This review may contain spoilers
General’s Love and Battles, Lost in a Rushed Ending
I often see people debating whether Legend of the Female General is overrated. Personally, I don’t think it is. The long wait for its release and the massive hype around it only raised expectations to a high level. As someone who hasn’t read the novel, I still enjoyed this drama and even found myself waiting eagerly for each new episode.
Is the storyline strong? Not really. The plot is focused almost entirely on her journey. Some viewers complained that the romance became too prominent, but I actually think it added depth. Seeing her slowly accept a kind of love she had been deprived of her whole life, her determination to stand strong again made her character more human and relatable. Honestly, would you really want a drama that is purely endless wars? The romance not only balanced the pacing but also highlighted the undeniable chemistry between the two leads.
That said, I found the last three episodes frustrating. Suddenly turning the 2nd lead into a villain really felt forced, making obsessive behavior and decisions out of nowhere. Another one is giving a random spotlight to supporting characters only to kill them off. The maid with good martial arts skills dying from one stab was too funny and ridiculous. Even the emperor’s sudden shift to villainy was awkwardly written. If not for his brief self-reflections of whether he did wrong, I would really think the writers are making him a last minute villain. Instead of relying on these tropes to create last-minute drama, they could have shown her rebuilding her army, training soldiers, or stabilizing the borders. That would have been a much stronger and more fitting conclusion.
On the bright side, the leads delivered excellent performances. Zhou Ye embodied the female general perfectly, fierce and commanding yet layered with vulnerability. Cheng Lei played his role with warmth, composure, and strength. Their dynamics really carried the drama.
As for the technical side, the AI editing on Cheng Lisu’s face did not bother me much in the beginning, though I eventually noticed it since I knew the original actor. It does not really affect the drama overall, so I was fine with it. The fight scenes were clearly shot for cinematic appeal. They looked good, but I have seen better choreography. Personally, I was not too invested in those anyway.
Overall, it’s a fun and enjoyable watch. Not the best drama of 2025, with so many great ones already released, but definitely one of the more interesting and memorable ones this year.
Not the greatest of its year, but definitely one worth watching if you are looking for a charismatic heroine, a good balance of war and romance, and leads who bring their characters to life.
Is the storyline strong? Not really. The plot is focused almost entirely on her journey. Some viewers complained that the romance became too prominent, but I actually think it added depth. Seeing her slowly accept a kind of love she had been deprived of her whole life, her determination to stand strong again made her character more human and relatable. Honestly, would you really want a drama that is purely endless wars? The romance not only balanced the pacing but also highlighted the undeniable chemistry between the two leads.
That said, I found the last three episodes frustrating. Suddenly turning the 2nd lead into a villain really felt forced, making obsessive behavior and decisions out of nowhere. Another one is giving a random spotlight to supporting characters only to kill them off. The maid with good martial arts skills dying from one stab was too funny and ridiculous. Even the emperor’s sudden shift to villainy was awkwardly written. If not for his brief self-reflections of whether he did wrong, I would really think the writers are making him a last minute villain. Instead of relying on these tropes to create last-minute drama, they could have shown her rebuilding her army, training soldiers, or stabilizing the borders. That would have been a much stronger and more fitting conclusion.
On the bright side, the leads delivered excellent performances. Zhou Ye embodied the female general perfectly, fierce and commanding yet layered with vulnerability. Cheng Lei played his role with warmth, composure, and strength. Their dynamics really carried the drama.
As for the technical side, the AI editing on Cheng Lisu’s face did not bother me much in the beginning, though I eventually noticed it since I knew the original actor. It does not really affect the drama overall, so I was fine with it. The fight scenes were clearly shot for cinematic appeal. They looked good, but I have seen better choreography. Personally, I was not too invested in those anyway.
Overall, it’s a fun and enjoyable watch. Not the best drama of 2025, with so many great ones already released, but definitely one of the more interesting and memorable ones this year.
Not the greatest of its year, but definitely one worth watching if you are looking for a charismatic heroine, a good balance of war and romance, and leads who bring their characters to life.
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