Royal Upstart

贤婿 ‧ Drama ‧ 2025
Completed
DINKWANG
7 people found this review helpful
Jul 23, 2025
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
A SIMPLE AND SWEET STORYLINE, I LIKE THE MAIN ACTOR AND ACTRESS, HANDSOME AND PRETTY, CLEVER AND KIND HEARTED, AND THE CHARACTER OF XIAO NING'S FATHER IS SO FUNNY TOO, WITH HIS FUNNY FACE AND BODY, EVENTHOUGH XIAO NING IS SOMEONE WHO TIME TRAVELL FROM THE FUTURE, BUT HE'S NOT THINKING TO GO BACK TO THE FUTURE, BUT CHOOSE TO STAY IN THE ANCIENT TIME TO BE WITH PRINCESS AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER, NICE&SWEET ENDING
Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
OPM
6 people found this review helpful
Jul 24, 2025
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

Guilty Pleasure

Light-hearted Transmigration Story.
Where MC utilises his modern knowledge to improve his situation and combat corruption.

Even though it has the usual tropes, it is executed well and is a very fun and satisfying watch.

Hope more of these stories are produced in full length format.

You will also find a contender for the most SHAMELESS character in all of Drama in this one too. LOL.

Like this review, Short and Sweat, give the show a watch, you won't regret!
Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
surio
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 24, 2025
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Hidden gem! Didn't expect to be so invested into it

TL:DR -- This one is an all round wholesome entertainer (notwithstanding the gratuitous attempted r*p* scene in the end). Just go watch it.

Run-of-the-mill transmigration cdrama where protagonist benefits from knowledge from the future while living in the past. It is the execution that elevates this B-grade serial into the AA+ category. All the actors nailed their roles to perfection. Hats off to the director for getting these A-team performances out of every one of them- the hero's father, the eunuch, the sympathetic minister Zhang, the princess, the femme fatale, the king, bitchy ex and her mother, FL's bodyguard (LOL) - just about everyone!!

Like so many comments left on this cdrama, I too have joined the Yan Lin Luo fan club. Whatttay femme fatale.
Fan Meng portrayed her role beautifully. You find yourself rooting for her in spite of everything. If there was an epilogue I'm sure it would have shown her managing to ingratiate herself and the insufferable ex Xue Yan as the lead's concubines (with the princess' approval no less LOL). Hands down, she had the best costumes of the entire show as well. The white floral kimono/top she wore somewhere in the 2/3 of the show was an absolute beauty. Fan Meng must have really had fun playing this role with mischief, sultry, scheming, charm, mock innocence all wrapped in at once. Director must have absolutely given her liberty to play it free form and she didn't disappoint. She's an actress with a promising future. Look forward to her other excellent roles.

The ML had the perfect emotions of "ho hum, so uninterested in these old world shenanigans" throughout - almost like a 4th wall breaking moment all the time. It's like a constant wink to the audience.

The script didn't provide enough romantic interactions for ML & FL, whereas Lin Luo turned every interaction into a seduction moment, right down to the very last scene LOL. Still there was enough cuteness overall b/w the leads and their interactions to save the romance.

The King's part was not cartoony but a very mature character study. Him and the ML's father's bromance was top notch :D

The ex-wife and her family provided great comic relief with their constant over the top disdain for ML.
ML: exists
Su family: "let's diss track him in as many ways as possible" LOL

All the side characters were excellent in their leads. Even the Royal palace/court parts were done well. The dialogues flowed naturally and wasn't stilted or out of place.

All out happy ending. Like I said, whether ML or FL were willing or not, Lin Luo and Xue Yan are becoming part of his "wife club" is how it was hinted LOL. Again, kudos to writers and director for putting such a bold theme out there in this day and age. Well into the 90s and 2000s regional language Indian cinema also treated bigamy/polygamy casually and boldly. Didn't expect to see something similar in 2025 conveyed in a wholesome way in an entertaining drama. -- "Darling come home soon. I've cooked many dishes for you" XD

Anyway, watch it. Ended up being a great drama that leaves you with a warm feeling.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
vox populi
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 9, 2025
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

I DIDNT EXPECT THIS

i was only random scrolling on yt when i found this drama. since i had no drama to watch i decided to give it a try. i didnt expect to actually enjoy it very much.
light hearted. story. nothing very intriguing. the plot is predictable yet very enjoyable.
xiao ning's acting is good, although sometimes a bit exgaggerating.
i like yan ling luo. she's pretty, poise and her acting is good. i hope she makes her way to the big drama. she deserves recogniton.
the princess' acting however is just so-so. she's pretty, but the age gap with xiao ning is quite obvious. i hope she can improve herr acting skill.
xiao ning's dad and the emperor are funny.
han hong zhi's acting is quite good being a villain.

this drama overall is not dissapointing and it worths spending times.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Ordinary human
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 11, 2025
26 of 26 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10

A break to smile

If like me you want to take a break from dramas focused on fights, mystery, murders, detectives without romance, this is a good alternative.
The story is simple and pleasant, fast paced and the ML is perfect in the role with a mix of elegance, cunning and shameless. Finally a determined ML not easily influenced by stupid romances or running around to save the FL.
Despite being a short drama, the quality is evident, each character well studied.
The last episodes maybe would have been better without the wedding plot, but you can't have everything.
Recommended for those who love serious drama and want to take a break to smile, you won't regret it.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Royal Upstart poster

Details

Statistics

  • Score: 7.7 (scored by 315 users)
  • Ranked: #4286
  • Popularity: #12395
  • Watchers: 686

Top Contributors

89 edits
37 edits
8 edits
8 edits

Popular Lists

Related lists from users
Short Chinese Dramas
1322 titles 100 loves 6
Hmm ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
619 titles 3 loves

Recently Watched By