News 
From Checkmate to Bounced Check
If Kill Me, Love Me was an awkward misstep that made you laugh for the wrong reasons, this one at least finds its groove. The writing’s tighter, more consistent, and it actually flows from start to finish. Sure, it still has those classic filler episodes—because, let’s be real, no C-drama escapes that curse—but it doesn’t tank the experience. When things slowed down, I’d just watch one episode a day; when it kicked into high gear and the plot hit like a domino effect, I easily binged three or more in one sitting. Totally normal.The villains? Hands down the most compelling part. Their grudges and ambitions didn’t just pop out of thin air—they’re rooted in their past, their upbringing, the messed-up lives they’ve led. But here’s the thing: with a title like this, you expect the princess to be a sharp, ruthless player all the way through. Instead, by the final stretch, she’s making clueless, naïve, downright dumb choices. And that’s when the frustration really sets in, like she forgot the rules of her own game.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Not the conventional romance but historical
Story:May not be the best drama out there but definitely not disappointing. The story was kept realistic and historical. The trust that was built through so many episodes seen to be more real than the usual fall in love at first sight. This is a very political story. It revolves around a high official in court and his cucubine.
Yes, she is not the wife. He already had a harem of women before she married him. This may seem unacceptable to many viewers but it is real based on the historical setting. He is a high official who is 30 years old so definitely realistic. The betrayals and schemes between the leads were very interesting to watch. This story was not about romance. The kissing scenes were non conventional too. Not the best story in historical but definitely not bad. I think it felt similar to The sword and the brocade. The understanding between the ml and fl was so good and satisfying
Acting:
Both the leads did so well in this show. The acting was spot on for me. They showed every single emotion and the change of distrust to trust perfectly. The portrayal of the supporting actors were good too. The show can get full score in acting.
Ending:
Personally for me it was not bad. It may not satisfy every viewer. The villians kinda didn't get a satisfactory punishment. The final scene was not explained well .
Final verdict:
Do give it a try...
I jumped in without any expectations while waiting for another drama to air so. It's not the best nor the worst . Definitely something that is worth the time if you are alright with multiple wives.
Was this review helpful to you?
Overall it is still a good show although it could be better
The first half of the show was strong and lived up to the title 'The Princess's Gambit', the princess (FL) was witty and resourceful, and also showed the flirtatious side, and I was entertained to watch the FL and ML bantering and outsmarting each other.However, the remaining half of the show the FL became flat and annoying (not entirely the actress' fault). In line with it, the show also became a bit messy. It seemed the script was deteriorating, and poor directions may contribute to it?
It has a Happy Ending, although it was rushed in a short vague scene, there wasn't other tender scenes or dialogues between ML and FL. Overall it is still a good show although it could be better.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Great opening, a bit disappointed by the second half
PLOT: The FL, an abused princess (Cold Palace), is sent to a neighboring country for a marriage of alliance with the 4th Prince. In this country, the four princes vie for power (Evil CP). The FL eventually becomes the Great Counselor's concubine (who's investigating counterfeit money). Mistrust, espionage, various plots, and jealousy from the other women in the harem.+++ Excellent CL : Liu Xue Yi & Meng Zi Yi
+++ A talented cast
+++ High-budget production (sets, costumes, etc.)
+++ Excellent OSTs
### The quality of the story is inconsistent. It seems like the screenwriter had exhausted all her good ideas in the early stages of the series.
### Always the same actor playing the "sneaky crook," a role he plays wonderfully, but it spoils the suspense a bit :)
### The FL's reasoning (and behavior) are completely illogical, even though she's supposed to be intelligent... If she had played straight with the ML and collaborated with him, everything would have been resolved much faster/earlier! But I suppose the series would have been 24 episodes long and not 36 ( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°)
The beginnings are very intense. However, the persistence of ambiguities, unsaid things, misunderstandings... is a bit irritating in the middle of the drama. Likewise, the final arc is a bit weak. (Why did the ML try all sorts of poisons to save the FL? Why chat with the Great Villain in the cave? To wait for her to corner everyone? A peach tree in bloom in the desert?) and the ending too rushed.
=> The first half had given me expectations, which were subsequently disappointed, despite excellent performances from the actors.
***************************************************
PLOT: La FL, princesse maltraitée (cold palace), est envoyée ds le pays voisin/ennemi pr un mariage d'alliance avec le 4e Prince. Ds ce pays, les 4 princes se disputent le pouvoir (Evil CP). La FL devient finalement la concubine du Great Counsellor (enquête s/ fausse monnaie). Méfiance, espionnage, complots divers et jalousie des autres femmes du harem.
+++ Excellent CL : Liu Xue Yi & Meng Zi Yi
+++ Un cast talentueux
+++ High budget production (décors, costumes, etc.)
+++ Excellents OSTs
### La qualité de la story n'est pas constante. On dirait que la screenwriter avait épuisé ttes ses bonnes idées dans les débuts de la série.
### Tjs le même acteur qui joue les "tordus sournois", rôle qu'il interprète à merveille, mais ça gâche un peu le suspense :)
### Raisonnement (et comportement) parfaitement illogique de la FL, alors qu'elle est supposée intelligente ... Si elle avait joué franc jeu avec le ML et collaboré avec lui, tout aurait été résolu bcp plus vite / tôt ! Mais je suppose que la série aurait fait 24 ép. et pas 36 ( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°)
Les débuts sont très accrocheurs. Cpdt, la persistance des ambiguïtés, des non-dits, malentendus ... agacent un peu au milieu du drama. De même, l'arc final est un peu faible (Pourquoi le ML a tenté ttes sortes de poisons pr sauver la FL ? pourquoi bavarder avec la Great Villain dans la grotte ? Pour attendre qu'elle coince tout le monde ? Un pêcher en fleurs dans le désert ?) et la ending trop rushed.
=> La 1e moitié m'avait donné des attentes, déçues par la suite, malgré une excellente performance des acteurs.
Was this review helpful to you?
I don't want to leave the cast behind..
Personally, the cast saved the whole story. I was hooked on the drama until around episode 18, then the plot got kind of boring, but the characters were what ended up making me watch until the end. I absolutely loved SZY, and the ML's acting was so good. For me this is one of my favorite LXY dramas. Also an underrated opinion, but I loved Qingtai and Zhanlu they were so cute and also some of my favorite characters. As for the plot, I loved the dynamic between the ML and FL especially at the beginning, and their chemistry is top notch. Overall, this was one of my favorite 2025 watches especially before the plot dipped..Was this review helpful to you?
Too many extra episodes
LIKEGong Zi Nan has good upbringing
Wow just when you thought Zai Ye was plotting something, Tao Hua has her own plan too
Poor Gong Zi Jing with his one-sided love
How the Meng families always sacrificed for their clan
DISLIKE
Impulsive Mu Wu Gou even Meng Huai Jin cannot hold him back - what a dumb prince did not realise he has a good adviser
MUSIC - personal fav
遗珠 Yi Zhu - 金润吉 Jin Run Ji
桃花烙 Tao Hua Lao - 袁娅维 Yuan Ya Wei
朝夕诺 Zhao Xi Nuo - 张赫煊 Zhang He Xuan 阿YueYue
花事 Hua Shi - 王铮亮 Wang Zheng Liang
REWATCH VALUE
Nope
Was this review helpful to you?
Good acting
I find this drama very entertaining. At least, I don’t find myself pressing the ‘fast forward’ button at all, which is good cos for most of the drama I watched, I have tendencies to do so. ML & FL are really skillful to deliver the characters. Storyline is interesting. Drama not too long and not draggy. My only complaint is that the last episode is too ‘rush’ and like they just wanted to ‘finish it up’. Other than that, it is worth watching.Was this review helpful to you?
But after the fall the drama lost a little of it's charm but it was still acceptable to watch.
When about 10 eps left the drama woked up again and got interesting and exciting again.
The actors were VERY good and I loved both the ML and FL and the others.
The music - I only cared for one song - don't remember the name but you can hear it after The end in last ep - when the after texts shows.
All in all this drama entertained me, got me caring for the characters, got me binge watch sometimes - and all this without being a wuxia cdrama - (I love wuxia cdramas) There fore it got 8
Was this review helpful to you?
Not very memorable
I finished this a few weeks ago and cant really remember much about it because i watch a lot of dramas but if it was really good i would remember so it was just average i would say. Its storyline was too similiar to another show i was watching with the same male lead called "kill me love me" while i do like this male actor there wasnt enough to keep me interested in the show. It started off pretty good then got boring and repetitive of other dramas, I guess i give it a 6.5 outta 10 . Theres always the trope about being poisoned and having to be a shady spy gor the cure. Like come up with something else writers.lolWas this review helpful to you?
Big Disappointment
The beginning was pretty good. I like to watch my dramas on the treadmill and I did have a few days of consecutive workout. However after that I stopped showing up because it just didn't have my hooked. I had to force myself to finish watching this because Liu Xueyi is gorgeous and is amazing at acting through his eyes. Eventually I found myself babyraging at the plot holes and absurdity of this drama. The last time I babyraged was for Beauty of Resilience. On the topic of JJY dramas, Princess's Gambit is actually worse than In Blossom.Was this review helpful to you?
slop
Writers, if you have 15 amazingly polished episodes, that is where you end the season or the first half of the drama.Why throw together rambly plotlines, scraps of a story to hit 30+ episodes if it doesn't showcase YOUR STUDIOS BEST WORK? It became slop by esp 18...the editing got worse, the storyline became so unbearable... the bullet comments on Viki SEIZED!
GIVE THESE ACTORS IMPECCABLELY POLISHED STORYLINES !!! The casting was actually great, but my GOD did y'all drop the ball.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Teasers That Teased Me Into Dropping It
Dropped. This drama is the definition of wasted potential.They chose to drag the entire plot using the most frustrating trope ever. Nonstop misunderstandings and miscommunication. Literally every issue could be solved with a five-minute conversation, but no, let’s stretch it over 25 episodes instead.
The female lead wants ML to trust her while she refuses to give that same trust to the male lead. Make it make sense. There’s zero character development, zero relationship development, and the pacing moves at the speed of a dying snail.
Even by teaser episode 23, they’re still not reconciled. At this point, I’m not even hoping for resolution. I’m just exhausted.
And the teasers? Hot garbage. Instead of hyping the next episode, they made me want to uninstall the entire show from my memory.
I literally paid for the express package and I’m still dropping it because I’m frustrated to death. That’s how bad it is. Save your time, save your money, save your sanity.
I came for the male lead. I stayed for a while out of hope. I left because this drama gave me nothing worth holding onto.
Was this review helpful to you?
