This review may contain spoilers
Just female general, no legend.
I had a lot of expectations for this drama—like, a lot. But in the end, only one or two of them were actually met.
This could’ve been a much better story. The potential was definitely there, but sadly, that’s all it stayed—just potential.
To give credit where it’s due: the romance was well-written and well-acted, and the fight scenes were both well-choreographed and beautifully shot. But that’s pretty much where the praise ends. The rest just didn’t hold up. The writing lacked cohesion, the direction was all over the place, and there was barely any real world-building or meaningful character development. The story arcs felt hollow and rushed.
Plot & Motivation Issues:
The characters’ motivations—especially for revenge—fell flat. The villains didn’t feel threatening or smart enough to justify the kind of reactions they were getting. Most of the time, they were just hanging around in Chancellor Xu’s house. That was it. There were no layers, no detailed strategies shown. Just weak, lukewarm threats, and always just constantly having Wutuo initiate a war over and over again almost redundant.
On the Female General Angle:
The whole “female general” narrative ended up feeling more suffocating than inspiring. Every time He Yan launched into a speech about how women can or should be something, I found myself rolling my eyes. As much as I agree with the core message, the way it was delivered felt so forced and patronizing. Personally, I would’ve preferred if she just did the thing without needing to explain or justify it every time. Just be the badass general—no monologue necessary. A “why not?” attitude would’ve gone a long way.
Romance vs. Plot:
The romance was stronger than the main plot—which sounds like a good thing, but it actually made everything else feel worse in comparison. The story was just confusing and flat. And because the plot lacked weight, it dragged everything else down with it—including the good parts.
Character Depth & Missed Arcs:
Xiao Jue (Male Lead):
-His arc was more solid and interesting compared to He Yan’s.
-Initially described as a cold, calculating, and strategic general, Xiao Jue only displayed those traits in fleeting moments.
-As the series progressed, his characterization weakened. He began making uncharacteristic missteps, especially during his confrontations with Chancellor Xu and Mr. Chu (e.g., the ledger incident and the ex-soldier betrayal).
-His long-standing personal revenge plot was eventually sidelined to prioritize He Yan’s vendetta—despite the enemy overlapping in both cases. This shift felt forced and diminished the weight of his own backstory.
-He turned into such a Lovefool for He Yan that it almost felt unfair to his character, making him come across as pretty pitiable.
-His right-hand man was unreliable, and so were his soldiers.
He Yan (Female Lead):
-Despite years of experience disguising herself as a man and even serving as a general, she sometimes felt like someone who had only just put on the disguise. It betrayed her arc.
-Her character was overpraised, with a streak of immaturity and a gullible side.
Mr. Chu (Second Male Lead):
-From the start, his character and motivations were confusing. Once revealed, they didn’t feel justified, making it seem like the writers were forcing him into a role that just didn’t fit or make sense in context.
Supporting Characters:
-They were poorly used, only popping up when convenient.
-The comrades He Yan gained in the Yezhou Garrison ended up as accessories, a wasted chance to make them like Wei Shao’s team in The Prisoner of Beauty.
Overall:
If the story had leaned into a love story between two generals—potentially a rivals-to-lovers arc—it could’ve been more cohesive and carried real depth.
*I still have more to say but it will just end up being a rant.
This could’ve been a much better story. The potential was definitely there, but sadly, that’s all it stayed—just potential.
To give credit where it’s due: the romance was well-written and well-acted, and the fight scenes were both well-choreographed and beautifully shot. But that’s pretty much where the praise ends. The rest just didn’t hold up. The writing lacked cohesion, the direction was all over the place, and there was barely any real world-building or meaningful character development. The story arcs felt hollow and rushed.
Plot & Motivation Issues:
The characters’ motivations—especially for revenge—fell flat. The villains didn’t feel threatening or smart enough to justify the kind of reactions they were getting. Most of the time, they were just hanging around in Chancellor Xu’s house. That was it. There were no layers, no detailed strategies shown. Just weak, lukewarm threats, and always just constantly having Wutuo initiate a war over and over again almost redundant.
On the Female General Angle:
The whole “female general” narrative ended up feeling more suffocating than inspiring. Every time He Yan launched into a speech about how women can or should be something, I found myself rolling my eyes. As much as I agree with the core message, the way it was delivered felt so forced and patronizing. Personally, I would’ve preferred if she just did the thing without needing to explain or justify it every time. Just be the badass general—no monologue necessary. A “why not?” attitude would’ve gone a long way.
Romance vs. Plot:
The romance was stronger than the main plot—which sounds like a good thing, but it actually made everything else feel worse in comparison. The story was just confusing and flat. And because the plot lacked weight, it dragged everything else down with it—including the good parts.
Character Depth & Missed Arcs:
Xiao Jue (Male Lead):
-His arc was more solid and interesting compared to He Yan’s.
-Initially described as a cold, calculating, and strategic general, Xiao Jue only displayed those traits in fleeting moments.
-As the series progressed, his characterization weakened. He began making uncharacteristic missteps, especially during his confrontations with Chancellor Xu and Mr. Chu (e.g., the ledger incident and the ex-soldier betrayal).
-His long-standing personal revenge plot was eventually sidelined to prioritize He Yan’s vendetta—despite the enemy overlapping in both cases. This shift felt forced and diminished the weight of his own backstory.
-He turned into such a Lovefool for He Yan that it almost felt unfair to his character, making him come across as pretty pitiable.
-His right-hand man was unreliable, and so were his soldiers.
He Yan (Female Lead):
-Despite years of experience disguising herself as a man and even serving as a general, she sometimes felt like someone who had only just put on the disguise. It betrayed her arc.
-Her character was overpraised, with a streak of immaturity and a gullible side.
Mr. Chu (Second Male Lead):
-From the start, his character and motivations were confusing. Once revealed, they didn’t feel justified, making it seem like the writers were forcing him into a role that just didn’t fit or make sense in context.
Supporting Characters:
-They were poorly used, only popping up when convenient.
-The comrades He Yan gained in the Yezhou Garrison ended up as accessories, a wasted chance to make them like Wei Shao’s team in The Prisoner of Beauty.
Overall:
If the story had leaned into a love story between two generals—potentially a rivals-to-lovers arc—it could’ve been more cohesive and carried real depth.
*I still have more to say but it will just end up being a rant.
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