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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A struggle for survival when fate leaves no choice!!!
I haven't watched Princess agents, so I don't have any idea either about the story or the characters of this drama. Initially, I was skeptical to watch this drama after reading many negative comments, and hence never thought to watch it.But, then I read a comment, that you have to watch for yourself and decide whether its good or bad, rather than relying on other's opinions. Glad that after reading this comment, I started watching Rebirth as the drama, Rebirth, not as any sequel.
THE PLOT-
Rebirth has a very solid, strong, intense, plot with fast paced screenplay and no unnecessary or boring scenes.It is a bit confusing at the beginning,perhaps because I am new to all the characters and story, but after first 6 eps, it pickus up and from 10 onwards, it takes you on a ride of "struggle for survival and fight with the fate journey".
Chu Qiao, female lead, stands as an example of the above mentioned journey, where, she starts as a slave, is saved by Zhuge Yue, and rises up to stand for justice, never bows down to destiny, and strives to abolish slavery.
Each and every tribe and every character have their own, story of pain, struggle and despair.
The flow of the plot is also very good. Though the main focus is largely on slavery, but the drama also focuses on the lurking villains and and the problems caused by them, in the countries of Biantang, Yanbei, Great Yong and Ximeng. The protagonists try their level best to solve these troubles, overcome challenges, and face the hurdles together.
ACTING-
Li YunRui already was quite impressive in Blossom, but here I am totally surprised by the way he portrayed Zhuge Yue, a smart, clever, resilient, tough, brave, kind, caring, loving warrior,who stays calm even in peril situations.He is outstanding in his performance💯👏
Huangyang Tian Tian acting as Chu Qiao, is very good.Her action scenes were good too. Though some times, Chu Qiao, herself as a character may annoy us or may seem to be over the top, but she is brave, smart, and a woman who stands on her own
👍
Zhang Kangle was already impressive in Legend of female general, and here he shines as Yan Xun, the king of Yanbei. His performance was also excellent 👌
A special appreciation for Zhou Lu La, who played General Cheng Yuan, his acting was outstanding 👏
All the other actors were also excellent in their performances.
Some of the deaths of the characters was painful, while the antagonists were so annoying that they deserve to die.
MUSIC-
Lonely black eagle song has become one of my favoritea and overalll, the music is also good.
The action scenes were also well choreoghraphed.
The sets, costumes, locations, photography, well fit the tone of the drama👍
FINAL NOTE-
Rebirth, conveys a powerful, yet menaingful message that, LIFE or LIVING is never easy, and whether you accept it or fight for it, determines your future. Together,when we stand united, we can carve a new world, which is always beteer in terms of love and peace.
It also portrays emotions such as-
1.Loyalty, between Yan Xun and Cheng Yuan, Zhuge Yue and Shiyi and Chu Qiao and Ming Lu, are the best examples.
2.Unwavering love from both Zhuge Yue and Yan Xun towards Chu Qiao
3.Unrequited love of Cheng Yuan and consort Helian
And many more...
Rebirth is totally a WORTH WATCHING DRAMA.
May be it proceeds on a very serious and dark tone, with too little romance, but still it can be given a try.
I am really impressed by it🤗🤩
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This review may contain spoilers
Loyalty to the Legend of Chu Qiao & LYR
Current status: Watching episodes 32 & 33Past status: Fan of Princess Agents (& was desperate for the story to be continued)
Future status: Will pay to watch express, despite all the misgivings
I must start by saying that Li Yunrui and the original PA was my reason for watching Rebirth and I, unfortunately, remain loyal to both factors, hence why I am still here. After seeing PA many years ago, I was one of the fans that disliked the ending. My interest was so high that I read some chapters of the novel. Mostly out of curiosity at first, but later with sole focus on CQ and ZY’s story arch.
I liked the organised mess of the all regions having their infighting but also fighting each other. I believe the director was able to show us the plots in a coherent manner, and whoever is interested and follows the story can easily understand it all. Emphasis on understand. You do not have to agree or make sense of it all, in my opinion. It was true to public governance in the ancient times (and maybe even the modern times) that none of the regions’ heads truly cared one bit about their citizens. All they wanted was to stay in power.
Now to some of the main characters …
Zhuge Yue: He remains my main (and loveliest) character in the whole franchise, regardless of his surname. PA displayed his inner struggles better than Rebirth. How his personal convictions strived with his upbringing and duties over his making years. Rebirth did build on that, and showed his readiness for simplicity and peace. And his loyalty can be rivalled by no other. His word was his bond, either to a friend or a foe. He is not a gullible optimist. You can tell his distrust towards his enemies and awful superiors. However he always begins with dialogue and only when that fails does he resort to strategising to win. His love was palpable, even when unexpressed. Even his icy days were a beauty to watch. As YX said, he is annoyingly self-righteous. His ability to take on every challenge and fight with his convictions to his very last breath, made him a literal superhero that cannot be killed. And he never seeks rewards - not when he saved Bingchang or even Ximeng. At least in Ximeng, he ended up with the King title. He is just too good to be true. And I must say, LYR depicted it all wonderfully. (Shout out to Lin Geng Xin).
Chu Qiao: She is stubborn, tough and valiant. Her shy love was confusing. On one hand, it was obvious she liked & admired ZY, it was unclear to start with to what extents. Being familiar with CD plot line hasty conclusions without checking details, it was easy to understand her drift towards YX in early years and her hate towards ZY. Later one, it was obvious she never really hated ZY. Their connection during her formative years, when he taught her all she knew meant something. She could sense his physical presence and that helped her stayed defiant when he was presumed dead and he was hiding from her. However, she could never portray an expected stern look when she was with YX in the later years after he had lied to her, killed her friends & tried to have her killed. At some point, I wanted to believe it as an acting deficit, but the words said weren’t equally powerful. So I am forced to think that the director is happy with her wish-washy attitude in front of YX, in order to maintain the plot of YX being able to come in and out of their lives.
In at least the first 2/3rds of Rebirth, I believe CQ mostly just talked tough. Almost at every point, she needed LC or ZY to do the saving (ZY for most parts). Even when CQ ‘saved’ ZY when he was near death in Ximeng, it was with ‘facilities/connections’ already made and put in place by ZY. Only in later episodes is CQ seen actually leading. With the novel (and not shown past) in mind, we do know that she led the Quili army independently, so she does have experience. But as female centric as the drama is portrayed as, it really was an all rounder to me. Especially when compared to a CD like LoTFG.
Someone in a post I saw compared ZY to FSG of Fated Hearts in his disregard for power and authority, despite his upbringing. I think the more suitable connection is CQ and FYX of Fated Hearts. They were both born and raised as slaves and killing machines, lied to by the person they trusted the most, and then became their own person when they saw more of the world.
Yan Xun: He is the most disloyal and hateful character in the series. His madness was unquenchable. It did not matter how many people died or how powerful he became, his hunger for vengeance became insatiable. Even when he was defeated by CQ and was implored to think about his father and his people, he remained untrustworthy and a liar. He is really a good match for Zhao Chun. They should have lasted longer. Zhao Chun’s character is the most vengeful and vitriolic character ever created. She will literally do harm to herself and ‘loved ones’ just to hate. Her plot armour became downright ridiculous. And so was she - right from the start when she believed that YX will love her in spite of her father killing his entire family. To the end, where she cast away her brother Zhao Che, who had looked after her in the earlier years, for the 13th prince Zhao Yang who is unfit to lead or even look after himself. I guess one can never make sense of such persons, YX & ZC alike!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Viewers need a Rebirth after watching this drama . hahaha good line from viewer.
I had no knowledge of PA but watched it last week due to criticism from Netz & Fans.PA is mostly Green Screen, sometimes hilarious like that stupid colored bird; what was it, a toddler anime bird?
I understand Rebirth 2026 much better now.
First of all, I thought the actors in Rebirth were outstanding in their acting.
That must be said.
The two MLs were great and even FL did a good job.
I also didn't understand many things in PA.
I thought a Prince had been killed with his three henchmen, but in the next episode he was suddenly alive.
Green Screen acting was annoying in PA.
No money?
Rebirth visuals were magnificent; the stupid colored bird became an Eagle in Rebirth.
Rebirth takes a strange turn starting from ep 11, when he is overwhelmed by grief and heartbreak and hallucinates
By Aphrodisiac? in the wine?
The tottaly besotted Yan Xun sees Chu in the hallucination .
Yan Chun sleeps with the wrong woman; from that moment on, things go downhill. I find FL selfish; one decision after another, she has to be saved every time. Either Yan Xun comes to save her or Zhuge Le.
I understand where Yan Xun's anger and resentment come from.
His revenge and bitterness take over his life.
He goes from insane love for FL to intense hatred towards everyone who stands in his way of achieving his goal.
However, if FL had married him and had children with him, he would have calmed down to accommodate her.
But ZY always had to intervene.
If you watched PA, ZH was no sweetheart, saying "she is merely a slave"; he tried to kill her a few times.
ZY went from bad and cold to softer.
But Yan Xun doesn't get this chance.
After captivity, 16 family members murdered.
Mother commits suicide.
His Clan wiped out.
There is no understanding for Yan Xun; that is incomprehensible.
Rebirth would not have been written any better. After the drama, I really had a sleepless night.
The actors did a great job in my eyes.
But the writers need to go home!
And write a $2 novel.
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If you stick around for the story, it's not that bad
I see a lot of the negative reaction was a result of the initial episodes. I wondered if 1st impression would taint the rest of the show, in case the story would come through. Several episodes in, it became apparent this new drama is having a hard time letting the past go. There are a lot of flashbacks to old key scenes from Princess Agents, re-enacted by the new cast which made me wonder how much was invested in continuing a new story.The first few eps follow all the of major characters from Princess Agents as they try to reposition themselves but no truly new developments arise. Even a wedding day sabatoge is repeated once more.
Anyway, it seems the story writing isn't the only thing not well invested in as poor special effects & cinematography were glaring in the first few episodes. In fact, the lake ice in the 1st episode looked as fake as it did in 2017, as if continuing the story from that point was taken so seriously that 9 subsequent yrs of CGI development could be ignored. Yan Xun's costuming & hairstyling is quite a step down from his appearance in PA; there's not much regal about him at all.
After Ep 6 there's a change in the production: the cinematography suddenly looked crisper & sharper. I started to feel that this was becoming its own show, completely separate from the original it tried to crawl out of. But a familiar storyline began emerging, with Chu Qiao now hitching to Li Ce's cause in the same vein as when she supported Yan Xun. I began to wonder if Chu Qiao ever does become her own person instead of always supporting the ambitions of men who would never elevate her above themselves. Her character got annoying as she became a football tossed between Yan Xun & ZGY. However, I'm glad I stuck it out because it did become it's own show which actually got quite interesting toward the end, but not without the huge price of an astronomical body count.
I don't have an issue with new casting because of the time lapsed (the former leads are almost 40 after all) & I actually like Li YunRui. As for Huangyang Tian Tian's young age, she does look strikingly similar to the insanely baby-faced Zhao LiYing of 2017, & I believe there was an implied age gap in the original story. But her range was very limited & she couldn't portray the 6 yrs of what should have been tremendous growth in the character.
And why are there so many close up shots of the actors looking directly at the camera while delivering their lines? The long stares with slo-mo flowing hair. This technique is so overplayed as to be almost comical. In fact, there are very few camera angles through most of the entire show, with only a handful of artful scenes. The acting & dialogue in general was stiff & choppy, which is not the fault of the actors. In fact, I got used to it as the story came through & it just became an individual characteristic of this show. The music also sounded like 10 yr old generic tracks, a reminder of the feel of the original show.
I would've expected a lot more from the director of The Double (2025). It's better off standing on its own as a drama rather than trying to carry on a legacy. The character development could've been deeper, otherwise the drama on the whole was a bit superficial. Watch it just to see what happens to everyone as the story eventually did get interesting & exciting. The finale, however, was lacklustre.
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Re-Dirt
Big budget, high production, talented cast, costumes, extras and all the you'd need to build an epic. But in the end, with all this money at their disposal, the producers got a script from the dollar store. This is case 101 of what happens when you have everything but a good script on hand. Like a pricey lambo without tires, this drama goes nowhere. I skipped and skipped trying to ignore the plot holes but kept landing on swiss cheese everywhere.One notable hole is that the ML needed an antidote and neither him nor the FL started doing anything about it until ep 25. If the FL really loves him and owes him her life, wouldn't she try to save him from the get-go? Nope. I guess we'll have to wait until ep 25, probably because they smelled the stink from the now moldy MacGuffin across the hall. Oh, and the producers matched a 17 yo FL at the time of filming with a 29 yo ML. An artistic choice or a cynical ploy to drive publicity? As if they wanted to drive the point further, they chose an actress that can even play middle school. The petite FL is even shorter than most of the women on cast and we're supposed to see her as imposing general able to wrestle men twice their size. Okay. I guess everything goes now and we can ask Tom Holland to play the Hulk.
Too bad. All this wasted potential and another reminder that it's best to invest on a good script first. Perhaps the producers already knew they had a turd, but needed to keep the industry's gears churning at all costs. Seems like something Hollywood would do, but it seems that this slop fest is picking up steam worldwide. Somebody call the pumper truck because the septic tank is getting full.
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What makes them stand out is how they are written not just as antagonists, but as forces of the world itself. They feel like an enormous mountain standing in the path of the main characters—unyielding, suffocating, and almost impossible to overcome. Every cruel decision, every ruthless action they take reinforces how deeply broken and oppressive this world is. Their presence is not just to create conflict, but to constantly remind us what kind of reality the characters are trapped in.
Yes, they do horrible, disturbing, even insane things—and their endings are often just as brutal and painful. But unlike typical “crazy villains,” their darkness doesn’t feel shallow or exaggerated for shock value. The drama takes time to show the roots of their cruelty—the trauma, pressure, and harsh life circumstances that shaped them. You begin to see that they are not born monsters; they are made by the same violent system that continues to produce more people like them. That makes them far more chilling, because they feel real and inevitable.
Compared to more one-dimensional portrayals like the unstable royals in Pursuit of Jade or The Double, where madness often defines the character, Rebirth gives its villains depth and purpose. They are not just unpredictable—they are understandable, even when they are terrifying. And that difference elevates the entire narrative.
More importantly, these villains are deeply tied to the drama’s core theme. They are the embodiment of everything the protagonists are fighting against—slavery, oppression, endless war, and a cycle of fear and suffering. Their existence directly contrasts the dreams of the FL and ML, who long to build a world of freedom, peace, and dignity. This creates a powerful thematic tension: darkness versus light, despair versus hope.
Because the villains are so well-crafted, the heroes shine even brighter. Every step the main characters take toward change feels hard-earned, because they are not just fighting individuals—they are challenging an entire system that has been normalized for generations.
In the end, the villains in Rebirth are not just memorable—they are essential. They give weight to the story, depth to the conflict, and meaning to the heroes’ journey. Without them, the drama wouldn’t feel as intense, as emotional, or as impactful.
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Even the second male lead did a great job. His character added depth and emotional weight to the story. The villains were also very well portrayed—they weren’t just there for conflict, but they truly made the story more intense and engaging. The fighting scenes were another highlight—well-executed, powerful, and exciting to watch.
And of course, the OST was absolutely beautiful. I can’t stop listening to the songs—they really captured the emotions of the drama so well. “Chasing the Wind” by Liu Yuning, “Rebirth” by Curley Gao, “Flowers Drift Away” by Yan An, “Baseless” by Queena Cui, “Lonely Black Eagle” by Zhang Kangle, and “Journey Alone” by Hu Xia—all of them are so emotional and memorable. Every time I listen to them, it brings me back to the scenes and feelings from the drama.
Lin Yunrui as Zhuge Yue is definitely my bias. He almost perfectly portrayed the character. He’s not only handsome and charming, but he also gave depth to Zhuge Yue—showing him as someone intelligent, calm, and strategic, yet also deeply caring. What makes him even more admirable is how he expresses love through actions rather than words. He’s a caring man, a brilliant strategist, and an awesome warrior—strong, fearless, and always willing to sacrifice for the people he loves, especially Chu Qiao. His quiet way of protecting her made his character even more powerful and unforgettable.
Chu Qiao was also amazing. She’s beautiful, but more than that, she’s strong, independent, and resilient. Even as a young actress, her performance was impressive—especially her swordsmanship, which looked so natural and convincing. She didn’t feel like a typical female lead—she stood as an equal, someone who could fight, lead, and protect just as much as Zhuge Yue.
The chemistry between Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao is one of the best parts of the drama. You can truly feel their connection, especially in the small, quiet moments. One of my favorite scenes is when they ate hot pot together—it was such a simple but warm and genuine moment that showed their softer side. In the middle of all the chaos, war, and responsibilities, that scene felt like a glimpse of the peaceful life they both deserved.
The only thing that really confused me was the ending. I kept asking myself—was it truly a happy ending or not? For me, the perfect ending would have been something clearer and more real. I really wanted to see Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao living peacefully together, with their son and daughter, happy and complete as a family. Even just a simple scene of him saving his queen on the battlefield and then returning to a quiet life with her would have been enough.
I also wish the hot pot scene had been shown again as part of the ending—not as a dream or imagination, but as a real moment in their future. It could have symbolized that after everything they went through, they finally found peace and happiness together. That simple scene, turned into reality, would have been the perfect emotional closure—a dream that finally becomes real.
Still, despite the confusion about the ending, I truly enjoyed the drama. It’s emotional, intense, and full of memorable characters and moments. Rebirth is definitely a story that stays in your heart even after it ends.
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That said, everything else about the drama was truly remarkable.
Lin Yunrui as Zhuge Yue was almost perfect for the role. He didn’t just rely on his looks—though he is undeniably handsome and charismatic—but he fully embodied the character. Zhuge Yue came across as incredibly intelligent, calculating, and composed, yet underneath that cold and strategic exterior was someone deeply caring and capable of profound love. What I appreciated most was how his actions consistently spoke louder than his words. He protected Chu Qiao in his own quiet way, often sacrificing himself without expecting anything in return. He wasn’t just a brilliant strategist; he was also an awesome warrior—skilled, fearless, and commanding in every fight scene. At the same time, his softer side showed through in subtle moments, proving that he was not just strong, but also deeply human. That balance made his character unforgettable.
Chu Qiao was equally captivating. She’s not just beautiful—she’s powerful, independent, and incredibly skilled, especially in swordsmanship and archery. What makes her stand out is her resilience and unwavering determination. She doesn’t rely on anyone, yet she still allows herself to care deeply. Watching her growth throughout the drama was inspiring, and her strength never overshadowed her emotional depth. The chemistry between her and Zhuge Yue is one of the strongest aspects of the series. Their connection felt natural, intense, and earned, making it impossible not to root for them.
The supporting characters also added so much richness to the story. The second male lead brought emotional weight and complexity, while the villains were written and portrayed in a way that made them feel like real threats rather than just obstacles. They created tension and pushed the story forward in meaningful ways. Chun’er, in particular, stood out with her emotional depth—her character was layered, tragic, and unforgettable. Princess Consort Helian also brought a unique charm and strength, adding balance to the narrative with her presence.
And of course, the OST deserves special mention. The music elevated every scene, making emotional moments even more powerful. Each song perfectly matched the tone of the story, and even after finishing the drama, the soundtrack lingers and brings back all the feelings.
Overall, Rebirth is a drama I genuinely loved. Despite the confusing and somewhat open-ended conclusion, the storytelling, performances, character development, and music made it a deeply satisfying experience. It’s the kind of story that makes you think, feel, and hope—and even wish for just a little more at the end.
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This review may contain spoilers
Dear Director this review is especially for you
I truly respect the director of Rebirth, and this review comes from a place of admiration. I really loved your previous dramas, Moonlit Reunion and The Double, which is why I had high expectations for this one.Sadly, Rebirth did not work for me. I am not sure what led to the choice of this script. If it was your own decision, I hope you have learned from this experience. This genre did not suit your strengths.
The chemistry between the main leads felt weak. At times, they seemed more like siblings than a couple. The female lead also needs to improve her acting. However, I really liked the second female lead. She gave a strong performance.
That said, her storyline became very frustrating. Watching her suffer again and again made it hard for me to continue. I eventually stopped watching because it became too repetitive and upsetting.
The second male lead's character was also confusing. His actions and feelings seemed inconsistent, and his storyline felt scattered.
Even though I was disappointed, I still admire your work. You have shown your talent in dramas like Moonlit Reunion and The Double. I sincerely hope your future projects will have stronger scripts and once again win the hearts of viewers.
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A precious pearl within a hard shell.
First and foremost, this drama is a risk worth taking to give Princess Agents (2017) the closure it deserves. This is a gift for fans who have been left on the edge of that cliff in the Frozen Lake incident for years. The frustration of endless waiting for the official end is finally over, no matter what controversies it creates.1# What is in the past
Princess Agents is among the first C-dramas that brought me into the world of Chinese dramas. As I recall, the production quality isn't great, but the story itself is a gem. For me, it is not the romance or wuxia that keeps this story engraved in my memory: it is the tragedy finally revealed in the last three episodes. Chu Qiao recognizes Yuwen/Zhuge Yue’s love and sacrifice when it is too late. The selfless Zhuge Yue meets his death. And Yan Xun, once so free-spirited, eventually becomes consumed by vengeance. And, Princess Chun’er fails in her revenge and is cast down as a commoner.
My afterthought is that it is actually easy for the director to give a happy ending rather than a tragic cliffhanger. Just need to add one more episode! Chu Qiao leaped out of the frozen lake with her hidden martial technique activated. It may feel like a deus ex machina, but she managed to pull Zhuge Yue out of the lake and single-handedly defeated Yan Xun. She then transferred her inner energy to save Zhuge Yue and so on. They got married and lived together in seclusion in cold Ximeng. The badass story would end happily like a typical wuxia story, even though this trajectory won't solve the political problem.
#2 What has changed now in a good way
In Rebirth (2026), they chose to follow the novel to some extent to give more room to address the political problem. This drama thus experienced a tremendous change. The most striking aspects are the shift in genre and level of conflict, evolving from romance-wuxia into a more political and military-driven story, and from interpersonal conflict into conflict between nations. The story expands in scope and deepens in theme. What was once centered mainly on personal freedom becomes a broader commentary on societal issues, power relations, and peacemaking.
For me, this shift is worth appreciating because not many C-dramas are willing to venture into a territory less favored by mainstream audiences. This is precisely what makes Rebirth feel like such a precious pearl. While watching it, I found it deeply satisfying and would even consider it on a par with dramas like Swords into Plowshares (2026), which has a similar theme. And, for a "female general drama", it is so much better than "that overnight female general" in Pursuit of Jade (2026).
This shift also reflects the director's and screenwriter's ambition. To support the premise they set out to deliver, even if the drama does not fully reach an epic scale, it is still produced with strong cinematography, a soundtrack that effectively supports the atmosphere, and clear line delivery. Its worldbuilding is also carefully constructed, with fairly distinct cultural differences established among the states of Yan, Biantang, Ximeng, and Yong. Even, they added a cult of a faceless god! The storyline, plot, and events are fast-paced and efficient, advancing with clear discipline. Because it is set in a dystopian world, the director also does not hesitate to present brutal and bloody scenes. The story does become dark and intensely serious, with relatively little comic relief. The atmosphere is intense and high-stakes in almost every moment. They let you see the beast among men with power, those who treat human beings like dust.
3# What are the problems
Even so, it must be acknowledged that this precious pearl is not easily obtained. Viewers must struggle to crack open its hard shell. And many viewers, it seems, fail to open it, and therefore cannot appreciate what lies within. This drama’s "failure" is largely shaped by the circumstances surrounding it, rather than its story and production quality.
The main problem is premature disappointment driven by: (1) nostalgia for the original main cast of Princess Agents (Zhao Liying, Lin Gengxin, Shan Dou, and Liqin). Getting the original leads to come back is practically not possible, (2) the new actress cast as Chu Qiao, who is considered too young to portray such a mature character, even though she is actually quite capable, and (3) the accusation that Rebirth is a newly invented story that departs from "the true Princess Agents".
People may think differently. For me, there is no such thing as a true Princess Agents (since it is an adaptation, too). The changes made to Rebirth were the director’s and screenwriter’s creative efforts to restore the promise in the face of an impossible circumstance. The cool wuxia elements in Princess Agents—martial techniques and inner energy—as well as Chu Qiao’s personal backstory, particularly her mother's role as the leader of an underground spy group, were largely omitted, as they are invented additions that did not come from the original novel. If those elements were kept, they would be forced to write a completely new story, with zero grounding in the source material.
The next problem is the different opinions among fans and (new) viewers over whether Rebirth is a standalone or a continuation. Each perspective carries significant consequences for the viewing experience. Those who deeply loved Princess Agents and its original cast are unwilling to accept this continuation, burdened as it is by disappointment. They watch unwillingly, may not really watch at all, and skip or jump right to the ending. They take pleasure in mocking this project, ignoring its strengths and denying it the appreciation it deserves, and use this moment to praise the former drama as if it were perfect.
Meanwhile, new viewers who do not have the time to watch Princess Agents as a prequel tend to treat Rebirth as a separate, standalone story. Skipping the prequel and jumping right into Rebirth is indeed more practical. But the downside is, important context is lost—the background that explains the present events, the reasons behind each character's relationships, and the emotional weight behind "the more serious and dark" Rebirth. Without proper contextual knowledge, they are bound to feel confused. Another thing: their first expectations are often “how is the romance and chemistry in this drama—is there kissing, is there a love triangle, is it a happy ending?” or “when will Li Yunrui from Blossom (2024) appear?” They easily become disappointed with the several early episodes, which show little of what they expect and serve more as a buildup before Rebirth reaches its momentum again.
So, if you see the low rating, it is not the drama itself that is a failure; it is these two camps of people who deliberately make it fail. It almost becomes a movement where one voice follows another in unison, without adding anything new to the discussion. So unfair and ridiculous, but that is how the viewers' "politics" are at play. Seemingly, they won't stop until this drama hits a new low.
4# Why still love it and what could've been better
In the end, only a small number of viewers seem willing to embrace it as a re-adapted continuation. I am part of this small group. If asked why, my answer is: The value of Rebirth lies not in its perfection or its ability to please everyone, but in its courage to continue a story that was once left unfinished. Even though, in the end, some of my hopes were left unfulfilled, I feel enriched after enjoying it. Having this drama is still better than having nothing at all.
Also, this drama feels like an interesting experiment: how a director continues a story from a post-climax point after almost a decade, while facing the reality that audiences and trends have already changed. In the era of easy and fast access to information and communication, we no longer have patient audiences. Bad-mouthed spread faster, fan wars are everywhere, and people have more power to make demands or to destroy figures they hate. Also, romance is almost everything. Even if the overall story is crap, people would praise any drama with a heavy dose of romance.
Even so, I am not a viewer who watches with blind love while closing my eyes to its flaws. As a matter of reflection, I also wish there were certain things in Rebirth that had been executed differently. For examples:
(1) They shouldn’t have started right from the Frozen Lake incident. They should have gone a bit further back to show why Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue ended up in such a desperate situation. What made the final episodes of Princess Agents so devastating wasn’t just the bloodshed or Zhuge Yue’s fall into the lake, but his one-sided confession of love before—after Chu Qiao said that they would meet again on the battlefield as enemies, and she reminded him: if you didn’t want to be hurt, it would be better not to make a move (to love). Zhuge Yue replied solemnly: he actually had already been hurt for a long time (ever since Chu Qiao chose to follow Yan Xun and become a rebel, leaving him behind).
That scene was the true emotional bomb, the real reason Chu Qiao is shattered, knowing Zhuge Yue falls into Yan Xun's trap. It should have been preserved and carried forward as the foundation of Rebirth. So, when Chu Qiao awakens after sinking into the Frozen Lake, what should have happened to her was not amnesia but hysteria. Whether she later became amnesiac or blind as a result of emotional repression, the story would have been far more compelling. In that way, her reunion with Zhuge Yue would have become a deeply meaningful release and resolution of their previous conflict, rather than merely a simple recognition of someone once lost and finally returned.
(2) Rebirth should also not test Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue with a merely “typical breakup” like that of newly formed lovers in a romance drama. They are not just a couple who have recently fallen in love, but a husband and wife who have perfected their marriage. Two people who love each other deeply, even when faced with differences in belief and ideology, do not easily cut their bonds. Trust and commitment should become the foundation of their actions. Even if tragedy repeats itself, and they end up hurting each other, everything must lead to their unshakable reunion, not another separation, and a solid cooperation to face the final war. This positive dynamic is a bit missing. Actually, many C-dramas fall short in their portrayal of married main couples. Here is not an exception.
(3) Although Rebirth focuses more on political and military, the dynamics it builds are often no more than moving troops here and there. There is no real discussion of geopolitics, military strategy, tactics, diplomacy, or efforts toward peace beyond force-on-force combat. The heads of state (three in Biantang, one in Ximeng, and two in Yong) are also easily toppled by a single person's hit behind the curtain. And later, a new entity (the Quanrong people) is introduced without proper foreshadowing and serves only as a device to unite the fragmented existing political entities. This makes Rebirth fall into the trope of a military story that is more about brawn than brains.
There are several wars throughout the story, but they are handled through telling rather than showing. Even when the wars are depicted, the action sequences are simple, involving only a few extras. Moreover, there is no clear sense of distance between locations or the cost of time. Armies move from place A to place B with ease, without logistical constraints or other practical difficulties. The peace itself feels somewhat cheapened, as it is achieved too easily—through the destruction (killing) of the old structure to build a new one. In reality, things do not work that way. Peace is achieved through justice and negotiation, where the old and the new reach a compromise or middle ground. Because of this, Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue’s ambition to end oppression and slavery feels more like a dream or rhetoric.
Once again, this drama was not designed to be epic in a political or philosophical sense. Maybe the director didn’t really invest in this area (as they did in The Double (2024). They focused more on plot progression than on believability. But I wish whoever tries to create political-military drama would first learn about psychology, politics, war, and peacebuilding, etc., to avoid oversimplification. That will be the new statement of professionalism that improves the story's realism.
5# What should be more balanced
Lastly, the drama is too heavily focused on developing its villains/ antagonists rather than the virtues of the protagonists. On the one hand, this is a strength, as it allows us to understand the origins of evil and serves as a mirror, reflecting just how corrupt the world is. However, goodness and virtue should also be explored in a balanced way—at the very least by giving each character a meaningful redemption. In fact, there are many moments when characters could have been steered toward a more hopeful path rather than continuing down a darker alley. All it would take is a brief scene.
Li Ce, the womanizer who once cared nothing for the state, now learns statecraft, governs wisely, and holds his son with Ziming (before his death). Li Yan, who loves Chun’er wholeheartedly, spares her further violence and becomes king in order to restore her dignity and elevate her status (before his death). General Huan Huan does not die easily, but instead engages in a true sword duel with Zhao Che and proves her worth as a badass military general (the side of her that reminds Zhao Che why he falls in love with her). Instead of suicide, Chun’er realizes the full consequences of her actions and is killed while trying to protect her baby (in her delusional state, or in an alternate reality?) and the people of Yong, who are torn by another great war. Chu Qiao learns to temper her steel-hard idealism and steady her emotions so she can look at Zhuge Yue with eyes shimmering with love. And Zhuge Yue learns to love himself and to stop letting his body and his heart get wounded over and over again.
The strongest character transformation is only found in: Queen of Lingyue, who solves her conflict by eventually choosing the righteous path; General Chen, who remains steadfast in his loyalty while being true to himself; Helian Ling, who learns pure love and moves on by embracing her new role as the Queen of Yanbei; and Yan Xun, who lets go of his ego, accepts Helian as his reality, and ultimately achieves the unification of Yanbei.
This redemption, which leads to the character's transformation, should be the true meaning of "Rebirth": not only physical rebirth but also existential one. The transformations on a personal level are truly the ingredients of the freedom and peace they are all seeking so badly. It should be found inside themselves, not from the battlefield.
(I wrote this after ep. 39. I am so happy, in ep. 40, they show us alternate reality of every beloved character if they decided things differently)
6# The key to opening the shell and enjoying Rebirth is an open mind.
Despite its relatively low rating, this drama remains phenomenal and is able to maintains quality. It may not be a viewing experience that satisfies the masses, but for those willing to go beyond surface expectations, it offers something that lingers long after the story ends. Its flaws are there, and its execution is not without weaknesses, yet its core still carries weight for viewers who choose patience over haste, substance over appearance. Breaking through its outer layers is not easy, but what lies within offers a value that makes the effort worthwhile.
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My thoughts after Episode 21
-Super action-packed with multiple subplots and strong political rivalry, I’m genuinely enjoying it so far.-Li Yun Rui looks amazing as always, and I feel he will have a major role as we move into the second half of the drama.
-Li Ce (played by Li Xiao Qian) adds a fun tone to the episodes; one can’t help but root for him.
-To those asking about the intimacy between the main lead, it is minimal considering the age gap and feels more symbolic- like the sword symbolism in Episode 20.
-I haven’t watched Princess Agents, but personally, I don’t find any problem relating to or understanding the story.
-The show keeps getting better with each episode. The editing can be a little tacky, I understand, and that might irk some viewers.
-You don’t necessarily need to watch Princess Agents; the first two episodes help, but you can also just read a summary on Reddit and jump in.
-Chu Qiao, our female lead, is doing a decent job as well, not exactly the best with few expressions, but a decent one indeed.
My rating so far would be 8.5
P.S. Really excited to see how the characters evolve from here!
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