1No smiling matter.
Ye Pingan must be a witch. So whisper the common folk of Chang'an uneasily amongst themselves. Her medical practices are eyed with disdain by the ruthless and ambitious young magistrate Yuan Shaocheng. When she finds herself entangled in a murder, he investigates her unsparingly. To his chagrin, she manages to stay one step ahead of him. They are both complicated characters with dark histories and hidden agendas. They fall into an uneasy alliance where they use each other and inevitably start to uncover each other's secrets. The story is set in treacherous times during the reign of Empress Wu and at the pinnacle of the power struggle between the Li faction and the Wu faction. They are both mere ants caught in the crosshairs between powerful stakeholders. Thus their interests don't always align and they find themselves at times on opposite sides.This is a well paced, suspenseful plot-driven story pitting two smart protagonists, at times for and at times against each other. There are conspiracies within conspiracies that reveal an abominable, heart-wrenching secret that Ye Pingan vows to expose. The subject matter is no smiling matter; it is an unflinching depiction of the vilest form of abuse of the powerful against the defenseless. It is ironic that during the only time a woman ruled the world in Chinese history where at the upper echelons, women are as powerful and capable as men, at the bottom of the social strata they are weak and unspeakably abused. Led by Ye Pingan, the victims refused to roll over and play dead. Instead, they make terrible sacrifices to seek redress for what happened to them against practically untouchable antagonists. The way these damaged women bond and joy from their friendship and common purpose is the heart of the drama.
While there is undeniable romantic tension between them, Pingan and Shaocheng's relationship is more of a side story as they are both committed to causes that are larger than themselves. Even though I am normally not a fan of either Liu Shishi or Dou Xiao's acting, they are both well cast in their roles here and deliver mature and nuanced portrayals. Liu Shishi's taut, impassive expression and her cold, bright-eyed glare perfectly captures an avenging angel with just a hint of inner trauma. And Dou Xiao is the consummate ruthless, grey character who could be friend or foe... as long as he keeps his pearly whites hidden. Thankfully the somber tone of the story only allowed him to traumatize me twice with that killer 1,000 MW preternaturally white, extra toothy smile. That said, I found it hard to root for either of the leads. While I like that they are rather amoral characters who are in it to win it, they fight for other people. I find characters like Ni Chang or Wu Ankang who also know how and when to fight for themselves or when to walk away to be wiser and more relatable.
While I enjoyed the many twists and how the reveals build upon one another, the sub-plot arcs all follow the same formula so after the second arc, the reversals are predictable and anti-climatic. Nonetheless the drama held my interest to the end because of the entrance of the yummy Zheng Yecheng who delivers some exciting fight scenes. Not to mention I always enjoy dramas set during Wu Tzetian's reign and Chen Jin pulls off the role with gravitas and charisma. What I do not like is how these kinds of stories never fail to end without a dire message about the dangers of an over-ambitious woman.
Overall a sober story about lives lost in the name of vengeance and atonement, both ultimately hollow goals. Its a pretty good watch even though there really is nothing feel good about the story. I rate it 7.5/10.0.
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A cunning web of deception and twists…
I don’t write many reviews but I thought I’d give this one a go because it’s really refreshing. Cdramas dominate my watchlist so I can pretty much predict most storylines. So far, I haven’t been able to predict this one. I also love that the main characters are not the typical bad or good people. They are conniving and neither wholly good nor entirely evil. I’m generally inclined towards smart characters because dumb mains are just frustrating to watch. The camaraderie and twists and turns makes this worth the watch.UPDATE: So I’ve finished watching this drama and I still enjoyed it. The only thing was that towards the middle and end it was a bit predictable because the director/screenwriter kept using the same technique in revealing the plot, which actually makes you less invested because you expect there to be a twist. Still worth the watch though.
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This review may contain spoilers
Dark, Full of Twists, & Full of Amazingly Gray Characters, BUT....
UPDATED REVIEW (from 10 to 8.5 for me)- I wanted this to be a solid 10 and it was for about 15 episodes but things got tedious to watch, unfortunately. Let me tell you why I thought so!
- I was drawn in by the dark nature of the story with wonderful gray/flawed characters with pitiful and tragic backstories. I didn't mind the lack of romance when the chemistry between all the characters was so rich and compelling.
- Acting and Cinematography was amazing. Storyline had promise and held out for a long time before it started becoming "too much" for "way too long". The real issue with this story is the lack of "breathing room" in between all the bad things happening. & don't get me started on the ridiculous and unnecessary time skip near the end of the drama. Why do they do this? WHYYYY? Anywho...
- Even though some things got a (kind of) resolution plot-wise, the initial "Censor Case" plot never really felt tied off properly and when it was passed off as if it had a resolution and then we were quietly moved on into the "salt plot" felt a little MEH for me. If the MAIN plot was the censor case then it should have gone with that strong all the way to the finish. If the plot was supposed to be about various cases and righteousness and smashing the rich/powerful/ruthless via vigilante means... then it should have gone with that and powered through with that, weaving the Censor Case as an important but smaller portion of the plot. (does that make sense?) Instead, we got a plot that after 20 episodes felt watered down and brushed aside in order to make 30 episodes work.
- Another disappointment of mine was making the ONLY other woman in power (besides the Empress) end up a villain. I kind of get it, but, to have a female Empress was fabulous... all the other women in the drama were VICTIMS of pretty brutal crimes, so, having a woman with an upperclass background in a seat of power in court was very nice... making her one of the many, many villains... I didn't like it at all.
- Finally... the ending (while beautifully shot) was pretty anticlimactic. A main consiracy was taken down and the talk of reforms happened and YPA sailed off into the sunset alone. Meh.
Anyway. I liked it. I even loved parts of it, but it fell short of the "amazing" I was hoping for and expecting after the first 5-6 episodes.
more thoughts about the female characters in the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXiijb1j-Io&t=24s 🥰🥰🥰
(((INITIAL THOUGHTS: updating as I watch but first four episodes were amazing and set the tone for a wonderful drama... This drama is chock-FULL of character that do not fit in the "bad" or "good" slot well and I am LIVING for that! I'm going to do a deep dive chat about this drama and am betting it will be a TOP favorite of mine for 2025! Holy crapppp that LOOK at the end of episode 4 from the FL was pure "mask falling off" and was scary! scary good! a TRUE antihero FEMALE LEAD??🍿🎉)))
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A different drama
Almost every episode had a twist that leaves you dumbfounded and the leads did a superb job displaying such grey characters. My problem is that the main villain felt like a caricature compared to Hai Yiping. Kangping prince in the end came out as a royal who was lucky enough to have clever subordinates than being clever himself. His ending was also anticlimactic, and his arc didn't quite fit the tone of the whole drama making it look like an afterthought story addition, making the last episodes a bit draggy.The main story though is truly hitting the spot. Torture and rape and the trauma caused are nicely delivered making the pain and suffering of the victims real and not just a McGuffin.
Now the romance felt like a much needed sneeze that was never realised despite the constant nose tingling. I'm sure you know how it feels. There was such potential there, especially in the last episode when they fell into the water. That would have made it chef's kiss.
All in all, the drama deserves more hype. It's one of the few that focus on 2 nobodies trying to make something better for their country, without any real ties to royalty and wealth and the only one I have watched that shows the strengths and depths of women power and friendship without turning them into simps halfway through the story.
P.S. the OST is shockingly good. It's the second drama I did not skip the intro
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I only watched it because of the main characters.
I only watched it because of the main characters.The only novelty in the story is the hypnosis, it was not exploited. In the end, it became a clichéd political drama. With unresolved conflicts. The supporting characters were thrown in and out of the story, so it was unnecessary to get to know their backstory (it was difficult to relate to them). The acting also left something to be desired. The characters only had a past and status, their character, emotions, or inner qualities, lovable habits were minimal or nonexistent. The story is dry and halting without romance.It is impossible to watch it again. I'm sorry because it could have been better, but I can't rate it better than 7.5.
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This review may contain spoilers
Kill my Sins
The wandering physician Ye Ping An, entangled in an old and secretive case, arrives in Chang'an. Accused of mystical medical interventions, she manipulates minds and evokes fear, while the low-born magistrate Yuan Shao Cheng, craving power, seizes the opportunity to rise. A murder in Chang'an implicates Ye Ping An, but is she truly an innocent scapegoat or a mastermind plotting revenge? The first move in her intricate scheme has already unraveled.Story:9.5
This isn't a simple, ordinary drama. It's a mystery/thriller drama with mysterious cases. Ye Ping An uses many tricks to take revenge for those who died in a case he was involved in when he was young and to find peace. On one hand, he gains the trust of the Empress, and on the other hand, he allies with Yuan Shao Cheng. In this way, he tries to take revenge on powerful, cruel officials involved in the Inspector case. Meanwhile, he has the support of his friends Lu Dan Xin, Cai Lian, Ni Chang, and his aunt Gu Er Niang. This is a drama without a romantic plot but one where strong, intelligent women unite against their enemies. While Ping An fights because he was deceived as a child and caused the deaths of many women, Lu Dan Xin and Cai Lian are victims of the Inspector case.
Yuan Shao Cheng is a man who is constantly belittled and struggles for power because he comes from a Mang background. I admire a man who endures all kinds of humiliation to fight for his people. It's true that I hated him in the first 10 episodes. But towards the end, I realized how amazing he was.
Wu An Kang is a general who fights on the border for his country. He is also the son of Wu You Jing, the Empress's nephew. He is an honest general seeking justice for people like Ping An. I love his character and personality. By the end of the drama, when he loses everything because of his father's and sister's greed and ambitions, I feel both sad and angry. He didn't deserve this.
The Empress ascended the throne at a time when women were looked down upon. Having been an empress for more than ten years, Saint always tried to be just, to help women get their rights, and to treat her people well. Saint uses people of different characters like Ye Ping'an, Yuan Shao Cheng, and Li Jun to suppress corrupt officials in the country. I always thought Li Jun was the bad guy. I didn't expect him to be part of the forensic court and work for the Empress in the last episode. I think Saint made a mistake. She was very unfair to Wu An Kang. She wanted to send a man who contributed to the country and risked his life to an enemy country as a groom. When she failed in this, she tried another way. She even thought of dismissing An Kang, who returned from the second war. If the Empress had been fair in this matter, I would have liked her more.
I think Wu You Jing's character was not well-written. As the main villain, he had a very ordinary character. After being mysterious for a long time, he made many mistakes when he appeared. He thought his son, who risked his life for the country, would help him in his rebellion. And his daughter Wu Xian'er did many things behind his back. Wu You Jing's ignorance of this and his misjudgment of the Empress's actions make it hard to see him as the main villain. Apart from that, I didn't see many flaws in the drama.
In my opinion, this drama was excellent. It tells the story of strong, intelligent women uniting, a man fighting for his people, and a man risking his life for his country, only to be disappointed by his family. This is a masterpiece!!!
Cast:10
In my opinion, the right actors were chosen for all the characters in this drama. After watching Liu Shishi in the role of Ye Ping An, I don't think anyone else could have played this role so perfectly.
I'm watching Shawn Dou for the first time. I should thank 'Kill my Sins' for introducing me to such a talented actor. Shawn Dou is the best person for this role!
Zheng Ye Cheng is already my favorite actor, and I love his role here too. It saddened me that he had so few scenes. I would have liked to see more of his scenes.
I am also watching Xuan Lu for the first time. After this drama, I can say that I am a fan of her. She is both beautiful and talented.
I've seen Ding Jie in a few dramas before. As far as I remember, she played a maid in TSAZB. She is so sweet.
Rewatch Walue: 8.5
I have always admired dramas with such themes. Despite its heavy subject matter, it's a drama where human intelligence is portrayed very strongly. Maybe I'll come back to watch it again when I can't find other beautiful, worthwhile dramas. Anyway, there's no tragic ending for the main characters, so rewatching it is not a problem.
Overall: 10
Despite a few flaws, I think this drama has a very strong plot. From my perspective, this drama deserves a 10 out of 10. The actors' talent, the well-written storyline, and the strong characters cover the drama's shortcomings. If anyone wants to watch it, they should start without hesitation. The more you watch, the more you want to keep watching. However, I don't recommend it to those who love romance.
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Badass FL. Different drama. Excellent. Must watch
My heart feel little heavy as I pen this down. I have been looking for a good different drama for a time now. Even though many releases with amazon cast and plot going I tried these and couldn't made me hooking. Suddenly I saw this and I know the ML from princess agent and loved the Name of drama and trailer. I thought of giving a try and it's the besttt decision I took. From the first episode to 30 eps i never felt bored of irritated. Such a strong beautiful bold badass FL. liu shi shi ❤️🔥 bcoz of this I also started watching my journey to you. I loved her. I bet she deserve more such badass roles in costume dramas. She's proving it.... Yuan and ping an got a great face off chemistry. What makes it different is they stood for each other, they never doubt or betrayed each other. They made fool of others only🤣. They are really confidant and soulmate to each other. This plot is really fresh for me. All the supportive characters did their job well. Also I appreciate the empress in her official attire and she draw line for everyone never trusting anybody blindly and punishing accordingly rewarding accordingly. I loved the portrayal of this emperor. Overall I 💯 recommend this dramaWas this review helpful to you?
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Scheming but beautiful
This drama had me gasping at every twist and turn, absolute perfection from start to finish! 30 episodes of pure scheming, and not once did it disappoint. Our FL? Sharp as a blade, yet she still grows, which makes her even more captivating. And the ML? He’s a lot of things, but at least he’s no hypocrite. I held onto a sliver of hope for a couple of scenes where they’d actually be together, but honestly? Letting them stay true to themselves was the best choice. Every time they locked eyes, all I could think about was that line from The Godfather: "The eye, chico. They never lie." The tension between them? Electrifying. Who needs romance when a single glance carries that much weight? One thing this drama was not is cliché. Even the final rebellion plot, right when I thought, Oh no, here comes the predictable villain move, they twisted it just enough to keep it fresh.And the casting? Spot on. Liu Shishi is Ye Ping’an. That icy aura? Chilling. From A Journey to Love to this, she owns that cold, untouchable energy. And Shawn Dou? The man delivers. A morally grey ML who’s good at heart but isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, his villainous edge was just chef’s kiss. I devoured this drama like medicine, counting down the hours each day until the next episode dropped. Best 18 days of my life.
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Intriguing, engaging, interesting
The drama starts off pretty well and manages to keep the grip and intensity till the end.The plot is racy with twists and turns occuring at the perfect moments.
The story follows Ye Ping An,a psychiatrist,who sets off on a journey of revenge,for a decade old case along with her two accomplices,Cai Lian and Dan Xin and supported by Mrs.Gu.
On the way,she crosses paths with Yuan Shao Cheng,an official who rises in ranks despite of his humble background,Mang Gutter.
Together,they unravel the hidden villains and unearth a deepest conspiracy in the capital city.
Liu Shishi and Shawn Dou,both are fabulous in their performances.Their action is perfect.
All the other actors were excellent.
What I liked most about this drama is the way the plot has been handled without any deviation from the main plot with an underlying,subtle romantic track.
The twists and turns,screenplay,suspense, investigation, everything are perfect.
I highly recommend this drama.It is a perfect watch for who love suspense, investigative,racy dramas.
A MUST WATCH drama.Excellent👌🎉
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Dark, Gripping, and Full of Chemistry: Not Your Typical Romance
Kill My Sins offers a dark and gritty narrative that won’t be for everyone, but it stands out for its mature characters and complex storytelling. The main leads, played by Shawn Dou (ML) and Liu Shi Shi (FL), are both morally ambiguous, making for a fascinating dynamic that keeps you invested throughout. Their chemistry is undeniable, and it’s refreshing to see a show where the attraction between them builds without relying on cliché kissing scenes.The standout performances aren’t just from the leads— the supporting characters also bring depth and nuance to their roles, making the entire cast shine. The drama’s soundtrack is another highlight, perfectly complementing its dark tone and heightening the emotional moments.
While the story is certainly heavy and doesn’t shy away from exploring darker themes, Kill My Sins delivers an engaging watch for those who appreciate complex characters and a more mature take on romance. It’s not your typical love story, but that’s what makes it so compelling.
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Delivers thrills and twists, but romance takes a backseat
Note: I almost dropped this drama after the first two episodes, unsure of where it was headed. Thankfully, I stuck with it - because Kill My Sins turned out to be an engaging and well-crafted watch.The drama is packed with deception, mind games, and plot twists, all woven seamlessly into a larger narrative. One of its strongest points is how each arc contributes to the bigger picture, making Ye Ping An's journey satisfying to watch. Watching her take revenge - not just for herself but for those around her was rewarding, though it certainly didn't come without consequences.
While the overall story was gripping, I would have liked to see more romance between the leads. The drama does attempt to include romantic elements, but given the primary focus on revenge and intricate plotting, it was understandably limited.
The casting was solid. Liu Shishi and Shawn Dou delivered strong performances as Ye Ping An and Yuan Shao Cheng respectively. Supporting actors like Zheng Ye Cheng and Xuan Lu also played their roles well, adding depth to the story.
I'd recommend Kill My Sins to anyhow who enjoys dramas with intricate storytelling and unexpected twists. However, if you're looking for a romance-heavy series, this might not fully satisfy that craving.
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Ye Ping an
It was a nice and engaging series in general. However, it seemed like something was missing. The tempo was slow. Although the cast was very good, it was a series that did not benefit enough from three or four main actors. For example; I did not understand what Zheng Ye Cheng was doing in this series with such a low character. I would not play him if I were him. He gave the impression that he played for his sake. He did not get enough time, could not show his performance. What a shame for the actor. I did not like the other leading actors with their low tempo, colorless and soulless games. Xu Jiao stood out among them. I really liked Xuan Lu and Zhang Yu Xi in the supporting roles. In other words, they were more lively, more determined and more flamboyant than the leading actors. The subject is revenge. I also got the impression that it was difficult to make sense of this and explain it. There were some jumps when we moved from subject to subject. I can say that there was confusion. I said that after all, their wishes came true and they made an effort for this. However, I could not understand what this subject had to do with these people. You are fighting about something, but how much does this fight concern you? It was not a direct, but an indirect concern. It was admirable for a woman to achieve so much. However, it was impossible for her to do these things in this era. If we evaluate it from two perspectives, we reach this conclusion. Here, I think the author said, I wanted it this way, I thought this way, I imagined it this way. It was structured accordingly, of course I watched it with curiosity. I wondered where the result would lead. However, as I said, when the story is told and when you jump from branch to branch and get into things that do not directly concern the people, you get confused. Still, people's ambitions, feelings of revenge, not having what they have, their wishes, desires were beautifully reflected, I felt that. But was there love, for example, I could not feel that. The relationships seemed like a strange set of relationships. Therefore, I watched it even though there were some breaks. Would I watch it again? No.Was this review helpful to you?
