Amazingly Simple and Perfectly Made
When I started this drama, I knew right away this is a simple drama which didn't need over analyzing of the plot. But as more episodes came out, I realized how perfectly made the plot is, containing bits of details that surely enhance the progressing storyline of this drama.What I love about this drama is that on its simple surface that is already interesting, there is also realizations that are somehow realistic. Not a lot of people can see it because as I saw some of the comments, they are more of an idealistic type of viewer. But this drama isn't flowers and butterflies. This drama isn't overly reliant on intricate matters that are usually seen on this type of genre, eg. politics, harem, manipulation, etc.
It makes you feel relaxed and entertained seeing our lovely couples but at the same time it's giving you things that you suddenly relate to or understand. One good example is while we are watching our couples, it gives you an idea about the different kind of love and that people can be together in different ways:
SH DYX - marriage first before love
FH FLH - love at first sight (the guy is more reliant to wife)
KN CA - both prideful, bickering type but humbled in love
HD SHZ - love at first sight (wife is the active one during the pursuing)
LS YX - enemies to lover
Also if it's gonna be true that QN & KN's twin brother (if alive) end up together in the remaining episodes then it is a love tested through time & loyalty.
These couples if you all observe are actually and are indeed perfectly matched in their personality, behavior, wits and intelligence. Also, another user pointed their observations as well of how the writer actually made a reverse hierarchy between the leads. As the sisters are rank based on their ages, their husbands are in a reverse hierarchy based on their financial standing in the society.
I really like this drama because it is simple but then it is not. I'm sure there are others who feel the same way. Also, one thing to point out as well since the main leads for this drama are woman, for me, maybe not to others ok but for me, it also felt like the writer is telling the viewers that a woman can love, can be dependent and trust their partner and at the same time, a woman can also be strong and independent to carry on with herself. Mama Li, even though she is hot headed, has greatly raised her daughters to be people with dignity and stand on their beliefs. Now, onto the topic regarding their husbands "green flag" or "red flag" that should have been long not to be expected in this drama. The male leads are not green flags but they are also not red flags. They are just people wanting to better their relationship and protect their loved ones. We will not meet a lot of green flags in life and that is true. Everyone has a flaw, but in love you accept those right (just not a very red flag please lol). People are just striving to be better versions of themselves. They can make bad decisions out of care and love. It might hurt the people around them even if their purposes are meant for the better. This is the thing that most viewers of this drama missed. In our today's society where equality among genders have been fairly progressing, the setting of this drama is still in an era where patriarchy is huge. But the writer is trying to create a story that is within the boundaries of before and the mirror of today. Hence, the need for marriage and also trying to portray that both man and woman can be partners and woman does not need to fully submit to man. And in the process of them trying to be together, they make decisions that are not "green flags" per se.
This drama is also closely portaying small things that can happen in real life like the recent trope of family leechers which I do understand that and a lot of us here knows that as well. There is also the topic about the importance among parents and nosy neighbors.
This is the first time I'm making a proper review. I have always been commenting around on dramas that I watch no matter if I just like them or love them a lot but I think this drama is easily misunderstood so I'm making a review that might serve helpful to those thinking twice on watching this drama because of what they've read from others.
Note (very important): This drama houses 5 main leads/couples. The flow of the story is that they focus on a main couple while the others become side leads. When one couple has been "perfectly matched" then another couple's story will begin. Personally, I love the elder sister's couple (SH and DYX) hahaha but the recent couple while I write this is the 4th sister's (HD and SHZ) and it is so interesting!!!
Overall, a worthy watch! 🩵
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Not Your Typical Xianxia: Beautiful Chaos of Morality and Love
Finally, I finished Feud, and I’m excited to share my thoughts. First of all, I think this drama is truly great. It’s not your typical xianxia story. It offers something deeper and more grounded. I’ll admit, my eyebrows definitely raised by the end of Episode 11 due to the sudden plot twist, but at the same time, it really piqued my interest and pulled me in. I’m glad that curiosity turned into a genuine admiration for the story.What stood out the most for me is how this drama challenges the viewer’s moral compass. Normally, I don’t dwell too much on a drama’s “lessons,” since most stories try to teach something in their own way but Feud hits differently. It made me imagine myself in the characters’ situations and ask questions:
Would I sacrifice one person if it meant avoiding a bigger tragedy? Are we truly free, or are we just bound by rules that limit our desires? How do we live as imperfect humans in a world full of conflict, and how do we accept realities that go against how we want to live?
One thing that really struck me was the contrast between the two leads’ ideals. The FL empathizes with humans and wants to save them even if it means going against the rules. Meanwhile, the ML firmly believes in the natural order of the world, that fate can’t be changed, that suffering is part of the karmic cycle, and that trying to intervene only causes imbalance.
Is it right to interfere with destiny if it's out of compassion or is it wiser to let things run their course, even if people suffer?
It touches on themes like love, hate, empathy, acceptance, understanding, and redemption. It lets you think.
And honestly, there’s so much more to unpack but I’d rather let future viewers discover that for themselves.
On another side, I enjoyed the pacing. It felt consistent and well-organized. The buildup of their “feud,” the villain reveal, the sacrifices, and eventual redemption, it all flowed nicely. The acting was solid across the board. Bai Lu and Zheng Shun Xi really shine here. Their chemistry? So good. Cute without being overly dramatic. And you know, I quite made myself ready for some heartbreaks seeing Bai Lu is the FL in this xianxia lol
And can we talk visuals? Gorgeous. From the stunning CGI to the costumes (forever in love with xianxia outfits) to the set design. It is a feast for the eyes.
In the end, I truly loved it. For those about to start this journey, I hope you watch it with an open mind. Focus on what the story is trying to show you, not just the romance or fantasy, but the heart of its message.
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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.
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Romance Shines, Weak Political Execution
I really love this drama. Every day, I looked forward to its release, and I even watched it together with my mom and she enjoyed it too. The leads are amazing and have such great chemistry. I’ve been watching ZLH since Maiden Holmes, and honestly, he looks especially good here. But it’s not just him, the entire cast looked great. I have to give credit to the director as well for the visuals, angles, and cinematography. Even simple details, like the wind blowing through their hair, felt beautifully done and very pleasing to watch.As for TXW, I’ve seen her in several dramas like NLB, GOTD, ROTF, etc., and her acting here is just as good. Overall, it was really a feast for the eyes.
Story-wise, I feel like this drama leans more heavily into romance than politics, which I assume was its supposed main goal. On the romance side, I absolutely loved it. As I mentioned, the main leads have incredible chemistry, and even the second and third couples had their own moments to shine. I also liked the side characters like FCY’s friends, the Zhao couple, and others added a lot of charm.
That said, I don’t want to sugarcoat my thoughts on the plot. It started off very intriguing: a marquis and a butcher tied in a fake marriage that turns real, with hidden truths from the past. I was genuinely invested in uncovering what happened 17 years ago, especially with how the drama slowly revealed bits and pieces. However, I felt a bit disappointed towards the end.
The ending felt way too rushed, even for a 40-episode drama. Qi Min was built up as a major villain competing for the throne, but his conclusion felt underwhelming. The rebellion itself lacked impact like you couldn’t really feel its weight. I have also read that even the lines like QM colluding with Beijue seems farfetched considering his pain and memories from the death of his father, the Crown Prince Chengde during that war against Beijue. It felt like they just don't want QM to have a way out to fight for the throne. The 3-way conflict made things even messier, with the uncle vs. nephew dynamic happening at the same time. WY’s family suddenly appearing and even saving XZ, LHA already being in the palace with the puppet emperor, it all felt like abrupt jumps.
And after all that buildup about what happened 17 years ago, with WY being hinted as the main villain, the story suddenly shifted to reveal the previous Emperor as the true mastermind, despite barely being mentioned before. The arcs of the Crown Prince, Crown Princess, and Consort Shu also felt cut short, even though they were tied to what seemed like the main conflict.
In the end, WY’s role came down more to personal selfishness rather than being the central figure behind everything, which didn’t quite match the earlier buildup, especially with the repeated assassinations involving the Fan sisters. It turned out he was also just part of that trap.
As I said, the drama is strong on romance but falls short on the political side, which was supposed to be the driving force behind the leads’ quest for justice. The ending also feels like it hints at a cycle repeating itself. Bao’er didn’t originally want the throne, and even from earlier hints, it was suggested that power can change a person. From the "If the event didn't happen 17 years ago" it was mentioned somewhere with along the lines that even a virtous person will be suspicious of his own son. With Bao'er starting to show signs of authority and the actual power being held by XZ and FCY, it feels like suspicion and conflict might arise again in the future. There was no real “cleaning” of the court, so the system itself remains flawed. I just hope YQQ's guidance might save Bao'er from being very much like QM.
That said, this is more from a political perspective. I haven’t read the novel, so I understand that these things might have been discussed more in it. And since the drama leaned more toward romance, it makes sense that they prioritized a happy ending for the main leads.
Even so, this didn’t take away much from how much I enjoyed watching the drama. Congratulations to the whole POJ team, they truly deserve the popularity it’s getting.
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