Such a great hidden identity plot, very underrated
Writing my first review even though I've watched many historical C-dramas just because this one is so underrated to me.First I'll say that I especially like hidden identity dramas so if you like dramatic irony this show is for you.
The first couple of episodes where the identity change happens is a little jarring especially since you'll have to remind yourself that they actually only swapped faces and not bodies. (But of course in real life the whole body had to come with the actress)
What I loved best was the pacing and storytelling of the drama. The pacing was steady with each case after another without anything being too rushed or getting too boring for being slow. Each individual case also leads into the overarching case without them going off and needing to do any random cases. Everything is also done in a way that ties it back to points that are mentioned before. Like at the beginning they talk about the 4 great houses in Heyang and then we have interactions with all four of them.
Another very nice thing about this drama is that it doesn't have a lot of tropes that I'm tired of watching for a lot of historical C-dramas. There was a bit of love triangles but the people not in the end couple are not bad people and doesn't become evil like a lot of other dramas. There's also no "face is behind a mask- can't recognize person". It also does not have endless suffering of one character or any stupid miscommunications aside from the hidden identity. And even that is revealed in steps that make sense.
The characters' actions are relatively logical and makes sense based on their background and goals. (There are some small cases where the main female lead has more ability than she should in certain aspects but I can overlook those) Some reviews say that the ML and FL chemistry wasn't the best and I agree but I'm not watching this to watch a romantic comedy or a short steamy C-drama. For a crime-mystery drama, I liked how there was less focus there.
I picked this up originally due to the plot and also Liu Xue Yi who does a great job. (Saw him initially as Wuxin in Blood of Youth where he was also amazing despite acting as a 17 yr-old) Ju Jing Yi is not as good but okay enough and also very pretty. (I feel like other people rank her lower because there wasn't any super emotional scenes and she did not display a wide range of expressions)
Of the mystery crime solving historical C-dramas, I've only watched the Mysterious Lotus Casebook (MLC) and I think this is as good as that. Both has very mysterious small magical/paranormal events. Acting may be better in MLC but this definitely has less angst and better conclusion in my opinion.
Highly recommend if you like hidden identity, mystery and less tropes!
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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.
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