Chinese Period Dramas
I will update this as time passes by.
Empress in the Palace
Year: 2011-2012
Episodes:76
Synopsis:
This drama revolves around a girl named Zhen Huan, who was chosen as a concubine for the emperor despite not wanting to be one. At first, she didn't want to be the center of attention so she pretended to be sick but the emperor still falls in love with her and now she is the new target of all the concubines. She only wanted her husband to be hers but was accepting of the fact that he is a man with lots of other women. She was kind and innocent until the other concubines tried to eliminate her, which led to her becoming more calculative.
This drama revolves around a girl named Zhen Huan, who was chosen as a concubine for the emperor despite not wanting to be one. At first, she didn't want to be the center of attention so she pretended to be sick but the emperor still falls in love with her and now she is the new target of all the concubines. She only wanted her husband to be hers but was accepting of the fact that he is a man with lots of other women. She was kind and innocent until the other concubines tried to eliminate her, which led to her becoming more calculative.
This is one of my absolute favorite period dramas. Some people might be shocked by the number of episodes it has, but you will not be disappointed. Despite this drama not being the best at describing true events and the plot is almost not even based on it, it does a spectacular job in showing China's intricately sewn clothing, the ranks of the concubines, China's old customs, eloquent language, the palace, poetry, and the arts. This drama has amazing actresses and each character has their own story and problems. The music, whether it is the instrumentals or singing, really adds to this drama. I don't recommend watching the American version because it cuts out lots of scenes.
I made a whole post about this drama:
http://asiandramapop.blogspot.com/2015/07/empress-in-palace.html
Startling By Each Step
Year: 2011
Episodes: 35
Synopsis:
Synopsis:
Zhang Xiao (Liu Shi Shi) is a white collared worker in 2011. After seeing her boyfriend cheating on her, she angrily walks away but trips over some electric wires and gets electrified into the past (I know it's a bit weird but bear with me). She is now Ma'ertai Ruo Xi, a sixteen-year-old girl from the Qing Dynasty. Her sister is 2nd wife of the 8th prince. She was sent into the palace to become Emperor Kangxi's (who holds the record of having the most wives in China) concubine. With her quirky personality, knowledge, and tomboyish qualities, she quickly becomes friends with the princes. This leads to her being entangled in their power struggle to become the emperor.
Gong/Palace- The Lock Heart Jade
Year: 2011
Episodes: 35
Seasons: 3
Synopsis:
Luo Qingchuan (Yangmi) time travels to the Qing dynasty and meets the princes. First, she met the Taizi, or the crown prince, and helps him out. From then on, he calls her Fairy. Then she meets the 8th prince (William Feng). At first, there was a misunderstanding between them. He keeps bullying her and tries to make her life terrible, but she uses modern knowledge to survive his torture. Her unique and spunky personality captures the 8th prince's attention who soon falls for her. However, she has a crush on the 4th prince (Mickey He), who is warm and mature. She is conflicted about who to choose. She also has to worry about returning to the present.
Comments:
This drama was really successful because of the 8th prince and Qingchuan's chemistry. I feel that Yangmi still needs to improve on her acting because she is pretty stiff and emotionless.
Chinese Paladin 3
Year: 2009
Episodes: 37
Synopsis:
Jing Tian (Hu Ge) is a happy-go-lucky guy whose dream is to strike it rich. He meets Tang Xue Jian (Yang Mi), a bratty girl from the rich Tang family. They both possess a jade that sticks to each other when close together. After her grandfather's death, she gets kicked out of the household. She ends up following Jing Tian. When they stumble upon a village infested with zombies, they meet Xu Changqing, (Wallace Huo!!!) the handsome disciple of the Shushan sect. He likes to help others and is good at martial arts. Jing Tian also learns that he has to save the world in 100 days.
This one is really funny and outrageous. I love Jing Tian and Changqing's friendship. FYI, Hu Ge and Wallace are best friends in real life. Another supporting character not mentioned above, Zixuan (Tang Yan), the descendant of Nv Wa, falls in love with Changqing. The forbidden but destined love is definitely one to look out for. Also, everyone's favorite, Liu Shi Shi is also in this drama. This drama has a crazy cast to boast about.
Qin Shi Huang Fei/ The Glamorous Imperial Concubine
Year: 2011
Episodes: 42
Synopsis:
The beautiful princess, Ma Fu Ya, (Ruby Lin) of the Chu Kingdom has a kind personality and a loving family. This all changes when her uncle usurps the throne but Fu Ya is lucky to escape. She makes a deal with Meng Qi You (Kevin Yan), the prince of the Shu Kingdom. If she helps him become the next emperor, he will use his army to kill her uncle to revenge for her father. Qi You and Fu Ya start to fall for each other while Liu Lian Cheng (Wallace Huo), the prince of the Northern Han, who is deeply in love with her, is still searching for her. Will she end up with Qi You with all these obstacles in the way?
Loved Wallace in this drama. This also reminded me of how pretty Ruby is.
Legend of the Ancient Sword
Year: 2014
Episodes: 50
Synopsis:
This is basically Naruto but in Chinese and with swords. Ba Li Tu Su's (Li Yi Feng) mother sealed a demonic sword's aura into his body. He tries to suppress the aura and is told that he can't spar with others, so he trains alone at Tian Yong Cheng, the place his savior and teacher brought him. People continue to call him weird and bully him. He runs away after being suspected of being a murderer and, for the first time, goes out into the real world. There he meets Ouyang Shao Gong (Qiao Zhen Yu) and Feng Qing Xue (Yang Mi), who once trained at Tian Yong Cheng. Shao Gong is a genius doctor that wants to make an elixir that can bring back the dead. Qing Xue is from You Du, a place that wants to help control Tu Su's aura, and she has had a crush on him since young. Together, they try to find the elixir to revive the dead so Tu Su can bring his mother back to life, learn what happened back then, and get rid of the aura.
Lan Ling Wang
Year: 2013
Episodes: 46
Synopsis:
Yang Xue Wu (Ariel Lin) is a priest and the descendant of Nv Wa. Legend has it that whoever has her on his side will be the ruler of China. She foresees that Lan Ling Wang (Feng Shao Feng), the war legend, will have a tragic fate, but she wants to help him. She also falls for him. Despite her grandmother having philosophized that Lan Ling Wang's future wife isn't her, she still loves him. Yu Wen Yong (Daniel Chan), the emperor of another kingdom, wants to break them apart and have her by his side. Adding to this mess is that as Lan Ling Wang wins more wars, the crown prince thinks that he is getting out of his control and wants him dead. Will Xue Wu ever get to be with the one she loves?
Ariel looks so good in her period costume. Feng Shao Feng is awesome in this drama. I think he did better here than in Palace Lockheart.
Legend of Lu Zhen/Female Prime Minister
Year: 2013
Episodes: 59
Synopsis:
Lu Zhen (Zhao Li Ying) believes that women can run a business and govern. She wants to be able to rise in ranks and one day become a member of the imperial government. She falls in love with Prince Gao Zhan (Chen Xiao) but because of her family background, they can never be together. Even though she can't become his wife, he made her the prime minister of China.
History isn't important in this drama but it does show us the ranks in the palace. This drama shot Zhao Li Ying and Chen Xiao into fame. I loved the two and they definitely had lots of chemistry.
Year: 1998-1999/2011
Episodes: 72/98
This is a favorite among many and has a special place in lots of people's hearts. The original is one of the most successful costume dramas of all time. This drama stars the once relatively new cast but after its success, shot most of the actors into stardom (i.e. Fan Bing Bing, Ruby Lin, Zhao Wei, Alec Su, etc.) Most people agree that the original is better than the remake but the remake added more modern things and language. I think this is a good thing because it is funny and during the Qing Dynasty, China was open to more western influence. This drama is really long but is definitely worth your time.
Synopsis:
Xia Zi Wei (Ruby Lin and Hai Lu) is a beautiful and well-educated girl on a journey to find her father. She travels with her servant Jin Suo (Fan Bing Bing and Sun Yao Qi) to Beijing with a painting and a fan, which has art and a poem by her father. Her father is the emperor who had an affair with her mother. In Beijing, she meets Xiao Yan Zi (Zhao Wei and Li Sheng), an orphan that lives with other orphans and does street performances to survive. The two become sworn sisters and Xiao Yan Zi tells Zi Wei that she will find the emperor while he is on his hunting trip to tell him that Zi Wei is waiting for him. However, she ends up getting shot by the fifth prince (Alec Su and Zhang Rui), Yong Qi. When the emperor sees the painting, he concludes that Xiao Yan Zi is his daughter and titles Huan Zhu Ge Ge, or Return Pearl Princess. When Zi Wei learns of this, she is devastated because her sworn sister betrayed her. She then meets Fu Er Kang (Zhou Jie and Li Jia Hang), one of the emperor's personal bodyguards. He hears her story and decides to help her. The two fall in love with each other. When Xiao Yan Zi wakes up, she tells Er Kang and Yong Qi everything. Her story is relayed to Zi Wei. Zi Wei understands that Xiao Yan Zi isn't to blame and that if they tell the emperor now, Xiao Yan Zi will die for lying to the all-mighty emperor. They decide to get Zi Wei and Jin Suo into the palace and wait for the right time to tell the emperor the truth. Before that though, they have to help the carefree Xiao Yan Zi adapt to the strict palace life.
Comments:
Both are really funny because Xiao Yan Zi isn't educated so when they force her to learn to read, write, and paint, it is like torture to her. Xiao Yan Zi is one of the funniest characters of all times.
Most people tell me that they think the old cast's visuals are better, which I agree. I feel like the old version's Xiao Yan Zi is hilarious, but so is the new version. I feel like the new version has more modern things like the palace people are introduced to cheerleading and chocolate, and I think young people would like this. This is however not taken well by diehard lovers of the original. If you have already watched the original, I suggest you watch the new version with an open mind. Change may not be so bad.
The Princess Wei Young
Episodes: 54
Synopsis:
After the persecution and destruction of her family, Feng Xing Er (Tang Yan), a princess, flees for her life. She is saved by Li Wei Young, the second daughter of a high positioned official, but was sent to grow up in the countryside because she is considered a jinx. The two become great friends but Wei Young is soon murdered. Xin Er takes on Wei Young's identity to return to the Li household to fulfill Wei Young's final wish and to seek revenge, as the first wife of the Li family and eldest son helped kill her father. She suffers through many hardships and power struggles in the household and soon becomes entangled with the royal family. She captures the princes of the Northern Wei, Tuoba Jun (Luo Jin), and Tuoba Yu (Vanness Wu).
Review:
I saw the trailer for this drama and at first, I wasn't really captivated, but when it came out, I was bored out of my life so I gave it a try. OMG, THIS DRAMA IS SO GOOD. I feel like for the past week, I have been living just to watch the two episodes that come out each day. I feel like it isn't a superb drama with incredible acting and a smart plot, not saying the acting is bad and the plot sucks, but it wasn't as incredible as Empress in the Palace. HOWEVER, this drama has all the archetypes, the evil people, the evil but pitiful second female lead, cunning people, strong female character, loving male lead, and much more. There are a lot of minor relationships and everyone is so connected in this drama. I like this drama because I absolutely love guys fighting over a girl. Our male lead is an amazing actor and also Tang Yan's boyfriend in real life!!! Definitely expect chemistry. Also, did I mention that Vanness Wu is the second male lead? He plays a cunning prince who wants to become the next king.
Legend of the Dragon Pearl: The Indistinguishable Road
Episodes: 90
Synopsis:
Before the fall of the Ming Dynasty, Imperial Doctor Fan switches the Empress' daughter with the son of Li Ding Guo, a Prince or a Lord. He knew that it was crucial for the Ming to have a male heir in times of crisis. After the fall of the Ming, loyal followers of the Ming escape to secret destinations, with one being Ming Zhu Gu. There, Li Yi Huan (Yang Zi), the last princess of the Ming, and Zhu Ci Xuan (Mao Zi Jun), the fake heir, are brought up by the most talented teachers, in hopes of taking back the throne. It is a known fact that Yi Huan and Ci Xuan will one day become wife and husband, though Yi Huan has no romantic feelings for Ci Xuan. One day, Yi Huan escapes from Ming Zhu Gu to explore the capital. There she meets Long San (Qin Jun Jie), a naive, mysterious man. Yi Huan's carefree, quirky personality captures the attention of Long San. The two soon become best friends and blood brothers, as Yi Huan pretends to be a man. One thing leads to another and Yi Huan ends up entering the palace as a candidate of the emperor's potential wife. Turns out, Long San is the emperor, Kang Xi. Slowly, love blossoms between the two, but their love cannot be because Yi Huan has a fiance and Long San's ancestors killed her parents.
Review:
The main leads are an actual couple in real life. They confirmed their relationship while filming this drama.
I have a second male lead syndrome. Despite shipping Kang Xi and Yi Huan together more, I still feel so bad for Ci Xuan. He loves her and forgives her no matter what she does to himhe's so stupid. Kang Xi is always suspecting Yi Huan, while Ci Xuan treats her right, but she is constantly choosing Kang Xi over him.
As for the cast, I have always been a fan of Jun Jie since Prince of Tennis, and I am proud to say that I am not disappointed in his acting here.
SPOILER ALERT
The ending is horrible. I'll just say that I am shook. I think this drama should not have been 90 episodes. Honestly, this drama had a lot of potential but then things became so draggy; I thought I was watching Naruto fillers. Their relationship never really advanced. On the contrary, things backtracked and their relationship just got worse and worse. I really enjoyed their relationship at first so the rest of the drama lost its original charm for me. I think at the beginning, it was thrilling but as it went on, I just wanted everything to end. Literally, there are so many spies and everyone has ulterior motives. If this drama was cut 10-20 episodes shorter and had a decent ending, then this would be my favorite 2017 period drama.
Nirvana In Fire
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Year: 2015
Episodes: 54
This masterpiece is a commercial and critical success. It was said to be one of the best, if not the best drama of 2015. I watched the trailer of this drama and it seemed very boring, but a couple of my friends who rarely watch Chinese dramas kept telling me how good this drama is. Hence, I gave it a try. Boy, was I surprised.
Synopsis:
During the Southern Liang Dynasty, Northern Wei sent the Chi Yan army to the south to protect the border under the command of General Lin Xie and his son, Lin Shu (Hu Ge). Lin Xie is framed by a political rival and is deemed a rebel. His political rivals attack him and his army of seventy thousand soldiers, killing almost everyone. Lin Shu is one of the lucky few survivors. However, he is poisoned by one of the strongest and weirdest poisons. In order to remove the poison from his body, Lin Shu ends up looking nothing like before and becomes very weak. Despite not being able to fight, he still possesses great wit. He becomes the head of the Jiang Zuo Alliance under the alias Mei Chang Su. Twelve years later, he returns to the capital under yet another alias, Su Zhe. His goal is to prove his family's and soldiers' innocence. Known to be one of the smartest people alive, Prince Yu and the Crown Prince fight for his aid to win the throne. Despite Yu and the Crown Prince being the most likely to become the next king, he secretly assists his friend Xiao Jing Yan (Wang Kai), a powerless prince, rise in power. Slowly, one by one, Chang Su helps Jing Yan remove his enemies while trying to hide his identity. As his body gets weaker and weaker, will he ever be able to see the day his family and army are proven their innocence?
Comments:
This drama takes a bit of time to digest. The plot is complicated and there are many characters. They are all intertwined and form secret relationships. Every character is incredibly intelligent, all
plotting to overcome foreseen and unforeseen obstacles. Mei Chang Su is definitely one of the smartest characters ever. Definitely a Zhuge Liang, the genius strategist of Romance Of the Three Kingdoms. He manipulates the smartest people. He is like a chess player; he can already predict the outcome of future events. However, he is honorable because he does not want revenge. He just wants the truth and the innocence of his people.
Episodes: 35
Seasons: 3
Synopsis:
Luo Qingchuan (Yangmi) time travels to the Qing dynasty and meets the princes. First, she met the Taizi, or the crown prince, and helps him out. From then on, he calls her Fairy. Then she meets the 8th prince (William Feng). At first, there was a misunderstanding between them. He keeps bullying her and tries to make her life terrible, but she uses modern knowledge to survive his torture. Her unique and spunky personality captures the 8th prince's attention who soon falls for her. However, she has a crush on the 4th prince (Mickey He), who is warm and mature. She is conflicted about who to choose. She also has to worry about returning to the present.
Comments:
This drama was really successful because of the 8th prince and Qingchuan's chemistry. I feel that Yangmi still needs to improve on her acting because she is pretty stiff and emotionless.
Chinese Paladin 3
Year: 2009
Episodes: 37
Synopsis:
Jing Tian (Hu Ge) is a happy-go-lucky guy whose dream is to strike it rich. He meets Tang Xue Jian (Yang Mi), a bratty girl from the rich Tang family. They both possess a jade that sticks to each other when close together. After her grandfather's death, she gets kicked out of the household. She ends up following Jing Tian. When they stumble upon a village infested with zombies, they meet Xu Changqing, (Wallace Huo!!!) the handsome disciple of the Shushan sect. He likes to help others and is good at martial arts. Jing Tian also learns that he has to save the world in 100 days.
This one is really funny and outrageous. I love Jing Tian and Changqing's friendship. FYI, Hu Ge and Wallace are best friends in real life. Another supporting character not mentioned above, Zixuan (Tang Yan), the descendant of Nv Wa, falls in love with Changqing. The forbidden but destined love is definitely one to look out for. Also, everyone's favorite, Liu Shi Shi is also in this drama. This drama has a crazy cast to boast about.
Qin Shi Huang Fei/ The Glamorous Imperial Concubine
Year: 2011
Episodes: 42
Synopsis:
The beautiful princess, Ma Fu Ya, (Ruby Lin) of the Chu Kingdom has a kind personality and a loving family. This all changes when her uncle usurps the throne but Fu Ya is lucky to escape. She makes a deal with Meng Qi You (Kevin Yan), the prince of the Shu Kingdom. If she helps him become the next emperor, he will use his army to kill her uncle to revenge for her father. Qi You and Fu Ya start to fall for each other while Liu Lian Cheng (Wallace Huo), the prince of the Northern Han, who is deeply in love with her, is still searching for her. Will she end up with Qi You with all these obstacles in the way?
Loved Wallace in this drama. This also reminded me of how pretty Ruby is.
Legend of the Ancient Sword
Year: 2014
Episodes: 50
Synopsis:
This is basically Naruto but in Chinese and with swords. Ba Li Tu Su's (Li Yi Feng) mother sealed a demonic sword's aura into his body. He tries to suppress the aura and is told that he can't spar with others, so he trains alone at Tian Yong Cheng, the place his savior and teacher brought him. People continue to call him weird and bully him. He runs away after being suspected of being a murderer and, for the first time, goes out into the real world. There he meets Ouyang Shao Gong (Qiao Zhen Yu) and Feng Qing Xue (Yang Mi), who once trained at Tian Yong Cheng. Shao Gong is a genius doctor that wants to make an elixir that can bring back the dead. Qing Xue is from You Du, a place that wants to help control Tu Su's aura, and she has had a crush on him since young. Together, they try to find the elixir to revive the dead so Tu Su can bring his mother back to life, learn what happened back then, and get rid of the aura.
Lan Ling Wang
Year: 2013
Episodes: 46
Synopsis:
Yang Xue Wu (Ariel Lin) is a priest and the descendant of Nv Wa. Legend has it that whoever has her on his side will be the ruler of China. She foresees that Lan Ling Wang (Feng Shao Feng), the war legend, will have a tragic fate, but she wants to help him. She also falls for him. Despite her grandmother having philosophized that Lan Ling Wang's future wife isn't her, she still loves him. Yu Wen Yong (Daniel Chan), the emperor of another kingdom, wants to break them apart and have her by his side. Adding to this mess is that as Lan Ling Wang wins more wars, the crown prince thinks that he is getting out of his control and wants him dead. Will Xue Wu ever get to be with the one she loves?
Ariel looks so good in her period costume. Feng Shao Feng is awesome in this drama. I think he did better here than in Palace Lockheart.
Legend of Lu Zhen/Female Prime Minister
Year: 2013
Episodes: 59
Synopsis:
Lu Zhen (Zhao Li Ying) believes that women can run a business and govern. She wants to be able to rise in ranks and one day become a member of the imperial government. She falls in love with Prince Gao Zhan (Chen Xiao) but because of her family background, they can never be together. Even though she can't become his wife, he made her the prime minister of China.
History isn't important in this drama but it does show us the ranks in the palace. This drama shot Zhao Li Ying and Chen Xiao into fame. I loved the two and they definitely had lots of chemistry.
My Fair Princess and The New My Fair Princess
Year: 1998-1999/2011
Episodes: 72/98
This is a favorite among many and has a special place in lots of people's hearts. The original is one of the most successful costume dramas of all time. This drama stars the once relatively new cast but after its success, shot most of the actors into stardom (i.e. Fan Bing Bing, Ruby Lin, Zhao Wei, Alec Su, etc.) Most people agree that the original is better than the remake but the remake added more modern things and language. I think this is a good thing because it is funny and during the Qing Dynasty, China was open to more western influence. This drama is really long but is definitely worth your time.
Synopsis:
Xia Zi Wei (Ruby Lin and Hai Lu) is a beautiful and well-educated girl on a journey to find her father. She travels with her servant Jin Suo (Fan Bing Bing and Sun Yao Qi) to Beijing with a painting and a fan, which has art and a poem by her father. Her father is the emperor who had an affair with her mother. In Beijing, she meets Xiao Yan Zi (Zhao Wei and Li Sheng), an orphan that lives with other orphans and does street performances to survive. The two become sworn sisters and Xiao Yan Zi tells Zi Wei that she will find the emperor while he is on his hunting trip to tell him that Zi Wei is waiting for him. However, she ends up getting shot by the fifth prince (Alec Su and Zhang Rui), Yong Qi. When the emperor sees the painting, he concludes that Xiao Yan Zi is his daughter and titles Huan Zhu Ge Ge, or Return Pearl Princess. When Zi Wei learns of this, she is devastated because her sworn sister betrayed her. She then meets Fu Er Kang (Zhou Jie and Li Jia Hang), one of the emperor's personal bodyguards. He hears her story and decides to help her. The two fall in love with each other. When Xiao Yan Zi wakes up, she tells Er Kang and Yong Qi everything. Her story is relayed to Zi Wei. Zi Wei understands that Xiao Yan Zi isn't to blame and that if they tell the emperor now, Xiao Yan Zi will die for lying to the all-mighty emperor. They decide to get Zi Wei and Jin Suo into the palace and wait for the right time to tell the emperor the truth. Before that though, they have to help the carefree Xiao Yan Zi adapt to the strict palace life.
Comments:
Both are really funny because Xiao Yan Zi isn't educated so when they force her to learn to read, write, and paint, it is like torture to her. Xiao Yan Zi is one of the funniest characters of all times.
Most people tell me that they think the old cast's visuals are better, which I agree. I feel like the old version's Xiao Yan Zi is hilarious, but so is the new version. I feel like the new version has more modern things like the palace people are introduced to cheerleading and chocolate, and I think young people would like this. This is however not taken well by diehard lovers of the original. If you have already watched the original, I suggest you watch the new version with an open mind. Change may not be so bad.
The Princess Wei Young
Episodes: 54
Synopsis:
Review:
I saw the trailer for this drama and at first, I wasn't really captivated, but when it came out, I was bored out of my life so I gave it a try. OMG, THIS DRAMA IS SO GOOD. I feel like for the past week, I have been living just to watch the two episodes that come out each day. I feel like it isn't a superb drama with incredible acting and a smart plot, not saying the acting is bad and the plot sucks, but it wasn't as incredible as Empress in the Palace. HOWEVER, this drama has all the archetypes, the evil people, the evil but pitiful second female lead, cunning people, strong female character, loving male lead, and much more. There are a lot of minor relationships and everyone is so connected in this drama. I like this drama because I absolutely love guys fighting over a girl. Our male lead is an amazing actor and also Tang Yan's boyfriend in real life!!! Definitely expect chemistry. Also, did I mention that Vanness Wu is the second male lead? He plays a cunning prince who wants to become the next king.
Episodes: 90
Synopsis:
Before the fall of the Ming Dynasty, Imperial Doctor Fan switches the Empress' daughter with the son of Li Ding Guo, a Prince or a Lord. He knew that it was crucial for the Ming to have a male heir in times of crisis. After the fall of the Ming, loyal followers of the Ming escape to secret destinations, with one being Ming Zhu Gu. There, Li Yi Huan (Yang Zi), the last princess of the Ming, and Zhu Ci Xuan (Mao Zi Jun), the fake heir, are brought up by the most talented teachers, in hopes of taking back the throne. It is a known fact that Yi Huan and Ci Xuan will one day become wife and husband, though Yi Huan has no romantic feelings for Ci Xuan. One day, Yi Huan escapes from Ming Zhu Gu to explore the capital. There she meets Long San (Qin Jun Jie), a naive, mysterious man. Yi Huan's carefree, quirky personality captures the attention of Long San. The two soon become best friends and blood brothers, as Yi Huan pretends to be a man. One thing leads to another and Yi Huan ends up entering the palace as a candidate of the emperor's potential wife. Turns out, Long San is the emperor, Kang Xi. Slowly, love blossoms between the two, but their love cannot be because Yi Huan has a fiance and Long San's ancestors killed her parents.
Review:
The main leads are an actual couple in real life. They confirmed their relationship while filming this drama.
I have a second male lead syndrome. Despite shipping Kang Xi and Yi Huan together more, I still feel so bad for Ci Xuan. He loves her and forgives her no matter what she does to him
As for the cast, I have always been a fan of Jun Jie since Prince of Tennis, and I am proud to say that I am not disappointed in his acting here.
SPOILER ALERT
The ending is horrible. I'll just say that I am shook. I think this drama should not have been 90 episodes. Honestly, this drama had a lot of potential but then things became so draggy; I thought I was watching Naruto fillers. Their relationship never really advanced. On the contrary, things backtracked and their relationship just got worse and worse. I really enjoyed their relationship at first so the rest of the drama lost its original charm for me. I think at the beginning, it was thrilling but as it went on, I just wanted everything to end. Literally, there are so many spies and everyone has ulterior motives. If this drama was cut 10-20 episodes shorter and had a decent ending, then this would be my favorite 2017 period drama.
Nirvana In Fire
Year: 2015
Episodes: 54
This masterpiece is a commercial and critical success. It was said to be one of the best, if not the best drama of 2015. I watched the trailer of this drama and it seemed very boring, but a couple of my friends who rarely watch Chinese dramas kept telling me how good this drama is. Hence, I gave it a try. Boy, was I surprised.
Synopsis:
During the Southern Liang Dynasty, Northern Wei sent the Chi Yan army to the south to protect the border under the command of General Lin Xie and his son, Lin Shu (Hu Ge). Lin Xie is framed by a political rival and is deemed a rebel. His political rivals attack him and his army of seventy thousand soldiers, killing almost everyone. Lin Shu is one of the lucky few survivors. However, he is poisoned by one of the strongest and weirdest poisons. In order to remove the poison from his body, Lin Shu ends up looking nothing like before and becomes very weak. Despite not being able to fight, he still possesses great wit. He becomes the head of the Jiang Zuo Alliance under the alias Mei Chang Su. Twelve years later, he returns to the capital under yet another alias, Su Zhe. His goal is to prove his family's and soldiers' innocence. Known to be one of the smartest people alive, Prince Yu and the Crown Prince fight for his aid to win the throne. Despite Yu and the Crown Prince being the most likely to become the next king, he secretly assists his friend Xiao Jing Yan (Wang Kai), a powerless prince, rise in power. Slowly, one by one, Chang Su helps Jing Yan remove his enemies while trying to hide his identity. As his body gets weaker and weaker, will he ever be able to see the day his family and army are proven their innocence?
Comments:
This drama takes a bit of time to digest. The plot is complicated and there are many characters. They are all intertwined and form secret relationships. Every character is incredibly intelligent, all
plotting to overcome foreseen and unforeseen obstacles. Mei Chang Su is definitely one of the smartest characters ever. Definitely a Zhuge Liang, the genius strategist of Romance Of the Three Kingdoms. He manipulates the smartest people. He is like a chess player; he can already predict the outcome of future events. However, he is honorable because he does not want revenge. He just wants the truth and the innocence of his people.
Comments
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