This review may contain spoilers
Love this drama in so many aspects!!!
This drama touches on a lot of genres and plot types.
1. It's a redemption type drama in the re-incarnation do-over so you get some cool prophetic ability in the FL at the beginning and some information asymmetry. And overall feel trying to be better and the question on whether things are pre-destined or changeable.
2. Overall plot is laid out like a revenge drama but interestingly not for the main character (FL) but the secondary character (ML) so it also doesn't start off the show like a regular revenue drama.
* It's a drama with hidden identity which I'm a sucker for. Though in this one, the hidden identity, while obvious, you don't learn of until a few episodes in. But each reveal was still worthwhile and somewhat satisfying. And also very cool that at one point, there was 2 other people with his identity (Dingfei and the Hermit) haha.
- So kind of two stories in one, the FL hiding one thing and then the ML hiding another.
What I loved:
- FL and ML characters that were not fully good people. A lot of dramas now have mains as these idealistic good people that somehow don't get themselves killed or don't behave like real people. But these leads were relatable and have made mistakes, bets and sacrifices.
- The characters were relatively smart and logical, not only the FL and ML, but side characters like the sister Jiang Xuehui, the Emperor, Yan family, other counselors. A lot of other dramas make the side women stupid and the counselors like sheep.
- There was no stupid troupes like masked people that you don't recognize etc.
- The pacing of the story was consistent and made sense, there was no lag in the middle of the story and the ending didn't have a huge rush to get everything crammed together like a lot of the newer shows now. (Though it did spend more time than necessary on the earlier classroom pettiness)
- The ending itself was satisfactory with believable ending to the antagonists, a big show down and not a whole bunch of people dying (though even the one death was kind of unnecessary)
- Interesting love narrative where the FL goes through a journey on who she liked. I've never seen a C-drama where the FL liked someone else first before the ML
- Along those lines, for me specifically, I love an aggressive ML on the romance side so there was some great kissing scenes.
- Less important to me but the OST was great, usually I download one song but this show got me to download 2 which is a lot for me.
- I'm also less of a good judge on this but I thought acting was good. First Bai Lu drama for me and I love her (and her voice). I have seen Zhang Linghe before but I think this was one of the better ones (over Love between Fairy and Devil and Journey to You- probably because Xie Wei was a more complex character)
Other things that were a little odd that gives me questions (but less than other dramas so still a win!):
- FL was resisting ML for awhile before it kind of flipped a little too suddenly with not quite enough inner dialogue to understand why. So that part could be fleshed out a bit more.
- Also FL while great actress was not very believable as an 18 year old. I had to constantly remind myself that she was that age and ML's student. Since it kind of seemed odd when he was ordering her around or when she behaved more childishly.
- FL somehow barely took note of the politics and the intrigue that lead up to the rebellion in the last life and the reason given was that she was too focused on becoming empress. Okay... and somehow she was able to take note of the timing of the silk price increase down to the day and a random well invention?
- ML's disease was a bit weird. Not much context was given for that. And also why there was a wild cat after the massacre 20 years ago? Felt very Nirvana in Fire with the sickly scholar ML.
- Very small detail but where was the princess and second prince 20 years ago at the massacre? I guess they got out of the palace earlier?
- At the end Xie Wei was the Prime Minister but why does it look like they retired in a country home outside of the capital?
But overall amazing mix of revenue/redemption drama with hidden identities!! To me, it's a romantic, lighter and more layered version of Nirvana in Fire.
I also think the English title should be 300 Souls or something. Story of Kunning Palace is very one sided and it makes it sound limited to inside of the palace.
1. It's a redemption type drama in the re-incarnation do-over so you get some cool prophetic ability in the FL at the beginning and some information asymmetry. And overall feel trying to be better and the question on whether things are pre-destined or changeable.
2. Overall plot is laid out like a revenge drama but interestingly not for the main character (FL) but the secondary character (ML) so it also doesn't start off the show like a regular revenue drama.
* It's a drama with hidden identity which I'm a sucker for. Though in this one, the hidden identity, while obvious, you don't learn of until a few episodes in. But each reveal was still worthwhile and somewhat satisfying. And also very cool that at one point, there was 2 other people with his identity (Dingfei and the Hermit) haha.
- So kind of two stories in one, the FL hiding one thing and then the ML hiding another.
What I loved:
- FL and ML characters that were not fully good people. A lot of dramas now have mains as these idealistic good people that somehow don't get themselves killed or don't behave like real people. But these leads were relatable and have made mistakes, bets and sacrifices.
- The characters were relatively smart and logical, not only the FL and ML, but side characters like the sister Jiang Xuehui, the Emperor, Yan family, other counselors. A lot of other dramas make the side women stupid and the counselors like sheep.
- There was no stupid troupes like masked people that you don't recognize etc.
- The pacing of the story was consistent and made sense, there was no lag in the middle of the story and the ending didn't have a huge rush to get everything crammed together like a lot of the newer shows now. (Though it did spend more time than necessary on the earlier classroom pettiness)
- The ending itself was satisfactory with believable ending to the antagonists, a big show down and not a whole bunch of people dying (though even the one death was kind of unnecessary)
- Interesting love narrative where the FL goes through a journey on who she liked. I've never seen a C-drama where the FL liked someone else first before the ML
- Along those lines, for me specifically, I love an aggressive ML on the romance side so there was some great kissing scenes.
- Less important to me but the OST was great, usually I download one song but this show got me to download 2 which is a lot for me.
- I'm also less of a good judge on this but I thought acting was good. First Bai Lu drama for me and I love her (and her voice). I have seen Zhang Linghe before but I think this was one of the better ones (over Love between Fairy and Devil and Journey to You- probably because Xie Wei was a more complex character)
Other things that were a little odd that gives me questions (but less than other dramas so still a win!):
- FL was resisting ML for awhile before it kind of flipped a little too suddenly with not quite enough inner dialogue to understand why. So that part could be fleshed out a bit more.
- Also FL while great actress was not very believable as an 18 year old. I had to constantly remind myself that she was that age and ML's student. Since it kind of seemed odd when he was ordering her around or when she behaved more childishly.
- FL somehow barely took note of the politics and the intrigue that lead up to the rebellion in the last life and the reason given was that she was too focused on becoming empress. Okay... and somehow she was able to take note of the timing of the silk price increase down to the day and a random well invention?
- ML's disease was a bit weird. Not much context was given for that. And also why there was a wild cat after the massacre 20 years ago? Felt very Nirvana in Fire with the sickly scholar ML.
- Very small detail but where was the princess and second prince 20 years ago at the massacre? I guess they got out of the palace earlier?
- At the end Xie Wei was the Prime Minister but why does it look like they retired in a country home outside of the capital?
But overall amazing mix of revenue/redemption drama with hidden identities!! To me, it's a romantic, lighter and more layered version of Nirvana in Fire.
I also think the English title should be 300 Souls or something. Story of Kunning Palace is very one sided and it makes it sound limited to inside of the palace.
Was this review helpful to you?
