Interesting palace fantasy fiction
It’s not a sensational watch for bromance significance but the story itself is interesting beginning to end. Bullying, torture, malicious maneuvering all make it a historical palace fantasy fiction. I felt the hesitation through directing and acting to really show this as a romance. There is a large age gap between Xi Meng and Emperor Huizong which is why small details like lingering gazes, subtle shift in expression and fixed attention with non verbal cues were probably skipped. Kevin Yan and Zhou Li Jie straight up acted well. Kenji Chen did a great job in the role of a villain. The orchestra soundtrack paired well with the scenes giving the acting additional emotional impact. I couldn’t see myself watching again yet it’s worth a first watch definitely.Was this review helpful to you?
Slow beginning but the pace picks up
It took me about half way through the story before I started to care about any of the characters. The pacing was a slow beginning introducing plot points and increasing as all the threads wove themselves together connecting into a finale. The soundtrack wasn’t able to match many moods and settings. I considered this a clunky romance while watching yet felt pretty happy and satisfied with the drama by the ending.This is my first stopping a drama checking the age of the actress wondering about a gap between FL and ML. Liu Jin at 27 is styled similar to Ester Yu in Speed and Love. I was thinking she was too young, beautiful and charismatic putting the ML into the background. Wang Kai Mu is fading and didn’t come across with his usual starring performance. The chemistry between these two wasn’t coming across as sizzling at all. There were moments when ML carries the FL around or was protecting her which were appealing as the size difference is prominent. The casting between the ML and FL was mismatched not the individual acting of these two who are both great in their roles individually.
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Modern secretary CEO romance
I enjoyed watching the spunky FL making her choices and living them out. She was realistic in understanding class differences and making herself romantically unavailable to ML drawing clear lines. This was a fairly typical CEO romance missing grand gestures instead knowing a person over time and appreciating them with flaws. I kept thinking if ML wasn’t so jaded and disillusioned he could have put in more effort pursuing FL. As a CEO he was decently respectful and not overly dominant. Wang Kai Mu lights up the screen with his charismatic charm as a rich CEO. My only complaint is around the third quarter mark where a bunch of plot points seem to be thrown in to make an ending happen.Was this review helpful to you?
Tuan Chong Liu Xiao Jie Tai Ye, Jin Yu Wang Ye Nan Ba Chi
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It’s a dose of cuteness
I watched this on IQIYI under the title “The Lost Daughter”. A really sweet with a hint of spice romance comedy. The FL is not your typical doe eyed 18 year old character in an age gap trope. She has depth, substance and the plot revolves around her. ML’s chemistry with FL made the show vibrant. There were multiple scenes I enjoyed so much I replayed them. The writing and directing conveyed a fun and playful mood which the actors excelled in performing. My favourite parts were the artistry during scenes with atmospheric haze, hair breeze and costume styling. The soundtrack was well done with popular songs in the background adding to overall mood. Rated this a high rewatch value due to how entertaining the production, performance and story were.Was this review helpful to you?
A deeply layered romance
I went into this knowing an emotional roller coaster would be waiting for me. The writing, acting, soundtrack and production delivering it up masterfully. The ML’s puppy dog demeanour chasing his idealistic love is endearing and irresistible from Wang Kai Mu. The FL’s story arc carries you forward wanting fairness for her in all areas of life. The dialogue is precise in laying out her circumstances and situations presenting her as a social commentary. An ordinary person with coworkers, friends, family, health, employment and social systems all suppressing , using, betraying and invalidating her. Even having a loving relationship is pressuring to her needing to be protective, caring and not allowing his goodness to be tarnished. This has no villain or villainess taking extreme actions instead people surrounding the FL being self serving and uncaring of the FL as a person. Soundtrack matches the moods without being overpowering. The rewatch value is high as this is a great romantic tear worthy drama.Was this review helpful to you?
Go for the ride with this toxic red flag trope
Definitely an imaginative piece of work. I kept watching holding onto hope the FL could catch a break. The FL does an amazing job acting out fragility, dignity when there’s none to be had and actions stemming from love for a family member. Beautiful and pitiful throughout. As for the ML, he is the definition of why watching someone attractive being toxic becomes tolerable. You can’t stop watching his portrayal of cold masculinity waiting for any type of redemptive arc to begin. Even the villainess did great staying true to an evil punishing plot trying to keep her man. I didn’t really notice the soundtrack it must have blended well and not been intrusive. I’d rate this a one time watch only due to how poorly the FL was treated. Go along for the ride and allow the story arc to take you down to the depths and rise back up again.Was this review helpful to you?
Be ready for the plot twist
A romantic fantasy comedy with a great cast, styling and soundtrack until the story itself nosedives into darkness. The comedic timing and dialogue is superb until it isn’t. I was laughing and enjoying to the fullest until a plot twist knocked me askew. There was no recovering my enthusiasm for the show afterwards. It’s a lower rating due to the storytelling. This is the best facial acting I’ve watched Zhang Beixi perform and he’s super sexy in this production. Jin Ya Na I praise for delivering a lower dramatic style of acting for her characters traumatic and tragic circumstances. The soundtrack is great with popular songs injecting the very mood itself into scenes. I don’t plan to watch this again due to disliking the plot. If I happen to come across in future knowing the story beforehand may change my viewpoint.Was this review helpful to you?
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Fun to watch the romance develop
I enjoyed watching this for Austin and Yu Yin’s chemistry together. Excellent acting and character development by them. It’s short at 58 episodes for a complex storyline. Have I seen better, longer and more fleshed out versions of this story, yes. This is a production where actors, directors and cast collaborated well together to create a believable story. Soundtrack supported the tone and atmosphere of scene. Rewatch value moderate rating. It’s not a show you would seek out again but if you stumbled on it like me when searching up an actors works you would keep watching.Was this review helpful to you?
Missing some tension
While I appreciate everyone’s hard work into making short drama productions casting two headliners and expecting sizzling performances with no back up sums up this show. Beautiful leads, wardrobe and a promising beginning story fading into nothingness. The physicality allowing actors to build believable, consistent characters and create specific atmospheres with tension and intimacy is missing. The supporting actors and actresses were so lacking delivering lines by rote. The soundtrack is terrible choosing to inject comedic undertones into moments and repeating one song to set the mood for kissing scenes. While a show can sometimes be saved by chemistry between actors the overall feeling from the leads is two friends having fun on camera instead of characters. No rewatch value.Was this review helpful to you?
Revenge is a dish best served cold
The beginning was promising and the rest of the show is in the eye of the beholder. The casting is a mismatch for ML & FL. Plot has intriguing elements and dislikable ones. You quickly come to understand FL character’s motivations. The ML’s character is undeveloped and underrated. With just 50 episodes this melodramatic vertical short drama delivers a complete story of revenge. The soundtrack is ok. Rewatch value low.Was this review helpful to you?
Secretly scheming romance and revenge
My favourite aspect of this short revenge drama is how you’re pulled into the show through FL character’s internal narrative. You share the secret with her while she carries out her scheming against unknowing allies and adversaries. Jadie’s performance reminds me of Yang Mei Mei. She plays an innocent seductress while still showing her deceptive essence. ML Chen Si is impressive delivering an imposing, dark and powerful aura with sizzle galore. The height difference between the two leads, wow, thank you to casting! Soundtrack is great, many popular tunes giving instant recognition and adding to scene moods. High rewatch value this is a very enjoyable story, quality acting and production.Was this review helpful to you?
This is a gem adrift in low ratings
How can this be rated so low? I never expect reality in short dramas. A toxic ML character is written to be who they are. A ML like Austin who can perform as a character who disgusts you and still maintains attractiveness is doing excellent acting. The FL played by Song Xia collaborates alluringly with ML portraying a defiant, independent and revenge driven protagonist. I watched this on IQIYI under the title “Unbroken Vengeance” wondering if steamy scenes were cut. The chemistry and sense of sensuality between the ML & FL is still evident. Soundtrack is complimentary to the flow of storytelling. Very high rewatch level as it’s a quality production with a compelling story that is interesting.Was this review helpful to you?
An enthralling performance and storyline
Firstly, the ML & FL are so attractive to watch together as the story unfolds. My curiosity about the plot staying until the very end could this be love or revenge. I think the introduction of new characters and their motivations is key to why this is so enthralling. Supporting actors and actresses are great with mains creating a quality production. There is a good amount of spiciness in the leads relationship. Soundtrack is instantly recognizable clips enhancing the scenes moods. Rewatch value super high as this is so enjoyable seeing everything come together in final moments.Was this review helpful to you?
Sizzling and palpable tension for leads
If age gap tropes aren’t to your taste this one could easily convince you. There’s electric tension between the leads. The plot and acting build up a sense of anticipation, or "longing," where every interaction feels like a teaser for a deeper connection. Wang Chen Peng is excellent as the ML. I liked him in Roses and Pines with a similarly aged older man/younger woman relationship. The soundtrack works well with setting up the scene moods. Huge rewatch value story, acting, cinematography is great for a short drama.Was this review helpful to you?
