Goodbye My Princess: Director's Cut (2019)

Unforgettable Heart-Wrenching

For viewers who may be confused by the two versions of this drama, and wonder which one to choose:

The Director's cut is a better version of the drama. It has a great introduction that is not found in the other version that was aired. This version provides a proper build-up of what happens to Li Cheng Yin (Chen Xingxu) before he meets Xiao Feng (Peng Xiao Ran). And this introduction is absolutely important because it would give the viewers a very different perspective of the Li Cheng Yin character. I started with the other version while it was airing. Without the proper introduction, I came to detest Li Cheng Yin for his action. However, when this newer version became available, I came to understand the character better and began to empathize with Li Cheng Yin. The two dramas are basically the same, except for the beginning scenes (episodes 1 & 2) and some last scenes which are not included in the aired version.

This is one of the saddest stories I've ever watched. It haunted me for months. Had it not been the airing of another wonderful drama, The Untamed, I think I would still be stuck in the rabbit hole.

This drama was originally slated to be played by two very seasoned actors, Chen Kun and Fan Bing Bing. Due to a clash in schedule, two relatively unknown actors were chosen. I am so glad they made the switch and they have chosen well.

Chen Xingxu (plays the Li Cheng Yin character) didn't appeal to me at first look. As the story progressed, he started to grow on me, until at the end, he stole my heart. He is just amazing. Li Cheng Yin is a very complex character to portray. He is sunny and fun, at the same time dark and calculative. Chen Xingxu aced in every scene he played. At the climax, it was the most moving scene by him, screaming and crying for his lost love. I couldn't help but cried with him. It was really heart-breaking.

Xiao Feng is a happy-go-lucky naive girl. The experiences she encounters are so painful that she wishes to have her memories wiped out and start over. Without her memory, she begins to fall in love all over again with the same man that has hurt her. Her experiences from the beginning till the end are excruciatingly painful, and the viewers cry for her. Peng Xiao Ran is so natural, playing her role beautifully and convincingly.

After the last episode, I was speechless, empty inside. I walked and ate like a zombie, unable to erase the story from my mind. I had no closure. I guess many viewers felt the same. Soon there after, the production team released a few very short episodes of the same couple in modern life. The short clips did help a lot in the healing and closure.

This amazing drama also produces countless OSTs, all very moving and memorable. Until today, more than 12 months later, I still play the OSTs frequently, reminiscing the scenes and the experiences I went through.

Although this is a tragedy, it is a beautifully produced drama. It should not be rated poorly just because it's a tragedy.

This is one of the MUST-WATCH dramas on anybody's list.

TWO THUMBS UP!

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just want to point out the differences

I'm going to keep this short and sweet. I wrote an in-depth review on GOODBYE MY PRINCESS previously, so here I just want to point out the differences in this "Director's Cut" edition and the originally aired edition of the drama. The main thing you are probably wondering is if there are "3 extra episodes" and the answer is NO NOT REALLY. Sorry to disappoint.
The reason there are "3 episodes" MORE in the Director's Cut and the original drama is that the first two episodes and the final 2-3 episodes have more scenes added in. Most especially in EP #1 & EP #2? Meaning, so many "cut scenes" were added back in, that is added up to approx 120-130 minutes of cut footage which extended the show by 3 episodes.
The MAJORITY of the show has absolutely zero changes. If there were any "extras" in the middle episodes they were so subtle, I didn't notice them. I wish we had more scenes with our leads extended in the middle of the show and after the Oblivion Falls shenanigans, but no such luck.
All that to say, I really did like the additions that were added in the beginning and in the end. They would have been MUCH appreciated if they had originally aired.

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Gut-wrenching drama that will haunt you for ages with an incredibly compelling male lead!!!

SPOILERS....


As a veteran drama watcher (grew up watching Asian dramas), I'm extremely picky and only like dramas (prefer romance or ancient historical fiction) with a decent script and production. Story and characters are the most important to me and I find many romantic dramas these days to be crappy with non-existent plots.
"Goodbye my princess" took me completely by surprise and will go down as one of my favorite romantic dramas of all time along with "Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms" and "Someday or One Day" (both are well-crafted/quality dramas with a romance that stole my heart). "Ten Miles" also has one of the most charismatic/powerful MLs (male lead) who's as relentless as Li Chengyin (ML in "Goodbye my princess") when it comes to the FL (female lead) -lol, love it!!!

I initially never even bothered to look at "Goodbye my princess" as not only is it a tragedy, it's based on a novel by Fei Wo Si Chun, an author I avoid like the plague because I don't like the type of angst she writes -depressing plots and angst just for the sake of torturing her characters. Even when someone who shared my exact taste for possessive MLs recommended it, I still resisted.

Luckily, my sister stumbled upon some clips and finally convinced me to watch at least the first and last 10 episodes since it has the kind of angst I like, an extremely compelling and obsessive ML, and a very lovable FL. The clips she showed me peaked my interest and the rest is history. I hunted for the director's cut and knew from the first episode that this drama was going to be my jam. It had everything I wanted in a drama: Irreplaceable leads with explosive chemistry, an obsessive/powerful ML, a high quality production, and a decent script that mainly stayed on track even if the pacing did slow down massively from episodes 15-29. I loved episodes 1-15 and 30 to the end the most (though the drama did get rushed towards the end and I would have liked to see more episodes of Chengyin dealing with his memories coming back -that kind of angst would have be stellar).
And aside from being a tragedy, GMP (Goodbye my princess) surprisingly embodied the kind of romantic angst I love and avoided almost every type of angst I hate.

The kind of angst I hate in a romance is noble idiocy (ML pushing the FL away for her own good, etc.), cheating/constantly parading women in front of the FL, angst for the sake of angst, ML being too passive and self sacrificing (I only love MLs who go after their girl no matter what and like to take the initiative), and ML giving up/letting the FL go (only love MLs who never give up or let go of their girl).

GMP mainly had angst I liked and it all fit into the story organically and didn't feel forced. I generally can't tolerate the ML sleeping with anyone other than the FL, but in GMP, he actively avoided it as much as he can while keeping up his charade and it can even be argued the number of times he may have touched the secondary FL, Sese, was minute as she was constantly subjected to house arrests by the Empress due to his shenanigans. I was able to handle it because the drama made it clear Chengyin only wants to be with the FL, Xiaofeng, but is forced to spend the occasional night with Sese to keep up pretenses. Even then, he does his best to keep himself pure by using work/the Empress to ward her off.

Above all else, when it comes to the love story, the ML encompassed everything I could possibly want in a leading man. He's obsessive/possessive and relentless when it comes to Xiaofeng -will never give up on her. Plus, he's faithful, capable, intelligent, charming, charismatic, hot as hell, and can see through subterfuge.

He can be ruthless to everyone except for his beloved Xiaofeng and that just really appeals to me in a romance. Ruthless and powerful MLs who's only soft towards the FL and can't live without her is my kryptonite in a romance. Never in a million years did I expect one of Fei Wo Si Chun's stories to have this kind of ML. Especially when the source novel has Chengyin being abusive and always hiding his affections.

I never expected the drama to portray the "abuse" in such a humorous and charming manner. It just never felt malicious to me (there was too much love/affection in Chengyin's eyes and mannerisms -he acted more like a spoilt child) as the drama made it so blantantly obvious that every cruel act's a show that I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed all of their bickering. Lol, I found it as endearing as Chengyin did. He's literally engaging in foreplay with the heroine even in their public fights and whenever he gets mad for real, it's always due to his petty jealousy. Lol, this guy becomes wary of every male Xiaofeng has a good relationship with. It's like he wants to be the only recipient of her smiles and laughter.

I really felt Chengyin's all-consuming love for Xiaofeng: I actually loved watching their married life because even though he couldn't display his feelings in front of her, he still wore his heart on his sleeve for us viewers. Every one of his supposed "mean" actions toward Xiaofeng was juxtaposed by his pained/regretful reactions when he later talked to his subordinates.
Lol, as a viewer, I actually thought Sese suffered more in the palace than Xiaofeng because of Chengyin's fake love that effectively used her as a meat shield to protect Xiaofeng from the Empress's jealous antics. Many people in the palace were very nice to Xiaofeng as the ML concentrated on surrounding her with trustworthy people.

Unlike some fans, I didn't mind his scenes with Sese as his fake interactions with her made for a brilliant contrast in comparison to his genuine interactions with Xiaofeng. His eyes literally light up whenever he sees her, even when Sese's around -his eyes are always kind of dead when he's spending time with Sese. In my opinion, Sese's presence in this drama highlights Chengyin's deep love for Xiaofeng even more.

He always acts so distantly polite whenever he interacts with Sese and it just gets worse as he finds it harder to rein in his passion for Xiaofeng. Towards the end, he looks like a zombie and is struggling to even maintain decent courtesy whenever he bothers to see her. I found it hilariously entertaining and can't understand the fans who think his scenes with Sese were too lovey-dovey. His affections were so obviously (his mask was always on and I felt no affection) fake and it only served its intended effect, which was to keep the Empress off of Xiaofeng.

I love Chengyin and find him to be one of the most fascinating and compelling protagonists I've ever seen. I've always loved more villainous MLs and Chengyin is a poster child for that trope. I live for drama characters like him. Honestly, the only thing Chengyin did wrong was to both fall in love and covet the key pawn in his plans. His unwavering love for Xiao Feng is both his curse and salvation.

My heart bleeds for both Xiaofeng and Chengyin as she can never be with him with her memories intact and he can never stop himself from chasing after her because she's his only hope of happiness, the light to yank him back from the darkness. Only when Chengyin is with Xiaofeng does he let down his guard completely and reveal his true self. I completely understood why he went nuclear and full on yandere when he thought she hated him and loved someone else. He's terrified of losing the one thing he can't live without. It's utterly heartbreaking when what he feared the most inevitably happened and he couldn't even follow after her as he was binded by his promise to her to live on. Even then, he had to delude himself into thinking she faked her death in order to make it through those 30 yrs. His love for Xiaofeng is all-consuming and he will go down as my favorite ML along with Ye Hua from "Ten Miles."

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Being loved by a prince has never been so bittersweet

Goodbye, my princess is a gorgeous deconstruction of the “three lives, one love” trope that we see in a lot of Chinese dramas (but specifically xianxia). But unlike those epic magical romances that end with eternal bliss, this show brings that fantastical set up to a historical, realist setting and studies the dark side of it by exploring the sentiment in a very cutthroat world with irreversible consequences. This sad story unfolds through three romances: first, the young love of two innocent teenagers, then a prince and a princess united through a political arrangement to bring their countries closer, and lastly, the horrifying entanglements of a ruthless and power-hungry crown prince and his unwilling crown princess who is more of a political prisoner than a bride.
I really loved this show! In fact, it’s my new favorite Chinese drama. The worst part of watching this show was seeing stupid comments under the videos. Otherwise, the show itself was nearly perfect. Not perfect maybe, there were things in it that I didn’t love but they were no glaring issues.
Also fair warning: I also read the book while watching this show so 1)I will not shut up about the book and 2) I will compare the show to the book. So minor spoilers in the “negative” section. Really minor. Tiny.

You should watch this if you like:
1. Tragedies
2. But also, sad middles and semi-sad beginnings. It’s not all sunshine then tragedy. It’s just: sad-oh cute!-oh sad again-haha funny-oh that’s too sad-OH NO-NOOOO!
3. Extremely well-done morally ambiguous characters (everyone is good and bad. Except for Xiao Feng. She's a sweetie)
4. Innocent female leads (but not dumb. She's just 15yo, ok? Cut her some slack!)
5. Historical fiction focusing on political schemes
6. Wedding night like: me, my new spouse, and our murder weapons of choice
7. Magical realism genre
8. Romeo and Juliet-esque dynamics
9. Mature stories about life and love. It’s not idealistic at all.
10. The threat of maybe…being attracted...to the villain…I don’t know…it’s more likely than you’d think!
11. Did I mention it’s sad?

It starts so cute and sweet, like children just playing at romance but the stakes get so high so fast and it’s so overwhelming. It is a tragedy in slow motion. From the first moment the story starts, all these small machinations come together to set up a situation that could only end in blood and tears.
The main plot is not really the romance. The main plot is “How to survive as an eastern palace resident in the grander palace environment, as depicted through Xiao Feng and Li Chengyin’s dysfunctional survival tactics.” So, the romance is a part of that, but so is the political intrigue and the revenge plots and the haram catfights, etc. And that’s why I like the plot because there’s a bigger picture and a lot of the smaller details are all connected to each other but they also branch out into B plots that do not take over the main plot’s time but develop slowly and surely in the outskirts of the main plot. I just think it’s important to have fair warning. This is a tragedy and it’s set up that way from the start. If you are looking for a cute romance between two people trying to work out their arranged marriage and find happiness, this show is not it. It’s simply not one of those soft historical fiction dramas. This is more like those hardcore political intrigue shows with big productions and seasoned actors, except it just happens to view that kind of story from the perspective of a young princess so the cast are young and new!
I would say this show will probably operate well as a gateway show to watch more critically acclaimed Chinese dramas with heavier plots and higher quality, if you are used to watching more lighthearted shows. It’s very in-between.

Plot: It’s important that you know, this show is a very good adaptation. I think this is important because knowing the book helps understand why the show is the way that it is. You see, the book is very short and very concise and it’s only from Xiao Feng’s perspective who is a foreign princess with limited knowledge of language and culture in her new country and very few people she interacts with. So for most of the story, she just has no idea what is going on around her. Then by the end, it turns out Li Chengyin was doing all this political cold war stuff behind the scenes. The show had to bring all the “implied” events of the book into life and that’s why the book is romance but the show isn’t. Because it just wouldn’t be possible to make a show that only adapts the novel's content. It’d be 4 episodes long and nothing would make sense! That’s why there are so many political subplots in the story and that meant Xiao Feng wasn’t really a big part of a lot of the stories going on.
I personally enjoyed all that they did with the plot. Overall. There were details I wasn’t crazy about. I’ll get to that later. I liked most of the story. Some things get lost in the transition from text to screen, like just how much Xiao Feng is out of her depth in Central Plains and how most of the things she does and how she does them are due to cultural difference but I still think the show managed to present her as a well-meaning if a bit confused girl.

Acting: The acting in this show is on another level for me. It’s so good. There’s a huge cast. A lot of them are older actors playing complicated people and they were all a joy to watch. For example, Zheng Xiao Ning plays Xiao Feng’s grandfather and his role is there for a short time but he’s just amazing. The way he carries himself, his voice, his gaze, all of it was just chilling and amazing. Or Nagima who plays the mute A’Du. Oh, she was unreal! She doesn’t talk for most of the show but her expressions are enough to cut into your heart like a knife. The things this woman communicated through her eyes. I cried, every time she cried. These are just two out of many actors who blew me away. Most of all though, Peng Xiao Ran and Chen Xing Xu just redefined my expectations of young actors.
A moment of silence to appreciate the fact that Chen Xing Xu was only 22yo when he brought the complicated and extremely enigmatic Li Chengyin to life. How?! What was I doing when I was 22?! I was mostly just crying (tbh he did a lot of crying in bts videos too, lol. Same dude, same!) I can’t compliment these young actors enough. They did such a wonderful job. Their performance was just outstanding. Peng Xiao Ran was also wonderful. She plays what would have been a typical playful cute girl in the hands of another actress but she brings such weight and groundedness to the character, without overacting or looking stupidly childish. She's so in control and I just love that in her performance.
And their chemistry! The chemistry between these two was so good that you can tell the censorship had them cut out kisses because it was just too much, apparently! They were that good.
Also as an ensemble, everyone did such an amazing job. There wasn’t really a performance among them that I can point out and say it was so bad it ruined the scene. Everyone hit their marks perfectly.

Music: The music in this show was great too?! And I don’t mean I got used to it so it was fine. No. It was actually good. It’s gorgeous. They use this heartbreaking leitmotif over and over again that must be some famous chord progression because it steadily made me sad from episode one even though nothing sad had even happened yet. Also fun fact: the most playful track in the music is called “Fear” and I think that’s all you need to know about the mood in this show!

Production: The production gets a special mention because it was that good. The aesthetics of this show are gorgeous. The color grading, the sets, and costumes, the number of sets, and the attention to details in each of them, was just so satisfying. Everything looked pretty expensive too. I don’t know if there really were expensive or not but the clothes looked really regal and the sets were so grand with colors that were so beautifully matched in thematically different settings. No conversation about this show is complete without mentioning the beautiful cinematography. A lot of the natural settings were filmed on location and that has meant the existence of golden dunes and majestic mountains that look breathtaking on screen. It’s a true feast for the eyes. The CGI was very good too. There wasn’t too much of it but you can really tell the director made sure that everything looked as good as it could. It was in little acts of continuity that you can see the dedication of the director to the project.

Rewatch value: Oh sure!

Negatives: As I said, there were some changes made due to the complication of perspectives in the novel. One of these changes was that they kind of do a character cleanse of Gu Jian and also add to his plotline. In the book, Gu Jian visits Xiao Feng three years after her arrival in central plains but in the show, he shows up three months later. That’s at least 21 months’ worth of nothing for him to do! So he just has all these scenes where is sitting around, getting drunk, and…it’s kind of pointless?! I think someone on the production team was probably a Gu Jian fan and they decided they wanted to give him a romantic redemption arc, or they figured since the male lead will become so cruel later, it’ll probably be in their best interest to have a blandly romantic second male lead to soften the blow. I guess?
For the most part, I like what they did with humanizing both men. Li Chengyin and Gu Jian are so much worse in the novel and a whole lot less likable generally but the show does a lot to empathize with both and I love that. I just feel like they sacrificed a bit of Gu Jian’s nuance towards the end of his journey. He managed to redeem himself in pretty much the same way in the novel as the show but for me, the book’s version was more powerful because you knew he was doing bad things before but the one time it mattered, he made the right choice and it was so powerful and I freaking sobbed reading that part. Unfortunately, the show’s version didn’t touch me as much. I was still emotional and very touched by everyone’s great acting but then…two sad-music montages? Come on! That was the only thing I fast-forwarded in the show!
This was a part of a bigger issue with the plot. There are three arcs in this story and the show did a great job with the first two but they kind of lowered their quality in the third and last one which happened to be my favorite part of the novel and the most emotionally touching part. So maybe part of my disappointment is that they derived so far from the novel in the only part that the book actually starts to give details and plots move forward really fast. I still understand why the show ended the way it did and they still kept a lot of my favorite and iconic scenes from the novel but towards the end, there were some choices that I squinted at a bit. It wasn't so bad though that I would redact points for it.

Overall: Best Chinese show I have watched so far. I loved it. I didn’t even expect to like it and I had heard it was so painful but I loved it anyway. I hadn’t cried this much over a show since The Untamed (and Yanxi Palace…it got me with their friendships, okay?!) so it’s somehow very precious that I watched this show a whole year since I discovered The Untamed. Very fitting.

Pro-tip: If you want to cry less while watching, read the book first. You’ll cry while reading the book and the show hurts less!

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I don't often write reviews but as soon as I finished Goodbye My Princess I knew I had to write something about it.

I lost count of how many dramas I've seen a long time ago, but none of them destroyed me emotionally quite like this one. I cried endlessly throughout and finished the last episode uncontrollably sobbing. At first I was enchanted by the gorgeous scenery, the lavish sets, the intricate outfits, the marvelous cinematography, the moving OSTs, the grand and epic scale of the story and the world it was set in, and especially Xiao Feng. I fell hopelessly in love with her. My whole heart was captured and then mercilessly shattered into a million pieces. This tragic story has been etched into my mind and heart so deeply I wonder if I could ever forget it.

Now that I've finished it I almost feel traumatized... devastated certainly. If only I could find that river of oblivion so I could forget this sorrow and remedy my aching heart. But knowing me I would just use it as an opportunity to experience it for the first time all over again.

I really have to thank Peng Xiao Ran for an unforgettably captivating and magical performance, Chen Xing Xu for flawlessly executing a complex role with such dynamic presence, and also the director and the rest of the cast and team who brought this drama to life in a really big way.

I already know I'm going to have a really difficult time moving on from this. Nevertheless I highly recommend watching this drama. It's an unforgettable experience.

P.S. I haven't seen the original version but I can't imagine missing out on a single scene of this director's cut. Watch this version if you can.

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Beautiful and tragic - watch this director's cut for full aesthetics and fulfillment

Everything about this show is just incredible. The cinematography, the acting, the realistic sets and props, the heartbreaking story--truly, even though I knew this would be a tragedy and I watched the MVs for this show to prepare myself, I am still so moved by the great OST and memorable scenes.

If you're watching this show for the first time, PLEASE WATCH THIS VERSION. No doubt that the originally aired version is good too, but this version will help you understand Li Chengyin more and see where he's coming from. Furthermore, the sound effects/background music will be more effective as it'll be played more consistent with the correct characters/couples.

Other than that, the differences aren't too major (and you can read other's reviews about this show) but I truly recommend this director's cut for the full emotional experience.

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Crazy/Beautiful

Dang, like dang. First of all, this is a guide to what NOT to do in relationship (including simultaneously wooing a girl and plotting her entire family's demise [then try to get away with it and carry on a happy lovely relationship after?!]) Main guy is a total psycho (like textbook definition: someone who doesn't care about anyone else's feelings until it affects them).

On the other hand, I could not help be moved by this drama. Maybe because it's such an interesting portrayal of what I imagine rulers have to go through (highly dramatized of course), caught between duty and personal feelings. Their personal is public, and every behavior could have wide-scale political impact. See the harem, where a king may have to be cordial to a disliked concubine because of her family affiliation, or mean to another he favors (as happened in this drama) because it could shield her from scrutiny. In other words, I think all rulers have a bit of psychopathic tendency.

Besides this, I enjoyed the leads' chemistry, having performed a similar kind of amnesia on myself and temporarily putting aside what he did - in the vacuum, this drama has some of my favorite sweet moments (the unexpected kiss among fireflies topping the list).

Whereas I have dropped many a drama before for focusing too much on tangled, heavy court politics storylines, I was able to stomach it here because the male lead’s manipulation of everything and everyone, even himself, was so fascinating. Most of this praise goes to the actor - Chen Xingxu was brilliant at balancing the varying shades of the prince's mercurial personality without coming off disjointed; he is at once guileless, benevolent and exuberant, and Machiavellian, sinister and brooding. I heard actors before him rejected this role because they were afraid such a complicated character would ruin their public image, so props to him for aspiring to more and carrying out such a great performance. I remember one behind-the-scenes for the last part where he couldn't stop crying long after the cameras stopped because he was so immersed in the role.

I must also mention Peng Xiaoran, who was not the first choice for the role and apparently felt a lot of pressure as a newcomer. She was in her late 20s at the time of filming playing a 15 year old and while visually unbelievable, she really pulled off the role of a sweet, naïve girl with her heart on her sleeve (without coming off cloying or fake), as well as her gradual transformation to a more world-wearied figure later. It's so funny seeing the behind-the-scenes where they are completely different persons (she is older, more mature and commanding, and he is frail, soft and a bit nerdy).

I know people had issues with the ending, or wished for a happier version, but it was such a natural outcome and so obvious to her personality (not the act itself but that she would make the choice in order to be free) that I was caught between misery and triumph. I was with her in that moment and thought it was perfect.

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More Political than I anticipated - It's tough be be born into the royal family

I have resisted watching “Goodbye My Princess” for the longest time because I’ve heard how sad and angsty it is. Due to a watch challenge, I am finally watching this classic. I have previously watched clips of the drama and have definitely adjusted my expectations. I believe due to a combination of a few factors: 1) I watch this in 2024 and not 2019, 2) I’ve adjusted my expectations, 3) I’ve seen clips of the drama, 4) I am somewhat of a C-drama veteran, “Goodbye My Princess” did not hit me hard emotionally. I was moved at certain points of the drama, mainly due to the passing of a supporting character and not due to our leads’ story. Nevertheless, I had an enjoyable time.

Main Romance:
My main criticism of this supposedly heartbreaking romance is the lack of screen time of Li Cheng Yin (ML) and Xiao Feng (FL) together in the long middle part of the drama. The palace politics took up a very large portion of the plot, and the lack of happy and fun times did not give me a solid foundation of the continuation of their romance. Without the contrast of super happy times, the sad times just didn’t give me a big gut punch, one that I was expecting and have heard so much about. The beginning of their romance is lovely though. ML and FL look so innocent and happy together. They really do have great chemistry.

Other Romances:
No one is happy in the romance department. This drama is full of one-sided loves that really do break your heart. I almost had second lead syndrome. But I think a big part is because Shawn Wei plays such a beautiful/handsome Gu Jian. Gu Jian as a character is quite common in the C-drama 2ML world, but Shawn has such expressive eyes. One look and he conveys the unspoken and subtle emotions so well. I was quite attracted to his role as Gu Jian, well, up to the part where he started to lie to FL again. Zhao Se Se is another pitiful character. Her love for ML saddens me but I’m glad she’s not the typical evil 2FL. For the most part, her actions stem from her love for ML and jealousy towards FL.

Plot:
Before I watched the drama, I was under the impression that romance is the main plot. After the initial 10 or so episodes, the drama took us to the capital, and I realized I was wrong. The central plot is about palace politics - fighting for the crown/power, harem cat fights, wars/battles, government officials scheming and plotting against each other. Romance is actually a subplot. It’s my fault that I was expecting something different.

Acting:
Great acting all around. I’m quite impressed with Peng Xiao Ran and Chen Xing Xu. This is their first drama as the main leads and they did a great job. PXR is especially great as the innocent but not naive, happy-go-lucky princess. Her emotional and crying scenes do break my heart. She is such a beautiful actress. CXX did pretty well too but might have overact just a little in the earlier episodes. I’ve already praised Shawn Wei’s emotive eyes. This drama has a solid young supporting cast and a very impressive veteran cast.

Production:
I love all the costumes in this drama. All the women look beautiful with elaborate and layered, good quality-looking costumes and hair accessories. Actually, some of the costumes seem quite sexy and revealing for a historical drama. The men look handsome and dashing. There’s a white outfit that Gu Jian wore that I really like. It was layered and fashionable for a costume drama martial artist. The different sets look nice with beautiful cinematography in the desert. I would have liked to see the use of natural lighting in some of the indoor scenes and not big bright lights. There are a couple OK fight scenes, but for the most part, they are not very good. The songs from the OST sound fine to me, but nothing stands out and I like enough to add to my Spotify playlist.


Overall, I had a great time watching this. If you are a veteran C-historical drama watcher, you might not find this as heartbreaking. I think I was hurt more badly when watching “One and Only”. This is a beautiful drama with interesting leads and supporting characters. This version has 55 episodes and it doesn’t feel too long and draggy.



Other Random Observations:
1. I do not like the dubbed voices for Xiao Feng and A Du at all. I find Xiao Feng’s innocent and happy-go-lucky voice a little annoying. A Du’s voice sounds too young and naive when she’s such a tough character.
2. Peng Xiao Ran is BEAUTIFUL!!!
3. I like Chen Xing Xu with his hair down as Gu Xiao Wu more than his look as the prince.
4. I don’t hate Li Cheng Yin (ML) at all. I found his actions understandable given his identity and what he has to do. I pity him.
5. Thank goodness for no annoying character.


Completed: 5/20/2024 - Review #440

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this is a totally underrated drama it's heartbreaking

i dropped into it by accident and couldn't stopp watching. Later on i watched the original aired version, but the Directors cut is better and you understand Li Cheng Yin ways far more better. His character is on the one side so friendly and kind and in the same way dark cruel and tacticly.
This is amazing in all ways. The actors do an incredible good job and the story is somewhat heartbreaking, sometimes funny, joyfull, often so cruel, scary and overwhelming teary all at once. This is one of this dramas i daydream over. Its so what, how to name it. it totally takes you in and even days after you end it, you think about it.
this is a clear: MUST WATCH
this show is totally underrated, should be more promoted

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Drink from the fountain of forgetfulness, to experience this drama again.

This remarkable drama captured my heart and mind and made me feel like a true witness to each characters happiness and pain. The characters were well developed, the production was amazing, the OSTs are crafted to make you long for the sweet happiness that comes with belonging to a "home" that all of the characters are searching for. There are multiple moments, happy and sad, where the scene is so captivating, I found myself tunnel visioned into the characters emotions and experience, as if I was there with them.
The actors, Pang Xiao Ran and Cheng Xi Xui completely transformed into Xiao Feng and Gu Xiao Wu (Li Chenying) and had me believing that these two characters are real human beings with complex personalities and lives. The characters are shown as young and pure of heart. That purity is never completely lost, eventhough we see Li Chenying make detrimental decisions that causes death, destruction and pain at the expense of Xiao Feng. He has remorse for her, but at the same time, because he does not understand the loving world outside of the treacherous imperial family, he cannot control who he was molded to become and continues to make selfish self depracating decisions, forcing his one chance at happiness to move further and further away from him.
On the other hand Xiao Feng, who is easily accepted into the imperial family, wants nothing to do with the imprisonment that comes along with the riches of being a part of the imperial family. She only wants to find a place in the world, that can be home. As much as she loves Li Chingyin, he will never be able to give that to her. Had he truly been Gu Xiaowu, they would've enjoyed true happiness, building a home and living for each other instead of for their states.
Any future remakes of this drama will be hard pressed for comparable success, as all of the pieces for this version of Goodbye My Princess, which includes all of the side characters and their experiences, so don't fast forward anything, worked to make this the most epic historical tragedy that I've ever seen.

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One of the best historical ever made!

This has got to be one of the best dramas I have ever watched! From start to end I was gripped and did not want to fast forward any parts. It is unfortunately a sad ending but understandably why it had to be a sad ending. However, there are many happy and romantic scenes weaved into the drama so you are not depressed throughout the series. I loved the female lead, she is pretty, cute, cheeky and feisty, a truely likeable character. Loved the male lead too, great actor. I nearly got put off watching this because I heard it was a sad ending but I am so glad I gave it a chance because it is just so well produced! Great directing. It is really well worth a watch!

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