Dominion and Devotion

This has to be the best short cdrama I have ever seen...

Some personal blabber:
Let me start with the thing that I am usually a very lazy person, too lazy to even write a review. Another thing is I absolutely hate HATE HATE sad endings... I hate tragedy with my whole being because I become such a mess that I become very disoriented and can't function in my daily life and sometimes have severe migraines caused from too much crying. So the fact I am writing this after finishing the whole drama says a lot. After I found out it had a sad ending for the couple I stopped and decided not to see it but the plot and everything was just so good that I had to finish it. This brings me to the present writing a review with a severe migraine, sobbing and listening to sad music.
Actual review:
This is handsdown one of the best Cdramas I have seen, this being a short one as well. From the plot, cinematography, acting, cast, storytelling everything. This being a short drama accomplished a lot and covered a lots of things. Let me go by points,
Storytelling:
This had an excellent storytelling. It kept me engaged the whole time and there was no unnecessary conflict. It showed many huge points and stuck to; it showed perfectly what actually women empowerment is, not by downplaying other genders, rather by treating everyone as equals. It showed the capabilites of human beings. One of the things I personally loved was how both the MCs were shown vulnerable. It showed how the FML transformed into a strategic wise empress from a girl who hid herself and only wanted to survive. it showed how even though she became an empress, she wasn't invincible, she lost people precious to her on the way. It showed how even though she became the empress she couldn't protect who were the most important to her. But still as a ruler she persisted even after that and ensured a glorious future of her country. Not only that, for the ML as well, we could see how sometimes he had to abandon the FML's side for the greater good and how under control he was. He wasn't someone who could do whatever he wanted, but still it showed how sometimes people just don't have a choice. Moreover I loved how it showed how the FML gave in to the villain just to deceive him. And my god, this had one of the most well-written villains I ever saw, though I appreciated it if it would have delved a little more into his obsession with the former empress but still he was really a very well-written villain. Even the toxic relationship he had with the aunt was well-written in my opinion. Even the minor characters like the censor huo and the female officer who disguised as a man, achieving all this in a short drama is really an admirable feat. Another memorable thing was the symbolism of the FML as the plant, I personally loved this little detail and also the chess plays. Almost all the characters well written and had a purpose which upheld the true essence of the drama. It had an excellent power politics play but it was shown in terms which are easily understandable. Even the realtionship between the leads looked genuine, the romantics literally lit fire on my skin, it all felt so genuine and raw, even after the fallout you could see the helplessness of the ML with his acts and the determination of the FML. Her actions and feelings were fully justified and the conflict was also resolved in a genuine way. Their love really wanted me to feel love, literally the dominion in the title was for the FML showing how to transformed into a wise ruler and devotion was for the ML showing how the cynical ML became such a devoted follower of the FML. He is the defination of working behind the scenes. Not only the realtionship between the leads but also between the FML and her aunt and even the relationship between the ML and his uncle was portrayed beautifully without extending much.
Acting/Cast:
PERFECT! ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! The cast really outdid themselves. The acting was perfect, it didn't feel fake or anything. Their eyes spoke volumes, the dilemma, the pain, even when the FML threw tantrums in helplessness, it felt so real, like I felt as if someetimes I also do this. The evil acting was also portrayed beautifully. You could feel that that one side character had the "I am all for justice" vibe within them with their demeanor. You could feel the struggles and achievements of the leads with their actings. It was absolutely perfect in my opinion.
Ending:
Spoiler duh! But ig many of you already know if you read the first part that this has a sad ending for the couple, the ML dies. And as much as I hate tragic endings, this was literally very logical, like the ML's death wasn't a copout. His death was justifiable. The reasons were clearly explained. And honestly I started crying from episode 23 from the wedding scene till the end. But me being my delusional self, am assuming from the easter egg from the official douyin and take that the FML actually saved the ML somehow and made him a commoner and separated him from the palace and he returned later as a concubine (as said in ep23). He had to remove his mole as it was the identity of the former prince and now he is back to be with the FML.
For those who are wondering were am I creating this assumption is from here (https://weibo.com/tv/show/1034:5160846712569915?from=old_pc_videoshow), it is a easter egg from the official douyin of the drama in weibo. So for me I think this is a happy ending I MEAN LOOK AT BOTH OF THEIRS KNOWING SMILES. (i have a phd in delusion).
Anyways, I love this drama so much that I wrote a review with a migraine and if it gets made into a full length drama, i would pay to watch it. It was tragic and i hate tragedy but this was worth it. (sobs in migraines)
My advice, just see it, i saw it. I don't wanna suffer alone. As for rewatch value, I think it has a high rewatch value but for those people who are affected in the daily life by tragic stuff, don't rewatch it, hurting yourself once is enough. But this will always have a special position in my heart.

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This is my first short c-drama, and I was pretty impressed by it, so much so that I think it would've been better if the episodes were longer, at least 30 min. minimum. That way some more the back story can be developed, and pad up the romantic aspect between Ning Jinyi and Master Pei in order to show the origins of Master Pei's devotion (to death) to Jinyi and country. What I also liked was the actors looked right for their roles. The make up for Jinyi was done so that it toned down her female features. Her character is one of the more convincing portrayals of a woman pretending to be a young man that I've seen in recent times. The music and action sequences were pretty good for a short drama. The lighting could be better, but it is a short drama so gave it a pass (production probably had a budget to stick to). Ultimately, everything all comes together giving this drama a Shakespearean or dramatic tone to it.


And, hope to see more of Huang Haoyue (Jinyi) and Li Geyang (Master Pei) in bigger projects in the future.

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One not to miss…

Absolutely loved this story. The focus being primarily on women’s rights was amazing and executed beautifully. Also loved the secondary plot as well. This is definitely a mini drama you don’t want to skip over. The plot was very compelling, fast paced and kept me on my toes with all the twists and turns. The cast did an amazing job, especially the leads. Our FL definitely shined throughout and will be checking out more of her works. I appreciated that her character had balance, both strong and vulnerable. Very relatable, very human.

Pros

1. Engaging
2. Strong acting
3. Good amount of romance
4. No slow moving parts
5. Women’s rights
6. Good fighting scenes


Cons

1. Had the usual cliches
2. Make up on ML was overdone, became distracting at times.
3. FL was an obvious woman
4. CGI wasn’t great. Especially those fake butterflies.
5. Dubbing. It was off at times.

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I loved it, but I don’t want to finish it.

There is a drought for (well made) cdramas lately which is why I started to watch this short drama. I didn’t expect to like it THIS much but here I am. I loved it. I loved the story, I loved the pacing and I loved loved LOVED the ML. Then I read spoilers and now I can’t seem to click “next episode”. I care too much for these fictional characters and want them to live happily ever after.

Thankfully, there is an extra little scene on WeTV China:

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZShNAv9Ne/

The only thing bad I can say about this is the acting of the FL.

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One of the better web mini dramas despite a busy and rushed second half.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

As a mini web drama, “Dominion and Devotion” is worth checking out if you are in the mood for it. The acting is decent and the production value is surprisingly good. The sets, costumes (esp. the male lead) and the overall feel of the drama gives the illusion of a decently-budgeted full-length drama and not a cheap mini drama. This might be due to Director Zhang Zhi Wei’s magic. She also directed “Fortune Writer”, one of my favorite mini web dramas.

I enjoyed the first half of “Dominion and Devotion” more than the second half. The early political plot of the selection of a new emperor, the development of the leads’ relationship and the rise and growth of the emperor are all well-paced and told. I enjoy the early chemistry between the leads, that bubbling attraction and romance developing behind all the political maneuvers.

Unfortunately, once the leads got together, the chemistry was somewhat gone. They gave us a few good kisses, but the plot in the second half becomes very political. There’s so much going on that it feels rather rushed. From the political schemes, to the demise of the villain and the secret of the birth stories, there’s just too many different plotlines that need to be covered in such a short period of time.

Despite a rushed second half, “Dominion and Devotion" is one of the better historical mini dramas. If you don’t have the time to watch a full-length 40-episode drama of a similar plot, this is a good thirst quencher. It has decent (but not amazing) acting, interesting plot and good production value. Even though I was not surprised about any of the stories as I’ve seen them in other dramas, it was still an enjoyable watch.


Completed: 6/14/2025 - Review #590

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Bored

Dominion and Devotion" was a story about two reigns. The king of one reign took over the reign of another king by deceit. The one who lost the reign , his wife exchanged her daughter with the one who took over the reign. In this way, the defeated king's daughter entered the conquering king's reign disguised as a prince. So, it had an interesting storyline. I had high expectations for the ending, but sad ending spoil the mood. Anyway, until the 15th episode, it was a bland story. After the 15th episode, I just hoped to see how the truth would be disclosed, and you would be excited and curious to know that. But the tragic end spoiled the mood.

Flaws: The direction was poor, and the choice of the female protagonist was wrong. Only because of the male lead did I continue watching the drama, but I think this role wasn’t right for him. He deserved more than that.

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