The Rise of Ning (2024)

Pleasantly surprised!

I was pleasantly surprised by this drama, and it's not like I was planning to watch it before it even aired but I was in a mood for an historical piece and a Zhang Wanyi fan, so why not?

The story, we have all seen before, but there's something about an underdog rising among the ranks of his family and court that's very satisfying to watch, particularly when it's deserved and well developed.

I confess I wasn't all that interested in most of the supportive characters. An ensemble cast ca be tricky and, most of the time, supportive characters get overlooked. In this drama, this doesn't necessarily happen but, however, I do think most of the supportive cast serves as a player to push the leads' story forward and, most of them, don't get their own story per se. This doesn't mean the story is not good but, compared to other dramas like this one, it's a little lacking on this part.

Ren Min, Zhang Wanyi and Ci Sha do most of the weightlifting in the story, all of them giving really solid performances with the first two perfectly casted as the leads, and the latter delivering one of the most unnerving obsessive characters I have seen in a while.

Overall, I think this was a really good watch and enjoyed it.

Lire davantage

A truly happily ever after

This drama was a nice and engaging series that touches on complex family dynamics/drama and politics. It was a slow burn type of story, but wasn’t one that dragged on due to the steady flow of events. I really appreciated the way the main leads were written - they were both extremely bright and talented and made the perfect team. Through supporting each other when no one had their backs, you get to see their relationship blossom into love with a strong foundation of trust and respect.

Highlights:
- The acting by the main leads especially the ML and 2ML, they were so good and natural. I became a fan of Ci Sha who played Lu Jia Xue, the change between his his micro expressions was done really well. He really pulled off the obsessive and slightly unhinged character.
- The bond between the family members was touching, whether it was between Yining and her grandma or her father. I love Yining’s dad, he was so funny and endearing. His facial expressions aware on point.
- Action scenes - It’s a shame we didn’t get many of these but the ones that were shown really impressed me (especially ep 6 when the two MLs fought).

The lows:
- I feel the 2ML was under utilized as he was just a romantic plot device, which is a shame because he had so much potential. He is supposed to be a formidable character but we didn’t get to see much of the complex scheming or political intrigue. I didn’t understand Yining’s attitude towards him a lot of the time, it seemed a bit out of character for her. I get how she would be traumatized but knowing her curious and logical personality, you would expect that she would at least hear him out to clear up the past before moving on. She always ran away so there was never real closure which they both needed. Even at the part when he died. As crazy as he was, I pitied him because of that.
- The filler scenes (including the very long wedding episode). Even though it was nicely paced for the most part, I still think they could have condensed some things or used that time for the plot (ie more political intrigue)
- The perfect ending. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to have a HE for once especially after seeing what the main leads had to go through. But it was a bit too perfect for the some members of the Lou family (looking at you papa Luo). Considering everything that happened, it was a bit odd seeing everything living so harmoniously.

I knew I would enjoy this one after watching the trailers, probably because we get to see Zhang Wan Yi playing a role similar to that in Lost You Forever (I was a fan of huge him there). However, unlike in LYF, he gets a perfect ending here. I also got to meet some new actors through this series. Overall, a nice easy watch. I recommend.

Lire davantage

A tale of intrigue and love

The Rise of Ning offers a captivating blend of intrigue and romance, skilfully balancing the narratives of its two central characters. Luo Yining, the resilient female protagonist, returns to the Luo Residence after years of being away. As she decides to stay in the Luo Residence for good, she was determined to defy the mistreatment she endures. Meanwhile, Luo Shen Yuan, the enigmatic male lead, embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind a wrong committed against his revered teacher.

This drama is particularly engaging as it delves into Yining's clever yet dangerous schemes against her adversaries, aided by resourceful brother, Shen Yuan. As their journey unfolds, a surprising revelation emerges: they are not blood-related. This unexpected twist sets the stage for a blossoming romance that adds depth (and the romance) to the already intricate plot. the focal point of the drama had always been on the central characters, which made people hooked on to the show.

While the early parts of the drama are full of suspense and intrigue which caught the viewers attention, the later episodes became somewhat predictable. The character of Lu Jia Xue, the second male lead, suffers from an obsession with the female protagonist, leading to repetitive and tiresome plot lines. The extended runtime towards the end results in some redundant scenes that could have been trimmed have also lead to some fatigue towards the end of the drama.

Despite these minor flaws, the performances by the lead actors are commendable. Zhang Wan Yi, a rising star (in my opinion), delivers a strong performance as Shen Yuan, effortlessly embodying the character's strategic mind and martial arts prowess. Ren Min also did a spectacular job as Yining, capturing her complex character with both strength and vulnerability. Ci Sha also did a great job as the obsessed Lu Jia Xue, who was willing to do whatever it takes to get Yining by his side again.

Overall, the Rise of Ning is a worthwhile watch for fans of historical dramas, offering a compelling blend of romance, revenge and mystery.

Lire davantage

Excellent drama to pass the time as you wait for something better to watch.

I cant rate this any higher than a 7.5 because imo it lacked any profound depth, and lacked romantic chemistry. I find it dissappointing - yet somewhat understandable - that a show where the main AND secondary couples are toeing a line of incestuous taboo, is so very very devoid of spicy magnetism between leads!

I can't rate it lower than a 7.5 because I DID have fun watching it, despite its flaws. The story flow was excellent. The acting performances, while not stellar, were very passable.

I would recc this to someone who is profoundly bored and waiting for something truly GOOD to come out. It passes the time nicely.

Lire davantage

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details of the events about lu and ning ,gu and chen, zhang,wen,qiao,,gu and wei,, not too comprehensively shown, only briefly, and cut into pieces, I don't really like the way skip scenes are conveyed, but of all the problems shown, all are explained even only briefly, there are only a few details that they show at different times but not the same detail, chenglang second young master of cheng family, they all luo family say that but he has 2 elder brothers, then after that ep 15, lu and his subordinates say chenglang third young master, ep 20 chenlan said to shanyuan his grand master also got "状元" but ep 30 his granny said his granpa just got the 2 before, but didnt get 状元，and about yining health congenital weakness, they never careful treat the condition ,, i dont very like the yining acting in some condition , especially when her fall sleep in luo shenyuan shoulder look so fake ,but lu jia xue the character is so annoying but the acting not bad ,, about the ending not very rush but still feel a little rush

Lire davantage

ML face is like a mannequin

The story was interesting in the beginning but as it progressed ML developed feelings for the FL as soon as he knew that she is not blood related.

Sibling relationship is one of the purest. You need a convoluted mind to jump into a loving relationship with someone whom you knew lifelong and called sister. Even after getting past this complicated relationship, I couldn't enjoy this because of the ML acting. He is like a statue with no emotions(This is not the only drama that I have noticed). Eyes should speak volume but he barely blinked his eyes. A great actor uses eyes to convey sentiments and passions but I noticed none of those.

Many people in the comments praised the ML voice. Just remember he is an actor not a voice actor. One should possess great acting if not the other.

I continued watching this for the FL , SML and the step-mom acting. The legal step-mom character was so bold and refreshing and she portrayed it very well.

Lire davantage

A very good series, catchy & feel-good (with a satisfaying ending)

PLOT: FL, the legitimate daughter banished from a family of scholars, returns to the manor for her grandmother's birthday. She comes up against her father's evil concubine, whom she suspects of having killed her mother. She begins her investigations, helped by the ML, "Third brother" not recognized by his father because he was born to a servant. He investigates incognito the death of his mentor. Together they will face the family problems, the corrupt officials, the evil ex lover, ...

+++ A great lead couple.
+++ Eye-catching production, where we discover the clues little by little.
+++ Coherent, well-written story, respecting the roles and status of the characters.
+++ enjoyable OSTs

### Slow pace (but bearable)
### Sometimes the green background is too obvious :(

=> A very good series, catchy & feel-good (with a satisfaying ending)
******************************************************
PLOT : La FL, fille légitime bannie d'1 famille d'érudits, revient au manoir pr l'anniversaire de sa gd-mère. Elle se heurte à la evil concubine de son père, qu'elle soupçonne d'avoir tué sa mère. Elle commence ses investigations, aidée par le ML, "Third brother" non reconnu par son père car né d'1 servante. Celui-ci enquête incognito sur la mort de son mentor. Ils vont affronter ensemble les pbs familiaux, les officiels corrompus, le evil ex lover.

+++ Un super couple de leads.
+++ Réalis° accrocheuse, où l'on découvre peu à peu les indices.
+++ Story cohérente, bien écrite, respectant les rôles et les statuts des personnages.
+++ OST agréables

### Rythme lent (mais supportable)
### On sent parfois un peu trop les fonds verts :(

=> Une très bonne série, accrocheuse & feel-good (ending sympa)

Lire davantage

Would have been better if it was a different FL actress that uses annoying baby-voice.

I wanted to love this drama - been waiting for it since I completed Are You the One which I loved. Going from Are You the One to Rise of Ning was such a let-down.

Rise of Ning's FL, Ren Min's uses this cloyingly sweet, baby voice. It's so hard to take her seriously but even if you set aside her voice, her acting is unimpressive and seems unnatural and wooden. She shows no vulnerability and her tone is always the same, whether she's sad, happy or mad! So frustrating - the best part of the drama is Zhang Wan Yi and Ci Sha (ML and 2nd ML). I don't see any chemistry between ML and the FL sadly.

I'll only continue watching only for ZWY and Ci Sha who are both very hot, might I add.

Lire davantage

Newest favorite Actor

This is the 3rd drama of Zhang Wan Yi that I have watched. His character in Lost You Forever is my favorite and the sole reason why I was able to finished the first season. Second Drama was Are you the One and I was hooked from the very start. I just wished the story was longer. I developed a routine to watch it every single night. I'm so happy that he is in this drama, I don't have to wait that long to see him act. This is my first time giving a review and i apologize if it is all about ZWY. The story is good so far. There is enough screen time for each character. At first, I was bothered by the Female lead's voice quality but later on I got used to it. It's just that usually for strong and clever character, tone of voice is stable and calm. I know the story is about her but I'm actually more excited inZWY character's revelation. That he is not who they think he is.

Lire davantage

Comecei a assistir The Rise of Ning por causa do ator Zhang Wan Yi. Eu havia assistido antes Are You The One e gostei da performance dele e quis conferir um pouco mais. Comecei a assistir meio às cegas sem saber muito sobre o enredo. Mas fui surpreendida por um bom drama familiar de época com protagonistas carismáticos que carregaram bem a história e me fizeram assistir religiosamente os episódios lançados diariamente sem deixar acumular nenhum tamanho era meu interesse pelo desenrolar da história. Apesar de lá pelo episódio 35 a história ter ficado um pouco mais chata e o último episódio ter sido bem frustrante até perto dos momento finais. O final feliz compensou as raivas que passei assistindo aos últimos episódios.

O início do drama lembra um pouco The Double no aspecto de que a protagonista, Luo Yining, é retirada do convívio familiar ainda criança após ser acusada pela segunda esposa de seu pai de ter causado aborto de seu filho. Mas pelo menos no caso da Luo Yining, ela ficou em uma casa de campo da família. Nesse período de isolamento ela se aproxima de um homem, vizinho de sua casa, e os dois têm um relacionamento que acaba de uma forma trágica. Com Yining sendo vítima de um atentado supostamente orquestrado por esse homem.

Ao voltar para a casa principal da família Luo já adulta, Yining se aproxima de seu terceiro irmão, Shenyuan. Ele é o filho de uma serva que enganou seu mestre (pai de Yining) e acabou ficando grávida e dando à luz a Shenyuan. Como é filho de uma serva, Shenyuan é desprezado por quase todos da casa e não é considerado legalmente um membro da família Luo. Além disso, ele carrega uma missão secreta: vingar a morte de seu mestre que foi injustamente acusado de corrupção e executado.

Por serem desprezados na família, Luo Yining e Shenyuan se aproximam e começam a ajudar um ao outro em seus planos para superar as injustiças na família. No decorrer dos episódios vamos descobrindo que os dois não são irmãos biológicos, pois Ning não é filha biológica de seu pai. Shenyuan descobre a verdade primeiro (por volta do episódio 8) e começa a desenvolver sentimentos românticos pela Yining, mas sempre a respeitando pois ela não sabe a verdade.

Shenyuan é um personagem maravilhoso. Ele é paciente, inteligente, determinado e forte. Além de intelectual ainda esconde habilidades marciais que usa para lutar contra os corruptos. Gosto de como ela espera a Yining saber a verdade e entender os sentimentos que nutre por ele sem em nenhum momento impor seu querer sobre ela.

Ao contrário dele, o Marquês Lu, sempre agia de forma violenta e forçando uma intimidade com a Yining que me deixava passando mal de raiva. O Marquês era o vizinho da Yining da época em que ela estava na casa de campo. Ele estava lá para se recuperar de um ferimento que o deixou temporariamente sem visão. Por isso, não conhecia o rosto de Yining e passa boa parte da trama tentando comprovar que a Luo Yining é a sua Meimei (nome falso que a Yining usou na época). Um personagem odioso.

Depois de várias reviravoltas Shenyuan é oficialmente registrado como membro da família Luo e a verdade por trás do nascimento de Yining é revelada, bem como a identidade de seu pai biológico permitindo assim que os dois possam viver o amor sem nenhum impedimento sanguíneo.

No final tudo termina bem, com um final feliz para os protagonistas e os vilões tendo o final que merecem. Apesar dos últimos episódios terem sido um pouco chatos por causa da obsessão do Marquês Lu, com direito a rapto da noiva no dia do casamento, tudo terminou bem para os nossos protagonistas.

Os atores principais desempenharam seu papel de forma brilhante e os dois formam um belo casal. Até o ator que fez o Marquês Lu também foi brilhante porque me deixou odiando o Marquês com todas as minhas forças. Sinal de um bom trabalho por parte do ator.

Gostei do drama em geral e indico para quem gosta de histórias cheias de dramas e intrigas familiares. O drama também tem sua parcela de intriga política, mas diria que o drama familiar é o que de fato carrega a história.

Lire davantage