Revenge Drama with a Strong FL and ML
So, there is no real romance. This is just pure revenge (not saying that is a bad thing). I think the storyline was okay and if you are a fan of historical dramas, you know it will get draggy in the middle lol. yeah I skipped through alot and it seems I didnt miss a thing.I did love Xin Yun Lai fighting scenes. For Chen Du Ling, based on the dramas I have watched with her, she plays her revengeful character well.
Zhuang Shi Yang is one greedy father, his actions were pi$$ing me off.
Overall, I was really hoping for some romance between the leads and not just "liking" each other.
Maybe, we could have gotten a better "happy" ending after all the chaos and starting their own family.
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Captivating
This show was fun to watch and gave me most of what I wanted. There were some areas that could use improvement, but overall, it is a fantastic drama about female empowerment, revenge, and, most of all, what it means to be a family.Spoilers below:
My top 10 moments from this show are the following:
1. Zhuang Shiyang's death
2. Ruan Xi Wen divorcing Zhuang Shiyang
3. All the flirtatious fight scenes between Fu Yun Xi and Zhuang Hanyan
4. The sismance between Chai Jing and Zhuang Hanyan (idc what anyone says they were in love)
5. The touching mother-daughter moment between Zhuang Hanyan and Fu Ling Zhi
6. The sismance between Nobel Consort Miao and Ruan Xi Wen
7. The 'accidental' kiss
8. The jail scene between Fu Yunxi and Zhuang Hanyan
9. That one insufferable prince finally meeting his end/being tied up
10. The way they ended the show
Things I did not like as much:
1. Fish kiss (why...let's stop doing this lmao. I'm not asking for a full-on makeout session but what's with the pressing lips together?)
2. How things were handled with Chai Jing and Zhuang Hanyan (I did not like how the writer chose to close out this relationship, nor did I like seeing Chai Jing on a boat in the middle of god knows where while it snows)
3. How the father seemingly never had any setbacks until the very end
4. How easy it was for Noble Consort Miao to meet her end...if she was his favorite wife, why did he easily send her off to her death?
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Loved! Didn't even skip while watching
As the title said, great drama, the acting was awesome and the soundtrack matched the vibes perfectly!!I loved how women driven it was, like sure it had its rare damsel moments but most of the times it was just our amazing FL thinking her way through situations and helping out other women. This drama to me was about understanding the other, their struggles and what pushes them to be the way they are. I loved it. The instrumental soundtracks often gave the drama its appropriate heaviness and the acting was superb. The villain actually made me hate seeing him on screen and that hasn't happened in a while for me.
P. S. CHAI JING OWNS MY HEART. THEIR FRIENDSHIP WAS EVERYTHING TO ME.
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WHAT A GEM! But criminally underrated!
What an unconventional beauty! Watching this drama will take you on a different level in comparison to the usual chinese drama made for entertainment and couple-romance-centric dramas that are trending. Revenge story but has its own charm-not tiring not repetitive cliched storyline. Though short it adds to the charm. The cast did justice to the well-written, gripping script writing. Its aesthetic is different and complements the tone of the story. The struggles are worth the struggle as a simple way to put the whole vibe of the story. The cast are splendid- the chemistry, acting and special mention to the sweet baby girl what an actress at such a young age! The story of the two leads-describes that sometimes love is not all about rainbows and butterflies- but in reality, it's about saving and being saved from yourselves. The two leads have fantastic chemistry-underrated even hope they have another collaboration. Such chemistry is such a waste to be ignored.Was this review helpful to you?
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A MUST WATCH
One of the best C-dramas this year—well-written, fast-paced, and with amazing performances (the villain especially stood out!). Every character was interesting, and the mix of revenge and political intrigue kept me hooked.I’ll admit I felt uneasy about the main leads’ relationship since the male lead was married to the female lead’s sister before, but I appreciated that the drama focused more on revenge than romance. The ending was satisfying, and overall, this series is definitely worth watching.
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Gripping and thrilling story of a comeback
A gripping, brilliantly written period drama with zero unnecessary filler. At just 30 episodes, it delivers tight storytelling, strong performances, and genuinely unpredictable plot twists that keep you on the edge of your seat.What makes this drama stand out is its powerful sisterhood and feminism—rarely done this well in historicals. The characters are layered, the subplots meaningful, and even without much romance, you never feel its absence because the political intrigue, family dynamics, and emotional depth are so compelling.
The mother–daughter storyline is the heart of the show, supported by themes of justice, identity, and breaking free from one’s cursed past. And honestly… the dad deserves an award—he fooled all of us at first!
A superb drama from start to finish: smartly paced, engaging, emotionally rich, and completely binge-worthy. Highly recommended.
A beautiful journey of calculated vengeance and evolving trust between two clever, formidable leads.Revenge drama done RIGHT with actually morally grey characters, sisterhood and strong chemistry!
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10 10 10 Across the Board!!
This drama is very different in a good way! What I probably love most about this drama is the father being the true villain behind everything! I find that particularly interesting because the birth fathers are NEVER the villain! It’s always the stepmothers, grandmothers, Aunts, hell sometimes even the birth mothers! And then for him to act sooooo innocent from beginning to end after doing so many horrendous things was perfection! I was TRULY SHOCKED that he was a villain! He had no shame! Bravo to the actor he did a PHENOMENAL JOB!!Another thing I loved was how the romance wasn’t the main genre of this drama. I mean, don’t get me wrong I love romance dramas as much as the next person but if the main focus was romance for this particular drama I feel like everything else been overshadowed!
I HAVE to give a shoutout to the actress who played the FL mother! She was AMAZING! When I first watched this drama her character in the beginning gave me THE CREEPS with her bulging eyes and haunting voice! I loved it!!! I have never seen a performance like that in a Chinese drama…like EVER!
In short, this drama made me feel excitement! It needs to have a higher rating on MDL! 8.3 is simply NOT HIGH ENOUGH! Truly an underrated gem ugh!
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Love Hate
I really had a hard time watching this drama - the story was good but so many parts were so ridiculous. Truly had a love hate relationship and a lot of eye rolls. It’s just constant schemes and lies that it was so annoying. Had potential but it was overboard and ML had one expression the whole time.Was this review helpful to you?
Beautiful Story
There is absolutely nothing negative to say abiut Gliry. The female and male lead captivating. Every actor performed to oerfection. It a touch, it is jealousy and treachery. I woul definitely watch it again. I love Chinese drsmas, ❤️ They are the best. If you haved watched, give it a go. Youll love it guaranteed.Was this review helpful to you?
revenge drama done RIGHT with actually morally grey characters, sisterhood and strong chemistry!
The story is fast paced and doesn't drag too much and if you loved 'The Double' like me, trust me you are in for a treat. All characters are morally gray and not goody two shoes with actual secretive motives and makes you keep guessing their next moves. Both the main leads have insane chemistry to my surprise and are not to be taken lightly. And as much as the concept of an abandoned daughter pursuing revenge is cliche, this drama does right with strong fl and ml who don't take shit for any bullshit and actively strive to put the villains in their places. Not to mention the burning tension ASFHGSSHSHThe schemes in this drama will reel you in and want for more. I must admit the first two episodes seem a little to boring to me but that was because i have watched far too many revenge based dramas that the suffering of the fl didnt make feel suprised but do i feel bad for her? YES I DO! Gurl went through hell for nothing and her history is all the more reason you will want her to just tear everyone apart.
Also the bond between her and chai jing is super adorable and the sisterhood is soo beautiful to watch. Sometimes you can't help but ships those two >_<
Therefore I highly reccomed you to watch this and the male lead reminds me of Duke SU (my husband ) and Ling Buyi who would protect their girls till the worlds end.
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magnificent
oh.....my.....god. A magnificent show. Villainy unfolded layer upon hidden layer and hidden heart-wrenching love. 30 eps at 45mins ea, and I was riveted to the screen for every single one. Shock and awe mixed with both pity and love may not be to your taste but this is the kind of show where even a few episodes will be worth it for the memory.Give it a try. I recommend it.
An FL who resorts to biting or murder when all else fails, Zhuang Han Yan, played by the actress Chen Du Ling, is a realistic character who has never been loved by anyone except a piratical female bodyguard and childhood friend. Abused from the beginning of her helpless infancy she does not trust, and given the family she meets when she comes back for revenge, she is right not to do so. She still yearns and quietly hopes for some form of love in some corner of her heart, but she is definitely psychotically possessed by a need for revenge.
She is a lonely goose poetically who flies back north to find a home. There is a great moment about exactly halfway through where she hangs an anonymous poem about herself on a festival tree where girls invite poems in response. Fu Yunxi finds it by sheer powerful instinct and writes a perfect reply, which then gets lost and one despairs of these two, even though fireworks rain down overhead.
An ML both stoic and vulnerable, Fu Yun Xi, played by Xin Yun Lai, is a shadowy personage, an criminal investigator for the imperial govt, who plans so far ahead into the future that he knows when he sees ZHY that she is the wife he needs. A man who is playing a dangerous game that is not easily guessed by the viewer, he is so calculating that he manages, thank goodness, to predict when his love is about to go off the rails in some murderous rampage. Unlike the usual romantic hero he doesnt so much as magically rescue her from danger as protect her from herself. How does he understand her so well? She is baffled by him, as are we. Xin Yun Lai is gorgeous, so it is a pleasure to wonder and watch him as he plays out his long-term strategies.
It is a character-driven story, written by a novelist who has had other works successfully adapted to the small screen. The scriptwriter and director however must still receive great credit for emphasizing the classically 'tragic' elements successfully. Pity, fear and awe (w/a bow to the Poetics), all are evoked.
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