This review may contain spoilers
Addictive Tea Drama
This drama was impeccable until it fell off for me in the final arc.I enjoyed the reverse harem, it felt a palace drama that we've been missing all these years due to the ban.
One of the major reasons why I enjoyed this drama is the way it was filmed, the traditional clothes were GORGEOUS. Everyone's acting was amazing, and of course the TEA. I love drinking tea and it's nice watching a drama about the process of tea leaves.
Gulinazher is not only a beautiful woman, but I think she really showcased her years and years of hardwork as an actress in this main role. I think this is her major breakthrough role, because oh my god, I couldn't imagine anyone else acting as Rong Shanbao. She was so elequent, poised, and the perfect eldest daughter any family would want. However, she can kick ass and is very cunning and smart. Until, she rebelled and that's when I loved her character even more. However, towards the end is when I realize Rong Shanbao seems to act like she knows EVERYTHING, like a prosecutor even though her BOYFRIEND, Lu Jianglai, is the true proscutor/judge. That's when the script felt off towards the end, it felt like Lu Jianglai is depended on Shanbao to solve crimes.
Lu Jianglai started off cunning as well, both leads are pretty much scheming or hiding secrets throughout the drama which definitely gives off the palace drama vibes. I would say their relationship felt like a red flag. Jianglai feels more like the concubine or more like the '愛妃' of harem dramas. LOL Shanbao clearly loves Jianglai but she gives off hot and cold vibes a lot cause she shoulders a lot of the responsibility of the Rong family's tea plantations. I wish, as aforementioned, that Jianglai would showcase his ability to solve cases until the end instead of Shanbao doing it with her brain, and whatnot. Honestly, the last arc felt so boring to me because it just repeats what Shanbao can do instead of focusing on what Jianglai can do. Like he could've solve the case, he shouldn't need his lover to do so. I just think the script fell off towards the end, it started off amazing and it's definitely one of my top favorite dramas of all times. I even had my friend hooked on it as well. lol I think Hou Ming Hao acting here was okay, there's not much to say cause his acting didn't stand out for me - not I am not hating and yes I've seen many of his dramas since 2017 so it's not that I hate his acting here, it's more like it didn't stand out compare to Gulinazher's.
I wish they did something about that butler guy which had nefarious plans to ruin Shanbao's marriage cause he's in love with her and clearly will never get the chance to be with her. Yet the Rong family didn't do anything about him and just allowed him to work for them regardless.
I did enjoy the 4th sister's redemption, and I kind of wish she took over the Rong family tea plantation cause why else would Shanbao had her start from the bottom? If she took over then Shanbao would be released from the responsibility, I thought Shanbao would rather be free of it, but alas, she still followed her granny's wishes. lol One trivial thing that I really loved is the 4th sister's traditional clothes esp the myriad of collars she had - they were so gorgeous and lovely I wish I had them. lol
The 3rd sister was barely there, she felt like a background character, while other sisters' stories were more flushed out. I wanted to know more about the 3rd sister, but it felt like she was basically a leech - she leeches on to anyone that she could benefit from I guess?
The 2nd sister's redemption was interesting, it turns out she wasn't totally evil in the end. I am glad she got what she wanted.
The 5th's sister was a FAKE BETCH! Oh maaah god, I knew she was able to 'see' the second she spoke with Mr. He on that one rainy night. She was fishy throughout the whole drama honestly. Granted, I kind of understand her perspective, anyone would go crazy when the elders keep looking down them. I did not care for her til the end honestly. lol
You can tell from the get-go that this drama was a high budget drama due to the way it was filmed, the amount of outfits each character had, etc. It was just beautifu
l. I am also grateful that this drama was airing at the time of hardship for me, it was took me briefly out of reality and into a gorgeous tea-related world. I enjoyed every moment until the last arc ofc. To be honest, I stopped watching when the final arc began, hence the late af review. It was cause of real life had hit me like a truck so I was very slow in finishing the final arc of this drama. I did read that some people assumed this drama was about Lu Jianglai, but I don't know how that came to but I knew it was mostly going to be about the Rong family due to the native title itself.
Thus, be warned if you are a Hou Ming Hao fan - his character doesn't get too much of a highlight. It felt like he was a lover ya know? Not his own character - he was head over heels over Shanbao and ofc he solve crimes as a side hustle. lol
Would I recommend this drama? ABSOLUTELYYY! Especially if you miss watching palace dramas - this is the one!
There's a lot of back and forth schemings between every character in this drama hence the addiction. lol As for romance, it can tick some people off as aforementioned, Shanbao is hot and cold towards Jianglai. lol
Otherwise, I would definitely rewatch when I have time.
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OMG. THIS IS THE BEST CDRAMA I'VE EVER WATCHED...
THE STORY WERE GOOD, THE ACTORS AND ACTRESS WERE GOOD, THE OST WERE GOOD, EVERYTHING WERE GOOD. Besides the first eps. The first eps were boring for me, BUT IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER AND THEN.. THE BEST I'VE EVER WATCHED. IT'S SO WORTH WATCHING.hi ignore this, my review had to be more than 300 characters for me to post it but WATCH GLORY.
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Dropped: Heavy on Interpersonal Drama, Light on Mystery (For Me)
This review is based on half the show (episodes 1–18).I’m sorry, folks, but this isn’t my cup of tea. What hasn’t worked for me so far:
. Certain relationship-focused plot lines have taken up more space than I personally enjoy, which affected my engagement.
. The story leans heavily into internal conflict and interpersonal scheming, which just isn’t my preference.
. Some of the character dynamics didn’t fully land for me.
. Overall, it feels more centered on family and relationship drama than the type of mystery-driven storytelling I was hoping for.
I usually enjoy smart, layered mysteries and intricate plotting, but this just didn’t connect with me in that way. After getting through half the series, I’ve decided to move on.
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This review may contain spoilers
A different cup of tea.
A rather unusual story line where the main theme is that of dominant and liberal female values clashing with the more pedestrian male-centric society in ancient China. The main family's females decide and make choices while males play second fiddle. The ultimate display of power is not merely from martial prowess but the possession of a historically, bestowed gift.The story line is intriguing, confusing, engaging and definitely stretches the credibility of ancient Chinese values. As a thriller it succeeds, as a romance it barely stirs the heart strings and as a travelogue into the tea-scape of China, it is fabulous.
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This review may contain spoilers
"Being your beloved one is like pulling chestnuts from a fire. It's a dangerous task indeed."
The first half was easily the strongest. Once the marriage contest began, the show became pure entertainment. Watching the scheming and foolish candidates compete for Rong Shanbao was great fun, as were the clever plans of the Rong sisters.I also loved the gender role reversal, with the cold, dominant Rong Shanbao and the devoted, clever, amnesiac Lu Jianglai. The romance worked well as a subplot.
Most characters were not very likable, but the story in the first half was engaging enough that it didn't matter.
Rong Shanbao is a really cool, capable, and strong female lead, though.
The story is clearly centered on her, and I have no issue with that. I loved all the girl power!
However, she often felt a bit too flawless to me. She seemed to have everything under control all the time, which could become boring.
I definitely liked Lu Jianglai better in his role as the amnesiac servant than as a magistrate. (Why does that sound kind of mean?) I have to say his character was rather uninteresting to me.
The only one who earned a soft spot in my heart was the cute, frail scholar Bai Yingsheng.
Slightly before episode 20, when Lu Jianglai fully returned to his role as a magistrate, the story lost momentum for me. While there were still a few twists that kept me watching, my interest steadily dropped.
I liked the growing bond between the Rong sisters, but Yunshu’s arc felt inconsistent. Her unhinged behavior was exciting, yet it was unsettling that she faced so few consequences. I would have preferred them to lean into her madness even more.
The final arc began during episode 30. And well... the sudden setting change, the introduction of a new toxic family, and the abuse and murder storyline... it felt disconnected and unnecessary, in my opinion. And this kind of last minute hidden noble identity reveal for Lu Jianglai felt especially pointless.
But now, away from the plot and the characters and on to the cinematography and costumes. All of that was truly wonderful!
The color palette, the clothing design, and the interior sets were incredibly pleasing to look at. I would really like to visit that tea farm.
Final thoughts:
Glory offers an engaging and visually stunning first half fueled by marriage games and girl power, but struggles to maintain that momentum as the story progresses. It was still an enjoyable watch in parts and a costume drama I don't regret trying.
[finished watching on 22 January 2026]
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This review may contain spoilers
Brain-rot writing that makes the "strong female lead" trope feel like a total scam
With 36 episodes of approximately 45 minutes each and with an iQ IYI rating of 9.7 I was expecting a spectacular epic but it failed pretty miserably.Firstly, I liked a few things about this drama including the acting (especially the FL), the ML was alright, nothing special but okay. It’s a good story with good music and they clearly spent a bit of money on everything to give it that high-end production feel which it probably is.
There are many things that I don’t like about this drama, but I’m sure you will see that in other reviews. I’m only going to focus on the FL‘s family dynamics, particularly the grandmother.
I don’t know what other people think, but in my opinion the "filial piety" trap is used as a lazy excuse to reset the plot whenever the writers run out of ideas.
The Grandmother literally casts out the FL, humiliated her and tried to strip her of her livelihood. In any logical world, the FL would use her "Tea King" skills to start a rival business and succeed independently. Instead, the show forces her back into "Dutiful Granddaughter" mode the second the Grandmother shows any hint of vulnerability or mentions "family honour“.
The Grandmother is actively destroying the only thing she claims to care about—the family’s wealth—just to prove she still has the FL under her thumb. It’s illogical behavior. None of the other elders or business partners speak up about the massive financial loss because the script requires them to be oblivious so the Grandma can remain the final antagonist.
It makes the FL look spineless and inconsistent. You cannot market a character as a "strategic genius" who outsmarts imperial officials, only to have her become subservient to a woman who treated her poorly. It’s not "virtue"—it’s a total lack of self-respect that hinders the character's growth.
The fact Grandma face zero consequences while the FL just takes it, is what makes the show difficult to watch. It creates a frustration loop where the antagonists are never punished and the heroes never learn.
The showrunners basically prioritize melodrama over character consistency. They want the heartbreaking scenes of her sacrificing her happiness, but they forgot they spent the last 20 episodes making her a capable character who shouldn't tolerate this treatment.
I have quite a few examples of this behaviour throughout the drama but I would be here all day.
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Intriguing Reverse Harem with Twists That Mostly Deliver
This was an engaging reverse harem story that kept me intrigued with its twists and turns. While the overall plot was compelling and enjoyable to watch, the final few episodes felt somewhat unnecessary and didn’t add much beyond extending the story. That said, the journey itself was still entertaining, and the unexpected developments made it a captivating experience overall.Was this review helpful to you?
The Romance went to go get some milk and never came back
I'll start this review by saying that I enjoyed this series a great deal. I liked the intrigue, the plotting, the outsmarting. Very clever characters. I loved the fight scenes.I adore a strong and cunning female Lead and a matching male lead, and vice versa. This series had both.
I appreciated her Boss B personality and that she understood her role and priorities. I loved his devotion and strong sense of justice.
I enjoyed the character growth of all the other characters. I especially liked seeing the role reversal where normally it's a harem of women acting up. This time it was a harem of men.
But what I wanted to see was more romance. I wanted the couple to get together and stay together as they work as a team against their enemies. And one can argue that they did but it was more Flourishing Peony and I wanted Legend of Ming Lan where once they decided to get together, nothing was separating them through thick and thin and both were strong, cunning and badass leads.
This one was like romance brewing in the first 19 eps then pining and will they, won't they until ep. 36. So be prepared for that.
I also normally hate amnesia and secret identity tropes, but this one played them well.
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It was glorious but ended up meh
This drama started out really interesting. I especially liked the episodes where the FL was trying to find a husband. It's like a different kind of Bachelorette show. All the family drama - with the sisters and grandma - had me so invested. I liked how the sisterhood relationships moved the plot and introduced us to different story arcs. However, as we got towards the end, it just got abandoned and we have this entirely new family drama that was very annoying and frustrating. I seriously was annoyed at the last few episodes and it just felt like they just dragged the story on with unnecessary drama. It felt like all the good from the first half of the series just turned sour. I was literally just trudging through the episodes to get to the ending. I mean, I have already invested so much time on this show to just drop it. Needless to say, the ending was unsatisfactory for me. I still liked how this series made women the stars and really went hard on women empowerment but it just didn't make for an enjoyable show.Was this review helpful to you?
Disappointed ending
The episodes from 31~~~36 it's not necessary, they just added more pain especially his brother 😢 they kill him 💔and his father and his state in the end my heart aches for them 😭😭😭💔, the ml shouldn't left his father and go with the fl , instead the fl should stay with him but i think she didn’t love him like he did.Was this review helpful to you?
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Interesting drama
It was an interesting drama, the story was good overall but some times was too much and felt forced. A lot of dead people and uh, how can they let her not marry twice??Anyway, cast was very good, second leads were all great, special mention to the butler ^^.
But the main leads… I felt they didn’t understood their character very well, neo character felt incoherent and lacked power in the first episodes. He got better in the second half, I enjoyed his acting. Unfortunately, I felt the main couple was lacking chemistry and she played her character very coldly, it couldn’t completely justify the story for me. So I had to imagine them playing it differently, more intensely and emotionally coherent , in order to understand the story. And that was disappointing. I think if there was chemistry it would have been an amazing drama. But she had much better chemistry with the second lead, even though she still played too emotionally stiff that one scene with him. So yeah the main leads love story was not convincing for me
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Nice chemistry
Good movies, lots of plot twist, event the last event has lots of Plot twist....great chemistry from both actors and actress, the pace was moderate, have a good happy ending as expected.................a must watch movies , i always love all Neo Huo movies he nailed all the act....this one also,, ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Was this review helpful to you?
