried,, get cringed.. annoyed, happy and thankful.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
FL is an hypocrite
FL thinks her estranged husband poisoned her so she orders his death without any questions asked but when she finds out she was murdered by her brother in the past because he thinks she tried to kill him, she gets all sad and acts like she is a victim even though her brother had better reasons to kill her based on his suspicion and evidence than she did to kill her own husband based on just speculations.I really hated this about this drama and I must say this is the only flaw I find. It really got on my nerve how she acted like her brother is the villian even though she did the same thing and even almost tied to betray him in the present time. Ughhhhh!
Getting past this bit, the drama is a good one
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Very in-depth Villain but superficial Male Lead.
Review contains spoilers! Youve been warned!Storyline: Very well written! Su Rongqing is such an interesting character. He loves Li Rong just as much as Pei Wenxuan does, but he doesnt trust her as much as PWX trusts her. Unfortunately, their life circumstances make it hard for them to be together. He just doesnt trust her enough to know that she'd be able to prevent his family's death. I cant blame him though, poor guy is traumatized. Not to mention the power struggles, there's no way the king would let them be together. That aside, I love the mystery around finding out what happened in the past. I also really enjoyed the reveal of SRQ. We got to hear the story from his side that made us completely understand why he did what he did. His death was unavoidable though. I like that, even though PWX and SRQ were enemies, PWX didnt want SRQ to die either. UNFORTUNATELY SRQ has so much more depth than PWX. PWX was just a puppy at the commands of LR. He's cute! But he's boring. But I did love the couple banter! They really are like an old couple! Two old souls and yet they still act like children and still get butterflies around each other. One of the goals of the drama was to melt LR's stone heart. Which it achieves; she goes from cold and independent to a damsel in distress. You can be a strong independent woman but when with your husband, you soften and he takes care of you. I didnt like it tho.
Casting: the pick for SRQ was good! His face is so innocent and yet so full of sadness. He portrayed SRQ so well! I just wanted to give him a hug!
I also wasnt a fan of Zhang Ling He much. I've watched him in Maiden Holmes and Love Between Fairy and Devil but DAMMNN he was such a good actor in this drama! I got butterflies!!
I'm honestly impressed with Zhao JinMai. A young but really good actress!
Overall enjoyable drama with really good side couples too
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I think Everyone needs to watch this Masterpiece!!
Su rongqing! Su rongqing! how pitiful! I felt so bad for you...you could have become a better person but you chose to be bad in your two lives...how can they give you a second chance to life and you still chose to be bad...you deserve death! I wish you could choose another path...living a better life but without the princess.li rong if I were you, I would also choose Pei wenxuan the second life...infact I would choose him all my lives...they are just the perfect couple..
I cried for Su rongqing and the King...I pitied both of them.
it was a wonderful story....I think people should watch it without listening to the bad comments...after finishing it, I didn't see anything wrong with the ending or the drama....as a matter of fact...I felt emotions for every single important character in the drama....I believe it was written beautifully....SRQ is the first villain I pity but still wanted him to die because of the path he chose...
I give it a 10/10...the fact that I started it for Zhang linghe and stayed for the story.... because he is the only character I am familiar with in the drama....
I will miss them all...I wish I could erase my memory and rewatch it...it became so serious and overwhelmed me with so much emotions.
good job to the novel writer, script writer, directors and most especially the actors and everyone involved in the production of the drama.
thank you for the wonderful story.
Was this review helpful to you?
