Rebirth

A meaningless, pointless, bad drama.

This is the worst costume drama I've seen recently. There's no plot, no story, no script. I swear, even the director wouldn't know what they were filming or what they were doing. It's such a mess. It's a shame for the actors. It's a shame for all the effort. The director probably just filmed whatever he was given, but it's unclear what he was given. There's no meaning, no plot, no one knows what they're doing or who's doing what. It's such a confusing script. The male lead appears very little, just briefly and then disappears. He's after a girl, a slave girl, who later becomes a general, but we don't see any of this. They tell the story. She appears with the enemy king, and then with the male lead on the friendly side. She doesn't like them, doesn't want them, despises them, and treats them badly. Then she's loved and desired by a prince from another empire, but she doesn't like or want him either. Then her name is linked to another prince, but that doesn't work out either. Their lovers, however, hold a grudge against her, and they keep finding each other and instigating each other in one kingdom, then another, then another principality. So, those lovers, they appear wherever the girl is wandering. All the nonsense is piled on top of each other. The girl appears on her horse in front of the castle. The enemy king, in love with her, is watching her from the forest on the other side, even his archers are ready to shoot. Normally, according to that scene, the girl should enter the castle. No, she rides her horse into the forest, meaning she's going after the enemy, they chase her and catch her at the edge of a cliff. How meaningless and pointless. Apathy prevails. At least decide where and when to do what.

The male and female leads die and are resurrected, rescued, and so on, at the very beginning of the series. They fall again in the same way, and are rescued again. They die and are resurrected repeatedly. Probably because the series is called Rebirth. It's very pointless.

A king gives the male lead a potion, meaning he poisons him. He says he has the antidote and parades him everywhere. He makes him do his bidding. This character is very combative, a master of fighting, capable of defeating anyone, and hits his target perfectly. He could kill the king multiple times, but instead he's searching for an antidote, only to be sent on yet another mission. If there were a struggle, a punishment, a loyalty, a reason, you might understand. But it's a pointless endeavor, and I couldn't even watch the whole thing. I'm tired of watching such bad, meaningless, empty things. I'm sorry, but there's nothing there except effort. I could write ten times more about the pointlessness and lack of plot of this series than I can here. There's so much more; it wouldn't fit here. It's wrong from beginning to end. Didn't the director or those who read this script realize there was something wrong with the screenwriter? I'm shocked. Bad, very bad, I wouldn't recommend anyone watch it.

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✨An Epic Written in Dust, Glory, and Contradictions and a Descent I Didn’t See Coming✨

Okay… where do I even begin with this one?

This drama came in with a lot of noise around it—and not exactly the flattering kind. So I went in cautious… and somehow I am more entertained than I expected.

Let’s start with what it does right.

✅The cinematography is genuinely stunning. This isn’t soft or whimsical—it leans fully into that rugged, historical, almost mythic and tribal atmosphere. Wide landscapes, grounded textures, and a strong, earthy color palette make everything feel weighty and immersive, like you’re watching a legend unfold rather than a polished fairytale. Visually, it’s one of the drama’s strongest assets.

✅The BGM also deserves a mention, because it carries. I always pay attention to how music supports a story, and here it does a lot of heavy lifting in amplifying tension and emotion. When it hits, it really hits. Though—no explanation for this—but my brain kept randomly hearing echoes of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 in certain moments. Slightly distracting… but overall, a very solid score.

✅Character-wise, this drama is surprisingly rich. While the leads are central, it’s the supporting cast that really rounds out the world. There’s a strong sense of presence across the board—distinct personalities, layered motivations—and I found myself invested in more than just the main storyline, which is always a win.

✅The plot itself is engaging enough to keep you watching. There are twists, shifting dynamics, and despite the intimidating episode count, the pacing holds up better than expected. Watching it while airing actually worked in its favor—two episodes a day felt like the perfect rhythm, and the story never really dragged for me.

Now… onto the more complicated part😢

The female lead.

I went in aware of the situation, so my expectations were already adjusted. And to be fair, she does okay—she doesn’t break immersion completely and holds her ground in many scenes. But when the narrative asks you to see her as a feared and respected general… that’s where it becomes harder to fully buy in. Especially when the characters around her often carry a much stronger, more commanding presence.

And then there’s the romance—specifically in terms of the main leads’ portrayal.

For me, this is where things don’t quite land. The emotional depth just isn’t there, and the dynamic feels off more often than not. Instead of adding to the story, the romantic moments felt like interruptions to what was otherwise a compelling narrative. Separately, the characters work. Together… not so much, again, personal take.
Interestingly though, I found myself far more invested in the dynamic between the female lead and the second male lead. There’s a natural ease there that makes their interactions feel less awkward and, in my opinion, far more convincing. The chemistry simply flows better.

And I have to say—Zhang Kang Le as Yan Xun is adding an unhinged, chaotic kind of energy that I did not know I needed. He’s unpredictable, slightly feral, and honestly just so much fun to watch. Every time he’s on screen, things get instantly more interesting. He’s crazy… but the entertaining kind of crazy—and I’m absolutely here for it.

As for the overall reception, yes—there’s been quite a bit of negativity. And while some of it is understandable, I also feel like a lot of viewers went in already decided—whether due to casting choices or constant comparisons to Princess Agents. Having seen Princess Agents a few years ago, I do think it helps a bit with the initial setup (since the first episodes throw a lot at you), but as the story progresses, this drama does stand on its own.

Personally, I made the conscious choice to treat it as a separate story—and to stay away from the comment section early on. The experience was better for it.

So, who is this for?

If you’re heavily attached to Princess Agents, this might take some adjusting. And if you’re here strictly for romance… this is probably not your drama. The strength lies in its atmosphere, characters, and storytelling—not in its love line.

In the end, I found this to be a visually striking, well-directed drama that kept me consistently engaged. Yes, it requires a bit of patience—especially early on, where the plot can feel messy and occasionally full of gaps—but it never lost my interest.

That said, this is still an ongoing watch for me, with nine episodes left to go—so final judgment on the resolution is very much pending.

Flawed? Definitely.
But still a compelling watch… if you meet it where it is.


✨Update✨
Just finished all 40 episodes and… what the actual hell did they smoke??
The last arc was a complete mess—repetitive, frustrating, and somehow looping back on itself like none of it even mattered.
And the deaths?? At some point I was like… who pissed off the director, genuinely. Are we just killing everyone for shock value now?
It stopped being emotional and just became exhausting.
This really felt like a “fuck you… just kidding… but actually no, fuck you” to the audience.
At this point, I’m honestly just here to roast myself for how optimistic I sounded in the first half of this review.

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First of all, it's incredibly beautiful to look at.
The costumes and sets are sumptuous. No surprise there. Everything is white, red and black, or in pastel shades (fading jade and orange, washed-out blue and yellow). There's a scene with a lateral tracking shot where a character walks past transparent coloured screens in red and green, and pink and blue ; absolutely stunning ! And there are plenty of moments like that. For example, the heroine drinking her tea at night with burgundy curtains matching her dark red and black outfit and soft lantern light... there was no point in creating such a sophisticated set for just a few seconds, but they clearly wanted to do it. Well done, set designers. Well done, cinematographers.

The scenes in the snow-capped mountains, the frozen lake. The red mountains covered in powder snow that they climbed while dressed in olive and burgundy fabrics (Ep. 34)... Cold weather must be the trend this year in Chinese productions. Most of it was shot on location, in harsh weather conditions, below freezing. It must have been torture. It breaks my heart to see them breathing out mist when they speak.

The elliptical storytelling works well. It introduces the numerous characters only when it serves the plot, so I never felt overwhelmed. And yet the first few episodes bombard us with information and plot twists. It gets off to a strong, fast-paced start, and then the writing simply becomes excellent... provided, of course, that you're a fan of period costume dramas.
It never stops. There's always something happening in every episode. These writers are brilliant. The only downside : it s a bit over the top. I loved following all the twists and turns, the mysteries and the conspiracies. They probably overuse and overdo the cataclysmic situations and tragic endings for each character. However, the multiple conflicts intertwine well and their resolution comes at just the right moment. It does, unfortunately, get rather complicated in the final stretch, though. (Watch it as intended: two episodes a day, no more. Beware of the overdose)

Massive spoiler : The final episode cranks everything up to the max ; everyone has to face the inevitability of war. That's too harsh to do this to us. We believed in change ! But apparently, trying to change the system inevitably leads to death… I'm not sure I'm thrilled by that message. It's the complete opposite of the series Princess Agents, of which this is a sequel. It's the opposite of what Rebirth was trying to tell us throughout its first thirty episodes. But it's a huge middle finger to censorship. Certainly.
Does this adaptation of the books differ so much from their source material (The Legend of Chu Qiao) because of the plagiarism the author was guilty of ? I don't know if that's why.

"I Always thought the people here needed me. But I finally realized the truth. It's not that they need me, but rather, I need them. All along, I've wanted to build a world of true equality, a place that people like me could finally call home."

A great cast in which women and men are equally important, with one generation clashing with the next.

_The lead actress, Huangyang Tian Tian, on whose shoulders the entire story rests, is very young but already a seasoned performer. Born in 2007, she has been acting nonstop since she was 9. She plays Chu Qiao with dedication ; her role is certainly complex, but... she's still just a child ! And it shows when she's surrounded by all her co-stars, who are all taller and older than her. A 17-year-old playing an adult and commanding armies. And for good reason : she played the same character as a child in the series Princess Agents, of which Rebirth is a sequel set nine years later. (You can watch it without seeing the first one, but it's better if you have, of course)
There was talk of replacing her because she posted a photo of herself wearing extremely expensive earrings, which caused a backlash in China. It turns out they were counterfeits that her father was selling illegally. Well, irresponsible fathers, what a pain !
But she's definitely there. And she nails her action scenes (all of which are well choreographed). Her deadpan comedy scenes work just as well. As for the emotion… Her love for the ML takes a lot of effort to believe. It feels more like the friendship between an older brother and his little sister. To be honest, Zhuge Yue has more chemistry with his brother-in-arms, touching his hand in episode 21, or in his fights with Yan Xun of Great Yan, plucking a purple petal from his hair, or when he runs hand-in-hand with Li Ce to escape the soldiers. The latter ends up in his arms, like a princess. Haha, come to think of it, he really does have a looooot of affectionate scenes with other men. That’s perfectly fine by me. He's entitled to love. And I'd rather avoid a romance between a schoolgirl who should be at school and a thirty-something grown-ass, if possible. (For goodness sake ! Thankfully, they managed to avoid that)

_Zhuge Yue, the male lead, I didn't really like his drastic change in personality. After all those trials and tribulations, to end up like that ? No. I appreciate seeing characters develop, but come on, let's take it slowly.
His fight with Chu Qiao at the end, all blue, purple and grey, what drama ! It's so sad that someone has to die for peace to reign. Such a pain when that happens.

_The Empress plays a central role in the first half and exerts a certain influence on the rest of the story. She wears cream, emerald and saffron gowns in her luxurious bright-red apartments with dark wood panelling. Such beauty ! One of the cruelest characters, or so we believe, until we see the Emperor in action. A profoundly tragic role from start to finish, and a character who, in her misfortune, hurts everyone around her. We detest her for her actions, yet we feel sympathy for what she has endured.

_The motley crew of criminals surrounding the heroine brings a touch of light-heartedness and humour, as well as some elaborate action scenes. Their camaraderie is always a joy to watch. Too bad we don't see them more often. But, for them too, what a tragic end...

_Li Ce, the unfortunate boy, watches his mother die before his very eyes ; even after burying her, he still longs for a sign of her affection. It's hard to grow up without love. Yet he is kind and wise in his choices. A wonderful character with a truly tragic ending.

_King Ximei of Ximeng, who sends his double in his place to dine with the emperor. Well done.
This bloke is the polar opposite of the heroine, Chu Qiao. He, too, is a former slave, but he takes the place of his masters and becomes the new tyrant. His death is only just. All power to the Soviets.

_General Huan Huan and Princess Helian of Yanbei (a woman of otherworldly beauty with a aquiline nose) make a lovely couple. May they live happily ever after. Brave, courageous women stripped of their free will. Their scenes are pure queer baiting.

_Princess Helian's marriage to Xun Yan, so intense, it feels like we're right in the middle of a soap opera. The two marry out of obligation and give up on their soulmates.

"All because I believe there should be a place in this world where people are not divided by rank or class, where justice exists. Only such a place can truly be called my homeland." The Grapes of Wrath, Part 2.

Right. I don't really understand the negative reviews I've seen about the direction or the acting. Especially since this barrage of complaints started right from the very first episodes : so before the plot twist in the final episodes. Princess Agents was far less well made and was torn to shreds by critics and the public when it aired. Suddenly, it's become the best series in the universe ? Strange. It reeks of gatekeeping. Because Rebirth is aimed at a wider audience, I think. I hope I'm wrong.

As for me, I'm not going to deny myself the pleasure. That lighting, the entire artistic presentation, all designed to delight the eye. Those splashes of scarlet blood on the pale rice-paper doors. (Ep. 22) The comfort these C-dramas bring. The focus on entertainment. It's my safe place !
Always pushing the boundaries of censorship to tackle truly serious issues. Because, in reality, it's about women fighting to survive in a man's world. And about power that offers nothing but an obsession with keeping it all to oneself. It's the old chivalric tale of heroes who deserve to rule because they don't want to and because they care about the people. Here, the powerful are cruel and uncompromising, without merit, ready to kill or let die, ready to commit infanticide.
The heroine, by contrast, is a former slave who rises to the highest echelons of power yet never forgets her roots. She abolishes slavery (I particularly enjoyed seeing those delicate nobles explode with rage when it was taken away from them without compensation. And, oddly enough, they don't give a damn about the country anymore), she stops the wars, she spares the peasants and the thieves. (Are we talking about Jesus or what ?)
But. Whatever the social status of these women, they are always slaves to something: power, alcohol, their husbands, cults. That doesn't make them saints. The empress literally groomed her lover and right-hand man, and she has maids killed for her own pleasure.

"Men will never risk everything for women. They can only be seduiced by power."

Once again, I've written a proper novel ; pointless, too long and uninteresting. (Oh ! I've found a title for my autobiography)

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When I, too, am in a melancholy mood, I stand tall on the ramparts of my domain, my face lashed by winter gales, gazing at the night and the snow that blankets even my painful past. When suddenly ! I find myself stabbed by the one who was meant to be me.

The end credits of the last episode were awesome, with all that behind-the-scenes footage! Way better than that whole "43 years later" segment.

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REBIRTH drama storico cinese
• drama che aspettavo da molto tempo e confermo il mio pensiero 💭 iniziale che purtroppo ha deluso le mie aspettative in tutto .
Belle le ambientazioni e le musiche ma come si è svolto assolutamente no .
E’ stato recitato da tutti benino ,
tranne la protagonista e non solo per la sua giovane età ( 16 anni ) ma proprio per la recitazione assolutamente apatica e inespressiva .
Anche Li Yun Rui che io adoro qui non mi è proprio piaciuto .
Invece davvero bello e bravo il principe interpretato da Zhang Kang Le 🥰 davvero miglior ruolo .
• storia confusionaria, flash back scene tagliate male e buchi di trama …
• anche il finale confusionario e mi ha deluso .
Questo drama partito male poi si è risollevato ma poi purtroppo dalla metà in poi si è perso totalmente.
( per me inizialmente era un No che poi e’ diventato un Ni per poi tornare a essere un No . )
• in Cina 🇨🇳 durante la messa in onda e anche ora che è finito questo drama e’ stato molto criticato e pieno di polemiche .. che davvero rispetto il lavoro duro che questi attori e cast hanno fatto ma concordo con quasi tutte le polemiche lette ⬇️ :
* #Rebirth - commercializzato come il sequel dell'iconico dramma in costume del 2017 "Princess
Agents" e un adattamento de "The Legend of Chu
Qiao" — ha chiaramente preso una strada molto diversa. Non è più solo un adattamento... è praticamente una riscrittura.
•C-drama #Rebirth ha chiuso la sua corsa di 40 episodi a un forte contraccolpo, con il suo punteggio di Douban che è sceso a 3.0 dopo che gli spettatori hanno sbattuto il finale confuso e l'esecuzione debole.
Il finale ha attirato critiche per aver rilasciato molte versioni inconsistenti, compresa una dove quasi tutti i personaggi muoiono e un altro lieto fine irrealistico, mentre gli scarsi cambiamenti di sceneggiatura e le lamentele di recitazione hanno solo alimentato l'indignazione.
Ciò che ci si aspettava avrebbe seguito l'eredità di #PrincessAgents è invece diventato un racconto di avvertimento, poiché il pubblico lo ha definito uno dei drammi più deludenti.
• Casting Disallineamento: una delle critiche più persistenti riguarda il divario di età nel casting. Molti spettatori hanno messo in dubbio la decisione di mettere un'attrice di 16 anni accanto a protagonisti maschili più maturi, citando un sentimento "errore" e una totale mancanza di chimica sullo schermo che ha interrotto l'immersione della storia.
••Molti considerano che questo fallimento dimostri che non è più sufficiente usare un nome famoso o nostalgia per attirare pubblico. Senza una buona sceneggiatura, un casting solido e il rispetto per la storia originale, anche una produzione milionaria può affondare.

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Mostly a failure, especially for those who watched s1/read the novel

this is a continuation of PA, no point in denying it bc it is nearly impossible to understand the plot otherwise. if it was a standalone it would be a 7, as a continuation it deserves a 5, thus i put a 6.

cast wise: most of the actors are good. not princess agents cast good, but talenteded enough to pull you in. particularly, the actor of yan xun and then zhuge yue. the fl situation needs to be nuanced: 1) she played the role of young chu and she looks a little similar to the og actress--> easier to accept her, especially whith the pain of the whole cast being new. 2) her acting is acceptable, not great, sometimes even lacking, which can be justified by the writing choices and her inexperience, none of which are the viewers fault. this is mostly a miscasting issue. 3) the scandal surrounding the actress doesnt particularly affect me, her age can even be overlooked. yes it is jarring seeing such a young face for a renowed general and even more how her age impacts the chemisty (or lack of) between her and the ml. knowing yue and chus relationship, they could have pulled it off without any intimate scene, but the writers didnt help with that and the actress is partially to blame.
characterisation: messed up. 1) chu was brave loyal idealistic but not stupid. walking into traps and enforching immediate change to a structural problem shouldnt have been handled this way. 2) yue: a cold strategist with a soft spot for chu. as we progressed in PA, some might have perceived it as a change in charcater towards a masochist lover, which for the grand finale is acceptable but shouldnt have been a recurring theme in rebirth. 3) yan xun: he is a nuanced charcater, between a loyal man who would never kill chu and between a now cruel victim who would hurt her in his journey for revenge. an innocent soul who was wronged and now is hurting others but also someone who should prioritise yanbei. he can become obssessive to a degree. rebirth couldnt consistently deliver these nuances, some scenes showed it while others reduced him to an obssessed unfit king. 4) chun ner: her story arc was completed in PA and even in the novel her role disappeared, bringing her back was a choice. i can understand her actions and motivations till she reached biantang but after that, her role with the 13th prince and zhang che was an overreach. 5) zhang che/prince: they took the one stable character who values huamn life and bent him in the last eps, which could have been an interesting way to see how morals bend against hardship, but the comical way in which his herat changed again in the last ep and discarding his relationship with an eqully moral general that could have brought him back to the right side was a bad take.
scenario/plot: the love story between the 3 main charcaters could have been better. the fragile trust, the obsession, the different values and hardships in life due to their statues could be displayed better. PA has already done the characters development arcs which would make it repetitive to replicate in rebirth and flat if the characters dont change much. seeing how these new personalities interact could have been a repalcement, but rebirth played more on the battles between them than the trust or loyalty that was the cause of the tension.
the battles and deaths were more valued than the plot, making it a repetition of the love betrayal and death triangle without any real tension.
most of the scenes that characters werent acting logically and other measures could have been taken.
yet again, the repetition made the plot weaker, in the first 2 eps, chu falls in the lake twice, there are 2 assassination attempts and in the first 10 eps there is a constant cylce of her being chased and saved in weird ways.
slavery: ending slavery is a moral contemporary ideal that might have existed in ancient china but wouldnt have that much support from influtential people who benifitted from it. its abolition in biantang and opening shops for women as if that would end a structural problem in 2 days was simply wishful thinking.
the role of religion in politics seemed overstated, not bc it doesnt exist but bc neither PA nor the first eps of rebirth have esteblished its role, yet the faceless god's sect have played an important role in the finale that we weren't prepared for.
visuals: a saving grace even if too cliched.
novel/PA: ik the mark on her back wasnt in the novel, but seieng as how loosely rebirth followed the novels, it would have been more interesting to put it back, especially with the title being rebirth that seems to have lost its meaning when we look at the plot.
s2's aim was a closure after yue's sacrific but the last ep wasn't the closure we needed and not the one in the novels. the end trying to be poetic and seeing different endings was a nice concept with bad execution. the timeline is messy, between the moths spent travelling/in battle, the death of li ce and the rule of ximeng, we have contradicitng statements and s2 could have taken from 3 to 6 yrs. chu not appearing in the fianl scene even tho yuwen said she is alive was abd choice. killing off all side character was meant to show the brutality of war, but had a comical effect between all fo them appearing in each others dreams, dying at the same time and having no main chacter impacted. the recurring theme of a main charcater dying and coming back to life simply was badly executed, e.g yuwen yue dying and his corpse being with xinger yet coming to save her int he last ep and somehow managing to find her between 220k fightng soldiers in the same time. audiance's imagination /nostalgia add some of the tension missing.
on a final note, to all those who watched PA or read the novel, i am not unhappy to have a resemblance of a closure (evemn if badly thought out and acted) through rebirth. however, in my mind, i can imagine a 100 better scenarios that use the visuals from rebirth to make a plot that wither follows the novel more closely or makes a new season absed on the the ice power subplot and an=ll the analysis and yearining for this series, developped during the alst 10 yrs.

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Bromance Action Drama

​I am currently at episode 37 and I have very mixed feelings. On one hand, the action and the brotherhood drama are quite intense. Even though some scenes feel a bit over the top – like the blood pact on the wall followed by the sudden singing, which felt rather strange – the cinematography is undeniably cool.
​However, if you are expecting a beautiful love story, you will be disappointed. The chemistry between the two main leads is practically non-existent. I feel absolutely nothing between them, and it wouldn't even make me sad if they didn't end up together. Their interactions feel illogical and cold. If you didn't already assume they were supposed to be a couple, you would hardly notice any romantic connection at all. To be honest, I hope to never experience a love story like that in my own life.
​I am much more interested in the 7th Prince and the General. I really hope their story gets a proper ending, as we can't have every character's potential go to waste.
​You can clearly feel the influence of the Go Princess Go production style. Having Peter Sheng in the cast, the constant use of wind machines, the dramatic lightning, and the stylized death scenes make it very obvious. It has a unique aesthetic, but that cannot hide the lack of emotional depth in the main relationship.
​I will finish the last few episodes, but I’ve given up on the romance. I’m just here for the drama and the visuals now.

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Devotion Without Payoff

Based on a quintessential 'trashy girl fantasy' novel, the series follows a slave-girl-turned-general who commands the obsession of three rival princes. Picking up where Princess Agents left off, the story opens with a high-stakes reversal: the female lead has already rebelled against the male lead’s empire and spurned the man who secretly protected her. Now, crushed by the weight of her own misunderstandings, she must race to save him from a lethal trap set by her own partner - a man whose descent into madness has turned FL herself into bait.

Her awareness of past mistakes does little to slow the creation of new ones. ML is once again stuck operating in the shadows, saving her life repeatedly, only to be rejected again because he will not or cannot lay everything bare. Meanwhile, FL gravitates toward a third prince who, in the novel, is framed as her soulmate, but in the series is mostly comic relief, a charming man child hopelessly in love with her.

The main couple briefly reconnect when he swears he will no longer conceal anything from her or leave her side, a promise that should matter. It does not. Almost immediately FL without consulting him rushes to marry her first love rival in a harebrained plan to protect the second love rival and his empire, to whom she feels inexplicably beholden, a motivation that feels muddled between novel intent and series execution.

From there it spirals. She returns victorious to the capital largely due to ML’s planning (where both could have captured and killed the rival prince without doing so thereby prolonging the war necessitating more sacrifices), then again makes life altering choices again without consulting him, agreeing to a tragic marriage with the second love rival, becoming consort regent of his empire, and adopting his child. She chooses to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders rather than help ML or honor her bond and debt to him, even though she knows he is seriously poisoned and in need of an antidote.

The plot is contrived, and it becomes difficult to feel genuine sympathy for FL’s predicament, even when she is under duress. Instead of tensions emerging organically from character choices, events often feel arranged to manufacture drama, which weakens the emotional impact. At the same time ML’s unwavering devotion grows increasingly frustrating, as it is repeatedly directed toward someone who neither fully acknowledges nor consistently reciprocates it. Unflinching devotion that feels obsessive, almost delusional, as much emotional masochism as epic romance. The result is a disconnect between what the story aims to evoke and what actually lands on screen.

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I’m truly glad I gave the Rebirth Chinese drama a chance—it turned out to be such a beautiful and engaging series. From the storyline to the characters, everything comes together in a way that keeps you invested until the very end. It’s a drama filled with action, emotion, and meaningful character development.
The male lead, Zhuge Yue, portrayed by Li Yunrui, is definitely one of the strongest highlights of the drama. He is not only incredibly handsome and charming, but also brings depth and quiet strength to his role. His acting is natural and powerful, especially in emotional and intense scenes. His martial arts and swordsmanship are exceptional—every fight scene feels precise, graceful, and impactful. What makes him even more admirable is his loyalty and unwavering support for Chu Qiao. Whether in battle or in quiet moments, his presence is always captivating. He truly became my favorite character in this drama.
The female lead, Chu Qiao, is equally impressive. She is strong, intelligent, and inspiring. Despite being a young actress, she delivers her role with confidence and emotional depth. Her martial arts skills, especially in archery and sword fighting, are amazing to watch. She perfectly balances strength and vulnerability, making her character both powerful and relatable. Her journey—from a warrior to a leader—is one of the most compelling parts of the story.
The second male lead, Yan Xun, adds another layer of complexity to the drama. His character is intense and emotional, especially with his deep obsession and connection to Chu Qiao. His transformation throughout the story—from someone with warmth to a more conflicted and driven character—is portrayed very well. His acting brings out both his pain and ambition, making him a memorable and impactful character.
Meanwhile, Chun'er may be frustrating at times, but her performance is undeniably effective. She portrays her character so well that you can truly feel the irritation, jealousy, and emotional tension she brings into the story. It shows how strong her acting is, as she leaves a strong impression on the audience.
Overall, the drama excels in many aspects. The fighting scenes are exciting and well-choreographed, with impressive swordsmanship and archery. The emotional scenes are heartfelt, and the political conflicts add depth and tension to the storyline. The chemistry between the characters—especially Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao—makes the drama even more engaging and meaningful.
Rebirth is a drama that combines action, romance, and emotional storytelling beautifully. It’s a story about loyalty, love, sacrifice, and ambition. I truly enjoyed watching it, and it left a strong impression on me. Definitely a memorable and worthwhile drama!

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I just finished watching Rebirth, and I truly enjoyed every moment of it. What made this drama so special for me is how deeply I got attached to the characters, especially the male lead. Lin Yunrui as Zhuge Yue was absolutely amazing. He portrayed the role of the King of Ximeng Shadow, young master Qingshan Manor so perfectly—from being a cold and mysterious young master to becoming a powerful and responsible king. He’s not only handsome and charming, but also incredibly skilled in martial arts. More than that, his character showed depth—he was caring, protective, and a true warrior. Every scene he appeared in felt powerful and worth watching.
I also loved how he treated Chu Qiao. Their relationship wasn’t overly dramatic, but full of subtle and meaningful moments. Those small romantic gestures and quiet scenes when they were together made their bond feel real and heartfelt. Chu Qiao herself was amazing—strong, beautiful, and highly skilled in swordsmanship. Her acting really stood out and made her character even more compelling.
Another thing I appreciated was how well-written the supporting characters and villains were. Characters like Chun’er, Li Yan, the Queen of Biantang, and the Majesty of Yong added so much depth to the story. They weren’t just there to oppose the leads—they each had their own presence and impact. Even the second male lead did a great job and contributed emotionally to the story.
I also enjoyed the side stories and interactions, like the moments between Princess Helian and General Chen, and General Huan with the Majesty of Yong. These added richness to the world of the drama. The Black Eagle scenes were memorable too, and the OST was beautiful—it really matched the emotions of the story and made the scenes even more powerful.
Even though many characters met tragic endings, their journeys were still meaningful and well-portrayed. I know there’s a lot of negativity surrounding this drama, especially about the ending, but I’m really glad I watched it and formed my own opinion. For me, the experience was worth it.
Because the ending felt a bit confusing and emotional, I created my own version to give myself closure. In my mind, Zhuge Yue saves Chu Qiao on the battlefield, riding in on his horse. After everything they went through, they leave behind the chaos of war and live a peaceful, simple life together as husband and wife, raising a son and a daughter happily.
At the end of the day, this drama made me feel so much, and that’s what truly matters. And without a doubt, Zhuge Yue remains my favorite—he’s just incredible to watch.

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I truly love the Rebirth Princess Agent Sequel —it’s a drama that completely pulled me in from the start. The cinematography is beautifully done, with each scene crafted in a way that enhances both the emotional depth and the intensity of the story. Visually, it feels rich and immersive, perfectly matching the tone of the drama.
One of the standout elements for me is the OST. The theme songs are not only memorable but also deeply fitting for the scenes—they elevate the emotions and linger in your mind even after the episode ends. It’s the kind of soundtrack you’ll want to listen to again and again.
The acting is another strong point. Both the male and female leads delivered outstanding performances. Lin Yunrui as Zhuge Yue is absolutely captivating. He is not only handsome but also brings a mysterious and powerful aura to his role. His portrayal of the Shadow King of Ximeng, and later as King Ximeng, is incredibly compelling. He perfectly embodies a character who is calm, strategic, and intense, while also showing subtle emotional depth. His martial arts scenes are sharp and commanding, making him even more mesmerizing to watch. I found myself completely hooked on his character.
On the other hand, Chu Qiao continues to impress. Despite being young, she delivers a strong and convincing performance. Her swordsmanship and archery skills are executed beautifully, showing both strength and elegance. She’s not just a warrior—she’s intelligent, resilient, and graceful. As the Queen of Ximeng, she shines even more. Her presence feels regal, and her Ximeng hairstyle and styling suit her perfectly, enhancing her beauty and authority.
What makes the drama even more enjoyable is the chemistry between the leads. Their relationship feels natural and emotionally engaging, especially in the moments where they save and protect each other. There’s a balance of strength and vulnerability in their bond that makes you root for them. Watching them together brings so much satisfaction, and I genuinely hope their story leads to a happy ending.
The supporting cast also deserves recognition. Their performances add depth and color to the story, making the world feel more alive. The second male lead is particularly interesting—his obsession with Chu Qiao adds a layer of chaos and tension, making the narrative more intense and unpredictable.
Overall, this drama is a complete package—great story, strong performances, beautiful visuals, and an unforgettable soundtrack. It’s an emotional and exciting journey that I truly enjoyed from beginning to end.

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Why Do They Keep Fcking Up a Great Story?

Fished out of the frozen water by Yanxun after the ice lake siege, Chu Qiao found herself confused of her own identity and past, not having remembered any after months of being comatose. As Yanxun fed her more and more of their past accounts, deliberately leaving out those he didnt want her to remember, she realized things had started to come back and that Yanxun had meant a lot to her. But she also realized they were not meant to be together, partly because she knew something was not right as the ice lake nightmares she had at nights keep haunting her, and partly because all the tribes in Yanbei do not approve of their king marrying a slave from a rival kingdom. Determined to escape Yanbei, she staged her death on their wedding day and narrowly escape Yanxun’s pursuit, only to find herself being rescued yet again by the one she used to hate, the one who had given his life for her, the supposedly dead Great Yong’s general and strategist, Zhuge Yue. His return did not mark the end of their journey as he was forced to push her away again due to the predicament he was currently in, and decided to set her free into Li Ce’s arm. Will they find their way back to each other again?

First off, the editting of this show is kind of choppy with scenes jumping from one to another without much backtrack that might leave viewers who are not familiar with Princess Agent or the original novel confused. Like the deep relationship between Da Tong Guild and Yanxun and Chu Qiao. One who have watched Princess Agent or read the novel wouldve known Da Tong played a major role in Yanxun’s escape from Zhenhuang capital city and his rise to power in Yanbei. They went waaaaay back with Zhong Yu. But in Rebirth, Zhong Yu just appeared out of nowhere and Chu Qiao risked her neck and limbs just to rescue her. And how the heck did Zhuge Yue always appear just in time to rescue Chu Qiao regardless her location? Did he teleport or something? The last 10 episodes was a real mess, don’t even let me start on that faceless god cult that came out of nowhere that somehow became the drive to the second half of the plot 🫩🙄

That aside, I totally love Li Yunrui as Zhuge Yue. Although the novel’s Zhuge Yue was so much more arrogant and never lost his cool and pride even when he was around Chu Qiao trying to win her heart, I actually liked the milder Zhuge Yue of the adaptation’s, someone who is not afraid to show his emotion and feelings, especially jealousy. Fighting-wise it has always been no doubt Li Yunrui was good at this based on his performance in Blossom. His action scenes definitely did not disappoint. And the comeback of Zhuge Yue’s ice arrows is an absolute joy for me. I thought they’ve forgotten Zhuge Yue’s iconic weapon. I had always felt sorry for the novel’s Zhuge Yue, he had always been making concessions in favour of Chu Qiao despite his prideful nature, but Chu Qiao always overlooks this until the ice lake arc. And to see it materialize in Rebirth made me feel sorry for this character even more. His journey to secure the survival of the love of his life was too ardous and he literally died for it, TWICE! My complain for this character is why would they mostly clad him in scholar’s robe? Novel Zhuge Yue was supposed to be a feared general, the best leader among the best that the kingdom ever produced, how did he became nothing more than a simple scholarlike strategist here? 🤯🤔

Huangyang Tiantian’s Chu Qiao is rather borderline though. The problem isnt with the actress but the role itself. Characteristically, Chu Qiao is very prideful and rough, willing to go all out with tooth and nails in acomplishing her missions and vision. On the surface, her ideals of the perfect world didnt align with the ancient world because her character in the novel had come from the future. This was not so in the adaptation (she was not a transmigrator/time traveler in the adaptation), so while I find her dream of abolishment of slavery understandable, the equal rights idea is rather out of place. It sounded like it just came out of nowhere, until half of the show where it originated, but even then the explanation seemed half-assed.

I love the fact that Chu Qiao finally fell for for Zhuge Yue here, i was all over the moon for this after all the rumours circulating last year that there wont be any romance between them. Maybe the “romance” they refered to was french-kissing and spicy bed scenes that I see prevalent in most cdrama nowadays? Cuz there is definitely none involving Chu Qiao, which is fine by me. I am more for mature romance where you dont need the couple to be frolicking and feeling each other up whenever they meet. Chu Qiao hugging Zhuge Yue is enough, they look perfect for each other. I do want to complain about this character though. She was written to constantly be damsel in distress despite all those outstanding martial skill she’s supposed to possess. Why screenwriter, why? Novel’s Chu Qiao never needed so much saving, only two occasions did Zhuge Yue come for her, which was during the siege of Longyin Pass when she first fled Yanbei, and the retaking of Tang’s palace from Tang’s rebel princes, and in both times it had been Yanxun who was sieging her leaving an absolute no way out. Other than that she could win any battle on her own. Why oh why did they have to power her down so much? Her feats were so epic in the novel, what she went through really puts forth how she earned the famed title of Xiuli General and revered across the realm, but all I see here is a woman who thought she was all tough but fell short each time. Worst part is they not only watered down her capability, they also did the same with Zhuge Yue! WTH, man?

Actors for Yanxun and Li Ce performed with flying colours, although I still liked Shawn Dou’s Yanxun more as his was closer to the novel’s Yanxun than Rebirth’s. In this one, Yanxun is too lovestruck and obsessed with Chu Qiao, a total contrast to the original novel’s Yanxun who had let go of this fixation and focussed on accumulating power after Chu Qiao fled to Biantang, cutting all ties from him. The novel’s Yanxun had always had his ambition placed before Chu Qiao, which was why he tried to bench her in Princess Agent, so that she wouldnt get in his way and instead sit quietly as his queen in his castle because her ideals would put a stop to his advacement to conquer the Central Plains. When he realized Chu Qiao would not budge, that was when he let her go. This, however, was not the case with Rebirth’s Yanxun. This Yanxun keeps getting hung up over his lost love and blames everyone for it. Pure narcisstic dude.

It took quite a while for me to accept this new Li Ce, because Deng Lun’s Xiao Ce had been so accurate to the novel. Although this Li Ce had not been as ostentatious and flamboyant as Deng Lun’s portrayal in Princess Agent, and not as goofy, this Li Ce kind of grow into you as he appears more and more. I especially liked his banter with the usually cold Zhuge Yue, and without realizing it my lips would curve into a smile at their scenes. The love-hate relationship was evident, and very much amusing.

I used to hate Li Qin’s Chun Er in Princess Agent, she had always been a spoilt brat whom later went rabid, but somehow I loved Xia Meng’s Chun Er. For one, she resembled Li Qin quite a lot hence it was easy to see Chun Er as she used to be in Princess Agent. And Xia Meng’s portrayal of ChunEr is so on point, with her expressions of obsession and vengeance went on full blown. Being a toppled, disgraced princess that she is, she had nothing to drive her life other than the fire of grudge smoldering her heart, and Xia Meng did extremely well in playing the twisted and broken Chun Er.

Really in love with the hair in this show. Everyone had unique, luscious hair: the wavy one on Zhuge Yue, the long, shiny one on Chu Qiao, the full and curly one on Queen of Lingyue, the frizzy one on Yanxun. I love it that they did not put on elaborate hairstyles like most period drama, and they actually let the hair down when they’re sleeping, which is realistic! You dont sleep with your hair still up complete with dangling ornaments, logically one can barely move the head lying down with those heavy trinkets and hairdo weighing down the head without messing them up, but somehow these characters with elaborate hairdo and hairpieces always wake up with perfect hair despite the whole night sleeping in them. And funnily most productions tend to overlook this, maybe to save time on prep time 🤷🏻‍♀️

And I like that they don’t portray everyone to look flawlessly beautiful too! General Huan of the Snowy Tribe had smudged face with faint scar and patchy skin as a seasoned fighter of war, Cheng Yuan had a big ass scar across his face from battle injury, Yan Xun had tanned skin due to decade-long exposure to hard life from his house arrest and bitter cold of Yanbei, Zhuge Yue had blistered lips from frostbite, Chu Qiao’s face wasnt always smooth and fair, Queen of Lingyue had tanned, uneven skin tone and freckles, and Chun-er and Concubine Hu had the most realistic slap bruise on their cheeks. And did you see Chu Qiao’s burnt feet during her flashbacks? That is the most realistic burn injury I’ve ever seen on cdrama! I am really impressed to see battle-hardened face of the Yanbei people, the skin looked very tanned and rough, seemed like flawless makeup is nonexistent in this show, to which I applaud. Best part is even though Queen of Lingyue looks really rough and tanned, i find that she was the most beautiful among all the female characters, especially with her majestic hair. And to see the flashback of her old self in much fairer skintone and smooth face as the reigning queen of Lingyue before they were conquered by King Ximeng and thrown into a war was even more breathtaking. She is truly a beauty. I truly commend the make up department for making the characters look as real as possible. Most importantly they did not try hard to make the mainleads look flawless and beautiful all throughout the show like most idol drama.

I think my starting on this title with a considerable low expectation contributed to my surprise that it didnt tanked too much and this of course affected my ratings. I actually quite enjoy the show despite it being a full on deviation from my favourite novel. This adaptation is less gloomy than the dark novel, and most importantly my favourite supporting characters had slightly better endings than the novel. I mean, at least Li Ce was not killed by his own mother and Huan Huan was not hunted down and brutally killed by her trusted cousin cum brother, Yanxun! Man i had always felt so sorry for the novel’s Li Ce and Huan Huan’s tragic ending each time i read that part (mind you I read the novel 5 times!). I mean, since both adaptations (princess agent and rebirth) fcked up the plot of the novel, I don’t even know which is worse. I was seriously thinking of rating Rebirth 8.5 until i came upon the last 10 episodes. So I decided it’s a tie with the also fcked up Princess Agent. For me the overall plot is mainly acceptable except for the last 10 episodes that got really fcked up and failed to make sense.

For an avid Princess Agent fan, this might be worthwhile since our main couple had the same ending as the novel. We finally get to have the proper closure. But for somebody who just came to know the show without prior experience of the prequel or the novel, this will most likely become a disaster. Proceed with caution.

SPOILER BEYOND THIS LINE!!!







Honestly i really wanna strangle the screenwriter for the lousy last 10 episode. Wth would they waste screentime with Helian-ChengYuan nonsense? 😒🙄 is it so hard to just follow the novel’s plot which is more sound and logical than this one they cooked up? Not only did they turn the plot to downgrade the ML Zhuge Yue into someone so helpless and weak, they also decided to turn Yanxun into a less power hungry monster and became a crybaby who’s so hung up over his love for Chu Qiao. And how the heck did Zhuge Yue survive his double poison that was supposed to kill him and Chu Qiao’s stab straight into his lungs? Not only did he survive those, he also managed to come to Chu Qiao’s rescue against the Quanrong, with a clean white robe that only got splashed with blood while he was charging towards Chu Qiao in the last 50 meters. I was like, what the haillll is going on here? I actually thought Zhuge Yue was Chu Qiao’s imagination before her death, like the rest of the characters who keep imagining their loved ones coming for them before dying. OMG make it make sense!

Despite all the plot chaos, they did decide to have an ending just like the novel, where our main couple lived happily ever after while Yanxun was left alone to lament in his old age without the love of his life. I think the songs, cast acting and the alternate ending was a real saving grace - of how beautiful the lives of each couple couldve been had they took a different choice. Yanxun never releasing the arrow in ice lake, Zhao Che agreeing to go with General Huan and leave the mess he made behind, and Helian Ling agreeing to elope with Cheng Yuan.

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