Qing Chuan Daily Life (2022)

Court ladies united will never be defeated!

Let’s get 2 fundamental points clear first. The FL is the heart and soul of this Show. When she smiles, the sun shines brighter and the birds sing sweeter. She is the focal point of many subplots. Interestingly, instead of all the wives and concubines scheming and at each other’s throat, the FL gathers a circle of friends from various royal households which grows to becomes a band of sisters who supported each other through thick or thin. It is definitely refreshing and entertaining to watch them work through and around daily challenges. The second point is the push for gender equality. Even though there are regions in this ancient mythical world where women are considered superior, most of the divided realms are patriarchal. A lot of male characters are portrayed as entitled, patronising or outright despicable. The one exception is the ML who is as sweet, gentle and loyal as they come.

With this in mind, the Show can be boiled down to a series of vignettes that challenge the leads, their friends and the steady rise of the ML in the imperial court. Some tasks are trivial and domestic while others are more serious and involve palace intrigues and affairs of the state. In all cases, it leads to the growth of our leads, their relationship as well as those who are near and dear to them.

Of course, 40 episodes of this is a stretch and this is where the FL’s presence really anchor the show. She is such a lovely and grounded character that you just can’t help but liking her and cheering her on. More importantly, makes you invested in the show and want to keep watching. Nevertheless, not every subplot involves our OTP and some do drag on for too long.
Draggy plots aside, there are other issues. Part of the problem is that most of the trials and tribulations are contrived. It is quite obvious what the writer wants as the outcome and it follows a well-trodden path.

On top of that, the Show is first and foremost a rom-com so its tone is fundamentally light. There are some serious issues presented mostly regarding mental health, the treatment of women and their place in society. While shows like A Dream of Splendor hit it harder and deeper. This Show vacillate between light and dark and settled on a shade of off white which avoided the really tough questions. We are constantly reminded of the inequality, but the solution arrived at are mostly simplistic, jingoistic and misaligned with its historical context. It is more about sending the message than its content and a contemporary message at that.

Acting is generally good, with the OTP outshining the rest of the cast. Of course, with such a big ensemble, there are some inconsistencies but it is not a big issue. Production is generally good but more care can be taken to give lighting a more natural look. Also, the styling and makeup of FL changed significantly towards the end to try to signify her important status and growing maturity but it doesn't work for me. She lost her characteristic sparkle. It felt like she has put on a mask.

The last few episodes are pure fan service with bonus skinship (about time!). The bulk of the plots have run their courses and the Show took its time to wrap things up and ties off each thread with a huge pink bow.

Overall, the Show is sweet without too much artificial sweeteners. The progress of the OTP’s love line is slow, but quite organic and swoon worthy. The writers stuck to their guns and the storyline is very consistent and enjoyable. It is fluffy and light but in a charming way. I can recommend this show if that is what you are looking for.

Lire davantage

Not just a hype, but definitely worth it!

Surprisingly this drama is such a breath of fresh air! Amidst of all the dramas with topics such as politics, harem, inner and outside court tactics and a whole lot more, this one is waaay much different. I loved and enjoyed watching everyone's daily activities.

With their underhanded political manuevers, unnecessary deaths, intrigues, vicious killings and just simply taking advantage of people around them, the drama has the lack of it, in some way.

There's power struggle here, battle of being in favoured by the King but still, even the supposed to be villain is not that vicious and evil enough to just go ahead and kill everyone else.

They promote women empowerment, sisterhood, camaraderie and good relationship among everyone else. Also, the way they discuss about Post Partum Blues or Post Partum depression which happens to some or most women after giving birth is really great!

I love that there's a lot of character growth, some frustrating and annoying parts, but over all I just fell in love with everyone else.

I love that BJT is always or almost always smiling here and TWX is like a 1M watts bulb with all her super bright smile, that you can't help but get carried along as well. If you haven't watched it, then better start the first episode and you'll not regret it.

Though it might bother you with some part/s that shows domestic violence and suicide, so I'll warn you about that.

Lire davantage

Worth every minute!

I enjoyed this series very much. The story was well-told, and the pace was pretty good. I didn't fast forward once. I particularly liked that there was none of the usual fanatical sinister plot, the lies and subterfuge, and most of all, the female characters were not portrayed as empty-headed and obsessed with a man. However, I would have liked the relationship between Shang Guan & Lin Qi to have been a little less combative, as many perceive her treatment of him as abusive. I personally did not - taking into consideration where her character was from - a state of warriors, so naturally, she was aggressive. Every couple had their story arc, and all the sub-plots wrapped up nicely. Karma was served graciously, and even the villains got decent comeuppance.

The entire cast performed superbly. Some say there was no chemistry between the ML & FL, but I beg to differ. They were so sweet - and their relationship grew and blossomed into love for each other. At first, she was a little annoying, but there was no doubt she loved her Prince. The other couples were well-matched too - and all of the characters interacted well in their respective roles, making them a very believable and relatable family. Li Wei's maids were a hoot - I liked that they were smart and unafraid to speak their minds. But my favourite character of all was Su Shen. I laughed with him, I cried with him. He was the perfect interjection of humor and wit and sentimentality. The most touching scene for me was between Lin Qi and his father when Lin Qi comes to see his father when he is sick. This epitomizes what I think the heart of this drama is about. Family. All the different elements of this family and how its members co-exist and relate to each other. It is a touching story beautifully told.

I will certainly put this on my list of shows to rewatch.

Lire davantage

Not as good as I expected

The production quality of this drama was awesome. iQiYi production quality is much better than Tencent and MangoTV.

I like the first 10 episodes of this drama because the acting skills of the lead actors are good and quite comical. The entire ensemble is good too.

However, I got so bored as the story unfolded about the fighting among the brothers, and it got draggy; hence I got bored and found myself fast forward some of the scenes.

Bai Jing Ting and Tian Xi Wei did a good job as the main CP, and their onscreen chemistry is quite good. I like Bai Jing Ting a lot and have watched many of his dramas and mostly modern dramas. I watched this first costume of his, and he did a decent job. It is a drama where he had multiple kissing scenes where he had not had many kissing scenes in the past, like Irreplaceable love, The ordinary Glory, etc.

This is my first drama with Tian Xi Wei, where she played the lead role and did a good job. I will give it a 7.5 or 8.0 rating if the drama is cut short to 30 episodes instead of 40. As it is because it was draggy, so I am giving it a 6.5 rating out of 10.

Lire davantage

Slice-of-Life Drama - Women Power and the Friendliest and Most supportive female characters ever!

As many have reviewed and commented, “New Life Begins” is a special drama. A drama that is full of positivity, humor, lovely sismance, hilarious bromance and friendships. In fact, the drama has so many cool, independent and friendly female characters that I actually feel slightly weird watching it. I kept on expecting something bad is going to come from the left field and derail this happy choo choo train. This is what happens when I watch too many C-dramas with too many evil and jealous second female leads.

I was skeptical to try this drama out because comedies are a hit-or-miss to me. I am not a fan of over-the-top and slapstick comedy. I am glad I gave it a shot. The comedic moments are funny and not overly dramatic. I really had a great time watching it and laughing with and at the characters. It’s rare to see such a big cast with so many characters that you love. I want to hang out with all of them.

“New Life Begins” is more of a slice-of-life drama than a romance. In fact, the main romance is so slow-burn that I was getting a little bit disappointed. Curb your expectations if you think you will get many sweet and fluffy scenes. Even though the main leads are a couple for a very long time, they act like friends for most of the drama. I wish they would sprinkle some more sweetness throughout the drama, and not wait till the last 5 episodes.

But if you are into female friendships, sismance and strong women, this is the drama for me. There are many female characters with very distinct and interesting personalities. You will surely find someone to root for. This is a drama about girl power. I actually want to see more of the female business owners and not only the restaurant. The drama talks about some sort of Women Chamber of Commerce, a school, postpartum mother’s care and education, martial arts academy teaching self-defense, etc. But these are not shown but only mentioned in passing. I hope they have cut down on some of the palace politics and fight for the crown, and spend more time on the different kingdoms and businesses. The drama changes its lighthearted tone to a more serious tone in the middle and it lasts too long.

The political plot is nothing special, if you’ve seen enough Chinese historical drama. We have princes fighting for the King’s attention and for the crown, the King trying to balance the power of all the princes, and sad childhood and background stories of growing up in the palace. The best part is probably the interesting personalities of the princes and their bromance.

The acting is pretty good. I was worried I might not like the female lead, but she turns out to be smart and very likable. I actually enjoy Bai Jing Ting’s scenes when he is at home and acts all shy and awkward. Unfortunately, I don’t get the princely charisma from him.

This is a perfect drama to watch to relieve stress. Nothing is too serious or angsty, and there’s plenty of humor. You will definitely find someone you like and want to root for. We have a collection of amazing and supportive women in this drama.


Other Random Observations:
1. Did they sneak in a same-sex couple in this drama?
2. 7th Prince and his wife have so few scenes, but their shy and awkward personalities are a scene stealer for me. They are so cute!
3. It’s my personal pet peeve, but I don’t like the way Tian Xi Wei (FL) speaks. Her speech is choppy and sounds like she’s mumbling a few words out instead of complete sentences.
4. I am glad the actors use their own voices, but the post-production dubbing is just OK.
5. Love all the food scenes!


Completed: 12/17/2022 - 500th drama!

Lire davantage

Sisterhood prevails once again, this is a gem worth watching

I never expected to find a gem as good as A Dream of Splendour, but I found a better one. This drama will always have a special place in my heart. I guarantee you it is one of the most beautiful stories you'll come across. I laughed, I cried and I smiled till my face hurt.
I have noticed recently the production of feminist Chinese historical dramas, and I'm glad to see that the standard is being set beautifully. We have passed the age of palace dramas where women kill each other for men. It's time to face reality and call out history for what it really was. It is also time for us to portray women as we are, people who cherish each other and support one another. In the women in this drama, I saw myself, my sisters, my best friends, and my closest confidants. I also saw the strength of familial love and the value of forgiveness. There is much to learn from this drama, and truly I have learned.

This is the story of a group of women who encounter the Yin family of Xin state and how they face many obstacles, and tackle the pressures of society. How they grow, learn, and become better people in life. It is a story about the importance of family and friendship, of sisterhood and brotherhood. It is a story about the virtue of patience, kindness, honesty, and most especially, LOVE. It is a story about empowerment and the fight for a better tomorrow.

This drama brings to light many important feminist themes. The solidarity of women, empowerment, the importance of breaking down the patriarchy, fighting against domestic violence and abuse, as well as tackling the issue of postpartum depression and many other issues women face. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been for women then. The drama acts as a parody that mocks the ridiculous rules of ancient times. It also brings in modern themes to show what life could have been like if men removed their heads from their behinds and treated women like human beings.

This drama is what I will call 100% romance, it is not just about the romance of two people, but it is about the love and the bond of family. The drama teaches many important lessons, and I truly appreciate being able to come across this story.
A bonus is that the production quality, setting, costumes, music, themes, and acting are also high quality and impeccable.

This drama is 10000/10, and I hope to rewatch it again in the near future.

Lire davantage

What A Fantastic Drama !!!

When I first read the Plot synopsis for this drama which stated:
“Because of a marriage selection, girls from all over the world gather in Xin Chuan. Yin Zheng, one of the six young masters of Xin Chuan, who keeps a low profile, and Li Wei, who just wants to work hard and not get selected, live comfortably in this hometown. “
I didn’t know what to make of it I thought oh no not another force marriage but decided to give it ago because this was the first period drama, I’ve seen Bai Jing Tin and the first drama I’ve ever seen of Tian Xi Wei in and they both did not disappoint another with all the cast of this drama. I’ve loved every minute of this show so much. Many period dramas I’ve seen there’s always the women been very rivalry and competing against each other but not in this drama I love how the women always come together to support each other no matter what even when they were each going through difficult times, I love how the women in the drama are independent and how they break all stereo type of a woman in a period drama and most importantly I love how this drama has touched on so many social issues, like domestic violence, Post Natal depression. Great story, great acting, great cast, great pacing as well all in all amazing drama and funny. Highly recommended

Lire davantage

funny and sweet, love the feminism in the story!!!

this drama started off wonderful. i tend to stop watching drama's if their starts are boring but 卿卿日常 really had a good start. it also continued to get better as the story progressed. one of my favourite male actors, bai jing ting, who played the sixth prince looked awesome in his costumes. he looked really good when wearing darker outfits. there was a lot of elements integrated into the story such as comedy, friendship, family, politics, and feminism. the casting was wonderful, especially those of the princes. all the actors played their roles perfectly, making the princes quiet comedic. this was a wonderful slice of life drama and definitely satisfied my need for a sweet costume romance with protagonists who have great chemistry.

Lire davantage

Unpopular opinion but the writing was a miss

Acting, directing and OST is on point. The only thing I felt writers got right was the humor, and the sisterhood. There were too many idiotic things that took place for me to score this higher than an overall 7.

This show is not 100% romance, despite being classified as such. It features in the first 8 or so episodes- at a stretch, then returns at the end. What this is however is more a lengthy slice of life involving a massive cast, with varying issues that pop up along the way.

You could argue some plot elements were necessary for character growth, and I will give you that. However, I would have loved to have seen the romance not screech to a halt and find a way to further that love development around the challenges they were facing. What the main leads were handed was resl hard, but they just ignored it, which leaves viewer extremely emotionally disconnected in the end.

The main focus felt very feminist heavy, which I’m not sure felt realistic for the era, but this is a fantasy which means they can literally do what they want.

I loved both the brotherhood and sisterhood, and its sprinkled throughout with enough evil villian to add an edge.

The comedy however is top notch and many scenes will leave you smiling throughout!

Music is beautiful- I just wish these Cdrama OSTs would be available on streaming sites. They are incredible!!

Actors did a great job. There are a boatload of them, some more memorable than others (purely down to the sheer quantity of them). So much growth and development for the ones with the most script.

If that writing could have just continued a believable romance element throughout the hige chunk in the middle, this show would have been a 9/10 for me.

Set is lovely, I’ve seen it before on another drama, just can’t recall the name. China certainly has some beautiful architecture.

Skipped far too much for this to rank as best of the year (2022) for me. Love Like the Galaxy is hard to top in the Historical category. That show has it all!!

Lire davantage

Spousal Abuse Disguised as Comedy

I seriously doubt many here would find a man beating his wife to the point of breaking her arm, kicking her shins hard enough to leave her limping, giving her numerous bruises and a black eye, and then calling her "stupid" constantly romantic or funny. And yet that was the relationship between one of the brothers and his wife, with her constantly beating him even when they are supposedly happily together.

Sadly, that was one of the better-written romances on the show. The ML and FL have zero chemistry together and are strongly in the friend zone in real life. When they are forced to kiss or hug, the awkwardness between the actors comes through on the screen. Fortunately, that only occurs for about half an hour in total in a forty-hour show. In fact, their screen time together is far less than half of the show overall.

It was toxic watching her constantly demand that he ascribed to her nation's ideals. There was no sense of compromise with a different way of life but endless judgmentalism.

The historicity here was atrocious. Princesses running businesses in ancient China felt like a cheap Disney movie. Not only did they run businesses, but they were ALL successful entrepreneurs. The only way that would have made sense would have been if their husband's influence was responsible for it.

The elitism was disgusting as well. They sat in jewels that could have paid for a family's food for a year whining about their oppression, but they never even considered the labor of the maids and major-domo who gave them all the free time to make that possible or the many vendors who needed to make a living that their privileged selves were doing unfair competition against.

Could have been cute but choose to go another route.

Lire davantage

The feel good series of 2022

You know how a series completely takes over your life that you end up impatiently waiting for new episodes to drop? That's what's happening to me with New Life Begins.

I commend the creators of this drama for giving us genuine female camaraderie where even prior enemies are given a chance for reconciliation. With such a great and varied ensemble cast, we have many heroines to root for and even more life lessons to take away. I love the friendship that developed between Li Wei and Yuan Ying and how they supported each other without ever bickering or being hateful. Same with the Solar ladies and even Hoa Jia got a chance to reconcile with the Prince's first wife who had been previously adversarial. These women balanced each other while supporting those around them and also building an inclusive community where everyone was valued.

Funny enough, Prince An was my favorite character; so oblivious, so narcissistic, and yet so lovable while Prince Yin Qi and his wife, Shangguan, were my least favorite couple probably because their storyline was so boring or the actors playing the characters simply did not have the chemistry or acting ability to pull off a somewhat caring yet antipathetic couple.

Bai Jing Ting was the sole reason for choosing this drama, however, I ended up staying since the series was just so captivating and fun. Liu Ling Zi, as Yuan Ying (the sixth Prince's legal wife), made me laugh so hard when she unintentionally terrorized the sixth Prince and Li Wei with copious rules and regulations. I laughed so hard to the point of tears. What a great actress.

The ending was a tearjerker in a happy way and I can't say enough good things about this series. Ah-mazing

Lire davantage