Legend of the Female General

"Legend of Female General" - From Warrior to Damsel: How a Promising Drama Lost Its Way

I was so hyped for this drama. The cast seemed decent, the hype was huge, and it was based on a novel I really liked a novel where the female lead, He Yan, is a true powerhouse: smart, strategic, fierce, and fighting her own battles without depending on anyone. The title itself Legend of Female General promised a story about women’s strength and resilience.

The first 10 episodes had me hooked. We saw He Yan’s determination, her fight skills, and that adrenaline rush every time she faced an enemy. But after episode 10… everything went downhill. Suddenly, the woman who was supposed to be a legendary general became clingy, overly domestic, and constantly in need of saving. Every fight scene lasted maybe 10 seconds before she got injured, and like clockwork, the male lead Xiao jue would appear no matter how far away to rescue her. There’s even a ridiculous shallow-water drowning scene just to set up a rescue kiss.

Worse, here's hardly anything related to He Yan’s revenge and trauma. Her betrayal by her family? Barely addressed. Her stepbrother’s conspiracy? Glossed over. Her father’s role? Ignored. Even the second male lead gets more meaningful screen time than the supposed female lead.

In the novel, He Yan fought head-on, made her own choices, and carried her own story. In the drama, she’s reduced to pleasing Xiao jue, blaming herself for things she didn’t do, and existing mainly to serve his arc. This isn’t a female-centric drama anymore it’s a romance drama wearing the disguise of one.

What frustrates me most is the double standard. Look at Legend of Zhang Hai this year — a male-centered revenge drama. The ML there is driven by his goal, and romance is just a side element. The execution is tight, the focus never wavers. Why can’t a female-centered drama be given the same respect? Why must her story be softened, diluted, and twisted until she can’t stand on her own without a man?

Legend of Female General could have been epic. Instead, it’s proof of how female-led stories are still treated: not as legends in their own right, but as backdrops for a man’s tale. The only thing worth watching is the acting and chemistry now the execution is bad and it seems like many scenes are cut. For a drama I waited so long for... what a letdown.

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From a perspective having read the book

The first few episodes have shown me a great deal of what to expect from this show.

First of all, the casting is amazing. I think they did a great job with casting the Main Couple, as i think both actors fit the image that the show is portraying the MCs with very well. Very gentle, stoic and handsome visuals.

What pegged me as interesting was that they have stricken certain plot points and thus characters from the show in comparison to the book. I think it makes sense to change some aspects, although i still was a bit surprised and I hope that the a sense of characters like the He family for example won't make a difference. Also i think they combined Cheng Lisu and Lin Shuang He? I really look forward but also am sceptical about these changes, since most characters they have removed were my faves in the book.

The tone of the show is rather solemn and more serious than I initially would have expected from reading the book, but it makes sense and I already could tell from the trailers. The FL He Yan does not get reborn like in the book but is saved from death and enlists in the army. In the book she seems a bit more silly (in a good way) and like a funny strong minded girl. So far I feel like in the show she is more of a more calmer personality. I don't mind this, i'm very excited to see it.

The first few episodes were very fun so far and I will continue editing as we go!

I recommend giving it a shot, if you're in the mods for an epic.

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Ruined Potential

I was excited to see Ryan Cheng in a ML role since (A Familiar Stranger) but this is just not it.

Classic cringe bad C drama writing:
-Not even 1 ep to set up character's background to establish some kind of emotional connection
-FL being blind randomly gets saved by the ML. I mean why is he even there? Should at least be logical.
-FL not convincing as a male which I never expect looks wise, but if you compare Yang Zi (in Lost Forever) as a male, the way she walked, talked she was very convincing. Or Zhang Ya Qin in Love in Between, that legit is actually caring about the character trying to pass as a guy. Nothing like FL here fluttering her eyes at the ML before the big reveal.

17 ep in:
-No chemistry between the leads IMO (Although I do think the leads can act given a good script)
-No strong interesting supporting cast stories
-Jokes don't hit and often awkward

Potential lost.

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Disappointed and not interested - DROPPED

I've been waiting for this drama because ever since I saw Scent of Time, I thought this would be a challenging and convincing role for her. I think she acted ok as a general, but as a FL with Ryan Cheng, I felt disappointed.

It is less than what I expected because she was amazing with Wang Xing Yue in Scent of Time,
and Ryan Cheng was perfectly matched with Lu Yu Xiao in My Journey to You. In this story I didn't feel they were perfectly match. She is projecting a nice/happy girl/not so serious persona. But this role requires more serious and mean expressions. ML RC feels too serious for her.

She is switching between a playful young girl and serious persona. It doesn't feel as convincing. Her impressions as a clueless persona seems fake.

Anyways, hopefully, as the story develops, it will get better.

The story feels disconnected initially. It's like fast forwarding the background to the part when the FL and ML spends a lot of time together. The framing of the story doesn't make sense. Oh well, Chinese drama is always like this.

If you want to make a decision whether or not to watch this, I would say it's watchable. No obvious drop signal for me so far. The story is simple and has loopholes. But if you are looking for a romantic history drama, it will fit the bill.

Episode 10
Rolling eyes: female lead's heroism is overwhelmingly unbelievable. Her fighting skills are amazing.
ML: I know it's role that he has to play a wooden figure. He basically has the same acting style as the previous drama in My Journey to You.
Annoying part: she unconvincingly switches back and forth between serious and pretending unserious expressions.

Dropped after 22
Story is just not watchable and boring. The FL is annoying too. No chemistry.

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The Legend of the Female General is more than a historical epic—it’s also a tender, slow-burn romance that blossoms with depth and sincerity. The relationship between He Yan and Xiao Jue is written with rare balance, built on respect, trust, and emotional growth rather than fleeting passion. Their chemistry feels effortless, with her spirited brightness slowly melting his cool restraint, and his quiet steadiness giving her the safety to be vulnerable. I really love these two characters.

Every glance, every unspoken moment between them is heightened by the drama’s beautifully woven OST—gentle ballads and stirring instrumentals that echo the ache of longing, the spark of trust, and the quiet power of love. Instead of relying on grand gestures, the romance moves like music itself: subtle, graceful, and deeply resonant, leaving viewers with a love story that lingers like a haunting melody long after the final episode.

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Pretty Faces, Weak Logic, and Rushed Storytelling

I found the drama becoming more dull and less exciting over time watching up to ep 23.

He Yan’s “male disguise” is unconvincing; her voice, face, and mannerisms remain exactly the same whether she is portraying a man or a woman. This makes her military infiltration hard to believe especially compared to Yang Zi’s convincing boy-disguise in Lost You Forever 1. Xiao Jue, while handsome, plays the same cold, stoic role he’s portrayed in other dramas (My Journey to You), with minimal emotional range. It is one face that he makes, smiles a little bit, and goes back to the cold face.

Logic gaps are everywhere. You’re telling me Xiao Jue, who studied alongside He Yan in the past, can’t recognize her despite her unique sword technique, height difference, and voice? It takes until episode 22 and a random brothel scene for him to “suddenly” piece it together. The story is rushed, with plot points jumping from one scene to the next without explanation like a cup dropping then instantly cutting to He Yan being blinded by poison.

Some scenes are downright illogical. He Yan is supposedly a skilled and powerful fighter, yet she is instantly taken down by her brother’s assassin, falls over a cliff, and somehow survives thanks to a conveniently placed master. The event feels rushed, unearned, and stripped of tension emblematic of the drama’s overall pacing issues.

Character motivations are paper-thin. The He family’s hatred for He Yan is never fleshed out unless you have read the novel. Fight scenes are minimal, replaced with drawn-out romance stares, fake marriage antics, and repetitive “du du du du”. I have to pause and fill in the blanks myself.

What could have been a sharp action driven tale of redemption and strategy is instead a romance heavy drama with pretty faces, plot armor, and underdeveloped storytelling. Unless you are here purely for the lead visuals, you'll likely find yourself frustrated by the wasted potential.

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Legend of the Female General – Mid-Series & Post-Finale Thoughts

This drama has been on my radar since the prehistoric era (aka when it was first announced). The wait was long, arduous, and peppered with me muttering “is it here yet?” every other month. But alas, the day came — and so far? Totally worth it.

From the get-go, the visuals, the plot, and the chemistry have been chef’s kiss. They stayed close to the source material but still made creative choices that keep things fresh — and I’m here for it.

Zhou Ye as He Yan is a slay queen. She captures the heartbreak, the resilience, and somehow manages to sprinkle in goofiness and silliness without breaking the emotional weight of her arc. It’s the kind of layered portrayal that makes your heart ache and makes you want to hug the character into oblivion. It is overdone with the acting silly and drunk? Yes, but considering her character's background Imma give ma girl a break.

And then there’s Cheng Lei. My man could win awards just for looking at people. His microexpressions are so precise that I’m out here squealing like a teenage fangirl every time he so much as blinks in her direction. Swoon bro, and the avalanche of Tiktok edits do not help my case lol.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room — the scandal. Honestly, I thought this show would be shelved indefinitely. Glad it wasn’t, but I can’t lie: the production took a hit. The AI-modified face? Noticeable. Distracting at first. By episode 19, I’m used to it — but the adjustment period was… let’s call it “character building.”

If I had one major gripe, it’s the BGM. It’s serviceable, but it feels like it was pulled from the “standard historical drama” playlist. I wish it had its own distinct musical identity — something that would make me instantly recall this drama the moment I hear it.

And to fully enjoy this? You have to check your logic at the door and politely ignore a lot of things. This is less a flawless masterpiece and more a pure fan tribute — and I mean that in the most indulgent, guilty-pleasure way possible. Editing can be uneven, but none of it steals from the emotional punch or story momentum.

We’re only 2/3 through, so it’s too early to crown it. But for me? It’s been giving exactly what I imagined when picturing the main characters from the novel. Here’s hoping it keeps going strong till the end.

*Upate*

Post-Finale Thoughts

If anything, this drama actually gets better as the episodes progress. The bond between the leads deepens beautifully, and their chemistry is what truly kept me hooked. I fell so hard for their connection that the production shortcomings — and the occasional “logic? never heard of her” moments — barely mattered in the grand scheme of things. Their relationship carried the whole show on its shoulders, and for me, it delivered.

Now… let’s talk Episode 35. Why, drama gods, why? That entire fabricated angst arc was unnecessary, sour, and left me feeling bitter. It’s one of my most hated tropes, and the fact that it wasn’t even in the novel makes it sting more. This show didn’t need it, and honestly, it dragged down what could have been an easy 10/10.

Still, despite that stumble, Legend of the Female General gave me everything I wanted in seeing these characters come to life. I laughed, I squealed, I swooned, and I loved every stare and microexpression along the way. It’s not flawless, but it’s unforgettable — and sometimes that matters more.

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So, I am no novel reader, I’ve read some comments here about the book, so that’s it, I am not getting opinion regarding that.

So, does it leave up to the hype and the long wait??? Personally no

I am gonna finish when the drama is over.

Some positive point to me :
- I like how ML found out very early on that she's a women (ep. 4)
- The leads have good chemistry
- ML is looking very good and definitely fit these kind of role (a general)
- Don’t really see any flaws in term of acting from the cast
- I like the costumes
- Music is not bad
- Some fighting scenes are looking good
- I appreciate the story between the leads, how the romance flow. Their closeness, the building trust. I always thought it was funny how she was handy, touching him (mostly when drunk) and he was just letting her. The soft looks from him, only for her. Eyes speak a lot. Both actually. I really liked the episodes they were undercover as husband and wife, their quality time together, they were very cute. Many good moments, like :
1) Doing her eyebrows
2) Crossing the bridge
3) The dance with the mask and "I love the moon, but the moon doesn’t know"
4) the boat scene,
Etc...
- I like the friendship between FL and her camarade in arm. It was touching in ep 25 when they went with her and how they knew she was a women, kept her secret and didn't care.
- Friendship between the leads and the 2 doctors is also good
- I like ML's soldier, it's funny when he witness the moments between the leads
- they have very few scenes, but the second pairing is cute, always bickering. I hope they make it and actually get married. It was cute ghe bridge scene, they are a good match.
- the moon reference
- intelligent and capable leads


So, this drama is definitely not without flaws. It's hard to overlook, you can close your eyes and logic ahahah, but some thoughts :
- There is some weak editing, directing, transition and pace. I know some will say, "they had to cut some scenes", yes and? I am still wondering, did they actually cut scene because of the side actors? They did some scenes with AI and cut some? Why not doing AI completly ? Does this drama lack budget.
- The writing is questionable at time, Some exemple, I am trying to remember some moments 😅:
1) Still feel off how no one recognize that HF was not the same person
2) The battle and underwatwer kiss : we clearly saw that in was not deep water at all and she fell a few meters away and it was so damn deep, make 0 senses. And ML was very far away and just appeared.
3) ML breaking through Rundu, how? Could have make more sense they are already fighting and he arrives to help.
4) In these story, it’s always unbelievable how poeple cannot see she’s not a man, when she 100% looks like a women. It’s the same in every drama😅 cannot really complain on this, but still an observation
5) The master and the princess fell a bit random story
6) the past between ML and that school friend (what happened after ML's father death), feel like what happened could have been shown before, when we were seeing literally the scenes regarding his father's death and then they meet later. Feel like could have made the flow better. All of this also feel like kinda random
7) SML : it's like writer wants to make SML more present, but at time it’s just feel off and stupid. Like in ep 25 : we were having an emotional and good moments between FL and her friends, then bro randomly appear, "I will come with you too" and ruining this good moment. Why the hell would he go there? For what? More scenes of these 2 and making him fall even more for her? Because it doesn’t make any sense. Why would he go there, he is useless. And don't talk about him playing the flute while the others were fighting. What is this stupid writing. He pups up at time randomly. They also don't make FL straight rejecting him. Most conversations feels vague. He’s always showing everywhere and in every cities where the leads are, does that make sense? Not really and some scenes have 0 purpose
- Honestly, some key scenes don’t really make me feel anything. The actors did okay, I think it's just how it's written. Like the revelation of her identity. Some are complaining about ep 26, the hug during battle. I don’t really see a problem about that. Maybe why was she this panicking? He just disapeared of sight, no indication he was death or hurt. I didn’t feel much here either, but their eyes and smiles speaked a lot. A bit disapointed with the general, she wanted to save him and he felt like a good guy and a great general (on of the 7), but he just felt like an asshole
- felt kinda off how he found out she's a women
- it kind of feel almost dragging, confess and get together already ahaha the little ansgt after he found out how she is, looked a bit like dragging getting them together a little
- I am not that into it unfortunately

I have been loosing a little bit interest, but still enjoying I guess, it's an okay drama. I paid again for the damn express, so I’ll finish it

Eps 27-28 : majority of screentime on SML and the brother, nothing much interesting to see here. I mind less the brother, but SML, I don’t give a damn about his sad past.

FL meeting ML's brother and wife. They seems pretty close, why is he not telling them she’s a women? I liked ML telling hid parents he found someone. Still didn’t make feel much, I saw a clip, someone was crying over this, that wasn’t me at all🙈🙈 I am not emotionally attached

Ep 29-36 :

- feeling stupid how SML keep getting promoted for nothing

- confession scene, the dialogue was beautiful. Kiss was also looking good

- FL’s mom death and the little scenes regarding that. Again, why is this drama making me feel nothing, I had a straight face

- wedding scene between second couple was cute and they were looking good. It was funny how he throw his bride over the horse, fist time I see this in a cdrama. Wish they could have had a little more screentime in the drama. Little bickering couple

- luckily they didn’t kill anyone, well except that one general who should have survived. Pregnant wife, I feel bad. Honestly, could have been one of the friend soldier, I am sorry🫠 his death was nothing surprising though. Like they were showing these happy moments with his wife… I literally said to myself, this guy is definitely dying.

- ep 35 : the little angst and the marriage decree felt unnecessary, but at least the leads reconciled in less than 1 episode.

- They turned SML is the pathetic cliché obsessed guy. Girl gave him absolutely no signs that she liked him and bro was like « she loves me » does she bro🙄🙄 Exile for his ending…. That’s that, at least they didn’t went for the stupid plot of SMl playing hero and sacrificing himself for FL. Why was he lurking and looking at the leads intimate moments from afar. At least it was satisfying how FL was reacting after the marriage decree, she was not taking it. That was good

- The maid : these kind of death always feel stupid. You are a good fighter, but a knife is coming, what do you do ? Fight, trying to stop her or whatever, doing something. But no, I am just gonna put myself in between to get stab

- Brother and villain minister in prison…

- Last fighting in episode 36 was looking okay, the CGI was looking a bit meh with the horses scenes, but nothing can be perfect

- the wedding was pretty

- everything felt a bit rushed in the last ep and for conclusion, I wish we could have gotten more of happy moments. I was also hoping the wedding wasn’t in the last ep, but a bit before. Cdrama writers tend to rush their ending unfortunately. Pretty underwhelming ending

- production and writing was pretty weak till the end

- why do I feel like I was maybe enjoying more the romance before the leads were even dating 🥲

Ending with the moon, which makes sense I guess

I almost forced myself to finish, my interest was low. Not sure how to rate, I always give ratings that are too high. If I compare to some rating I gave, maybe I’ll still give it an 8

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Flawed but Worth the Watch

Legend of the Female General is a drama that had so much potential but stumbled in execution. The pacing was all over the place — at times slower than a snail 🐌, then suddenly rushed to the point you’d blink and miss it ⚡. Some storylines felt underdeveloped, like Chu Zhao’s backstory, which was barely explored, and side plots that appeared disconnected. The main villain came across more like a spoiled brat throwing tantrums than a clever schemer, while the Emperor felt blind to obvious plots and punished the very people loyal to him.
Despite these flaws, the drama delivered in other areas. The romance between He Yan and Xiao Jue was a slow burn that eventually paid off with genuine emotion and depth. Ryan Cheng shone as Xiao Jue, mastering subtle expressions and commanding presence, while Zhou Ye was strong as He Yan, though the dubbing sometimes weakened her character’s authority.
Overall, this drama balances frustrating flaws with touching moments, memorable leads, and a romance worth rooting for. Not perfect, but still a solid watch — I’d give it 8/10.

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It's worth a try

Have you ever wondered if a girl can join the army AND earn military merits? Well, He Yan is an incredible example of a strong woman who does not care about the prejudices of the society she lives in.

He Yan is forced to take her brother's place while he is recuperating at a temple, and make a name for her family (as a general), all while wearing a mask. Her brother suddenly shows up after the death of her father-figure and takes her place. She is forced to start a new life, joining the military as a new recruit, and make her way up the ladder.

I have been looking forward to this drama for a long while before it dropped, and all I can say is that the long wait was well‐deserved. Even though most people criticized LOTFG beacuse of the whole substitute reincarnation plot, I like it better this way.

I find the story quite promising. Usually the FL of any other drama is strong in other fields, not physically fit to fight. In 'Coroner's Diary', I liked the fact that the FL was smart, and even had a strong friend by her side. The roles, however, are reversed in this drama — He Yan is strong and capable, while TaoTao is experienced with TCM.

I saw many people complaining about Ryan Cheng's acting (Xiao Jue). I, personally, find it fitting for this role. The ML is supposed to be a cold/cruel general, of course he's not going to walk around skipping. His eyes are more than enough to understand the emotions behind them. Even the way he's carrying himself seems fitting for a general — leaving no opening for possible attacks.

I couldn't have chosen a better cast for this drama. I feel that every actor/actress put everything into their respective role, and some may still find a way to criticize their acting.

To sum it all up, LOTFG is definitely worth a try. If I had let myself influenced by the nagetive reviews I might never have found this gem. If you've watched 4-5 episodes and still don't like it, I must say, this cdrama is not for you.

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Good but not great

I expected more from this drama. The beginning was really strong — no boring parts at all — but as it approached the ending, especially during the confrontation with the FL’s mother dying, I found myself confused. It felt like one of those cat memes going “huh?” The pacing and storytelling in the later episodes started to drag, and it became harder to watch.

I appreciate that the drama tried to highlight themes of gender equality, but the execution sometimes felt forced. As a woman, instead of feeling inspired, I felt that the message was being pushed a little too hard. Some of the side characters’ storylines also felt underdeveloped and poorly written compared to the main arc.

That said, there are many strengths worth mentioning. I genuinely loved the chemistry between the leads — they carried the romance well and gave me those kilig moments. All of the actors, including the supporting cast, did a great job. The fight scenes were also beautifully choreographed and very enjoyable to watch.

Overall, it’s a decent series. I would recommend it, especially to fans of wuxia and those who enjoy strong and smart FL & ML dynamics. However, it didn’t give me that lasting “wow factor” to rank among my favorite wuxia C-dramas. Still, it was a worthwhile watch.

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