RedMapple

This vertical Chinese drama starts with a playful twist: a modern girl criticizes a show’s heroine for making poor choices, only to get pulled into the story herself. She lands right in the middle of a life-or-death scene, stabs the tyrant emperor, and after a dramatic tumble down the stairs, the two wake up having swapped bodies. From there, the emperor (in the heroine’s body) faces execution but is saved when the heroine (in his body) spares her and even makes her his consort.

The body swap sets up witty banter, cheeky skinship, and surprisingly believable romance for such a short series. It’s also used cleverly to make the emperor, in particular, experience firsthand the difficulties and restrictions women face. The leads are the real highlight: their chemistry is effortless, and both actors shine at switching between two completely opposite personalities. The villains feel over-the-top and certain scenes play out more like stage theater than film, but it’s never hard to follow.

While the version I watched had no music (so I can’t judge the soundtrack), I’d still recommend this for a light, entertaining watch. It’s not groundbreaking, but the charm of the leads makes it memorable.

Would I rewatch it? Sure, sounds fun.