Beautiful era
I wanted to giv it stars will write review in detail My fav dialogue I love ur gifts of jewelry and silk dresses but what most I want is appreciation as a great singer I just went wow strong women in this drama who don’t bow to ny thingI loved Yufei she is v graceful too have not seen many Chinese actress I remember I loved Gong li for same
Story could have been better. But acting was awesome 👏 Love all three main females character
Chemistry of main leads were so good wanted more of this
Ok will be back to write review
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This review may contain spoilers
The interaction between the main leads is just so adorable!
Loved all the moments between the main leads. Like the FL said many times, the ML could spout jokes with such a straight face and he was charming doing it. Chen Xiao was such a perfect choice for this character, he was a bit churlish but also sweet.There that one time when you want to hit him on the head and tell him to go tell her the trust instead of hiding like a coward, but he just behaves like one for a long time. Thankfully, its not that long and we have a smart FL who figures it out.
All the women in this show were so powerful. It was beautiful to watch them focus on success of their businesses. They each had a dream and they found a way to achieve those despite all the obstacles standing in their ways. They even changed things for future.
The scene where the FL gets flogged is so sad, yet somehow added more more meaning to her fight.
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Not all sweet dreams have silver linings
I am impressed with the production quality of this show. The set looked lived in and organic. The story is engaging, and the actors’ visuals are spot on. You can sense the chemistry between the leads even during their meet-cute. The story generally moved along at a good pace with some troubling and hard-hitting plots that really set up the backstories of the three female leads and what drove them to make a new life in the Song Dynasty’s Eastern Capital.I really appreciate the Show's attention to detail with some very elaborate sets and costumes. Both arts and crafts are well featured and referenced. The tea ceremony and banquet entertainment are most impressive. The one exception is the pipa performances. There is only so much you can alter reality. ;)
Scenes also have a more natural feel by shooting under natural lights and weather conditions. This dedication to authenticity did slip a little towards the end but it is still impressive.
In terms of the main plot, it is very much built upon the strong bonds between the three female leads and their struggles. Ancient China is not built on equality. Gender inequality and a rigid class system is institutionalised (look up 3 obediences/4 virtues). The Show's feminist and class struggle messages are unmistakable. I do appreciate the effort but it can get a bit heavy handed and you start to feel that our FL’s are the divine agents of change.
Running alongside this are the love lines between the OTP and a cute/comedic older 2OTP (there is a junior 3OTP). As I mentioned before, the chemistry of the OTP is strong. While we have the usual push-pull, it was handled with maturity resulting in meaningful conversations and straightforwardness, an uncommon sight in dramas. There is also a decent amount of skinship and it felt natural and playful. I for one am happy that the confession happened sooner rather than later, and we were treated to some nice swoon worthy moments before . . . the tropey plot took over.
I know tropes are inescapable. The first half was so engrossing that you took them in your stride. However, around the 2/3 mark, the show seemed to hit a fork and the writer grafted a big branching plot onto the story and doubled down on the tropes thus creating a lot of angst for all involved. This was further compounded by the ML going MIA and then flashed the Noble Idiot card. Is the Show trying to pad out the length? You can put a fence around this and excise it and there will be minimal impact to the overall story. I would have scored the Show higher if we were spared this “distraction”.
Speaking of distractions, the palace intrigue subplots was all prevailing, but it didn’t do much for me. It just seemed to be there to create agitation. In the end, the “intrigue” was fairly humdrum.
To fault the acting of the main cast is to nit-pick. I’m particularly impressed by Dai Xu. He played a bumbling bully and a loveable rogue with great comedic timing and a deft touch. The pairing of our OTP was perfect. Liu Yifei and Chen Xiao could have stepped out of a history book. The other main cast members pull their weights. The main antagonist is a tragic figure whose downfall was foretold but his retribution did left me with a sour taste.
This is one of the best historical drama I have seen for some time. OST is wonderful. 40 episodes is a tad long for a rewatch but I would definitely enjoy a swoon-y highlight reel, especially the ending.
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Nice
Nice is good. Good acting, catching and well developed plot, consistent pace, all of which make this drama a good watching experience.The only comment I would make would be for the choice of the three female leads. To me, they where matching beauties, to the point of having trouble sorting them apart.
But, then again, I am European, so it might be my own difficulty in telling people apart.
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strong FL and ML
Amazing casting! This is my first time watching a drama with Chen Xiao and loved his role in this.I am always down for the strong FL and ML - power couple. He was so captivated by her the minute he saw her and you could tell, he found him a bit interesting.
Listen, I had no idea Ouyang Xu would end up like that LOL.
Despite all the set backs, the leads and their friends finally got what they wanted.
For some of the characters (family), maybe I missed what happened to them.
For the ending, I wouldn't say it is my favorite. They could have given us the ending we were looking forward to see.
Overall, it was good and you will enjoy the romance and fighting scenes.
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a love romance with passion and strengh
the story is about a woman, dance entertainer, who has fallen into pariah class for her father's fault and HOW she will stand up high again after that. my feelings after watching the drama are joy and relieve.there are a lot of good things to view in this drama: costumes, poetry, songs, dialogues, fights, political plots, views of ancient life in China, view of women condition in ancient China. I loved the subtle way the main characters seduced each others and behaved with one another. I also loved how smart the main female character is.
violence: in my opinion there are 2 major violent scenes, (ep24, 39th min until beginning ep 25 4th min) and (ep37, 18th minute). I would keep children under 12 away, and definitely explain to all under age children why that's not ok.
sex: that's a very family friendly show.
when to watch: with your family or your lover. there are definitely too much love scenes for friends' entertainment. the show is relaxing enough to be watched on after work's basis. it is catching and you'll have sometimes hard time stopping. but keep some good stuffs for tomorrow my friend!
have fun!
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Justice always triumphs
"A dream of splendor"mainly focuses on women and their struggles to settle in their life.It tells the story of 3 women from Qiantang to the Eastern capital and how they start and run a business successfully and establish themselves in the capital,make friends and eventually find their loved ones.Liu Yifei as Zhao Pan'er and Chen Xiao as Gu Qianfan were perfect in their roles.Ada Liu is excellent as Sun Sanniang.Jelly Lin as Yinzhang is also good..All the other actors were good.
The drama,to be precise is very practical and also interesting at the same time.
What I liked the most is the background is very bright and all the costumes and sets were very nice.The plot is also grippy with few twists and turns.The locations were scenicl.
Overall it is a worth watching drama which leaves a pleasant impression on our minds.
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Unparalleled chemistry
Many things are great about this drama, (and a few things I didn't particularly like) but the one thing that teuly stood out the most to me is how perfect the chemistry between the two leads was, I truly can't think of any other drama where I could feel their chemistry through the screen like I did here.The drama itself is very good, each character has its own interesting story, character development, relationships development and depth without it overshadowing the two leads stories.
The female lead isn't a perfect mary sue nor is she a damsel in distress: she's smart and resourceful, she has ambitions and passions outside of her love interest but she also doesn't put him second and cares deeply about him and his happiness and safety.
Her "sisters" (family isn't always decided by blood) are also fully flashed out characters, they are not there just to have a secondary love story, advance the plot or assist the FL: they have ambitions and flaws, they make mistakes, more than once, they learn from them and develop as characters and mature as people. Their bond and their struggles, their love for each other and their disagreements and fights were always well executed.
The male side characters were also really well developed, interesting and extremely lovable.
I watched this drama because of Crystal Liu but the stand out for me in this drama was the actor that played Qianfan: I felt like he was truly phenomenal in the role, he was able to play the stone faced commissioner but also made me swoon every time he was near the FL.
I enjoyed the first half a lot more and I would give it a 10, but the second half wasn't as good, maybe an 8? I'm not sure if I have to be honest, but still.
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Watched it for the aesthetics, not the story
I watched this drama because of its high ratings and beautiful posters — but after finishing it, I honestly regret it 😩. I only completed it because I had already downloaded all the episodes and used a lot of my data, so I didn’t want it to go to waste.🌸 The basic stuff (so you know what I watched)
It’s set in the Song dynasty and follows Zhao Pan’er and two other women who go to the capital and build a restaurant/teahouse business together. The cast includes Liu Yifei (Pan’er) and Chen Xiao, and the drama focuses a lot on female friendship, business, and social struggles rather than nonstop action.
✅ What worked (for others… and a little for me too)
I can admit the visuals are stunning 🌸 — the costumes, sets, and whole Song dynasty atmosphere are absolutely beautiful. Every frame looks refined and artistic (and yeah, reviewers from Tumblr, ElizabethTai.com, and Chasing Dramas also praised this).
The drama focuses on a strong female lead, Zhao Pan’er, who rises from humble beginnings and builds her own business 💪. That’s refreshing compared to the usual palace-intrigue or fantasy-heavy dramas. I really loved this part about her.
It also highlights female solidarity — Pan’er, Song Yin Zhang, and Sun San Niang helping each other survive in a male-dominated world. That sisterhood theme was nice to see, even though I didn’t personally connect with those two characters much.
The script also tries to explore topics like justice, class prejudice, and women’s independence, not just romance or fighting. It’s clear they wanted to make something with depth.
❌ What disappointed me (and honestly, frustrated me)
The pacing was painfully slow 🐢. Many people called it a “slow burn,” but for me, it was just slow. The story started fine, then lost energy completely. Every episode felt stretched, and it was hard to stay interested.
The main couple — sorry, but I didn’t feel anything. 💔
People said they had mature chemistry, but I only felt boredom when they were together. No spark, no emotion, nothing beautiful or wow. I’m not a fan of either lead, but still, I expected more feelings between them.
The business plot, which could have been exciting, felt repetitive. They open a teahouse, face problems, talk business… yet it’s still dull. The restaurant scenes weren’t engaging, and the customers’ dialogue often felt meaningless.
As for the side characters: Yin Zhang was just too foolish for me 🙄, and San Niang didn’t have any charm either. Their subplots were weak and didn’t add much to the main story.
There were no good-looking male characters, no great action scenes, and no “wow” moments at all. For a drama that was so hyped, I honestly don’t understand why.
🎯 Why it probably got high ratings (even if I disagree)
I can see why some people loved it. It’s different from typical costume dramas — no fantasy, no over-the-top martial arts, but more grounded realism. It focuses on female empowerment and social messages, and critics admired that.
Also, the production quality is top-tier 🎥. The sets, costumes, and cinematography are gorgeous. And of course, Liu Yifei’s popularity helped it gain attention. So, from a “quality” viewpoint, it’s understandable why it got high ratings — just not from my taste.
💬 My honest feelings
For me, it was just boring. I expected something emotionally moving or exciting, but instead, it gave me subtle emotions and slow pacing. Maybe that’s the style they aimed for, but it didn’t suit what I enjoy in dramas.
I prefer when there’s either a strong romance, powerful chemistry, or thrilling tension — something that keeps me hooked. This one had none of that. So even though it’s well-made, it simply didn’t connect with me.
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A Hard-Hitting Tale of the realities of Low Class Women in Ancient China
I liked this show; what a moving depiction of the struggles of the low class, especially women in historical China. The music and production put the icing on the cake of a good story and great acting.I really must dub my hat to the writers: 3 women tied together by their experiences but all with distinct personalities and heart-wrenching stories.
My props to the actors for bringing the story to life. Ouyang Xu is definitely going up on my list of vile antagonists.
The story's pacing was pretty good except for a few episodes in the middle between 25-32—otherwise a great watching experience.
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This review may contain spoilers
I really love this series. It's not a complex drama that drives you crazy with twists and turns, but it tackles women's empowerment. Also, the cinematography is so damn great and comparable to The Longest Day of Chang'an. Showcasing the culture back in the Song Dynasty captivates me. Undeniably, I love the Song Dynasty, their costumes, delicacies, music, paintings, etc. Furthermore, what makes me keep on watching this series is the chemistry between Pan'er and Qianfan and other central characters throughout the entire series. They have overflowing chemistry and their eyes speak with emotions that fit the scenes. The osts are good too, because they have deep meanings. Honestly, I don't like Yinzhang because she irritated me a lot with her personality, but it's a good thing she has a character development at the end. Ouyang Xu really drives me insanely. Gosh, he fucked up at the end and he deserved it. Also, the emperor is doing well because it's rare to find a character in a comedy that is not scheming and heartless. This time he listens. Other supporting roles are doing well, and I can proudly say that I love Chen Xiao as Qianfan. He's such a gem and underrated in INTL, but damn his acting skills are great. Same with Liu Yifei. If given a chance again to work in the future, I will support them because their tandem is one of the best. They've lived up to their hype in China and have gotten high scores and ratings. Some may find it boring or have draggy episodes. Well, it's natural because we all have different tastes, and it's really normal for the series to receive negative feedback. Was this review helpful to you?
Appealing Story
This show gets a good solid 7 from me. I really enjoyed the first 20 or so episodes and the characters were fun and interesting. The cinematography was quite lovely and the music was well done. I have become a big Chen Xiao fan lately and like Liu Yi Fei. I think she is quite lovely and he is so expressive with just his eyes and gaze. The side characters were good and the strong women banding together theme was refreshing to see in a c-drama. It really captivated me and I was loving it until I was not. The writers just could not help themselves from throwing in a few tropes that were entirely unnecessary. Mainly the I am breaking up with you for your own good trope. I think that was thrown in as a filler to get through 7-8 episodes. Definately not needed. It was a 9 for me until episode 27 or so and then it digressed. The last 13 episodes were to me poorly written. The ending was a total letdown. I almost gave it a 6 but just love Chen Xiao so upped it to a 7. It is definatley one of the better c-dramas out there these days but why oh why can the writers of these dramas not learn the lesson that sometimes less is more?Was this review helpful to you?
