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If there is one drama that has been constantly trending on Chinese searches nationwide for the past few days — and for not good reasons — it's Rebirth, the highly anticipated sequel to Princess Agents.
On April 8, Rebirth — marked by nine years of emotional attachment for Princess Agents among fans — premiered. The drama attracted much attention back home. Not only did fans of Princess Agents hope that Rebirth could make up for the unfulfilled feelings of the original series, but many viewers who had never watched Princess Agents also expected this period drama, with its extensive on-location filming, to deliver a more immersive visual experience.
However, despite the nearly ten-year gap, the new sequel, according to Chinese netizens, falls short of the prequel in many respects. The casting, the actors' performances, and the director's capabilities have all drawn criticism. Here are some of the reasons, according to C-netz, the drama's buzz has been rather underwhelming:
1. Huang Yang Tian Tian's "earrings controversy"
One of the most-anticipated aspects of the C-drama has been the story and portrayal of the female lead character Chu Qiao. In Princess Agents, the role was played by Zhao Li Ying, and Rebirth cast Huang Yang Tian Tian — who previously portrayed Chu Qiao as a child in the original. The actress's performance was very much anticipated, and it is reported that producer Zhang Meng offered the role of young actress Huang Yang five years ago. However, due to her being considerably young, she decided to wait. Notably, the original novel from which Princess Agents was adapted was also facing accusations of plagiarism at the time (ruled liable), and the prolonged legal battle also led to considerable delay in filming.
After she turned older, it was decided that Huang Yang was ready to play the adult Chu Qiao and now take over and carry the legacy of the original. However, it has been mostly her who has been the center of criticism for the drama's underwhelming performance.
It is reported that the Chinese drama had its release delayed due to the "earrings controversy", which erupted last year, where the young actress Huangyang Tian Tian (17 at the time) was criticized by Chinese netizens for engaging in extravagant spending after she shared a pic of her wearing earrings identified as being from the luxury brand GRAFF's collection, with a listed price of approximately 2.3 million yuan (approx. $336k).
Huang Yang Tian Tian posted on social media: "I borrowed the earrings from my mother." The C-netizens then shifted their attention towards the actress's family. Multiple sources claim that her father was a government official in Ya'an, Sichuan province, which raised suspicions over her family income. Rumours went around that the "earrings were bought with the disaster relief funds intended for victims of the devastating 2013 earthquake that killed hundreds," which caused a nationwide frenzy, though the claims were later proven false.
The investigation confirmed that the earrings were counterfeit. It was revealed that her father hid the fact of launching a private business on the side, in violation of public sector regulations, and had deliberately concealed the birth of a second child in breach of China's now-defunct one-child policy — considered a major taboo for officials. The issue ended with a formal reprimand and confiscation of 30,000 yuan (approx. $4300) in illegal profits.
While the matter seems trivial to international netizens, it attracted quite a lot of attention in China, with Huang Yang Tian Tian even stepping away from the spotlight for about a year. The controversy was so huge that it was even expected that the production team might reshoot the entire drama or face-swap the actress with AI. But that didn't seem feasible.
Reportedly, a considerable amount of filming of Rebirth happened on location and not in a studio. Director Lu Hao Ji Ji stated, "We refused to rely on studio shooting and cut-out compositing. Only real locations can allow the audience to truly feel the grim, chilling [vibe] of the ice lake and the realism of the battlefield."
Filming on the Qinghai Plateau, the crew endured grueling conditions as they pushed their limits in subzero temperatures. The harsh environment had them carry out high-difficulty shoots in the face of wind and snow.
Huang Yang Tian Tian, who plays Chu Qiao, appears in hundreds of scenes, many of which involve complex motion — such as fighting amid snowstorm, falling into icy water, and strands of hair and flowing garments whipping in strong winds. A reshoot would have required additional costs, time, and manpower, not to forget that the actress's scenes with the male leads would require them to make time out of their packed schedules. Dynamic scenes could have been performed by a double and then face-swapped, but the double's physique would differ significantly from Huang Yang Tian Tian's, and the performance would have struggled to replicate the temperament the original actress has with the character.
A fully CG-generated character would cost three times more than live-action shooting, and technologies for micro-expression animation remain insufficient.
So, in the end, Rebirth premiered with Huang Yang Tian Tian retaining her face on screen, but the drama is reported to be airing with little to no ads, lacking commercial interest from brands.
2. Rebirth fails to retain the essence of Princess Agents
Returning to Princess Agents, the story culminates in the Battle of the Ice Lake: Yuwen Yue, after being besieged, is shot down by an arrow from Yan Xun. Chu Qiao rushes in to rescue him, and in the end, the two fall together into the icy lake.
The story of Rebirth begins with the Battle of the Ice Lake, maintaining narrative continuity with Princess Agents. However, its handling of the battle's details leaves a rather poor first impression. The first widely discussed criticism of the show is the so-called "corpse mountain". In Princess Agents, the battle setting follows basic logic: Zhuge Yue (Yuwen Yue) is trapped on the frozen lake, outnumbered, while Yan Xun leads his forces from a cliff overlooking the battlefield, ultimately delivering a fatal strike from above.
When Rebirth attempts to recreate this sequence, it becomes somewhat perplexing. Perhaps to emphasize the brutality of war, it presents a shocking scene of bodies piled like a mountain — literally constructing a tall mound of corpses on an open ice lake. Zhuge Yue then stands atop this towering pile, almost as if making sure the enemy can clearly see his position. It is difficult to understand how such a corpse mountain could have been formed, and even harder to grasp why Zhuge Yue would choose to stand on top of it, rather than using it as cover for protection.
Perhaps in order to connect more seamlessly with the storyline of Princess Agents, Rebirth devotes considerable screen time at the beginning to recreating iconic highlight scenes from the original.
While this may give context to viewers who have not seen Princess Agents, it inevitably prompts those who have to compare the two dramas side by side — an examination of the shot composition, the actors' performances, and the delivery of the dialogue. In doing so, another shortcoming of Rebirth is exposed: the relative inexperience of its cast's acting.
It is to be noted that Princess Agents did not receive immense acclaim during its run in 2017, and it also faced a fair share of criticism. Its visual effects and green-screen work were often described as disastrous, and its costumes and production design left much to be desired. Yet the drama achieved lasting popularity largely because of the deeply moving performances delivered by its cast. Zhao Li Ying did not rely on exaggerated shouting or glaring to portray Chu Qiao; instead, she conveyed the character's resilience and unyielding spirit through a steady, determined gaze, making the role truly memorable.
Other performances in Princess Agents were also widely praised. Li Qin's portrayal of Yuan Chun was layered and emotionally rich, leaving a lasting impression. By comparison, Chinese viewers criticize that the main cast of Rebirth still appears somewhat immature in their acting, with a noticeable gap when set against the performances in the original series. Due to Rebirth's rather underwhelming performance, people are now turning their interest to Princess Agents, with the original trending, in a more positive way, than the sequel.
3. Huang Yang Tian Tian labeled "baby general"
The concentration of negative reviews largely centers on the female lead, Huang Yang Tian Tian. Born in 2007, she was only 17 when filming this drama. Nine years ago, she played the young Chu Qiao in Princess Agents, where her lively spirit and stubbornness left a strong impression on many viewers.
However, when she returned as the adult Chu Qiao, she was met with a wave of skepticism. The most immediate reaction from audiences was that she felt too young for the role. With her youthful features and soft facial contours, even in heavy armor, she was criticized as looking "more like a high school student who wandered onto a battlefield," lacking the depth and commanding presence the weathered character demands.
This mismatch in appearance undermined the audience's belief in the character's core. Chu Qiao is a heroine who rises from slavery amid turbulent times; her gaze should convey resilience, decisiveness, and a strength forged over time. Yet many viewers point out that Huang Yang Tian Tian's performance feels overly flat, with a lack of emotional layering in her expressions.
Although nearly a decade has passed and Huang Yang Tian Tian has grown up, she still carries a noticeable youthful air and struggles to convincingly embody a character like Chu Qiao — a female general defined by exceptional combat prowess.
C-netz criticise that in most shots, she gives the impression of a child forcing a show of strength; there is noticeably more confusion than resolve in her eyes. For this version of Chu Qiao, netizens have even coined the nickname — "baby general," following the earlier “foundation-general” label given to Zhang Ling He for his portrayal of a general in Pursuit of Jade.
4. Lack of narrative buildup
The drama's narrative has been criticized as a fundamental flaw. In the first five episodes of Rebirth, the pace of the plot advances so rapidly that many viewers find it overwhelming. Media tallies note that within these episodes, Chu Qiao is attempted for assassination, falls into an icy lake twice, and is attacked numerous times. Scenes such as being rescued from the lake, losing martial arts abilities, suffering amnesia, being kidnapped, poisoned, faking death, and seeking revenge — classic tropes that would typically require extensive buildup in traditional long-form dramas — are all compressed into just five episodes.
This pacing, described as "turning a long-form costume drama into a short-format one," sacrifices essential emotional buildup and character development. Before viewers even have the chance to understand or grow attached to the new versions of the characters, they are pushed forward by the breakneck narrative.
The narrative issues come to a head in episode five. In a key rescue sequence, the male lead Zhuge Yue single-handedly infiltrates the enemy camp, yet faces almost no resistance. This plot point has been criticized as "forcefully lowering the villains' intelligence just to stage a hero-saving-the-beauty moment," severely undermining the story's logic.
Of course, not all feedback has been negative. Some viewers have acknowledged the show's production quality, particularly the visual texture brought by extensive on-location filming and the scale of its battle scenes.
Li Yun Rui's performance has also received a degree of recognition, with some noting that he captures Zhuge Yue's charisma.
However, these strengths appear relatively faint amid the overwhelming criticism surrounding the female lead's casting and the narrative's structural issues.
Nine years is enough time for an audience member to grow from a student into a working adult. Those who were once heartbroken by the Battle of the Ice Lake in Princess Agents returned to Rebirth carrying deep memories and expectations. They may have been willing to accept a change in cast but found it difficult to accept a version of Chu Qiao so misaligned with the character they remembered. They may have understood the need for a sequel to tell a new story, but could not agree with sacrificing logic for speed or distorting characters to manufacture conflict. In the end, the disappointment voiced by viewers seems to serve as a reminder to creators: nostalgia is not just a label — it is an emotion that must be handled with care.
References: Beijing Youth Daily, Yangtze Evening Post, Sri Lanka Guardian, VnExpress
