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This review may contain spoilers
“A Beautiful Beginning, a Broken Ending: My Thoughts on Kill Me Love Me”
🎬 The drama opens with a gripping setup for revenge. Kill Me Love Me tells the story of Mei Lin (played by Wu Jinyan), whose family and hometown, Qingzhou, were destroyed in a fire triggered by the army of Great Yan. Mei Lin loses her family in a massacre, spends ten years training as an assassin, and enters the lion’s den with the mission to kill General/Prince Murong Jing He(played by Liu Xueyi) as a Lady of Xiyan, embedded in the political marriage scheme. What unfolds is a tale of revenge, war, identity, betrayal—and a dark romance.
âś… What I liked
The hook and early tone: The first few episodes grabbed me. The image of a broken city, a woman hardened by loss, and a prince who’s scarred and fighting his own demons—this set-up had serious promise. Critics agree the opening arc is strong.
The leads and their chemistry: Wu Jinyan and Liu Xueyi are a striking pair. Their screen presence and emotional connection elevate many scenes. Liu Xueyi and Wu Jinyan bring "intense" chemistry …
Production values: I appreciated the costumes, the wide-shot landscapes, the snowy mountain backdrops. “real snow! real mountains!” which adds to the immersive feel.
Strong revenge premise: As someone who enjoys the layered symbolism and imagery of Chinese historical dramas, I found Mei Lin’s journey—from survivor to assassin—compelling.
❌ What disappointed me
The plot loses momentum: After the strong start, the story begins to drag. The stakes feel diluted, and the second arc—after the main revenge mission—is much weaker. The revenge arc ends too early, and the remaining episodes feel like filler.
Character inconsistencies: Mei Lin transforms rather quickly from ruthless assassin to soft domestic partner, which weakens her arc. Jing He’s “dark prince” persona fades too early and becomes more conventional. The female lead turns from a psychotic assassin into a cute darling in less than 8 episodes.
Predictability and clichés: that the fearsome assassin and ruthless general turn into lovers and the revenge plot softens—came true. The drama leans on typical tropes: enemies to lovers, royal power struggles, misunderstandings, love triangles. It ticked the box for every trope used in period romance dramas.
A bleak ending: If you go in expecting a clean, triumphant revenge and a fairy-tale love, you might feel let down. The finale is sad, and the “victory” is bittersweet at best.
🎯 My verdict
The initial set-up, tone and leads are strong and engaging → gives it a solid base.
But the execution falters in the middle and end: lost potential, weaker arc, unsatisfying payoff.
Someone who values symbolic imagery, mythology of vengeance, strong female lead and historical costume detail—the early parts will be very enjoyable. But the weaker second half might bring frustration.
If I were to summarise in one sentence:
Kill Me Love Me starts with bold ambition, powerful visuals and emotional stakes, but gradually loses its strategic edge and traction, leaving a beautifully acted yet uneven drama that could have been remarkable.
âś… What I liked
The hook and early tone: The first few episodes grabbed me. The image of a broken city, a woman hardened by loss, and a prince who’s scarred and fighting his own demons—this set-up had serious promise. Critics agree the opening arc is strong.
The leads and their chemistry: Wu Jinyan and Liu Xueyi are a striking pair. Their screen presence and emotional connection elevate many scenes. Liu Xueyi and Wu Jinyan bring "intense" chemistry …
Production values: I appreciated the costumes, the wide-shot landscapes, the snowy mountain backdrops. “real snow! real mountains!” which adds to the immersive feel.
Strong revenge premise: As someone who enjoys the layered symbolism and imagery of Chinese historical dramas, I found Mei Lin’s journey—from survivor to assassin—compelling.
❌ What disappointed me
The plot loses momentum: After the strong start, the story begins to drag. The stakes feel diluted, and the second arc—after the main revenge mission—is much weaker. The revenge arc ends too early, and the remaining episodes feel like filler.
Character inconsistencies: Mei Lin transforms rather quickly from ruthless assassin to soft domestic partner, which weakens her arc. Jing He’s “dark prince” persona fades too early and becomes more conventional. The female lead turns from a psychotic assassin into a cute darling in less than 8 episodes.
Predictability and clichés: that the fearsome assassin and ruthless general turn into lovers and the revenge plot softens—came true. The drama leans on typical tropes: enemies to lovers, royal power struggles, misunderstandings, love triangles. It ticked the box for every trope used in period romance dramas.
A bleak ending: If you go in expecting a clean, triumphant revenge and a fairy-tale love, you might feel let down. The finale is sad, and the “victory” is bittersweet at best.
🎯 My verdict
The initial set-up, tone and leads are strong and engaging → gives it a solid base.
But the execution falters in the middle and end: lost potential, weaker arc, unsatisfying payoff.
Someone who values symbolic imagery, mythology of vengeance, strong female lead and historical costume detail—the early parts will be very enjoyable. But the weaker second half might bring frustration.
If I were to summarise in one sentence:
Kill Me Love Me starts with bold ambition, powerful visuals and emotional stakes, but gradually loses its strategic edge and traction, leaving a beautifully acted yet uneven drama that could have been remarkable.
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