My Two Cents: The Legend of Miyue
Year: 2015/2016
Synopsis
Miyue (Sun Li) was a princess of the Kingdom of Chu during the Warring States period. At her birth, a prophecy foretold that she would become a threat to the Kingdom of Chu. As a result, the Queen of Chu despised her and made her childhood difficult. Despite this hostility, Miyue formed a close bond with the Queen's daughter, Mi Shu (Liu Tao).
Mi Shu eventually fell in love with the King of Qin (Fong Chungsun) and married him, becoming his Queen. Miyue, hoping to elope with her first love, Huang Xie (Huang Xuan), accompanies Mi Shu to Qin as part of her dowry, with plans to escape along the journey. However, upon witnessing her sister’s struggles to navigate the treacherous Qin harem, Miyue makes the difficult decision to remain in Qin. She disappoints Huang Xie but chooses to stay, determined to help her sister survive the vicious harem politics. This decision marks the beginning of Miyue's journey, ultimately leading her to become China’s first Queen Dowager—one of the first women confirmed to have acted as regent in China and one of the most politically influential women in history.
Review
I decided to watch The Legend of Miyue because my favorite Chinese drama is Empress in the Palace, which shares the same director, Zheng Xiaolong, and leading actress, Sun Li. However, after completing the drama, I was left underwhelmed and disappointed.
Plot and Execution
The first half of The Legend of Miyue feels like a lackluster attempt to replicate the success of Empress in the Palace, focusing heavily on harem politics. What made Empress in the Palace so captivating was its unpredictable twists, complex characters, and high-stakes tension, where losing the emperor’s favor could happen in an instant and result in dire consequences such as death or the downfall of your entire family. In contrast, The Legend of Miyue lacks this suspense, resulting in a portrayal of harem politics that feels flat and uninspired.
In Empress in the Palace, there were over a dozen concubines, each leaving a lasting impression on viewers regardless of screen time. Their distinct personalities, clear motivations, and strategic alliances kept the harem drama dynamic and intriguing. In The Legend of Miyue, however, the focus is mostly on just three characters—Mi Shu, Miyue, and Lady Wei—while the other concubines are one-dimensional and contribute little to the plot.
More importantly, Miyue never has to compete for the king’s affection, so there’s no tension or reason for viewers to root for her. As a court harem drama, this show is disappointingly dull, especially for those who expected it to be the next Empress in the Palace.
Poor Character Development
I did not love any of the characters in this drama and a lot of the key characters, especially Miyue, have boring, inconsistent character arcs.
Miyue
Not for a second did I root for our female lead, Miyue, as her character was boring and inconsistent.
First, a major flaw in the plot is how easily everything works out for Miyue. Every man in the drama adores her and comes to her rescue, which diminishes her growth as a character. For example, King Huiwen initially liked Mi Shu for her elegance and gentle nature, but the drama abruptly has him fall deeply in love with Miyue, who is the complete opposite of Mi Shu. This transition lacked enough explanation, making it feel unconvincing and it feels like they forced it just so every man could like the female lead.
The drama’s focus on Miyue’s rivalry with other women gives it a bootleg Empress in the Palace vibe, rather than exploring her true historical significance as a powerful woman in a male-dominated society. Miyue’s rise as a high-ranking political figure who skillfully navigates complex power dynamics would have made for a far richer storyline than the repetitive conflicts with her sisters and other women in the court. These conflicts, unfortunately, lack the sophistication and execution that made Empress in the Palace a masterpiece.
Second, her wits are highly inconsistent. While she is portrayed as well-educated and intelligent, she repeatedly makes poor decisions while helping Mi Shu battle Lady Wei, leading to Mi Shu falling out of King Huiwen's favor. Also, when she was banished to the State of Yan, she could not find a way to survive on her own and only survived because a few kindhearted men saved her. I hate that the drama constantly glosses her over wits and tactics and the solution is always a man's help.
Third, Miyue’s romantic storyline is confusing. Huang Xie is introduced as her first love and the man she claims to care for most, yet she repeatedly chooses power and duty over him. These decisions align with her identity as the first female regent of Qin and a powerful political figure. Similarly, King Huiwen, despite offering her unwavering support and guidance, is more of a father figure to than a romantic interest. However, by the end of the drama, her focus shifts abruptly toward romance, and she falls for Yiqu Jun—a development that feels inconsistent with her previous choices.
Historically, Miyue did not love Yiqu Jun but strategically seduced him to weaken the state of Yiqu, a move that aligns with her character as someone who places duty above personal emotions. Instead, the drama opts for a more romanticized approach, creating inconsistencies in her character arc that ultimately undermine her complexity.
Ying Ji
Ying Ji, Miyue’s son, also suffers from an inconsistent character arc. As a child, he is portrayed as a bright and promising genius with the potential to become a strong emperor. Yet, as an adult, he is portrayed as a weak character who beefs with his mother’s lover all day. Historically, Ying Ji’s aggressive territorial expansions were pivotal in establishing Qin’s dominance during the late Warring States period, but the drama glosses over this, reducing him to a childish figure. Had the show stayed true to history, Ying Ji could have been portrayed as a fascinating character—a brilliant prince who triumphs in the battle for the throne and grows into a formidable ruler. This would have been far more compelling than what we got. The drama squanders its rich historical material, failing to do justice to what could have been an incredible storyline.
King Huiwen
My favorite character in the drama is King Huiwen. He is portrayed as a capable ruler who is fair, compassionate, and truly cares for Miyue. His death is one of the few moments in the series that genuinely moved me.
Acting
The acting in The Legend of Miyue was disappointing overall. Sun Li, who was brilliant as Zhen Huan in Empress in the Palace, feels out of place here. In the first arc, where she plays a young and free-spirited princess, her acting comes off as exaggerated and awkward. While her performance improves somewhat during the middle arcs, particularly as the concubine of Qin, she reverts to overacting when she becomes Queen Dowager, making key moments less convincing. Liu Tao’s portrayal of Mi Shu also feels forced, especially when she tries to come across as cunning and malicious.
Aesthetics
Visually, The Legend of Miyue falls short compared to Empress in the Palace. The costumes, makeup, and overall aesthetic are less refined. The harsh lighting, unflattering lipstick color, and tacky accessories make the female characters look less elegant. While the less elaborate outfits and accessories could be attributed to the historical setting, the drama overall lacks the visual appeal that made Empress in the Palace so memorable.
Conclusion
The Legend of Miyue is lacking for a drama with such a star-studded cast and production team. While it did spark my curiosity about this period in Chinese history and led me to explore other dramas set in the same era, it fails to stand out in any area. The plot lacks focus, the character development is inconsistent, and the pacing—especially towards the end—feels dragged out. With its excessive length and lack of compelling storytelling, I can’t recommend this drama, especially when there are far better alternatives out there.
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