***This is a general review, but the bottom half of this review will contain spoilers***

I've watched a lot of romcom historical dramas this past year and they are generally cute with more focused on the romance and less to do with serious consequences tied within the serious or political plot. The Sleepless Princess, however, balances that very well, giving us a romantic comedy and also providing compelling plot threads that makes it an interesting watch throughout. Even more, the show does well in balancing comedy and angst. It begins as a romantic comedy, but the foreshadowing of future sad/tragic scenes are hinted in the beginning as well and I am impressed when I watch the show again. It's a well directed drama. It has great actors who make you feel the full swing of emotions.

Before I talk about things I liked, I want to make sure I mention that there are TWO endings. Folks watch the show and are disappointed by the end, but there is a "special episode" aka an "episode 36" that may satisfy those people. For others, though, episode 35's ending was fine even if it was ambiguous.

ACTING & CHARACTERS
Everyone was great in their roles, but especially have to give it up to our two main leads: Zheng Ye Cheng as Xue Yao and Hu Yi Xuan as Xu Chuyue. They have incredible chemistry together and are a perfect match. They both balance the lightheartedness and romantic well with the serious and angst. Their happiness makes you happy and their sadness makes you cry along with them. I was thoroughly impressed with them and really hope that in the future, we get to see them act in another drama together.
Xue Yao is a cold and cautious general and that leads him to do some harsh things to the FL at the beginning, but you can sympathize with his character when you think about how much he and his family has gone through and how the loss of his brother affected him. A confident person who isn't arrogant to keep being mean to the FL once he realizes his mistakes/misunderstandings. When he realizes his mistakes, he always tries to remedy it and becomes kinder and softer. His complexity is well written and well acted by Zheng Ye Cheng.
Xu Chuyue is such a lovable wonderful character. She's naturally cute and her comedic timing is great. I adore her so much. (On a personal note: I'm so glad she doesn't pucker her lips out to make her look cute because it's so annoying to me.) She is similar to the "naive cutesy clumsy girl" type in romcom historical dramas, but what I love is that she doesn't do pointless screaming/yelling at ML and is often pretty smart herself. She's at times naive but she's not clueless.
Xu Xingchen: Oof, I came to really appreciate him. In the beginning, even with his cute face, I was suspicious of him, but he is a righteous man after all and his devotion and care for his sister wins in the end. I appreciate a character with this kind of dignity.

STORY:
As I mentioned above, sometimes in these romcoms historical comedies, the "serious" or "political" plots aren't taken as seriously or explored as seriously, but not this one. The political and serious plot threads are connected to their romantic development and the twists that are revealed is shocking and heartbreaking as our leads deal with the knowledge. I enjoyed it greatly and appreciated this balance.
At times, there were some misunderstandings between the main characters that frustrated me, but it is often resolved within an episode or a couple episodes, so it's not dragged out for an outrageous amount of time fortunately. Even more, the story makes it believable to see how the characters realize their misunderstandings, so it feels natural.
The supporting characters like Xu Xingchen, Taoyao, and Su Nannan have really good growth and depth that I appreciated. I can't say the same for Naxi (I talk about her characterization under the spoiler line.)
There are some really great comedic scenes that made me laugh so much. There are also some great angsty and sad scenes that are very well written, well directed, and well acted.
Essentially, this drama has a lot of scenes that are original, well acted, well directed and so it was very memorable.
That ending, though, was good, but could've been better. And less ambiguous and sad. (I talk more about this underneath the spoilers line.)

SOUNDTRACK:
Strong osts with strong vocals and lyrics, really cementing the mood of the scenes. For example, Henry Huo (and Yisa Yu) sings the main song (he has also sung an OST for The Romance of Tiger and Rose). A show's soundtrack can really make or break the show. There are one or two songs that are upbeat and light-hearted, but the rest of the songs are moving ballads. I've been listening to the album all week and can still see the scenes in my head when I hear the songs. Well done, truly.

CINEMATOGRAPHY:
What can I say? Chinese historical dramas always have great visuals, props, and designs. The CGI is always worrisome but fortunately there's not a lot of that in this drama. There are some really beautiful costumes in this drama and a lot of great shots. The action scenes aren't edited too much, so it flows pretty well and looks natural. Props to the director because this show could've been handled messily, but it wasn't and it was given the thoughtfulness and detailed it deserved.

*********SPOILERS BELOW. PLEASE DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE DRAMA*****************
*********SPOILERS BELOW. PLEASE DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE DRAMA*****************
*********SPOILERS BELOW. PLEASE DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE DRAMA*****************

One specific thing I love:
The fact that Xue Yao became the author and took over for his brother Xue Mu. That broke me in a good way. Also, XUE MU. He is SO SOSOSO good and we only got a few things about him, but I love him with my whole heart. His death hurt me so much. Tao Yao's death too. Ugh. :(( they were both pure people.

This is where I talk about some suggestions/changes I would've done to make this drama a 10/10 for me.

1) Naxi: they straight up made her a villain and her story to revolve around romance and wanting Xue Yao. That was my biggest disappointment with this show. She was cunning and manipulative, which made her a good antagonist, but the whole thing behind her about wanting Xue Yao--that reasoning was disappointing and made her character fell flat. Instead of her wanting Xue Yao because she "truly loves" him and wants him for her husband, I wish it had gone a route like this: she wants Xue Yao so that she can kill him for Xue Yao's killings of her father & people. And so then her friendship with Xu Chuyue, which becomes actually genuine, makes Naxi conflicted because she grows fond of Xu Chuyue and doesn't want to hurt her friend, but she still made a promise to avenge her family. This would've been a more compelling storyline.
Also, the whole thing with Prince Ning...it was hilarious and that one moment of Prince Ning disregarding his life for her is kind of believable, I suppose since he's kind of a dummy, but anything to do with them getting together is impossible. Also, Naxi might've been moved a bit by Prince Ning's actions, but not to an extent where she would go back for him or whatever. Their little side story is not the best part of this drama.

2) THAT ENDING: Look, Xue Yao would NEVER hurt Xu Chuyue so he would NEVER jump off a cliff so that they both die together. Even if the show wants it to be open-ended with that possibility, I'm shutting that down right now. He was at a weak moment where he missed her dearly, but he would never do that.
Here's my version of the ending:
Xue Yao finishes telling the story to the kids who all run away. Xue Yao is a little disappointed that she didn't wake up right at that moment and maybe he walks away for a second to breathe and get fresh air (get it? Fresh air? So he doesn't cry? Callback to like episode 3.) and then Xu Chuyue calls his name. He turns around and she's smiling brilliantly like that one time when she was going to get on the carriage. She's awake and healthy and beautiful. He goes to her, still crying, and she kisses his tears. They hug and kiss and smile and are happy. THE END.

This would be a proper happier ending than the "special happy-ending episode" where there are continuation issues. The special issue gives them a kid and have them go travelling around, which is fine, but the last part about the Naxi and Pring Ning.....no. Just, no. They apparently got together during the time she saved him from the poison smoke, but that would be impossible since Xu Chuyue already changed the timeline, so. That's impossible. That part of the special episode, I don't agree with.

Also, I get why Xu Chuyue couldn't just "come back" because throughout the entire series, they already said that she would become a living dead person, even reinforced by her father. So, on an emotional level, I GET it that it's not that easy for her to just WAKE UP. But then, I truly wish the storyline had embedded a thread of a possibility to save her through some other means and have Xue Yao spend time looking for that alternative way to save her. Her sacrifice to save everyone was monumental, but c'mon, this is a romcom historical, why can't we get a happy ending for our lovers, who went through SO much already? Give us that happy payoff after all this angst. COME ON.

*edit after some days of thinking and rewatching some scenes*: so, her father DID say that being a living dead person is the worst way to die because she'll outlive everyone but won't be able to respond to the outside world. Since that is the case...then I would accept Xue Yao taking her and them dying together. Because at least that way she actually gets to die with him and not him dying while she lives around. In a way, it's a mercy for Xu Chuyue. But I don't know how I feel if Xue Yao took them both to die so early and so young...