This review may contain spoilers
I Came for the Plot, Stayed Because My Brain Clocked Out + Dimples (´｡• ◡ •｡`)
To begin with, this was a filler drama for me. I wanted something to pass the time while waiting for the last two episodes of Spring Fever. Plus, the storyline seemed interesting. It gave strong vibes of Double mixed with Blossom, two of my all-time favourites. I wouldn’t say I was entirely disappointed, but it definitely wasn’t a satisfying watch.
Story
This is a historical, blast-to-the-past drama. Two stepsisters are married off to two cousins from a noble family. The “evil” stepsister ends up marrying the ML and suffers greatly. The “good” one - our FL - carves out a seemingly happy life despite being married to the opportunistic and immoral cousin. Out of sheer jealousy, the evil sister kills the FL… and then dies herself.
Both get a chance to go back to the day of their weddings.
This time, the evil one chooses the other guy while forcing the FL to marry the ML. Cue kitchen politics, where the FL triumphs every single time. There’s another death-and-reincarnation cycle, which somehow swaps the couples again. Add a standard villain who gets his just desert, a redemption arc for the stepsister, and a HEA for the leads.
Things I liked
— ML: The actor is cute. My shallowness approved of his dimple. He also did a good job.
— FL: The actress has a lovely smile. Her character has a lot of spunk and is very resourceful.
— Short episodes: All episodes are under 20 minutes, and there are only 26 of them. The drama didn’t demand much commitment. With some fast forwarding, I finished it in about two hours.
Things I did not like
— Weak script: A classic case of an Idiot Plot. Nearly everyone except the leads operates with below par intelligence. They scheme against the FL, but their plans are dumber than the dumbest - so naturally, they fail. Rinse and repeat.
Grave incidents keep happening. The FL uncovers the perpetrators… then the scene changes, and everyone promptly forgets. They’re worse than Dory. They even forget there was a child at the beginning of the drama.
The plot also felt like a swingers’ club. In the first life, the stepsister is with the ML and the FL with the smarmy cousin. In the second life, they swap spouses. In the third go-around, they revert to the original couples. Oy vey.
Lack of research: I didn’t major in ancient or modern Chinese history, but this drama seems to flip ancient societal rules on their head. Divorces happen at the drop of a hat. The ML and FL are in-laws in the third timeline. When they want to get together, a minor scandal appears and disappears instantly. Nobody bats an eye when they finally get married. The leads and the erstwhile evil sis even have a round of drinks and joke and laugh about their swingers’ club. ∘ ∘ ∘ ( °ヮ° ) ?
Concubine is allowed to run the prince’s household. Also, the legitimate daughter is married of to a concubine’s son and a concubine’s daughter is married to the prince. Say what?
The cousin cheats in the civil exam and still somehow gets appointed by (I think) the prince. It’s like emperors, laws, and consequences don’t exist.
Why make a period drama, I wonder.
Overall
This would have been a complete yawnfest if not for the ML’s cuteness. It’s a dumb plot that requires you to stop thinking altogether. It’s short, and that’s the biggest positive I can give it. Otherwise, it’s a solid meh.
Story
This is a historical, blast-to-the-past drama. Two stepsisters are married off to two cousins from a noble family. The “evil” stepsister ends up marrying the ML and suffers greatly. The “good” one - our FL - carves out a seemingly happy life despite being married to the opportunistic and immoral cousin. Out of sheer jealousy, the evil sister kills the FL… and then dies herself.
Both get a chance to go back to the day of their weddings.
This time, the evil one chooses the other guy while forcing the FL to marry the ML. Cue kitchen politics, where the FL triumphs every single time. There’s another death-and-reincarnation cycle, which somehow swaps the couples again. Add a standard villain who gets his just desert, a redemption arc for the stepsister, and a HEA for the leads.
Things I liked
— ML: The actor is cute. My shallowness approved of his dimple. He also did a good job.
— FL: The actress has a lovely smile. Her character has a lot of spunk and is very resourceful.
— Short episodes: All episodes are under 20 minutes, and there are only 26 of them. The drama didn’t demand much commitment. With some fast forwarding, I finished it in about two hours.
Things I did not like
— Weak script: A classic case of an Idiot Plot. Nearly everyone except the leads operates with below par intelligence. They scheme against the FL, but their plans are dumber than the dumbest - so naturally, they fail. Rinse and repeat.
Grave incidents keep happening. The FL uncovers the perpetrators… then the scene changes, and everyone promptly forgets. They’re worse than Dory. They even forget there was a child at the beginning of the drama.
The plot also felt like a swingers’ club. In the first life, the stepsister is with the ML and the FL with the smarmy cousin. In the second life, they swap spouses. In the third go-around, they revert to the original couples. Oy vey.
Lack of research: I didn’t major in ancient or modern Chinese history, but this drama seems to flip ancient societal rules on their head. Divorces happen at the drop of a hat. The ML and FL are in-laws in the third timeline. When they want to get together, a minor scandal appears and disappears instantly. Nobody bats an eye when they finally get married. The leads and the erstwhile evil sis even have a round of drinks and joke and laugh about their swingers’ club. ∘ ∘ ∘ ( °ヮ° ) ?
Concubine is allowed to run the prince’s household. Also, the legitimate daughter is married of to a concubine’s son and a concubine’s daughter is married to the prince. Say what?
The cousin cheats in the civil exam and still somehow gets appointed by (I think) the prince. It’s like emperors, laws, and consequences don’t exist.
Why make a period drama, I wonder.
Overall
This would have been a complete yawnfest if not for the ML’s cuteness. It’s a dumb plot that requires you to stop thinking altogether. It’s short, and that’s the biggest positive I can give it. Otherwise, it’s a solid meh.
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