Great But Flawed Historical Drama
I'm not usually into C-Dramas. I mean I watched a couple of older Chinese movies before, but never 45 minutes 70 long episodes drama. So it was kind of a first or for me. But let's just say that after watching why the Rise of Phoenixes’ teaser and learning that the actor Chen Kun plays the main role I was all in.
And for the most part, this 70 episode historical fiction drama (if you're going to watch the uncut version) was very much worth it.
Rise of Phoenixes is set in the fictional kingdom of Tiansheng ruled by ruthless and paranoid emperor. Chen Kun plays the part of Ning Yi, the sixth prince of Tiansheng, who at first appears to be a clueless, carefree and good for nothing prince. But he is actually a cunning and resourceful prince who comes back to the imperial Palace after an eight-year exile to take revenge on those who've wronged him.
I've got to say, the thought of watching a 70 episode drama was pretty daunting at first. But once the story hooks you in, you just want to know what happens next. Besides that, the performance of the actors and actresses are top notch and captivating, especially those of the emperor and Ning Yi.
Rise of Phoenixes is a story of power, love and betrayal in the constant web of political intrigue and the royal princess always scheming and vying for power of the imperial throne. And in the background, the father-son relationship between Ning Yi and the emperor has been the most interesting thing to me. I think Rise of Phoenixes well captures the realities of having such an enormous power and responsibility as an emperor and the toll it takes on him as a person. The emperor is an old ruler who is extremely paranoid and is not above involving his sons in political power plays or testing their competence or loyalty. And this dynamic makes it impossible for him to have a normal and healthy relationship with his family and sons.
However, this doesn't mean that the emperor is without feeling or humanity. Several scenes show his remorse, compassion and even affection towards his sons, even though it is hidden behind the burden of imperial power and responsibility.
Ning Yi is also very well written. You may think at the beginning that he's a noble prince who only pursues justice and cares about the safety of his loved ones and the empire. But that is not all he is. Ning Yi is ambitious, practical and is not afraid to play political games. But one thing that sets him apart from the other princes is that he is more self aware of his position and how his actions and decisions might affect others.
Overall, in terms of story, Rise of Phoenixes is a solid 8 out of 10 for me. Why 8? Because as intriguing as a story and its characters were, the last episodes story lines, particularly for one major character, didn't handle it and in my opinion, the conclusion to the story was rushed and very unsatisfying.
However, in terms of cinematography, using real sets and the gorgeous, very real looking costumes, it was definitely 9 or 10 out of 10.
So yes, I definitely recommend Rise of Phoenixes, if you're into historical fiction C dramas.
And for the most part, this 70 episode historical fiction drama (if you're going to watch the uncut version) was very much worth it.
Rise of Phoenixes is set in the fictional kingdom of Tiansheng ruled by ruthless and paranoid emperor. Chen Kun plays the part of Ning Yi, the sixth prince of Tiansheng, who at first appears to be a clueless, carefree and good for nothing prince. But he is actually a cunning and resourceful prince who comes back to the imperial Palace after an eight-year exile to take revenge on those who've wronged him.
I've got to say, the thought of watching a 70 episode drama was pretty daunting at first. But once the story hooks you in, you just want to know what happens next. Besides that, the performance of the actors and actresses are top notch and captivating, especially those of the emperor and Ning Yi.
Rise of Phoenixes is a story of power, love and betrayal in the constant web of political intrigue and the royal princess always scheming and vying for power of the imperial throne. And in the background, the father-son relationship between Ning Yi and the emperor has been the most interesting thing to me. I think Rise of Phoenixes well captures the realities of having such an enormous power and responsibility as an emperor and the toll it takes on him as a person. The emperor is an old ruler who is extremely paranoid and is not above involving his sons in political power plays or testing their competence or loyalty. And this dynamic makes it impossible for him to have a normal and healthy relationship with his family and sons.
However, this doesn't mean that the emperor is without feeling or humanity. Several scenes show his remorse, compassion and even affection towards his sons, even though it is hidden behind the burden of imperial power and responsibility.
Ning Yi is also very well written. You may think at the beginning that he's a noble prince who only pursues justice and cares about the safety of his loved ones and the empire. But that is not all he is. Ning Yi is ambitious, practical and is not afraid to play political games. But one thing that sets him apart from the other princes is that he is more self aware of his position and how his actions and decisions might affect others.
Overall, in terms of story, Rise of Phoenixes is a solid 8 out of 10 for me. Why 8? Because as intriguing as a story and its characters were, the last episodes story lines, particularly for one major character, didn't handle it and in my opinion, the conclusion to the story was rushed and very unsatisfying.
However, in terms of cinematography, using real sets and the gorgeous, very real looking costumes, it was definitely 9 or 10 out of 10.
So yes, I definitely recommend Rise of Phoenixes, if you're into historical fiction C dramas.
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