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A mixed bag
Filmed several years ago, this drama bears an air of nostalgia of past harem/palace dramas, especially in this first 1/3. Luo Qinglian unexpectedly finds herself forced in a position to become a servant-concubine of the third son of Prince An, and her story of surviving the treacherous life in He Lianxin's household thus begins.Unfortunately, her story never really soars as those of other strong female leads in other past palace/harem dramas such as Story of Yanxi Palace or The Sword and the Brocade. The drama tries to involve too much story - brothers fighting for the title of Prince, Qinglian's former lover Lv Beiyi's story, and the 11th hour secret oath our ML's father made to the Emperor to rescue him are just some of the other story lines. However, due to so much being edited out, the story is choppy and does not flow together well. It may have been better to end the drama around episode 30 when our ML achieves the title of Prince and focus on building the characters' relationships better.
What I am left with are some very nice moments of dramatic performances from a seasoned cast but an overall disappointing story structure, making it difficult to give this any more than a 7.5. It is perhaps higher than it should be, but I guess I do miss how dramas were shot in the past - a lot less crazy camera work and more focus on lighting and allowing the performances to breathe and speak for themselves. My favorite parts were the quieter scenes when the actors just are speaking/performing to each other.
If palace/harem dramas are your thing, you may want to check this out casually, but there are likely far better ones out there more worth your time.
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Some of the storylines did not make the greatest impact or meld well with each other (e.g. the office politics were a bit weak overall), but the human stories (about the different kinds of relationships we have in society) were some of the best parts of the drama. Great use of an almost atmospheric soundtrack complements a very lyrically-written show, but the show could use more pop and a better climax if a second season were to be made.
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We are the writers of our own fates
This is a fun entering-into-a-script story that effectively combines comedy with the more classic dramatic beats you would expect from a period Chinese drama. The characters are thoughtfully developed, and the story manages to build as it goes along to a very satisfying ending. With a great cast led by Li Yitong and Liu Yuning and a killer OST that will leave you laughing uncontrollably, this is not a drama to miss. Running at 40 episodes, there are some lagging moments here and there, and I wish some of the deeper themes were developed further. However, ultimately this show is about taking one's life and destiny into one's own hands and enjoying life to its fullest, so don't overthink when watching!Was this review helpful to you?
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The power of goodwill
After the men of the Hua family are forced into exile and the women and children left to fend for themselves, Hua Zhi, the eldest daughter and our indomitable female lead, takes charge and seeks to bring the family back together against all odds. Her family and her story become entwined with that of Gu Yanxi, nephew to the emperor with his own share of family troubles, albeit of a very different nature being born into the royal bloodline.There is a lot of story to cover in 40 episodes, and what we are left with in the drama is a bit uneven in pacing and tone. A lot of the first half of the story follows the Hua family's ups and downs in their endeavors to recover from the disaster forced upon them by the paranoid Emperor. Some of the most moving and heartbreaking moments for me occur in the quieter moments within the Hua family household as they learn to brave their hardships and share their triumphs with each other. The latter half features more of the palace/political story. If given enough time, this part of the story may have been able to develop its themes and antagonists better. Instead, things are taken care of far too neatly and swiftly before anything really resonates. Hai Yitian as the complicated Emperor of Daqing makes an impression, but with his arc in the story as a whole and his relationship with Yanxi not fully explored, it is a bit of a shame how it all ends for him.
All in all, this is a heartwarming story worth watching for some great performances from all the cast, including Zhang Jingyi as Hua Zhi and Hu Yitian as Yanxi. I wish they had more to do with their roles as far as range of emotions (we get a little bit towards the end), and I hope to see more of them in period/costume dramas in the future.
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Don't take this one too seriously, and you're in for a fun ride
This is an unexpectedly entertaining costume/period drama with some fantastical elements. While not an original concept (the author entering her own novel), the story has solid characters that develop logically throughout the story and a well-placed plot with villain(s) that keep things moving.I really enjoyed Song Yiren's performance here. She strikes the right balance of comedy and drama, which is needed is such a story as this. Ding Ze Ren as the ML is a relatively new actor, and he does generally well here, although he does have a way to go in the more angsty scenes.
January 2024 was disappointing to me as far as Chinese dramas (period/costume in particular), but this one was a nice little gem.
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A few good men
This is a dark yet poignant tale of the frailty of human nature - the loss of innocence in the effort to survive in a world where justice is hard to come by.The drama starts off seemingly like any straightforward murder-crime-mystery series. You are drawn into deciphering various clues and studying each character to determine who is the murderer. By the show's end, however, even though it pulls out a "surprise" reveal, the power in that moment is not so much the shock factor of who is who but more so the underlying sadness of seeing two friends end each other's lives. There is no mustache-twirling psychopath villain here. It's a hauntingly realistic tale of greed and deceit that explores the lengths to which someone will go to obtain what they want.
The entire ensemble cast give great performances - my favorites are Ning Li as Song Chen and Yu Yao as the young Lu Zhi. Great atmospheric music and realistic sets/props/costumes make the world of Du County come to life in all its dingy glory.
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Here's hoping there will be more dramas like this one in the future.
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A drama that ages like fine wine
The first time I watched this drama, I was quite disappointed with the ending. How could someone as intelligent and brave as Feng Zhiwei just end her life like that? After all she went through, I thought it was a waste and a weird change of character. And for Ning Yi, after all his struggles, the ending felt like an empty goal achieved in becoming Emperor. But perhaps that is part of the story? Can an emperor be fated to have true love? Fast forward about 5 years and with all the things I have been through, watching this again I have a new understanding of this drama. If I look carefully, the seeds of Zhiwei's depression and ultimate decision to end things were sown throughout the drama.It's hard to summarize this very long tale of 2 very multifaceted people fated to meet and fall in love but not to share a lifetime with each other. There's a lot of court/palace politics and drama that take a while to churn, but when things get going, they really come out in an exciting, satisfying fashion.
The production is beautiful - unmatched for me in recent years in C drama land. Great use of music - not overbearing. Some of the editing is uneven in parts, and the latter parts can be hard to watch for those wanting a happy ending. However, there is a tragic beauty in it as well that I can appreciate as I am getting older - although I would never want anyone in this day and age to suffer from depression as Zhiwei did.
Definitely worth the watch and re-watch. I haven't found a drama since quite like this one.
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Good vs evil in Heyang
Within this story is a potentially really great one if the drama had dared to push the boundaries of its storytelling a bit more. Set against the "evil" city of Heyang, where bad deeds go unpunished, our righteous male lead Pan Yue seeks to find his long-lost beloved Yang Caiwei and to right the wrongs of the past. Along the way, we meet a multitude of characters including the charismatic if headstrong Zhuo Lanjiang and Caiwei's plucky friend Bai Xiaosheng -- and solve some murder mysteries.It turns out that with each case solved, we are closer to solving the ultimate mystery -- who is the mastermind behind the deaths of Caiwei's parents and the dark deeds in Heyang? That, unfortunately, is never fully fleshed out. Our villains' motivations are presented only in broad strokes, making the ultimate confrontation a bit of a letdown both thematically and dramatically.
Which is not to say the drama is terrible -- far from it. Some of the stories within the main tale are quite moving such as the case of the Gu family and that of the twins and the academy. They show quite effectively the potential darkness within people and the struggle to overcome it without resorting to too much exposition, which is unfortunately present in other cases and parts of the show. If the drama had explored this theme than just at the surface level - the complexities of humankind and our capacity to do both great good and evil - it would have made for a very compelling drama.
As it is, this drama is worth the watch for the interesting cases (which actually are nicely interwoven with the overarching plot and our characters' arcs), a well-paced romance story, and some great performances from both main and guest/supporting cast alike. Liu Xueyi as Pan Yue and Li Geyang as Zhuo Lanjiang were standouts to me.
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Love conquers all (again)
This was a lovely surprise in a season of underwhelming Chinese dramas, but it falls just short of greatness. While it does develop the romance between Ji Bozhai and Ming Yi in an enchanting way, a lot of opportunities for developing some of the supporting characters are not capitalized upon fully. Most notably, Yu Cheng En is unconvincing as the ultimate villain, and his story follows along the lines of someone seeking power due to a life of abandonment and weakness. But more meat is needed on this skeleton, and while I can respect the actor's desire to branch out and try out different roles, the desired effect was not there. Additionally, some of the deeper themes could have been developed further such as inequality, abandonment and neglect, and why exactly does love conquer all.All in all, prepare to be enchanted by Hou Minghao and Lu Yixiao as they learn to embrace who they are and each other and the other great supporting characters such as Princess Tianji, 27, Buxiu and and Granny Xun.
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Revenge vs Justice
While this is not the most elegantly written or sophisticated drama, it has its entertaining qualities. For those expecting super smart cases to solve or a political thriller palace drama that builds logically, this is not one of those shows. The plot moves from case to case until you reach a blisteringly chaotic climax, involving the royal family and its many dark deeds. By the end, there is the attempt to tie everything together, but there have been ultimately too many elements thrown together so not everything hits exactly right emotionally or thematically.Still, Li Landi and Ao Ruipeng make an adorable couple on screen, with a comforting, healthy relationship that remains steady throughout the show. There is not a whole lot of tension romantically or politically throughout the drama so some may find it all a bit bland, but this may be a nice show for others to unwind to after a difficult day at work or school. Watching the good guys win and justice being served (and not just pure rage revenge) can be a welcome respite from the craziness of today's real world.
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Wasted potential
I have not read the source material, but from what I can tell, the drama has been so watered down/altered that it really cannot be considered a faithful adaptation. If you're hoping for a sophisticated, nuanced revenge drama, be prepared to be disappointed. There are some nice moments of drama interspersed throughout, and I did not mind some of the more comedic parts, but the drama as a whole seems disjointed in tone and lacking in a strong backbone of story and character for me to give it more than a 7. Not the worst I have seen, but definitely far from a masterpiece.Was this review helpful to you?
While the setup is nothing new, the drama manages what I feel is a rarity these days in Chinese drama land - sustaining my rapt attention for the full 38 episodes. The script wisely stays focused on the story and characters - balancing the political storylines with the slow burn romance that is allowed to develop organically, without anyone acting out of character just to create a sense of forced drama or romance. The supporting characters are given time to develop as well and actually add to the overall story. They support our male and female lead in their journey of finding their true selves and each other.
What prevents me from giving this a 10 is the often heavy-handedness of the direction - blinding lighting, distracting camerawork and odd framing of shots give an overall unpolished look. There is a tendency to make things a bit over the top, but these are small quibbles and a matter of taste ultimately. The cast overall do a solid job - I am most impressed with Wang Xing Yue. Despite his young age, he is able to hold his own in a very stoic role.
This is a great one to binge and re-watch. It's not meant to be an artsy, profound expose on life, death, fate vs self determination, etc. It's just great fun to watch.
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Justice and Power
After witnessing the brutal massacre of his family and loved ones, Zhinu, the son of Kuai Duo, the Imperial Astronomer, embarks on a harrowing journey of seeking vengeance. Rescued by a mysterious masked benefactor and taken under the wing of some peculiar masters, he is trained in the art of strategy and deception and becomes Zang Hai. As he fatefully sets foot inside the Capital, he discovers the true price of vengeance. Will he escape the entangled web of spies and agents seeking power and a means to silence him forever?Legend of Zang Hai is led admirably by Xiao Zhan, who puts forth one of his best performances to date as the vengeance-driven but conflicted Zang Hai, who deep inside bears an earnest heart and yearns for something genuine despite his years of learning to live a lie. He is surrounded by friend and foe alike, brought vividly to life by a large ensemble cast. Huang Jue as the Marquis is particularly noteworthy - the villain you can't help but want to watch more of. Liang Chao as master Gao Ming makes a poignant mark on the audience, particularly in his final moments. And Zhang Jingyi as the feisty princess of Dongxia gives another lovely understated performance, of which a highlight is a romantic boat scene with Zang Hai.
While Zang Hai's revenge story is complete, the world presented here is intriguing enough for another season or another drama exploring more regarding its more mystical and fantastical elements. But its realistic approach - the depiction of imperial government and its corruption and the very real complicated humans who make up such government - is what makes this drama really shine for me. Hoping for more dramas like this one who take the time to flesh out dimensional characters and probe deeper into questions about human nature, justice and the illusion of power.
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While there are some nice moments of drama, comedy and fights in this xianxia drama, I found it far too long and repetitive to make a profound impact for the audience who is looking for more than its romance story. Its generic plot and characters are somewhat shocking to me given the caliber of actors in the cast. Shen Li and Xingzhi, aside from their romance, do not undergo much development or growth in their characters. Some of the supporting roles and side/guest roles are far more distinctive in their growth such as Furong and Youlan as they become true leaders of the Divine Realm/Clan - or just more interesting such as the former god Qingye and Lady Jin.Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin are skilled enough actors to make their story work - I especially enjoyed the first several episodes in the mortal realm. The rest of the cast are great with what they are given to work with, but don't expect any deeper themes to be woven into the story that would stand out compared to some of the better xianxia dramas in the past several years. If you are a fan of the actors and xianxia, this is still worth a check, but it is unfortunately more of the same in my opinion.
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