K-Drama 
This review may contain spoilers
The plot is deep and satisfying
About myself:
I am a Gen-X growing up watching many HK dramas. Currently more than 10 years in hiatus watching c-drama because of workload and reducing interest in dramas. This is the 4th c-drama I watched after regaining some interest and time. The drama I watched recently is Shine on Me (8.5), My Genius Girlfriend (8.0), Love for You (8.5) and Spring of the Blade (9.0)
My review:
This c-drama is very interesting as it possesses deep plots in it's story-telling which, kept me guessing what happened in the past and got me catching up on episodes release everyday (I seldom catch up on dramas as I ages, for some reason. So, bravo. I really think this is a good one). The hot and cold romance between the ML and the FL is also very nicely performed by both of them. I think Xu Kai and Zhou Ye performance is truly amazing in the drama. Xu Kai facial expression is excellent as an arrogant bastard, yet, kind-hearted and loving on the inside and Zhou Ye is really good at playing 'ice-cold' ancient costume character. The are plenty of memorable scenes in the drama. The music is very good too.
Why I rated it at only 9.0 is because:
1. Lack of action scenes. There are a few action scenes but I think it will get me thrilled a little bit more if there are more actions scenes since, I am used to HK movies in the 90s.
2. The CGI on the last episode is too fake.
3. As the matriarch of Xie family and when living as the Palace Commander, in the ending, but can live a simple life doesn't really make sense. Though, I understand the screenwriter is trying to give the drama a happy ending. If I am to rewrite the ending, I think, I would put the ML and FL separated for awhile because of work, e.g. FL working as Matriarch and ML busy with implementing the new policy, but gives an ending where they are reunited when they bump into each other again during work and spent a night together on the beach with firework and love as shown in the movie.
4. The scene on the last episode where both the ML and FL walking away gives me a kind of weird feeling. I mean I couldn't catch the feeling at all. Is it a vengeful feeling? Is it a letting go feeling? Is that a happy or sad feeling? Is that a satisfaction feeling? I just couldn't get the feeling they are trying to express although I understand the ending.
5. The scene where the rebellion takes place against the 2 generals got too little people 😂. It doesn't look grand. The mid-section of the story where the ML saves the FL got more people. Maybe it's time to use some AI to make the fight looks big 😂.
6. So far, for all these 4 c-drama that I have watched, I find that their endings are considered quite 'weak' or not very satisfying. In short, although it's happy ending but the ending failed to touch my heart. But these 4 c-dramas are 'very strong' in their mid-story.
7. The background music is too loud in the last 4 episodes. I can barely hear the voice of the actresses and actors.
Conclusion:
I think, It's a very notable 'ancient costume' c-drama for 2026. I am surprised the heat index is not that high. I think China should start to find a way to implement cross-platform rather than making exclusives (I never like the idea of exclusives like Sony Playstation or Xbox or iQiyi or Youku or WeTV. At the end of the day, it's just about reaching more customers and how to share profits and costs. Make it watchable from any platform. Then the heat index will be more comparable. It will also help us customers who wanted to watch some drama but doesn't have subscription on 1 or 2 particular platform).
I am a Gen-X growing up watching many HK dramas. Currently more than 10 years in hiatus watching c-drama because of workload and reducing interest in dramas. This is the 4th c-drama I watched after regaining some interest and time. The drama I watched recently is Shine on Me (8.5), My Genius Girlfriend (8.0), Love for You (8.5) and Spring of the Blade (9.0)
My review:
This c-drama is very interesting as it possesses deep plots in it's story-telling which, kept me guessing what happened in the past and got me catching up on episodes release everyday (I seldom catch up on dramas as I ages, for some reason. So, bravo. I really think this is a good one). The hot and cold romance between the ML and the FL is also very nicely performed by both of them. I think Xu Kai and Zhou Ye performance is truly amazing in the drama. Xu Kai facial expression is excellent as an arrogant bastard, yet, kind-hearted and loving on the inside and Zhou Ye is really good at playing 'ice-cold' ancient costume character. The are plenty of memorable scenes in the drama. The music is very good too.
Why I rated it at only 9.0 is because:
1. Lack of action scenes. There are a few action scenes but I think it will get me thrilled a little bit more if there are more actions scenes since, I am used to HK movies in the 90s.
2. The CGI on the last episode is too fake.
3. As the matriarch of Xie family and when living as the Palace Commander, in the ending, but can live a simple life doesn't really make sense. Though, I understand the screenwriter is trying to give the drama a happy ending. If I am to rewrite the ending, I think, I would put the ML and FL separated for awhile because of work, e.g. FL working as Matriarch and ML busy with implementing the new policy, but gives an ending where they are reunited when they bump into each other again during work and spent a night together on the beach with firework and love as shown in the movie.
4. The scene on the last episode where both the ML and FL walking away gives me a kind of weird feeling. I mean I couldn't catch the feeling at all. Is it a vengeful feeling? Is it a letting go feeling? Is that a happy or sad feeling? Is that a satisfaction feeling? I just couldn't get the feeling they are trying to express although I understand the ending.
5. The scene where the rebellion takes place against the 2 generals got too little people 😂. It doesn't look grand. The mid-section of the story where the ML saves the FL got more people. Maybe it's time to use some AI to make the fight looks big 😂.
6. So far, for all these 4 c-drama that I have watched, I find that their endings are considered quite 'weak' or not very satisfying. In short, although it's happy ending but the ending failed to touch my heart. But these 4 c-dramas are 'very strong' in their mid-story.
7. The background music is too loud in the last 4 episodes. I can barely hear the voice of the actresses and actors.
Conclusion:
I think, It's a very notable 'ancient costume' c-drama for 2026. I am surprised the heat index is not that high. I think China should start to find a way to implement cross-platform rather than making exclusives (I never like the idea of exclusives like Sony Playstation or Xbox or iQiyi or Youku or WeTV. At the end of the day, it's just about reaching more customers and how to share profits and costs. Make it watchable from any platform. Then the heat index will be more comparable. It will also help us customers who wanted to watch some drama but doesn't have subscription on 1 or 2 particular platform).
Was this review helpful to you?
