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This review may contain spoilers
Legend of the Female General – Mid-Series & Post-Finale Thoughts
This drama has been on my radar since the prehistoric era (aka when it was first announced). The wait was long, arduous, and peppered with me muttering “is it here yet?” every other month. But alas, the day came — and so far? Totally worth it.
From the get-go, the visuals, the plot, and the chemistry have been chef’s kiss. They stayed close to the source material but still made creative choices that keep things fresh — and I’m here for it.
Zhou Ye as He Yan is a slay queen. She captures the heartbreak, the resilience, and somehow manages to sprinkle in goofiness and silliness without breaking the emotional weight of her arc. It’s the kind of layered portrayal that makes your heart ache and makes you want to hug the character into oblivion. It is overdone with the acting silly and drunk? Yes, but considering her character's background Imma give ma girl a break.
And then there’s Cheng Lei. My man could win awards just for looking at people. His microexpressions are so precise that I’m out here squealing like a teenage fangirl every time he so much as blinks in her direction. Swoon bro, and the avalanche of Tiktok edits do not help my case lol.
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room — the scandal. Honestly, I thought this show would be shelved indefinitely. Glad it wasn’t, but I can’t lie: the production took a hit. The AI-modified face? Noticeable. Distracting at first. By episode 19, I’m used to it — but the adjustment period was… let’s call it “character building.”
If I had one major gripe, it’s the BGM. It’s serviceable, but it feels like it was pulled from the “standard historical drama” playlist. I wish it had its own distinct musical identity — something that would make me instantly recall this drama the moment I hear it.
And to fully enjoy this? You have to check your logic at the door and politely ignore a lot of things. This is less a flawless masterpiece and more a pure fan tribute — and I mean that in the most indulgent, guilty-pleasure way possible. Editing can be uneven, but none of it steals from the emotional punch or story momentum.
We’re only 2/3 through, so it’s too early to crown it. But for me? It’s been giving exactly what I imagined when picturing the main characters from the novel. Here’s hoping it keeps going strong till the end.
*Upate*
Post-Finale Thoughts
If anything, this drama actually gets better as the episodes progress. The bond between the leads deepens beautifully, and their chemistry is what truly kept me hooked. I fell so hard for their connection that the production shortcomings — and the occasional “logic? never heard of her” moments — barely mattered in the grand scheme of things. Their relationship carried the whole show on its shoulders, and for me, it delivered.
Now… let’s talk Episode 35. Why, drama gods, why? That entire fabricated angst arc was unnecessary, sour, and left me feeling bitter. It’s one of my most hated tropes, and the fact that it wasn’t even in the novel makes it sting more. This show didn’t need it, and honestly, it dragged down what could have been an easy 10/10.
Still, despite that stumble, Legend of the Female General gave me everything I wanted in seeing these characters come to life. I laughed, I squealed, I swooned, and I loved every stare and microexpression along the way. It’s not flawless, but it’s unforgettable — and sometimes that matters more.
From the get-go, the visuals, the plot, and the chemistry have been chef’s kiss. They stayed close to the source material but still made creative choices that keep things fresh — and I’m here for it.
Zhou Ye as He Yan is a slay queen. She captures the heartbreak, the resilience, and somehow manages to sprinkle in goofiness and silliness without breaking the emotional weight of her arc. It’s the kind of layered portrayal that makes your heart ache and makes you want to hug the character into oblivion. It is overdone with the acting silly and drunk? Yes, but considering her character's background Imma give ma girl a break.
And then there’s Cheng Lei. My man could win awards just for looking at people. His microexpressions are so precise that I’m out here squealing like a teenage fangirl every time he so much as blinks in her direction. Swoon bro, and the avalanche of Tiktok edits do not help my case lol.
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room — the scandal. Honestly, I thought this show would be shelved indefinitely. Glad it wasn’t, but I can’t lie: the production took a hit. The AI-modified face? Noticeable. Distracting at first. By episode 19, I’m used to it — but the adjustment period was… let’s call it “character building.”
If I had one major gripe, it’s the BGM. It’s serviceable, but it feels like it was pulled from the “standard historical drama” playlist. I wish it had its own distinct musical identity — something that would make me instantly recall this drama the moment I hear it.
And to fully enjoy this? You have to check your logic at the door and politely ignore a lot of things. This is less a flawless masterpiece and more a pure fan tribute — and I mean that in the most indulgent, guilty-pleasure way possible. Editing can be uneven, but none of it steals from the emotional punch or story momentum.
We’re only 2/3 through, so it’s too early to crown it. But for me? It’s been giving exactly what I imagined when picturing the main characters from the novel. Here’s hoping it keeps going strong till the end.
*Upate*
Post-Finale Thoughts
If anything, this drama actually gets better as the episodes progress. The bond between the leads deepens beautifully, and their chemistry is what truly kept me hooked. I fell so hard for their connection that the production shortcomings — and the occasional “logic? never heard of her” moments — barely mattered in the grand scheme of things. Their relationship carried the whole show on its shoulders, and for me, it delivered.
Now… let’s talk Episode 35. Why, drama gods, why? That entire fabricated angst arc was unnecessary, sour, and left me feeling bitter. It’s one of my most hated tropes, and the fact that it wasn’t even in the novel makes it sting more. This show didn’t need it, and honestly, it dragged down what could have been an easy 10/10.
Still, despite that stumble, Legend of the Female General gave me everything I wanted in seeing these characters come to life. I laughed, I squealed, I swooned, and I loved every stare and microexpression along the way. It’s not flawless, but it’s unforgettable — and sometimes that matters more.
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