OVERALL
Great drama that is absolutely not excellent, but no one cares. Watch if 1) You're looking for a first Korean Drama (was my first, and it's the best way to start), 2) You're looking for something hilarious, 3) You're looking for a good love story, 4) You like fairy-tale endings. Think twice if 1) You don't like fantasy elements, 2) You have low tolerance for screaming (one character only screams), 3) You don't like stories with many loopholes. I would still recommend it though.

THE STORY
Another switching-body plot? Another rich guy-poor girl story? Yeah, it's maybe not that interesting when you look at it this way. Plus, when you actually watch the show, you see that it is far from being the most coherent one out there. Lots of loopholes. But I didn't care, and I'm guessing, by how famous it got, that many didn't. The quality of the drama is not in the innovativeness or the coherence of the plot, but the absolute genius of the script. The comedy in this show is real Fun, with a capital F, each character is characterized by their own tag lines. The laughs are counterbalanced with some justified tears, and the tag lines are counterbalanced with a few pretty deep (sometimes too deep for my simple understanding) ones. The story is full of ups and downs, switching body, then back, then switch again; hate you, then not so much, then again, then like you; but what matters is that everything is so addicting that you can't possibly stop watching. The romantic scenes get really sweet and cute, the sad parts make you cry, the ending is magic. What is not to like about this drama? Sometimes imperfection is more than good enough, and that's exactly the case with Secret Garden.

THE ACTING
Fabulous acting from most actors, except Philip Lee, the action school director. The main actors are absolutely stunning. For the switching-body plot, actors bear all the responsibility; if they're not good enough it fails to work for the audience. But Hyunbin and Ha Jiwon were awesome. They had each other's roles down to the mannerisms and facial expressions. The chemistry was also pretty good between them. Yoon Sang Hyun as Oscar was pure gold, and other supportive actors did not fall short in acting.

THE MUSIC
Well, you had the odd song that just wasn't doing it for me (eg. You are my everything, Scar), but most of the rest was awsome. Half the OST ended up in my mp3, and I still listen to it every now and then. That woman, by Baek Jiyoung is probably in my list of favorite drama songs, and many instrumental tracks are quite good, including Secret Garden, My Darling Lime and Mystery Garden.

REWATCH VALUE
Rewatched. A gazillion times.

Lire davantage

Good leads, mature vibes - The bare minimum that is so often lacking

OVERALL
This is an oasis in the severe C-drama drought of early 2024. While not perfect, it ticks so many boxes! Watch it if 1) you like capable FL and nice (instead of the usual cold) ML, 2) you like family dramas, 3) you're looking for cute romance based on mutual support and understanding. If you 1) are looking for steamy romance, 2) get bored by business drama, 3) can't stand occasional writing flaws, reconsider.

THE STORY
In one sentence: Rich girl becomes poor and finds her way back to wealth through business ventures. Basically, Dream of Splendour, rewritten. It put me off a bit because I was disappointed by Dream of Splendour (I personally think it's a bit overrated), but still gave it a try. In some ways (though not in everything), I enjoyed this one more.

Things I liked:
- ML is nice and supportive. I can't say it enough, I'm sick and tired of the rude and entitled drama lead. Can they stop making them?
- FL is smart and capable. Some people complained that she's a Mary Sue, but honestly, she's not doing anything a ML wouldn't do in a C-drama, so if you are fine with guys having multiple talents and saving the day, you should be alright with the girl doing it too. And no worries, ML does save her from danger a couple of times too!
- The relationship between FL and ML is healthy and not toxic (yes, I'm looking at you, Kunning Palace!). It is refreshing to see characters not only support and listen to one another but give each other space and respect each other's decisions.
- There's enough danger and adventure to make up for all the business and family drama.
- The family drama was not annoying. I'm not a huge fan and often skip scenes in dramas that spend too much time on family, but I actually found a few of stories quite interesting because of how different they were (eg. sister of ML or mean girl from FL's family) or because of character development (eg. some of the aunties in FL's family).
- Almost no distasteful CGI. The visual effects (and overall cinematography) are decent and not distracting

In comparison, there are few things I disliked, but they are not insignificant:
- The romance is super promising until around eps 25-28, then gets boring. It's the typical case of a well-written "falling in love" stage and an under-developped "in love" stage we see so often in C-dramas. As if there is no plot, no growth, nothing interesting that can happen after the leads confess their feelings. The last 4-5 eps bring some drama to spice things up, but the love story never delivers what it promised, to be honest.
- The palace politics is kind of poorly written. I quite liked the character of the emperor (he is actually a complex character), but I find that most things that didn't quite make sense to me had to do with the palace politics. For one thing, it feels like there is a lack of coherence. Who is the villain of this story? It's like you had different storylines with different antagonists. It's kind of all over the place.
- Some parts of the plot are weirdly illogical (eg. towards the end, FL does something that has negative consequences but somehow blames ML for it)

I would still recommend this drama, but these are definitely points to consider!

THE ACTING
Good enough for me. I saw FL before in a drama best forgotten (haha), but for some weird reason I really wanted to see her again. I don't think she's an amazing actress but she does it for me. ML I saw for the first time but is exactly the same. They had good enough chemistry too (such a shame it's underused!). And some secondary leads were quite good (young and old). This one boy that's in every drama is truly a gem! Might become the new Wu Lei!

THE MUSIC
Not my style, to be honest. But I've seen worse.

REWATCH VALUE
I think I might watch it again, but I'm not dying to like I have been at the end of other dramas. It's better than a filler, but not a "wow, amazing" drama for me.

Lire davantage

Cheap writing

OVERALL
I watched it all the way to the end because I was bored. Watch it if you really, REALLY don't care about quality...or you're bored. If none of the above apply, then skip. DEFINITELY skip.

THE STORY
I tried watching this drama three times before. Each time, I gave it up within the first minutes of Episode 1. The production was just really not impressive (sets and costumes looked so fake), and Female Lead was too silly. But the other day I had nothing else, so I pushed through and watched it all. My opinion about the drama has NOT improved haha

The worse thing about this drama is the writing. It's just SO bad. Things happen out of nowhere, things that would never occur in the past occur, the love story is random and unbelievable, Female Lead is not likeable, Male Lead is...like every other male lead. It's just bad. I can't think about anything that can redeem this show, except a couple of scenes here and there that managed to make me laugh. That's not enough to salvage the drama though, so I wouldn't recommend it to anybody.

THE ACTING
Not impressed. And don't expect chemistry, you won't find any.

THE MUSIC
No comment.

REWATCH VALUE
LOL.

Lire davantage

Plot Twist Master

OVERALL
This drama does plot twists like no other. Watch it if 1) you're looking for a new whodunit, 2) you want to see a bit of romance, 3) you like mature female leads (as opposed to the childish ones). Think twice if 1) you're craving kisses and sexy scenes, 2) too many plot twists give you a headache, or 3) you don't like crappy endings.

THE STORY
I came into this drama with low expectations and can honestly say it blew me away haha At the beginning, it looks like just another revenge drama, but it's not. It's actually a whodunit drama, spiced up with a little Rashomon effect (if you know, you know, if you don't, google). That's so cool because you literally are kept hooked and guessing what the hell happened until the very end. Now, I got to say, the final reveal sucked, but it's okay, I enjoyed the ride!

Still, I can't give this drama a super high rating because: 1) I'm really not a fan of the ending, it feels like a huge let-down, and 2) the love story between the leads was promising at the beginning but ended up being such a disappointment. For these reasons, I also feel like I'm never going to watch this drama again. It was binge material and I was definitely hooked all the way to the end, but I'm not about to re-live the experience haha

THE ACTING
Okay, but not impressive.

THE MUSIC
I LOVED it. So mature, so...normal. I especially liked the song Evening Wind (Wanfeng).

REWATCH VALUE
Low.

Lire davantage

Meh...

OVERALL
This is the prototypical filler. Watch it if 1) you're looking for a tame romance, and 2) you prefer stories with close to no drama, 3) you don't have anything else to watch. Avoid it if 1) clichés bother you, 2) you want chemistry and thrills, 3) you have something, ANYTHING, else to watch.

THE STORY
It's the typical "boy meets girl, they fall in love, they have zero relationship struggle or growth, and the end" that you see in many Chinese rom-coms, but what makes this drama worse than others is that it LEGIT has nothing else to it. No amazing romance, no crazy fun scenes, no thrills, NOTHING. The romance is just average, the comedy is even below that, and the plot is just one cliché after another. The only thing I actually quite liked about this drama was the fact that Male Lead starts out being the second lead (ish), which we don't see that often. But the main love story is a bit childish and unbalanced (WAY too much time spent trying to pursue one another, not enough "being together"), all secondary characters and couples are uninteresting, the parents are meant to be funny but aren't really, and the work drama is boring too. Basically, it's just not that great.

That being said, this drama is watchable until the end, so it's not THAT bad either. Just come in with low expectations, and keep it for when you're desperate.

THE ACTING
Yeah...not impressive. Do not expect chemistry between the leads, I personally didn't see any.

THE MUSIC
There.

REWATCH VALUE
Low.

Lire davantage

Weird, but okay...I guess?

OVERALL
I'm honestly at loss for words with this drama. If you love Chinese fantasy, strong/mature female leads and a tame slow burn, you might be down, but if you're looking for a deep, well-written plot, you probably won't. Then again, I was and still kind of ended up being down...so I guess you could just give it a try and see!

THE STORY
So...I came into this drama convinced I wouldn't like it. I really don't like Chinese fantasy series, it's usually too over-the-top with unconvincing CGI and poor writing. And yet, I ended up watching this drama all the way to the end, so it definitely was better than the average xanxia drama. What I think works out with this drama is: 1) the female lead is AWESOME, the kind I can't get enough of (but unfortunately C-dramaland prefers to recycle the ditzy, childish FL all the time), 2) the fantasy is mixed up with suspense because characters are trying to figure out their past, so the mysteries keep you hooked, 3) the CGI and fantasy elements aren't over the top (at least, for 2/3 of the drama), and 4) there're some really cool shots (the sets are so pretty!).

The problem with this drama is that it has some pretty serious, and I mean SERIOUS flaws. The last 5 eps are ridiculously bad. It feels like the writers were drunk when they wrote the ending haha The romance is also too tame for my liking. The problem isn't the pace (the drama does slow burn right), it's the fact that when things are suppose to heat up, we hit that 5 last eps mark and all hell breaks loose. With such a terrible ending, there's just no time/space to give us the juicy scenes the leads deserved. Other things bothered me, but they're more personal. I really don't understand some typical Chinese fantasy tropes, like the nemesis that is always ridiculous and acts like a caricature, so I had a hard time with some of them. Also, main lead legit goes to work once in the entire drama haha The plot was so out of touch with normal life, I couldn't take it seriously.

Bottom line: If you're in need of a filler, you can give it a try, but I don't guarantee you'll like it!

THE ACTING
I really like lead actress. I first saw her in City of Streamer and I loved her in that drama too. It's the vibes she gives. So cool! Lead actor wasn't bad but didn't draw my attention as much. The rest of the cast was okay, except the villains, who were too cartoony for my taste, and the child actors, who (except for one little girl) were particularly bad haha

THE MUSIC
Honestly, the instrumental stuff was cool, the songs were HORRIBLE.

REWATCH VALUE
Null. Not worth rewatching.

Lire davantage

A drama with an identity crisis

OVERALL
Mmm...Skip, unless you're bored.

THE STORY
This drama is weirrrdddd. It's like someone wanted to produce a BL but was asked to produce a straight love story, so they decided to do something in between...and failed. The drama never really addresses the fact that Female lead basically lives like a guy, but at the same time, never addresses the fact that she's actually a girl. It's just SO weirrrrrddd. You can't make a gender-bending drama without addressing gender! What's the point? haha

On the good side, if you can not care too much about the romance, the political intrigue is interesting, enough to keep you watching until the end (even if not really hooked). On the negative side, the melodramatic, messy romance is basically 70% of the drama so it's a bit hard to ignore haha

THE ACTING
Good, I guess. Not much chemistry between the leads, from what I could tell, but it's not bad enough.

THE MUSIC
No comment.

REWATCH VALUE
Very low.

Lire davantage

Decent filler (if you don't take it seriously)

OVERALL
Yet another fake marriage plot. Watch it if 1) you dig these plots, and you dig them hard, 2) you just need fluff to be happy, 3) you're looking for cute and smexy scenes. Reconsider if 1) you can't stand clichés and plot flaws, 2) you're not a fan of too much work drama, 3) you like well-developed characters, romance and/or plot. Reconsider seriously.

THE STORY
So because life happens, I had to pause this drama for two-three weeks before watching the last 2 episodes. Two-three weeks were enough to make me completely forget what had happened. That goes to show just how ordinary the drama is; nothing stands out. No memorable scene, no amazing joke, nothing. Did I enjoy it? Kind of, in a just-watching-to-have-something-to-do manner. It's fun, when you don't think it through too much. Do I recommend it to anyone? I'm not sure...

The Good
- The "being in love" part of the OTP (once they get together) is actually cute. Sometimes (make that often) that's where romance dramas mess up, so that's cool. The drama is generous with couple scenes and they don't feel awkward or unnatural. That was definitely the best of the drama.
- No crazy annoying, disrespectful and snob in-laws. It's the third time I see this in recent dramas and I'm living for it. By all means, make that cliché die.
- Occasional real fun scene. I can't remember them now, but I do remember that there were some!
...and that's it.

The Bad
- I think China really likes the fake-marriage trope. It's EVERYWHERE. I personally like it, but I have to say, most C-dramas have absurd setups for the fake marriage, and I'm getting tired of it. Sure, fiction is fiction, but there's only so much disbelief you can suspend. The setup in this drama is BEYOND RIDICULOUS. Makes zero sense that the leads would get together for the reasons they do. I think C-dramas should learn from Korea's 'Marriage Contract' or 'Marriage, Not Dating', which had some of the best setup for fake marriages I've seen so far.
- Male lead is like every other cold CEO C-dramas just can't get rid of, and female lead is like every other cute and kind of childish Cinderella C-dramas just don't want to get rid of. She's slightly better than him because she has a bit of wit, but they're still super cliché.
- I'm not too sure I understand why/how male lead and female lead fall in love. Why does he suddenly like her? Why does she suddenly like him? The "falling in love" part isn't really well-written (though, the rest also isn't that great).
- Third wheels are SO annoying (and cliché, of course, but at this point take it for granted). I'm still confused as to why these unbearable, can't-take-no-for-an-answer second leads are still a thing.
- Secondary couple isn't all that interesting.
- The dubbing is HORRID. I heard they had to change the script post-production, so they probably didn't have the choice, but it's really frustrating to see that the audio doesn't match the video (what people are saying).

THE ACTING
Mmm...Decent, from the OTP, but subpar from others. Not that bad that it'll ruin your experience of the drama, though!

THE MUSIC
Okay, I'd say! Nothing I'd listen to now that the drama is over, but it was better than in some other dramas!

REWATCH VALUE
Eh...moderate. I won't say low because I can see myself searching for some clips of the OTP on YouTube one of those days. Sometimes you just need a dose of fluff romance. I really doubt I'll watch the whole drama again, though.

Lire davantage

Will make you like legal dramas!

OVERALL
This drama is one of the few (way too few!!!) ensemble Korean dramas out there and that's great! Watch if 1) you like legal dramas, 2) you're looking for a well-written show, 3) you enjoy dramas with a (mostly) serious and realistic vibe. Think twice if 1) you want fluff or lots of comedy, 2) you're craving some romance, 3) you're into suspense or you like philosophical-type shows. But I'd say still give it a try, you might be surprised by how much you still enjoy it. I know I was.

THE STORY
It took me forever to start this drama because I'm really NOT a fan of legal dramas, but I eventually got bored (*cough* desperate *cough*) and had a look. It was unexpectedly quite good! Probably the drama that does legal the best (imo)!!!

The Good
- There is an overarching plot in this drama, but since it's about an ensemble cast (students each have their own story, plus the main prof), there're also lots of smaller plotlines and they are ALL super interesting. No skipping needed in this drama at all! It's also great how the drama weaves in all these smaller plots into the main one so effortlessly. That's good writing!
- This is linked to the first point, but almost all the characters (I'd say all but some of the villains) have considerable depth. They have their backstory, they have their weaknesses, their flaws, their little something to overcome. And of course, they have their strength. It's nice to see a drama in which characters are more than plot devices!
- I say this drama does legal the best because as someone who hates legal dramas and finds them boring, it managed to actually get me to care about the trials and the clauses and laws. How it succeeds where others have fail is still a mystery to me, but I think it's because the drama made me root and care about the characters a lot. Also, the entire drama isn't spent in courtrooms. We see what happens backstage the most (the crimes, the preparation for trials, the lessons, etc.). It's pretty cool!

The Bad
- Maybe they didn't care, but there's close to zero suspense in this drama. Although it's set up as a whodunit, it's pretty clear from episode 1 who is probably responsible for the murder. The same applies for a few other crimes in the drama. So it becomes a bit irrelevant how 2/3 of the drama, if not more, tries to postpone the reveal of who is really guilty.
- The ending is very underwhelming for me. Underwhelming and just...dissatisfying. Too rushed, too shallow. Not sure why they decided to go for the choices that they made.
- Overall, I think the drama was meant to encourage thought on justice and law. That's how they set it up in the pilot. But it really sort of...doesn't? I feel like it's a bit of a let down in that department. Especially at the end; they try to wrap it up nicely but it just feels like empty words...

THE ACTING
Pretty good, I'd say. Some performances felt a bit more extra (especially villains and less important students), but nothing that ruins the experience.

THE MUSIC
Not a fan, but it was fitting. It's a shame that the BGM didn't stay as good as it is in the first episode though. The first few minutes are pretty awesome!

REWATCH VALUE
Not very high. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice watch. A really nice watch. But it doesn't have the "umph" factor that will make me want to watch it again. It lacks grip, and I typically prefer rewatching addicting shows. Still recommend though!

Lire davantage

Classic thriller

OVERALL
For once in a long time, a binge-worthy crime & mystery C-drama. Watch it if 1) you're craving a gripping thriller with good pace, 2) you like strong and smart FLs. Reconsider if 1) you're looking for a well-developed romance, 2) you don't like plot flaws.

THE STORY
I binged this series in two days, and that might make it seem totally amazing. I guess it kind of is, but not really haha It's definitely a worthy drama, but it's also a very flawed drama.

The Good
- In terms of crime & mystery, this drama's living up to expectations. You have fast pace, smart villains, a few action scenes, all the good's there.
- FL is cool and not for being cute and pretty (yay!) but for actually being smart, strong and capable.
- ML is also cool, though he doesn't stand out as much as FL.
- There are no annoying secondary characters, everyone is either likeable or realistic and useful.
- Cinematography is top notch thriller genre, the drama serves good quality production from beginning to end.

The Bad
- At the top of the list, there's the complete failure of a romance. It's not just bad, it's ugly. The drama starts out promising a love story, but as it goes on not only does the romance recede to the background, it becomes increasingly incoherent. Don't expect any developments or skinship on that end.
- The drama also promises character development for FL, because it starts out giving lots of backstory and showing us her struggles, but then it just...forgets about everything. Again, total failure to deliver. False advertisement.
- The ending is illogical. But actually, so are a few plot twists and events in the drama. Basically, the writing is as sloppy as the production is great.

THE ACTING
Good, all around. I think ML and FL even had a bit of chemistry at first, even though the drama makes sure by the end you don't remember it.

THE MUSIC
Typical suspenseful music, but the good kind. I liked it!

REWATCH VALUE
Eh...What hyped the series the most for me was the potential romance, but the ship got stuck at the harbor. I doubt I'll watch the drama again.

Lire davantage

Easy binge

OVERALL
This drama is short and thrilling, so it's an easy watch. Consider if 1) you're looking for an action-packed series, 2) you like revenge stories, 3) you don't need much more than that. Skip if 1) you want well-developed characters, 2) you're craving a good romance, 3) you don't like tragedy.

THE STORY
A pretty conventional revenge story. No major event is really unexpected, even the main plot twist. The ending is also quite predictable if you know anything about Korean action films and their unconditional love for the tragic. Where My Name shines is in the delivery. In the little details.

The Good
- The drama REALLY makes you feel and root for FL. She goes through hell and becomes strong but also so vulnerable. Her life sucks too much and you're dying to see it suck a bit less.
- Although the drama is short, they do try to squeeze in a bit of a love story and they do it successfully; it actually makes sense and is even kind of cute?
- Although nothing's out of the ordinary, the show still remains gripping enough to be binged in a day. There's the suspense surrounding FL's cover, the mystery of her dad's death, the drug cartel, so much to keep you on the edge of your seat. And there's the occasional joke too. The drama is conventional, but good conventional, definitely.

The Bad
- How unoriginal the plot is, though I guess if you only care about action this isn't a problem. The biggest let-down is the fact that the most promising aspect of the drama, FL going undercover in the police, ends up being so unimportant. So lackluster. They could have played it up and it would have made the show much better and much more original.
- The unnecessary tragedy (because trust me, it's absolutely unnecessary. A death that is unavoidable is fine, a death that is just there because the writer wanted it there is an abomination).
- The lack of depth, especially character or relationship development. Granted, this is a very short series, so there's only so much we can ask. But at the same time, there're so many fighting scenes...a few could have been replaced by deeper stuff.

THE ACTING
I LOVED her. ML was also fine though. In general, they were all great! A huge asset for the series, because acting makes an average plot ten times better.

THE MUSIC
No comment.

REWATCH VALUE
Not high for me. Don't get me wrong, this drama is a good binge. But it's a one-time binge. There's nothing there that'll make me come back to it.

Lire davantage

A downward slope

OVERALL
Season 2 of Fox's Summer starts out great...then descends into madness. Watch if 1) you're desperate to know what happens after Season 1, or 2) you REALLY like backstories. Think twice if 1) you're looking for well-developed romance, 2) you like well-written plots, 3) you hate repetitive, unnecessary flashbacks.

THE STORY
This review is only for SEASON 2 of Fox's Summer. This season starts strong, really strong. But by episode 4 or 5, things begin to look weird. First, I recently have been complaining about romantic dramas that don't show the "falling in love" properly to jump right into the "we're in love" stage. Fox's Summer 2 does the complete opposite. After an entire season of "falling in love", when the "we're in love" stage begins, the romance turns into nothing. Absolutely nothing. If it weren't because the couple keeps reminding us that they're dating (but literally reminding us, with "but I'm your girlfriend!" or "but we're dating now!"), we never would have known, because they don't look like it at all. I'm not saying this because I think heavy skinship is a must in dramas. I don't think lots of skinship is necessary in romance (even though it's welcome!). But with or without skinship, you need to show some cute, fun, juicy couple scenes. How can we root for the couple otherwise?

Secondly, While the OTP backstories were interesting in season 1, they were essentially that, BACKstories. A bit of extra info about the main leads. Somehow, in season 2, the backstories become the primary plot. A drama that was pretty much a rom-com in season 1 turns into a workplace/melo drama out of nowhere. Another thing I couldn't stand were the flashbacks. They were already bad in season 1, but they become unbearable in season 2. Lastly, there're the skyrocketing inconsistencies. FL ends season 1 living in some place and starts season 2 living somewhere else, no explanations given. Characters with good communication decide not to communicate anymore, others continue to go from good to evil and back. People on their deathbed end up in conversing in their living room in the next scene. Mmm...what? It feels like season 2 was written by entirely different people from season 1, and didn't get the memo about what the drama was about. Such a disappointment.

THE ACTING
Same as season 1. Tan Songyun is fine, male lead is not, and they have zero chemistry. There was hope of some chemistry in season 1, there is nothing at all in season 2.

THE MUSIC
Same as season 1.

THE REWATCH VALUE
Definitely low.

Lire davantage

Pretty good for a harem story!

OVERALL
This drama has a lot of things going on: murder-mystery, slow-burn romance, harem drama, political intrigue...but somehow, they combine nicely into a plot that is, if not the best, definitely entertaining enough to keep you watching until the end! Watch it if 1) you like smart female leads, 2) you need plots with few holes, where everything serves a purpose to the story, 3) you want to be surprised by a few plot twists. Think twice if 1) you need fast-paced, smexy romantic scenes, 2) you hate harem drama or political intrigues, 3) you are easily and greatly bothered by repetitiveness in dramas.

THE STORY
This drama has a lot more strengths than weaknesses, but the weaknesses weigh a lot, so they are worth considering. Let me start with the good. First, one thing that's clear about this drama is that it pushes a feminist agenda. FL is gifted in embroidery and wants to work for the people, but women at the time had to marry and stay at home, and that's one of the main conflicts of the series. I found this to be one of the best aspects of the show because the drama depicts the condition of women and Shiyi's frustration and avantgarde personality in a very realistic way. She's the odd sheep in the herd and it's really hard work for her to try to do what she likes to do. Secondly, I really enjoyed FL, Shiyi. What's great about the FL of this drama is that she's strong and smart, but in a feminine way. These days we see lots of strong FLs but they tend to lean more towards typical masculine traits (eg. Changge from Long Ballad, FL of Oh My General of My General and I), or be somewhat non-gendered and not caring about either masculine or feminine stuff. Shiyi is absolutely feminine. Her hobbies are typically female and she does all typically female tasks well. I think it's great to show that femininity can come with the strength and the smarts too. Another thing that's cool is that you can see how much power and influence she has over everyone around her, because all character and relationship developments in the drama are linked to her. She's just boss. And then one last positive aspect of Sword & Brocade is the romance. I personally am very bothered by love lines with crappy development, and it's kind of on the rise these days. It's common to see the OTP fall in love out of nowhere or go through a decent "falling in love" period, but the falling in love doesn't actually make sense. That's not the case with this drama. It takes FOREVER for the love to bloom, but it's realistic, and I was living for it. The journey is just as important, if not more, than the destination, and I'm glad this drama got it.

On the bad side, for someone like me who's not particularly fond of harem stories, Sword & Brocade feels EXTREMELY repetitive. It's literally 40 episodes of scheming evil women. The murder-mystery and political intrigues spice it up a bit, but by the end, I was kind of getting tired of the never-ending harem drama. It felt like more of the same. Always some girl trying to shame, frame and ruin another girl's life, and sometimes with no valid reason. The ML's mother was not helping at all; she was like a broken record. 40 episodes of her doing and saying the same thing, over and over again. Another think that irked me a bit were the few inconsistencies. There aren't a lot, but there are one or two instances in which the behavior of a character (especially FL at some point) seems extremely out of sync with how the character's been portrayed, or an event felt too forced/ridiculous. These issues aren't bad enough to make you stop watching, but they do make the experience of watching Sword & Brocade less enjoyable with time, especially the harem drama, so beware!

THE ACTING
It worked! In general I have no complaints for the main cast. I liked Wallace here more than in General & I, his character was MUCH better. Same thing for Songyun, I tried watching Under the Power before but couldn't stand her character. Shiyi is much better. Chemistry-wise, there are some sparks between them but it's not the most impressive couple in the chemistry department. They make up for it with cute and fun scenes though, so it's fine! I didn't like the stereotypical character of Consort Qian, but the acting was okay. Honestly, my only complaint is the acting of one of the kids - but it was kind of hilarious too, so I let it pass!

THE MUSIC
Quite good. Won't keep listening to anything now that the show's over but it actually left a positive impression on me!

REWATCH VALUE
I'm writing this review after watching the drama a second time, so it definitely is a drama you can watch again. However, maybe not without skipping some parts!

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Enjoyable...with some skipping

OVERALL
This drama is really the prototype of "slice of life". Watch it if 1) you like dramas with a mature feel, 2) you're looking for a fun couple and cute lover antics, 3) you're a fan of character development. Think twice if 1) you can't stand a drama with no main plot, 2) you easily find small holes in plots and that annoys you, 3) you are expecting a FL like the one of Yanxi Palace.

THE STORY
I feel like this drama is very niche. Only the true fans of slice-of-life series will appreciate all of it. I'm not one of them...so I could only watch it with consistent fast-forwarding. On the plus side, it's gorgeously done and feels very mature and natural. No childish, quirky background music like in many historical C-dramas. No slapstick comedy or in-your-face jokes. THAT I like A LOT. It takes ages before the OTP gets going, but when it does, you fall for it. The romance is definitely the best of the show, not just because they have fun scenes or they're cute, but because there is some relationship growth (which almost never happens in dramas). I wish the drama had spent more time on it! FL is depicted as a mature, smart, strong character, and the best part is that we really get to see her evolve throughout the drama, resolving traumas she has due to her upbringing. There's really a lot to like about Story of Minglan.

But, but, but...it's WAY too long. I understand why the drama includes certain parts (to set up the character development), but many of them could have been much shorter - like maybe 2-3 episodes long instead of 10-15. Honestly, apart from the first 5 episodes or so (which are fast-paced because they're about childhood events), I almost get the feeling that the story only begins around episode 30. That's nearly halfway through the drama! If you know anything about storytelling arc, that's like spending half of your story on the exposition/introduction! It's too much. Something else that bothers me about Story of Minglan is the obvious decline of FL after her marriage. As a single girl, she's smart and cunning, always five steps ahead of others, but as a married woman, she can't even see what's in front of her and constantly needs the help her husband *sigh*. There are smaller issues with the drama, such as some aspects that seem unbelievable, some repetitive lines or the very unsatisfying ending scene (the ending isn't bad per say, it's just kind of random?), but these two are the most serious problems in my opinion. If you're fine with the pace and the decline of FL, the drama is definitely worth you giving it a try.

THE ACTING
I heard FL and ML were played by a married couple. That explains a lot haha I didn't feel that there was chemistry between the leads but they looked comfortable and natural with one another and that's what sold the couple. Individually, I liked her more than him. Minglan goes through hell, and because Zanilia is expressive, she really makes you feel that. Secondary cast was also quite good, especially Minglan's legitimate mom. I just have a problem with the villains. It's just so stereotypical the way they act, I don't like it - but I'm sure it was on purpose and isn't a reflection of their acting ability.

THE MUSIC
Mild and fitting background music. Cute opening too. There's nothing I'll listen to now that the drama is over, but I was digging how music was so scarce, and you had lots of scenes with only silence or ambient sounds in the back. Such a breath of fresh air, when compared to the excess of sound we get in many dramas!

REWATCH VALUE
Completely? Not very high. I think I will definitely go back to this drama but I'll skip the first 1/3 and start when the real action begins...and even then, there'll be skipping involved. That's the problem with slice of life. Since it's not a story, but just a collection of episodes in someone's life, you don't necessarily care about all of them.

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Alternative title: Love in Times of Royal Conflicts

OVERALL
This is a feel-good drama, not because of fluff or comedy (there's literally none in here!) but because it has a "good always wins" plot that gives you little frustration, and as a bonus, is actually gripping enough to binge. Watch it if 1) you like strong female leads, 2) you're picky about production and you need good cinematography, 3) you enjoy political intrigues. Think twice about it if 1) you like well-written and emotional love stories, 2) you like when the good guys sweat a bit, 3) you prefer dramas with a light mood/feel.

THE STORY
The best thing about this drama is its production. You can tell this was produced by someone used to film production because they really made clever, significant choices with lighting, sound and décor. All of it converges to create a dark and depressing mood/feel, which echoes the claustrophobic and tragic environment of nobility and royalty. And that's what the story is essentially about; the toxicity of the political sphere in Great Cheng era. (Just needed to fangirl over technical stuff!)

The plot is also, for the most part, quite fine. Political intrigues are coherent and they level up as the drama progresses (which is great because sometimes schemes get dumber as the story evolves). Characters have depth too, even (and especially) secondary ones. The title is misleading, main girl isn't really rebellious (she sometimes even comes off as submissive), but she is definitely strong and mature. Main guy is quiet but he's not the cold brooding type (yay!), he's actually pretty nurturing and kind. The biggest problem with The Rebel Princess is that the romance is meant to be an important part of the drama but it doesn't convince at all. Part of it is lack of chemistry between the leads, but part of it is the fact that the love story is SO underdeveloped. The protagonists go from strangers to lovers in the space of...1 episode? And then spend the rest of the drama being deeply in love. We definitely needed to see the process of them learning to care for one another. Plus, conflicts are important for relationship growth, and it doesn't feel like there's any growth in the OTP because they literally never fight.

Apart from the relationship, another downside to the drama is the way the good guys ALWAYS win. Except for once in the drama, you never really get the impression that they took on a serious blow. This isn't terrible, it makes for a more enjoyable watch, but it feels somewhat unrealistic. The ending (second half of the last episode) is also very rushed and incoherent. THAT BEING SAID, the drama is totally binge material. It's gorgeous and the never-ending schemes keep you watching until the last minute. Even though the OTP isn't swoon-worthy, you still end up rooting for them.

THE ACTING
Other reviews already mentioned the age situation, so I won't - plus, to be honest, I don't think it matters. Sure, the cast is older than the characters they play, but they look compatible with one another, so what's the problem? In general, the cast did well, especially Zhang Ziyi, but in terms of chemistry between actors (not just between the main leads but also with the secondary cast) I didn't feel much. Dramas like this highlight how acting isn't just about individual performance, it's also about the dynamics with other actors. In this case, they weren't that great. It doesn't stop you from enjoying the drama, though, so I guess it's okay.

THE MUSIC
It was fine, though there wasn't any song I felt like listening to on my own. Honestly, I was just grateful the music wasn't excessive and loud like in some other C-dramas (*cough* Oh My General *cough*).

REWATCH VALUE
It's quite high. Not super high because the drama is lowkey depressing, but it does end well and it is an enjoyable watch so I just know I'll watch it again.

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