1
Some battles are won with swords. Others with slow-burn side-eye.
When one of my two favorite Chinese actresses, Bai Lu, stars in a historical drama, you bet I’m going to watch it. Throw Zhang Ling He into the mix, and I almost would have given it a 10, but I didn’t. Not to say, this wasn’t an amazing drama, because it is, but it left me wanting more.
Let me start with where this drama excels.
The story. The story of Kunning Palace is full of wonders and intricacy that I am kept on my toes with all the political intrigues and calculated machinations by people in Xue Ning’s second life, with the most impressive moves made by her, and of course our main lead Xie Wei. As separate characters, they are formidable in their own right, but together, they are unstoppable. The way they side-step attempts on their life and thwart their potential ruination were exciting to watch.
The arcs. Several fully developed mini-arcs comprise this drama, each contributing to the overall plot. The writer seamlessly intertwined them, and none served as a filler.
The music. Appropriately themed and timed, that I feel the swell of excitement when called for, and the sense of dread when prompted. They carefully chose the sombre melodies that became a backdrop of unrequited love.
The production. The crew excelled in cinematography, and their attention to detail in costume design creates a world that transports us from the present to the past.
The cast. As expected of Bai Lu, she portrays the role of Xue Ning convincingly. Her wit and charm exude on the screen. Zhang Ling He is not one to slack off either. He proved his status as a top actor by nailing his portrayal of the mysterious figure that is Xie Wei. This is the fifth time that I’ve seen both, each time I am impressed with their acting. But who surprised me the most is Wang Xing Yue. This is the second time I’ve seen him, but his performance here grew leaps and bounds compared to when I first saw him in One and Only. Zhou Jun Wei is another one who held his own when cast in a sea of experienced actors. I’ve always seen him support roles and here, he proved himself to be a worthy contender of the Female Lead’s love.
Where I think this drama is lacking.
The romance. I’m not entirely sure whether it’s the lack of chemistry between Zhang Ling He and Bai Lu that allowed Zhang Zhe to sweep in the middle. Or maybe it’s the way the characters were written, or how the drama (or camera) focused on Zhang Zhe’s character, that I feel there’s more of a connection between Bai Lu and Wang Xing Yue. The longing looks that they shoot each other for the most of the drama almost erased Zhang Ling He’s existence. When Yan Lin thought his rival was Xie Wei, I think it was Zhang Zhe that he should be wary of. Granted, if Xue Ning’s second life didn’t occur, she might have ended up with Zhang Zhe. But it’s highly unlikely because we know that the upright person who he was, First-life Zhang Zhe would not have fallen in love with First-life Xue Ning.
Speaking past lives, I’m not happy that the drama interjected a modern re-write of the novel as a segue between the first and second lives. I know some people have attributed this to censorship, but there are other dramas that have done this better.
Aside from these points, I almost loved this near-perfect drama, with its powerful cast and engaging plot. This sweeping saga of second chances and second loves explores the question of whether fate can be changed with strong will, or if it remains the same destiny regardless of attempts to reverse it.
Let me start with where this drama excels.
The story. The story of Kunning Palace is full of wonders and intricacy that I am kept on my toes with all the political intrigues and calculated machinations by people in Xue Ning’s second life, with the most impressive moves made by her, and of course our main lead Xie Wei. As separate characters, they are formidable in their own right, but together, they are unstoppable. The way they side-step attempts on their life and thwart their potential ruination were exciting to watch.
The arcs. Several fully developed mini-arcs comprise this drama, each contributing to the overall plot. The writer seamlessly intertwined them, and none served as a filler.
The music. Appropriately themed and timed, that I feel the swell of excitement when called for, and the sense of dread when prompted. They carefully chose the sombre melodies that became a backdrop of unrequited love.
The production. The crew excelled in cinematography, and their attention to detail in costume design creates a world that transports us from the present to the past.
The cast. As expected of Bai Lu, she portrays the role of Xue Ning convincingly. Her wit and charm exude on the screen. Zhang Ling He is not one to slack off either. He proved his status as a top actor by nailing his portrayal of the mysterious figure that is Xie Wei. This is the fifth time that I’ve seen both, each time I am impressed with their acting. But who surprised me the most is Wang Xing Yue. This is the second time I’ve seen him, but his performance here grew leaps and bounds compared to when I first saw him in One and Only. Zhou Jun Wei is another one who held his own when cast in a sea of experienced actors. I’ve always seen him support roles and here, he proved himself to be a worthy contender of the Female Lead’s love.
Where I think this drama is lacking.
The romance. I’m not entirely sure whether it’s the lack of chemistry between Zhang Ling He and Bai Lu that allowed Zhang Zhe to sweep in the middle. Or maybe it’s the way the characters were written, or how the drama (or camera) focused on Zhang Zhe’s character, that I feel there’s more of a connection between Bai Lu and Wang Xing Yue. The longing looks that they shoot each other for the most of the drama almost erased Zhang Ling He’s existence. When Yan Lin thought his rival was Xie Wei, I think it was Zhang Zhe that he should be wary of. Granted, if Xue Ning’s second life didn’t occur, she might have ended up with Zhang Zhe. But it’s highly unlikely because we know that the upright person who he was, First-life Zhang Zhe would not have fallen in love with First-life Xue Ning.
Speaking past lives, I’m not happy that the drama interjected a modern re-write of the novel as a segue between the first and second lives. I know some people have attributed this to censorship, but there are other dramas that have done this better.
Aside from these points, I almost loved this near-perfect drama, with its powerful cast and engaging plot. This sweeping saga of second chances and second loves explores the question of whether fate can be changed with strong will, or if it remains the same destiny regardless of attempts to reverse it.
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