This review may contain spoilers
This has to be the best short cdrama I have ever seen...
Some personal blabber:
Let me start with the thing that I am usually a very lazy person, too lazy to even write a review. Another thing is I absolutely hate HATE HATE sad endings... I hate tragedy with my whole being because I become such a mess that I become very disoriented and can't function in my daily life and sometimes have severe migraines caused from too much crying. So the fact I am writing this after finishing the whole drama says a lot. After I found out it had a sad ending for the couple I stopped and decided not to see it but the plot and everything was just so good that I had to finish it. This brings me to the present writing a review with a severe migraine, sobbing and listening to sad music.
Actual review:
This is handsdown one of the best Cdramas I have seen, this being a short one as well. From the plot, cinematography, acting, cast, storytelling everything. This being a short drama accomplished a lot and covered a lots of things. Let me go by points,
Storytelling:
This had an excellent storytelling. It kept me engaged the whole time and there was no unnecessary conflict. It showed many huge points and stuck to; it showed perfectly what actually women empowerment is, not by downplaying other genders, rather by treating everyone as equals. It showed the capabilites of human beings. One of the things I personally loved was how both the MCs were shown vulnerable. It showed how the FML transformed into a strategic wise empress from a girl who hid herself and only wanted to survive. it showed how even though she became an empress, she wasn't invincible, she lost people precious to her on the way. It showed how even though she became the empress she couldn't protect who were the most important to her. But still as a ruler she persisted even after that and ensured a glorious future of her country. Not only that, for the ML as well, we could see how sometimes he had to abandon the FML's side for the greater good and how under control he was. He wasn't someone who could do whatever he wanted, but still it showed how sometimes people just don't have a choice. Moreover I loved how it showed how the FML gave in to the villain just to deceive him. And my god, this had one of the most well-written villains I ever saw, though I appreciated it if it would have delved a little more into his obsession with the former empress but still he was really a very well-written villain. Even the toxic relationship he had with the aunt was well-written in my opinion. Even the minor characters like the censor huo and the female officer who disguised as a man, achieving all this in a short drama is really an admirable feat. Another memorable thing was the symbolism of the FML as the plant, I personally loved this little detail and also the chess plays. Almost all the characters well written and had a purpose which upheld the true essence of the drama. It had an excellent power politics play but it was shown in terms which are easily understandable. Even the realtionship between the leads looked genuine, the romantics literally lit fire on my skin, it all felt so genuine and raw, even after the fallout you could see the helplessness of the ML with his acts and the determination of the FML. Her actions and feelings were fully justified and the conflict was also resolved in a genuine way. Their love really wanted me to feel love, literally the dominion in the title was for the FML showing how to transformed into a wise ruler and devotion was for the ML showing how the cynical ML became such a devoted follower of the FML. He is the defination of working behind the scenes. Not only the realtionship between the leads but also between the FML and her aunt and even the relationship between the ML and his uncle was portrayed beautifully without extending much.
Acting/Cast:
PERFECT! ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! The cast really outdid themselves. The acting was perfect, it didn't feel fake or anything. Their eyes spoke volumes, the dilemma, the pain, even when the FML threw tantrums in helplessness, it felt so real, like I felt as if someetimes I also do this. The evil acting was also portrayed beautifully. You could feel that that one side character had the "I am all for justice" vibe within them with their demeanor. You could feel the struggles and achievements of the leads with their actings. It was absolutely perfect in my opinion.
Ending:
Spoiler duh! But ig many of you already know if you read the first part that this has a sad ending for the couple, the ML dies. And as much as I hate tragic endings, this was literally very logical, like the ML's death wasn't a copout. His death was justifiable. The reasons were clearly explained. And honestly I started crying from episode 23 from the wedding scene till the end. But me being my delusional self, am assuming from the easter egg from the official douyin and take that the FML actually saved the ML somehow and made him a commoner and separated him from the palace and he returned later as a concubine (as said in ep23). He had to remove his mole as it was the identity of the former prince and now he is back to be with the FML.
For those who are wondering were am I creating this assumption is from here (https://weibo.com/tv/show/1034:5160846712569915?from=old_pc_videoshow), it is a easter egg from the official douyin of the drama in weibo. So for me I think this is a happy ending I MEAN LOOK AT BOTH OF THEIRS KNOWING SMILES. (i have a phd in delusion).
Anyways, I love this drama so much that I wrote a review with a migraine and if it gets made into a full length drama, i would pay to watch it. It was tragic and i hate tragedy but this was worth it. (sobs in migraines)
My advice, just see it, i saw it. I don't wanna suffer alone. As for rewatch value, I think it has a high rewatch value but for those people who are affected in the daily life by tragic stuff, don't rewatch it, hurting yourself once is enough. But this will always have a special position in my heart.
Let me start with the thing that I am usually a very lazy person, too lazy to even write a review. Another thing is I absolutely hate HATE HATE sad endings... I hate tragedy with my whole being because I become such a mess that I become very disoriented and can't function in my daily life and sometimes have severe migraines caused from too much crying. So the fact I am writing this after finishing the whole drama says a lot. After I found out it had a sad ending for the couple I stopped and decided not to see it but the plot and everything was just so good that I had to finish it. This brings me to the present writing a review with a severe migraine, sobbing and listening to sad music.
Actual review:
This is handsdown one of the best Cdramas I have seen, this being a short one as well. From the plot, cinematography, acting, cast, storytelling everything. This being a short drama accomplished a lot and covered a lots of things. Let me go by points,
Storytelling:
This had an excellent storytelling. It kept me engaged the whole time and there was no unnecessary conflict. It showed many huge points and stuck to; it showed perfectly what actually women empowerment is, not by downplaying other genders, rather by treating everyone as equals. It showed the capabilites of human beings. One of the things I personally loved was how both the MCs were shown vulnerable. It showed how the FML transformed into a strategic wise empress from a girl who hid herself and only wanted to survive. it showed how even though she became an empress, she wasn't invincible, she lost people precious to her on the way. It showed how even though she became the empress she couldn't protect who were the most important to her. But still as a ruler she persisted even after that and ensured a glorious future of her country. Not only that, for the ML as well, we could see how sometimes he had to abandon the FML's side for the greater good and how under control he was. He wasn't someone who could do whatever he wanted, but still it showed how sometimes people just don't have a choice. Moreover I loved how it showed how the FML gave in to the villain just to deceive him. And my god, this had one of the most well-written villains I ever saw, though I appreciated it if it would have delved a little more into his obsession with the former empress but still he was really a very well-written villain. Even the toxic relationship he had with the aunt was well-written in my opinion. Even the minor characters like the censor huo and the female officer who disguised as a man, achieving all this in a short drama is really an admirable feat. Another memorable thing was the symbolism of the FML as the plant, I personally loved this little detail and also the chess plays. Almost all the characters well written and had a purpose which upheld the true essence of the drama. It had an excellent power politics play but it was shown in terms which are easily understandable. Even the realtionship between the leads looked genuine, the romantics literally lit fire on my skin, it all felt so genuine and raw, even after the fallout you could see the helplessness of the ML with his acts and the determination of the FML. Her actions and feelings were fully justified and the conflict was also resolved in a genuine way. Their love really wanted me to feel love, literally the dominion in the title was for the FML showing how to transformed into a wise ruler and devotion was for the ML showing how the cynical ML became such a devoted follower of the FML. He is the defination of working behind the scenes. Not only the realtionship between the leads but also between the FML and her aunt and even the relationship between the ML and his uncle was portrayed beautifully without extending much.
Acting/Cast:
PERFECT! ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! The cast really outdid themselves. The acting was perfect, it didn't feel fake or anything. Their eyes spoke volumes, the dilemma, the pain, even when the FML threw tantrums in helplessness, it felt so real, like I felt as if someetimes I also do this. The evil acting was also portrayed beautifully. You could feel that that one side character had the "I am all for justice" vibe within them with their demeanor. You could feel the struggles and achievements of the leads with their actings. It was absolutely perfect in my opinion.
Ending:
Spoiler duh! But ig many of you already know if you read the first part that this has a sad ending for the couple, the ML dies. And as much as I hate tragic endings, this was literally very logical, like the ML's death wasn't a copout. His death was justifiable. The reasons were clearly explained. And honestly I started crying from episode 23 from the wedding scene till the end. But me being my delusional self, am assuming from the easter egg from the official douyin and take that the FML actually saved the ML somehow and made him a commoner and separated him from the palace and he returned later as a concubine (as said in ep23). He had to remove his mole as it was the identity of the former prince and now he is back to be with the FML.
For those who are wondering were am I creating this assumption is from here (https://weibo.com/tv/show/1034:5160846712569915?from=old_pc_videoshow), it is a easter egg from the official douyin of the drama in weibo. So for me I think this is a happy ending I MEAN LOOK AT BOTH OF THEIRS KNOWING SMILES. (i have a phd in delusion).
Anyways, I love this drama so much that I wrote a review with a migraine and if it gets made into a full length drama, i would pay to watch it. It was tragic and i hate tragedy but this was worth it. (sobs in migraines)
My advice, just see it, i saw it. I don't wanna suffer alone. As for rewatch value, I think it has a high rewatch value but for those people who are affected in the daily life by tragic stuff, don't rewatch it, hurting yourself once is enough. But this will always have a special position in my heart.
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