Female lead that I ended up falling out of love with...

I initially liked the first 2 ep as it featured a cold and cliche general, funny and outgoing female lead, and lovable side characters (there's side couples EVERYWHERE. At least 4 by the point I dropped the series). I love the romance-centric theme of General's Lady and how the leads fall in love quickly and have great screen time together. BUT. It got a bit boring for me so I decided to read recaps of the rest of the episodes - lol.
Satisfying/sweet ending, but I don't think it was worth it to watch the last 10 or so episodes (especially since I was watching it in 2x speed).

PROS
❀ Sweetly/sickingly romantic | Like I said, there are side couples everywhere lol, and the main couple gets together pretty quickly. (The FL confesses in the first couple of episodes and the ML follows after another couple of episodes. Out of 30 episodes, they are officially a couple with reciprocating feelings in the first 10 episodes.) I liked this deeply romantic plot and how their love was emphasized throughout the story. BUT. At what cost?? (More on that in the CONS section)
❀ Pretty set and outfits | The visuals were aesthetically pleasing.
❀ Satisfying face-slapping | As the drama takes place a bit in the FL's family home, there are some cunning concubines/sisters she has to deal with. I loveee reading about family feuds and seeing the FL overcome abusive households, which happens in this drama. BUT I also feel like the abusers were let off a bit too nicely.

CONS
✕ The trade-off between romance and misunderstandings... | Okay, the thing about the romance is that you have obstacles to overcome romantic conflict, right? There's way too many for me in this drama to continue watching. Most of the conflicts arise from miscommunication/misunderstandings, and after reading recaps of the next episodes I saw it continued down the line. No thank you from this watcher.
✕ Wasn't feeling the 2 leads | I already wrote off the ML in the beginning because he literally has no personality, lol, other than being a military general and loving his wife, but I was super disappointed in the FL. The actress herself was hilarious and, imo, did the role well (she wasn't annoying in the beginning despite her antics), but I got tired of those machinations after 10+ episodes. She's not the brightest bulb, but she's also not dumb. She's just... there. In the beginning, she was quick-witted despite not having many skills and straightforward. As the pair fall in love, she starts scheming behind her husband's back (very inconsequential but also annoying things) and basically not contributing to anything. The bulk of the face-slapping with her own family was initiated by the ML (her plan with the new concubine was a small redemption). She just gave off very classic shoujo anime main character energy. The ML's character is hard to work with already, but the actor's stone-cold face didn't help. His lack of emotions was almost comical, and this stayed true to the end (as I ended up skipping to see the last episode). I mean yeah, he smiled sometimes, but I kinda need more than a couple of smiles to make me like the character... lol. He definitely becomes a devoted general husband, don't get me wrong, but his face didn't match his actions.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 7/10 | There weren't big misunderstandings in the grand scheme of the couple's love but it's still present. Even though the misunderstandings were about small things they were cringey and I had to skip through them. Chinese dramas really love to make use of the "innocuous yet grating for the sake of angst" situation, and this one was no different.

OVERALL
In essence, I had high expectations for General's Lady after the comical first couple of episodes, paired with my favorite tropes. (Tropes being: cold ML/heartwarming FL, FL gets married off to 'demonic' general instead of another girl (Beauty and the Beast energy), FL comes from mean family (Cinderella energy), etc.) BUT I should have known better, because along with those tropes came 2010 drama energy, where the girl is 80% of the time in need of getting saved, and the romantic plotline obliterates most of the characters' common sense. Which is fine! But hun, this was aired in 2020 and at this point of my life I'm ready for better romcoms than what we've had for the past 10 years.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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How to get into a relationship after deception 101 (aka amnesia trope done right!!)

I'll just start off by saying I am NOT a fan of deception in a relationship as I believe it establishes an unequal relationship dynamic that makes it uncomfortable to watch. I am also not a huge fan of amnesia plots because it opens the door to lots of miscommunication, frustration (to the characters AND viewers), and feels like drama for the sake of drama.

SO. How did I end up liking ARE YOU THE ONE so much despite the deception and amnesia? I think it's because you get:
- amazing character growth from the ML (from using the FL as a pawn to treating her like the badass, independent woman she is)
- a quiet, but strong-minded FL who holds her ground (she made him work to get back into her good graces but doesn't draw out the process. We stan a woman who knows what she wants!!)
- a dynamic duo couple who complements each other well (physically, mentally, romantically via chemistry, you name it)
- interesting writing that focuses less on angst and more on the logical flow of a relationship progression, mostly since the characters are down-to-earth, like-minded, and decisive.

If you're on the fence about watching this because you've been burned bad by amnesia tropes, I would say give this one a try! The ML's grovel is gooood and the romantic scenes are super sweet.

PROS
❀ We love a good grovel
I thought the ML Xing Zhou was a bit of a punk in the beginning. He was okay with his arranged marriage while playing house with the amnesiac FL Liu Mian Tang in order to sus out his enemy, Lu Wen. He even thought about keeping the FL as a concubine for a hot sec. Talk about a bombastic side eye!!! BUT, the ML recognizes his feelings early on (I would say around ep 12) and starts to go against his family's wishes with the arranged marriage. And after falling in love, he pretty much only has eyes for the FL.
On the FL's side, I love how the drama showed her brilliant mind and capable demeanor from the get-go. Even though she had amnesia, she was determined to make the best of her life with her fake husband, who came off as a dandy who played Go all the time. Even then, she was still suspicious of his lies. She regains her memories around ep 17 and keeps up the act because she wants to use the ML for her own gain. She cuts ties with the ML after their business is done. If you like a good ML chasing FL/grovel session, this drama delivers. I love how the ML not only loves her, but also respects her. His dialogue constantly mentions how he could even gift her the moon, but he knows that if she wanted it, she could get it herself. And that's on feminism!!

❀ Quieter depictions of female independence
I am a huge fan of these types of shows that highlight women characters' strengths without being super in your face with "rah rah girl power!!" scenes. Those are good too! But quieter depictions hit harder. I feel like most of the (main) female characters were written with consideration, and their growth really shone in different ways.
- Miantang: she was smart and strong-willed from the beginning and remained so until the end. She constantly reminded her grandpa that marrying wasn't her main goal. When she set her mind on something, she made it happen (whether it's a porcelain business, escort business, or figuring out the villain via a tea party lol). Honestly she was almost OP (overpowered) to an extent, but I still love her for it.
- He Zhen: her journey was establishing her own independent porcelain venture without the oppression of her silly dad and brother. I feel like this actress has a propensity for independent, business-minded female characters lol (I remember her from New Life Begins), and she delivers yet again. Of course, the help from ML's physician cousin Zhao Quan is also welcome. I thought their interactions were both sweet and hilarious.
- Xue Ji: tbh she annoyed me the most in the beginning because of her meek and mild manners but that just makes her development even more impactful. She's used to being in the background but still analyzes things with wit and speed. And when she finally stands up for herself - SO satisfying! Her and the emperor/Ziyu ended up being a great match and I enjoyed their slower, softer romance throughout the series.
- Even side characters like the ML's mom and his ex-fiance Bing Lan have their own moments of clarity and growth.

❀ Simplifying a lot of intricate relationships
To be honest, I like how the show didn't draw out misunderstandings or angst. The plot certainly set up the characters for a LOT of angst. Like think about it: the FL liked this dude and then gets amnesia and has a husband, the ML, who ends up falling for her, but the ML not only has a fiance but also some girl who wants to be his concubine. And the dude the FL liked actually likes her back but ended up "betraying" her with a girl who's obsessed with him and also he gets engaged too, to another girl. Like bruh.
Worry not, because I promise the show neatly de-tangles all these entanglements and we get three solid couples by ep 30ish. Instead of focusing on worrisome angst, I like how the show highlighted the cute and endearing scenes between each couple. The entire opening theme is the main couple being lovey-dovey with each other, which gives you a clue on how much screen time is devoted to them lol.

CONS
✕ Executing of the political schemes could have been better
Miss 10 minutes and you'll miss an entire plot - LOL. A lottt of things happen and the writing glosses over them. This includes wars, rebellions that get quelled, an emperor getting deposed, evil ministers with their nasty plots... honestly a lot of plotting that gets told and not shown. This starts from the beginning as well: we're given the backstory of Lu Wen vs. Lord Huaiyang (ML) but their battles, plots, and "betrayal" gets told via a couple lines of dialogue. Despite it being a huge foundation on the main couple's relationship. So I feel like we as watchers miss out on critical moments that pertain to the political intrigue part of the plot. And I'm not gonna lie, it's hard to keep your interest when plot points get bulldozed through with dialogue. I didn't find the main villain intriguing either and after the reveal of the main characters' identities (ep 20ish), nothing about the plot surprised me anymore. I honestly kept watching to see the main couple kick butt.

✕ Give the people what they want!!!
What we (or maybe it's just me) wanted that they teased us with:
- Moreee action! Especially the FL + ML combo. We got one INCREDIBLE scene with them together and I wanted more.
- More secondary couple development!! Why was the He Zhen/Zhao Quan couple's main storyline focused on making freaking porcelain??? Lol, I get that it was important for her dream/goal. But I'm sure they could have fit a couple of romantic scenes.
- More FL emotion: looking back, I do recognize our FL was OP and that kind of stunts her emotional range. Or maybe it's the actress's range herself. But honestly her two modes were: 1) hard-working and loyal woman who goes after what she wants, and 2) mad at ML for lying to her. I'm not mad at this, I just feel like her character could have been elevated with a bit more range.

✕ Misunderstanding level: 5/10
This is hard to rate because the amnesia storyline is inherently a misunderstanding, which is why I gave it high marks. BUT, the cats are outta the bag by ep 20ish and there are no more deception from there on out. Just our ML and FL standing on a united front against their enemies.

OVERALL
These are new to me actors and I'm a fan!! The ML actor looks like he could be a 2ML (lol) but his presence is good. The FL actress delivered but hoping her future roles allow her to explore more emotions. For a drama I wasn't too sure about, and jumped in almost blind (as I started watching it right as they were airing the last episodes), I'm impressed. And honestly, my favorite execution of the amnesia trope to date.

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Is somebody gonna match my freak? -> Not 100% in this drama

STORY OF KUNNING PALACE has all the tropes that I should love, but somewhere along the way it got me scratching my head @ the execution. Usually I do a pros/cons list in my review, but I find that for every pro or con, I have a "BUT" attached. At the end of the day, I enjoyed this show BUT found a decent amount of faults that knocked down my rating from a solid 8/10. I think the (surprisingly) happy ending would be the only thing that pushes the rating up.

Nonetheless, if these themes call to you then I think you will also enjoy this show:
- Interesting court intrigue that is easy to follow and not too complex
- Second chance at life to turn wrongs into rights
- Love triangle/square where the girl chooses the "bad boy" over the "boy next door" and "nice guy"
- Good mix of likeable and hateable characters in the midst of the palace drama

❀ The introduction promised so much
Immediately we are met with a rebellion scene and the FL having so many regrets about using people in her lifetime to become empress. She k*lls herself and goes back in time to when she was 18 years old, vowing to correct all the wrongs she did in her previous life to rights. It's more "second chance rebirth" than "revenge rebirth," and it's satisfying to see the FL use her past memory to buy silk and raise money, avoid the chance of war, and ultimately save the people around her. BUT -- this plot disappears after the ep 20ish mark. When it becomes more court politics-driven, the FL's intelligence and character takes a step back as we focus on the ML. Other than key moments that the FL had, she's literally just following the Good Guy Team around like a tail. I understand that most historical dramas emphasize the court politics towards the end, but at least other FL's are kept busy (running a business, fighting a war, playing dead to name a few roles). Instead I feel like the FL was just hanging around for a good time which was a waste of her originally proactive and smart character. Also she never gave me "ruthless empress" vibes even though her whole background narrative was using others to rise to the top.

❀ ROMANCE DIDN'T MATCH MY FREAKKKkk
Y'all I was fully expecting a yandere, morally gray ML that you can't help but love despite his character flaws. While the ML is possessive and has a dark aura due to his PTSD and past, he was actually pretty chill. I know people are divided on the toxic romance and his red flag tendencies but y'all have never read a Cnovel have you. ಥ_ಥ Like Xie Wei is cute compared to the crazies in Cnovels and manhwas out there LOL.
Again, I liked the romance set-up of the FL going through various men in her life (repaying debts from the past life) before ending with the man who had been there since the beginning: the ML Xie Wei. BUT -- the show decided to put equal attention to each men which at the end of the day made for superficial relationships amongst them all. And then they added those fanservice kisses post ep 30 to make up for that lol. Seriously! Even in LOVE LIKE THE GALAXY where there were several male love interests, the FL's first fiance lasted up a bit after ep 20ish and then the show spends the next 30+ episodes focusing on her romance with the actual ML. In STORY OF KUNNING PALACE, the 3rd ML (Yan Lin) is in the background (even though she rejects him early on) until ep 10ish, which is when the 2nd ML (Zhang Zhe) shows up. Then she's interested in him until ep 24, where she decides to push him away so that he can focus on himself and his future. While the ML is always there from the beginning, offering advice, support, and rescue, their actual romantic relationship doesn't progress until like ep 31. I just feel like the show was ALMOSTTT there in making an amazing slow-burn, angst-filled triangle. But I just never felt the romantic intent from the FL until much later on. I love a pining ML but I would have also appreciated some exploration of the FL's feelings for him before the actual romantic bit. The most we get is that she trusts him, fears him, and respects their student-teacher relationship. Superficially though, I did enjoy all the male leads hehe.
3rd ML: boy next door who's your bubbly, sportsy childhood friend (he's a general and his character was literally holding the show's action scenes on his back).
2nd ML: nice guy who stays true to the law and his values (he helped the FL a lot in the first timeline despite her being "evil" which made her have a lot of regrets towards him)
1st ML: broken bad boy with tragic past who would bend over backwards to make the FL happy. The drama tried to show him as being healed from his traumas at the end but we aren't really given an explanation except for the power of the FL's love. Again, that's fine superficially BUT I really didn't feel the moral grayness from him since the beginning. Even though he was raised among the rebels, he was GOOD to his core. And even though his schemes didn't follow the law 100%, it was for the GREATER GOOD. There was one point where he was willing to sacrifice Zhang Zhe but didn't because the FL was there. Like see??? He a good guy through and through. His methods may be unorthodox but the results were giving hero that saves the day. Red flag who?
I feel like people who see their pair as a toxic romance don't like his manhandling (grabbing her by the throat, nonconsensual kiss) and pressure on making the FL see him the way he sees her. I attribute it to lackluster writing. Like I said, we just don't have a lot of time to develop their relationship by the time the writers remembered they needed to address this romance bit. By ep 31 there are multipleee characters asking the FL how she thought of the ML. Ofc they had to rush the script!! Miss girl barely even figured out her feelings about the rebirth/saving everyone (at one point she literally wanted to run away and was flip-flopping between saving people and running away lol), much less her feelings about this ML that she thought pushed her to her death in the first life. So, I get her initial hesitation which to other watchers might look like an unwillingness to be in the relationship. I just feel like with extra time and exposition, she could have come to her own conclusion about her feelings instead of using external forces to push her there.

❀ Pretty satisfying court schemes
The show keeps them simple while keeping viewers' interests. Most of the time it's the baddies getting thwarted by the main characters with mid-high stakes. There's both court politics and harem politics, which keeps the momentum going. BUT -- I started to lose interest around the ep 20 mark when I realized that we were going to rinse and repeat the same scenes: baddies (Xue family) try something bad, the main leads (mostly ML) foil their plans, and then the baddies tone it down a little before doing it all over again. I thought we would get more nuance with Pingnan in the picture as well, but his schemes were tossed aside within a few episodes. For a father-like figure and savior to the ML, I certainly didn't feel like his character got the attention and writing it deserved. Also I can't keep count of how many times the dialogue emphasized "Xue vs Yan" family like we haven't been watching the show from the get-go. Despite my complaints though, I still enjoyed watching all the scheming and knowing that the ML would be there to save the day.

❀ In terms of production...
I liked the cinematography and how the music leaned towards the melodramatic/twisted side. The acting was great from all the main actors with special mentions to Bailu and Zhang Linghe's crying scenes. BUT -- I was not living for the opening theme and overdramatic editing. Instead of having just music in the opening theme, they add Jiang Xuening's voiceover and it's just so over-the-top, cheesy, and borderline cringe. Like girl... this ain't cute. Also this isn't a revenge drama but the opening setup tries to give that vibe which is just Too Much (TM). As for the editing - I didn't expect to see Bollywood effects in a Chinese drama lol. There's epic zoom in's, frames that are doing 360 spins, and even echoes to the character's line. I'm not gonna lie, every time Xie Wei had some dramatic, emphatic line that ended with an echo I just got pulled SO out of the watching experience. It just felt so fake and over-the-top.

✕ Misunderstanding level: 4/10
FL was scared of giving into her feelings for the ML because she thought he "forced" her death in the first life. Also every time he did something for her - especially towards the beginning - she was too dense to notice it. So much for cunning empress who got reborn!! Damn girl.

OVERALL
I just feel like I came in with high expectations and the promise of something that was never fully delivered. I would say it was 75% of the way there, which matches my rating. It *checked* all the right boxes, but I guess they weren't *fully* checked at the end of the day. Both FL and ML didn't match my freak. Still an enjoyable watch though that is among the better historical Cdramas out there!

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Supposed to be inspirational but falls flat

First - kudos to the actress/director Jia Ling for managing to lose 100 lbs in a year! I don't blame her for wanting to make money/get popular from it too in the form of a movie. I feel like fans seem to be divided on the whole weight loss stuff but good for her on getting more healthy. A Lululemon deal doesn't hurt at the end of the journey either, lol. So get that bag sis.

For the movie itself:
PROS
❀ Character growth
In the beginning, we see Le Ying essentially get bullied by everyone in her life. She's a people pleaser and thinks about others before herself - even to her own detriment. Her sister walked all over her, her best friend and ex-boyfriend walked all over her (and cheated in the meantime), and even her lover/coach walked all over her in the end. Boxing was the one thing though that she genuinely wanted to do for HERSELF. Getting into that ring and having a sparring session. She stayed strong in that regard and eventually got her goal in the end. One might think that winning the boxing match is her goal, but I think a more subtle - and important - goal is the ability to say no. And I enjoyed how that manifested at the end of the movie.

❀ Decent cinematography
I really liked the filters they used - it almost reminded me of a Wes Anderson color scheme. The shots were done pretty well and the boxing match was great. I heard that they consulted with an actual famous female boxer on that scene and it shows.

CONS
✕ Anticlimactic ending
I know I went off about the character growth lol but I thought the results of the boxing match would have been more... inspirational, I guess. This is probably the American in me lol. You kind of end it with an "all that and for what?" thought. I mean, obviously for the MC's own internal growth. But it makes it less powerful when the physical reality doesn't match the mental. I think maybe, they were aiming for a match like in Rocky where the journey is what matters, not the outcome. Basically if you give it your all then it doesn't matter what happens. But for some reason it doesn't feel as satisfying. Yes, she discovered her self-worth in the end, but I feel like she was so abused/mistreated in the beginning that the trade-off doesn't really match.

OVERALL
YOLO is one of those movies where right after I ended, I was like "this all?" But after sitting with the message, I started to appreciate it more. Is it inspiring? It's supposed to be, yes. It didn't quite reach the mark for me, though, although I can still appreciate the intent.

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Uplifting women's voices and how they don't need no man

Women-oriented show that highlights how past a wife, concubine, and servant's title are mothers, sisters, and daughters who have their own talents, aspirations, and goals.

BLOSSOMS IN ADVERSITY has this theme at its forefront from the initial scene, where a young Hua Zhi saves a ship in a storm by bravely climbing up the mast and letting the sail down. If you're a fan of:
- Wholesome family dynamics
- Cute and angst-free romances
- Intelligent, business-minded FL
- Seeing main characters starting from the bottom and working their way up,
Then this drama is for you!

PROS
❀ Family at that heart of the show
While this show has many other plot points going on (some palace dealings, several romantic lines, etc), at its heart is the Hua family women and their relationships. I thought I would get bored with the family drama, but I think the show did an excellent job in highlighting all the different characters' strengths and weaknesses. I especially appreciated the growth we see in all the women from when they first get kicked out of the capital to when they come back, stronger than ever. At first, they only wanted a man to rely on. With the guidance of Hua Zhi and the Hua matriarch (grandmother), the women started to stand on their own two feet - no men needed. Hua Zhi (FL) leads to family to success by starting various business ventures and gaining allies (and enemies) along the way.
While I was worried all the different characters would be confusing, the family is not that complex and quite easy to follow. They were also quite likeable and thus I didn't find myself fast forwarding past any of their scenes. I feel like it takes great writing to get me invested in heavy family dynamics, and BLOSSOMS IN ADVERSITY hit the mark.

❀ Highlighting the strength of women in different situations
Whether it's with an abusive husband, stuck in a trap of six other concubines, or marrying into a treacherous family, I enjoyed how the show was still able to highlight the perils and obstacles of the various Hua women. While this doesn't mean that everyone has a glorious comeback and comes out victorious (in fact, there are some tragedies that happen), I still appreciated how the show explored the different plights of women during the time period.

❀ Mature(?) romance that is straightforward and sweet
I put mature with a question mark because I'm a bit conflicted in my analysis of the overall romance. At face value, it's very sweet and to-the-point. Gu Yan Xi (ML) encounters the FL after traveling back from the North and is impressed by her lack of fear towards him and intelligent dialogue. He gives her good advice while she navigates her family drama and is a solid shoulder to lean on. The only issue is that his other identity is the Commander of the Security Bureau, which has a deadly reputation. Between the couple, this is *actually* a non-issue as the FL is quite understanding of his double identity and even his confession to his identity (at the ep 20 mark) is met with a calm response (as she had a feeling already). With this regard, I feel like the romance is mature and steady.
The plot point that gives me pause is how the ML handled his inner conflict of choosing the FL vs choosing the emperor (who he sees as a father figure). I feel like we never really get resolution on this from his character, but rather the resolution is forced on us via plot. See, throughout the entire show the ML is the backbone of the emperor's Security Bureau and rooting out rebels, but he's also the FL's companion and supporter. Towards the end the emperor kind of makes him choose between the two by giving the FL a hard time which becomes the core of the break-up (happens at ep 33, but they get back together in ep 36 also it was a soft break-up anyway lol). I never felt like the ML took a solid stance in this regard which makes me hesitate to say this is a *mature* romance - rather, the writing makes it so there aren't huge conflicts between the leads.
HOWEVER, I did like the candid dialogue that Hua Zhi and Gu Yan Xi had about not having misunderstandings/miscommunications. So that is certainly a point towards the maturity. (And every drama should have that convo!!) I guess I'm just flip-flopping in my analysis lol.

❀ Awesome fight scenes
One of the reviewers said the ML had fists of fury and they weren't wrong!! Lol while there weren't many action-dominated scenes, the few that were there were all stellar. Especially the choreo for the ML - his punches got me cheering him on. Of note, I thought the assassin x cooking competition scene in ep 28 had fire filming and execution.

❀ Rare moment where I LOVED the music
The opening theme immediately got me HOOKED. It's so triumphant, adventurous, and catchy. Whenever that theme came on I knew something good was gonna happen in the story, lol. I also like the reprise they made of the theme that's purely instrumental. It was giving Bridgerton vibes and just added to the overall atmosphere.

❀ The way everyone started coupling up around the ep 30ish mark
It was so cute what the heck!! Everyone was so easy to root for and it made the overall happy ending very satisfying to see.

CONS
✕ Weak palace drama
While I enjoyed how the palace drama gave us a chance to see more of the ML's backstory and ACTION(!!), the overall plotline was weak and felt nonsensical. At some point I was just waiting for the emperor to d*e so that anyone(!!) could take the throne after him. For real. I feel like this weak palace plot exacerbated my side-eye at the ML because I wasn't convinced he had to be as loyal to the throne as he was. The final conflict wasn't even instigated by our leads, they just had a (helping) hand in it. Because of the ML x emperor loyalty though, I didn't feel as if the ML had time to grow. Like, he "made his own decisions" in certain scenes towards the end but it wasn't as resolute as it could have been, since he was still juggling both sides (his lover aka the FL vs the emperor aka his father figure) towards the very end.

✕ ML frozen face
I expected this going in but it's actually so noticeable it's funny. The ML actor (Hu Yi Tian) is TALL and HAWT, don't get me wrong. Major eye candy. And his smiles make everything worth it. The only problem is his stoic face for 97% of his screen time. I *feel* like the actor was trying to do some micro-expressions with his eyes, but I wasn't really seeing it. Will eye candiness (I mean come on, he looks SO good with that curly flowing hair) make up for frozen face syndrome? It will for me. I feel like the writers did well with making his actions speak for themselves.

✕ Misunderstanding level: 0/10
ML has hidden identity but it wasn't a huge misunderstanding or major issue.

OVERALL
This drama will leave you with all the warm, fuzzy feelings. ALL the characters (except the emperor who is shown to be cowardly from the get-go) are immensely likeable and fun to watch. You'll fall in love with not only the main couple and their stalwart support of one another, but also the beautiful female relationships that blossom in this drama. I feel like Zhang Jing Yi (FL actress) always does a great job with strong FLs and this historical piece was no different. I guess she does step into Mary Sue territory at times, but she also learned from her elders quite a bit (especially towards the beginning) to get her foundation set up. Nonetheless, BLOSSOMS IN ADVERSITY truly highlights the power of family when worst comes to worst, and how one can utilize that love and power to climb back from adversity.

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Sweet, light historical romcom with endearing ships

If you're looking for a lighter Cdrama without too much angst but lots of couples, I recommend this one!

It features:
- Sismance between two girls as they head towards unlikely marriages
- Physically strong and direct FL x "sickly" but intelligent ML
- Scholarly, quick-witted second couple FL x loyal, military second couple ML
- Light scheming both within the family and within the palace
- Sweet storyline that doesn't require too much thought

PROS
❀ Couples EVERYWHERE and they are all so cute
In order of screen time, it would probably be: (if my memory serves correct)
1. Li Yu Hu x Qi Tian Lei: main couple that work together to save the family from a scheming cousin. I loveeed the scenes where they practiced martial arts together hehe.
2. Du Bing Yan x Yuan Bu Qu: second couple that (also) work together to defeat the enemies at the border. She dresses up as a male physician to help out while he's the beloved general at the camp.
3. Princess Chang Ping x Sha Ping Wei: they're both the younger side couple that the show devotes some extra time towards. He's the lieutenant/right hand man of Yuan Bu Qu while she's the princess engaged to the general.
4. Liu Ruo Qian x Shu Da Niang: (I THINK that's her name...) basically the older couple that gets reunited after a fight. Teacher Liu is pretty much everyone's master/sensei/godfather/mentor/fortune-teller/shipper/matchmaker in the story LOL
5. Yan Sheng x Ji Jing Tang: another younger side couple between the apothecary's son and ML's family member that helps them out
6. Empress x Liu's senior brother: additional tale of a past romance and the empress getting closure about it
I like how the romances were the main highlight of the drama and it doesn't shy away from them. They develop quite quickly and the couples stay true to each other. By ep 8, the main 2 couples have already confessed and we get some kissing scenes already hehe. I would have to note, the romances are all super wholesome and lean towards the "cutesy" theme rather than anything sensual or deep. It matches the drama's theme since everything stays light, but I wanted to let future viewers know so they have the right expectations going in.

❀ Interesting (enough) side conflicts
Again, there isn't anything too deep with any of the schemes going on but it keeps viewers watching. The first couple has to deal with an instigator in the house (the ML's cousin) while the second couple has to deal with getting approval for their marriage after the general gets promoted and catches the eye of the empress. The drama's overall theme is pretty low-stakes though, so I wouldn't say these conflicts are *gripping*; they're good for a light watch to see the couples succeed despite all odds. Also it's cute how all the characters help each other out.
However, I would highlight that viewers shouldn't come in with high expectations when it comes to how the schemes pan out because there's a good bit of deus ex machina where someone pops out of nowhere to "save the day."

CONS
✕ Uneven distribution of screen time
The drama pretty much goes all in on one couple over another, but I think it would have been more enjoyable to see more equal parts of each as each episode continues. For example, we focus more on the first couple towards the beginning and I low key forgot about the second couple, lol. I would have been a more attentive watcher if the show decided to split the couples more evenly - or at least not wholly focus on just one couple for an extended period of time. This would have kept me engaged on all the characters equally.

✕ Second couple could have been more
While I liked this couple, I feel like their lack of screen time hindered their relationship. First, we never figure out why the general had two past wives (rip to this dropped plot point). Second, they have to deal with this empress for SO many episodes which had them separate for a while (rip to their relationship development). I feel like their relationship had potential that just wasn't utilized.

✕ Misunderstanding level: 2/10
Happy to report that the bride mix-up storyline doesn't drag too long and the grooms figure things out pretty quickly lol. The couples are true to each other from beginning to end.

OVERALL
I think this drama checks all the boxes for a light, historical romcom that'll leave viewers satisfied. Although nothing particularly makes WRONG CARRIAGE, RIGHT GROOM a "stand-out," the happy ending and journey towards it (featuring all the cute couples) make it worth the watch.

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Heartfelt historical romance with a bickering couple and a storyline full of righteousness and valor

I hope everyone can find their Wonderland of Love <3

I saw this recommended on a TikTok with "strong FLs in C-dramas" and it definitely did not disappoint! This was also my first drama with the ever-popular Xu Kai and I think they really highlighted his acting skills (especially the grief/crying scenes). If you like very romantic historical dramas, you're in for a treat. There's a lot of scenes between the main leads (LOTS of kissing too hehe) while they deal with an unstable court regime, a missing crown grandson, and invaders along the border. I thought that the opening music matched the couple's energy: heroic and righteous from beginning to end.

The storyline starts with both leads having a playful back-and-forth with their armies on the line during a time of rebellion and turmoil, as the emperor's family is almost all annihilated and a general took control. Midway through, the environment shifts from the battlefield and war to court intrigue and tricky politics. I do think the war strategies were at the forefront of the conflict in the show compared to any palace drama, which was refreshing and fun.

PROS:
❀ Main couple with stellar chemistry and dialogue
I loved the scenes between A'Ying and Li Ni, from the very beginning where they were after the same thing (provisions for their respective armies) to the end where they worked together as a couple to squash rebels. Their chemistry was fire from the very beginning and the flirting never stopped from there, lol. The couple dynamics were giving stubborn general's daughter x playful nobleman. Neither of them were invested in the fight for court power but were thrown into the game due to the incompotent people around them, such as Li Ni's cowardly father and brothers. I love how they were on the same frequency for most of the drama, knowing what the other thought and going along with their plans. They both respected each other's wit and characters immensely, and the dialogue always emphasized that. In terms of an equal relationship, this one takes the cake. ALSO, I'm very happy with their ending as a couple and how the show took time to reach that conclusion.
As individuals, I thought their characterizations stayed true throughout the story. Even though Li Ni didn't want to crown prince role and favored a simple lifestyle on the border, he recognized what he needed to do after the huge betrayal scene. Even still, he remained stalwart and upstanding even in the midst of scheming ministers. A'Ying is like the rest of her family - tsundere at heart. She may seem quite cold at times, but she actually has a soft heart. Together, they get along best when they fight/bicker (lol). Shout out to the choreography of them fighting/battling together, because that was always a feast for the eyes.

❀ Interesting side characters that added a lot of depth
From the torn Crown Princess (what a heartbreaking character!) to the brother-in-arms from Loulan Pass (my favorite comic relief), I really appreciated the extra characters. The only ones I didn't like were the second leads, lol. More on that in the con section. Oh also, Taozi and Erduo were the cutest :)

❀ Giving Art of War energy
I enjoyed the heavy emphasis on military strategy over any palace intrigue. A lot of the plans talked about knowing when to attack and when to retreat, which people to use as your allies, when to ambush the enemy, etc. I thought it kept the storyline exciting and the action non-stop.

❀ Them costumes though...
Flashy and gorgeous. Especially Li Ni's outfits... that man looks fine in everything. Also loved his hairdo as well lol. They did an amazing job with making A'Ying look heroic in her military gear too! It created a great juxtaposition when she dressed up as a noble lady.

CONS:
✕ Second leads were kinda weird
I forgot their names so I'm just going to label them as 2ML and 2FL. Both had odd characterizations that were reductive and trite. Also both of them started out decent but ended up getting super obsessed over our main leads which made for lazy writing. Both stand no chance in the romance game.
The 2ML was A'Ying's adoptive brother who wanted to get together with him, but she only saw as an older brother. I thought their separation would allow him to come back even more heroic and helpful in the Cui Army cause, but he just fell into the dark side.
The 2FL was a court lady that Li Ni randomly saved and she got obsessed with him ever since, going back to her father to scheme him into marrying her. At first I was like, "ooh she's kind of smart despite being a court lady that was kicked out of her home," but instead of leveraging that plotline to create character depth, her development stunted at falling in love with Li Ni who never ever gave her hints.
This wouldn't even be a con if it weren't for their obsessive scheming getting into the way of the leads. Like let them be!!

✕ A'Ying could get pretty stubborn at times
This is part of her character, but she could give a good sulk like no other. Thankfully, Li Ni is 10/10 at apologizing and I love a good grovel when I see one (even if it's sometimes not needed LOL). This didn't hinder my enjoyment but sometimes I was like, girl can you just let it go :,)) Thankfully their make-up scenes were 20/10!!

✕ Misunderstandings: 3/10
Nothing major that I can think of. It was more like minor understandings in the beginning when they were both figuring out each other's identities and character. Any break-ups and arguments were short-lived between them and they made up pretty often. I loveeeed their romantic dates in the midst of the war and fights breaking out lol.

OVERALL
If you're looking for a valiant couple who work together for the sake of bringing peace to the people, this show is for you. There's plenty of action, and even more romance, to enjoy. The male lead is protective and sweet, the female lead is headstrong and gallant. Both of them stand brave in the midst of chaotic times and strive to protect the ones they love. While the show was 40 episodes, I never felt bored and the satisfying ending made my heart all warm. The symbolism of Le You Yuan (Wonderland) will leave viewers hopeful about their own wonderland of love.

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A must-see to complete this couple's story

Thank you Productive Procrastination for the translations!
This movie is a sequel and continuation of where the story left off in Puppet Prince, which you should watch first. The story in this movie is set three years after Puppet Prince, where the FL is trying to save the ML from his vegetative state. It honestly was more frustrating than the first movie, but not gonna lie the twist near the end got me. Did it absolve the frustrating bits beforehand? Somewhat... but in general I wasn't here for the angst done to the FL.

PROS
❀ The FL remains as optimistic, fun, and good-hearted as always | In my review of the first movie I noted how hesitant I was about the FL, but I ended up really liking her, and in this movie she stays great! I love how determined she was to save the ML and to regain his memories. When she realized she was overstepping her boundaries, she steps back. She's also smart and capable though, and ends up figuring things out on her own despite people going against her. We stan a heroine who knows kung-fu and uses her brain!
❀ Those twists near the end got me | The first 45 minutes got me low key upset, lol. I felt like the FL deserved so much better and there were more romantic scenes between the ML and the 2FL villainess. BUT the plot was saved by those twists near the end. I like how everything was fast-paced so watchers get to figure out the bad guys along with the main characters. I think both movies were unpredictable in some ways which really turned the storyline for the better. My only complaint is all that angst leading up to the twist.

CONS
✕ Not a huge fan of the amnesia plot | I guess you can't expect an epic Chinese story without an amnesia plot (/sob... why must they be like this). Anyway, this amnesia trope was hard to watch in this movie because the ML felt so cold towards the FL who had only the best of intentions. Like - sir!!! But future watchers should have more faith in him (at least more than I did, lol), because there are ~reasons~ why frustrating things happen. Y'all's patience will be rewarded. :')
✕ Not a fan of how much screen time they spent on the ice puppet | At one point I felt like I was watching a totally new couple (with the ice puppet as the FL) and my eyes rolled so hard. There's a limit to how many scenes I can bear where the actual FL's feelings get stomped on!! They even gave the ice puppet a flashback scene. All in all she was a pretty annoying character but at least she had good character development.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 9/10 | Bruh, even *I* as the watcher was misunderstanding the ML. All in the name of noble sacrifice.

OVERALL
Sad to report that while this is about the romance between the couple from Puppet Prince, there aren't romantic scenes surrounding them. I mean, the feelings are still there, but they're too busy trying to save the other (lmao). I'd say watch this if you're okay with investing a bit over 2 hours for both movies. The story is still pretty exciting (a lot is fit in these movies) and while I would have liked more ~romance~, at least we get a happy ending for our main leads.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Fell asleep in first half but second half took a 180 turn

I watched this movie in four parts... lol the first three times, I kept falling asleep. Nothing was really happening, it was boring, and I had to get my friend to recap for me. Thank goodness my friend kept prodding me to finish it, because halfway through the movie literally goes from 0 to 105. It's all action, gore, fighting, and the main lead being OP af. If you like seeing the protagonist beat up foes, this one's for you. Story-wise, though, there's a lot missing.
(Also, one of the reasons she made me watch was to see Da Mi and Woo Shik before Our Beloved Summer aired lol. I like both actors - they have young faces and bring refreshing emotions to the screen.)

PROS
❀ Good introduction to the actors | I haven't watched Itaewon Class but Kim Da Mi left an impression on lots of people and she did a good job in this movie too. Even though her character was written very lazily, she still managed to give off very intelligent and savage vibes for her character. Woo Shik was great in Parasite and in The Witch, he plays the lunatic working for the evil scientist quite well. Honestly, I'm impressed with how well he expressed the character because his lines bordered on cringe sometimes. The Witch is a testimony that movies can be successful, despite poor writing, due to the execution of the actors and the producer.
❀ Fun action, especially towards the end | Once everything gets out in the open by the middle of the movie, the action is non-stop. You basically watch the main character Goo Ja Yun beat all the bad guys up in a very satisfying way. The production quality for the action was eye-catching and vibrant, which makes up for all the boring scenes in the beginning. Like I said, the movie goes from 0 (nothing big happening) to 105 (a LOT of things happening) lol. So if you're struggling while watching, try to push through to reach that middle part.

CONS
✕ Really sloppy writing | This movie takes the idea of "genetically engineered superhuman children" and... that's it. Lol. It doesn't progress past the vague idea of one of the superhuman children turning against the researchers and nothing is deep. Main character Ja Yun wants to live and protect her foster parents. That means getting rid of the people after her. Solution? Kill those people. I'm a huge fan of sci-fi and have seen this vague storyline done 10+ times through Western books/movies/etc. The Witch: Subversion doesn't offer anything new, unfortunately, nor does it stand out against the myriad of stories with the same theme. The story doesn't have depth, the characters barely have depth, and the superhuman plot is not used to its potential. Everything about this movie just screams "shallow."

OVERALL
Honestly I feel like you shouldn't watch it until Part 2 comes out. Part 1 ends in a cliffhanger, there's barely a storyline going on, and the characters felt like caricatures. The reasons I kept watching were 1) my friend basically forcing me and 2) the main actors. The action towards the end and the female lead kicking ass make it worth the watch, but everything else is a hazy memory in my mind.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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It felt like I was watching poorly-written fanfiction of season 1

Came into this season right after binging and loving season 1. I was shocked at how much I enjoyed season 1, but season 2 shocked me again with how much I /didn't/ like it. All the enjoyable things about season 1 was pretty much gone, and the only theme that carried over was the main couple's intense romance that everyone loves. I feel like they not only butchered Tan-er's character from a smart, capable heroine who solved the puzzles with her partner to stale paint in the background, but also Mo Yi Huai's character where they made him cannon fodder for the sake of the plot. Instead of the characters being pro-active in dealing with antagonistic schemes like season 1, they were passive and reactive. I dunno, season 2 lost a lot of its charm and I don't think I'll follow the couple's story into season 3 since it seems like the same thing, rinse and repeat.

PROS
❀ Romance, romance, romance | Just like season 1, at the core focus of this drama is the main couple Tan'er and Mo Lian Cheng. Even though one of Mo Lian Cheng's love rival is literally a past version of himself (seemingly in a different dimension), the main couple stays true to each other. The way they reconciled Mo Lian Cheng's different selves was... okay. I guess the only way they could have ended that plot point. I know some other viewers weren't a fan (based on YT comments LOL) but I thought it was fine. At that point in the story, I was speeding through and could care less.
❀ I liked the modern setting in the first couple of episodes | To be honest, it would have been refreshing to keep the story but in modern settings. But the writers said "nah" and decided to rehash all the characters and premises of season 1. Original, much??? (/s)
❀ Still love the supporting characters | Tan-er's maid, MLC's bodyguard, and his younger brother prince are my fave.

CONS - caution bc I be ranting in here
✕ The way they butchered Tan-er's character | In season 1, I love how she worked with Mo Liang Chen and even Qu Xiao Tan to figure out the antagonists' schemes and get back at them. She was smart, and even though she was a little obnoxious, at the end of the way she got things done. In this season, only the obnoxious part of her character carried through. She barely did anything in terms of plot (most of the action was Mo Liang Chen trying to get a happy ending for this dimension and his fam), and her plans usually backfired (with the exception of like, 1, towards the end lmao). She wasn't annoying, per se, but she wasn't helpful for anything outside of the main romance. It was really disappointing to see a smart (and kind of powerful, with the orb magic!) FL regress into the same ol' same ol' Chinese historical heroine that runs around doing nothing and having dudes fall in love with her for doing nothing.
✕ The way they butchered Mo Yi Huai's character | Loved his bittersweet character in season 1, but in this season he's crazy. His character is inconsistent (in one scene he's obsessed with and 'loves' Tan-er, in another scene he laughs at her trying to seduce him) (Granted, he knows she has something up her sleeve but still homeboy really acted like he hated her), his motives are dodgy, and in general he gets pulled like the wind in whatever direction the writers want him to take. I'm tired of Chinese drama writers making villains mentally ill/obsessive... it's not only lazy, but leaves a bad taste in my mouth. We in the 21st century, surely we can think up of better villains? Anyway, all his charm and pure love in season 1 gets thrown out the window and he regresses into the stereotypical obsessive/possessive villain who will do anything, at all costs, to get a woman. Sigh.
✕ From pro-active to reactive | Like I said, the scheming/court intrigue became frustrating in this one with the characters finding things out last minute and figuring out a way to fix things. The crux of the problem was Mo Liang Chen trying to save his older bro (who the writers must hate as a character bc they always be doing him dirty) and because of that, tries not to stir stuff up. Oh, but other people be stirring stuff up. So MLC's there to act as a janitor and sweep everything into rights... until he can't. And shit hits the fan. And now they have a BIGGER mess to clean up. And as a viewer I'm done and skipping scenes.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 4+/10 | I honestly don't remember since I finished this a couple weeks ago but definitely more than the first season. Mo Liang Chen has Tan-er in CIRCLES with him acting as himself, being himself but in an earlier time/different dimension, and acting as himself with a mask aka lookin like another dude. To be honest, I couldn't keep up with the actor switching roles and I don't think he did a good job. I had to constantly read the YT comments to figure out if it was the OG Mo Liang Chen or the new one. Comments be like "ohh he's colder as the new MLC and much sweeter as the OG one" and I was like "who???" bc they both be having the same ":|" expression. The FL was confused, I was confused as a viewer, and in general the execution was Very Messy (TM).

OVERALL
The Eternal Love lost its charm for me. I really don't understand why this season is some viewers' faves - maybe bc of the unnecessary angst that was created? Season 1 was fun and fresh, season 2 was the opposite. We got reuse, reduce, recycled characters/background, romance that felt cheapened (especially with Tan-er losing ALL her memories of season 1. Like she gains a little back but not the whole thing, it seemed like (although it was not clearly showed)), and heavily wasted potential on plot elements. I feel like I should have skipped this season and went directly to season 3. Nevertheless, I'll be taking a break on this series before moving on (if I do so at all).

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Spunky, energetic barista x awkward, unsociable architect from high school to college

Youth drama at its finest! I love how this show stayed true to its warm, endearing tone from beginning to end. Every potential enemy turns into a friend. The main lead were childhood friends turned high school sweethearts turned college couple. Their best friends also have a similar progression. Everyone gets happy endings as they wrap up high school and everyone managed to pursue their dreams while staying together.
It's a feel-good, unrealistic yet heartwarming rendition of young adult years.

PROS
❀ Main leads are a team from beginning to end | I picked up this drama for the ML actually, despite not being the biggest fan of youth dramas, because I wanted to see how the show portrayed his social anxiety disorder. It was awesome to see him slowly open up with the help of the feisty FL (I love how they call her Rui Ge, like older bro), while he on the other hand helped the FL with her studies and getting into college. They're a team, through and through, and their bond remains tight throughout the show.
I've become a fan of the actress for the FL. I love how full of energy she is, how she would randomly dance, and how she was comfortable with grandiose actions. I feel like she really got into her role! The ML was like a little puppy, especially when he opened up. I don't think the role itself needed much from the actor, but his face was really good at exuding those puppy vibes.
Romance-wise, their chemistry is sweet and like the rosy blushes of first love; their relationship is innocent and naive. There's a lot of interrupted kisses (lol, maybe like 5+?), but the kisses near the end are sugary sweet and satisfying.
❀ Cute secondary characters that I really liked | The FL's best friends are loud-and-proud Cheng Er Luo and studious actress Zhao Yi Shu. While wary of the ML's unwillingness to open up at first, they gradually become friends and understand each other. Cheng Er Luo ends up calling the ML "Nan idol," lmao. There's a couple of other sweet couples (diligent diplomat Yang Yu Fei x bad boy/slacker Liu Bin; fierce coach x well-read coffee house owner) that light up the screen as well. And one of the wittiest characters of the cast was Chen Hao, the FL's younger half-brother. He was so cheeky!
❀ Nostalgic school moments that make you want to re-live teen years | From setting off fireworks during evening study period to cheering on your friend at basketball practice after school, Meeting You really encapsulates the best times of high school and college. Even studying for the college entrance exams is a team effort that, while stressful, remains light in tone.
❀ Sha-la-la-la OST that matched the light tone of the drama | It's a shame the YT audio has such poor quality (they would take away background music during scenes, I guess for copyright reasons?), which really killed the vibe. But I'm listening to the full OST as I write this review, and it's really cute! Makes me feel like a high schooler again.
❀ Awesome adult characters | From the supportive moms to the devoted teachers, all the adults passed the vibe check in this drama. Love, love, loved their limited screen time and interactions with the young group. 10/10 great role models.

CONS
✕ A relationship that toed the line with co-dependency | I was low-key surprised at some of the dialogue that happened between the leads. I mentioned before that it was nice seeing the FL bring the ML out of his shell while the ML helped tutor the FL, but when people (namely, parents) wanted to separate them, the answer was a firm, "no." FL might not get into this university suitable for the ML's future? ML's answer: "I'm not going." FL gets an opportunity to go to Italy to hone her coffee-making skills but that means leaving the ML? FL's answer: "I'm not leaving." If not for the coincidential plot points that allowed the main couple to stay together the entire drama, I shudder to think of how the couple would have sacrificed potential futures for each other. Not to say you can't, as this is a nuanced discussion that people have to have, but the drama never took the steps to start that conversation. It retained its singular focus of "we won't be split up again" from beginning to end. On one side, it's testimony of the main leads' devotion (very nice!). On the other, it toes the line of some head-scratching as you begin to think about potential co-dependency. The solution? Don't think too deep about it.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 0/10 for the main couple, 4/10 for second couple | Xia Rui and Nan Xi are solid from beginning to end. They trust each other even through rumors and other external interference. Cheng Er Luo and Zhao Yi Shu (the second couple) take a much longer time getting together. He's dense af, she's missing her opportunities to confess. Their relationship was sweet at first but got a bit overdone when they went to college.

OVERALL
While I have mostly positive things to say about this drama, it stays on the superficial side. This is a positive, as the tone is light-hearted and fluffy (no need for angst to enter the equation), but it also makes it a bit difficult to keep the engagement going. I found myself watching scenes in 1.5x-2x speed out of sheer impatience. So while the show didn't have too much depth, that's exactly how it should be enjoyed. I still recommend it though, for a youth drama that's more romance than coming-of-age, highlighting the fun times of young adulthood rather than the struggles.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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If you like seeing the FL chase after her dream with support from the ML

This drama made me a huge fan of Eleanor Lee. Well, this one and Fake Princess. I love love loved her roles in both dramas and she really understands the assignment. Her acting is phenomenal, at such a young age, and I'm blessed to have been introduced to her (and she's talented in other stuff too!). The 2FL is also funny and fierce in this one, although her romantic storyline was a little tiring. Overall this is a cute and cozy watch with the usual illogical situations/misunderstandings of CDramas. I'm superrr impatient when it comes to misunderstandings, but I have to say the cute OTP moments are VERY worth it, as the leads have GREAT chemistry and are so cute together.

PROS
❀ Eleanor Lee's character (Nuan Nuan) is awesome and we get to see her go step-by-step towards her dream | Despite failing as an idol, I loved watching NN's journey in testing out different roles and settling into one that suited her. The different roles do become cyclic/repetitive at some point (enter new role, other colleague jealous of her, she manages to perform well, rinse, repeat), but tbh that's pretty satisfying to me. We love successful heroines chasing after their dreams!! Eleanor's acting range is so incredible and her character is pretty fun, too.
❀ Sha-la-la-la chemistry with the main leads | I think I read that the main leads are friends irl, and I buy it. I loved the chemistry between the main couple (hardworking, creative designer x genius, stone-faced visual director). I do think NN outshone Han Che, but he kept up as a supportive ML that wanted to do right by the FL. At first he's pretty unlikable but once he realizes his feelings for her (around ep 8 I believe), he becomes adorkable. And when they're together, they're fire!! His pouty faces are so cute and her antics with him make you want to laugh and smile. I think he does his fair share of groveling to make up for his mistake in the beginning by helping the FL throughout the series. Also great (and numerous) kissing scenes, bless.
I also liked how Han Che's emotion immaturity was partially explained by his hyperhymesia, which is the rare ability to remember everything in life with precision. The show explores its drawbacks, including physical ones like headaches and more mental ones like not knowing how to behave in social settings. BUTTT I wish the show utilized more of his psychiatrist!! Why bring those scenes in when he's not even going to open up to the psychiatrist? :') I feel like that was a bit of a lost opportunity as it could have explored mental health in a way I haven't seen in dramas.
❀ Great OST; very sweet and upbeat | There's a reprise that continues throughout different songs that I really like, but I think the original one is from The Best of Luck sung by Eleanor Lee herself (she's so talented... y'all I hopped on her train so fast LOL). It's a beautiful song, features a gorgeous melodic line, and I think the show did a wonderful job in bringing it into different tracks.
❀ Cute addition of a shared pet! And cohabitation *heart sign* | Got some great tropes mixed in, including a cat named hotpot and the leads acting cute while living together.
❀ Happy ending with basically 3 couples | The secondary couple talk about getting pregnant, the main couple is about to get married, and the evil couple are kinda getting it on (tbh idk/idc about them).

CONS
✕ Kinda useless evil ML (EML) and evil FL (EFL) | I disliked how the main couple and secondary couple remained friends with them until the end. Like yuh... homegirl acted up on yo mans AND betrayed y'all after 4 years of being trainees, and y'all gonna let her in on hotpot?? I skipped most of the scenes she was in. The EML was good-looking but had cardboard acting so I couldn't empathize with him. The end of the drama made it seem as if they be getting feelings for each other (they = EML + FML) but honestly I couldn't see it. Both actors were pretty wooden-faced throughout everything and the script didn't help.
✕ Secondary couple (fierce, emboldened ex-trainee x nerdy, helpful little brother) was a bit tiring | Their whole subplot was "I can't like him because I see him as a lil bro" and "why can't she see me as a man," thrown in with a (maybe) pregnancy. I feel like this subplot was written a bit immaturely and I found myself watching their scenes in 2x speed. Don't get me wrong, I was rooting for them and they were cute, but their antics were a lil 2much4me.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 7/10 | Other than the main misunderstanding, for the sake of the plot (where the ML hides his identity as the guy who helped the FL fail in becoming a star) there are small misunderstandings too. I remember two small ones instigated by the EFL, and in both times the supposedly smart (but emotionally stunted, I guess) ML jumped to conclusions. There's a break-up around ep 17 (confrontation of the big secret in the beginning) but the ML is chasing the FL all the way until they get back together in ep 20, and then other stuff due to the ML's wayward protectiveness happen too. Tbh the boundary between their relationship (i.e., "we're together" vs. "we've broken up") isn't really explicitly stated whenever they get together, but I guess it's the audience's assumption that they know the other's feeling of liking them. (If that makes sense. Lol, I promise the cute moments between the two are worth the slight ambiguity.)

OVERALL
I feel like 7.5/10 is such an ugly number, and feels low, but it's also just below a 4/5 which is not bad at all. I think this drama used one too many misunderstandings, BUTTT the main couple's chemistry and Nuan Nuan's character in general elevated the story and made me keep watching. If you're a fan of seeing the FL grow and find her dream through trials and tribulations, along with supportive side characters, you'll like this one!

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Simple, sweet, and satisfying!

This drama is literally 4 hours long and as the length suggests, goes at an exceptional pace. There's a very limited set and some important scenes are left off screen so the viewers are left to surmise what happened via dialogue. Despite the low effort energy, the storyline was super sweet and if you're looking for a quick fix romance, this one's for you!

PROS
❀ Comedy overload | I swear... this show is funny and no one can argue that. From the second-in-command bandit dressing up as the FL's personal maid to the ML romantically catching the FL after she fell from the roof (and dropping her/injuring his arms in the process), this drama delivers on comedic value. The ML and FL's servants were HILARIOUS (especially the FL's... they really utilized the most out of that actor HAHA) and the added visual/audio effects kept the tone super light and fluffy.
❀ Cute romance | The pairing is mischievous, rough and tough female bandit who likes to cook x scholarly and gentle general's son. They make for a cute pair! The actors had great chemistry and I love their little moments in bed (where they're hugging each other). Also, FINALLY a drama with kissing scenes where the couple closes their eyes while making out. LMAO it always comes off as unnatural when couples keep their eyes open while kissing (as well as uncomfortable). The leads are quick to fall in love with each other and become supportive partners. Yay!
❀ Fun antics with the second couple | The second couple is the general's first son and his wife; both characters are fun/likable and go through minor growth along with our main leads. Seriously, the wife's confrontation with her husband was so satisfying to see and the husband's subsequent romantic deeds was great.

CONS
✕ Falling into tropes | Y'all I can't with the evil second female lead who can't take no for an answer trope... Anyway, this kinda woman shows up in this drama too to mar the story with bad acting (along with her maid, yikes) and dialogue. Not that it's a huge annoyance since you KNOW she won't get her way, but... lmao. Can't believe they added her.
✕ YT subtitles aren't the best | I'm grateful for the subs but they were a lil yikes... you could definitely see syntax/grammar errors and wrong pronouns.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 1/10 | Small ones happen but for like 10 minutes. I kid you not, at the breakneck pace this show goes, misunderstandings are NOT something to worry about.

OVERALL
Simple, sweet and satisfying love story between two leads with great chemistry. I'm a huge fan of the FL (the actress is so pretty!) and her straightforward attitude. Someone on YT commented that she's a mix of the FLs from General's Lady, Chef Hua, and Fake Princess, and I agree.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

Leggi di Più

Adorkable couple + a fight for the throne = light-hearted romcom with court intrigue

Left me smiling and with all the warm fuzzies. I really loved the main couple's chemistry and dynamic (naughty bandit x righteous crown prince), as well as the OST. It's upbeat, cute, lively, and a perfection reflection of the drama.

PROS
❀ Well-casted with an actress I fell in love with | I ended up loving Eleanor Lee's depiction of the spunky, sometimes naughty but mostly well-intended Chang Le. She's a robber and proud to be one; the whole reason she gets embroiled in the crown prince's mess is because she's trying to save her village people. There's less face-slapping in court than I expected from the synopsis and the majority of the plot, when the couples aren't being cutesy with each other, is the fight for the throne between the fifth prince's faction and the crown prince's faction. A lot of old people doing machinations for the young generation, which was funny to see.
❀ Romantic storyline picked up quickly | For the main couple, it happens in the first 5 or so episodes even as the crown prince is mistrustful of CL. She smashes all expectations he has of her (or, Yu Yao, the girl she's pretending to be) in funny ways. For example, he takes her to a casino thinking she would be scared off by the gamblers but she ends up winning a lot of money for him and he ends up forgetting about his 'mission' because he has so much fun. Lol! The second romantic line between Nong Ying, CL's martial artist maid/bodyguard and Gong Sun Mo, Li Che's scholar and strategist, progresses a bit slower but also lovingly. Finally, the last couple of Li Heng (the fifth prince) and Zhu Yan was the typical stuff between two well-read scholars who fall in love through couplets and poetry. I didn't care at all for this couple (more details in CONS section).
❀ Can't say enough about the OST | I thought they did a wonderful job with the music additions, which added depth to scenes (whether it be comedic value, a sense of triumph/romance, or something else). Maybe because the music was very pop-like which appeals to me compared to sorrowful ballads (lmao), but I like several songs in the OST which is pretty rare for me.
❀ Why is the couple so adorkable??? | I loveddd the scenes where LC and CL are just being silly with each other and making kissy faces. All the feels!! I thought the actors had great chemistry together and they were the cutest couple. CL's adorable facial expressions made me cheer for her the whole show, and LC's boyish and charming personality was the perfect match. I know some people complained about wanting more from Li Che as the crown prince, but I personally liked how he wasn't a hypermasculine dude with no emotions. You could really feel the love and loyalty he had for his people. I think "boyish" is a better description than "immature" in his case.
❀ Foreign royalty that DOESN'T get between the couple | I feel like whenever foreign royalty (especially a princess) comes up, the writers are like "Yesss let's bring angst + drama through this poor soul who only has eyes for the ML." Nah, none of that happens here. The foreign princess Ali Ati remains sweet and level-headed throughout the story. We stan women who have self-respect.
❀ The name of the game is damsels NOT in distress | I loved the number of times we saw women characters save the day in this drama. They aren't too over-the-top with it but it's definitely a recurring theme, whether it's CL's mastery in picking locks/figuring out gadgets or NY with her top-notch martial art.
❀ Set costumes have STYLE | Seriously, why did the outfits for the guys (especially LC and LH's) look SO good??? I've been binging historical romcoms this past week and this drama's outfits for the princes are top game.

CONS
✕ The third couple y'all... | I literally have nothing to complain about this drama OTHER than the LH and ZY couple. I thought ZY was fine but basically a useless character the whole story. Like,,, she had no role except being the tragic partner of LH. And LH omg... at first I saw people hating on the couple and I was like "nah I'll give them a chance." WRONG. They spoiled the story for me. Everything is light and fluffy and then a scene with them comes up that's all tragic and shit (as they are on opposite factions in the fight for emperor). Compared to the other witty and fun couples, they are boring and I jumped on the bandwagon and skipped through their lame couplets and encounters. You really can't make excuses for LH's character who spirals because of his love for ZY and does ridiculous things. Throughout the story, he remains weak, indecisive (outside of stuff pertaining to ZY), easily manipulated, immature, and selfish. But even skipping this couple's scenes, you'll still be able to understand the storyline which made me feel better lol. I just don't understand why they got as much screen time as they did. Ooh the only saving grace - good music during their heartbreaking scenes.
✕ Misunderstanding levels | Between the main couple: 0/10. I can't think of a scene where a misunderstanding happened because LC and CL fall in love pretty quickly and are loyal to each other through the end. Even CL's hidden identity gets straightened out without a fallout. Between LC and the dimwit fifth prince: 10/10. Yes, it was for plot purposes, but it made me hate LH even more. What a dumbass.

OVERALL
Everything is perfect EXCEPT the storyline of the third main couple. I could care less for them and they ruined an otherwise wonderful story. With that said, it's still worth watching for the other two couples (especially Li Che and Chang Le... y'all they are so cute I cannot). Historical romcom lovers will like this one!

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

Leggi di Più

Cute, satisfying, HILARIOUS historical romcom with a quirky cast!

This drama was funny and refreshing - a lovely drama for me to get back into the scene after not watching Asian dramas for a while. It wasn't perfect, but it was the perfect historical romantic comedy - with a happy ending - for me to watch.

PROS
❀ Good acting from male and female leads | Especially the male lead... shEESh, his cheekbones. I enjoyed both the actors and the female lead's facial expressions are super cute and add to the comedic factor in the show. The male lead actor is great at acting cutesy as well while balancing a somewhat darker side.
❀ Goes against the grain of ancient historical settings | In QQ's script, the Huayuan city is a role reversal of ancient China where a matriarchal society exists. (There's this one scene where a woman is like, "Wow, look at how you can see that young man's ankles in public - shameless!!") This absolutely cracks me up and really added to comedic value.
❀ Super cute romance | It's a great balance between the sweet male lead, HS, and the plotting female lead, QQ. They had so many wonderful moments, and the actors did a great job.
❀ I loved the commentary about gender equality | QQ originally writes the script to be pro-female, but ends up discriminating against guys... being in her script, she recognizes that there is no equality when either gender lords over the other. Love the lessons learned!
❀ The bromances were wonderful omg | The servants of QQ and HS... LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them. Their acting and dialogue were top notch and never failed to make me smile and laugh. They were definitely A+++ supporting characters - couldn't have asked for better sidekicks.
❀ Happy ending!! A little too short for my liking, hehe. They wrapped up the "fell into a script" plot tightly (so tight you can't ask questions, but we don't question drama plots right). Soundtrack was nice too (especially the intro music). This was also the perfect length for me at 24 episodes, which I appreciate because it's hard for me to get through 50+ ep dramas.

CONS
✕ The self-sacrificing look is not a great one... | Not gonna lie, QQ was annoying at times. She had good motive for her actions, but it was hard for me to empathize. Also I mentioned before the actress's depiction was super cute, but it got a lil stifling in some scenes. Anyway, I think this con is a reflection of the drama's need to have a plot than anything else.
✕ Dialogue wasn't perfect | There were some scenes, especially in the beginning, where I questioned the logic and motives of characters. It wasn't bad, per se, but surprising to see in a drama with otherwise okay writing. The lesson I learned, lol, was not to take anything too seriously.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 5/10 | I thought this was exacerbated by lazy script-writing but yeah, prep yourself for unnecessary misunderstandings for a couple of episodes in this drama.

OVERALL
I can see why this series is hyped, and I'm fully on board! Like I said, this wasn't perfect by all means, but it WAS a perfect historical romcom with a lovely cast and satisfying ending. Perfect for my tastes!

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

Leggi di Più