Writers really dropped the ball
To be honest, the writers really dropped the ball with this second season.
Season 1 of The Imperial Coroner was engaging, well-paced, and full of clever storytelling that kept me hooked. Going into Season 2, I had high expectations—but unfortunately, the storyline felt rushed and not as thoughtfully put together.
I will say, the director did a solid job. The scenes were well executed, and the locations—though familiar from other dramas—still looked beautiful and worked well visually. That part didn’t disappoint.
However, the biggest issue for me was the direction of the story. This drama is supposed to center on the female lead as the first female coroner during the Tang Dynasty, yet Season 2 shifts too much focus onto the male lead. It takes away from what originally made the story unique.
Another choice that didn’t sit right with me was the three-year time jump. It felt unnecessary—honestly, a one-year gap would have made more sense and kept the emotional continuity stronger.
What I really missed was the investigative aspect. Season 1 had a strong focus on examining bodies and solving crimes through forensic work, but Season 2 moves away from that. Instead, it leans more into political conflicts between cities and kingdoms.
The major cases themselves were interesting in concept but not executed as well as they could have been:
A drug that makes people believe they have a serious illness
Bugs implanted in people as part of a military strategy
Both ideas had potential, but the storytelling around them felt underdeveloped.
As for the characters, the male and female leads do have some sweet moments as a couple, but it doesn’t go much deeper than that. The second male and female leads continue to support the main storyline, mostly assisting the male lead as needed.
One subplot that stood out was the male lead’s older brother, the general, and his quiet feelings for the second female lead’s friend—we get glimpses of this over about seven episodes, which added a bit of emotional interest.
The darker side of the story comes from the second prince of a neighboring kingdom. He’s driven by resentment toward his father and brother and is willing to use anyone to achieve his goal of becoming emperor. His storyline had weight, but again, it felt rushed toward the end.
And that ending… it just didn’t land.
The prince takes his own life, the neighboring kingdom submits to the Tang emperor, the second leads remarry, and the main couple decides to step away for some time. Everything wraps up too quickly, without the emotional payoff it deserved.
Overall, Season 2 had strong visuals and some interesting ideas, but the rushed pacing, lack of focus on the female lead, and weaker storytelling made it a disappointment compared to the first season.
Season 1 of The Imperial Coroner was engaging, well-paced, and full of clever storytelling that kept me hooked. Going into Season 2, I had high expectations—but unfortunately, the storyline felt rushed and not as thoughtfully put together.
I will say, the director did a solid job. The scenes were well executed, and the locations—though familiar from other dramas—still looked beautiful and worked well visually. That part didn’t disappoint.
However, the biggest issue for me was the direction of the story. This drama is supposed to center on the female lead as the first female coroner during the Tang Dynasty, yet Season 2 shifts too much focus onto the male lead. It takes away from what originally made the story unique.
Another choice that didn’t sit right with me was the three-year time jump. It felt unnecessary—honestly, a one-year gap would have made more sense and kept the emotional continuity stronger.
What I really missed was the investigative aspect. Season 1 had a strong focus on examining bodies and solving crimes through forensic work, but Season 2 moves away from that. Instead, it leans more into political conflicts between cities and kingdoms.
The major cases themselves were interesting in concept but not executed as well as they could have been:
A drug that makes people believe they have a serious illness
Bugs implanted in people as part of a military strategy
Both ideas had potential, but the storytelling around them felt underdeveloped.
As for the characters, the male and female leads do have some sweet moments as a couple, but it doesn’t go much deeper than that. The second male and female leads continue to support the main storyline, mostly assisting the male lead as needed.
One subplot that stood out was the male lead’s older brother, the general, and his quiet feelings for the second female lead’s friend—we get glimpses of this over about seven episodes, which added a bit of emotional interest.
The darker side of the story comes from the second prince of a neighboring kingdom. He’s driven by resentment toward his father and brother and is willing to use anyone to achieve his goal of becoming emperor. His storyline had weight, but again, it felt rushed toward the end.
And that ending… it just didn’t land.
The prince takes his own life, the neighboring kingdom submits to the Tang emperor, the second leads remarry, and the main couple decides to step away for some time. Everything wraps up too quickly, without the emotional payoff it deserved.
Overall, Season 2 had strong visuals and some interesting ideas, but the rushed pacing, lack of focus on the female lead, and weaker storytelling made it a disappointment compared to the first season.
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