Lackluster characters and boring script.
Admittedly, Yanxi Palace raised the bar in that I need all historical dramas to pull me in and keep me engaged and immersed in the lives of the palace characters and it is with that expectation that I went into LOCZH; alas, all I heard were words and words and even more words. The script was so dialogue-heavy with a lot of telling instead of showing that, in many ways, it ended up overshadowing the actual plot. Perhaps if I hadn't seen the perfection that is Yanxi or the witty and eminently watchable 'Love Like the Galaxy' I might have given LOCZH a pass. As it is, I'm just in it to finish it and hopefully move on to something much more entertaining. I do not care if it's historically accurate or whether the creators imagined they could school the audience on a bit of history, whatever their motivation, the execution was lacking.Was this review helpful to you?
Peak Palace Drama
It's easy to make a ten thousand word review highlighting the brilliance and elegance of this show but I am not a historical intellect who wants to seat here for longer than I have to typing this.GOOD THINGS:
- STUNNING visuals. And I mean STUNNING!!! The sets, costumes, and all the actors and actresses are perfect for their roles. They are the appropriate amount of beauty, if that makes any sense. They have good "historical" faces and not the type that you would expect to know what a smartphone is.
- All the characters are logical, well-thought out people! The antagonists aren't cartoonish and have really presences in the show. The Emperor isn't overly "evil" or "toxic" or whatever and feels like a real, overworked man who gets tricked, desires love, and acts irrationally at time. 90% of this cast is female and all of them are most are very compelling characters. They are selfish, angry, heartbroken, and hardworking people.
-However, though it is a female focused drama, it doesn't try to be overly modern in theme. It doesn't try to "fight sexism" or whatever. It perfectly highlights the effects of cultural and societal norms on women and how they tackle them or navigate, or embrace them.
- The pacing: I personally think the pacing was very good. You get used to the rhytmn and can usually guess when the plot will pick up again. And trust me, when it picks up it PICKS UPP.
BEST THINGS:
- Our Main character, Zhen Huan is a very intelligent but very well written character. She has a starting point. She loses so much in the story and changes her character and she grows with the battles in her life. Forgives and fights. And her ending point by the end of the drama is so.... no spoilers. It makes you think.
- The little details in the poetry and lines they say that in rewatching make your breath go away. This show has immaculate foreshadowing.
- THE ACTING!!!!!! I can't say this for every minor character of course but the main actress who played our main character did such a incredible job I was left jaw dropped. She entered that set with bills to pay!!! Her acting made me cry, it gave me chills! I think I am so used to actors in dramas having passing acting skills with a limited range but this woman really raised the bar for me. Her scene in the last episode when she broke the forth wall and said the iconic line....I will always reflect on it because anyone else and it would have been cringe. But the directors understood her endless potential.
10/10
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The Best Imperial Palace Chinese Drama!
When I said Legend of Zhen Huan is the best, it really is the best. Even Yan Xi Palace came in second sorry to say that. All I can say about LOZH is that everyone has their own story to tell.LIKE
Scenes that still vivid to me
When Zhen Huan last visited Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu (it was painful)
When Zhen Huan last met with Aisin Gioro Yun Li (I cried a lot)
When Yong Zheng Emperor was suspecting Zhen Huan due to gossips and she was proven innocent
Bond between Zhen Huan and Imperial Concubine Ning
DISLIKE
Nothing really.
MUSIC
红颜劫 Hong Yan Jie by 姚贝娜 Yao Bei Na
The mtv was so good that whenever I watched it, all the memories from watching the actual drama came back to me. I could feel the pain.
REWATCH VALUE
Yes and I remembered my hubz was chasing me to off work just so we could catch up on the episodes together.
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Too long
I am a fan of long dramas but this one literally pulled at my insides. I felt drained. It felt as though I was in a plot but wasnt going anywhere. The story is good but couldn't it have been shorter? What's the use of a long drama that has some irrelevant scenes? Asides that, i really liked Concubine Zhen but i had to read up from a few reviews to see how it ended.The costume were beautifully made. The cruelty of the concubines hidden beneath their smiles was quite shocking but not unexpected. (Having all those women together and vying for one man is enough to turn one into a villain and stir jealousy and hatred)
The dialogues were too long. I mean...an episode could have ten scenes where dialogues went on and on and on.
They seemed to move around in circles too plus the parts i watched happened in the palace so, i got tired of seeing the same scenery, my head hurt.
The point where I stopped craving to watch the next episode, was an eye opener. I had watched enough.
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