Easily in my Top 3 Chinese dramas of all-time. And I still have 9 episodes to watch :)
Not a dull moment, not a bad character, not a line of poor dialogue.
Beautifully written, exceptional chemistry between the leads, love the side couple, and love how both Qiao Man and Wei Shao's 'subordinates' are actually closer to friends.
Cinematography is beautiful, soundtrack is lovely, and there are so many scenes I've watched several times as they were so perfectly executed.
I have only ever rewatched a handful of dramas in my life (Crash Course in Romance, Crazy Love and Her Private Life being three of them). But this is an easy rewatch. So much so, I'll likely watch it again within a few months.
Brilliant in every way. And easily deserving of a 10/10.
how strong is the bromance in this drama? do they have a female love interest?
Excellent bromance. All 3 male leads are superb in their roles. And btw, minimal romance and what there is is annoying, especially from the whiny Qiao Wan Mian. But fast forward thru her scenes and it's a really fun watch :)
Now 18 episodes in, and pleasantly surprised at how much this is still grabbing my attention.
Extremely well-acted and written, the fight scenes and wire work are superb, and it's just an all-around fun ride. Plus, Cheng Yi, Xiao Shun Yao and Zeng Shun Xi are killing it in the main roles.
Yep, I would guess it's probably coming pretty soon. An official trailer has now dropped, and posters are also being released. That's usually a sign it will be heading our way in the next month or two. Fingers crossed, as this one looks EPIC :)
Ah, now if you had said that at the beginning, I would have agreed with you :)
Yes, YOUKU does keep dramas on the shelf for a long time. And yes, it's annoying. 100% agree with you.
But... don't forget, it's often not their fault.
Either an actress/actor has been banned/temporarily cancelled because of something idiotic Chinese "fans" get "offended" by, or Chinese government rules have changed about dramas, or about the actors who are allowed to star in them.
Look how companies like YOUKU have been forced to reshoot dramas with a different actor, or how they have been forced to remove an actor's name from ALL promotional material because the actor supposedly did something "wrong".
Look at Zhang Zhe Han from Word of Honor. Simply because he went to a wedding in Japan and innocently had his photograph taken outside a particular temple, rabid Chinese "fans" went after him, destroyed his career and forced the CCP to make rules about his name being associated with dramas.
So now you watch Word of Honor on YOUKU's platform, but can't find his name listed along with Gong Jun's (AND HE'S THE STAR OF THE DAMNED DRAMA). And since then, he hasn't starred in a single drama, and every drama of his that was due to release hasn't been released.
Every drama also has to go through extensive "review" by Chinese authorities before it can be released and, in some cases, scenes then have to be reshot or deleted because the CCP doesn't like them. That means it can then take a year or longer, just to get a distribution license.
It's stupid, but that's what happens in China with their massive censorship. Something westerners will never understand.
Meanwhile, a Korean drama is filmed, gets its license and will premiere a few months after filming ends.
One of the reasons Korean dramas have taken over the world, and Chinese dramas haven't. Less red tape, less government interference and less censorship.
So, no, not YOUKU's fault here, I would say. Disagree if you like :)
So, sure, YOUKU can take forever to release dramas, but remember, they have to follow CCP rules, and while they are doing, they lose millions of dollars in income. I'll bet the people who run that company are as pissed as the fans about how long they are forced to wait to release a drama :)
Thanks very much. And yep, will definitely agree with you on the YOUKU app. Often a pain to use, which is one of the reasons I watch a lot of their dramas on my laptop.
None of the Chinese apps are great though.
I subscribe to YOUKU, WeTV and iQIYI and they all have their problems. Hence laptop viewing via browser much of the time :)
The thing that irks me the most on the YOUKU app though is I'll watch episodes on my phone, then want to watch the next one on my laptop and their app hasn't synced the date,. So the desktop still thinks I'm watching EP15 when I just finished viewing EP23 on my phone. Annoying.
Meanwhile, companies like Netflix have managed to offer almost perfect apps for years now. (And yep, every app will glitch now and again, that's just the nature of technology, but the Chinese ones seem to glitch more than most).
You'd think with all the money Chinese companies put into their dramas, they could at least provide apps that work most of the time. (shrug).
Most of it though is because their non-Chinese apps are different than the apps used in China and, even though they get boatloads of money from international viewers, they really don't care about them at all. Again. Annoying :)
Why is the VIKI translation off for Ep 15? Archivist is the term that's been used all along and now, it's Record…
Viki doesn't pay their translators, which is a big reason why I will NEVER subscribe to them. Instead they give them free access to shows and "badges" (Big Whoop!), while making millions of dollars from their hard work.
Hmmm, I'm only writing this just in case you still need it hehe. Basically in the beginning is only the introduction…
Holy Sheeyut, I'm now midway through EP6 - watched all 6 episodes since lunchtime. :) Best thing I've seen in AGES. So glad I stuck with it. And thanks again for the explanation. Really helped with my enjoyment in the earlier episodes.
Dropped after Episode 2.Typical Song Zu Er. Mouth wide open like she's brain-dead in every scene, same blank look…
Oooh no, you're wrong on this. You should have kept watching.
Believe me, I am NOT a Song Zu Er fan at all, and dropped The Demon Hunter's Romance partially because of her and partially because I heard about the ending, but... she is BRILLIANT in this. So much so, I might even go back to TDHR as I have a newfound respect for her acting skills. :)
Honestly, for her role in The Prisoner of Beauty, they could not have cast anyone better for the part and, if you think she can't act, you should watch her in this one.
The plot in this too is phenomenally well written, (I'm on EP6 so that could change) :), and Liu Nu Ying is otherworldly, he's so so so so good.
Throw in a spectacular cast of supporting actors, and you're really doing yourself a disservice by missing it.
Seriously, give it another change, and I'm saying this as someone who has looked at drama's starring Song Zu Er in the past and thought "Nope, probably not". Now I'm going to be seeking out everything she's starred in once I've finished this :)
I never binge-watch more than a couple of episodes at a time (too busy with work). Just watched the first 5 1/2 episodes straight thru. On a Friday afternoon. In the middle of my work day. Thankfully, I work for myself :)
An absolutely brilliant drama, and the performances of the ML and FL are spectacular. Now back to work -- hahahahaha.
Hello, can you please put a spoiler tag on this, thank you. others haven't watched the show as yet and some (like…
And yes. You've proven yet again you're not someone who should be allowed in a civilized society. Yet, you seem to think, your constant yammering and rudeness to everyone asking you to please use the spoiler tag makes you look "cool".
The truth is you're an arrogant, rude idiot. Keep yammering and proving yet again how stupid you are, but I've zero time left to waste on you.
Hmmm, I'm only writing this just in case you still need it hehe. Basically in the beginning is only the introduction…
Hahaha, thanks. Just got very confused with the family names and which girl was marrying who -- knew Qiao Man married Wei Shao from the previews, but then all of a sudden she was marrying some dude from her childhood from a family who treated hers like dirt. What? :)
It cleared up about 25 minutes in. And I'm loving it now. Just started Ep 2, btw. But thanks for the help.
Don't know what you mean? The actors have no choice as to which company produces the drama they star in. YOUKU produces this, ie: puts up the money for it, pays the actors', directors, writers salaries, pays all the production costs, distributes it etc.
So, if an actor decides they don't want to work on a YOUKU production (don't know why anybody would decide that? Makes no sense), then they simply would not be starring in that drama.
And as YOUKU produces a helluva lot of dramas, that would mean their ability to get great acting jobs would be cut by about 1/3.
Cheng Yi was obviously sent the script, loved it, probably liked the director, and so accepted the job. He probably likes YOUKU too, as he's worked for them enough before.
Plus hundreds of millions of fans watch YOUKU dramas. They have over 300 million monthly users in China alone, tens of millions of VIP subscribers outside China, and then millions more on YOUKU's platform internationally and on YouTube. Any actor starring in a YOUKU drama has the chance of being watched by tens of millions of people, if not more.
Oh and Legend of Zang Hai just streamed on YOUKU -- it's THE biggest hit of the year so far. So yep, fans choose YOUKU :)
1 
Absolutely gorgeous cinematography too!
Not a dull moment, not a bad character, not a line of poor dialogue.
Beautifully written, exceptional chemistry between the leads, love the side couple, and love how both Qiao Man and Wei Shao's 'subordinates' are actually closer to friends.
Cinematography is beautiful, soundtrack is lovely, and there are so many scenes I've watched several times as they were so perfectly executed.
I have only ever rewatched a handful of dramas in my life (Crash Course in Romance, Crazy Love and Her Private Life being three of them). But this is an easy rewatch. So much so, I'll likely watch it again within a few months.
Brilliant in every way. And easily deserving of a 10/10.
Extremely well-acted and written, the fight scenes and wire work are superb, and it's just an all-around fun ride. Plus, Cheng Yi, Xiao Shun Yao and Zeng Shun Xi are killing it in the main roles.
One of the best I've watched in 2025 so far.
https://leosigh.com/new-the-vendetta-of-an-trailer-is-this-cheng-yis-best-role-yet-and-is-it-premiering-soon/
Yes, YOUKU does keep dramas on the shelf for a long time. And yes, it's annoying. 100% agree with you.
But... don't forget, it's often not their fault.
Either an actress/actor has been banned/temporarily cancelled because of something idiotic Chinese "fans" get "offended" by, or Chinese government rules have changed about dramas, or about the actors who are allowed to star in them.
Look how companies like YOUKU have been forced to reshoot dramas with a different actor, or how they have been forced to remove an actor's name from ALL promotional material because the actor supposedly did something "wrong".
Look at Zhang Zhe Han from Word of Honor. Simply because he went to a wedding in Japan and innocently had his photograph taken outside a particular temple, rabid Chinese "fans" went after him, destroyed his career and forced the CCP to make rules about his name being associated with dramas.
So now you watch Word of Honor on YOUKU's platform, but can't find his name listed along with Gong Jun's (AND HE'S THE STAR OF THE DAMNED DRAMA). And since then, he hasn't starred in a single drama, and every drama of his that was due to release hasn't been released.
Every drama also has to go through extensive "review" by Chinese authorities before it can be released and, in some cases, scenes then have to be reshot or deleted because the CCP doesn't like them. That means it can then take a year or longer, just to get a distribution license.
It's stupid, but that's what happens in China with their massive censorship. Something westerners will never understand.
Meanwhile, a Korean drama is filmed, gets its license and will premiere a few months after filming ends.
One of the reasons Korean dramas have taken over the world, and Chinese dramas haven't. Less red tape, less government interference and less censorship.
So, no, not YOUKU's fault here, I would say. Disagree if you like :)
So, sure, YOUKU can take forever to release dramas, but remember, they have to follow CCP rules, and while they are doing, they lose millions of dollars in income. I'll bet the people who run that company are as pissed as the fans about how long they are forced to wait to release a drama :)
None of the Chinese apps are great though.
I subscribe to YOUKU, WeTV and iQIYI and they all have their problems. Hence laptop viewing via browser much of the time :)
The thing that irks me the most on the YOUKU app though is I'll watch episodes on my phone, then want to watch the next one on my laptop and their app hasn't synced the date,. So the desktop still thinks I'm watching EP15 when I just finished viewing EP23 on my phone. Annoying.
Meanwhile, companies like Netflix have managed to offer almost perfect apps for years now. (And yep, every app will glitch now and again, that's just the nature of technology, but the Chinese ones seem to glitch more than most).
You'd think with all the money Chinese companies put into their dramas, they could at least provide apps that work most of the time. (shrug).
Most of it though is because their non-Chinese apps are different than the apps used in China and, even though they get boatloads of money from international viewers, they really don't care about them at all. Again. Annoying :)
https://contribute.viki.com/
That's why translations tend to be off sometimes, as they don't always have the same people translating a drama thru its entire run.
And btw, people complain about Netflix, but at least they PAY their translators.
And glad your mom likes it too!
Believe me, I am NOT a Song Zu Er fan at all, and dropped The Demon Hunter's Romance partially because of her and partially because I heard about the ending, but... she is BRILLIANT in this. So much so, I might even go back to TDHR as I have a newfound respect for her acting skills. :)
Honestly, for her role in The Prisoner of Beauty, they could not have cast anyone better for the part and, if you think she can't act, you should watch her in this one.
The plot in this too is phenomenally well written, (I'm on EP6 so that could change) :), and Liu Nu Ying is otherworldly, he's so so so so good.
Throw in a spectacular cast of supporting actors, and you're really doing yourself a disservice by missing it.
Seriously, give it another change, and I'm saying this as someone who has looked at drama's starring Song Zu Er in the past and thought "Nope, probably not". Now I'm going to be seeking out everything she's starred in once I've finished this :)
I never binge-watch more than a couple of episodes at a time (too busy with work). Just watched the first 5 1/2 episodes straight thru. On a Friday afternoon. In the middle of my work day. Thankfully, I work for myself :)
An absolutely brilliant drama, and the performances of the ML and FL are spectacular. Now back to work -- hahahahaha.
The truth is you're an arrogant, rude idiot. Keep yammering and proving yet again how stupid you are, but I've zero time left to waste on you.
Have a nice day.
It cleared up about 25 minutes in. And I'm loving it now. Just started Ep 2, btw. But thanks for the help.
I'm on Episode 1 and have rewound the first 20 minutes about 6 times as I have no idea who anyone is, how they're related or whose marrying who.
The plot sounds amazing but if the writing doesn't get better than this it will be a drop sadly.
NM - Think I got it :) First 20 mins just very confusingly written. Okay, now I'm excited about this :)
So, if an actor decides they don't want to work on a YOUKU production (don't know why anybody would decide that? Makes no sense), then they simply would not be starring in that drama.
And as YOUKU produces a helluva lot of dramas, that would mean their ability to get great acting jobs would be cut by about 1/3.
Cheng Yi was obviously sent the script, loved it, probably liked the director, and so accepted the job. He probably likes YOUKU too, as he's worked for them enough before.
Plus hundreds of millions of fans watch YOUKU dramas. They have over 300 million monthly users in China alone, tens of millions of VIP subscribers outside China, and then millions more on YOUKU's platform internationally and on YouTube. Any actor starring in a YOUKU drama has the chance of being watched by tens of millions of people, if not more.
Oh and Legend of Zang Hai just streamed on YOUKU -- it's THE biggest hit of the year so far. So yep, fans choose YOUKU :)