7
3
This review may contain spoilers
She is a prickly pear
Currently, our screens are filled with FL being gifted with a do-over and/or a sickly/disabled ML plotting his revenge. This one ticked all the boxes. Once more unto the breach!
Alas, it didn't quite pay off. Not a total loss, but it was a frustrating watch for me. Please allow me to explain.
On paper, this series has a nice throughline. While the dynastic inheritance plot is OG, there is always room for one more. ;)
When the series started up, the FL came on with a bang. She is no nonsense and takes no prisoners. On the other hand, the ML appears sickly, yet he can still fight the good fight. He saved the FL multiple times, both as himself and in disguise. So far, so good.
Issues start to pile up for me as the show progresses. This is largely due to how the FL is written/portrait and the associated plots.
To wit, the FL seems to sit inside a Teflon coated bubble. She is ruthless, but everyone in her circle is ruthless. She is smart and cunning. She knows what she wants. That's a plus, right? Alas, this is Ancient China. Women's rights won't be invented for a while . . a looong while.
Sure, I have watched plenty of strong FL in other shows. They back it up with a sharp sword or they are great merchants or uber skilled craftswomen. She is none of those.
Our FL goes big. Court politics is no joke. She knew that and told us from the start she needs someone with power to back her up and that's where the Crown Prince comes in. Yet she ends up pushing him away until EP.20. Even then she insists she does not love him. Nice, it makes the ML look pathetic.
She also seems to be untouchable. The king dotes on her. She is allowed so much autonomy. It made no sense when compared to other female protagonists.
She also has amazing plot armour. Every attempt to harm or discredit her fails. We are seldom shown how she discovers such plots. It is like magic.
To be fair, this also happened to FL in other shows, but they are loveable and likeable. Our FL is a prickly pear. She has 1 friend and 100 enemies. Her treatment of the ML doesn't exactly endear her to me either. Sometimes I wonder whether I should cheer on the antagonist! :p
Speaking of antagonists, they are a motley crew. Most male in her orbit are obsessed with her and most females hate her. Friends? Frenemy? Enemy? Take your pick. ;)
At the start of the show, the sweet original Princess dies, and the soul of the FL takes over her body. Instead of going back in time, 3 years has lapsed. The FL shows little interest in the past. At least not personally. The nice princess is subsumed. The FL remembers both lifetimes, but it is like flipping through a photo album. She taps the memories for useful intel. She is an enigma. I am still not sure if she is/was good, chaotic or evil?
Her motivations can be a mystery. She talks about the greater good. Yet I don't sense her being a particularly righteous person before her demise. This permeates the first half of the series. She exists in this moral grey zone. She can be ruthless in one scene and saves a beggar in the next. What is she striving for? Good of the empire? People Power? Personal gains? Revenge?
This goes double for the romantic storyline. We have crushes, unrequited love, obsessions and more. What we don't get is True Love™. The FL pretty much tells the ML she doesn't love him at every opportunity. He comes off lightly, BTW. The rest are still picking up their shattered psyches. :p
This is frustrating because the show loves to tease us with a love ballad whenever the ML tries to woo her. Better luck next, next, next time. (Groan)
This is amplified 10 times on their wedding day. The ML moves heaven and earth to bring her father and brother back from the frontier just so that their little family unit can have a quiet celebration. She was so happy and then she reminded him, while in bed, of their no-touchy "business" agreement. How romantic! I was hoping this will be the turning point I was hoping for. Instead, the plot turns even more inwards. 🤷
Production wise, it is good. Hengdian has turned costume drama production into an industrial process.
In the end, I am exhausted. In isolation, none of the issues I listed are deal breakers. However, when taken en masse, they made me question my life choices.
I don't hate this show. It has its moments. Unfortunately, after 21 eps, I still can't ship the OTP. I feel nothing. I am sure there will be a happy ending (although I have heard mumbling about that as well).
Au revoir, I'm done. Other dramas are calling me. Peace.
Alas, it didn't quite pay off. Not a total loss, but it was a frustrating watch for me. Please allow me to explain.
On paper, this series has a nice throughline. While the dynastic inheritance plot is OG, there is always room for one more. ;)
When the series started up, the FL came on with a bang. She is no nonsense and takes no prisoners. On the other hand, the ML appears sickly, yet he can still fight the good fight. He saved the FL multiple times, both as himself and in disguise. So far, so good.
Issues start to pile up for me as the show progresses. This is largely due to how the FL is written/portrait and the associated plots.
To wit, the FL seems to sit inside a Teflon coated bubble. She is ruthless, but everyone in her circle is ruthless. She is smart and cunning. She knows what she wants. That's a plus, right? Alas, this is Ancient China. Women's rights won't be invented for a while . . a looong while.
Sure, I have watched plenty of strong FL in other shows. They back it up with a sharp sword or they are great merchants or uber skilled craftswomen. She is none of those.
Our FL goes big. Court politics is no joke. She knew that and told us from the start she needs someone with power to back her up and that's where the Crown Prince comes in. Yet she ends up pushing him away until EP.20. Even then she insists she does not love him. Nice, it makes the ML look pathetic.
She also seems to be untouchable. The king dotes on her. She is allowed so much autonomy. It made no sense when compared to other female protagonists.
She also has amazing plot armour. Every attempt to harm or discredit her fails. We are seldom shown how she discovers such plots. It is like magic.
To be fair, this also happened to FL in other shows, but they are loveable and likeable. Our FL is a prickly pear. She has 1 friend and 100 enemies. Her treatment of the ML doesn't exactly endear her to me either. Sometimes I wonder whether I should cheer on the antagonist! :p
Speaking of antagonists, they are a motley crew. Most male in her orbit are obsessed with her and most females hate her. Friends? Frenemy? Enemy? Take your pick. ;)
At the start of the show, the sweet original Princess dies, and the soul of the FL takes over her body. Instead of going back in time, 3 years has lapsed. The FL shows little interest in the past. At least not personally. The nice princess is subsumed. The FL remembers both lifetimes, but it is like flipping through a photo album. She taps the memories for useful intel. She is an enigma. I am still not sure if she is/was good, chaotic or evil?
Her motivations can be a mystery. She talks about the greater good. Yet I don't sense her being a particularly righteous person before her demise. This permeates the first half of the series. She exists in this moral grey zone. She can be ruthless in one scene and saves a beggar in the next. What is she striving for? Good of the empire? People Power? Personal gains? Revenge?
This goes double for the romantic storyline. We have crushes, unrequited love, obsessions and more. What we don't get is True Love™. The FL pretty much tells the ML she doesn't love him at every opportunity. He comes off lightly, BTW. The rest are still picking up their shattered psyches. :p
This is frustrating because the show loves to tease us with a love ballad whenever the ML tries to woo her. Better luck next, next, next time. (Groan)
This is amplified 10 times on their wedding day. The ML moves heaven and earth to bring her father and brother back from the frontier just so that their little family unit can have a quiet celebration. She was so happy and then she reminded him, while in bed, of their no-touchy "business" agreement. How romantic! I was hoping this will be the turning point I was hoping for. Instead, the plot turns even more inwards. 🤷
Production wise, it is good. Hengdian has turned costume drama production into an industrial process.
In the end, I am exhausted. In isolation, none of the issues I listed are deal breakers. However, when taken en masse, they made me question my life choices.
I don't hate this show. It has its moments. Unfortunately, after 21 eps, I still can't ship the OTP. I feel nothing. I am sure there will be a happy ending (although I have heard mumbling about that as well).
Au revoir, I'm done. Other dramas are calling me. Peace.
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