This review may contain spoilers
Heaven help me but I hated this
Update:I dropped this series at episode 11 but felt compelled to hate-watch a few more episodes and read other recaps and reviews to help check any biases I might hold. So, now I have a better understanding.
Firstly, the screenplay was written by a guy who clearly didn't understand how to parley history in a manner that would be palatable to younger viewers, especially if the series is being presented as a "historical romance". Likewise, the director, who, at 60 years plus, did not understand whether her target audience should be the older generation who are bound to appreciate this type of archaic but factual storytelling, or the younger generation who are inundated with a newer more dynamic method of incorporating romance within a historical drama. A perfect example is the Story of Yanxi Palace which was loosely based on the love story between Emperor Gaozong of Qing and his favorite concubine. Not only did we get factual historical events but also an exciting and compulsively watchable drama. The failure of director Li Shao Hong to read the trend is one of the reasons Palace of Devotion failed to appeal to the audience, prompting the many low ratings (and ridicule) it got while it aired in 2021.
Initial review:
The synopsis made this series seem like an epic love story interspersed with historical palace politics but we were given a docu-series of an Emperor who didn't love the FL or care about her well-being. Additionally, this Emperor was written in the most bizarre manner. He came across as weak, indecisive, and lacking in discernment.
Since I started watching Chinese palace dramas I’ve seen a dozen or more that are historically accurate yet entertaining because the scriptwriters know it's imperative to provide the audience with not only history but one that’ll keep us invested in the protagonist. Had I wanted a historical accounting then I’d watch the History channel.
It being a harem drama doesn't mean I want to see the ML having intimate moments with other women. Like, how was this even allowed? I never ever want to see multiple women being loved by the ML to the point the supposed FL is nothing but a blip in his journey of being Emperor. Also, with an Emperor as weak as this one was portrayed, I couldn't help but hate him.
Only watch this if you like all of the above. Three stars is being generous.
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Dropped at episode 11
Firstly, the only character that had some grit to it was the evil Crown Prince played by Dai Yun Fan. I have to say the actor was hot and I would have preferred he and Lusi as a couple instead of the pretty boy lead played by Zheng Ye Cheng. Secondly, the editing and CGI were terrible and that made the story seem inconsistent. Thirdly, the romance was so-so, the usual run-of-the-mill plot of a boy loving the girl for no damn reason other than she was just there. Lastly, the lead female character must have been the worst that Lusi has ever played. The Princess had no discernable character growth, power, or attributes that could make me root for her.Was this review helpful to you?
Waste of time
With the exception of Yanxi Palace and Royal Feast, Xu Kai has never been able to keep my interest long enough to finish any of his dramas. There’s now a list of dropped or on-hold dramas with him as headliner and after dropping Dance of The Sky Empire, I finally realized the reason. He’s so bloody unserious and chooses to play the same or similar character every single time. Likewise his acting skills are below those other actors who are his peers. Now, this is a subjective experience so please hold the steak knives.Undoubtedly he’s easy on the eyes which is why he has a huge fan base; conversely, he has a huge fan base which is why he, as an actor, will continue to get jobs despite lacking the acting chops.
This drama was a colossal disappointment.
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It’s overrated
If you’ve watched The Glory or Goblin or Descendants of the Sun then you should know that Kim Eun Sook, the screenwriter, is one of the top in the drama industry as her dramas consistently garner high ratings. However, Secret Garden is a decade old therefore it’s understandable that it followed the same format as other popular dramas of that period. Dramas like Boys Over Flowers, The Heirs, and a handful of other which were premised on toxic masculinity and docile women.Similarly, the production values were mediocre with terrible color saturation and cinematography. I kept at it due to the many fawning reviews on MDL but it got to a point where I just couldn’t bear seeing the ML consistently berating the FL or a FL who had zero self-respect. I wish someone would remake this because there is something unique about a FL who’s a stuntwoman and I would like to see that aspect explored more thoroughly.
Anyway, it’s watchable if you don’t mind the above-mentioned details.
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Frustrating
My apologies but the story is frustrating and boring. I'm not sure if it's the dialogue or the pacing but something is completely off. What could have been said in one minute takes three to four which basically feels like the audience is watching paint dry. Likewise, the court proceedings lack the excitement that I've come to expect from legal dramas. It's as if everything is on cruise control.OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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This series aged badly
I have sadly come to realise that some Korean women simply do not have an inside voice. They speak so loudly and for no good reason. Why? Even when whichever friend they're talking to is right in front of them, that's when they crank up the decibels. Is this supposed to make them seem lively? More fun? Or did the actress, Jun Ji Hyn, not know how to interpret Cheon Song Yi since all she did was scream-speak, simper or smirk? There was a lack of subtlety and authenticity in her acting. It could also just be the writers sucked and decided they'd compensate the viewers by casting attractive leads hoping we'll overlook their crappy plot. Despite being annoyed by the FL, I was really looking forward to sizzling chemistry between her and the ML, however, that never materialised. I dislike stupid scriptwriting and this one was a dud.Was this review helpful to you?
I finished this with a wide smile
Gong Hyo Jin and So Ji Sub deserve all the awards. I've found another couple of favorite fictional characters.XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOOXOOXOOXOOXOOXOOXOOXOOXOOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOOXOXXXXOOOOXOOOOXOOOOXOOOOXOOOOXOOOXOOOXOOOXOOOXOOOXOOXOOOXOXOOXOOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOOXOXXXXOOOOXOOOOXOOOOXOOOOXOOOOXOOOXOOOXOOOXOOOXOOOXOOXOOOXOXOOXOOXO
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This review may contain spoilers
A big whole mess
WTH was this mess? Cringe plot and zero romance plus the ML character was one of the creepiest and most abusive that I've seen in C-drama. As a matter of fact, most of the male characters treated the FL abysmally.ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
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This is not a final review/rating
Looks like a low-budget series that was done on the cuff. Notwithstanding, Dylan's performance alone is enough to keep me glued to the screen.(During the reign of Long Hua, Xiao Duo, a powerful eunuch in charge of the imperial court, plans a palace mutiny with Prince Fu to help him ascend to the throne. Bu Yinlou, a tribute lady that was supposed to be hanged as a tribute to the late emperor was saved by Xiao Duo as Prince Fu fancies her. The two of them spend a lot of time with each other and develop feelings for each other, but due to their status, they have to hide their feelings. Xiao Duo goes to Jiangnan to supervise a silk trade with a foreign country, and Yinlou accompanies him to visit his relatives in the south, during which they fall in love and finally reveal their hearts. But the road ahead is full of obstacles, Xiao Duo's true identity, the threat of the King of South Court, and the suppression of the emperor in the palace. The two of them have to sacrifice themselves for the greater good and decide to enter the palace, but Xiao Duo misunderstands her. What is the fate between the two?)
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Tiring
At 13 yrs old, this drama was probably a novelty back then hence the high ratings. However, if compared with recent historicals that have similar themes, it falls far short of entertaining. The female lead character for one was a waste of space who had nothing going for her except her wide-eyed naïveté which grew annoying after a while. Likewise the male lead character who excelled at stoic and arrogant with no redeeming qualities. The actors were fine, it’s the writing that failed and as much as I tried, I simply couldn’t get through another episode of their shenanigans.Dropped.
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I watched due to so many high praises but this wasn't for me
There are a couple of reviewers who dropped this at episode 6 which, blessedly, is also the point where I gave up on this mess of a drama. In my layman's opinion, a drama needs a primary focus and in this case, the interactions between the main leads should have been the pivot around which the plot revolved except it wasn't done well. Mostly, the FL gave off antagonistic vibes whenever she was with the ML. So, in a drama about wolves, hidden identities, and mysteries to solve, I need the script to show me a gradual and optimistic buildup of the lead relationship, however, this didn't materialize and I got increasingly annoyed at the slapstick comedy slash melodrama.I don't think the actors are to blame rather it was the script that gave nothing to work with.
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A train wreck
A dumpster fire of weak characters and an inconsistent plot narrative. Watch this if you like shouting at the screen or if you like characters that'll make you grind your teeth in frustration.This doesn't even deserve a rant.
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Sigh
Koreans do love the sight of their own self-imposed suffering, however, this drama was inexplicably terrible at eliciting any sympathy and it might have had a more negative impact that even my regard for the well being of the characters (and by extension, Korean citizens) is at rock bottom. I just don't care if they push themselves to death or whatever other fun ways they devise to bully and hate on others in their society.Perhaps if they try hard enough, Korea as a country might implode and reset itself. Anyway, the drama was melodramatic for no reason at all and I hoped they'd all die.
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Excellent
An engrossing, tumultuous love triangle with multi-dimensional plot and characters. I loved it, especially the gorgeous lead actress who gave a Tour De Force performance that is worthy of all C-Drama awards.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
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I will start avoiding dramas with Allen Ren
In all, I've watched four dramas with Allen Ren as the male lead, and with each one, I come away with the same impression.1. He's too old to be playing teenage bopper roles with female leads who are sometimes 10 years younger.
2. He's not a versatile actor and has very limited ways of emoting. Also, how many times can he do the stoic, cold hero before we start to subconsciously label him as a one-trick pony?
3. The industry rumors are that he refuses to do intimate scenes like hugging or any type of skinship. It seems the only part of his body that can be touched freely are his lower legs, I mean, why else did Seven Tan keep holding him by the leg? So stupid
The funny thing is he's not even that good-looking with his big head and round face. Someone like Xu Kai (who is another overrated actor) at least has his height, youth, and dreamy looks going for him whereas Allen is going over the hill and unless he starts taking his craft seriously, no one will cast a 35+ yr old actor when there are many idol actors coming over the horizon.
As for this particular series, it packed a lot of irrelevant scenes into an already convoluted premise with zero redeeming factors (like sizzling chemistry) to bear the brunt.
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