How Dare You!?

Pretty Costumes and Sweet Chemistry

I want to start by saying that I love the acting. Seeing Cheng Lei and Wang Churan as the leads I was already excited, but after finishing each actor played their role exceptionally. You felt every emotion, all their pain, all their happiness, the acting in this drama truly deserves an applause.

I also want to mention the chemistry. Wang Churan and Cheng Lei had wonderful chemistry as a couple in this drama, and it was very sweet to watch. I loved their happy ending and their whole relationship in general, especially the fact that they didn't have any cliche misunderstanding that led to a breakup (many of you will be happy to know this!).

Furthermore, the costume, makeup and designs for this drama was extraordinary as well. It was beautiful to watch. I especially loved Yu Wanyin's outfit and makeup, it fit her character and was so gorgeous.

The only downside to this drama would be the story. I enjoyed the story (I love complex political plots), but I think the writers made it a bit confusing. There were many times in the drama where I was completely lost (I am an avid historical cdrama watcher too, so I have experience). I get the writers were trying to reveal things slowly, but there are still things that left me confused like the whole ordeal with the crown prince (Xiahou Dan's kid which I was led to believe was a kid adopted by the Emperor and Empress Dowager in the beginning? But later find out it is XHD's kid, but he was forced?) and the nameless. This is one of many confusing points. I also think that YWY was also a little bit to forgiving, I like that the couple didn't break up, but seeing the amount of times XHD lied to her and hid things from her, I personally would be angry, because in the end it did feel like she was the 'loser' who didn't know anything. It would have been satifying to see YWY explain and actually talk to XHD about this, the excuse that it was for your own good is not good enough tbh.

Overall though, I still think this drama is worth a watch, it is fun, sweet, and has nice OST + costumes. The ending was satisfying! Watch this!

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Some dramas are meant to be enjoyable without moving you to death

It was a good drama : the acting was on top, the costumes were exquisite (might be the best I’ve seen in c-dramas), the chemistry between the main lead was great.
I really had fun at first, the main leads' relationship was like partners in crime, I loved their meetings around hot pot to prepare the next move.

But the more the story progressed the more it became heavy, more than I’ve thought. It added depth to the characters so it’s a good thing in itself but I won’t lie I liked the beginning more than the rest of the drama.

Those Zhang San’s Diaries were quite heartbreaking. Those scholars’ fates was also very unfortunate. At the end so many characters lost their lives which I found sad but sometimes not necessary honestly : too much sacrifice kills the sacrifice.

Overall the story was good but I can’t lie I was also bothered by some few things

- Sometimes it became a little bit « dramatic » and the pace was not the worst but maybe was the reason why I found myself having trouble to connect with the drama at some point.

- I didn’t like the fact the little Crown Prince was neglected like that. I mean Dan & Wanyin were so moved by the fate of all these 2D characters but they couldn’t care less about him.
Of course giving the way he was conceived, it would be complicated for Dan to care about him. But letting the CP’s in the Empress Dowager’s clutch felt like a nonsense for me. Even if he can’t really care for his son, he can relate exactly to this feeling of being under the Empress’ control, is it really logical for him to abandon his son to this witch ? Even Wanyin, who showed real emotions for the 2D characters, never bothered about him.
I just mean his fate was also sad so I would’ve preferred the show addressing this issue properly instead of acting like he wasn’t even there, it makes all this talks and emotions about the 2D characters somehow shallow and a little bit hypocritical imo

- My other issue is less important, just a question of preference. I find obsessive men repulsive and Dan showed some big signs of it, he was so stubborn about Wanyin at some point I was annoyed honestly. But I guess I will put this on his maniac episodes and the feeling of finally finding the one who saved him from his sad existence.

- Last issue : the villains and specially the Empress were under developed. We knew she hated the emperor but the reason wasn’t clear enough. It would’ve been cool if they explained, it would’ve added some depth to her instead of giving her a one-sided personality

I was waiting for this one for quite a while and I was not disappointed overall. I still recommend it, even if it’s flawed.

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Enjoyable But Could Have Been Better

I quite enjoyed the series overall though I wouldn't call it a favourite in the transmigration genre. But there is a lot to love about it.

Firstly, the leads are incredible! The FL is stunning and she is a strong, graceful, charming woman with a good head on her shoulders. She is the brains behind the collaboration of the leads. ML is the executioner. He is strong yet gentle, brave and understanding and trusts the FL which is what makes their dynamic work so well. He trusts her even before she trusts him. More than their romance, I enjoyed their chemistry and banter.

Secondly, the other characters. I loved the SFL and Mr Bai the most. The scholars were nice too. It's always great when secondary and supporting characters bring life to the drama. I also liked the physician but sadly his role was small.

Third, the plot. No drama can succeed on acting alone. If the plot is weak, it all falls apart. The story of How Dare You has a good flow and never gets boring. There is also mystery about certain characters which helped kept me interested in the story. Fortunately we don't really have a misunderstanding and breakup trope or at least not really. Whatever happens is resolved almost immediately.

Fourth, I got emotional in certain parts and I feel the ML conveyed them really well.

I enjoyed the drama OST too. It suited the scenes a lot.

Where it failed to hit the mark:
I expected this to be more comedic than it is. The title also makes you think it will be more funny than serious. It starts off funny but gets a bit more dramatic and serious 7 - 10 episodes in. There is light comedy here and there to make you smile but no laughs from my end.

The action sequences. Usually the leads are involved in the fighting and action scenes as much as the side characters but that's not the case in this drama. Though I didn't mind the leads not fighting at alll, I felt the action scenes itself were kind of average or overly dramatic. And I'm a sucker for a good action sequence so this mattered to me.

The SML was okay. I don't feel much for him which isn't a good thing.

The ending. It was quite abrupt and tbh I didn't understand what happened at all until I read some explanations. I don't really like when directors expect you to fall back on the source to fill in your gaps. But I also understand why they did it that way. Since it involves censorship, I can't call it bad storytelling. Still... they could have compensated in other ways so it was disappoiinting.

Introducing a character late and then the twist. I'm not sure the twist was needed.

Romance. Though the leads' chemistry is great, the romance is okay. You won't find much of it since there is a lot of planning and scheming going on. Since everything was good, I didn't care too much so I'm mentioning this last. As romance can be huge for some viewers, I thought I would point this out.

To sum up, How Dare You is quite enjoyable but it also leaves you wanting a bit more.

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Acting of all actress and actors are amazing but drama's story line is predictable

I decided to watch this drama because of all the hyped I saw on social media like X and Instagram. After watching it, I found it quite funny, similar to other time travel dramas. What sets it apart, though, is the female lead's stunning visuals she is truly captivating. The male lead’s acting is also equally impressive.

While the plot is somewhat predictable given the time travel trope, the standout for me is definitely the acting. From the silly and comedic moments to the serious and heartbreaking scenes, every actor in this drama delivered a fantastic performance.

Interestingly, the drama didn't need heavy promotion because it was already popular as a donghua and a short drama. Both Wang Churan and Cheng Lei have received high praise from donghua fans for their portrayals. It’s a solid watch for anyone who appreciates great acting and beautiful cinematography.

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Where Humor Meets Palace Intrigue

I didn’t expect to come away from this drama with such a strong impression, but I have to admit - it’s excellent! I’m very pleasantly surprised by how much it held my attention. It is an easy and enjoyable watch, even though it includes dramatic moments and unexpected plot twists. I’m not a fan of overly exaggerated comedy, but here the amount of humor is just right - enough to make you laugh and keep you wanting to watch more. The ML is wonderful and does an outstanding job portraying a "mad, tyrannical emperor". The FL is surprisingly interesting, and the supporting characters are vivid and memorable. Altogether, it creates a charming story with remarkable depth.

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This ain't your grandma's transmigration story!!

This is such a fun take on a transmigration story. I thought I knew what I was in for but it kept me on my toes. I've never seen such fun chemistry before.

Wang Churan and Cheng Lei are absolutely amazing together. They're best friends but they don't fully trust each other. They're obsessed with each other while using each other. This parallel is also reflected in the story. We get hilarious scenes, followed by scary scenarios, and then tragic outcomes.

This drama got it all, but there are times I wish that the story had held on to one emotion for a little longer, like dragging out the angst would have been good. Or keeping Dan in his tyrant mood for an episode or half. I feel like that would have connected with me more as a viewer.

In some of the later episodes, the plot felt a little flat. There was a lot of talking and random scenarios that didn't really add anything to the existing story. I think this is a series that would have done better if it was a bit shorter? Also, I did read about the book ending and wish they had gone that direction instead of what we got. It would have elevated the series significantly imho.

Light Snow, Deep Ink by Jiang Dunhao is a banger song.

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Might contain spoilers

I really love this series (the novel, live action as well as the donghua). I have read the original novel a few years back titled "This is ridiculous" and I must say that the revelation for Xiahou Dan being transmigrated since he was young was expressed brilliantly compared to the live action where they put it as epilogue per episode. I also find the ending unsatisfactory. The novel dived deeply into their life after they went back to the modern times and Xie Yong Er's pov after going back to her original world was also seen in the novel.

I know that the series don't have much time to put all those details but if someone watching the show haven't read the og novel, then there will be a lot of questions or gaps in the story (e.g. Prince Duan having false hope inside his dungeon and his ending, Xie Yonger's fate, Wanyin and Xiahou Dan's future both in the book and in modern times)

But overall, I still give this a 9/10 rating. Cheng Lei really embodies Xiahou Dan's character. He looks so much like the animated version especially with his hair down. It was such an iconic look in the donghua and he was able replicate it. Also, the other actors and actresses gave justice to their roles. I liked their acting and portrayal. So even though the storytelling/plot is lacking, the actors still gave it justice.

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A remarkable turnaround ...

so I have watched couple of episodes from the animated series and wished they will do a live action version , yet when i watched the first episodes I couldn't bring myself to keep watching , still I gave it a chance and glad I did .

In the beginning you think it is gonna be a bunch of funny scenes without an actual plot but it get a great turnaround after xu yao's death, you begin to see that isn't gonna be as written in the book and as yu wayin predictions.

this was great on so many levels music , costumes , acting yet I can't tell if the actor who did prince duan did a great job or not like he is a villian to forget , not a strong antagonist for me , he did some bad deeds but the whole series he was only plotting and whenever he tried to carry out his plan it failed and it wasn't even due to wanyin's knowledge of the book because everything deviated from the book , it was like Dan was always one step ahead , yet actor did a really go job in making me hate his character .

xie yong er 's death was so rushed like she dead and they gave her a 2 or 3 minutes and that is it and it wasn't mentioned again except briefly , I wished she and cuihua would have met in the real world .

I hoped they would give zhang san and cuihua more screen time when they returned to the real world.

empress dowager kept saying she hated Dan's father , we later found she was from Qiang, wished we got more background on that like how she ended in Xia was a marriage alliance , a hostage ??

when it came to dramatic scenes this series delivered , was it perfect NO but nonetheless it was great and deserves to give it a go.

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MOST COMEDY- ACTION DRAMA

My First Serious Review.
I watch the drama using iqiyi.
The 4k frame really help the visual of this drama.
The OST is good but the IQIYI did not hide the translation of drama, it disturb me so much.
The acting is good, but lack impact in the beginning of the story. The middle part of story is interesting. But the end is so satisfying for me.
The actor and actress also have a good chemistry and vibes. This help the interactions of the lead become more interesting. The second lead also have a good story although she died before story end.
The other character also have some interesting story and interaction with the main lead.

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Drama that actually dares to entertain...

How Dare You, also known as This Is Ridiculous, is one of those dramas that knows it is a little over the top and just runs with it. And honestly, that is part of its charm. It does not pretend to be deep political philosophy. It is here to entertain, poke fun, and serve romance with a side of sass.
The story kicks off with a strong female lead who does not sit quietly in a corner waiting to be rescued. She talks back. She questions. She dares. The male lead is not your typical cold stone statue either. He has layers. At first, you might think, here we go again, arrogant man meets bold woman. But slowly the dynamic shifts. There is banter, tension, and actual growth. That is what makes it fun to watch. The romance builds through clashes, misunderstandings, and those classic moments where pride almost ruins everything.

The cast does a solid job. The leads carry the drama well, especially in emotional scenes. They manage to balance comedy and sincerity without making it feel forced. Supporting characters add color instead of just filling space. Some are dramatic, some are chaotic, and some are surprisingly wise. It never feels empty around the main couple.
Production wise, it looks polished. The sets are well designed, especially the palace and noble house scenes. Nothing looks cheap or rushed. The cinematography is clean, and the lighting in romantic scenes gives that soft glow without turning everyone into a candle. It feels high quality but not flashy for the sake of it.

Now let us talk about the costumes. The wardrobe team clearly understood the assignment. The female lead’s outfits are elegant but practical, fitting her personality. The embroidery and fabric choices give that classic historical drama feel without going overboard. The male lead’s robes are structured and sharp, matching his status and character growth. You can tell effort went into making each look meaningful, not random.
The OST quietly does its job. It is not the type where you instantly add every song to your playlist, but it fits the mood. The background music lifts emotional scenes and softens romantic moments. When tension rises, the music follows. It supports the story rather than overpowering it.

As for relationships, this drama actually shows something refreshing. Yes, there are break ups, misunderstandings, and moments where you want to shout at the screen. But when they come back together, it is through communication and personal change, not just dramatic declarations. That is what makes it feel healthier than many other dramas. Love here is not just obsession. It is learning to respect and stand beside each other.
The ending ties things up in a satisfying way. It does not drag endlessly, and it does not leave you confused. It gives closure, growth, and a sense that the characters earned their happiness. Not perfect. There are a few loopholes and convenient plot turns, but nothing that ruins the ride.

Overall, How Dare You is witty, dramatic, and surprisingly heartfelt. It knows when to laugh at itself and when to get serious. It is not flawless, but it is done right. For me, this is an excellent drama.

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