The Story of Ming Lan (2018)

Life's Lessons Learned in a Well-told Story

Yes, 73 (on Viki) but really 78 (?) episodes are long.
Yes, you've been burned by long episode cdramas before and have been burned, so you're wary.
Yes, it's a 10 star story line acted so perfectly by so many actors.
Yes, it is worth it.

* edit* OMG, this story will STICK with you, wow. I came back to edit my review after I thought, "no way am I rewatching something this long" when rating it with a rewatch value of 2 stars right after I watched it. Sadly, I then went from snack drama to fancy drama to heavy drama and couldn't find anything as almost perfect as this story-wise so guess what? I started rewatching it. The MC just slaaaay this thing, guys. Oh, by the way: I don't think this was dubbed, which makes it feel more authentic to me somehow.

I won't give a synopsis since other reviewers have done so well already BUT I wish I knew a couple of things going in, so here goes...

1) Yes, there is a romance but it's more of a love story that grows as the characters grow together so it doesn't start until after episode 30.. Since both the ML & FL's characters are complex and unique, the first half of the drama explores the experiences that shape their perspectives and world-views before they start their household together in the 2nd half. His pursuit of her is really cute because of how he handles/massages/coaxes her into accepting him.

Some people compared it to P&P but aside from the social climbing & backstabby gossip mongering of drawing room witty repartee, I don't see any Austen here. Maybe the fact that it satirizes the prestige of social class & snobbery with & between families, marriages included, okay sure. But that's about it. The ML is not a tsundere--actually the FL is the one w/the uncrackable cold exterior. Both characters are strong, intelligent, independent-minded individuals who are also courageous, tenacious and refuse to shirk responsibilities. They are both pretty awesome in their own right. Even better? The ML recognizes the absolute GEM that our FL is early on but has circumstances and then reasons for not pursuing her until later. (I'll be honest: I didn't like him for her at first but that's only because they weren't right for each other then & hadn't figured themselves out yet; there was an ick factor in his background for me but I understood how he needed to learn from that experience, so I rolled with it but it was pretty painful. Ack.) By the end of the drama, you felt like they were formidable either together or apart. A serious power couple. I didn't find the romance super compelling (little to no wooing since he kinda master-minded their marriage) but I liked their relationship a lot & thought they were a great bonded couple once they got married.

2) You might get bored in the beginning but STICK WITH IT. The reason why you spend so much time in Ming Lan's childhood home at first? To get to know the people that teach her the difficult life lessons that seem to reoccur later in Ming Lan's life. The ones that roll and twist you through dialogue and action like an ever-churning whirlpool. You're slowly getting sucked in, okay? The story is sooooo well written. You have to settle in and just wait for it to build all of these layers in each of the characters, so it just feels slow at first because it IS. Just have faith & pay attention because the eventual pay-off is worth it. Once you hit episode 30ish, you will want to have a weekend to kill off the last 40 episode---yes, the rising action & climax of the show is that perfect that you don't want to tear yourself away from watching it unfurl in one long arch. The tie-up is perfect, too. No loose ends. Each of these characters were so well-crafted that I was never tempted to skip (well, maybe a couple of times tbh) & because the story really is about Ming Lan & HER family (which also later becomes her & her husband's family as well) you have to watch through so much of the earlier interactions to understand how everyone is interconnected.

3) Everyone's acting is bad a**. I am seriously impressed with so many actors & actresses here. The crazy women are realistically batsh*t crazy & as antagonists, terrifyingly unrepentant. They were crafted with just as much love as the protagonists and so they are just as complex. I would say this drama has a powerhouse of female actresses killing it in so many different ways. Every character that was close to Ming Lan had a point of view that was so understandable I developed some empathy for them. Even the most hateful ones, which was unexpected.

4) The story is well-detailed and rich, like a tapestry. Layers upon layers upon layers. It is enjoyable just for the fact that it's a seriously well-told story. Once I committed to Ming Lan's story, I didn't feel the need to cheat on her. I didn't hop back to watch another show I had started and stopped or felt like I needed to take a break with something else for a while. Once this story catches you, you are just along for the ride. For some it may be earlier than Episode 35, but at that point you really can't stop yourself from hitting "next" over and over again because you can't wait to see what's going to happen, oh-my-gosh what are these characters are going to do & how the antagonists are going to get their just desserts in the end. Because they do! Karma smacks the serious sh*t outta them. It's SUCH a smart show, too!!!!

Music was decent. Really just a couple over played songs but at times employed effectively.
**Edit** I've already gone and rewatched this when I REALLY didn't think I would. I kinda missed them. *sniff* So....yeah, I originally thought I would rewatch from episode 53 on (when it really picked up action-wise) but I ended up rewatching from the start of the love story, around episode 30ish.

Basically...
Yes, you should watch it. ;p

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It's a marathon not a race. Take your time and enjoy the journey

I'm so glad I was able to binge this show. 70 smt episodes sound daunting, but honestly by the end, I was a little sad it had to end. The show is so empowering for me as a woman. In a time where women have so little control over their lives and everything is dependent on their marriage prospects, family prestige and who they were born to . In a time like this, these shining examples of the smart, strong women who use their brain and strength so take care of their family and become the force behind the stability of their clan thanks to their ability to properly manage their household. Ming Lan is of course the best one, but I'll get to her later. I just love the entire journey of how some women made the decision to use schemes and immoral means to get what they want and suffer the bitter end and others use their own strength and brain to make a difference in their own life. Ming Lan is easily the best FL there ever was. It's not too often do we see a drama that completely focus on the journey of the FL, but that's what this is. It is so so refreshing to see. You might find her too quiet at the start, but you would be dead wrong. Years of suffering taught her to keep her mouth shut when she needs to and use her own way to get her justice. She also has grandma who taught her how to be a smart woman. Her love story is also very real and interesting. She got a great husband in the end, but the journey of their love is so realistic but full of affection and romance as well. Ming Lan is a great character. Always needed to be strong also became her weakness, as she's unsure on how to truly depend on the man when loves. She's so independent and has suffered so much after her first puppy love and life as a concubine's daughter. That's why she has a hard time truly learn to rely on her husband. That was the main hiccup after they got together, and it was so beautiful to see how her husband take down her wall gradually and she learn to be vulnerable with him. His reaction to it is also amazing. They're an amazing pair (on and off screen!). I love most about Minglan is she knows when to keep things to her self but make no mistake, she will not forget the injustice she faced. She's just smart and knows when to wait for her opening. She rarely truly lose her composure but she will make the guilty pay justly for their sin. She seems cold but she is actually a very loving person. Once she love someone, she will make it her business to be there for them and help them get some justice one way or another. It's refreshing to watch such a sensible and no nonsense female lead while still making sure we all see that she is a warm person. The show is a journey into the life of this tenacious, strong and woman and a look into the lives and politics of these prestigious families. Take your time to watch the conversations and after a few episodes, you'll start feeling like you're getting the tea of these families' secrets and rooting for our protagonist as she rises and find her happiness. It's very satisfying when the vile people get their retribution too.

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Another series about politics between catty women that is drawn out and slow-paced? I went into the series without high expectations and it just ended up becoming one of my top favorites. Its magic just grabbed and held on, and you just have to go on your first date with it to see for yourself.

Based off of the higher than average number of episodes, I couldn't find many areas to fast-forward on because I didn't want to miss those key conversations and key events. It was refreshing to have a strong female strategist in a role that didn't revolve around historical royalty, war, or blind revenge. It should be noted that I equally fell for our male lead here as well and if he wasn't a fictitious character, I may have very well developed a crush. Following the two of them through their different lives of torturous endurance, the political moves they make separately (and together) for survival and to break free from those who've attempted to crush them was very satisfying.

The historical portrayal of the power play between multiple wives and concubines was also enticing. You will come across intense emotional manipulation and butterfly effects in choices made. You will feel for the ones you want to smack in the face and you'll want to smack the faces of the ones you originally rooted for, only to feel empathy for them again. You will gradually understand why some chose to live the way they do, what others held onto out of desperation, and what sacrifices were made in order to get there (or fail to get there).

Now let me emphasize that I usually try to avoid romance-heavy anything, and this happens to be one of those special ones (our lead couple) where I actually looked forward seeing them on-screen together. You have two equally strong individuals who are equally capable of supporting of one another- can't get better than that.

As much as the series took me on a lovely unexpected ride, nothing is perfect if you really want to nitpick. The actions scenes could have maybe been done better and minor parts of the character developments could have maybe been progressed more smoothly. But eh, it doesn't dampen the memorable effects it had on me.

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My Favourite Cdrama All The Time

This show had everything for me. …. A stellar cast, an intuitive director, thought-driven writers, and the crew behind the scenes deserve a raise! ….. a master example of how to write a great screen play and to create an amazing high adrenaline narrative. Do not judge a book by its cover, as strength and truth comes in a variety of forms, as does so does love. Zhaoliying character potrays it has that make you want more type of feel!!! Like honestly she was so strong throught her life and mange to pull through those plots. I love Grandma too heartwarming to see them protect each other earnestly…. GuTinye’s relationship with Minglan from the beginning when they are kids to the end of the show is just so cute when they are together!! The Story of MingLan is just amazing Highly Recommended Watch It Now.

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A story adorned in rich culture and reflects real life beautifully

This drama is set in the Song Dynasty. It tells the story of Shen Minglan born in a family of officials. Though they're officials that work in the royal court, they're not exactly upper noble class. The Shen daughters are three sisters. Minglan is the youngest one born of a unfavored mistress that died during childbirth.

This story is very beautiful. Unlike most stories that depend on excessive drama and action to make them worth watching. The Story of Minglan takes pride in detecting the highs and lows of daily life. The conflicts in the first part of the drama are mainly based on the Shen family's struggle to solidify a footing in the capital, and finding suitable husbands for the three daughters. This part is akin of a good slice of life story. Every detail is brilliantly portrayed to paint a picture of those times. It makes you feel as if you're living in those times.

The later part of the story has a heavier plot, as Shen Minglan has married a noble general. So the plot drabbles more into royal politics and conflicts. This part of the story is quite adventurous and fun to watch. The love stories in this drama are nothing crazy but manage to portray real life relationships in a very raw way. Shen Minglan has two suitors before marrying the general. One portrays puppy love where the other is just convention.

The main leads Zhao Liyin and Fang Shaofeng were married irl at the time of this drama's filming hence the chemistry is quite good. The characters are flawed making them more relatable. The side characters are all very lovable. The drama has extremely beautiful ost and cinematography. It feels like a poem about the Song Dynasty in itself.

But the most special thing about this drama for me personally, is the rewatchability. Very seldom I find a drama where every now and then I feel like rewatching it. Even if I like a drama very much, I usually don't find myself wanting to revisit it, or even if I do I almost never watch the entire thing from start to finish. But with this drama I've already watched it twice. The second time I watched it while simultaneously reading the novel (there's barely any change in the plot). And I was thinking about watching it for the third time and hence decided to write this review.

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A cerebral appreciation rather than an emotional enthusiasm. An intelligent watch.

If court intrigue is your thing, then you won’t get better than this. Half of the script is concerned with the delicate manoeuvring required to send indirect layered messages that have different meanings to different people, whilst the other half is concerned with bringing about the downfall of your enemies whilst keeping your hands clean. It’s an elaborate dance in which no-one touches anyone directly, but guides their steps by blocking or revealing pathways. A sinister pavane where one wrong step can lead to a blind alley, death and disaster.

In a world where there is no real warmth, compassion or security,
emotional manipulation is raised to an art form and the devastating results displayed. This is contrasted with the cool, rational manoeuvring of the female lead, abetted early on by the Grandmother, which is outwardly praised as moral righteousness, but owes a great deal to power playing and more subtle manipulation. It is scheming that uses the predictable weaknesses of others to bring about their downfall. It is revenge served ice cold and does the moral character of our heroine no real favours.

In this suffocating world of just a handful of families, there is a sense of the overbearing weight of society and the machinations necessary to survive in it. In particular it focuses on the role of women and the means by which they can find and assume power, though ostensibly in a powerless situation.

The world of the men is less well crafted and believable than the domestic setting of the women. Whereas the female parts had an almost slice of life feel, the script for the men is not edgy enough. In the main their lines and performances are far too soft and “nice” for the characters that are being portrayed. No such sleight of hand was shown with the female characters and they emerge much more forcefully and credibly, triggering ambivalence in the viewer.

The overall complexity is down to a magnificent script which is full of subtlety and cleverness. Even in translation there is a clear sense of having to read between the lines and there is plenty of brainwork to be done to fully appreciate all the undercurrents. This is not the sort of thing that you approach in your pyjamas, curled up on the sofa half asleep after a long hard day at work.

I had a problem with the casting of Feng Shao Feng as the ML, I thought he was too old for the part. Unlike Kim Tae Ri who dropped some 13 years in “25-21” and totally convinced me that she was a teenager using her body language and mannerisms, FSF’s acting didn’t convincingly portray the energy of youth (my calculation was that the character was in his late twenties, early thirties at most), or the hard core determination that was his stated character. He was unconvincing as a reformed ne’er do well and ruthless soldier with a streak of rashness, and seemed more like a pleasant, middle aged burgher.

All praise though to Zhao Li Ying who was hardly ever off screen and put in a great performance as Ming Lan—the wolf in sheep’s clothing. She was more than ably supported by the other cast members and there was plenty of character differentiation to give a credible feeling of a real world dynamic. it is really fair to say that this is a magnificent ensemble piece.

It has that epic quality of “War and Peace” with a large cast of characters, grouped in families, that wonder on and off the stage when required to inch the plot forward. Everything takes a circuitous route, even, or perhaps especially, the romance. But unlike most examples, the obligatory indirectness does not feel manufactured here but natural. And the relationship of the two leads is a joy.

It was designed to be shown once a day and the slow pace of daily life would really suit this unfolding. It’s not the sort of show that you can easily binge and is better taken in smaller bites of a few episodes at a time. Because the pace is so slow the plot is almost fully realised, but occasionally there were important scenes that were papered over or not shown, leaving an unnecessary sense of dissatisfaction. Neither was I a fan of how the complete final plot line was constructed.

On the down side, it is very long and repeatedly showcases the same type of scenario. I must admit that after episode 50 I was getting a little weary and had to muster up some determination to continue. Not least because it needed a bit more variation in pace and setting to liven up the overwhelmingly cerebral work that I was doing and the plot also became fragmented and uncohesive. But it picked up about ten episodes later and proved, yet again, it wasn’t afraid of the dark side. Displaying both the physical and the mental savagery necessary to survive and thrive. But to be honest, I was flagging and found the last haul to the end a bit of an effort. I think that splitting it into two series would have helped me considerably.

Although the historical aspects are well realised, the military settings in the story are less credible and it obviously never had the budget to be an action spectacular. In the midst of such realism however, the impossible sword fights, miraculous escapes and sporting competitions (which all end without a hair or a belt out of place) stand out as somewhat ridiculous. But heh, I’m not going to nitpick here when the overall quality is good.

Cinematography-wise, the slice of life approach is beautifully realised in muted colours and subtle lighting that help to give the feeling that you are a part of the family. In the hands of lesser cinematographers and lighting designers, filming in dark interiors can appear dull and murky, but so skilful is the lighting, that the faces are always highlighted in a way that seems natural without disturbing the muted note of the surroundings. The bright colours of the costumes also lift the atmosphere and provide contrast to the browns and greys of the environment.

The soundtrack is simple and effective, supporting the historical aspect without being too literal or noisy. And a shout out to the translation team, who took the time to give helpful comments all the way through.

What my rating means: 8+ A great drama with interesting content and good writing, direction, acting, OST, cinematography. But didn’t quite have the requisite sparkle to bump it into my all-time fave list. Worth watching.

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It took me 4 tries to finish the Story of Minglan

For the life of me, I found the first 20 episodes or so to be boring and unoriginal. But the drama started to be enjoyable midway and seriously, I was glued to my screen then. I dropped this drama like three times before reaching the ending, but I can say that the Story Ming Lan is arguably one of the best Chinese Dramas I've watched. First of all, the soundtrack and filmography are just *chef kiss* and the editing is seamless. The leading actors are top-tier, and the other cast members are just as good. The sluggish start may be a deterrence, but I'm glad I pushed through it.

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Gets more interesting around ep 16

I have rewatched episodes from 16 to end multiple times after finishing the drama the 1st time. The first 16 episodes were too slow and the villains (evil concubine and daughter) were too annoying for me. So this is one of the few dramas where I skipped to future episodes after watching first 1-2 episodes, and then came back to watch the earlier episodes I skipped (to understand the plot better).
My favorite parts were the polo matches, FL's relationship with her grandmother, FL's relationship with her friend (wife of ML's general friend in latter episodes), scenes where FL solved problems for empress, and when FL/ML started living at their own place/FL running her own household.
Others were confused that FL appeared not to notice/understand ML's feeling for her right away. IMO, she knows how ML feels for her, but also knows that feelings can be fleeting and may not be enough for a relationship to last. She was guarding her heart so she would not be devastated if the worst happened.
I loved the interactions between the FL and ML. Sad to see that it didn't last for them in real life.

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?? Wow.! What can I Say About This Beautiful Drama.!
I Mean It's Such Amazing Drama.! Story Is the One of Greatest I ever Watch In Dramas In Asia.! I glad They Pair Willim feng/Zanilia Zhao Cause They Really Fits This Character at least for me.! Their Chemistry Is Out Of This World.! Ofcauae It is Since they r married in real life.! also for Those Who Says It's Slow drama or boring.! They R worng cause Few eps later from Ep 5 its gets keep getting better and better! U will Love it.! as I did.! Don't Hesitate Just Watch The Masterpiece.! and U will Never Regret.!
I LOVED THIS BEAUTIFUL/SWEET MASTERPIECE.! ??

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Definitely a must see Drama!!!!!

I finished The Story of Ming Lan last night and my heart feels so full from watching such an amazing drama. I want and need more stories like this. Ming Lan while not perfect by any means was pretty badass and held her own as she grew to become the strong female protagonist of my dreams! Her maturity, loyalty, strong held convictions and cunningness were so refreshing to see in a character. This was my first time seeing Zhao Liying in anything, at first I wasn't impressed at all but like most things you gotta give it time. As time went on, episode 20 at least, I was sold as her being my FL. Midway through and near the end of the drama is where Zhao Liying really stepped into her character and made her shine oh so brightly. Her sweet, innocent smile yet wondering plotting eyes really made Ming Lan come to life.

But our ML, Gu Tingye, has now become my favorite ML of any Cdrama I've watched thus far was ::chef kiss:: Can we talk about how cute he was?!!!! Feng Shaofeng has the sweetest smile, sexiest voice and laugh, and I swear he was flirting so hard while in character like O M G yeeesss.

The supporting cast was stellar with some of the best supporting cast acting I've seen. Loved Changbai and petty Roulan 😂😂 but geeez hated Molan, her mama and their evil ass Nanny the most 😡🤬. Grandma Sheng is the MVP of this drama by a mile! Living through that time afforded her the knowledge, skills and know how, to navigate the crazy ish Ming Lan had to go through. Her ability to listen, be empathetic, and understand Ming Lan was remarkable. Little had to be said and she knew what her granddaughter was thinking and feeling. I just wanted to hug her, she's too precious for words.

The bromance between Tingye and Changbai was probably the best friendship I've seen in a long while.! Their loyalty, love and respect they had for each other awe inspiring. But the silliness and trust each shared really catapult ed these two characters. If Youran wasn't so petty and weak he could've experienced it too... lol The sismance between Ming Lan and any of the girls she befriend and her cousins on grandma Sheng's side of the family was so cute and genuine. These two really built their tribe, their friends and true family had their backs when they needed it the most.

Just like the dad in *The Sword and The Brocade*, Papa Sheng was weak and easily manipulated. Ooff he made me so damn mad! I get that his main concern is the entire family but geez, try to have your daughters back just a little!

TSOML's story unfolded so well the mind games was freaking incredible! When you thought it was a simple deed, it was a whole other reason as to why that was said or done and the next steps were far from obvious... The cinematography and lighting really set this drama apart. The nuance in background sounds especially when Big Madam Gu was on the screen really elevated this drama. Just wow, Solid 10/10!

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