This review may contain spoilers
Great Acting and OST, But Riddled with Plot Holes and Missed Romance
Brocade Odyssey delivers on its title, focusing on the brocade industry during the Tang Dynasty. The story portrays the struggles, sacrifices, and successes of a group determined to uplift their craft and the people reliant on it. While the premise is compelling, the execution faltered, with numerous plot holes and sparse romantic development.Key Characters and Plot Points:
Ji Yingying:
The FL’s growth felt abrupt and lacked depth. Her journey—being enslaved, working to repay debts, and attempting trade with Tabo—was riddled with gaps. For instance, how did she fund her brocade work after giving all her money to her debtor? Her decision to marry into the Yang family to save her mother ended abruptly and without proper follow-up. While her determination was admirable, many aspects of her storyline felt incomplete.
Yang Jinglan:
Yang’s character had potential but lacked presence as the male lead. The FL often appeared more capable and strategic than he did. His dramatic actions, such as stopping her from becoming his brother’s concubine and proposing, stood out but felt underutilized in the grand scheme of the story.
Ji Nan & His Mother:
Ji Nan, the FL’s brother, was portrayed as helpless, with his sole strength being brocade weaving. His love story and role in the plot were minimal. Meanwhile, the mother’s constant opposition to Yingying’s ambitions, while understandable, became repetitive and predictable, as her focus was solely on her children’s safety.
Nui Wuniang:
Starting as a powerful and influential figure, Nui Wuniang’s sudden downfall felt contrived and lacked meaning. Her character could have been much stronger if she had remained a key antagonist or undergone a more convincing transformation. Instead, her conclusion made her role in the story feel pointless.
Zhao Xiuyuan:
Zhao’s obsession with Yingying overshadowed any chance of deeper development. His half-hearted attempts at villainy and inability to move on from her made his character feel one-dimensional.
General Niu:
Despite his many crimes, General Niu faced no significant consequences, leaving his storyline frustratingly incomplete. His actions caused major upheavals, yet the imperial court seemed indifferent to holding him accountable.
Bai Sheng:
Bai’s character was inconsistent. He oscillated between rejecting Yingying, attempting friendship, and pursuing her talent, but his lack of sincerity undermined these efforts. His eventual death failed to leave a lasting impression due to the weak development of his role.
Overall Thoughts:
The drama stayed true to its brocade-centered theme but suffered from numerous plot holes and lacked the romance expected of such stories. After episode 34, I found myself speeding through the remaining episodes as the pacing and coherence deteriorated.
Although the acting was commendable and the OST added depth to key moments, these elements couldn’t make up for the scattered narrative and underdeveloped characters. It’s not a drama I’d rewatch, as it ultimately fell short of its potential. I’d rate it a 7/10.
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Everything I love
This drama has exceeded my initial expectations! The details in the costumes and brocades are so delicate and beautiful. The romance between the ml and fl is so sweet. Instead of one childhood romance, there were two. Ji Ying Ying is brave, smart, clever and a born leader and business woman. She leads with wit and heart. She is so blessed with so many good friends who are willing to support her all the way. During that period of time, it is difficult for a woman to be successful in being a businesswoman. But yet, she manages it with grace and with a smile. A big thank you to the cast and everyone involved! I highly recommend this drama. It's not overboard. It's not underboard. It's just nice. And this drama shows the good and ugly side of humanity. How a person, whom you once trusted, can change from being good to being downright weird & nasty. How delulu some people can get. How some people are just out to grab the best for themselves and not bother about who they knock down or who they betray. I hope that you will enjoy this drama as much as I am enjoying it.Was this review helpful to you?
Not Bad ... just need to be patient/skip
The first 8 episodes were boring. Then once she broke up with the 1st bf, it gets more interesting. Like most of these merchant stories, it starts out slow and discusses too much about silk and brocade. The part of the story is always boring.Story is simple but the acting shines.
There are moments of fun. The leads have chemistry.
Overall, I recommend this drama. It's better than most currently showing.
ep 17 is when she first notices him as a man.
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Good one
The story revolves around the female lead, whose father was executed unfairly. She grew up determined to restore his honor and seek justice for him. Throughout her journey, Zhao Xiu Yuan supported her immensely and became her first love. He was a good man, and I always felt pity for his character. He truly loved her, but to protect her, she made a decision that went against her own desires, leading to their separation.In her lowest moments, Yang Jing Lan became her pillar of support, and eventually, they fell in love. I also liked her brother’s love story, but it left me feeling sad. Why? I won’t spoil it!
I had hoped to see her complete family, including her children, but the story didn’t show that. Still, it had a happy ending, which was satisfying.
The main leads are my favorites, and I’m glad their chemistry didn’t disappoint me!
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This review may contain spoilers
Tan Song Yun & Zheng Ye Cheng of course here I come… Another messed up summary from MDL. Let me tell the story from my version.Story about Ji Ying Ying (YY) a girl from a famous brocade family in Yizhou. Her father created a perfect color of red, that has been said to overcome all red. That made a lot of people envious of YY’s dad & finally they plotted to kill YY’s dad. YY’s dad was accused of making a fake brocade as a tribute for the emperor & being murdered as the result. The young YY who witnessed her dad murdered, traumatised by the red color.
After YY’s dad died, even though their family gets amnesty & can live normally, Ji's family still have a tainted reputation because of their dad affair. But all the problems didn’t make Ji’s family avoid brocade business. Now, the kids in Ji’s family grow up. YY is very skillful in coloring the silk thread while her brother, Ji Nan (JN) is a weaver expert.
YY had a childhood sweetheart that’s also her fiance, Zhao Xiu Yuan (XY). For years they determine to be together no matter what the obstacle in front of them. But it all became extremely hard when a daughter of the influential Niu family, Niu Wu Niang (WN), took interest in XY. And finally XY gives up YY in order to protect her & ends up marrying WN.
On the other hand, YY also met Yang Jing Lan (JL) when she’s still a little girl & JL fell in love with YY, but now when they met up again YY doesn’t recognize JL. JL went back to town as the new brocade inspector, & YY entangled with him to investigate all the things related to the brocade industry. The strange feeling getting warmer & trust build up with every case they investigate together, making them getting closer with each other. Slowly but surely YY’s feelings also start to grow for JL.
And when YY and JL feeling finally became mutual with each other, YY once more got entangled with more serious and deep trouble. And because MDL already spoiled us, it’s all related to the prince of Nanzhao Kingdom. So, how YY & JL take care of the problem & be happily ever after with each other… ^^
That's pretty much the story without giving any more spoilers. Now what I like and don’t.
What I like
+ The good chemistry between Tan Song Yun & Zheng Ye Cheng.
+ I’m quite surprised to see that China is more and more daring to put hidden LGBTQ+ in the drama. Hoho…. I’m talking about the relationship between WN and her maid. Oh don’t lie to ourself that it’s the usual relationship between master and servant, that’s GL all the way from hidden till so obviously standing in your face… Haha…. ^^
+ The friendship between YY & all her brocade friends.
+ The cute prove themself for JN & Sang Shi Si (SS) to their woman. Especially SS. I’m really happy when he turns out not just good for nothing man.
+ The hard fact how so easy to hide or even turn the fact and lie upside down if you have power. This drama really tells us so early about the reality or the fact behind YY’s dad's case, but so so hard to turn it over. And how easily Niu Jin (NJ) uses his power.
+ The smart woman who takes power. In this drama, I think I’ve seen the most how women take control in business in costume dramas (ancient times). I mean like in Yang & Hua’s family is the wife that takes care of the business & the man, especially in Hua’s family, only enjoys & takes advantage of the fact.
What I don’t like
- The stupid case of how sometimes people really overestimate relationships and underestimate people's greed for power. I’m talking about NJ & his superior. How his superior never thinks NJ can betray him just because he already helps NJ in so many ways.
- Once more just how they made ML seem invincible. I know we see many times how JL almost died. But it’s like every time he successfully turns it around.
- I don't understand how easily Cheng Feng Ze turned around the fact that he was almost captured but easily got away with it…
Overall this is an interesting drama to watch. But I can't say you lose something if you’re not watching this…
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This review may contain spoilers
The usual mess but with nice visuals
Needed me to turn off my brain too many times for me to enjoy the unique parts relating to brocade. The ML’s skills are super power level so doesn’t mix well for this realistic setting which is unfortunate as it was nice watching him fight. But the way he can take down so many people on his own was beyond realistic.FL has a nice believable young girl vibe but it breaks down when she matures and manages to capture the attention of so many men especially the villain. The villian should have stayed truer to himself and not turned into such a love sick fool.
The evil lady reduced to a pitiful shadow because of her love for her maid which we cannot understand as not enough is shown about their past to justify her feelings for her maid.
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Shu Brocade Family
Rating after 25 episodes:Story: 10
Although it's not a perfect drama, it has a storyline framed around historical Shu silk, fighting for justice, and weaving love and friendship. I enjoy watching it. I generally don't like every drama. This year, I liked only a few dramas that were released. This drama is better than all of them. The story is so good that besides war and intrigue, there are also funny scenes. The main couple constantly argues with each other and finally unites to fight for justice.
Acting: 10
Ji Ying Ying (Tan Song Yun) has a cunning, cute, businesswoman, strong woman character. Due to the events in her childhood, she took all her family's responsibilities upon herself. So, love and marriage were secondary for her. Her life continued to get more difficult. After her first fiancé left her, a romance began to develop between her and Yang Jing Lan. And finally, they got married in the 25th episode.
Tan Song Yun does justice to this role. She is a very talented actress.
Yang Jing Lan (Zheng Ye Cheng) has a funny, just, and somewhat carefree nature. He is both a warrior and a government official.
After this series, I fell in love with ZYC's acting skills once again.
Music: 10
I really liked the OSTs. They were performed by Liu Yunning and Tan Song Yun. Both of them have very beautiful voices.
Rewatch Value:
In your free time, you can watch Ji Ying Ying and Yang Jing Lan's arguments to relax.
Overall: 10
Both the story, acting, and music are very beautiful. It's a drama worth watching.
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Consistent and Lovely
Cannot really review this drama from a objective point of view, but for sure I love this drama because of:1. It retains chinese culture (brocade, silk) and eastern style wisdoms, Beautiful.
2. I love the main lead actors TSY and ZYC (oh, this is so biased, lol).
3. Ji Yingying and Yang Jinglan both characters in this drama are very good, can be said emotionally stable, not trying to be cute, spoiled or domineering, just be themselves while also considering others.
4. The highlight of the story is easy to predict, but some details are interesting enough to watch, enjoyable.
I mean, this is not the elaborate story of Ming Lan or Nirvana In Fire... come on.
5. So far (ep 23) I think it's safe to watch all ages (there are killing scenes but not sadist or brutal, and kissing/romance scenes also so far still ... safe.).
6. Novel version is good, happy ending.
The only minus is no OST of ZYC and TSY singing together while we know both could sing ...
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The Story:
JYY: (female lead)
- Talented girl, helpful, brave, has a knack of trading and negotiation skills too
1. inherited her father's skill of dying silk
2. clean her father's name from false accusation
3. clean the silk business from corrupted officials
4, sell her dyed silks to all over the world
YJL: (male lead)
- High martial skils, love JYY as she is.
1. Justice for his master that had been killed by corrupted officials
2. Clean the silk business from corrupted officials
3. Support and protect his loved on JYY
Other villains:
1. very corrupted offiicials Niu Jin
2. psycho ex-lover Zhao Xiuyuan
3. a-bit-good-but-quite-evil Prince Bai from enemy state.
Conclusions:
I have no complaints so far, because this drama is enjoyable, the judgements made by the main leads to overcome situations are all OK, pretty much a good example for all.
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Refreshing story, great chemistry ad Strong Natural acting performance from main leads
I was so looking forward to this movie when it was first announced few months ago and it did not disappoint.every movie that Seven Tan appeared, She became the character as she portrayed it so well and naturally.
I love this drama as it started slowly to develop the background stories, introduced us the cultural history of the Shu brocade and how much process it had to go through to produce one and how they are being treasured by the country. I love this story how Seven Tan and YeCheng interact with each other so well and naturally. They have such a great chemistry and comfortable with each other. Ji Ying Ying portrayed by Seven Tan showed how resilient and persistent she is to protect her mother and brother and also to avenge the death and misjudgment to her father. the story has lots of twist and it also showed the challenges and trials that Ji YingYing had to go through and Ye Cheng was there to protect her even from the start when he knew YingYing was already engaged. the original boyfriend made a big mistake of giving up on Ji YingYing thinking this is his way of protecting her. It was so refreshing to see how the main leads love each other and support each other. there were so many touching scenes that hit us and we couldn't help but feel their pain and cried with them. Seven Tan is so good in her acting that you cried along with her when her tears keep flowing down on her cheeks on those tear-jerking scenes. I have rewatched so many episodes so many times because they are really good and refreshing..
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Gotta Love The Horse
This drama had a slow start and hard to see FL not looking her usual glam self. Her costumes are horrible IMO, but it is every day people. It has a slow build and my attention gets sidetracked because it drags on instead of moving on. I have enjoyed watching parts like in Episode 23 when the male lead is surrounded, fighting for his life. His trusty horse comes out of nowhere and takes down a couple of bad guys. It was so unexpected and I LMAO and re watched the scene several times. I'm not use to watching this particular FL playing such a weak woman. There are times she isn't weak. Her character has too many flaws for my taste. Overall it's a pretty good drama.Was this review helpful to you?
Definitely worth watching!
This was a really neat look into the brocade industry-I had no idea how cool it was! Absolutely fascinating to see the process and understand why we heard about things like The Silk Road being so important in history class. It also gives me more appreciation for all the costume designs and intricate patterns in dramas. Someone must have spent years researching to write this.The story itself was great. Strong FL that used her brain instead of plot armor. There wasn't as much chemistry between the leads as I'd like, but the romance was still sweet. I loved the development of the side characters as well. Definitely worth watching!
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