Si Jin

Beautiful drama with great main leads Zhang Wanyi and Jing Tian!

During the first dozen of episodes a lot of flowers suffered, but then it got better. I thought the script writer had an issue with flowers.
Wanyi always plays great roles and ends up on the throne at the end, but this time it was especially wonderful that he had his lovely empress Jing Tian next to him. They were a good team together along with the second leads, Wanyi's assistant and the DOG of course! The lovely dog was such a warm touch of this drama, even through he did not do much. Chinese dramas did not yet get to the level of great animal trainers that we see in Western movies when they make movies involving various animals.
Overall, the drama was quite entertaining without a single boring moment. I may be biased because I love everything with Wanyi and Jing Tian, and this time they worked together! I jumped when I learned about the cast of this drama!
I highly recommend if you enjoy great actors playing very intelligent roles and active plot development. and pretty wise and fair emperor. I dislike it so much when the emperor even in a fictional drama is vicious and unkind! History is already full of such characters all around the world, so script writers please let us enjoy in peace our illusional kind and fair world from time to time!

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Not fully fleshed out.

When Si Jin was first announced, I was really excited and I am not going to deny it was because Jing Tian and Zhang Wanyi are two of my favourite chinese actors working today. They were, for the most part, the best of this drama but that's to be expected considering they are the leads and need to carry a heavy storyline of family and court politics, and outsmarting not only our main villain but every pawn she puts in their way. On this, Si Jin was satisfying. The rest of the supporting cast was also really good with what they were given to work with.

But from the beginning Si Jin had some storytelling issues. It could be ignore at first but as the story progressed and revelations started, it started to look messy. I struggled to put my finger on it for a while, why wasn't Si Jin working as it should when it had all the right elements? I have narrowed it down to the combination of small and big things.

For starters, Si Jin's script is not exactly tight and coherent the whole time. As a consequence, for example, the main villain comes of as one-dimensional; so when she argues her talents were always were overlooked because of her gender or that she was in marriage without love, it simply leaves the viewer wondering "Am I supposed to feel bad for her?". Because I spent 39 episodes watching her murder indiscriminately, with the first point never being developed and the latter where it's clear as day she actually forced the man to marry her. Another key point, is that the mystery surrounding one of the leads' connection to another nation was put in the back burner for way too long, in favour of repetitive family conflicts.

All of this gets more obvious when you realize one of the drama's weakest points, its editing. There are harsh cuts and inconsistencies in the sequence of the story, so much so, that makes me think a studio suit (or censor?) put their hands on the show, cutting in order to achieve a certain amount of episodes, avoid some of the points the show was trying to make or the story it was trying to tell.

I googled the people responsible for this drama, behind the scenes, and while they are experienced, looking at their filmography makes me think perhaps this story was too big of a project to develop for them. Which it can be a reality that affected the drama's final cut.

Overall, Si Jin feels like the skeleton of what could have been a really great drama have they had the opportunity to be fully fleshed out. I still enjoyed it, tho, and it didn't drag at any minute. It's a solid 7 out of 10 stars.

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This Script Butchers Storytelling

I have great respect for the actors. However, no amount of acting talent can salvage a script that is fundamentally, irredeemably broken. The sheer incompetence of the writing isn’t just frustrating — it’s a grave insult. An insult to the intelligence of the audience, an insult to the craft of storytelling, and an insult to the very actors tasked with breathing life into this train wreck of a narrative.

We are expected to believe that an emperor —portrayed as wise and discerning — is somehow utterly blind to the blatant and unchecked villainy of the grand princess and her daughter. Worse still, this same emperor, who profess to be a loving and responsible father, inexplicably forces his son into marrying the grand princess's evil daughter as his principal wife, despite knowing that his son is already happily married to and deeply in love with the female lead. What kind of wisdom is this? It’s not just illogical — it’s downright idiotic.

The grandmother, presented as a strong matriarch and supposedly seasoned by a lifetime of experience — is crumbles into a gullible fool, mindless puppet, easily manipulated by her second daughter-in-law as if she were a clueless, naïve pawn. Did the writer forget their own characterizations halfway through the script, or did they just assume the audience wouldn’t notice the blatant inconsistency? These character inconsistencies are not just frustrating and nonsensical; they are an outright mockery of storytelling.

And then there’s the second branch’s wife and her ever-loyal, ever-deranged maid — two characters so cartoonishly malicious they might as well twirl a mustache while cackling in the sewer. They spends almost the entire series concocting one vile scheme after another to bring down the first branch, driven by nothing more than jealousy. They goes to horrifying lengths, even resorting to poisoning the first branch’s wife and daughter, yet somehow, They faces no real consequences. Their wickedness isn’t just tolerated — it’s actively prolonged, stretched to the point of absurdity, as if the writer truly believes that nonsensical, repetition over-the-top villainy is a substitute for meaningful depth and tension.

It’s painfully obvious that the writer is more interested in manufacturing cheap, exaggerated drama simply to grab attention than crafting a coherent, compelling, and intelligent story. The blatant disregard for character depth and consistency is nothing short of lazy, as if they believe the audience is dumb and will blindly accept whatever nonsense is thrown at them. Did the writer truly believe the audience wouldn’t see through these silly gaping plot holes?

A drama with this much potential deserved a writer who actually respected their craft. Instead, we’re left with a hollow, incoherent wreck that disrespects its characters, its audience, and the very essence of storytelling. This is not just bad writing; it’s insulting. It reduces storytelling to a mindless spectacle, squandering the potential of its actors and the patience of its audience. To call it a failure would be too generous — this is a masterclass in how not to write.

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Another Decent Rebirth Drama

Don't get me wrong, it's not that this drama is bad at all, but I have to be honest that there hasn't been anything so far that makes this drama stand out amongst the dozens of rebirth dramas that have already been made. FL was killed in her last life, gets reborn 10 years into the past and tries her best to avoid all the conflict she met in her past life. She's reunited with her brother, her father, and her sister, all of which she ended up losing in her last life. But most importantly (to me, not to her), she meets her lover once again, but this time a lot earlier than expected. The beginning angst is that he was the one who killed her in her past life (gasp, I'm sure you've read the synopsis), but personally I'm still not sure if it was him because I THINK he didn't release his arrow and this was someone else's doing.

But without further ado, here's my review so far :)

First off, FL, Jiang Si, is an intelligent young lady and you can tell immediately as soon as she returns back to 10 years ago, she already has many plans to make sure things go her way this time, and she can brilliantly come up with different ideas on the spot when she faces the unseen difficulties as well. I would like to mention at the very beginning of the drama, it shows that she desperately wants her family to be safe, and that's all she worries about, but I felt like it lacked a bit of depth and emotion when she is able to see them again (and keep in mind the were wronged and killed off in her past life). I felt the same thing when she met the ML, Yu Jin (Yu Qi) again - her supposed lover who betrays her, yet she doesn't show any emotion after having spent many years with him in the past, or any indication that she has a lot of knowledge as to who he is as a person. It seems crazy to me that after spending all that time together, it's as if she wasn't able to learn a single thing about him. If she did, they aren't portraying this very well. Either way, Yu Qi is actually just his fake identity, and his real identity is the 7th prince, but he was framed as a bringer of misfortune since birth and had never wanted to reveal who he really is. Because of FL having a mysterious emblem on her neck in this life, what was supposed to be a quick trip turns into Yu Qi actually staying in Da Zhou to further investigate FL to see if she's secretly a traitor to their nation. He ends up working for the capital administration office and he and FL both work together to solve cases and capture the bad guys as their story unfolds.

I'm enjoying their little banters and it seems like it's a slowburn, but for a 40 episode drama I guess it technically isn't. Yu Qi is strong, intelligent, but also a little silly and petty, which really reminds me of his character in Are You the One. Whoever styled him with that long hair in the flashbacks needs a raise bc that man looks amazing in that hairstyle and I'm gonna have to see him in that style in a future drama (pretty please). FL is like I said, intelligent and able to stand on her own without the ML, but it's cute to see them worry and protect each other regardless. I can't say I love the actress' portrayal of Jiang Si, something seems a little off and I think she isn't delivering the lines as I would expect them to. Once again, there's a sort of emotional pull that this drama is lacking that doesn't allow me to empathize with, well everyone really. Zhang Wan Yi does a pretty good job though, I wonder how his future emotional scenes will play out.

Naturally, there are evil people that want the FL dead and that's the annoying ass princess royal and her daughter who don't have much character development as it seems they're just evil because they want to be. Trust me, you're gonna HATE them. I hope that little weasel actually gets whats coming to her in the end. Another thing I didn't expect was for some of the storylines to be so violent/aggressive. It reminds me a lot of western dramas, for example the portrayal of the abuse of women, women trafficking, etc., these are not things you see often in cdramas and when you do, they aren't as extreme as they're shown in this story. It doesn't necessarily add anything to the main plot, but perhaps it was just for more dramatic viewing?

Overall, really not that bad, an entertaining watch if you like period dramas with romance, but it really is another typical rebirth revenge plot.

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Over use of graphic violence much?!

It's rare for me to feel the need to call out a series for the use of violence because I have watched PLENTY of violent shows, many of them more violent than this one in fact but I feel compelled to say enough if ENOUGH. The way this series has brutalized women in such great detail is utterly unnecessary to the story and to me it smacks of relying on pedalling in shock rather than caring to create a quality story/script. It is troublesome to see. It's a good part of the reason why I stopped watching NA series because they were lazy and simply use sex and violence as entertainment. I had been enjoying greatly the refreshing change of vibe from the Asian series I've been watching for about five years now. Unfortunately, this show is really making me sad and disappointed. The actors are all extremely talented, I can see they are doing a wonderful job. I appreciate the costumes, the sets and the filming is often spectacular but I think the writers need to do better, MUCH better and I guess the producers and directors as well. Many, many fine series do have plenty of violence but it is within a level of dignity and relevance that this series has (for me) utterly missed the mark at discerning.

It could have been such an amazing and badass series with the cast it's flying and even though the story has been done before, it still could have been excellent. For me this one simply cannot be silently placed in my "did not enjoy" pile. I have to say, it's going in a direction I sincerely hope is NOT becoming a new trend to see who can outdo one another in the shocking violence scene.

I acknowledge the many, many talented people who made this series and it is NOT their fault.

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WOMANHOOD: Ancient Stories, Timeless Struggles

SI JIN vividly portrays the heart-rending struggles of women in ancient times. Amidst a backdrop where women’s autonomy was often overlooked, Yu Qi stands out. He respects the authority women should hold over their own lives. Alongside Jiang Si, he helps them seek justice.

The series features several cases of “unhappy marriages,” trapping women in seemingly hopeless situations. Mothers and daughters were frequently not taken seriously, treated merely as objects or tools for social advancement. Some resorted to harming other mothers and daughters to protect themselves or seek revenge, while others protected others at great personal cost. There were also women so indoctrinated that they were too afraid to stand up for their fellow females. However, some were still steadfast in their pursuit of justice, despite the consequences they might face themselves.

While SI JIN was strong in displaying the struggles of womanhood and violent grievances, love entanglements were still evident and contributing to the overall perception of the TV drama. I could have appreciated a little more screen time of love, but GIVEN THE FRAMEWORK AND THE HISTORICAL ACCURACY of struggles that was aimed for, I respect their decision not to focus too much on romance.

ACTING 9.5
Jing Tian adeptly captures Jiang Si’s vulnerability, making the audience empathize with her character's plight. After her rebirth, Jiang Si becomes as sharp as a sword drawn from its sheath. Jing Tian masterfully depicts this transformation, especially in the scenes where she outwits her aunt; almost every glance and gesture exudes intelligence and determination.

Zhang Wan Yi‘s role was to my very liking as well. He portrays Yu Qi, a complex character who is a blend of warmth, respect, and scepticism. He treats people with consideration, showing respect for the rights of others and a genuine concern for their feelings, which makes him a likable character.

I‘d also be able to write many more paragraphs about each main and side character, as I think they are all well-written and unyieldingly imperfect. Especially for characters like Aunt Xiao and Royal Princess, the performances of these two characters were truly stunning. They were more than just „evil“. The Writer(s) made me understand their struggles and the misbeliefs that led their paths to become so crooked.

MUSIC 8.5
I downloaded some of the songs on Spotify and also added them to a playlist. I‘d say that’s enough of a sign to argue that the music was well composed and catching. I especially liked: „有生之年" by 叶炫清

Despite some minor flaws, I find this story truly unique and therefore can´t personally agree with the harsh dislike.

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So so

This, like many dramas, started great but fizzled out by the end. I loved the cast, the sets, costumes, and music were great, but the story just didn't completely deliver. I was completely onboard until around episode 36, then had trouble finishing it. The time travel/rebirth thing was underutilized and not explained well, and there were too many plot holes. That said, I did enjoy the side characters' stories and almost feel this might have done better in the format used in Perfect Match where each family member has a few episodes dedicated to telling their story. But, then again, that would undermine the whole time travel centric plot so...maybe not.

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Average

I liked the beginning of the drama—she got a second chance. After all the wrongs that happened in her past life, she was given an opportunity to undo them. She did her best to correct the injustices faced by her and her family. However, after a promising start, the storyline became quite flat.

There were only a few scenes that I truly enjoyed, and they kept me watching. My favorite moment was when the male lead stood up against his father and firmly decided never to marry again because he deeply loved his wife and wouldn’t let anyone come between them.

The last episode was quite boring—he waited for her for too long, which felt dragged out.

Overall, I would only recommend this drama if you have nothing else to watch.

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Opening up the past to lead to a positive present and future.

Si Jin Crime Mystery Secret Identity Time Travel drama with Zhang Won Yi as Yu Qi / Yu Jin and Jing Tian as Jiang Si.


The Chinese drama Si Jin is a Time Travel drama, served up in many flashbacks. However, the flashbacks do not get in the way. It is the story of the rebirth of Jiang Si. Her past life gone wrong ended in an early death. However, the female lead character (Jiang Si) is reborn some how. Jiang Si tries to change her original history from her original timeline, as she gets a second chance to influence the original negative outcomes. She teams up with her former nemesis of her past life and the two try to uncover grave injustices as they solve crimes surrounding her former death. The story is Melodramatic in presentation, with lots of family dynamics and Court intrigue. There are villains galore and plenty of female villains too.

The Chinese love women villains in their Costume dramas, and sisters know that we can do “viallian” really good. There is a mother and daughter team of villains in Si Jin who will make your skin crawl. The story is adapted from the web novel "The Brocaded Tale of the Girl Si".


Warning: Some story arcs are brutal crimes. Rated PG 15.



The Chinese Drama Si Jin has become very popular among Chinese drama devotees. Admittedly, the beginning episodes of Si Jin were just barely good, but not great for me. I stuck it out with this drama because of the high praise Si Jin was getting from other viewers. While the beginning episodes did not draw me in, the later episodes were stupendous. The back episodes for Si Jin are pure drama delight. It is almost like two different writers wrote this story. Finally, I can see why Si Jin is getting so much praise.

Edited: Oddly, I found out that six persons are given writer’s credit for Si Jin. I don’t know the order in which the writers were added on to this drama project, but someone in the back end knew where Si Jin should head or the team finally acquiesced to the right person’s lead. That person saved this drama and made it a hit for me.

Screenwriters: Li Wen Ting, Cai Cai, Liu Jai Si, Wang Ke, Dong Fang Chen, Wang Xiang.


The Male Lead for Si Jin is Zhang Won Yi (playing Yu Qi / Yu Jin). Often, I am reminded at how so closely ML Zhang Won Yi has the acting persona of Korean actor Park Seo Joon. Zhang Won Yi is so much like Park Seo Joon, always finding ways to stick in comedic gestures, even though performing serious drama. Watch for these little moments from him. Zhang Won Yi is Park Seo Joon’s acting twin. The female lead is Jing Tian as Jiang Si. Her acting is polished and has great range.



MY RATING CHOICES ARE BASED ON FIXED CRITERIA AND NOT JUST POPULARITY

1. Great Storytelling
2. Not losing focus with the great story
3. Unusual and inventive ideas for the plotline and arcs
4. Challenging characters needing a wide range of acting skills
5. Actors meeting the needs of the challenging characters
6. Meeting Industry Standards for Cinematography, Lighting, Editing and overall film quality.
7. Likability

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A hit and miss

This “rebirth”drama had many glaring flaws but I managed to finish it so it did intrigue. It really was a hit and a miss for me. From the first few episodes I could already see that this wouldn’t win drama of the year. The overall story and direction is mediocre at best.

The hits:
Some really likable characters: I enjoyed a lot of the characters and their personalities, even some of the villains. FL and ML are overall strong in character and the kind that’s not frustrating to watch. Many side characters also added a lot of warmth and fun - like ZH and princess FQ were just rays of sunshine in a corrupt palace. At first I did wonder about some of the casting, like the brother, but eventually he grew on me. The women were also particularly delightful to watch as they were all just so pretty.
Some good storylines on its own: How they narrated some of the cases were a good watch. I also enjoyed how characters that appeared in the series at different stages all came together in the end - that was rather poetic. And the overall idea of the rebirth was more original than other rebirth plots.
Family and relationships: Rather than the typical tropes, it was refreshing to see the father put his children’s happiness above anything else. Instead of the typical miscommunications or distrust you see play out too long in mediocre dramas, it portrayed some beautiful relationships of trust and camaraderie.

The misses:
Directing and editing: I don’t know much about film but I find that the directors are critical to the success of a drama - and I think they did a poor job. The scenes sometimes just cut abruptly, some angles and scenes were taken with noticeable flaws - almost amateurish, the voiceovers/dubbing were almost comical sometimes (particularly the scene when XS had her monologue, I cringed). It’s one of those occasions where it really is the fault of the director that we find the acting bad.
Storylines, screenwriting and execution: While some storylines were good, there were also a lot more storylines/scenes and how things played out that were so unoriginal that laziness just shone through. Episodes 36+ were a big representation of that. The flashback scenes also didn’t really show us much - they could have really delved deeper into this aspect to make a good storytelling.
Surface level villains and motivations: I think one of the biggest failures of this drama was the main villain. For a character with so much screen time, they failed abysmally at showing why RY was the way she was. Were we meant to feel sorry for her or hate her? I was left feeling more confused than feeling any of those things (why below).

***spoiler***.

They failed to show why she always played the king and why she didn’t treat him sincerely as her brother - I couldn’t see why when they showed the king to be nothing but good to her. It makes her entire personality grown out of “villain for villains sake”. There was just no real backstory for her actions. This is so important to the story, especially because they were the reason all of this happened to the FL. Their overall demise was not near satisfactory - it was an insult to the suffering endured by everyone.

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