I don't know if it's a good idea to make shorter versions of long dramas but I'm glad Netflix did it for this one. I would never have had the chance to enjoy it otherwise. I mean, the original is 70+ episodes and I just can't bring myself to watch something that long! Also, I am not fond of the whole 'concubines in the palace' theme. I understand that it is an important part of Chinese history and that it's impossible to be historically accurate without it. Every Chinese dynasty just has to come with it...but it's just not my cup of tea.

I made an exception for this though, and I'm glad I did. Its Netflix title is 'Empresses in the Palace' but this is inaccurate. There is only one empress at the start of the story and several concubines of different rankings. It's about the difficult lives of women in the harem. It's about survival, backstabbing and making your way to the top. This was interesting enough to watch (I'm a huge Game of Thrones fan!) as I liked the palace intrigue and maneuverings. The main female character Zhen Huan, starts of as a clever innocent but ends up as a ruthless Empress Dowager - this is not a spoiler since the very first episode already shows her as an old woman. The story is told in flashbacks which may take away a bit of the suspense as you already know she's going to end up fine.

Also, while she does end up ruthless and cynical in the end of the drama, I don't think she ever acted cruelly or unfairly. She never did anyone wrong...unless it was in revenge for a wrong done to her.

The drama is successful in showing how the most manipulative, backstabbing person can actually have a sad backstory...and while you don't justify or make excuses for their actions...when you find out how and why they turned out like that... you actually feel sorry for them O.o It also shows the exact opposite story arc. It shows how characters who appear meek or kindly or honorable are actually cruel or cunning in reality.

Overall, I like it because of the strong female lead (Betty Sun/Sun Li has that Betty Davis thing going on with her eyes) and the good performances given by the entire cast. The costumes looked great, the palace looked grand and the story was fascinating yet depressing at the same time. Looking at these women's lives made me think how horrible it was amidst the grandeur and luxury. They were like pretty animals in cages. This kind of story really isn't my thing (hence the imperfect rating) but it's a really good drama and worth a shot if you want to see a historical based on Chinese dynasties and harems.