The Glory

She's the Fire and the Blade!

10/10 for me! Very long post ahead. And with spoilers.

I love everything in this drama. No fast forwards, no dull moments, the scriptwriting and direction style made the flow of the story seem cohesive. My favorite part is the engaging plot with thrilling schemes! What started as a typical trope later unfolds with unpredictable and gripping twists after twists, making my viewing experience so enjoyable that I'm seriously glued to the screen. The drama is dark and heavy-themed, centered on revenge, suffering, hatred, deception, betrayal, and constant threats to life, but still with traces of warmth in between. So I had to pause between scenes and episodes so I could calm myself down. The stakes are getting higher and higher after each scheme is resolved. Just when I thought I could finally breathe a sigh of relief, we were thrown into an even more dangerous scheme.

I love the focus on women perspective, empowerment and solidarity from start to finish. From Yanzi defending herself against her abusive stepparents, and eventually killing them, to Madam Zhou killing Zhuang Shiyang who is the mastermind behind many manipulations that led to tragic events. The journey, with Yanzi as the female lead, is truly dark and tragic but through persistence, resistance, resilience, courage and bravery, the women fought against those who manipulated, abused and used them, and eventually overcame their sufferings. And what I like is that all those women ultimately fought together for a common cause. They each used their own strengths to support one another and helped Yanzi bring down the root cause of evil in her life – her very own father. And I appreciate it when the women stated their names, it makes us remember them and what they stood and fought for.

Romance is a bonus. It’s not the fluttering kind of love with sweet moments, but the core foundation of their relationship is “trust.” The OST “Flame” by Li Qi visualizes their love story and, for me, their complicated love story is refreshing to witness after watching other traditional, sappy love stories of enemies to lovers. The tension between the leads are so palpable since that 6th minute mark in episode 1, and I love them ever since. They used one another, schemed against each other, and almost killed each other for their own agendas and mutual suspicions. Even their marriage begins as a mere exchange of benefits. Their choices are mostly driven by their desire to protect the people they love – her mother and Chai Jing for Yanzi, and A'zhi and his mother for Fu Yunxi – and even more so, Yanzi’s desire of a secure home and peaceful life. That’s why their choices felt so authentic and comprehensible, although extreme and dangerous, even if they ended up hurting each other. After going through all the ups and downs, life-and-death situations, along with complex feelings, Yanzi eventually came to realize that she could trust Fu Yunxi because he had always stood by her side and supported her. On the other hand, Fu Yunxi began assessing her capabilities as a protector of his family the moment he realized, at first sight in episode 1, that she's the wife he had been looking for. Over time, he is moved by her resilience, bravery and wisdom that he gradually protected her and supported her quest for revenge, despite his shortening lifespan and increasing vulnerability as the adopted son of Eunuch Pei. That’s why that part in later episodes where Yanzi saves Fu Yunxi from execution and from his poisoning really felt so special. The water prison scene is such a monumental moment in their relationship that is deeply moving and emotionally powerful, a confession that showed they can finally fully trust and understand each other. It is slow burn, deep and complex but totally satisfying to watch the process. In the end, she got revenge on her father, found a secure and peaceful life with the Fu family, and built mutual trust with Fu Yunxi that, even if she still has secrets yet to be revealed, it no longer matters because the trust between them is absolute.

Yanzi: “I once thought love was not important to me, but now, looking back, all the schemes and tests I had with him were because I had already fallen for him.”

Fu Yunxi: “Perhaps from the very first day we met, I thought I was the one hunting the fox, but I’d been captured by you. Later, our marriage, protection, and alliances were just excuses to deceive you and deceive me.”

On the casts —

I really commend Dudu as Yanzi! She really has the antagonistic heroine vibes ever since I first saw her in TTEOTM then I followed her in MLCB, MJTY, Yuehong, FOF, and LGIEF; so it's satisfying to see her role as Yanzi which captured the full depth of her nuanced acting. She has the quiet, melancholic and solemn vibes but she can also be decisive and ruthless to her enemies, even toward the male lead Fu Yunxi. She really has no bottom line just to protect her mother and Chai Jing. She’s also not always right and suffers from the consequences of her own scheming which shows she's not an omnipotent heroine whose fate always favors her. But she rises again with even more female power and rage, and becomes more unpredictable in her actions. She refuses to accept defeat, even willing to die for her plans to succeed. And that made my watching experience so satisfying. She's really the definition of “fire” and “blade” as her common themes in the drama. Her eye and facial expressions are really great – you can really feel the changes in her emotions when her eye curves change shapes. And she's a good crier too. I cried with her many times in Fangs of Fortune and I cried with her again here in The Glory. I know I'll cry with her again in Veil of Shadows but I'm still really looking forward for that drama and her other future works.

The senior actors also delivered strong performances and kept the drama engaging to watch. The highlight, however, is the Zhuang family – they are a traditional yet unique family full of hidden agendas. The casts truly brought them to life – Wang Yan, He Hongshan, and Liu Xiwei really stood out. And the most impactful for me is Wen Zhengrong. Her performance as Madam Ruan is really so gripping since episode 1. Her character is so unpredictable and ruthless even to her own daughter. The aura she exudes when she antagonizes Yanzi and the Zhuang family is really intimidating, especially with her voice, line delivery, painful words and intense expressions. But as the drama unraveled her past and intentions, we see the layers of torment she's hidden inside of her and that totally broke my heart. All of her emotional scenes had profound impact on me that I cried every time. Until she finally let go of her hatred and we see the youthful, beautiful noble lady inside her that Yanzi always admires. But even good things come to an end. I was so devastated when she died with Yuwen Chang'an, but at least they made up for the time they had lost during their separation. They shared a period of happiness together and they got married before they died together. And maybe that short-lived freedom and happiness are still worth it despite the tragedy.

Yu En Tai as Zhuang Shiyang is an interesting villain. He first appeared as a kind father that I was actually confused about how I would end up hating him. Then he slowly unmasked his hypocrisy. The more I see him, the more I feel psychological horror – his mental manipulations, pitiful appearance, and elusive words with no remorse are really disturbing to watch. Yu En Tai really did well in portraying that kind of villain. The subtle changes in his facial expressions as he shifts from overacting as a victim to becoming a composed villain in a split second are unsettling but worth the watch.

Fu Jing as Chai Jing is a surprise character for me. She's a refreshing character to see as the female lead’s female sidekick who is skilled at martial arts, with fierce presence and killing intent but had great sense of sacrifice for Yanzi. Episode 10 touched me the most when we saw the side of her story. The focused stares and gentle touches they gave each other felt like I was watching a lesbian love story, and it genuinely moved me. Dudu really has good chemistry with her female co-stars so it's nice to see it here again in The Glory, with deeper connection and emotional journey, almost as if they're soulmates.

Lastly, Xin Yunlai. I actually like him as Fu Yunxi despite the criticisms in his acting ability. For me, he fits the character of Fu Yunxi as someone who is calm, reserved and scheming yet full of tenderness toward the people he wanted to protect. He gives that stoic aura when dealing with most people, even with Yanzi, but when he interacts with A'zhi and his mother, his facade changes to softness and warmness. I especially like his interactions with A'zhi. They're one of the cutest father-daughter duo I've seen in the dramas I’ve watched. Huang Bosi really did well in portraying A’zhi. She is incredibly cute and adorable, and just as smart as her father. I'm really touched when he remade her wooden horse in episode 5 as he promised her despite his busy schedule. And he's so immersed in completing the wooden horse he almost didn’t hear what Mu Yan said to him or what he said to Mu Yan. He just drifted off and smiled when the wooden horse is finished. I could also feel his aura changed after marriage – how he seemed so cold when they first met, but he gradually warmed up after they got married. All the small gestures and subtle touches he gave Yanzi are just so lovely to watch. All along he remains the ruthless vice minister to his enemies throughout the drama. He’s really the best as Yanzi’s ladder, stepping stone, and strategist, giving her the spotlight she deserves when executing her plans. I noticed how he always asks her “what do you plan to do?” or “what do you want me to do?” and that’s like giving her the initiative to execute the plans, while he supports her from behind. Also, how he walks and stands behind her in pivotal moments where she takes control of the moment? Yes, I absolutely love those moments! So I really couldn’t imagine any other actor who can vividly portray Fu Yunxi as what Xin Yunlai did. With the public attention on him right now, I just hope some production team can give him a good script and good direction to showcase and improve his acting ability because he definitely has a potential. I actually like him as Mo Fang in TLOSL so there's familiarity of watching him in The Glory. I really hope to see him in more dramas and films soon (I knew he has a film with Zhang Jingyi, "The One", so I plan to watch it when it’s available online).

The ending when Zhuang Shiyang died might feel underwhelming to others but it made sense for me. As a female-centric drama, it is the women who played key roles in bringing about the death of the main villain. Yanzi is the mastermind, Madam Zhou is the blade that struck him down, and Yushan and Grandma Zhuang on the sidelines are waiting for him to die; when all this time, he's the one who threatened, abandoned and used them as scapegoats to his plans. He also died in his home, a poignant allusion to the Zhuang family plaque "Seclusion" where in the end, despite all the wealth and family he had gained, he's still all alone, no one loved him and everyone would rather let him die. Also, he died in that secret passageway, the same place where Madam Ruan discovered his connection to Eunuch Pei, signifying that his death was the result of his obsession with clinging to power, echoing what Fu Yunxi had said in episode 23: "Those who flatter the powerful ultimately wouldn't end well. Today, you may rely on power to succeed, but power will also trap you later." The ghosts of the dead he saw in that passageway added to his psychological torment before his death, just like the suffering he inflicted on all his victims before they died. In the end, he died alone, trapped and secluded in the tunnel of darkness where he is meant to die.

The watching experience became even more immersive because of the cinematography, aesthetics and OSTs! This is definitely the type of direction style that I really love with good camera angles, good editing, good zoom shots, and suspense horror vibes that highlight the dramatic effects of every scene. The fight scenes are also well-shot, not too long and not too short, and with very good stunts. The aesthetics are really breathtaking – the makeup, hairstyles, costumes, props and set designs. They truly captured the essence of an ancient painting in every frame, just as the director envisioned. The emotional and dramatic impacts of the scenes are more heightened with the OSTs. The OSTs are mirrors to the experiences and thoughts of Yanzi, Fu Yunxi and Madam Ruan so it's very fitting when it plays on pivotal scenes.

Yanzi's journey, aside from revenge, is also focused on defining what is home, family, mother-and-daughter love, and noble lady. And I'm satisfied with how the drama explores these themes as she navigates the dangerous schemes in the capital.

Kudos to the collective efforts and dedications of all the casts, director, screenwriter, costume designer, production staffs, composer and ost singers. May we meet again when the goose comes back to return to her home (aka when I rewatch this drama again haha).

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A Beautiful Story About Redefining Women within Family

This story is mostly about strong and messy female relationships like mother-daughter, lesbian bestie (my hc lol) and friendships. Female-male romance is a small part of the story but if you're into slow burn you'll like it cuz the tension is sooo good.
The story and the MC constantly question what a family is, and also women's role in the family. It encourages women to not give up their life as someone's wife or someone's mother, but rather live their own life. I really liked the MC and the actress was crazy good. (Actually all of the cast was really good, some scenes got me shocked!!!)

I mostly liked the first half of the series, i felt like the second half dragged on a bit too much but it was still a good journey. Definitely worth watching.

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A powerful female lead and a hauntingly memorable storyline

I honestly didn’t expect The Glory to hit me as hard as it did.

As someone who’s been following Chen Duling ever since her brief cameo with Cheng Yi (yes, I noticed her even in that tiny role!), I’ve always thought she had a quiet charm on screen. But I’d never seen her as a female lead until now. And wow… now I get it. She absolutely owned this role. It felt like she wasn’t acting at all—more like she became this character. From the very first episode, I was hooked. Her pain, her strength, her vulnerability… all of it felt so real that I found myself looking forward to each new episode.

This drama is dark—there’s no sugarcoating it. It doesn’t try to make you comfortable. It deals with a lot of emotional weight, trauma, and the struggle to find belonging in a cold and often cruel world. And right at the center of it is Chen Duling’s character, who is desperately searching for something we often take for granted: a place to call “home.”

What I really love about The Glory is that it doesn’t romanticize her pain or turn her journey into a fairytale. Her progress is messy, painful, and slow, but so powerful. Watching her grow stronger, fight back, and begin to heal is honestly inspiring. She carried so much emotion in her eyes. Her character went through so many layers of loss, anger, fear, and quiet hope, and she delivered all of it!

I really, really wanted her to be happy in the end. There were moments where I truly believed she might finally get her peace, but—well, it’s a Chinese drama. There’s always someone who dies, right? It’s like an unspoken rule. And while it made sense for the story, a part of me just wished she got her happy ending without another heartbreak T_T

If you’re looking for a beautifully acted, emotionally deep drama with a powerful female lead and a hauntingly memorable storyline, this is it. And if you’re a fan of Chen Duling—or even if you’ve never noticed her before—you need to watch this. Trust me, she’ll stay with you long after the credits roll.

And a silent wish that next time, she gets a drama where she lives happily ever after :)

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Amazing twists, breakneck pacing, questionable plot

Finally finished this series and I'm here to write a review! The Glory is in a weird place with me. It's got definitive plot twists that will definitely surprise you, with foreshadowing that is well executed (omg the gun was great). The characters are also very distinct and unique in cdrama in that they sometimes use violent, even borderline unlawful methods to get things done. And the soundtrack is great (I love the token sad OST "Cut" or 剪, it's beautiful and I've played it on loop for hours). I don't like how the WeTV adaptation on YouTube cuts off the music itself even though I paid for a membership, so I'm missing some BGMs >:( But that's an issue with the channel, not the series itself.

Also, it's surprising great with food? We don't get many scenes, but there are still delicious when you see them! Why did the dad have to be such a good cook! I was so sold on him in the beginning >:(

Also the pacing is VERY fast. I was talking with others viewing the series and they were like "it's like they knew this is a revenge drama and went through all the usual stops and steps very very fast," to the point where you almost don't keep up with the emotional cues. But then the plot develops in other ways so you're like "oh, it makes sense that they wanna get over the smaller conflicts to move on to the bigger drama later."

This is also where the biggest question mark of the series comes in: the plot itself. It makes sense and it's definitely gripping, but sometimes takes leaps of logic that has to make me pause and re-suspend my disbelief. People have plots and counterplots to deal with each other SO fast, to the point that while it feels great to watch, it's also a little unbelievable that things could proceed so smoothly. The whole story arc where Hanyan has to dig up that body and drag it to the capital has a super skewed timeline, for one thing.

In terms of acting, Chen Duling (Zhuang Hanyan) has improved a lot since her earlier days, so I'm genuinely happy to watch her progress here. She still needs work in some aspects, but she doesn't make me wince when she shows emotions like crying or rage anymore! Xin Yunlai (Fu Yunxi) more or less finished the series with a wooden face throughout, but the plot and everything else made me more or less accept it. Jinna Fu (Chai Jing) was wonderful as the assassin character, and I wish she had more screentime case she was SOOOO cool but I get why they had to write her out later.

Last but not least, the cinematography is GORGEOUS. Even the care taken in the opening and closing credits (with mother-of-pearl on lacquer kinda art!!) is breathtaking, to say nothing of the various scenes throughout the drama. You can choose any episode and find a beautiful, wallpaper-worthy scene to screenshot.

So yeah, to quote the netizens who've watched it, this is a somewhat brainless series, but it's still very addictive and follows through on its own (borderline nonsensical) logic at times to make a coherent story. I would say to focus on the emotional beats and individual characters---the side characters are fascinating and complex, and I really loved how for once the "evil females" in a series were redeemed for the better and learned to live for themselves. It seems to reflect that people are sometimes twisted by circumstance because it seems like easy way to live a happy life, but that's not always the case.

I also like the little instances of wordplay in the series, especially with the secret code revealing Fu Yunxi's status as a spy AND the missing character on 家 to 冢 in the final episode to show how Zhuang Shiyang's "home" ultimately became his "tomb." And the way they depicted the ending was veeeeeeery subtle but well done (big spoilers ahead):

Ultimately, Fu Yunxi didn't survive long. In the ending scene when the characters both past and present, alive and dead, are watching the fireworks, he's dressed in the paler/colder/yin-coded shades of white & blue with the other dead characters on the left, while Hanyan and the living are dressed in vibrant reds on the right. But the fact that they're all in the same scene shows...that ultimately, their memory lives on in the family that continues beyond their deaths. TOT

Like Fu Yunxi said, "No matter how the past was, there's no need to revisit it. No need to entangle with the past. Because now, we have a beautiful future." WahhhHHHHHHhhhhhhhh (Also the reason I believe this is also b/c Chen Duling's studio released an edit post-series showing all of Zhuang Hanyan's dead loved ones "fading away" next to her and Fu Yunxi was like the first guy in the video to poof lol. If he did survive, he definitely didn't make it to or past the new year's. You can watch it here if it's still up: https://x.com/chenduling1018/status/1909936759460467143)

Anyways, the end! (I still can't believe main leads only kissed TWICE, once by accident and once in the last episode!!!! But I get it, this is more of a revenge drama than a romance drama hahaha).

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The Glory – Revenge, Healing, and a Handsome but Stiff Male Lead ?

The Glory is one of those dramas that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. It’s all about a brave and strong woman who’s been through a lot but refuses to give up. Her journey from being hurt to getting her life back is super inspiring and honestly, pretty badass. The story has everything—twists, turns, pain, revenge, and just enough emotional chaos to keep you glued to the screen. It dives into serious stuff like freedom, forgiveness, and that complicated love/hate situation we all secretly enjoy watching.
(Spoiler Alert) Now, about the male lead... yes, he’s good-looking (like, really good-looking), but let's be real—he’s a bit stiff. Not much romance going on here. If you’re waiting for heart-fluttering love scenes, you might be left hanging. There’s no dramatic breakup or anything, but their lack of communication is kinda annoying—like, just talk already!

Still, the show isn’t really about romance. It’s more about healing, standing up for yourself, and getting that sweet, sweet revenge (with a side of redemption). Plus, it wraps up nicely with a happy ending, which is always a win.
All in all, The Glory is totally worth watching. It’s intense, emotional, a little frustrating at times—but in a good way. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just maybe don’t expect too many lovey-dovey moments. 😄

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A lot of potential, but a really poorly written story :(

The FL (the family's legitimate daughter) was "cursed" and sent (and mistreated) to the countryside. At 17, she runs away and returns to her family to reclaim her place (against her father, concubine & their children). Her mother, disabled, lives more or less as a recluse. The only helper is the ML (widowed brother-in-law), who investigates conspiracies. The Great Villain is still at work...

+++ Good CL (but no chemistry at all between the leads)
+++ Revenge plot with a mysterious atmosphere and well-executed suspense.
+++ Superb cinematography, sets. Magnificent costumes (•ө•)♡, hairstyles.

### Poorly executed story on a psychological level: many twisted characters (including ML & especially FL), illogical behaviors and situations, etc. The screenwriter adds drama to drama, just for fun (because the trend is toward Dark Drama).
### Without a doubt the most detestable (selfish, manipulative) FL in all of Dramaland.
### Heavy plot twists and a lot of drag in the last part => skipping :(

=> The plot was interesting, but the story is too poorly written to make you want to watch this drama again.
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La FL (1e fille légitime de la famille) a été "maudite" et envoyée (+ maltraitée) à la campagne. A 17 ans, elle s'enfuit et revient ds sa famille pr reconquérir sa place (contre père, concubine et ses enfants). Sa mère, handicapée, vit +/- recluse. Seule aide, le ML (beau-frère veuf) qui enquête s/ complots. Le Great Villain est tjs à l'oeuvre...

+++ Bon CL (but no chemistry at all between the leads)
+++ Plot Revenge avec atmosphère mystérieuse et suspense bien mené.
+++ Superbe cinématographie, décors. Magnifiques costumes (•ө•)♡, coiffures.

### Story mal menée au niveau psychologique : bcp de personnages tordus (y compris ML & surtt FL), comportements et situat° illogiques, etc. Le screenwriter rajoute du drame au drame, juste pr le fun (parce que la tendance est au Dark Drama") .
### Sans doute la FL la plus détestable (égoïste, manipulatrice) de tt Dramaland.
### Grosses ficelles et bcp de longueurs ds la dernière partie => zapping :(

=> Le plot était intéressant, mais l'histoire est trop mal écrite pr donner envie de revisionner ce drama à nouveau.

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likeable revenge drama

Have seen Chen Duling in quite a few dramas over the last couple of years, so thought she was going to be relegated to forever being a supporting character. In here she is the female lead and does a pretty good job.

The opening episodes moved along well enough but wasn't sure what this drama was about or which direction it was heading. Wasn't even sure who the villain(s) were in here or why the Zhuang residence was so messed up. Then around the middle episodes it becomes clearer and you start to see where the story is headed. The main villain is particularly nasty and the actor portraying him did a great job, had me fooled until at least episode 17 or 18. Also, liked the fact that they didn't have a lot of filler scenes and ended the drama at 30 episodes. Too many dramas seem to drag on too long.

It is a decent enough revenge drama that will keep you watching to the end.

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A Story of Twists and Triumph

I almost dropped this drama during the first 3 episodes (not sure if its because the pacing initially). I decided to give it another chance (or at least till the 5th episode) and things picked up afterwards.

The storytelling was really good; the plot twists were well written, and not everyone was who they seemed to be. It's like a good 50% of the characters were like chess grandmasters as they plot and scheme with/against each other. The story was also weaved like a intricate web, and all the characters / story were small pieces that fit a large puzzle.

Zhuang Han Yan, the FL of this drama honestly have one of the saddest backstory (based on what I have watched in 2025 so far), but what amazes me she doesn't admit to fate and takes matters in her own hands, wanting to change her destiny. I also like that she also want to help those around her, who are stuck in similar predicament. This makes me respect the character so much.

Fu Yun Xi, the ML is like a magistrate with A LOT secrets (which made him hard to read at the start of the drama), especially when what he says does not equate to how he acts. But this guy grow on you as the story progresses, as things unfold itself.

Acting wise:
1. Chen Du Ling (Zhuang Han Yan) - my 2nd drama of Du Ling as the female lead. Maybe because of the stark difference in the characters, I actually like her as Zhuang Han Yan, a strong woman (instead of a dimsel in distress). I think her acting here was great as well.

2. Xin Yun Lai (Fu Yun Xi) - Raising from support role when I first saw him to the main lead, Xin Yun Lai came a long way I feel. His acting here was not too bad, but may have lack the intensity/depth compared to other actors who acted in similar roles before.

3. These actors/actress deserved a special mention, but they are those who make this show so much more enjoyable:
A. Wen Zheng Rong (Ruan Xi Wen) - I had seen her in other dramas before, but none had such long lasting impact as this one. She really delivered Ruan Xi Wen to you.
B. Wang Yan (Zhou Ru Yin) - veteran actress, she delivers her character perfectly here

Ost:
Personal favorite: 焰 (Flame) - 李琦 (Li Qi)

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Good drama

First of all, the outfits were AMAZING I say that every time I watch a historical C-drama, but this one really stood out. It’s my first drama set during the Ming dynasty, and as always, the hanfu style was absolutely beautiful.

Now the father… what can you expect from someone who killed his own father? He’s a hypocrite to the core doesn’t love anyone, yet somehow managed to deceive everyone.

What I loved most about this drama is how it plays with perception. We’re blinded by the image of those hypocrites we thought the mother was the villain for not welcoming her daughter back, but she was actually protecting her. Same goes for the concubine we expected her to be a source of support, yet she turned out to be evil. That twist in perspective made the drama feel incredibly realistic to me.

Conclusion: Don’t trust people too quickly. Take your time to truly get to know them.
P.S.:My dream is to be this cunning 😝

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revelations upon revelations

As the rating for this drama was good, I decided to jump right in despite not knowing both ML and FL well. I liked it!

What I Liked/ Worked:
- The acting from the cast was good.
- Layers of plot. There was plenty of suspense and tension. Whodunnit?! Together with the ML and FL, the viewers get privy into what happened years ago and into the gory, painful, brutal truth.
- The soundtrack suited the show.
- The storyline was riveting even though many parts were dealing with the malicious nature of the people around.

What I Didn’t Like:
- The father was beyond hateful. He was exceedingly selfish and more cold-blooded than a reptile. He killed his own father to further his own evil and selfish causes. He ruined the precious and innocent lives of others like his wife and daughter in order to further his own cause. Worse still, he had no remorse and wanted to live on at the expense of others. He had no qualms about hurting others so as to protect himself. He was self-centered and wicked to the core.
- I would have liked more lovey dovey scenes between ML and FL. More romance would be better IMO.

I recommend this drama as it is engaging and entertaining.

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Strong Performances and Psychological Depth: My Top-Shelf Watch of 2025

This received a mixed response from audiences. But for me, it’s a top-shelf watch and my favorite of 2025 so far—I can definitely see myself rewatching it. I loved everything about it from start to finish: the intro, the outro (which I watched every time for its graphics and music), and the entire soundtrack. The overall and individual performances were strong, and the use of different camera angles gave it the feel of a costume avant-garde production. Every detail—from the set design to the dramatic overtures—elevated the narrative and dialogue.

Why I loved it:
Each episode was packed with riveting plots and subplots. Even when the people behind the conflicts were obvious, the delivery was so emotionally impactful that the predictability didn’t matter. I especially appreciated the psychological complexity, character dynamics, and growth. It was easy to sympathize with their struggles and become fully invested in their outcomes.

While I’ve heard differing opinions, I thought Chen Duling delivered an impactful performance as a strong lead. The supporting cast also brought such weight to their roles that the lines between main and supporting characters blurred—this series wouldn’t have been the same without every single one of them. I also appreciated the social commentary on women’s issues. Even when certain scenarios felt stilted or unrealistic, the intent and emotional resonance still came through.

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