The Substitute Princess's Love (2024)

A hot and cheesy mess.

Though hardly original, this drama's switched bride trope is well executed and entertaining. A very shady prime minister marries his illegitimate daughter Shen Keyi to Wen Ye, a prince and the country's God of War posthumously. As it turns out, Wen Ye is very much alive and full of suspicion when he discovers himself married to his enemy's daughter. Meanwhile Shen Keyi is tasked by her stepmother to steal a jade token from Wen Ye in exchange for her beloved nanny's wellbeing. Their early antics are silly but very funny. It was great to watch an older and jaded general fall for a lively, natural and utterly beguiling young girl. The leads have good chemistry and both actors deliver convincing performances. I also enjoyed the comedic banter between Wen Ye and his two sidekicks.

At twelve episodes this drama was hilariously hot and cheesy but by twenty-four episodes it turned into a hot and cheesy mess. The palace plot becomes increasingly convoluted and absurd and both lead's adorable silliness descends into stupidity and melodrama as they navigate multiple obstacles. Ultimately, the much simpler love story between the princess and the guard moved me more. The ending is a bit rushed but it was actually pretty good in the messiest way possible. All considered not the worst drama to watch to just pass some time. I rate it 6.5/10.0

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super sweet

In all, the storyline and characters are both great. Cute, kind and honest FL off the streets caught by her father the Prime Minister, and suspicious, handsome ML hunted down after the war with every reason to trust her. It’s not silly or ridiculous, but it’s not too dark and ‘martial art-y’. It’s sweet and enjoyable, and I like the music. My favorite character would probably be Prince Jin’s guard Nan Bo, and all of the humor on side lines. It’s really worth the watch, especially if you’re looking for a relaxing, amusing and entertaining drama with good casting and an intriguing beginning.

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If a plate of scrambled eggs wrote a screenplay, it would have written this.

You may or may not have fun watching this one. But you'll probably have fun talking about it in the comments.

So many things don't really make sense. So. Many. Things. Where to even start.

You will be confronted on many levels by this drama. It begins with an ML who is supposed to be "almost 30".... being played by an actor who is 47. That is an 18 year age difference. Some say the ML is hot and manly. That is up to you to decide. But we can safely say there is something strange going on in his neck area, and his hair makes him look like an ancient chinese car salesman. Maybe that will bother you. Maybe it wont. Who knows.

Then you will be confronted by a 2ML who you will have to decide if you ship. Will you think he's Simpy McSimperson, an NPC with no real character of his own, who is annoying and stupid and serves no real purpose in the show? Or will you think he's sexylicious, and the FL's only real friend, and she's stupid for not running off with him to live a live of banditry in the woods? There is no telling, you'd just have to find out for yourself.

Then you will be confronted by the way the ML treats the FL. Is he manly and protective with reasons of his own for doing what he does? Or is he stockholming the FL and being a spineless passive aggressive douchebag? That's up to you to decide.

You will also be confronted by ML/FL kiss scenes. Will you think they are fiery and electric? Or will you think they are disturbing and strange. There is only one way to find out, and that's to see it for yourself.

And then... you will be confronted by plot holes. Lots of them. You could make a game out of it.... how many plot holes did YOU find? Five? Ten? Twelve? Winner gets bragging rights. You will likewise be confronted with a mind boggling amount of scheming and villainy. Sometimes you will not understand why a character did what they did or said what they said. Does anyone have the answers to clear your confusion? Perhaps. Or perhaps not.

I can say, the styling was really phoned-in and lo-effort. There were some scenes where I was looking at the dotted pattern along the wigline on ML closeups. I can also say that there is an abundance of overacting. It's not THAT bad, but it's there. Many actors and actresses on this drama were overacting to one degree or another. For some, it was just a hint of overacting, like the FL. For others on the supporting cast, the overacting was really quite much. And that's fine, I don't really mind that so much if other factors are present. But just so you know going in... this is less of an understated, subtle drama.... and more of a thrill-ride drama. I guess what you'd expect from 30-min episodes, really. Let's just say these performances aren't winning any awards, know what I'm sayin. It's meant more for fun, and not for serious viewing. If you go into this one very serious-minded.... you are going to have a BAD time. But if you go in to watch just for fun.... who knows what kind of time you'll have.

It's all mixed up. It's kind of mindless. Plot and logistics of things are pretty nebulous. Ending was kind of.... shall we say conversation-inspiring. Will you like it? Maybe. Or.... maybe not. I am reminded of a Blackadder quote by Lord Talbert Buxomley: "This drama talks like a plate of beans negotiating it's way out of a cow's digestive system." And I think that says it best, really.

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Not the best but not the worse

Not too much positive to say about this drama. Pretty basic story, recycled plot, a lot of exaggerated angst created just to create a heightened story but no real depth. This story does not have much story building, it’s just a bunch of random things happening to the FL each episode to draw out the angst of their relationship; no real substance. On the positive end, the acting wasn’t bad but not the greatest. Costumes and sets weren’t the worse but pretty mediocre. OST was decent enough. This is definitely a one a time watch and wouldn’t necessarily recommend but can serve as an in between angsty drama while you’re waiting on your anticipated dramas.

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More like The Substitute Princess's Suffering

I had to skip a lot of parts due to my weak heart watching an innocent girl suffering from her early life til she was almost dying. I can't deny that there are a lot of cute moments, romantic scenes, and sometimes comedic too. But in the end, this drama is like a torture for me.
I think I will never rewatch it, Im so sorry.
But what I honestly really like is Shen Keyi and Zhou Yu relationship. A friendship with true and genuine feelings, for me at least.
There are a lot of toxic villains that will annoy you, so becareful lol.
But maybe this kinda story indeed exist in ancient china back then idk but it seems so realistic without any fantasies.
No regrets, but still I still had a lot of skips.

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Great Watch - wish it could be longer

It's not a perfect story, but I managed to finish the whole series and I look forward to how the story would end. Very entertaining from start to finish. It's a light watch. Lots of great characters except the villains of course and those outside ML's mansion. The cast did a great job. The ML can definitely act. This is the first time I watched any of his drama. Looking forward for more. He's so tall and fit for the role as a general. I'm convinced. ML and FL visuals and chemistry were amazing. I didn't mind the age gap. I just wish they added 2-3 episodes more as the ending felt a little bit rushed and we didn't get a lot of CP time or the wrap some of the fun scenes. I like the character of the sister of ML. It's quite rare to find supporting characters like that. The duo guards of ML were a delight, plus the maid FL.

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Sript-writer wanna be another  Hans Christian Andersen ?

Watch this drama like a fairy tale for the main leads were like Cinderella, saddled with wicked families from step-mothers,half-sisters, half-brothers, and own father from the FL's side . Hans Christian Andersen may be the mainstay of the script-writer's bedtime stories for the plot started off with “The Little Match Girl” setting for the FL , as a poor pedlar with her nanny who eke out a living after being thrown out by her wicked stepmother and her own selfish father, the PM. She dreamt of warm and cozy home and saved her money to live that life with her nanny.,All that came to naught when the nanny was kidnapped and she was blackmailed to be the substitute bride for her half sister as the groom was a dead war hero.(ML) Naturally as with fairytales, the main leads fell in love when the ML returned home, as its was a false report spread by his enemies.
When the drama progresses into "The Emperor New Clothes" storyline, get ready for some entertainment. In an attempt to bring about enduring peace between the two countries, the half-brother of the ML, the Cang emperor, was scammed into having his military hero wed the enemy's princess. This is extremely wrong because in the original, a young boy pointed out the swindle to the emperor, who then became aware of it. .The writer should nevertheless be aware that viewers don't enjoy that the victim is still in the dark about the scam and that the plan work out for wrong side.
Fairytales typically serve as moralizing tales, and in this drama, the obsession with love is represented by "The Little Mermaid" arc. As in the original, tragic narrative, love cannot be forced because the prince did not love the mermaid. In this case, Liang, princess who was saved by the ML, believed that she and the ML were meant to be together. The Liang princess made numerous attempts to win the ML's love and affection, but in the end, she was more like the cruel and heartless "Snow Queen," who killed all who stood in her path and ultimately perished.(The production crew even selected a younger, more attractive love interest for her, but she refused to understand that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.)
The drama ended in the happy ever after both for the main leads and third couples.
Verdict? . It was enjoyed as a fluffy fairytale for the main leads and supporting couples all have chemistry Visual for main couple were good and it helped that I only looked at the ML as being someone in his 30s as per plotlines and the FL as much younger. Writer though has to reread HCA again to horn his skill.

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Messy

Where do I even get started.

Well, first of all, I really liked the storyline, but I did not like how it was executed. I feel that it was a refreshing take on the whole contractual marriage thing, especially when she was supposed to be a sacrificial bride, but I hated the way that they executed the story. It was a huge mess with a lot of plot holes.

First, I definitely understood his resentment towards her and his distrust of her since she was the daughter of his enemy, but I feel that him finding out about her father's plans was way too fast. I would have preferred if he suspected the father, but not full on finds out that he was behind everything, and doing nothing about it. It was so stupid on how they made him do nothing for the entire drama!!!

Second, even though he was "smart" he was also dumb. I liked that the FL was strong and stood up for justice, but I wish they made her stronger. It broke my heart the way she was getting treated by the people in her courtyard. Also, how did no one know that she was being abused by the people in her courtyard. There were so many people who have seen how the maids treated her, but it was a surprise that she was being abused.

Third, how evil can the father be! Not only did he sacrificed his daughters, he even sacrificed the wife that he so called loved. He was just pure evil and greedy. Even though he was evil, I didn't really understand his reasoning. I mean, when I watch these types of drama where someone is plotting against someone, it's usually due to the fact that they want to overthrow the throne or see that person as a threat to the throne, but Wan Ye didn't care for the throne. So he technically was not a threat to the throne at all. Which leads me to...

My fourth point, what the hell is wrong with the emperor and empress dowager. They clearly have an inferiority complex or something because Wan Ye have already turned down the throne because of the dowager, but yet, they couldn't fully trust him and let him be. They sabotage him by having him marry to his enemy's daughter (which by the way, how did they even know about those two being enemies) and then when he was happily married and living his life, they go and try to kill his child and when that didn't work, they gave him a declaration to marry the country's enemy's daughter. Like how much more can you throw at him to satisfied your stupid ego. Their plotting was the stupidest thing I have seen in dramaland. It made ZERO sense for them to even plot against him when he clearly didn't want the throne and was not remotely close to being a threat to them.

Fifth, all of the misunderstanding was just plain stupid and overdone. I'm sorry but not sorry. He has a mouth, he could have just told her what happened and what the deal is that he made with the emperor that he that he loves her. Like, was it that hard for him to tell her that he loves her. He didn't have to treat her like crap because he wanted to keep her safe. That was so stupid of him.

Sixth, I honestly got tired of the obsessive princess that I started to fast forward all of her scenes. When she first showed up, she was this hardcore, badass assassin and then she turned into this whiny, obsessive princess who was willing to sacrifice her only friend to be with someone who does not even care about her.

Seven, the ending was rushed and messy. All of a sudden, everything was resolved as if it didn't even happen in the first place. The obsessive princess, over a few words, betrayed her people for him. The emperor finally let go of his stupid inferiority complex and started to trust Wan Ye. The empress dowager changed her mind as well because she lost Wan Ye. The only punishment Shen Ke Yi's father received was to be exiled -- like what? His wife, who he so called loved, died. His daughter, that he loved, was disfigured, but he only got exiled? Where is the justice in that? The timing was also off with a lot of unexplained events. For example, how did he find Shen Ke Yi? What did Lady Yunning died off? When did the romance between her and the guard develop? Like nothing. They gave us nothing.

I wished that they would have a better script writer to execute this plot line. Like I said, I liked the plot line, I just don't like how they executed it at the end. Also, they should have continued with the fake jade pendant storyline as well. That would have been a better plot twist than whatever plot twist they have because I wasn't even sure at this point what the plot twist was. I mean, from the beginning, they already showed us that Shen Ke Yi's family was being the attempted assassination of Wan Ye, so there was no story there.

I also wished that they went into depth as why the emperor and emperor dowager feared Wan Ye. I know that they touched on it, by saying that he was the emperor's favorite, but there was nothing else that they offered. I also wanted them to go into more depth behind Wan Ye and Shen Ke Yi's past along with the obsessive princess's past. Like they only show glimpse of it, but what they showed didn't do much either.

Overall, I gave this a 7 out of 10 because I really did enjoy the earlier episodes and I loved Zhang Miao Yi. She reminds me of a young Ariel Lin and I do really enjoy her dramas. I didn't care for Dylan Kuo too much. I feel like they should have casted another actor. Don't get me wrong, he played Wan Ye very well, but I feel like he didn't match Zhang Miao Yi, and this has nothing to do with the age gap between the actor/actress either. I just don't find them aesthetically pleasing to the eyes when they are together. Would I rewatch this drama? Probably just the first few episodes only. I feel like I wasted by time waiting for the ending to air and then was left disappointed.

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Not an Epic love story it's a Meh-Worthy Drama

If you enjoy indulging in a predictable yet heartwarming romantic storyline, "The Substitute Princess's Love" might just be the perfect choice for you. What initially drew me into this drama is my weakness for an age-gap romance and the attractive cast, particularly the mature charm of the male lead, who brings depth and charisma to his character.
One of the highlights is the female lead's acting is commendable, effectively portraying the innocence and vulnerability of her character. However, it's worth noting that this drama also incorporates an often-annoying element commonly found in Chinese dramas: a female lead who occasionally makes frustratingly foolish decisions. It can be exasperating to witness her lack of understanding and inability to make sensible choices, even when faced with simple solutions. If it weren't for my abundant free time and curiosity, I might have considered dropping the drama due to this aspect.
In conclusion, this drama is not an epic one that will leave a mark on your memory. However, if you have the time and are seeking a lighthearted romance with predictable yet enjoyable plot twists, this drama is worth exploring. Be prepared for occasional frustrations caused by the female lead's decisions, but embrace the sweetness and occasional comedic moments that make it a fun and amusing watch.

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Same old plot! So. don't expect it to be as good as My Uncanny Destiny

Honestly, the storyplot is pretty standard but the FL's cutie acts make me frustrated throughout the series.

The story is pretty standard: a warrior prince has an arranged marriage with his enemy's illegitimate daughter and falls in love with her. He has to fight the court politics as the emperor and the Dowager Empress think he is a threat to the throne.

Not much I can say about this drama except the directing is poor and the dragging effect takes its toll on my mood to watch this drama patiently.

I skipped most of the time while watching it.

I would recommend other C-dramas with little known actors who did better than the two leads in this drama: My Uncanny Destiny.

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A cliched and irritating mess

Right off the bat, a stark age gap between the two leads. Keyi could well be the general's daughter. This isn't helped by how childish and naive she is. She doesn't know shit about the world, which, fair enough given her background and everything, but leads to some very iffy dynamic with her much older lover. Sometimes I feel like he's mentoring her, being a father figure she never had. Which is wholesome until you realised THEIR ACTUAL RELATIONSHIP.

Because of the shit imposed on them by the schemes of various villains, there's some very uncomfortable stuff. Like the male lead treating her like absolute shit at the beginning, or trapping her in her room at some point to prevent her from running off. There's legitimate circumstantial reasons for this, but I'm not a fan of how controlling he is. (It only worsens the age dynamic.)

Seriously, if every romantic drama director wants to get their hands on the trendy jaded brooding man x bright optimistic woman troupe. They need to understand that optimistic =/= naive and quit it with the age gap.

Unlike most female leads who are at least shown to be clever and...uh..feisty, I guess, but not this time. Keyi doesn't blame her husband at all and never fights back. This is both baffling and annoying, as it makes her suffering essentially pointless. Writers, can you make your female lead an actual human being and not just a vessel for our frustration and catharsis?

Like...the premise is that Keyi is tasked (under threat) to steal her husband's token. So she needs to get close to him. A whole lot of episodes is just Keyi sucking up to the guy while he treats her like shit, including making her kneel in the rain until it stopped for no good reason. What. The. Fuck.

There is also a female spy character who is there All. The. Time. She screws up every mission she's given. (It's not really an issue with her, it's just that the male lead is all powerful until the plot needs him to get hurt, so if he's your target, you're gonna fail everytime.) Problem is, she is arrogant as hell and completely confident in herself. Loud, boastful, talkative, rude, even when she has to date accomplished nothing than kill a few civilians that she isn't even after.

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