News 
This review may contain spoilers
My First Chinese Historical Drama
How I Started
I am not very into C-dramas I have watched a couple of them and i liked some too but i am not too deep into them and I was so prejudiced against the historical ones because -please no offense- i find the clothing and make ups and hairs a bit non relatable? But this seemed ok to me and I was in a search and yes I am so happy about it.
My Thoughts
First of all I need to say the cinematography is insane, like everything was carefully designed to look good. Some parts of it made some little sense (like it's snowing outside but whole windows are open, there is always a breeze in the room so the hair looks fancier etc)
The stiry started off a bit weird for me with it having too much pig and butchering at the center but it became a side thing after some time so I suggest you to endure if you are like me.
The storyline was consisting contract marriage, secret identity, war, heroines and two strong leading characters. Also a lot of side characters and their storylines were also enjoyable.
Tbh I was not following the throne fights story line most carefully but it was wrapped up in a nice way too.
I fell in love with the Marquis, Yan Zheng, played by Zhang Ling He. He felt magical overall, he has a really handsome face but he also managed to make himself a bit almighty looking, one stare and I was dead lol
If I need to criticize something that would be how Fan Changyu, the fml was portrayed as strong but only when he is like a man enough. I don't like this narrative that a woman can be strong = she can do what men can do. That should not be the standard and it creates some untrue expectations for women to feel strong. I get that she was physically strong too but there were times it was impossible by nature that she could beat down some big generals in one go but she still did, and hence she was accepted as someone big. I don't think as women we should set standards for us like that. But again this is fiction and she was supposed to rise up in that sense too.
Overall the story was captivating, acting was nice, backgrounds and music was really good so I am really glad that I gave this a chance!!
I am not very into C-dramas I have watched a couple of them and i liked some too but i am not too deep into them and I was so prejudiced against the historical ones because -please no offense- i find the clothing and make ups and hairs a bit non relatable? But this seemed ok to me and I was in a search and yes I am so happy about it.
My Thoughts
First of all I need to say the cinematography is insane, like everything was carefully designed to look good. Some parts of it made some little sense (like it's snowing outside but whole windows are open, there is always a breeze in the room so the hair looks fancier etc)
The stiry started off a bit weird for me with it having too much pig and butchering at the center but it became a side thing after some time so I suggest you to endure if you are like me.
The storyline was consisting contract marriage, secret identity, war, heroines and two strong leading characters. Also a lot of side characters and their storylines were also enjoyable.
Tbh I was not following the throne fights story line most carefully but it was wrapped up in a nice way too.
I fell in love with the Marquis, Yan Zheng, played by Zhang Ling He. He felt magical overall, he has a really handsome face but he also managed to make himself a bit almighty looking, one stare and I was dead lol
If I need to criticize something that would be how Fan Changyu, the fml was portrayed as strong but only when he is like a man enough. I don't like this narrative that a woman can be strong = she can do what men can do. That should not be the standard and it creates some untrue expectations for women to feel strong. I get that she was physically strong too but there were times it was impossible by nature that she could beat down some big generals in one go but she still did, and hence she was accepted as someone big. I don't think as women we should set standards for us like that. But again this is fiction and she was supposed to rise up in that sense too.
Overall the story was captivating, acting was nice, backgrounds and music was really good so I am really glad that I gave this a chance!!
Was this review helpful to you?
