Reviews

two stories intertwined: one of them is OK, the other one is atrocious

This drama has one huge flaw, which is like a big dirty stain on a dress.
The flaw I'm talking about, is the entire secondary plot—the story of Bing Zhu and Dreamshard Immortal/Pianpian.
If they'd cut out everything related to DI, all the episodes set in her realm, then all of Pianpian’s actions and Bing Zhu’s story and decisions, I would easily give this drama an 8 or maybe even 8.5 out of 10.
Not more, because an additional (though much smaller) burden is the weak chemistry resulting from Tan Songyun’s completely unromantic performance.
But even with this flaw, the story of Hong Ye and Xiao Yao, with their time travels and the backdrop of the human-demon conflict, would be quite enjoyable to watch. Moreover, in the space purified of the pointless secondary plot, they could have add more interactions between the main characters and potentially more episodic stories, like the one with the mountain elf or the squirrel who thought it was human.
The initial relationship between Hong Ye and Xiao Yao could also have been developed so that their feelings wouldn’t appear so suddenly and inexplicably. If it weren’t for that silly Bing Zhu, in the last episode the three powerful demons could have easily survived.
If I were to change things, I’d probably change the ending too, because the current one is mediocre.

Unfortunately, the screenwriter decided to “treat” us to this nightmarish secondary plot, which consists of some of the worst-written characters I’ve ever seen in dramas. Their decisions and behaviors are so utterly illogical that it’s painful to watch. It just doesn’t make sense. Why does Dreamshard Immortal No. 1 imprison Hong Ye, and force Xiao Yao to undergo a ridiculous test where she could lose her life? How would that bring her closer to completing the mirror, which is, apparently, her main goal? It would make more sense to imprison Xiao Yao and tell Hong Ye to bring the mirror to get his beloved back.
And what does Downshard Immortal 2.0, that is, Lu Pianpian, have against demons? Why does she set Bing Zhu against them? If she cares about him, she could arrange a wonderful life for him by manipulating the emperor’s dreams. And if, as DI, she absolutely has to kill someone, why demons and not humans? Humans hurt her much more.
The same goes for Bing Zhu, who has been a victim of human scheming since childhood. But it never even occurs to him to take revenge on those who actually hurt him. Instead, he’s obsessed with killing demons. He seems like a righteous person, but without batting an eye, he follows the orders of that disgusting emperor. His direct subordinate is a vile schemer who nearly gets him killed, but after Pianpian saves Bing Zhu, he continues to serve the emperor and—what’s even more absurd—his subordinate is still the same guy whose nasty character Bing Zhu has experienced firsthand. Why is he such an idiot?
Why does he keep listening to Hei Wu? And he’s not the only one. Hei Wu is generally a hopeless fool who just flails around chaotically, stirring up trouble everywhere, hoping it will somehow harm Hong Ye. But by episode 28, everyone should have realized he’s a psycho who’s not worth listening to or cooperating with, because he just jumps from one disaster to another and causes more problems than he solves. Yet he still manages to sow discord.
And Dali? For ten episodes, she’s Xiao Yao’s close friend. She’s nice and straightforward. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, she becomes a completely different character: false and cunning. Everyone in this side plot behaves illogically, running around like chickens with their heads cut off, and ultimately it’s unclear what they even want, and the whole story is terribly unconvincing. That’s why from episode 26 onward, the drama is much better, because there’s much, much less Bing Zhu, Pianpian, and the whole gang.
So in the end, I rate the whole thing 7/10. And if Neo hadn’t acted in it, I would have dropped it halfway through.

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ignore

just testing this function please ignore

blah blah blah and don’t be mad about me because I’m a good girl I just want you know I am not good for anybody else I just wanna make you feel bad for you I just wanna know if I don’t have a problem and if I can get it to me I will do that and then I’ll do that I just want it and then I’ll just go ahead with the plan I don’t want you guys being upset I don’t wanna have any issues and just have to deal and just do what you want I don’t wanna do what you need and I’m trying and I’m just don’t have any problems with it and I’m just gonna be OK I don’t wanna get upset and I’m just saying that you know that you know I don’t wanna get hurt or something else to make me a lot more money I just wanna be happy with you guys just want you guys know I just wanna know that I just wanna know how to get some more than I know you guys are the only reason I just want tytttttt and I’m just trying not being rude to you know I just wanna know I don’t want you guys have fun I love y hahahah and I’m just wanna make you all right I love y hugs love and be careful love and be kind and sweet and kind and I will talk with you later bye love you bye love you bye love you bye love you bye love to talk later I hope to hear back later I hope you’re doing well and I’m gonna see my mom tomorrow and see

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Nothing is Secret That Will Not be Revealed...

Thanks to Tat for the recommendation. I needed a break from blood -spewing wuxias and mindless romcoms, and this was a welcome change. Zhao Lu Si was perfection as the closed off, careful schemer. William Chan did admirably as her chameleon lead, at first charming the viewer as a thoughtful suitor until he revealed his cold, manipulative nature.

I hate lying, despise liars, and tire of drama misunderstandings, but those issues were dealt with a deft hand and made sense. I was sympathetic to the FL's need to create a carefully crafted, totally bogus image of herself. The misunderstandings that derived from her duplicity occurred naturally and were understandable. The overriding narrative of the drama is that nothing remains secret forever, and there is a price to pay for dishonesty.

The character development of the ML and FL was compelling as their masks were dropped, and they became increasingly honest with one another.

The final episodes sullied the drama a bit by having too many over-the-top conflicts presented and overcome. At least one, if not more, of the ridiculous scenarios should have been discarded. I can only suspend belief so far until reality rips me out of the story.

I added a half star for Zhao Lu Si's acting.

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it started great then fell off. filler filler filler testing testing testing why is there a minimum word count blah blah blah
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Royal Drama, Scriptwriter’s Favorite Child, and Everyone Else

The Princess Royal is a compelling but deeply uneven drama. At its best, it delivers sharp political intrigue, emotionally intelligent romance, and one of the most solid male leads in recent memory. At its worst, it bends its own logic and sacrifices narrative balance to overindulge a character who does not earn the sympathy the script desperately wants us to feel.

Story
It’s another nostalgic trip to the past: a royal power couple, thoroughly miserable, die due to political betrayal and poor life choices. At least one of them wishes for a second chance, and, generously, half the cast gets one too. What follows is a cycle of fixing old mistakes, making new ones, uncovering conveniently hidden secrets, and reacting to past events with fresh “insight.”
It’s a good story, engaging enough, but hardly a groundbreaking one.

Characters
Princess Li Rong and her long-suffering husband Pei Wenxuan get the coveted do-over. Fortunately, they’re both intelligent, competent adults who actually learn from past mistakes and tackle problems together which in itself is a rare miracle. PWX is easily one of the better MLs in recent dramas. He is consistently supportive, deeply devoted, and capable of something revolutionary called critical thinking. Li Rong, meanwhile, upgrades from mistrustful royal strategist to full-fledged diplomatic powerhouse. Very satisfying.

Su Rongqing gets a second chance - lucky for him, disastrous for everyone else. The drama tries to sell him as a tragic, misunderstood soul - white Cinderella wardrobe, sad violins, the whole package - but let’s be real, he’s evil. Maybe a victim once, but now he’s the mastermind of betrayal, murder, and moral gymnastics, all while whining about his “love” for Li Rong and setting most of her traps himself. He’s not tortured; he’s a delusional, self-righteous killer with a full-blown victim complex. No amount of sad music can save him.

The supporting cast lives comfortably in various shades of grey and black, with the notable exception of Qin Zhen Zhen. As for the real villains? The Emperor and Empress - one an insecure ruler, the other a spectacularly selfish excuse for a mother.

Acting
Zhang Ling He and Zhao Jin Mei - hands down, in that order. These two are the reason the drama works at all. ZLH delivers a performance miles away from Kunning Palace, nailing Pei Wenxuan’s quiet cunning and fundamental decency with astonishing ease. His screen presence alone accounts for most of my positive viewing experience.

Zhao Jin Mei matches him beat for beat, making an authoritative, coldly pragmatic Princess Li Rong not just palatable but genuinely lovable. You root for them instinctively. Frankly, I’d watch an entire drama of just these two thinking their way out of problems.

And now for my controversial take on Chen Heyi’s Su Rongqing: just… no. Maybe he’s a good actor. I’ll reserve judgment until Mysterious Lotus Casebook or Fated Hearts eventually make it off my TBW pile. But here? I’m not impressed. His performance cycles through the same tired, droopy expressions and melancholic smiles as if permanently accompanied by an invisible violin. Unfortunately, it drags down more than a few scenes.

What makes it worse is the script’s apparent obsession with elevating SRQ at Pei Wenxuan’s expense. Several of PWX’s moments from the novel were reportedly reassigned, and the result is painfully familiar.. think Harry Potter films where Hermione gets all the clever ideas, leaving Ron and Harry to play supporting roles.. To manufacture SRQ’s “tragedy,” the drama tells us how brilliant PWX is instead of showing us, while handing precious screen time to a performance that simply doesn’t justify it. If the goal was to inspire sympathy for SRQ, it failed - spectacularly, at least for me. ZLH manages to shine through the script’s neglect, quietly proving his acting chops

The rest of the supporting cast largely does its job. Consort Rou, however, is a mystery. One moment she’s unhinged, the next she’s gloating, followed immediately by a smug smirk, as if she’s auditioning for three different characters at once. Was the director so busy cueing SRQ’s emotional violin that they forgot to ask her to pick a lane?

Screenplay & Script
A full-blown Leaning Tower of Pisa, except less charming and far more irritating. Su Rongqing is unmistakably the scriptwriter’s cherished golden child, while everyone else might as well be fostered extras. Even in the finale when tension should peak, we’re forced to sit through extended montages of his wistful smiles and tragic reminiscing.
His exit is the final indulgence: a glorified self-impalement on PWX’s sword that frames him as noble, untouchable, and conveniently unaccountable. He dies undefeated, unconquered, and entirely unpunished because heaven forbid the narrative deny him one last self-aggrandizing victory.

OST
Brilliant.

Overall
Not a bad drama… if you fast-forward through half of SRQ’s endless pity party and self-congratulatory melodrama. Do I have to? Apparently, yes. Do I wish I didn’t? Absolutely. Skip the indulgence, and what’s left is genuinely good, but choppy, uneven, and an enormous squandered opportunity.

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A Satisfying Tale of Second Chances and Mutual Support

I don't rewatch many long dramas, but this one makes the cut! It's just so good--heartwarming and encouraging while still having some grittiness and angst and very hard sad choices along the way. But I adore the trust that blooms between the two leads and once it's there--mmm. No late-season horrible misunderstandings or any of that. They're such a great team. When one is distraught, the other is the steady rock, and then they trade as the emotional waves come for one and then the other.

Lots of clever maneuvering and strategy. Lots of delving into people's motivations. Questions of whether fate can change -- which kind of ties into the ability of individuals to make a difference in the sweep of historical forces. Questions of redemption, and digging down to examine your own weaknesses and decide to do better (or the failure to do so). Friendships, found family. And lots more.

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Take my brain away

Lady Tian Tian foresaw the doom of her clan framed for treason by the hands of her betrothed, seventh prince Yan Li. She has no idea how a disgraced prince will come to power, how they will end up engaged and why he will massacre her family. At present she is the cherished daughter of a military household, marriage proposals are flowing in, and he's a candidate !

This bird brain drama had no idea what it wanted to be, so it tried to do a bit of everything. It teases us with a typical enemies to lover "kiss and kill" opening (quite efficient, I must say : I fell for it), he's her enemy, but he's also in love with her, so how things came to such an end ? Don't expect any clever explanation because the drama doesn't truly care, you can see the final "twist" coming from miles away, and until then things are hunky dory for our heroïne : tragedy completely avoided, she just had to uncover the (very obvious) villain and voilà, now she can have her happy ending with the prince full of cute babies. But oh noes, the drama got rid of its main villain, our main couple is wed, and we are only halfway through ! What's a drama to do ? Suddenly, a wild green tea appears to save the plot ! At this point I was used to the drama's numerous plot holes and brutal transitions (at several moments I wondered if I had missed some scenes or skipped an episode) so I ketp watching. Thankfully the snake was played by the very graceful Sun Lu Lu (loved her in Wutong Courtyard) so it was at least well acted. Honestly the drama didn't deserve its cute and talented cast : handsome and soft (but also fierce !) Hei Ze, and the adorable and expressive Zhao Jia Min. Chemistry was good, they were cute together, kisses were good, I was contented. The direction was also good, they kept things simple but delicate, with lovely costumes, scenery and pastel colors. The plot is obviously the drama's weakness but for all its problems, they did realize that they were not telling some grand masterpiece and switched pretty fast to what they knew : tropey but fun adventures. In conclusion : don't believe the title there is nothing "dangerous" about this lover, the drama uses it as a hook but it becomes a cute romance with some (mild) adventure very fast, until they remember they need to go full circle to justify their opening (and the way they do it is so contrived...). So...yeah, another bait and switch. The cast is criminally pretty in period garbs so there is that.

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I found this drama while scrolling through Tik Tok and saw an edit of the couple.
To be honest, I loved the first five episodes and binge-watched them until the episode 14. But after that, just nothing.
I am not a fan of twisted misunderstandings and very evil SML/SFL but here, there was nothing; only those dovey-lovey eyes of the Main Leads (that they matched quite well tbh) and that's where it ends.
No plot, no story, no meaning and I honestly wonder why they dragged it till the 33th episode, truly. I had to skip many, many episodes and scenes to reach the final one and that is never a good sign.

In the positive aspects, I really liked the FL that had her own ideas and she was smart, not looking around like a lost puppy like most C-dramas' FL. She had quite the energy, she was soft and she matched well with the ML that was the greenest flag I've ever seen in C-dramas and he actually SMILED in the series.

Also, I liked the music aspect of the drama, something I don't really notice in these kind of series.

It was just very blunt for my taste but I couldn't fault the acting, just the non-existent story behind it.

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Hooked. Highly recommended

Well, a refreshing story, funny that captivates you.
The acting is perfect, no childish behaviors, the crime game within the plot is something new that i really love.

lead and supportive actors are all good. I love the lead actress, no useless mimics , just what is needed

So far, 10 episodes, i watched in 2 days,..... waiting for the next

the only negative point, is the music or songs , the volume is high which is annoying. plus because i watch with subtitles , the lyrics covers the subtitled discussion, ..... actually I can't put that on the series, can I :-)

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IT WAS NICE BUT IT'S DEFINITELY NOT MY STYLE

SNIPER BUTTERFLY is a sophisticated 2025 ' older woman/ younger man' romance that transcends genre cliches through grounded performances and cinematic direction. It explores the decade- long evolution of Li Wu from a rescued student to a successful man seeking the heart of his benefactor, Cen Jin.

Furthermore, unlike accidental romances, the show focuses on calculated devotion. The male lead's unwavering, long-term focus on the female lead gives the romance a unique, high-stakes intensity. Michelle Chen delivers a performance of quietness, while Daniel Zhou successfully navigates the transition from an awkward youth to a powerful adult. Their chemistry is praised for being mature and authentic. Also, the contrast between the rural 2016 setting and the sleek 2024 urban environment mirrors the characters' internal growth and the metamorphosis implied by the title.

However, the middle arc suffers from dry corporate subplots that distract from the emotional core of the story. The plot leans on the 'Noble break-up' trope, where the female lead pushes the male lead away for his own good, which I found frustrating and unnecessary. The final episodes trade the show's trademark realism for a rushed checklist of happy-ending cliches.

Lastly, I'll recommend it if you like 'second- chance' and 'age-gap' tropes. While it can be boring in the middle, the emotional scenes pay off.

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One of my first fantasy c-dramas and now I’m hooked

I’ve only recently started watching c-dramas, and as one of the first fantasy dramas I’ve tried, this one completely won me over. The pacing is really well done, the story keeps moving without dragging, and the romance develops naturally while still staying connected to the original plot.
The female lead is genuinely hilarious, and her reactions to being trapped inside a doomed script are one of the best parts of the show. What I really liked is that the drama balances comedy, mystery, and emotional moments really well, which keeps things interesting throughout.
Even with 40 episodes, it never felt long or exhausting. Each episode was entertaining enough to make me want to keep watching. The male lead’s character development and backstory were also handled perfectly, and his dynamic with the female lead added both tension and humor to the story.
Overall, this drama quickly became one of my favorites. It’s fun, self-aware, and genuinely enjoyable from start to finish, and I’d definitely watch it again.

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As a healthcare worker, hospital dramas and I usually don’t get along~ I notice all the mistakes :P
But this one really surprised me and won my heart 💖
I hope season 2 is just as good ✨


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