This review may contain spoilers
Lighthearted, Romantic, and Tropey in all the best ways!
If you’re thinking about starting this drama, you should probably read this (one small spoiler but not much else). Sorry for the length, but I hope it will help a little bit.
Not all female leads have to be extremely smart, capable, independent, and never need a man to save the day. I’m so baffled by the comments not liking female lead, when in reality, there are all types of women who all have different stories to tell because we are all multi-faceted. I consider myself high maintenance with standards that I do not bend for anyone, and I have a partner who understands and accepts that and he is willing to be with me and love me even when I can be bratty, bossy, and princess-like at times. I think that is why I relate to Ming Tan so much. To me, the typical “heroine” in a cdrama who is capable of anything are such Mary Sue archetypes that I also get tired of it, too. I just can’t relate. This drama is NOT one of those stories, and if you are wanting that, this is NOT the drama for you.
The female lead is imperfect, spoiled, rich, and extremely feminine. But from those traits, Ming Tan also brings kindness, youth, savviness, and the feminine touch that Jiang Xu lacks and needs in his life to develop his character; she makes him question how he treats those around him and gives him space to be thoughtful and caring because Ming Tan is so receptive of his taking care of her (she fully embraced that about him); there are women out there who like to be taken care of and men who like to dote. This show is that dynamic and I love it all the more for it. Ming Tan gives back in her own quiet and gentle way, such as accepting the fish knowing she is allergic because she values his efforts, and/or pushing back at him when she thinks he is being too harsh. She is not trained in martial arts and is a true girly girl who continues to be targeted by everyone around her, so he is there to protect her because she is put into situations where she absolutely cannot fight back. Ming Tan needs Jiang Xu physically while Jiang Xu needs Ming Tan emotionally. They balance each other out.
You often see Mary Sue characters who never need the male lead’s help and he’s always helping her anyways, but the female lead always takes it for granted. I am not a fan of those stories where the male lead has to love silently forever until the female lead finally accepts him after 80 million years. That is why I am so happy to see a female character like Ming Tan completely embracing her femininity and loving the male lead who is protective and fully capable and willing to save her no matter what (he is an acts of service man). That does not mean that she is useless as we have seen time and again that Ming Tan has her own thoughts, opinions, and strength by how she’s managed her household, how fairly she treats her servants and even her stepmother and stepsister, how capable she is now that she’s starting to manage Jiang Xu’s businesses as well as the refugee crisis.
With our male lead, Jiang Xu is stoic, ruthless, and impartial in every way because he is a man with solid integrity and morals that paint the world in black and white. Hell, I noticed he literally ONLY dresses in black and white before Ming Tan came along. She brings colors and emotions and whimsy into his life because she wears her feelings on her sleeve, be it her gentle nature, sassy princess upbringing, and/or her embarrassing antics. She strives for perfection but falls short because she is human, not a Mary Sue who does everything right. Those are boring characters with no flaws. Ming Tan is supposed to be high maintenance and the facade of perfection in a society that demands it of their nobles, and especially their women in such a patriarchal society. Her reputation is ALWAYS on the line because everyone is jealous of her being renowned and painted as being perfect. I’m sure there is so much pressure on her to always be perfect, but she is genuine in wanting to ensure she does not sully the family name. She is vain, but it is because she bears a responsibility to upkeep that image for her family’s reputation. She also grew up with everything at the palm of her hands, so if her criteria list for her husband is long, then it is fully within character and her right to choose someone who matches it. She is high in status and has many positive and high quality traits that a man in that era would want as well. Why can’t our girl be picky? She’s a complete catch! But the thing that I love is that Jiang Xu has seen it all and knows she is not perfect, but he falls for her in spite of and because of all of that, fully embracing the side of Ming Tan that no one else knows about. He sees her as her, completely beyond the reputation that precedes her.
Yes, this is a drama where you can turn your brain off a little bit to enjoy. It’s a lighthearted romcom that isn’t pretending to be what it’s not. The show does not take itself seriously, but there is still an interesting love story and lead/side character dynamics that are intriguing, fun, and adorable to watch if you want chemistry, fluff, and two beautiful people who make you giddy and swoon. Their scenes together are electric.
Just like Ming Tan and Jiang Xu, the drama is not perfect. It does need more backstory than what 13 episodes have given us so far, especially the court/emperor/empress dowager struggle for power, and yes it utilizes lots of tropes in romcom and dramas, but that’s what it wants to be. It’s not here to subvert tropes, and it doesn’t want to. It just wants you to happily enjoy a blossoming love story with cute antics and some potential climactic angst/crisis that will test our two leads. Nothing here is groundbreaking, but I am here for the tropes, the romance, and the characters. So far, it is serving and I am feasting.
Not all female leads have to be extremely smart, capable, independent, and never need a man to save the day. I’m so baffled by the comments not liking female lead, when in reality, there are all types of women who all have different stories to tell because we are all multi-faceted. I consider myself high maintenance with standards that I do not bend for anyone, and I have a partner who understands and accepts that and he is willing to be with me and love me even when I can be bratty, bossy, and princess-like at times. I think that is why I relate to Ming Tan so much. To me, the typical “heroine” in a cdrama who is capable of anything are such Mary Sue archetypes that I also get tired of it, too. I just can’t relate. This drama is NOT one of those stories, and if you are wanting that, this is NOT the drama for you.
The female lead is imperfect, spoiled, rich, and extremely feminine. But from those traits, Ming Tan also brings kindness, youth, savviness, and the feminine touch that Jiang Xu lacks and needs in his life to develop his character; she makes him question how he treats those around him and gives him space to be thoughtful and caring because Ming Tan is so receptive of his taking care of her (she fully embraced that about him); there are women out there who like to be taken care of and men who like to dote. This show is that dynamic and I love it all the more for it. Ming Tan gives back in her own quiet and gentle way, such as accepting the fish knowing she is allergic because she values his efforts, and/or pushing back at him when she thinks he is being too harsh. She is not trained in martial arts and is a true girly girl who continues to be targeted by everyone around her, so he is there to protect her because she is put into situations where she absolutely cannot fight back. Ming Tan needs Jiang Xu physically while Jiang Xu needs Ming Tan emotionally. They balance each other out.
You often see Mary Sue characters who never need the male lead’s help and he’s always helping her anyways, but the female lead always takes it for granted. I am not a fan of those stories where the male lead has to love silently forever until the female lead finally accepts him after 80 million years. That is why I am so happy to see a female character like Ming Tan completely embracing her femininity and loving the male lead who is protective and fully capable and willing to save her no matter what (he is an acts of service man). That does not mean that she is useless as we have seen time and again that Ming Tan has her own thoughts, opinions, and strength by how she’s managed her household, how fairly she treats her servants and even her stepmother and stepsister, how capable she is now that she’s starting to manage Jiang Xu’s businesses as well as the refugee crisis.
With our male lead, Jiang Xu is stoic, ruthless, and impartial in every way because he is a man with solid integrity and morals that paint the world in black and white. Hell, I noticed he literally ONLY dresses in black and white before Ming Tan came along. She brings colors and emotions and whimsy into his life because she wears her feelings on her sleeve, be it her gentle nature, sassy princess upbringing, and/or her embarrassing antics. She strives for perfection but falls short because she is human, not a Mary Sue who does everything right. Those are boring characters with no flaws. Ming Tan is supposed to be high maintenance and the facade of perfection in a society that demands it of their nobles, and especially their women in such a patriarchal society. Her reputation is ALWAYS on the line because everyone is jealous of her being renowned and painted as being perfect. I’m sure there is so much pressure on her to always be perfect, but she is genuine in wanting to ensure she does not sully the family name. She is vain, but it is because she bears a responsibility to upkeep that image for her family’s reputation. She also grew up with everything at the palm of her hands, so if her criteria list for her husband is long, then it is fully within character and her right to choose someone who matches it. She is high in status and has many positive and high quality traits that a man in that era would want as well. Why can’t our girl be picky? She’s a complete catch! But the thing that I love is that Jiang Xu has seen it all and knows she is not perfect, but he falls for her in spite of and because of all of that, fully embracing the side of Ming Tan that no one else knows about. He sees her as her, completely beyond the reputation that precedes her.
Yes, this is a drama where you can turn your brain off a little bit to enjoy. It’s a lighthearted romcom that isn’t pretending to be what it’s not. The show does not take itself seriously, but there is still an interesting love story and lead/side character dynamics that are intriguing, fun, and adorable to watch if you want chemistry, fluff, and two beautiful people who make you giddy and swoon. Their scenes together are electric.
Just like Ming Tan and Jiang Xu, the drama is not perfect. It does need more backstory than what 13 episodes have given us so far, especially the court/emperor/empress dowager struggle for power, and yes it utilizes lots of tropes in romcom and dramas, but that’s what it wants to be. It’s not here to subvert tropes, and it doesn’t want to. It just wants you to happily enjoy a blossoming love story with cute antics and some potential climactic angst/crisis that will test our two leads. Nothing here is groundbreaking, but I am here for the tropes, the romance, and the characters. So far, it is serving and I am feasting.
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