Chinese Empress

it's sven far superior to the original in terms of introspection and depicting depression and struggles, with no useless comedy

it won't be based on the kdrama, but on the original Chinese novel and original Chinese drama. And about the ending... original Chinese one is more melancholic, while the novel is another level of tragedy though satisfying

i think you should try to finish this remake first, because the original Chinese one is a bit more about harem and concubines. It's far way better than this, but the remake cut a bit in this sense

it's not cheating, in ancient times it was normal to have some concubines

it's called Scarlet Heart

I noticed it too, but probably it's because of the difference in the relationship. In the original she never loved him truly, she was cold, she knelt out of guilt, not out of love.
In this remake they are colder and distant at the beginning, but you can feel the longing she expressed with words. She truly loves him, as she says she wants to be considered since she is devoted. She wants a relationship in which both loves each other at the same level, she considers herself guilty but exactly because of it. So it makes sense they changed her attitude a bit.

Episode 21. Gu Chen shows another side opposite to Jiang Jiaqi. Forcing a woman to "act into bed" while Jiang Jiaqi was always respectful. Those pointings are perfect to understand the characters and how they think and behave in depth, even th fact Jiaqi is able to react now despite being for his wife.
I love how everyone is human, perfectly imperfect, with real raw emotions in their own way. It makes you relate with. Jiaqi does not consider too much of a guilt about the wife, she was bewitched and betrayed by Gu Chen. Both scenes at home make it clear that he still can't forgive her completely, because she cheated on him rather than discussing the problem. It's a very mature attitude, the cold one, he gives her, Kudos to Zhao Youting for his portrayal of every little emotion. THE PUNCH. AT HOME.
Episode 22. Let me say it, the first scene of the episode... only a mature adult can understand how heavy, sorrowful, deep, mature and relatable the scene can be. It's how exposing each other, it's facing the reality behind the lie. It's being shattered into pieces because of life. This part was not so impactful in the original, but here the raw and pure emotion, the subtle gestures, the light, makes it heartbreaking and breathtakig. You can feel it directly. And in the next scene, shifting on a big plan over Chongqing, makes it even more deep and sorrowful, with light glowing. "You are denying everything about me". This sentence hits directly, because Yijun knows him and his desire for a stable life. Jiaqi and Yijun's dialogue is totally open, very relatable from both parts. Both trying to make the other happy, both trying to balance two things, both hoping to be the one in the other's life. " I long for my devotion to be met with the same response". This remake makes you relate to the wife too, rather than simply condamning her with coldness. I love how the drama is giving place to both men and women, both thoughts, both sides, both sorrow and happiness at the same time. It's giving place to everyone.
For ML, this things is relatable in both versions for the actors ( both married and with children), but the remake dives more into their feeling and both of them being torn apart, both husband and wife being destroyed in their own way and for different reasons. Yijun is more understandable than Yun Hui because she is able to love him and understand him despite her own feelings. In the remake both of them are able to put themselves in each other's shoes, while in the original she was still too cold.

I like this eerie and creepy content but using it as an opening is at another level lol. I hope it won't be a dark horse, because it deserves a lot

I'm surprised of how accurate the drama is, and yes, the English title is perfectly fitting. It's not a drama for everyone though... the first minutes of ep 1 with the punishment with cannibalism... but i'm glad they are not whitewashing the historical period

being a remake of an historical drama, korea ruined everything

because in reality the didn't use anything from korea. The clothes are inaccurate, the garden is Chinese style, hairstyle too...

people with high standards love cdramas only, because they are the best, if you have high standards you want everything to be perfect and with high level of control.

because it's a remake of a cdrama, but it was not successful compared to the original

poor child that considers difficult a drama... grow up child if you can't stand anxiety and depression, that's how adult life work, not fairytales and comedy.

To each its own, the only important thing is not watching to criticise. I don't watch kdramas anymore because i hate comedy, fairytales and unseriousnees. I need content, i am not satisfied with supposedly handome men only.

they are pointing out a more human nature in both kind of characters, more relatable and less "glossy" and perfect. They are perfect with their flaws

so immature I'm not weak like you, not even being able to compare dramas. At least i am not close minded like you. i can't stand weak people

IU was only appearance, because the gloomy attitude is cast aside with comedy. Zhang Zhifeng sticks more than her, and I say it as a IU fan too. Watch both and this is the best solution. The plot is perfect, the execution in the original is questionable

As always, I am analysing each episode pointing at those important frames, dialogues, scene which are meaningful to properly learn what the drama conveys as a message, comparing to the original.
Ep 19. Immediately something to highlight. "If someone hurt my family, I would do the same". It goes both ways. Jiang Jiaqi is backing Yu'an because he already knows about her past, but at the same time it relates to Chen too. Of course his way of dealing with the matter is wrong, but in any case his father d**ed because of her. Yu'an acted because of personal defense and she only is at right here, but the situation should not be judged in a biased way. Even if his father was a bad person, he was always his father.
The whole point should be read in two different ways to resonate and be more understandable, without justifying Chen's actions. That's why this remake is dealing way better than the original in terms of depicting the situation, introspection and feelings. It makes you questioning life throughout the episode, it makes you think about yourself and your own life, it resonates more not for adolescents but for adults or young adults.
The desperate cry Yu'an released after hearing his words is life fresh air. It's a powerful and meaningful cry, because in real life too many people judge in a coldly way, without empathy. She was considered cold, a criminal, because "she killed someone". Of course, the fact stands and it can't be changed, but Jiang Jiaqi and the worker at Sen'An understood her. Even Gu Chen said " it was defense" but it stopped, still judging her, and she knows by the way she looks at him later.
details matter, and this is the case.
I like how the wife is trying to make up for her mistake, even trying to "help" him as much as she can. She has quite understood the man Jiaqi is. BUT she deserves to suffer.
Jiaqi's decision to fight is not for power, like Gu Chen, but for his stability and for what he believes it's right. This shows again another side of both rivals and why Jiaqi is able to catch everyone's attention. Gu Chen misunderstood his attitude for arrogance and overconfidence, but through Jiaqi's sentence, when Gu Chen smirks and avoids the sight, he is quite projecting his accusation to Jiaqi to himself. And he is starting only to grasp it thanks to Yijun's words in their confrontation.
Episode 20. Yu'An seeing Jiaqi and Yijun in the car points at something. In this remake it's more subtle that she is insecure and confused, she has never liked someone so she is trying to rationalise it since he is a married man. She uses the term "falling for" because he is the first one really caring for her, not out of simpathy. In the original it's quite more borderline, but in both he is the one more borderline, never questioned his status as a married man. I like both profiles though, even if it's more realistic to be confused because of her past rather than being at a limit.
"If you want compete, do it with integrity". Jiaqi showing another difference with Gu Chen, and the Chairman clearly knows who is the better fit for the company. This remakes is highly pointing at Jiaqi's moral integrity both as a man as at work. And Jiaqi's reaction to hearing Yijun's conversation with Gu Chen is perfect, he tries to stay calm but his eyes, struggling facial expression show everything.

I like the original drama because the plot is worth watching, I would always suggest it with this remake. The plot is the same of course, this means making a remake, but this remake is superior to the original in terms of conveying the message and relying on introspection and depth. Cutting the anticlimatic scene of the original and changing in the way the scenes are events in normal real life, the depth of the whole plot is preserved, it's not a changing rollercoaster of moods wavering. It's more balanced. But i would always suggest to watch both, to compare is always healthy