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An Amazing Qing Era Series
RUYI'S ROYAL LOVE IN THE PALACE (Ru Yi Zhuan) was a really well made series. I watched it right after I finished Story of Yanxi Palace, back to back, and at first I had very mixed feelings. But instead of letting my love for Yanxi interfere with my love for Ruyi's story, I decided they were both great and equally lovable, albeit different perspectives of the same era, during Emperor Hong Li (Qianlong Emperor) reign.Personally, I really loved that Ruyi's story tells almost the complete opposite story than that of Yanxi. Both are such amazing series and two of my top favorite historical dramas now. Both are stories of equally strong women and how they survive in the Forbidden City. Both drama's are almost perfect in their own ways.
Some reviewers criticize UlaNara Ruyi (Xun Zhou) for being a weak portrayal of women, but if anything, it is the exact opposite. She is exceptionally brave to endure all that she did, all the twisted schemings, and hidden dangers of the palace. Never does she whimper and try to flee, or worse-join in on the twisted schemings herself-instead she becomes a woman worthy of respect and honor. For Ruyi, there was so much brutality and backstabbing around her. For her to endure with grace, humility, and even optimism all that she did-well she's all the more a strong woman for it. She fought for her love and yet, stood up to him when it mattered most. And, compared to Yanxi's heroine (who I equally loved in her own way), Ruyi offers a more realistic portrayal of historical feminism in China. Neither should be seen as lesser.
I agree, with those that criticize the Emperor Hong Li (Wallace Huo), as it was difficult to watch as his character degrades throughout the length of the series. It became harder and harder to see what Ruyi saw in him, but the fact that she stood up and held her own made the ending so much sweeter and poignant. It was so moving. Honestly everything was so great, the cast, characters, visuals, story, music, etc. I loved this series.
For those that wish to compare and contrast it to Story of Yanxi Palace, as if the shows were rivals, don't let that make you miss out on a great historical drama that is Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace. This was a unforgettable series. Brilliant.
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Thrilling & Addictive
THE LEGEND OF HAO LAN (Hao Lan Zhuan) was a rollercoaster ride from start to finish, a powerful story of one woman's rise from the ashes to the Empress seat and beyond. First of all, even though the ending felt somewhat uncertain and unsatisfying, I truly loved this show, though it certainly had its shortcomings. It is a historical reimagining full of unpredictable twists and turns, fatalistic characters and a high tension plot. Be in mind, however, this drama is more political than it is romantic and at times this series builds false hopes in that department.Many people compare this series to Story of Yanxi Palace, mainly because of the similar casting lineup and high quality. These stories should not be compared otherwise, as they are drastically different entities featuring completely different eras, storylines and motives.
Taking place in the Warring States era not long before the gradual unification of war-torn China, this series opens up to a grand political stage in which the rising conflicts between the Qin and Zhou states become increasingly heated. The political storyline is brimming with tension and packs a hard punch, though the pacing is occasionally hindered by some pointless strife and redundancy, as well as some far fetched scenarios.
The character of Hao Lan, as played by Wu Jinyan, was such a relatable, powerful, yet deeply flawed heroine. There is so much complexity there. Li Hao Lan is a deeply tortured character who overcomes many horrible obstacles in her path, growing in strength and cunning as she climbs the political ladder. It's hard not to immediately empathize with her from the beginning as she pledges never to be used and disrespected again. Her character is full of vulnerability and boldness.
It's often tragic what Hao Lan has to face and how it inevitably changes her, for both better and for worse. I love how this series showcases her strengths and weaknesses, and never tries to convince the viewer that she is a saint, as some dramas tend to do with their leads. Wu Jin Yan is really an amazing actress, whose versatility causes her to be so compelling in her roles. She is so believably witty, bold and has such an emotional range as an actress. Brilliant to watch.
Another exceptionally brilliant aspect was the highly (overly) ambitious character of the cunning merchant-businessman Lü Buwei, acted by Yuan Nie. Lü Buwei is a very amazing character with such an overbearing ruthless personality and intense political ambition, while at the same time very charming and pitiful. Yuan Nie is awing in this role where his character is so believably complicated and conflicted. He has an amazing stage presence as well, and that is easily seen in every physical gesture, confident declaration, temperamental outburst, passionate confession, and down to his subtle calculating expressions and mannerisms. He plays an unforgettable character here.
Lü Buwei is an unwavering force of nature in this series and his character story provides a strange mixture of tragic satisfaction to see him strive, achieve and suffer loss- a character whose strengths are also his weakness. Almost self defeating. I found myself constantly rooting for him despite his almost deplorable villainous tendencies. He is an excellent depiction of an antihero in my opinion and I found him insanely compelling and charismatic, and his lifelong entanglement with Hao Lan was endlessly mesmerizing.
The relationships (partners, friendships, romances) aspect of this series is often very tragic, toxic and twisted, with many one-sided loves, vengeful partners, back stabbing, misunderstandings, betrayals, losses etc. Hao Lan and her love choices are no different, sadly. Add to that there were quite a few characters (villains) that were driven by unrealistic motives and over the top emotions, far too many to name honestly, but thankfully some had last minute epiphanies or redemptive motives revealed. At times this show felt very bleak and stressful feeling. One thing I truly loved was the unshakable friendship between Li Hao Lan and Physician Yin Xiaochun. Beautiful. I also really liked the "three musketeers vibes" between Hao Lan, Lü Buwei and Yi Ren.
Although this is a pretty dark series, there was so much to love. With an amazing memorable cast, cracking character chemistry, tense storyline, political intrigue, beautiful music scores (opening credits included), great sets, locations, costumes, and artistic design. Overall, this was a very great series and had me hooked. There are many great underlying themes as well, such as women's equality, ambition, freedom etc. In some ways this is an ode of feminism as well. And even though I still feel ambiguous about the ending, it's given me so much to think about. Loved it.
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An Epic Historical Drama
KING'S WAR (Legend of Chu and Han// Chu Han Chuan Qi) was a fantastic C-drama series from the makers of the "Three Kingdoms". Like it's predecessor, it was epic, brutal, historical, romantic and full of complicated story lines and an amazing cast of characters. If you are unfamiliar with the era or with Chinese historical dramas, you might be a bit confused going into this series, so I'd recommend freshening up on Chinese history beforehand.King's War was inspired by the historical events in the Chu-Han Contention, an interregnum between the fall of the Qin Dynasty and the founding of the Han Dynasty. This series is very interesting because of its usage of the word "legend" in its title "Legend of Chu and Han", which belies some of the events are part of ancient legend and folklore rather than only the facts. I found it to be really well made drama regardless.
This series had a huge budget and it really shows in its realistic sets and landscapes, in the costumes, acting and story. The series spans an amazing length of 80 episodes and all are so well done. After binge watching this series I now feel compelled to rewatch Three Kingdoms.
This was an amazing watch and full of drama, adventure, intrigue, battle, and a little romance. The cast was extraordinary, especially Lui Bang (Chen Daoming) who played his role fantastically. Everything was beautiful. Just an amazingly well made production. Loved it.
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Stunning Work of Visual Art
STORY OF YANXI PALACE (Yan Xi Gong Lüe) There are no words for how beautiful this series was, especially regarding the gorgeously realistic sets, the breath-taking music (the song/visuals for Opening Credits, in particular, were mesmerizing. I couldn't bear to skip them!) and the entire cast was fantastic.The heroine Wei Yingluo (Jinyan Wu) is a stellar actress, and she plays her part excellently. Wei Yingluo is very cunning and loyal servant and hell-bent on revenge for the murder of her sister. She starts off in the Embroidery House and it was amazing to watch her journey from there. I love how this show focused on the lives of the servants, maids, guards and eunuchs as well as the nobles.
There were mainly likable and interesting characters such as kind and frugal Empress Fuca Rongyin (Lan Qin), the loyal and aloof guard Fuca Funeng (Kai Yu), the hot-headed and willful Mingyu (Zixun Jiang), the kind and thoughtful guard Hailanca (Lawrence Wong), the intelligent and patient Empress Hoifa Nara Shushen (Chamaine Sheh), the proud Emperor Qianlong / Hong Li (Yuan Nie), the sly and crafty eunuch Yuan Chunwang (Maolei Wang), the devious and scheming Gao Ningxin (ZhuoTan), and the adorable and cautious eunuch Li Yu (Enshang Lui).
There was so much to enjoy about this series such as the fascinating story, the historical details, interesting characters, intriguing plots, realistic settings, immersive atmosphere, beautiful music, artistic design and cinematography. Even though the romance between Wei Lingluo and Emperor Qianlong was not as convincing as far as chemistry (especially compared to romance with Fuca Funeng) the series was still utterly amazing and spell-binding. One of my all time favorites. Love this series. Absolutely stunning.
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Old Formula, New Magic
DREAMING BACK TO THE QING DYNASTY (Meng Hui Da Qing). This drama was way better than I was expecting, though not historically accurate. While I really liked the main heroine Ming Wei (Landi Li) from the start, I wasn't really expecting the rest of the cast to grow on me as well. There were so many good characters.I would highly recommend this show to fans of the original Chinese drama Scarlet Heart (Bu Bu Jing Xin / Startling By Each Step) as there are some very strong similarities besides the most obvious fact of it taking place in the same historical era (under the reign of Emperor Kangxi) and having a time traveling main character from the future. Similar but not quite the same. As an old fan of Scarlet Heart, I was immediately attracted to the premise of this show, but was expecting a letdown. I was gladly mistaken. This is not a reboot of Scarlet Heart, as far as I know, so I recommend going into it expecting similarities as well as differences.
This show, however similar, had many of its own strengths and weaknesses. From the first episode you can tell there will be a love interest in the charming and quirky 13th Prince, Yin Xiang (Anyu Wang). It's cute but almost sappy, and at times the romantic music was a little much. I almost quit the show because insta-love is not my thing and it was a little too mushy right off the bat. BUT, as the show goes on, other love interests are mixed in, including 4th Prince, Yin Zhen (Qiao Ding) and 14th Prince, Yin Ti (Yunlai Xin). There is an underlying revenge/grudge plot with the character of Ming Hui (Anke Sun) that gives the show more tension, drama and adds some layers of mystery. All the characters are pretty great though.
I rated this 9/10 stars mainly because there were a few unanswered questions to some important issues that influenced the ending. Also the revenge/grudge storyline felt like it was lacking reasonable motive and resolution, especially considering it was a main plot point for most of the show. Also there were quite a few unrealistic elements that didn't fit the show and felt out of place. However, none of this made me dislike the show but only lowered believability.
Overall, it wasn't the same old thing that's been done before, but it does draw some obvious inspiration, in a good way. This was a very sweet drama, filled with new characters and familiar characters reimagined. After a few episodes I was finally drawn in and happy about it. Glad I gave it a shot. ((HEA ENDING))
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Tense, Political Romance
THE REBEL PRINCESS was really such a captivating drama. While the title of this series may be a bit misleading to some, there were so many aspects that I loved about this one, among them being the excellent writing, the steller cast and performances, the accurate and mesmerizing costumes and settings, and wonderful music. I have to say the writing and the characters really made this series for me. The characters were all dynamic and the superb acting made this one just irresistible to watch. For me, binge worthy...The story is about a naive, somewhat spoiled Princess "Awu" Wang Xuan (Zhang Zi Yi) whose luxurious life is suddenly altered by her arranged marriage to the fearsome yet noble General Xiao Qi (Zhou Yi Wei) a common man of low birth newly conferred as a Prince, with growing power in the world stage through his vast military strength. The series follows the aftermath of this fated union as the world soon goes into chaos, as the noblility increasingly fears the growing power of the commoners, namely their leader, General Xiao Qi.
The story was really compelling and the settings were sometimes gorgeous and other times gritty, yet eye catching and superbly realistic throughout. One of my biggest praises is that the drama never felt that it leaned too heavily into common tropes. Lots of red herrings, as well. There were times when I said to myself "Welp, I know where this is going..." and then, it didn't go there at all, or there was a twist to the scene and it went the complete opposite direction. Really well done. That alone made this series a much needed breath of fresh air.
The relationships between characters was so believable and utterly palpable. The family dynamic is deeply contemplated here with Princess Awu at the center of many conflicts and dangers. The bonds of the Wang Clan were at time deeply touching, while other times, simply terrifying. While not a character of typical strength, whether physical or military strength, Princess Awu is exceedingly strong and gifted in her own manner and she was a very noble, worthy character. Fierce, brave, noble, merciful, loyal and cunning, albeit a bit tender-hearted, which made her character all the more endearing and realistic. Simply a great portrayal.
As for the romance between the main couple, Princess Wang Xuan "Awu" played by the stunning and yet subtle Zhang Zi Yi, and General Xiao Qi played by the brilliant Zhou Yi Wei. Both characters were excellent, and acting great, though it was the character of Xiao Qi that truly shines and stood out. I can't think of a better written or acted "General" character in recent years. He was able to seem both fierce and gentle, both powerful and humble. He commanded both respect and fear from those around him. A truly compelling and enigmatic hero. A brilliant and memorable portrayal. He played such an absolutely great role here and totally blew my expectations out of the water!
I truly loved the main couple and their dynamic relationship. Never did it feel corny, like some romances do. It was a natural realistic relationship with powerful chemistry to back it up, between the actors, as well as the written characters. It could be sensed both in body language (glances, posturing, displays of affection), in dialogue (tenderness, teasing, mutual respect) and in action as well (defense, trust, mutual alliance). The love that developed seemed so natural, and can be felt in almost every shared scene. The romance that bloomed from nothing, truly pulls you in and warms your heart, as well as becomes the cause of much suspense during the twists and turns that follow. And there there are many.
The entire cast was really excellent, all playing realistic imperfect characters, many morally grey and others simply memorable or unpredictable. This drama is highly political and compels the viewer to analyze characters and their individual motivations as well as interpersonal relationships. Morally grey characters abound and some act spontaneous while others plan their schemes years ahead.
Since there are many episodes of court politics, schemes and intrigue, the pacing did feel quite slower towards the middle. So in that way, it was a slow-burn, which might not be appealing to some. And as others have said, the subtitles and translations aren't the greastes, but for me that never gave me pause or slowed me down.
Notable mentions were the characters of Prime Minister Wang Lin (Yu He Wei), Awu's father, who was a deeply shrewd and cunning character, Prince Jianxia Wang Su Yu (Jia Yi Ping) Awu's brother, who was flawed yet understandable, Empress Dowager Wang Haun Xi (Shi Ke) was devious and yet pitable, Crown Prince Ma Zi Long (Guo Jia Ming) who was first despicable then somewhat commendable, Pan Gui (Cao Jun), loyal and clever, Helan Zhen (Yuan Hong) who was vengeful and obsessive, Yu Xiu (Drolma Suijun) sweet and heroic, Hu Lao (Hai Ling) and General Hu Guang Lie (Hou Xiao) who were loyal siblings that served under Xiao Qi, as well as Su Jin Er (Liu Yun), Xie Wan Ru (Zuo Xiao Qing), Prince Ma ZiDan (Tony Yang), General Song Huai En (Liu Duan Duan), and the Emperor (Jiang Kai) who was a very believable Emperor. Aslo, I must say, the baby (multiple babies?) that played Jing'er was really cute!
Overall, this series was a very good find, filled with court politics, love and war. It was an excellent story, with an exceptional cast, playing diverse characters and great writing that made it less predictable than other series out there. The costumes and sets were outlandishly great, though sometimes the story was slower paced, and lower grade subtitles (not great but easily overlooked). While, the title might feel a bit misleading, (don't expect a Mulan/she-warrior/rebel type story here) it certainly didn't disappoint in any way.
This was such a wonderful C-Drama that was deeply complex and memorable, especially if you like to see epic power struggles, plotting and scheming, assassins and military battles, as well as a memorable power couple...with a strong, heroic male lead along with a cunning, strategic main lead female, each supporting one another. Loved this one. <3.
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Unexpected Fun!!
THE VIGILANTES IN MASK was unexpectedly fun wuxia romp of a drama. And although light-hearted and a bit cheesy, it was also packed full of action and drama. This C-Drama series has action, adventure, romance, mystery and comedy all wrapped up into one fun, fast-paced package. It's quirky and unique compared to many action shows out there and has more in common with an historical anime / superhero flick than it might the typical drama, but with more heart, wit and charm. Very enjoyable.Li Ge Xiao (Wallace Huo) is master martial artist. After being framed and having his family executed he later later reluctantly helps a former officer. This leads him to making new partners, thief Yan San Niang, shifter He Xiao Mei, and muscle Chai Hu, and together they form a team called "Yi Zhi Mei" that robs the rich and corrupt and gives to the poor and innocent, solving mysteries along the way. They form a merry band of swashbuckler-heroes, unlike anything you've seen and yet quite hard to forget.
While there are quite some tropes here, it's a very entertaining and lovable series that I found quite addictive. Wallace Huo, Sh Shi Liu, and Tianyu Ma, among many others, made this show a super fun watch. The cast was great, the story compelling, the music catchy and fun, with plenty of colorful characters to go around - great chemistry! Fun show! Surprised at how much I enjoyed this one, honestly. Give it a shot if you like Chinese historical wuxia drama's (with a flair for the eccentric) with lots of action, adventure, mystery, romance and comedy, that also features a Robin Hood-esque, rogueish crew and storyline. Gives off serious Anime vibes. Would def rewatch this.
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Good Spinoff
YANXI PALACE: Princess Adventures was a pretty good Netflix spinoff series, though not nearly as good as the original Chinese drama from which it was inspired, but it was entertaining all same. I am a huge fan of the original Story of Yanxi Palace. This series was very short, only a few 6 episodes compared to the 70 episodes of the original. I do think, given more time, it could have evolved into a great show too.It probably would have been much better if it was as long as the first. In my opinion, the length of these shows allows for so much character growth and time for the viewers to develop meaningful attachments to the characters, thus viewers become really invested in the story. However, this series was pretty well made and kept the overall vibe of the original. There was an interesting premise, cast, music, visuals etc. It was certainly worth the watch. Especially for nostalgias sake.
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Revenge & Romance
THE PRINCESS WEIYOUNG (Jinxiu Weiyang) was a very entertaining C-drama, with more soap (soap opera vibes) than I usually care for in my dramas, but still very beautiful to look at it and highly enjoyable with a very lovely cast. The story is interesting because it begins as a revenge drama and morphs into a romance drama with many twists and turns along the way.While it took me a while to connect to the main heroine Princess Weiyoung also known as Li Wei Yang / Feng Xin'er (Tiffany Tang) she was a strong likable lead and when paired with Tuoba Jun, Prince Gaoyang, (Luo Jin) there was real chemistry. They evolved into a real power couple, even with many obstacles in their way.
I LOVED many of the side cast as well such as the cunning and calculating Tuoba Yu, Prince Nanan (Vanness Wu), the adorable and deadly Li Changru (Mao Xiaotong), the loyal and devoted Li Minde (Liang Zhenlun), the quirky and daring Tuoba Di, Ninth Princess (Chen Yuqi), the adorable and loyal Bai Zhi (Mu Le'en), the loyal bodyguard Jun Tao (Wang Yanzhi) and so many others. There were so many great characters in this show.
Overall, Princess Weiyoung was a very enjoyable ride, even with the intense melodrama and outrageous plot twists. Very memorable.
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Sentimental Family Drama
ASURA (2025) is a really great Jdrama that follows the interwoven lives of the Takazawa family, namely the relationship between the four adult daughters (Tsunako, Makiko, Takiko, and Sakiko) and their parents.The series has an air of realism to it that made watching it a real treat. The show is both subtle and complex and overall very entertaining, especially when all four sisters interact. It's a real hoot!
"In 1979, Four sisters face turbulence when their father's affair is exposed. Embodying the tumultuous "asura" demigods, they clash over differing outlooks on love yet find moments of connection amid conflict and growth."
This sentimental show is a perfect balance of slice-of-life family drama and tender family interactions. "Asura" was a really great show and is a wonderful Jdrama to check out, although a bit slower paced. I can't wait for more of these kinds of series.
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Short & Sweet
A FAMILIAR STRANGER (2022) is a well-made yet very short Chinese mini-drama (only 8 episodes short). I was very glad to have stumbled upon this little gem of a series. While it is very short (especially compared to the usual 50+ episodes that Cdrama's usually consist off) thie series was very engaging and watchable. The plot was very focused and fast-paced, rather than following the usual meandering pace.This drama was surprisingly engaging. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It was really well-made and well acted. The visuals, sets and costumes were all very stunning.
Overall, this Chinese mini drama was a great find! Short, thrilling and very intriguing but underneath it all, a sweet romance. I hope there will be more short series like this, if only to give more variety to the genre. Definitely worth the watch!
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A Cool Meteorologist Jdrama
BLUE MOMENT is a really cool Jdrama about a hard working team of meteorologists. I enjoyed the cast and story, although a few aspects could have been a little less unpredictable. Even still, it was a show full of both adventure and disasters, following a team of people dedicated to fighting for the survival of others against all odds."The Meteorological Research Institute is where members of the Special Disaster Management (SDM) risk their lives to save lives threatened by enormous weather disasters, using their wisdom and knowledge. Kankuro Haruhara is a research officer who struggles on the frontlines of the disaster scene as chief of the SDM. Meanwhile, Aya Kumota is a research assistant who is fluent in Chinese and a hard worker, but sometimes can be too straightforward."
This JDrama series is really well done series and made for a good watch. I really liked this drama and really hope to see more like it in the future.
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MING DYNASTY 1566: Political Court Factions Drama
MING DYNASTY 1566 is a highly political drama of 46 episodes length. Unlike other dramas, this one focuses far less on inter personal relations, family affairs and characters and more so rather on the political stage of the time, the warring of court factions, and all the intricacies of the delicate balancing act of governance.The story tells of a Ming Dynasty which is ruled by Emperor Jiajing and his court, over a Ming nation that now has an exploding economy and booming culture, but that golden age comes at a cost, and often times at a cost for the people of the country. It heavily focuses on how the Ming Dynasty courtiers and magistrates strive to produce more silk at behest of the Emperor (as well as tea and other high demand goods) for foreign nations, but must weigh the balance of domestic demands as well, navigating obstacles and disasters along the way. This drama might be incredibly slow to some, but is a very valuable work in terms of historical context, political understanding, and methods of governance. Very fascinating if you are into this sort of thing.
I highly recommend this series to those that value history, specifically Ming Dynasty era history, as well as those that have an intellectual interest in politics, court factions and methods of government. This was a series one must pay great attention in order to really grasp its story, but certainly an excellent one. Worth the watch.
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A Thrilling Crime Drama
COPYCAT KILLER is an excellent Taiwanese crime drama with only 10 episodes so far. Perhaps a second season is coming? This series was exceptionally made, well-written, and well acted as well, with the exception of having a fairly unmemorable main lead. Usually this is a fatal crime for a good drama, but considering all else was top notch and excellent quality, and considering how much enjoyment (engagement) this caused from me, I can't honestly dock it any points. This was a really great show, albeit quite dark and gruesome. The story itself was thrilling and intriguing, with twists and turns to keep viewers ever guessing.I mainly enjoyed the entire cast except, as many others have said as well, the main lead. For me he just felt underwhelmingly portrayed and very bland, as well as underdeveloped. There were only a few times which one might see glimpses of deeper working of the character. I understand he was intended to be portrayed as detatched and cold for a reason, since work is his life and he grieves a dark past, as well as the loss of a dear relationship. But ultimately the character felt deeply lacking and hard to connect with, and I wasn't very impressive with his portrayal. The remaining cast were all really great, all giving vivid and memorable performances.
I highly recommend to fans of international mystery and crime drama series, especially if you don't mind brutality, murders, violence, sexual assault, gore, and other dark, triggering subject matters. This drama is about serial killers, and graphically depicts deceased women in various twisted forms of death. Very intense, and yet dark series.
[NOTE: Trigger Warning. Murder. Violence. Rape / Sexual Assault. Abuse. Torture. Language. Dark Adult themes. etc.]
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Three Kingdoms Era, Political Romance
SECRET OF THE THREE KINGDOMS was a really wonderful series. There was so much to enjoy, least of all the maturity of the writing (story, dialogue, characters) that felt like a breath of fresh air. This is a strong drama that easily holds its own amongst the floods of historical dramas, very memorable and compelling. While it does start out interesting, the first few episodes can be a bit slow but act as staging for the rest of the series. Perservere and the drama grows into something more epic. There felt to be a little of everything here. Drama, Politics, Mystery, Romance and even a little Action at times.Everything was simply amazing, from the story premise, to the beautiful costumes, to the excellent casting, to character chemistry, to the stirring music (in later episodes). The writing throughout always felt fresh and never confined by the usual C-Drama tropes. In fact, there were quite a few unusual aspects or at least less common to dramas such as hero POV being male rather than typical "female heroine get sucked into royal politics" trope, the sensitive male hero also (as seen in Liu Ping / Liu Xie) also isn't very common, especially in historical dramas were the typical "strong man" (as well as the warriors, strategists and politicians) reign supreme. Also, his character personality traits emphasize kindness, honesty, morality, mercy, gentleness, forgiveness, patience, tenderness etc...things not usually portayed as qualities in history dramas (and usually not by men). He is often cited negatively by other characters as having too much "womanly benevolence", but this quality indeed makes him strong throughout the series, an admirable aspect, as well as being trope defying. The power dynamics in the couple are also noteworthy as equals, balanced, with strength and weakness well matched.
Ma Tianyu (Ice Fantasy, Vigilantes in Masks) was brilliant as his (dual) role (Commoner Liu Ping / Emperor Liu Xie) and is really great in this series. He has a genuine boyish kindness and sensitivity that shines through, giving his truly noble character more authenticy and his onscreen chemistry with the fiercely intelligent Empress Fu Shou (played by Regina Wan / Wan Qian) was very believable, not to mention the epic bromance shared between he & and his onscreen foster brother, the ever cunning yet charming and charismatic Sima Yi / Zhong Da (played by Elvis Han).
Also, can I just say? The Empress Fu Shou (Regina Wan / Wan Qian) was one of the most powerful and convincing "Empress" characters I've seen to date, brilliant, fierce, cunning, regal, determined, loyal, ruthless when she needed to be, self-restrained but never subdued, an amazing display of badass feminine power and brilliance. Overall such a well-written and wonderfully acted character! And gorgeous to boot.
Also, the character of Sima Yi / Zhong Da (Elvis Han) must be mentioned because he was also another great character giving much to the show, especially in terms of charm, intelligence, sassiness and sarcasm. Always bold and headstrong, but fiercely loyal and entertaining. He was such a well-written and acted character as well. Loved the brother's dynamic. And he was so hilarious at times. Just a natural charmer to be sure!
The list of characters and their wonderful actors goes on and on, but among them
Commoner Liu Ping / Emoeror Liu Xie (Ma Tian Yu), Empress Fu Shou (Wan Qian), Sima Yi / Zhong Da (Elvis Han), Libationer Guo Jia (played by Sunny Wang), Imperial Consort Tang Ying (played by Dong Jie).
Others that are highly memorable are the characters of Lady Ren Hong Chang (Dong Xuan), Cao Pi (Tan Jian Ci), Yang Xiu (Wang Meng), General Cao Cao (Gardner Tse), Xun Yu (Wang Ren Jun), Cao Jie (Wang Yu Wen), Cao Zhi (Liu Yu Han), and Magistrate Man Chong (Tu Yan) and so many others. Really great casting!
In this series there are a lot of moving pieces, political scheming, strategies, hidden motivations, dynamics between characters. It's very engaging and mentally stimulating to follow along and try to read characters intentions. This series has a very strong story plot and cast. There is something to mention about this series, namely that it doesn't seek to emotionally manipulate it's viewers. For hardcore drama fans, that is an aspect that rarely we can escape from in Dramaland and might feel like a bit of change at first. Sometimes soapy melodramatic shows tend to elicit strong reactions initially but can feel manipulative at times. That's not always a bad thing but can feel tiring and under handed.
Therefore, I really loved how this show is not like that at all. It's telling a story and a very good one at that. It doesn't need to rely on half baked, kneejeek manipulative actions to keep viewers hooked. It does it's story telling well. Aside from that, the casting was really great with so many great actors well suited to their roles. I really loved so many of them. Even many of the "bad guys" were relatable and compelling. Everyone has their own motivations, desires, end game. It was great to watch this one!
Overall I definitely recommend viewers give this one a chance! Especially if you are a fan of slow burn Political, Historical, Three Kingdoms Era, C-Drama's. There's a little bit of everything in this one.
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