This review may contain spoilers
A beautifully told tragedy of love that fills you with anguish, but worth the tears
This was... phenomenally beautiful. That's the best word I have for this show - it was tragic, it was beautiful, it was one of the best storytelling I've ever seen. Everything about this show is just gentle, tender, pure, unadulterated, unconditional LOVE. Watching the leads fall in love with each other was so incredibly gratifying and they have made their way into my top10 cdrama couples. The best part of this show was how beautifully their story was told - they are so devoted to each other and they care so deeply for each other, yet neither neglect the heavy duty weighing on their shoulders and on their heart. That is what makes this show so heartwrenchingly gutting - this delicate balance of deep love and heavy duty.
Bailu and Allen Ren have really good chemistry, and they were born to play these roles. I cannot imagine anyone else playing these characters - they do such an excellent job of showing that deep, gentle, pure love that withstands time and tribulation. It isn't the electric kind of chemistry that ignites heat and passion, no it is far from that, it is the pure kind of chemistry that just gives you the vibes of "yes, they suit each other so well" and they honestly look like a young married couple in most of their scenes. They just complement each other so well, not just in terms of visuals but also in terms of their roles and characters. Both of them did a wonderful acting job here. Bailu was amazing at bringing the role of Shi Yi to life, embodying the gentle and elegant, graceful and delicate, intelligent and serene character as one who has been raised in a prestigious, wealthy family. I also think she deserves HIGH praise for her absolute mastery of crying scenes - and she had so many. She truly made me feel her pain, agony, and sorrow, and I honestly felt like my heart was being SQUEEZED into a pulp whenever she sobbed because she did so with so much emotion. Allen Ren was also phenomenal - he EMBODIED the sophisticated, fierce, confident, and righteous warrior/general. He suits the role so well because he truly brought Zhou Sheng Chen to life with undeniable aura - you really feel how influential and powerful and skilled he is as well as how respected he is as a general. I would even venture to say that these roles are Bailu and Allen's best characters, the type that they are both most suited to act as. Truly, I was blown away at how well-suited they were for their roles AND for each other.
I do have to take a moment to talk about the score and the music - EXCELLENT. I have 0 complaints, the OSTs were paired so so so well and really heightened the emotion of every scene. One of the best shows I have seen when it comes to apt OST or BGM pairing. The only other shows that match this drama's level when it comes to music (at least, from the shows I have watched) are Love Between Fairy and Devil and Love Game in Eastern Fantasy. The music in this show was truly so well done.
The actual plot of this show was almost entirely about palace politics and corruption and power wrestles and I did not gaf about any of it, to be very frank, it was pretty dry and I skipped over most of the plot scenes. I wouldn't say the plot is predictable, and honestly many twists surprised me at least a little, and though it isn't anything crazy or entirely new, it was still pretty watchable. The love story of the main couple was definitely the main focus of this show though so the plot does not play a super critical role - though of course the plot does have great impact on the couple. The 2nd ML (who [SPOILER] also turned out to be one of the villains) was SOOO irritating I hated him with every fibre of my being. He was absolutely horrid and I never, not even once, felt sorry for him. As for the side characters, I did like the 2 side couples, but I wasn't really invested in their stories. They were fun to watch but I felt little emotion for them. As far as side characters go, I do think the ones in this show are very much likeable, but because the main focus of the show was the main couple, the side characters and side couples were not fleshed out or developed super well. That didn't bother me, though, because watching the main couple was also my main focus while watching the show.
As for the ending... [SPOILER] Yes, it is a sad ending. Both leads end up dying, the ML before the FL, but I did find the ending the best possible ending following the ML's death. I of course wanted a happy ending, I wanted them to overthrow the godforsaken corrupt rule in the palace and get married and live happily ever after, but alas that didn't happen. Yet, the ending was so beautiful I couldn't even complain even amidst my absolute breakdown. After the ML's death (or more so, tortured murder?), the FL chooses her own way of rebellion by committing suicide while donned in her wedding dress, with her last words being "Zhou Sheng Chen, I'm coming to marry you". That, to me, was the best ending they could've gotten following his death. I cried so much watching this show I actually got a headache afterwards... but every tear was worth it. I usually hate sad endings and avoid them no matter what but I made an exception for this one because I heard so many reviews raving about it, and I am so so glad I gave this show a shot because it is truly so good. If you cannot deal with sad endings, I honestly would still recommend this show because the journey to the end is truly so so gratifying and touching; it is equal parts heartwarming and heartwrenching. Also - there is a sequel to this show, called "Forever and Ever", and it is the reincarnation of the ML and FL in a modern cdrama. There are elements of this show in Forever and Ever, with the FL getting flashes of memories but not being able to remember exactly her past life (the ML is clueless to this). This is because of China's censorship laws of course, because in the novel that these shows were based on, the FL did have her memories of her past life (aka this life) in the next life (aka in Forever and Ever). Forever and Ever is really cute too because it is meant to heal the viewer after the tragedy that befell the leads in this show, and the references and callbacks to this show really make you feel so anguished. However, I would not recommend that you watch Forever and Ever before/without watching this show, because it can be pretty dry/boring and confusing without the knowledge from this show because the sequel's main purpose is to heal the viewers and give the leads the happy ending that they deserve but didn't get to live out in this life.
This show did a great job at foreshadowing and giving small subtle details throughout the show, and that heightens its rewatch value too as the 2nd watch will allow you to pick up new things that you might not have noticed the first time around. This show also has wonderful cinematography and many scenes were very beautifully crafted, with amazing costuming and styling as well, the costumes really elevated the characters' roles and personalities and just overall aura/vibe. Flashback sequences were also done very well that just caused more tears to break free... the storytelling in this show was truly beautiful. Watching the leads fall in love with each other slowly was so touching, and the actors did so good bringing this emotion to life. Forbidden love with the shifu/disciple trope is such a painful one but it is also so aching to see, the yearning, the holding back, it’s all just so wow. The actors did a stunning job of showing their love and devotion through action and longing gazes and other subtle actions instead of through their words or big declarations of love. It’s the little things that truly add up and cause a greater impact on your heart. This is truly one of the most beautiful and tender and pure love stories I have seen throughout cdrama history.
If you're looking for a well-developed, well-told love story, with both the ML and FL being intelligent and powerful, this show is perfect for you. I really do recommend that you give it a watch - it might start off pretty dry and boring, but make it past the first few episodes and once the ML and FL meet, the love story starts picking up. I was honestly pretty underwhelmed watching the first couple of episodes because this drama is more of a slower-paced one, but I grew to become so incredibly invested. Personally, episodes 9-14 were the sweetest and fluffiest for me. And the tender moments in episode 12 alone made the entire show worth watching.
This is my favourite show of Bailu's and also of Allen Ren's. I would also recommend Till The End of The Moon for Bailu's badass side, as well as Moonlight Mystique.
This show is worth the watch. It is worth the sad ending. It is worth the tears. It is a love story that will change your life, honestly, there will be a persistent gaping in your heart after watching this show, but it is so beautiful that I do not mind it being there forever. It truly has changed something in me and I appreciate it so much.
Bailu and Allen Ren have really good chemistry, and they were born to play these roles. I cannot imagine anyone else playing these characters - they do such an excellent job of showing that deep, gentle, pure love that withstands time and tribulation. It isn't the electric kind of chemistry that ignites heat and passion, no it is far from that, it is the pure kind of chemistry that just gives you the vibes of "yes, they suit each other so well" and they honestly look like a young married couple in most of their scenes. They just complement each other so well, not just in terms of visuals but also in terms of their roles and characters. Both of them did a wonderful acting job here. Bailu was amazing at bringing the role of Shi Yi to life, embodying the gentle and elegant, graceful and delicate, intelligent and serene character as one who has been raised in a prestigious, wealthy family. I also think she deserves HIGH praise for her absolute mastery of crying scenes - and she had so many. She truly made me feel her pain, agony, and sorrow, and I honestly felt like my heart was being SQUEEZED into a pulp whenever she sobbed because she did so with so much emotion. Allen Ren was also phenomenal - he EMBODIED the sophisticated, fierce, confident, and righteous warrior/general. He suits the role so well because he truly brought Zhou Sheng Chen to life with undeniable aura - you really feel how influential and powerful and skilled he is as well as how respected he is as a general. I would even venture to say that these roles are Bailu and Allen's best characters, the type that they are both most suited to act as. Truly, I was blown away at how well-suited they were for their roles AND for each other.
I do have to take a moment to talk about the score and the music - EXCELLENT. I have 0 complaints, the OSTs were paired so so so well and really heightened the emotion of every scene. One of the best shows I have seen when it comes to apt OST or BGM pairing. The only other shows that match this drama's level when it comes to music (at least, from the shows I have watched) are Love Between Fairy and Devil and Love Game in Eastern Fantasy. The music in this show was truly so well done.
The actual plot of this show was almost entirely about palace politics and corruption and power wrestles and I did not gaf about any of it, to be very frank, it was pretty dry and I skipped over most of the plot scenes. I wouldn't say the plot is predictable, and honestly many twists surprised me at least a little, and though it isn't anything crazy or entirely new, it was still pretty watchable. The love story of the main couple was definitely the main focus of this show though so the plot does not play a super critical role - though of course the plot does have great impact on the couple. The 2nd ML (who [SPOILER] also turned out to be one of the villains) was SOOO irritating I hated him with every fibre of my being. He was absolutely horrid and I never, not even once, felt sorry for him. As for the side characters, I did like the 2 side couples, but I wasn't really invested in their stories. They were fun to watch but I felt little emotion for them. As far as side characters go, I do think the ones in this show are very much likeable, but because the main focus of the show was the main couple, the side characters and side couples were not fleshed out or developed super well. That didn't bother me, though, because watching the main couple was also my main focus while watching the show.
As for the ending... [SPOILER] Yes, it is a sad ending. Both leads end up dying, the ML before the FL, but I did find the ending the best possible ending following the ML's death. I of course wanted a happy ending, I wanted them to overthrow the godforsaken corrupt rule in the palace and get married and live happily ever after, but alas that didn't happen. Yet, the ending was so beautiful I couldn't even complain even amidst my absolute breakdown. After the ML's death (or more so, tortured murder?), the FL chooses her own way of rebellion by committing suicide while donned in her wedding dress, with her last words being "Zhou Sheng Chen, I'm coming to marry you". That, to me, was the best ending they could've gotten following his death. I cried so much watching this show I actually got a headache afterwards... but every tear was worth it. I usually hate sad endings and avoid them no matter what but I made an exception for this one because I heard so many reviews raving about it, and I am so so glad I gave this show a shot because it is truly so good. If you cannot deal with sad endings, I honestly would still recommend this show because the journey to the end is truly so so gratifying and touching; it is equal parts heartwarming and heartwrenching. Also - there is a sequel to this show, called "Forever and Ever", and it is the reincarnation of the ML and FL in a modern cdrama. There are elements of this show in Forever and Ever, with the FL getting flashes of memories but not being able to remember exactly her past life (the ML is clueless to this). This is because of China's censorship laws of course, because in the novel that these shows were based on, the FL did have her memories of her past life (aka this life) in the next life (aka in Forever and Ever). Forever and Ever is really cute too because it is meant to heal the viewer after the tragedy that befell the leads in this show, and the references and callbacks to this show really make you feel so anguished. However, I would not recommend that you watch Forever and Ever before/without watching this show, because it can be pretty dry/boring and confusing without the knowledge from this show because the sequel's main purpose is to heal the viewers and give the leads the happy ending that they deserve but didn't get to live out in this life.
This show did a great job at foreshadowing and giving small subtle details throughout the show, and that heightens its rewatch value too as the 2nd watch will allow you to pick up new things that you might not have noticed the first time around. This show also has wonderful cinematography and many scenes were very beautifully crafted, with amazing costuming and styling as well, the costumes really elevated the characters' roles and personalities and just overall aura/vibe. Flashback sequences were also done very well that just caused more tears to break free... the storytelling in this show was truly beautiful. Watching the leads fall in love with each other slowly was so touching, and the actors did so good bringing this emotion to life. Forbidden love with the shifu/disciple trope is such a painful one but it is also so aching to see, the yearning, the holding back, it’s all just so wow. The actors did a stunning job of showing their love and devotion through action and longing gazes and other subtle actions instead of through their words or big declarations of love. It’s the little things that truly add up and cause a greater impact on your heart. This is truly one of the most beautiful and tender and pure love stories I have seen throughout cdrama history.
If you're looking for a well-developed, well-told love story, with both the ML and FL being intelligent and powerful, this show is perfect for you. I really do recommend that you give it a watch - it might start off pretty dry and boring, but make it past the first few episodes and once the ML and FL meet, the love story starts picking up. I was honestly pretty underwhelmed watching the first couple of episodes because this drama is more of a slower-paced one, but I grew to become so incredibly invested. Personally, episodes 9-14 were the sweetest and fluffiest for me. And the tender moments in episode 12 alone made the entire show worth watching.
This is my favourite show of Bailu's and also of Allen Ren's. I would also recommend Till The End of The Moon for Bailu's badass side, as well as Moonlight Mystique.
This show is worth the watch. It is worth the sad ending. It is worth the tears. It is a love story that will change your life, honestly, there will be a persistent gaping in your heart after watching this show, but it is so beautiful that I do not mind it being there forever. It truly has changed something in me and I appreciate it so much.
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