Feel free to join us at the first discussion thread I created, for episodes 1 to 5 :) https://kisskh.at/766289-frozen-awakening#comment-25728214Episodes…
What do you think of "Rebirth" this far?
The main cast is more raw acting-wise compared to "Princess Agents", but the biggest failing is not their acting. Episode 12 made it obvious to me, but episode 15 is where it becomes undeniable: The Chief Director primarily choosing to stick to a favoured style of bombastic cinematic facial shots at the expense of understanding how certain scenes should be differently conveyed and interpreted (and he needs to actually emphasise certain details to the key actor or actress in such scenes), which is why the likes of Huangyang Tian Tian and Li Yunrui and Zhang Kangle are wrongly perceived as failing in their roles.
Will probably write something about that.
Meanwhile, if you are interested in upcoming C-dramas (one will air in the second half of 2026), here are two novel adaptations you should consider checking out in my article:
Here is the official x.com account for "Yun Chu Ling" affiliated to the drama's official weibo account: https://x.com/yunchuling
There are at least thirty cast members, and each character has their own "Feihua Ling"-style poster. Here is the poster for General Yun Silin (Yun Chu's father): https://x.com/yunchuling/status/2040195084575232436
"He sees what “思 (wisdom)” truly means — Amid the thunder of horses and the clash of steel, the battlefield bows to his hand."
Here is a recently-published article that also goes into details about "Yunchu's Vengeance" starring Esther Yu as the heroine who keeps giving everyone what they deserve (including happiness to one lucky man versus unending horror to a certain scumbag), while also summarising some of the cast being divided into three camps:
For those of you interested in the "Feihua Ling"-style posters released for the cast on 3 April, here are some of these posters and their explanations in English from the official x.com account for "Yun Chu Ling". The x.com account also leads to the official weibo account for "Yun Chu Ling" (an explanation of what "Feihua Ling" means is also in the article):
I watched all 7 episodes. Stuck up my thoughts of the first 5 episodes. Curious what you think: https://kisskh.at/766289-frozen-awakening#comment-25728214
Hello Ximena, "Fated Hearts" is trending for rewatching on IQiyi!
Kind of miss the excitement and positivity on that page XD
Also watched 15 episodes of "Rebirth". This Director is too absorbed with his cinematic frontal facial shots, and his obessions comes at the expense of setting up certain scenes and interpreting certain scenes well enough, for the leads to convey. Overall very watchable and enjoyable, and I'll probably create another summary for that.
Go to https://kisskh.at, and you'll see a number of articles. It has been classified as "Articles" instead of "News".
Final edits such as the article title, any changes to my article contents, and classification of this piece as "Articles" instead of "News" is not up to me, but whoever is doing the editing and publishing. I thought writing about Ju Jing Yi's upcoming drama should be under "News" since my previous two articles about an unreleased movie and J-drama were "News", but that's not for me to choose.
Terrific write-up, I really enjoyed that. I'm not the biggest Esther fan, but you've sold me. I've added both…
You're welcome. "Let's Fight" will likely include several comedic moments between the leads. I am looking forward to the differences in the drama unlike the short story (such as a happy ending) :D
"Yunchu's Vengeance" is an adaptation of a very-engaging novel. I quite enjoyed it. Stepmother bent on revenge and diabolically capable is a fresh take. If there are only 24 episodes, I can easily guess what they'll leave out from the novel.
On an unrelated note, numerous final edits (not applied by me, to my article draft that I submitted) are starkly different from my previous two articles, thus coming across as somewhat jarring. One of these issues includes at least nine extra commas in the above final version mucking up certain sentences. Makes the article-writer appear to have a problematic command of English in certain aspects, when that's not the case for me.
Perhaps I will revert to the writing style of my first two articles, for my next article.
A new MDL News article shares more details about "Let's Fight" starring Ju Jing Yi with Zhang Yunlong :)
If there's any BTS or details you'd want fellow MDL viewers to know about this drama and Ju Jing Yi (especially if the viewer knows nothing about Ju Jing Yi), consider sharing in the comment section:
A newly-published MDL News article goes into greater details about "Yunchu's Vengeance" starring Esther Yu with Zhang Yunlong :)
If there's any BTS or details you'd want fellow MDL viewers to know about this drama and Esther Yu (especially if the viewer knows nothing about Esther Yu), consider sharing in the comment section:
I don't want them to work together again. I don't want LYX to receive hate. Especially now that they are on their…
In "The Truth Within" which recently aired in end-December 2025, LYX's co-stars as main leads are Cya Liu Ya-se and Jiang Qilin, both hugely-capable artists known for serious solid dramas, movies, and convincing performances resulting in awards such as the Best Actress at the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards (for Cya Liu).
The end result, as per kwanto's update:
[His drama The Truth Within—aired without investment or platform promotion—became a surprise hit with 32.3M views per episode (Maoyan) and the highest Marketing ROI/conversion rate of 2026 at 38%+, reinforcing his IP factor.]
With WoF's monetary profits being revealed in certain aspects also as per kwanto's updates:
[ “Shui Long Yin received 560 million RMB in advertising revenue, earning Mango 140 million based on a 1:3 ratio split (with other investors such as Migu, Otter Studio, and other production companies). The show’s popularity exceeded expectations, leading to more than 10 brands increasing their partnership with SLY. Advertising quotes for SLY rose from 1.8 million per 30 seconds to 2.6 million.”
It also mentioned Mango TV’s net profit is projected to increase by 31% in the fourth quarter, with “Mango TV advertising revenue at 1.29 billion in the fourth quarter” almost half coming from SLY 💪 ]
WoF was profitable even before airing. LYX doesn't need hot searches or magazine covers and is ahead of other artists in terms of commercial profits and personal peripherals and long-term monetisation of years such as tourism effects and merchandise, given the 2025 Datawin Paper containing details .
LYX should continue his trajectory of carving a path to create unique opportunities for him to act in projects that fulfill him emotionally and artistically, and thereby act besides experienced or very-experienced co-stars he has not yet encountered that will challenge and complement him for his future projects, since he's reached such a stage of achievements.
director Guo Jingming like to make slow pace drama. he prefer to highlight their appearance.
GJM is trying to weave in the mythology related to origins of Pan Gu and Nü Wa and 龙生九子, and VoS is going to be hard-going for anyone with no mythology background and mandarin background because he's diving into it with more complications than FoF. I'm not watching VoS, but I shared what another redditor put together for details pertaining to word magic and more, alongside an article explaining the names of the four leads as of episode 1 (you can google translate the article):
In the original novel, she transmigrated as a 27-year-old army woman from the special forces into a 10-year-old.…
I have an idea of what might be the three different paths of the three leads for "Rebirth" and when they intersect, so I will see how it turns out.
Enjoy the novel!
If someone suggests that transmigration in the novel is necessary to apply to "Rebirth" for the FL, the point I am taking is that any recalling of transmigration memories-wise should only happen much later, if at all.
If someone reckons transmigration was the only way to justify the FL being a general in such a novel and in "Princess Agents", my point still stands about the novel being considered unrealistic for utilising something such as transmigration, but I appreciate all efforts to make time travel into a past period as realistic as possible.
you have to consider the novel storyline: Chu Qiao, in her twenties was reborn to a barely 7-year old girl...…
If you are referring to considering the novel storyline for this drama seven episodes in, I disagree because of the circumstances for the first seven episodes. All my other observations in the original comment still stand.
Maybe you can help with situational awareness:
In episodes 1 to 3, FL is in Yan Xun's kingdom. This is a very dangerous situation for her. Her health and her memories are affected. Yan Xun is perfectly capable of doing anything to keep her by his side.
In episode 4 onwards, she manages to get to another kingdom. Circumstances are better but in all 7 episodes, she is still on survival mode. Her memories are still affected, but improving. There is no indication of transmigration yet (which might be a spoiler in a much-later episode, or not at all).
I'm very curious as to what people expect a female in her conditions dealing with these circumstances to be doing, across seven episodes. Basic instincts of blend in and be passive, strike only when necessary or unavoidable self-defense, try to escape to find allies, and survive? Or stand out wrongly in some way for showing off and at best, be taken by hostiles to be killed or something worse? What would you do?
There are people who will enjoy this drama a lot, people who enjoy some elements of this drama with some issues but will still continue watching due to enjoyment of pros outweighing flaws for them, some people who won't like this drama after trying to get into it, and I can also understand some fans of "Princess Agents" not being happy with this drama in what they hope for a sequel, and then there's the PA fans who can understand and accept the differences necessary for this drama versus PA... And unfortunately there's the comment-flouncers exhibiting the maturity of kids fighting in a sandbox who will try to do in this drama for multiple personal reasons and mob-bomb this comment page with as many lumps of sand as possible, aiming to drive away as many people as possible.
It's MDL. Anti-chinese trolls will likely surface at some point, on top of everything I have pointed out.
Once upon a time, kisses and PDA in C-dramas for romance were not the norm. A few of us finally got so fed up about being lectured by people who only watched C-dramas after 2010 then think they know everything, that there was quite a reaction recently here:
Anno Hideaki of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" is against the idea of tailoring content for international audiences, and he argued that anime sensibilities should be focused primarily on Japanese sensibilities, while foreign markets adapt.
[ Despite demands to consider overseas demographics, Anno maintained that the integrity of anime lies in its cultural specificity. He suggested that the medium’s reliance on Japanese language and emotional nuances makes it inherently difficult to westernize without losing its core identity.
“A work constructed through Japanese thought processes is, naturally, difficult to understand outside of the Japanese language,” Anno said. “It is a drama about people acting on emotions rooted in Japanese thinking. If people can understand that, I think it will be accepted overseas, but I cannot adjust my work to fit them,” he noted. “I’m sorry, but the audience needs to adjust to the work.” ]
Miyazaki Hayao of Studio Ghibli holds similar beliefs. Svod platforms of C-Ent are at a crossroads, in this aspect. Good luck to the platforms trying to figure this out.
In the original novel, she transmigrated as a 27-year-old army woman from the special forces into a 10-year-old.…
Then I shall wait and see. I have my concerns about pacing and plot, thus waiting for the episodes until episode 18 to give me an idea of whether the guesswork amongst a few of us will be accurate.
In the original novel, she transmigrated as a 27-year-old army woman from the special forces into a 10-year-old.…
So here's my question, which hasn't been answered nor shown across 7 episodes of "Rebirth" and as per my original comment: Is this going to be a transmigration situation and if so, is she going to have a selective memory?
If this involves transmigration and if FL remembers anything of transmigration plus what you have mentioned, then she should remember (be it Zhuge Yue's training without transmigration, or with transmigration as per what you are pointing out) that she must blend in and not stand out in a disadvantageous situation, such as in episode 1. Therefore I still expect her to behave like a seventeen-year-old with people she doesn't trust in these circumstances as per my descriptions. Otherwise she has just failed all my basic expectations pertaining to the basics of spy training, regardless of how she learned her skills... Which so far, she hasn't failed, on this front of blending in. She'll have to be mostly passive for at least 4 episodes.
I definitely expect her combat skills to be handicapped for now, since she's literally been having issues health-wise, for 7 episodes.
Episodes 6 and 7 surprised me for one actor. He's definitely upped the menace factor ever since episode 3, so I stand corrected. I even turned off the sound to rewatch certain scenes in episode 6 and 7, to be certain.
Depending on what you like, some of us consider a significant number of recent C-dramas (anything after 2010) to be based on novels being unrealistic. Anything with a transmigration element is obviously fantasy, but all efforts to make the time travel periods into the past realistic is appreciated. "Dream of Golden Years" that just finished airing was enjoyably realistic enough for the 80s and 90s as a retro drama, even in the little details. The cantonese songs for BGM were spot-on.
Hard reality: If a 17-year-old female can become a general in a Chinese novel, it's already a totally unrealistic premise (unless she trained to become one since she was a little child and there are special circumstances somehow enabling that). In the original ballad of Hua Mulan, Mulan fought for 12 years in the army as a soldier before she returned home and revealed her true gender.
If Chu Qiao is 17 by this point as a general, I will expect her to look like a 17-year-old to be semi-realistic regardless of whatever height she is, preferably without copious amounts of foundation and OD filters turning actors and actresses into barbie dolls. Tanned if in the sun every day, with thick eyebrows and without overly-manicured eyebrows for a slave. The 90s gave me this. And as a 17-year-old who is still lacking in life experience if there are no transmigration elements of an older female in a younger body, act like someone who is wary, somewhat battle-hardened, cannot be too polished in knowing how to react to every situation outside of battle, and definitely not comparable to older generals such as General Cheng Yuan and General Huan Huan.
At this point across 7 episodes, HYTT is inhabiting a role she is supposed to reclaim given the starting premise of episode 1. "Rebirth" starts from the second half of the novel, while "Princess Agents" covers the first half of the novel. I'll presume the author onboard this production knows well enough that this production must be different from the first production, as evinced by the starting points in emotions and official status of the three leads in episode 1 of "Rebirth" being quite different from "Princess Agents".
I'm not here for hardcore realism (given the basis I already pointed out about the novel and recent historical costume dramas loving their slo-mo shots and too much background music at inappropriate moments), but I want semi-realism inclusive of everything else I already noticed in pros and cons of this drama. So far, it's hugely enjoyable for respecting that semi-realism I wanted, including toning down the slo-mo and BGM (although I would prefer that to go down further).
Li Qin as a female general gave me what I wanted in all else including her acting, to compensate for her makeup.
I'll excuse the lack of facial hair on male generals in this drama, since the production team decided to helm to a recognisable degree of makeup.
But if an illiterate village girl can become a general in an army or reach the status of a general without more than 10 years lapsing, be it novel or C-drama, that is too absurd for me and definitely a writing issue. YMMV.
2 
8 
3 
5 
1 
2 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
The main cast is more raw acting-wise compared to "Princess Agents", but the biggest failing is not their acting. Episode 12 made it obvious to me, but episode 15 is where it becomes undeniable: The Chief Director primarily choosing to stick to a favoured style of bombastic cinematic facial shots at the expense of understanding how certain scenes should be differently conveyed and interpreted (and he needs to actually emphasise certain details to the key actor or actress in such scenes), which is why the likes of Huangyang Tian Tian and Li Yunrui and Zhang Kangle are wrongly perceived as failing in their roles.
Will probably write something about that.
Meanwhile, if you are interested in upcoming C-dramas (one will air in the second half of 2026), here are two novel adaptations you should consider checking out in my article:
https://news.mydramalist.com/article/revenge-retribution-responsibility-in-upcoming-zhang-yun-long-dramas-with-ju-jing-yi-esther-yu
There are at least thirty cast members, and each character has their own "Feihua Ling"-style poster. Here is the poster for General Yun Silin (Yun Chu's father): https://x.com/yunchuling/status/2040195084575232436
"He sees what “思 (wisdom)” truly means —
Amid the thunder of horses and the clash of steel, the battlefield bows to his hand."
Wang Yumo is Chu Hongyu (he doesn't have an MDL profile yet) and here is his adorable wrap-up video: https://x.com/yunchuling/status/2040322147906912499
https://news.mydramalist.com/article/revenge-retribution-responsibility-in-upcoming-zhang-yun-long-dramas-with-ju-jing-yi-esther-yu
For those of you interested in the "Feihua Ling"-style posters released for the cast on 3 April, here are some of these posters and their explanations in English from the official x.com account for "Yun Chu Ling". The x.com account also leads to the official weibo account for "Yun Chu Ling" (an explanation of what "Feihua Ling" means is also in the article):
The Yun clan includes General Yun Silin (Yun Chu's father): https://x.com/yunchuling/status/2040195084575232436
Another important member of the Yun clan is Lady Lin: https://x.com/yunchuling/status/2040195857992364220
Adorable little Chu Hongyu: https://x.com/yunchuling/status/2040194771654975658
Marquis of Xuanwu: https://x.com/yunchuling/status/2040192590382014797
The Emperor ie Chu Yi's father: https://x.com/yunchuling/status/2040191252365455521
Old Madam Xie of the Xie clan: https://x.com/yunchuling/status/2040190882658582535
Concubine Jiang: https://x.com/yunchuling/status/2040190778711154810
Kind of miss the excitement and positivity on that page XD
I wrote an article about two upcoming dramas, which the editing team published yesterday (I submit, then they edit, and their edits sometimes makes me exasperated): https://news.mydramalist.com/article/revenge-retribution-responsibility-in-upcoming-zhang-yun-long-dramas-with-ju-jing-yi-esther-yu
Also watched 15 episodes of "Rebirth". This Director is too absorbed with his cinematic frontal facial shots, and his obessions comes at the expense of setting up certain scenes and interpreting certain scenes well enough, for the leads to convey. Overall very watchable and enjoyable, and I'll probably create another summary for that.
Final edits such as the article title, any changes to my article contents, and classification of this piece as "Articles" instead of "News" is not up to me, but whoever is doing the editing and publishing. I thought writing about Ju Jing Yi's upcoming drama should be under "News" since my previous two articles about an unreleased movie and J-drama were "News", but that's not for me to choose.
Hope you enjoy it!
BTS is gorgeously fun and varied. JJY practising with wires and her hammer before becoming A Dai: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5223222710632780
19 August 2025 BTS, where both leads are er, showcasing techniques: https://so.douyin.com/video/detail?aweme_id=7539977519650393384
"Yunchu's Vengeance" is an adaptation of a very-engaging novel. I quite enjoyed it. Stepmother bent on revenge and diabolically capable is a fresh take. If there are only 24 episodes, I can easily guess what they'll leave out from the novel.
On an unrelated note, numerous final edits (not applied by me, to my article draft that I submitted) are starkly different from my previous two articles, thus coming across as somewhat jarring. One of these issues includes at least nine extra commas in the above final version mucking up certain sentences. Makes the article-writer appear to have a problematic command of English in certain aspects, when that's not the case for me.
Perhaps I will revert to the writing style of my first two articles, for my next article.
If there's any BTS or details you'd want fellow MDL viewers to know about this drama and Ju Jing Yi (especially if the viewer knows nothing about Ju Jing Yi), consider sharing in the comment section:
https://news.mydramalist.com/article/revenge-retribution-responsibility-in-upcoming-zhang-yun-long-dramas-with-ju-jing-yi-esther-yu
If there's any BTS or details you'd want fellow MDL viewers to know about this drama and Esther Yu (especially if the viewer knows nothing about Esther Yu), consider sharing in the comment section:
https://news.mydramalist.com/article/revenge-retribution-responsibility-in-upcoming-zhang-yun-long-dramas-with-ju-jing-yi-esther-yu
The end result, as per kwanto's update:
[His drama The Truth Within—aired without investment or platform promotion—became a surprise hit with 32.3M views per episode (Maoyan) and the highest Marketing ROI/conversion rate of 2026 at 38%+, reinforcing his IP factor.]
With WoF's monetary profits being revealed in certain aspects also as per kwanto's updates:
[ “Shui Long Yin received 560 million RMB in advertising revenue, earning Mango 140 million based on a 1:3 ratio split (with other investors such as Migu, Otter Studio, and other production companies). The show’s popularity exceeded expectations, leading to more than 10 brands increasing their partnership with SLY. Advertising quotes for SLY rose from 1.8 million per 30 seconds to 2.6 million.”
It also mentioned Mango TV’s net profit is projected to increase by 31% in the fourth quarter, with “Mango TV advertising revenue at 1.29 billion in the fourth quarter” almost half coming from SLY 💪 ]
https://kisskh.at/people/11095-luo-yunxi#comment-25738602
WoF was profitable even before airing. LYX doesn't need hot searches or magazine covers and is ahead of other artists in terms of commercial profits and personal peripherals and long-term monetisation of years such as tourism effects and merchandise, given the 2025 Datawin Paper containing details .
LYX should continue his trajectory of carving a path to create unique opportunities for him to act in projects that fulfill him emotionally and artistically, and thereby act besides experienced or very-experienced co-stars he has not yet encountered that will challenge and complement him for his future projects, since he's reached such a stage of achievements.
https://kisskh.at/761731-the-resurrection-painted-skin#comment-25693810
Enjoy the novel!
If someone suggests that transmigration in the novel is necessary to apply to "Rebirth" for the FL, the point I am taking is that any recalling of transmigration memories-wise should only happen much later, if at all.
If someone reckons transmigration was the only way to justify the FL being a general in such a novel and in "Princess Agents", my point still stands about the novel being considered unrealistic for utilising something such as transmigration, but I appreciate all efforts to make time travel into a past period as realistic as possible.
Maybe you can help with situational awareness:
In episodes 1 to 3, FL is in Yan Xun's kingdom. This is a very dangerous situation for her. Her health and her memories are affected. Yan Xun is perfectly capable of doing anything to keep her by his side.
In episode 4 onwards, she manages to get to another kingdom. Circumstances are better but in all 7 episodes, she is still on survival mode. Her memories are still affected, but improving. There is no indication of transmigration yet (which might be a spoiler in a much-later episode, or not at all).
I'm very curious as to what people expect a female in her conditions dealing with these circumstances to be doing, across seven episodes. Basic instincts of blend in and be passive, strike only when necessary or unavoidable self-defense, try to escape to find allies, and survive? Or stand out wrongly in some way for showing off and at best, be taken by hostiles to be killed or something worse? What would you do?
There are people who will enjoy this drama a lot, people who enjoy some elements of this drama with some issues but will still continue watching due to enjoyment of pros outweighing flaws for them, some people who won't like this drama after trying to get into it, and I can also understand some fans of "Princess Agents" not being happy with this drama in what they hope for a sequel, and then there's the PA fans who can understand and accept the differences necessary for this drama versus PA... And unfortunately there's the comment-flouncers exhibiting the maturity of kids fighting in a sandbox who will try to do in this drama for multiple personal reasons and mob-bomb this comment page with as many lumps of sand as possible, aiming to drive away as many people as possible.
It's MDL. Anti-chinese trolls will likely surface at some point, on top of everything I have pointed out.
Once upon a time, kisses and PDA in C-dramas for romance were not the norm. A few of us finally got so fed up about being lectured by people who only watched C-dramas after 2010 then think they know everything, that there was quite a reaction recently here:
https://kisskh.at/776939-again-my-life#comment-25511216
Anno Hideaki of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" is against the idea of tailoring content for international audiences, and he argued that anime sensibilities should be focused primarily on Japanese sensibilities, while foreign markets adapt.
[ Despite demands to consider overseas demographics, Anno maintained that the integrity of anime lies in its cultural specificity. He suggested that the medium’s reliance on Japanese language and emotional nuances makes it inherently difficult to westernize without losing its core identity.
“A work constructed through Japanese thought processes is, naturally, difficult to understand outside of the Japanese language,” Anno said. “It is a drama about people acting on emotions rooted in Japanese thinking. If people can understand that, I think it will be accepted overseas, but I cannot adjust my work to fit them,” he noted. “I’m sorry, but the audience needs to adjust to the work.” ]
Miyazaki Hayao of Studio Ghibli holds similar beliefs. Svod platforms of C-Ent are at a crossroads, in this aspect. Good luck to the platforms trying to figure this out.
Thank you for letting me know :)
If this involves transmigration and if FL remembers anything of transmigration plus what you have mentioned, then she should remember (be it Zhuge Yue's training without transmigration, or with transmigration as per what you are pointing out) that she must blend in and not stand out in a disadvantageous situation, such as in episode 1. Therefore I still expect her to behave like a seventeen-year-old with people she doesn't trust in these circumstances as per my descriptions. Otherwise she has just failed all my basic expectations pertaining to the basics of spy training, regardless of how she learned her skills... Which so far, she hasn't failed, on this front of blending in. She'll have to be mostly passive for at least 4 episodes.
I definitely expect her combat skills to be handicapped for now, since she's literally been having issues health-wise, for 7 episodes.
https://kisskh.at/766289-frozen-awakening#comment-25728214
Episodes 6 and 7 surprised me for one actor. He's definitely upped the menace factor ever since episode 3, so I stand corrected. I even turned off the sound to rewatch certain scenes in episode 6 and 7, to be certain.
Hard reality: If a 17-year-old female can become a general in a Chinese novel, it's already a totally unrealistic premise (unless she trained to become one since she was a little child and there are special circumstances somehow enabling that). In the original ballad of Hua Mulan, Mulan fought for 12 years in the army as a soldier before she returned home and revealed her true gender.
If Chu Qiao is 17 by this point as a general, I will expect her to look like a 17-year-old to be semi-realistic regardless of whatever height she is, preferably without copious amounts of foundation and OD filters turning actors and actresses into barbie dolls. Tanned if in the sun every day, with thick eyebrows and without overly-manicured eyebrows for a slave. The 90s gave me this. And as a 17-year-old who is still lacking in life experience if there are no transmigration elements of an older female in a younger body, act like someone who is wary, somewhat battle-hardened, cannot be too polished in knowing how to react to every situation outside of battle, and definitely not comparable to older generals such as General Cheng Yuan and General Huan Huan.
At this point across 7 episodes, HYTT is inhabiting a role she is supposed to reclaim given the starting premise of episode 1. "Rebirth" starts from the second half of the novel, while "Princess Agents" covers the first half of the novel. I'll presume the author onboard this production knows well enough that this production must be different from the first production, as evinced by the starting points in emotions and official status of the three leads in episode 1 of "Rebirth" being quite different from "Princess Agents".
I'm not here for hardcore realism (given the basis I already pointed out about the novel and recent historical costume dramas loving their slo-mo shots and too much background music at inappropriate moments), but I want semi-realism inclusive of everything else I already noticed in pros and cons of this drama. So far, it's hugely enjoyable for respecting that semi-realism I wanted, including toning down the slo-mo and BGM (although I would prefer that to go down further).
Li Qin as a female general gave me what I wanted in all else including her acting, to compensate for her makeup.
I'll excuse the lack of facial hair on male generals in this drama, since the production team decided to helm to a recognisable degree of makeup.
But if an illiterate village girl can become a general in an army or reach the status of a general without more than 10 years lapsing, be it novel or C-drama, that is too absurd for me and definitely a writing issue. YMMV.
I'm not commenting extensively yet on episodes 6 and 7, but Charles Lin and Li Meng appear, and the plot starts to go for the boiler!
There's a discussion for episodes 1 to 5 here (but understandably people haven't even gotten to episode 5 if depending on Viki):
https://kisskh.at/766289-frozen-awakening#comment-25728214