This review may contain spoilers
"Legend of Female General" - From Warrior to Damsel: How a Promising Drama Lost Its Way
I was so hyped for this drama. The cast seemed decent, the hype was huge, and it was based on a novel I really liked a novel where the female lead, He Yan, is a true powerhouse: smart, strategic, fierce, and fighting her own battles without depending on anyone. The title itself Legend of Female General promised a story about women’s strength and resilience.
The first 10 episodes had me hooked. We saw He Yan’s determination, her fight skills, and that adrenaline rush every time she faced an enemy. But after episode 10… everything went downhill. Suddenly, the woman who was supposed to be a legendary general became clingy, overly domestic, and constantly in need of saving. Every fight scene lasted maybe 10 seconds before she got injured, and like clockwork, the male lead Xiao jue would appear no matter how far away to rescue her. There’s even a ridiculous shallow-water drowning scene just to set up a rescue kiss.
Worse, here's hardly anything related to He Yan’s revenge and trauma. Her betrayal by her family? Barely addressed. Her stepbrother’s conspiracy? Glossed over. Her father’s role? Ignored. Even the second male lead gets more meaningful screen time than the supposed female lead.
In the novel, He Yan fought head-on, made her own choices, and carried her own story. In the drama, she’s reduced to pleasing Xiao jue, blaming herself for things she didn’t do, and existing mainly to serve his arc. This isn’t a female-centric drama anymore it’s a romance drama wearing the disguise of one.
What frustrates me most is the double standard. Look at Legend of Zhang Hai this year — a male-centered revenge drama. The ML there is driven by his goal, and romance is just a side element. The execution is tight, the focus never wavers. Why can’t a female-centered drama be given the same respect? Why must her story be softened, diluted, and twisted until she can’t stand on her own without a man?
Legend of Female General could have been epic. Instead, it’s proof of how female-led stories are still treated: not as legends in their own right, but as backdrops for a man’s tale. The only thing worth watching is the acting and chemistry now the execution is bad and it seems like many scenes are cut. For a drama I waited so long for... what a letdown.
The first 10 episodes had me hooked. We saw He Yan’s determination, her fight skills, and that adrenaline rush every time she faced an enemy. But after episode 10… everything went downhill. Suddenly, the woman who was supposed to be a legendary general became clingy, overly domestic, and constantly in need of saving. Every fight scene lasted maybe 10 seconds before she got injured, and like clockwork, the male lead Xiao jue would appear no matter how far away to rescue her. There’s even a ridiculous shallow-water drowning scene just to set up a rescue kiss.
Worse, here's hardly anything related to He Yan’s revenge and trauma. Her betrayal by her family? Barely addressed. Her stepbrother’s conspiracy? Glossed over. Her father’s role? Ignored. Even the second male lead gets more meaningful screen time than the supposed female lead.
In the novel, He Yan fought head-on, made her own choices, and carried her own story. In the drama, she’s reduced to pleasing Xiao jue, blaming herself for things she didn’t do, and existing mainly to serve his arc. This isn’t a female-centric drama anymore it’s a romance drama wearing the disguise of one.
What frustrates me most is the double standard. Look at Legend of Zhang Hai this year — a male-centered revenge drama. The ML there is driven by his goal, and romance is just a side element. The execution is tight, the focus never wavers. Why can’t a female-centered drama be given the same respect? Why must her story be softened, diluted, and twisted until she can’t stand on her own without a man?
Legend of Female General could have been epic. Instead, it’s proof of how female-led stories are still treated: not as legends in their own right, but as backdrops for a man’s tale. The only thing worth watching is the acting and chemistry now the execution is bad and it seems like many scenes are cut. For a drama I waited so long for... what a letdown.
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