Reviews

Well Written With Great Acting Performance

COMMENTARY

This drama immediately caught my interest from episode one, and I stayed with the drama until the finale. Some may find the beginning quite slow, but that is the buildup, and if you by any means drop it for this reason, I think you should by all means go back to it again till episodes 5 or so.

This writer deserves an award, or something sort of; I loved the skillful blend of romance, political schemes, household schemes, family drama, and even angst. The pacing and how the plot goes with the villains, side characters, and main characters are all entertaining.

Review in Detail (SPOILER AHEAD)


I just love how the plot starts, the whole process it went through, and even the end; I found it unique. I haven't watched many C dramas, but with the little I have watched, I haven't found a plot quite similar to this. Watching this commoner and a woman fallen from grace become an official was something new and refreshing.

Fu Ting Yun's journey from a woman fallen from grace to a woman well praised, known, and sought after was at times painful, angsty, and dreadful, but it was filled with love and support. Watching her being poisoned (to death) by her Grandma was painful and unbearable; it shows how little value she had to the Fu household and also how most wealthy and officials treat their families when they reach a tough path that involves sacrifice, and most times sacrifice their kins while claiming it was for the greater good, and we saw it more than once—loved how she stepped away from the the thinking of a wealthy daughter into a commoner who fetches water, washes clothes, dries grains, and a lot more. She had perseverance and devotion in waiting for Zhao Ling for five years; she knew when to listen to her husband and when not to. She was a woman of her own making, and she didn't need to rely on her family to rise to power. She was also a source of light to many women. I always love the story of a strong woman.

The process by which Zhao Ling went from a salt smuggler was stressful, painful, and needed every bit of hard work and perseverance, and Fu Ting Yun was his strong hope and light and passing through this path. When he became an official, his character became different from when he was a commoner, and overtime him, being an official weighed down his mind to the brink, where he had constant headaches, as shown by him constantly touching his head, leaving his beard unshaven, and even feeling disconnected from his family, friends, and lover. All this stems from his unwillingness to explain some details, share his burden, and remove some weight from his shoulders, and sure, his excuse was to protect her, but I couldn't quite agree with him. Fu Ting Yu is a strong woman who doesn't need your protection, but needs to stand beside you to fight against the foe. At some point in his journey, I asked myself why he pushed himself in this way and whether it was worth it. I find all this realistic in the right sense.

I really love this couple they have being through so much and they deserve a happy ending, Love the unwavering love and support for each other, they have been through so much hard times and peril, their happiness feel deserves, they made me smile, swoon, angsty and teary, but I'm happy they ended living a peaceful life away from politics, giving birth to a girl and raising her in peace.
From Ganlin to the capital hasn't been easy for them both, and I believe it was the trust, support, love, and care they had that brought them through.
The actors had really good chemistry on-screen; the tension was all there, and the tearjerker scene had the most tension.

Yu Jing Xu was a spineless man, that could have left his father wings, he just had to keep depending on his father and gaslighting himself that his father will bring him back to the office, I couldn't even feel pity for him while he was being used, deceived and manipulated by his father and his mother, I would have cut off from them early rather than staying in a home where I'm one of the castaway piece.
Yake's realization and letting go at the end made it my first time seeing her in a good light, and I loved as it wasn't long before she left the man-eating house. Sadly, she didn't leave with her son, but I guess she wants to live for herself, selfishly, leaving her son under the care of that man-eating house.
The sisterhood between Yake and Fu Ting Yu was broken because of greed, jealousy, and lack of communication. I felt that Yake thinks in a one dimensional manner, that is, rising to become a woman of the society, blending to the group of officials wives, with her husband being her source, their is nothing really wrong with that thought, but she is a backstabber and one that is greedy, she please in your front, only to go behind and stab you, that clearly showed the line of how selfish she actually is. Whereas Fu Ting Yu is someone who wants to rise to a woman where no one can decide her fate, she comes to people with sincerity; even if she schemes, it's not against her own. That is the difference between these two sisters and why they drifted apart.

The relationship between Yake and Yu Jingxiu was really unhealthy, but at least it wasn't toxic. I felt he married her out of desire/he thought she had gentle, womanly features e.g taking good care of books, while she married him because she wanted to lift her status. There wasn't any mutual support/assistance, or talking about real feelings. If they had a mutually supportive relationship like Yu Jing Xu's parents, they wouldn't have had this unhealthy relationship, but they would have been so down.

I thought the villains were really interesting; I never really expected the Yu family to actually take on the role of the villain to the end. They were cutthroat, scheming, and resolute; they do not care what means they take to achieve their goals. It was interesting seeing how they and the main characters were perfectly matched. And I loved how Fu Ting Yu and the Yu woman had their last conversation.

The show realistically portrayed how a human heart can be harsh at times. Yu Jing Xu's father always wanted his son to take the blame for him, which was really bad, and he then gave empty promises to please his son. I really liked how the son refused to be the scapegoat at the last part of the show.
I love how the show makes some characters make a difficult choice; Like when the emperor told Zhao Ling to put the blame on his wife and escape all accusations, while he enjoys power and wealth. That would be a very tempting choice for major characters in this drama, but not for Zhao Ling. I knew the choice he would make. It was predictable, and yet that was my first teardrop in this drama. I believe it was the way it was portrayed: he said everything like he was going to poison, THE ANGST, then he took the cup, held her by her jaw, and said I did not take you out of Biyun Nunnery to bring you into another Biyun Nunnery and then he drank the cup and took all the blame. THE ANGST, THE CHEMISTRY, THE TENSION WAS REALLY GOOD.

The villain's accidental death was just sooo unsatisfying and undeserved. He should have gotten a lot more punishment than that sweet death. Yu Jingxiu's mother's ending was good, like she doesn't have to die. It was good seeing her live as a commoner; her losing her senses was better. I'm sure she would have committed suicide if she were sane.
I didn't even care/connect with A Sen when he was getting married; I felt his part was rushed and underdeveloped, and him avoiding Zhao Ling, his brother, after not seeing him for five years DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

FINAL THOUGHT


I loved the ending, and seeing the closure shown in some characters was a delight; seeing Yake teaching at Gan Lin showed she's turned over a new leaf, and watching Wu Youde managing the business means she achieved her dreams of being free, not under the restraint of a man,
Loved, as Zhao Ling stepped away from the court; The court is a very awful and dreadful place to be, where your friends today will point swords against you tomorrow. Loved, as they showed that Zhao Ling and Fu Ting Yun had a child and they are living peacefully.
This drama brought me different emotions and feelings, and I enjoyed them all, and I think this has to do with the actors' performance. They all did great; I applaud the main characters and villains of this show, and even the side characters held their own and displayed their range.

This is a drama I would definitely recommend to someone who loves historical C-dramas, as I do slow-burn, family drama, court politics, schemes, angst, wits, friendship, trust, jealousy, betrayal, and a lot more; the drama has all these in the right amounts.

Rating 9.0

Thanks for reading this Long Review.
If you managed to stick around till now🩷.

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Unexpectedly Best One in Years

I LOVE planning-and-scheming plots, especially revenge stories, and I love it even more when the two leads actually trust each other, cooperate, and face everything together. So I already had really high expectations for this series.

Turns out, even with my expectations that high, this series still managed to exceed them.

What surprised me most was how well it balanced everything. Every episode is genuinely funny, the comedy never feels forced . At the same time, this series can get SO emotional. The male lead's backstory in particular is heartbreaking and really got me. I honestly didn't expect a series this to hit me this hard emotionally.

Somehow the comedy, emotional scenes, and romance all sit together perfectly. The timing is just so good. Even funny lines during emotional moments never ruin the buildup or take me out of the scene. I genuinely don't know how the director pulled that off.

And the character dynamics are AMAZING. Chemistry is flying everywhere. I fell in love with both main leads. Their trust, teamwork, and the way they always stand by each other are probably my favorite parts of the series. The love scenes are all on point too—never too cheesy or cringey, just cute, funny, warm, and natural.

I used to think the best series had to leave you a little unhinged after the final episode—the kind of ending that makes you keep thinking about it for days. But this one made me realize that feeling completely satisfied can be just as good.

This series feels COMPLETE. After everything the leads went through, we actually get to see their life and love afterward, and I loved that so much. Their happy ending feels genuine, cute and natural, Not one of those overly set-up "mom + dad + child" endings that feel like a family commercial. I finished it feeling like they had done everything right and given these characters the ending they deserved.

A few plots and characters were weirdly left hanging near the end, though. I honestly wonder if some scenes were cut or if that was intentional. That's probably my only complaint.

Other than that, ZERO frustration. I loved both leads, I loved their relationship, I loved how funny and unexpectedly emotional it was, and I was completely satisfied from beginning to end.

This is officially the best series I've ever watched. I went in with ridiculously high expectations, and somehow they still exceeded them.

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Behind Every Great Man Is a Woman With a Strategy

Born with little more than ambition and a good heart, Zhao Ling has no intention of staying at the bottom of the ladder. His life takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with Fu Ting Yun, a noblewoman whose reputation is shattered by a scandal she did not cause. What begins as a desperate escape slowly turns into a partnership. Against family grudges, political intrigue, and the whims of fate, Zhao Ling and Fu Ting Yun learn that love is sometimes less about finding the right person and more about choosing the same road, even when it leads straight into the storm.

The Road to Splendor was one of the good dramas I’ve watched this year. In a year where some productions have started leaning heavily on AI and shortcuts, this drama felt refreshingly authentic. You can see the effort behind it. From the locations to the cinematography, costumes, performances, and even the way certain scenes were staged, there was a sense that people actually cared about what they were putting on screen.

The drama opens with a wedding procession colliding with a funeral procession, which is already one hell of an introduction. Instead of immediately explaining everything, it takes us back to show how we arrived at that moment. And honestly, what happened to Ting Yun was heartbreaking. It is difficult to watch a woman live in a world where chastity and reputation can outweigh her own voice, especially when her own family treats her as something that can be sacrificed for their standing. Ting Yun was essentially raised to become a bargaining chip for the Fu family, protected and groomed so that she could make a "good marriage" and bring power to the family. Then, when a scandal she did not cause destroyed her reputation, the same family that had raised her simply abandoned her.

The funeral procession arranged for her was therefore much more than a dramatic scene. With Zhao Ling's help, Ting Yun arranged a wedding procession that collided with the funeral procession prepared by the Fu family. To me, that collision symbolized the death of her old life. The girl who had lived under the protection and expectations of the Fu family was gone. Her youth, sheltered ideals, and belief that she could simply follow the path chosen for her were buried there. What remained was a woman who had to stand on her own feet and decide where she wanted to go. That opening also gave the story a strong emotional foundation. Ting Yun's journey was not simply about revenge or proving everyone wrong. It was about reclaiming ownership of her own life. And this was where Deng En Xi really impressed me.

Fu Ting Yun might just be the most impressive role Deng En Xi has taken to date. She did not merely play Ting Yun. She became her. There is an elegance and charisma to her performance, but also an underlying sharpness that makes Ting Yun feel like someone who can walk into a room and quietly take control of it. A lot of that comes from her expressions and delivery rather than the script itself. What I especially appreciate is that Ting Yun was not written as an invincible woman empowerment poster. She is intelligent, strategic, and capable, but she is also confused, vulnerable, explosive, and sometimes wrong. She fails as much as she succeeds. That balance makes her feel human. Empowerment is much more convincing when the character is allowed to struggle instead of winning simply because the script says she is strong.

One scene that really demonstrated both the drama's willingness to be raw and Deng En Xi's commitment to the role was when Ting Yun was poisoned. Zhao Ling arrives at just the right moment and helps her induce vomiting with his fingers in her mouth. Even that alone felt unusually visceral for a Chinese drama. But then Ting Yun tries to induce vomiting herself by eating rain-soaked leftover noodles. I have a weak stomach, so I was genuinely speechless watching that scene. It was probably the most impressive and well-performed scene in the entire drama for me. I haven't seen any behind-the-scenes footage of how they filmed it, but that scene alone speaks volumes about Deng En Xi's dedication. I don't know how she managed to stomach it, but respect.

Then there is Zhao Ling. Zhao Ling is a salt trader, or depending on how you look at it, a bandit. He is not book smart, but he is street smart. Beneath his rough exterior, though, is a ridiculously sweet heart. Ding Yu Xi plays that duality beautifully. His puppy eyes can make Zhao Ling look almost harmless, but the moment his expression sharpens, you immediately remember that this man can be ruthless. I especially like that the drama does not try to sanitize him. When he cares about someone, he cares with complete sincerity. When someone hurts the people he loves, his ruthlessness has very few boundaries. He can simply pull out a knife and kill someone on the spot. And somehow, both sides of him feel believable.

His journey with Ting Yun is where the drama really shines. They become partners in the truest sense. Ting Yun brings intelligence, strategy, and the ability to see several moves ahead. Zhao Ling brings strength, street smarts, instincts, and the ability to handle situations that cannot be solved with a clever plan. They complement each other beautifully.

After they encounter the Crown Prince, who will later become Emperor, Ting Yun encourages Zhao Ling to join the army and aim for officialdom. She also tells him that she wants to marry him and will continue helping him. Of course, Ting Yun is not completely altruistic about this. His success benefits her too. But I like that their relationship is built on mutual interest that gradually grows into genuine loyalty. They head to Ganlin in the northwest, with Ting Yun taking her mother's surname, Xie, and becoming Zhao Ling's fiancée. Zhao Ling joins the army and tries to climb the ranks while Ting Yun manages things from home. 

Ganlin was probably my favorite arc. It is where Zhao Ling's character development and his relationship with Ting Yun felt the strongest. You get to see them build a life together, face problems together, and gradually become the kind of couple who can trust each other with their backs turned. As partners, they absolutely slay. As lovers, though, I did not feel much sparks. The chemistry between Zhao Ling and Ting Yun is strong when they are working together, but as a romantic couple, they did not give me as much spark as I wanted. And honestly, I blame the writing. Both Ding Yu Xi and Deng En Xi have proven that they can deliver romantic expressions. If anything, their performances are doing a lot of heavy lifting here.

Zhao Ling's feelings were easier for me to see. His affection develops quietly but convincingly. He starts treating Ting Yun like a precious gem. He knows she is strong enough not to break, but he still does not want her to get scratched or fall to the ground. There are little moments where he is caught off guard by something she says or does, and you can see him slowly developing that soft spot. Ting Yun, however, was harder for me to read romantically. She clearly cares about him. She trusts him. She considers him someone she can walk through life and death with. But for most of the drama, she felt more like she had found her ride-or-die partner than the man she was romantically falling in love with. The circumstances and writing simply did not give her enough room to show romantic tension. The only time I genuinely felt Ting Yun's completely loving gaze was during the final swing scene.

One particular line from Zhao Ling stayed with me: "I saved you from Biyun Nunnery, not to let you end up in another one." That line basically defines their relationship. When Zhao Ling eventually comes to Ting Yun with poison, she does not react with huge surprise. It feels more like she is thinking, "So it has come to this." Somewhere in the back of her mind, she had always been prepared for the possibility that even Zhao Ling could become another person who would determine her fate. She accepts the poison because the choices she made were hers. She chose the marriage. She chose the capital. She chose this road. She does not regret it.

Then Zhao Ling takes the poison for her. That is when she is genuinely shocked. Because Zhao Ling has always wanted the best for her. He started this journey because of her, and somewhere along the way, he developed ambitions of his own. But underneath all of that, it was still about giving her the life she deserved. As partners, they are excellent. As a romantic couple, I just wish the drama had allowed them to breathe a little more. Zhao Ling literally says he wants to marry for love, yet somehow I did not always feel that love on screen as strongly as I wanted to.

The Ganlin arc itself eventually started leaning into more familiar tropes too. My biggest disappointment was Yu Jing Xiu. He was much more interesting when he was simply trying to fight against his parents and make a name for himself. I also enjoyed him more when he schemed against Ting Yun because his mother liked her and because she admired his mother. Once he started falling for Ting Yun because she saved him, then putting her on a pedestal as some goddess who had broken free from her family's shackles, his character became another typical obsessive and possessive second male lead. He went from interesting to predictable.

After Ganlin, the story takes Zhao Ling and Ting Yun to the capital. Zhao Ling earns an official position and becomes one of the Emperor's men, while Ting Yun takes charge of the Xie family business and continues supporting him with strategy and handling matters from the women's side. I actually enjoyed the first half of the capital arc. Watching them navigate court politics together was fun, especially because their strengths remained complementary. They really felt like a power couple in the practical sense. Although at some point I was just sitting there thinking, can you two please get married already? There are so many people hovering around them that I just wanted them to make things official.

The family and political conflict were also entertaining, especially watching the Zhao and Yu families clash through their respective women. Behind every powerful man is apparently a woman who listens to his problems and then quietly whispers the strategy he should use. I also appreciated that Madam Yu was not written as completely black or white. She knows when to attack and when to retreat. Ironically, her greatest victim might actually have been her own son, Jing Xiu. It was wild watching the Yu couple sacrifice their son so easily and claim it was for the family when it often felt more like they were protecting their own pride and saving their own skin.

Then came episode 31. For me, that was the emotional climax of the drama. By that point, I had become accustomed to the drama's misleading previews, ruses, and convenient last-minute solutions. Whenever something looked disastrous, I had started assuming there would be some trick around the corner. By the end, I was basically trained to think, "It's fine. Everyone will survive." However, episode 31 was different. There was no convenient ruse to soften the blow. It was simply the Emperor finally acting with the authority and responsibility of an Emperor. What happened was heartbreaking, made even more painful because the sacrifice could have been avoided. I was emotionally drained after that episode. Ironically, the actual finale did not affect me nearly as much.

The ending was steady, predictable, convenient, and ultimately anticlimactic. I was not angry with it, but I wanted to feel the victory of the leads more. After everything Zhao Ling and Ting Yun had endured, I wanted that feeling of finally making it through the storm. I did not need an explosive finale. I just wanted the emotional payoff to match the journey. The resolutions for the supporting characters were mostly decent, though some were much more satisfying than others.

Fan Ya Ke's ending felt liberating. I was genuinely happy for her, and I appreciated that the drama did not force her into the cliché of simply returning to parenting her son. Instead, it connected her ending back to the beginning, with her following in her father's footsteps and becoming a teacher. The Yu family's ending was where I felt the drama dropped the ball.

I did not need everyone to be beheaded, but I wanted the wins and losses to feel more tangible. Yu Guo Dong dying by accident was especially disappointing. After everything he had done and everything the story had built up, reducing his death to an accident felt anticlimactic. I would have found it much more satisfying if Jing Xiu had intentionally killed him, or if the Emperor had given him a severe punishment.

Madam Yu's ending was also surprisingly mild. For all the things she did, her punishment felt like a very chill layoff in modern terms. It's sad, but she'll live. I think the ending would have had more impact if we had actually seen more of her devastation and the consequences of losing everything. Instead, it felt rather lukewarm. The drama even had Ting Yun verbally explain that becoming a commoner was worse than death for Madam Yu, almost as if the script needed to convince both Ting Yun and the audience that this was a satisfying punishment.

As for Jing Xiu, his ending did not really feel like a defeat. If anything, it felt like he finally escaped his parents' cage. So perhaps it was less a punishment and more a gift. Still, I do appreciate that the drama gave closure to all the major characters and showed us where everyone ended up. Ting Yun and Zhao Ling's ending, especially that final swing scene, was beautiful.

One of the drama’s greatest strengths is the visuals. I loved how much effort went into the locations and cinematography, especially during the Ganlin arc. Rather than relying entirely on AI, green screens, and the familiar Hengdian setups, the production actually went out and filmed in different locations. The desert scenes were gorgeous. The autumn trees by the lake were gorgeous. There was a sense of scale that made the journey feel like an actual journey. 

The color grading was also lovely. Warm golden tones made the happier and more splendid scenes feel warmer, while cooler tones were used for sadness and isolation. The camera angles, foreground elements, composition, and blocking were often thoughtfully done. I usually have a love-hate relationship with all the drapes in costume dramas, but this drama actually knew how to use them. The framing often felt aesthetic without becoming obviously obsessed with being aesthetic.

And the costumes, hair, and makeup were beautiful. They genuinely made me appreciate the fashion of the era more than I expected. The OSTs were another pleasant surprise. I still hear some of them in my head even after finishing the drama, which is usually a good sign.

Overall, The Road to Splendor is a drama I enjoyed very much, even though I cannot call it perfect. Its strongest points are its leads, production effort, cinematography, and costumes. Despite the parts where the drama stumbles, I would still recommend it. There is effort here. There is personality here. There are performances worth watching. There are scenes that genuinely surprised me. There are beautiful locations, gorgeous costumes, strong cinematography, and characters who are more nuanced than they initially appear. Most importantly, The Road to Splendor feels made rather than assembled. And in an era where you can sometimes feel the shortcuts behind the screen, that authenticity is worth something.

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Unwatchable

I dont think i ever rated something this low. I kept hearing about this show so i got my hopes up. I kept hoping it gets better but only 3 episodes in, i had to ask myself: why i am i forcing myself to watch this? Why am i wasting my time?
I think only very young people could watch this and maybe someone who didnt see a lot of BL and doesnt have any standards for a decent show.
Plot is weird, if there is any. 2 guys meet and end up in bed. One wants to take it seriously, fair play to him. Other claims he doesnt but want the other guy to treat him like a princess. By ep 3 they're not dating but he gets introduced to a whole family for what reason? And then asked to be in a relationship in front of a whole family?? And the answer is.. hmm let me think.
Yim character is so annoying. Acting is so bad, looks like just bunch of random sentences put together for a scrip, and made for short TT clips or something. Very disappointing, dont waste your time

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the slow burn killed me

At first, I was skeptical because I don't really like horror movies or series that much but my friend told me about the story and the atmosphere so I decided to give it a try and holy hell this is one of the best produced series I've seen so far. The setting is absolutely amazing. Pharan's house was gorgeous and the makeups (except the bloody one T^T) were really immersing.
I loved the flash backs plot, it really gave us an impression of living the life of Khemjira.
The acting was also amazing. I particularity appreciated Tle acting and backstory, but every character was useful and well developed.
I can die for slow burns like this. I'm used to watch dramas with the main character waiting the end of the drama to get together but this "treat them mean, keep them keen" plot, it was one of the things that made me stop watching sometimes, not that I hate it, but I found it a bit boring (but I understand the meaning of the dynamic).
The only I disliked are the musics, just personal taste.
Overall, I really recommend this drama to everyone wanting to try something new :)

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So close to perfection, but unfortunately fell short for me

I feel like this could have so easily been a 10/10 for me, or at least a 9/10 except for a few major issues.

One, this is a deeply philosophical drama. Everything has more than one layer. But because I don't speak Chinese, it was frustrating to constantly feel like I'm missing out on the depth. A lot of things I could only understand by reading people's explanations on Reddit. The most egregious example is not even understanding what Hunter School was until after the series was over, because it was just never explained. While anyone can enjoy this drama, it was primarily made for Chinese people steeped in Chinese culture, so I always felt like I was participating from the sidelines.

Secondly, the 2nd couple didn't really feel like they added much to the story. I understand them thematically as a parallel to Qing Lang & Shi Yuhao, but they weren't that well written. We didn't get to know them as much as our main characters, so it was a struggle to understand their motivations. (e.g. why did Han Lu bring his boss' daughter to a meeting with his sugar daddy?????) I think they could have been removed without anything really changing.

Lastly, I hate, hate, hate how the show handed Qing Tian's death. I appreciated his death, even though it broke my heart, and I thought Zelia was very brave for allowing her story to go there. But I can't lie: I got whiplash from the next episode. After spending so much time with Qing Lang, following his every emotion, it felt odd for us not to grieve with him. By the next episode Qing Tian is basically gone from the story and the show keeps on moving. It felt inauthentic and created a disconnect that I just couldn't recover from. Lan Jie got more mention than Qing Tian after both of their deaths, and I don't like that one bit.

I really thought this would be a 10/10 show, but alas. Not sure it's one I'll revisit, but it was beautiful while it lasted.

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A cinematic Masterpiece

After Khemjira, this one drama is a masterpiece for me. The cast , music , acting and Cinematography is TOP NOTCH! Not forgetting the storytelling it was so RAW and very Real. Those who couldn't connect with this gem must be among those crazy fans who only prefer Wattpad brainless shi. And yes if you're a fujoshi or not this series is totally worth it.

Idk why it isn't TOO much famous like those dark dramas? Because this one deserves much more recognition and awards!
I also heard that the budget so little. But you won't even realise once u watch this. It definitely shows that money isn't everything, you need dedication , love and brain to create art and this one series is the proof. So kudos to the director and producer Zelia💚
Anyways this series is something that'll always make me comeback for it again and again...

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Events Are Not the Same as Narrative Uncertainty

By Episode 36, The Road to Splendor resolves virtually every major conflict in perfect symmetry.

The corrupt Yu family finally falls. Their assets are confiscated, and Madam Shu and her son are reduced to commoners. Peace is restored, the salt trade is stabilized, Zhao Ling gives up his imperial honors to live quietly with the woman he loves, and the surviving women finally break free and embrace their independence.

In other words:

Corruption: punished.
Injustice: corrected.
Villains: defeated.
The salt conflict: resolved.
The hero: gives up power.
The couple: together.
The women: independent.

It is an almost perfectly symmetrical resolution to the conflicts established from the beginning.

Of course, many things can happen along the way: betrayals, separations, persecutions, revelations, and life-threatening situations.

But events are not the same as narrative uncertainty.

If we already know where every piece ultimately has to fall, we may not know exactly how the story will get there...

but the destination was never really in doubt.

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unfair screenwriter

I was hopeful when I started watching the series. It was progressing as I expected. I can say I watched it with enjoyment and curiosity. However, the Chinese screenwriters, who ruin every good series, ruined this one too. Especially the final episodes. The one-sidedness of the villain really annoyed me. The fact that these villains got away with nothing in the end was the biggest injustice. Minister Yu, his wife, his son—they did evil to everyone, including murder. None of them got punished, and the series ended. In the end, the mother and son were overjoyed. It was too utopian. I didn't like it.

Minister Yu is killed by his own son, but basically that's all. He dies without being properly judged or punished for everything he did. There's no real sense of justice or consequences.

And then there's Yu Jing Xiu and her mother. After everything they did, especially what they did to the main character and their role in her father's death, I expected them to face something much harsher. Instead, Yu Jing Xiu survives with her mother and child. Of course, they're poor now, but they're still alive, together, and even get a chance to remarry. An incredibly happy ending for someone who did such terrible things.

We don't even see proper execution scenes or clear consequences for many of the villains, including the ministers who helped the Yu family. Everyone just moves on with their lives somehow.
Although I generally liked the series, the ending felt unfair and emotionless to me. The main actors deserved happiness. However, it wasn't fair that they received the same treatment as the villains; they're happy too. Where's the justice? It didn't happen. I'm sending a complaint to the screenwriter. This mess ruined the magic of the series.
The main actors generally seemed good. However, there seemed to be a lack of chemistry. The female lead seemed a bit inexperienced. It wasn't a complete adaptation. Overall, I liked the actors. They gave good performances. The veteran actors were especially successful. The younger actors were also eager to show themselves. I recommend it to those who haven't watched it. But I gave it a 7.5 instead of an 8 because of the unfair ending. Enjoy watching.

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And with Ep 7, I'm Out

I am dropping this series and I'm really upset about that fact. This had the makings to be a really great show. The cast is all very attractive and for the most part can act very well. The storyline was interesting, the sets were gorgeous, but the chemistry proved to be non-existent. Also, and this is kind of a spoiler I guess, there is a random SA scene thrown into episode 7 that already had me feeling uncomfortable with the series and then the major dead fish lips (IYKYK and ya'll know) let down happened at the spring and I was done. I didn't even finish the episode and I probably never will.

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Wu Jin Yan deserves better.

Although it’s not a particularly bad drama, I just couldn’t really get into it. I found the storyline and production way too ordinary, and there were no real surprises. Throughout the whole drama, you keep waiting to see Wu Jin Yan in assassin mode, but that barely ever happens. The actress is still as good as ever, but she can’t carry the whole drama by herself.

The ML’s character changes completely within just two episodes, and his role completely loses its credibility in the second half of the story. The supporting characters barely have any storylines, and what little we do get is really not that interesting.

Honestly, these actors deserve so much better than this. I’ll just remember the first half as being pretty interesting and quickly forget about the rest.

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Almost perfect.

==Breakdown==
Background plot / palace intrigue - first half 50%, second half 85%
Romance - first half 35%, second half 15%
Misc comedy- first half 15%, none in the second half

Background plot - First half- REALLY GOOD; second half- Good
Romantic chemistry - EXCELLENT
Misc comedy - Good
Production value and direction - OMG OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I first have to call out the production (cinematography and art direction). They really took advantage of the locations shoots. This show was so freaking pretty, and each scene composition looked like a painting. The attention to detail was so appreciated and made watching this show a joy (even when it grew harder to watch due to the story).

The leads did a phenomenal job, ML and FL in particular. Chemistry was outstanding (no surprise since their chemistry was stellar in their first drama together as well). Ryan Ding is now one of my absolute favorites, probably because he does a lot of eye-acting. His eyes are so expressive.
Ancy Deng is also quickly becoming a huge favorite of mine. She played her role exquisitely and had me captivated in all her scenes. Adore her acting choices.

Story was overall excellent and interesting, characters were realistically drawn and layered / flawed, which I loved.

So why 9.5 instead of 10?
The main focus of this drama early on and through episode 24 was the bond and therefore romance between the leads. The last 12 episodes focused on treachery to the detriment of the romance/main story. The fundamental problem with the last few episodes (which were still good, but not great) was how he director allowed the palace intrigue to eclipse the main story. All they had to do was add a few scenes in each episode of the ML / FL longing and yearning for each other (as they did in the first 24) but once that thread became stretched too thin, the drama couldn't recover the magic. Director rushed the main story (their love for each other) and therefore the end felt just fine instead of powerful and meaningful.

I have learned that this is fairly common with CDramas (the ending is fumbled due to a lack of importance placed on what made the story magical in the beginning). Therefore, as long as you know going in that the last 12 episodes will sorta let you down, I 100% recommend this drama.

The only CDrama I've seen where this wasn't the case was 'Shadow Love.' The last 12 episodes were actually THE BEST part of that show.

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lukewarm and forgettable...

I was interested at first, but as the episodes went on, the show started skipping important details and sometimes just didn’t make sense. There wasn’t much depth, and the excessive flashbacks and OSTs became noticeable. It was funny at times, but the story had potential that wasn’t properly delivered.

The romance was probably the weakest part for me. The chemistry was practically nonexistent, and the fake-dating trope is starting to feel like a new K-drama cliché. I’ve now seen the leads give different versions of their fake relationship in The Apartment Job, Would You Marry Me?, and this one. It’s getting repetitive.

The show also had strong competition with dramas like Phantom Lawyer, Sell Your Haunted House, and Hotel del Luna. Compared to them, this felt very lukewarm and stale. I watched the last two episodes at 1.5x just to finish. mid at best. Like room-temperature flat water: not bad enough to hate, but not interesting enough to love.

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Good series

I didn't like the first two episodes, that kind of comedy is not my cup of tea. Lucky for me after that it just became a normal drama, without the extreme comedy. It was a nice story, great visuals and the music was ok.

I love Tay/New, their acting is great and they have amazing and effortless chemistry and great kisses, you can see they are working together for many years.
I am still not convinced about the pairing Mond/Ryu. Mond is an amazing actor and can create amazing chemistry. But though is see a little improvement in the acting of Ryu since That summer, he still needs to learn so much. There is still not much chemistry from his side. At least the kisses were not too bad.

And remember, after the end credits of the last episode is a fun extra.

I probably won't re-watch it, it was nice for one time.

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the first ten mins is all you need to know

By far the most beautiful BL I have seen since 2017 when I started my first series.

I can't even tell you a partciular scene that stuck with me because all of them did. The golden duvet and that warmth of the sun, the opening shot with the car made me realise I was getting far more than what I was anticipating.

The framing, lighting and angles are simply eye watering, the cinematography is sublime. I think I have fallen in love, and it's no exaggeration. Someone in the comments said this is like "poetry in motion", a moving painting, and it couldn't be a better description.

This drama may not be for everyone: the story is slow, it begs patience from the viewer, and it will reach the right audience. It's more about experience (like art) than consumption. And whoever made this is clearly an artist.

It doesn't feel like a BL at all, but a slow, beguiling documentary about everyday people, even making stars and crew seem mundane and very much human. And that's exactly what this drama feels like - human, and so simple yet complex.

The only thing that's left to be determined is the acting. I feel there's not much expressions that tell a story (but it supports the viewer experience as a documentary), so I can't comment too much on this yet other than this. But the cinematography and music alone should make A Winter Sun be hailed as a "must watch"

Go and feast your eyes.

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