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Overall this is an excellent drama that made ONE fatal mistake, it killed everyone's good hopes & dreams...Excellent script that barely needed a fancy soundtrack to make up for any bad lines as they were all superb, great casting and acting, good pace with loads of action and enough quiet moments to digest the whole 58 episodes. The director did an amazing job at staging the never ending hope and fighting for a greater cause beliefs thru such a strong-headed female lead balanced by a more unbiased force that was the male lead always working behind the scenes.
However, the choices made for the last episode (without any certain plans for a second season) completely undermined the good hope feelings this incredible story had created throughout its 57 episodes journey. Episode 58 completely annihilated everyone's good hopes & dreams as YWY was the last hope for better times ahead just like it was expressed by the 13th prince of Great Wei YS on this last episode.
I believe this was meant to be a story of hope and survival of the less fortunate, not just romance. So simply not having them end up together would have sufficed and contributed more to propagating the core beliefs of the story as established in the original novel.
This drama is technically excellent so I give it a 10, it's just a shame that it's not memorable...
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This drama is very modern in spite of the time it takes place. Chu Qiao is cute, smart, skilled and fits perfectly with Yuwen Yue but got lost due to the manipulative Yan Xun for whom she left Yuwen Yue who loves her. She is respected among the military and the general, she has gained her respect with her quality in fighting, she is definitely a leader!! However Yan Xun has betrayed her and she arrived too late to save the love of her life, I really hope we will get a sequel soon, otherwise it is so unfair. The novel is continuing the story so should the producers after this excellent drama! Was this review helpful to you?
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love the two main characters A'chu and yuwen they have nice harmony and chemistry between them
cool music and the settings
the plot didn't have much complexity and nice fighting skills .....
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The title should be: The corrupt royal family featuring the FL
From all the promotion to the first episode everything seen to said that the FL (female Lead) was going to be some badass that fighted the rich to save the poor or she was going to be this revengeful warrior but no I am half though the series the only purpose of the FL is to be a love interest for the other MC (main characters) nothing more, she so un relevant the she could literally be removed from the series and the plot will have the same progress, to add to the unimportance of the FL her screentime is the same as any othe support character and the only times you actually see her she is either having some "romantic" interaction with the ML or having kung fu flashbacks while training but dont know for what bc everytime she get into a fight she is always saved by someone else and the other times that you expect her to fight or do something of relevance she does nothing. Well she actually do something important but is is 20 episode in the series when the typical FL have already met the emperor or something.The only reason a I watched was for Zhao Liying which I think was awesome just like the other actors
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Messy plot line and romance
I wish I could give it a higher rating, but I just can't. It started off promising, but then the story turned into a complete mess of bad story arc choices and pacing, with irrelevant side characters given way too much screen time at the expense of main characters. I could not stomach finishing this drama. I love the actors especially zanilla, I have seen her in other dramas and she never disappoints.The romance was... messy which was my biggest issue and the story just became ridiculous with introduction of characters that had no bearing for the story basically fillers which is probably why the show is 67 episodes. I never felt the romance between Prince of Yan and Xinger. I know he loved her but their romance was just not streamlined and no real evidence of Xinger liking him beyond being comrades. I think this show had great potential if it had been developed well. I lost the plot and just dropped it.
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Overall i have to watch this series with the English Subtitles so there is some parts of the story i probably didn't get. I am learning Chinese but some things have gone over my head. Over all this Show was one of the best ones I have seen. The cast has one of my favorite actresses in it (Zhao Liying). She is the female lead that plays Achu/Xiang/Jing6.
It starts with Chu Qiao fighting an enemy and falling off a cliff, because she fell into the water she gets a head injury that causes her to lose her memory having no real clue who she is.
She is found and becomes a human target being chased in the middle of a dessert, she is the only slave that survives this hunt.
She is saved by two of the most handsomest men on earth. One is Yan Xun (Shawn Dao) and the other is Yuwen Yue (Kenny Lin). Unbeknownst to her she is made an iron slave in Yuwen Yue's Manor,(his family is actually a enemy of Chu Xiao's family).
There are quite a turn of evens as Jing 6 meets up with her lost siblings (still doesn't really know them or recoginize them. Just in fragments of memories) . She tries her best to stay out of trouble but unfortunately no matter where this girl goes trouble seems to find her.
I do like Yan Xun and the relationship he has with Jing6 (Xiang) when she becomes Yuwen Yue's Silver Bell's Slave. But the relationship between Yuwen Yue and Xiang is my favorite. Yuwen Yue is nicked name Ice, because his demeanor is icy cold. But you can tell he truly loves Xiang and does everything in his power to protect her. Why she stayed with Yan Xun is beyond me. He becomes very dark and brutal (well after what the emperor does to his family who wouldn't be)
I was reading about the end, and it does leave alot of open questions.
It is sad that the end of the show Yuwen Yue is shot in the heart with one of Yan Xun's arrows. He falls into the water and AChu jumps in after him. I assume he dies, and you would think that Achu dies as well but actually the Wintry force that her mother had given her becomes activated and you see her tattooed flower come to life.
She opens her eyes just before the rolling credits, probably making half the world's population think there might be a sequel. To my understanding there is no sequel.
But if you haven't watched this yet, watch it. Even though there is quite alot of violence i love the story line behind it. I actually had a soft spot for Yuwen Yue. If you watch it let me know what you think.
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great, but you should steer clear of the final episode to avoid frustration
I have mixed feelings about this drama.The drama in question was absolutely captivating, and I was glued to my screen for hours on end watching it. Every aspect of the story was a masterpiece and had me on the edge of my seat. However, the last episode left me feeling disappointed and frustrated. If only they had removed the final episode, I would have given it a 10-star rating without hesitation. The hero died, but not before saving the woman he loved. Meanwhile, the other guy who also loved her tried to kill them both, but ultimately watched as the hero saved her. Unfortunately, there was no explanation or revelation regarding the woman's superpowers, leaving a lot of loose ends to be tied up. As a result, the final episode was a complete letdown that ruined an otherwise extraordinary drama.
The storyline of the drama was captivating and complex. It revolved around a love triangle, where the female protagonist found herself torn between two male leads. The first male lead was a fun-loving playboy, who eventually fell deeply in love with the main female lead, who was a maid. Their playful flirting and bickering were fun watching. However, things took a turn when the second part of the drama began, and the same actor portrayed a man who was seeking revenge.
In this part, I saw a man struggling with his love and losing her as he became more and more obsessed with revenge. He had witnessed all of his family members die, and this had pushed him to the brink of madness. His madness, in turn, increased his jealousy, doubts, and mistrust towards the only person who truly loved him—the main female lead.
The female protagonist's character is also complex. Her feelings for the other male were complex. He was her Kung Fu shoufu but his cold attitude didn't open any door for love. Eventually, after some secrets were revealed, she realized that she had developed feelings for him but was not sure if it was love until the very last minute when he died. She was conflicted with her feelings and found herself torn between the two men. It was the first drama I truly watched where the female protagonist loved two male leads, making the storyline unique and riveting.
I strongly disliked the epilogue as it left me with a lot of unanswered questions. It was disappointing to see a love story from the female lead only on the last episode. Additionally, the show lacked balance as it only focused on villains and drama without any friendship or romantic moments. What's more, the female lead's superpower was never utilized to save the hero, which was frustrating. Season 2 and the last episode were major letdowns.
However, I did enjoy the performances of the actors, both males and female. The first episode had me hooked from the start, and the first season as a whole was quite good. I particularly enjoyed the female lead's heroic kung fu moment, and both male leads were equally compelling.
It's worth noting the exceptional performance of the pawnshop uncle and his adorable pets. He added a much-needed dose of humor to the drama
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The drama in question was truly captivating, with an intricate plot that kept us all on the edge of our seats. However, it was unfortunate that the ending left a bitter taste in our mouths. It seemed to be a rushed and unfair conclusion to a story that had so much potential for further development.
The main male lead, who had been a central figure throughout the series, met his demise in a way that was confusing and unsatisfying. He drowned in icy water, apparently the only thing that could kill him. This left us scratching our heads, as the character was a highly skilled martial artist who had survived numerous battles and close calls.
To make matters worse, the other main male lead witnessed the drowning, and yet the female lead appeared unscathed and out of danger. This only added to the confusion and frustration of the viewers. All in all, the ending felt like a letdown and left us with more questions than answers.
Nevertheless, the lack of a happy ending left me feeling sad and disappointed. Despite this, this drama will stay with me for a while.
****
I came across the real story online after the disappointing ending. A blogger mentioned that we could find the complete translation of the book online, but I decided to read her blogs instead which gave me a satisfying conclusion to this drama. The story continues right before the epilogue, where the protagonist meets Yan, and they talk face-to-face on horses. It's then that she finally understands that he had used her love for him to fulfill his own ambitions to rule and conquer.
Happy ending!!
In the drama's final scene, the protagonist appears to die in a frozen lake, but he is rescued. His love interest, who believed him to be dead, leaves him behind. Two years later, they reunite, but she becomes emotionally shattered from leading her men to their deaths and realizing that her dream was merely an illusion. To make matters worse, the man she had followed for so many years, Yuan, betrayed her. When she finally realizes that her true love is Wen Yue and that he is still alive, she cannot open her heart to him due to her emotional turmoil. She let him go.
After another year, they met once more, and she finally realized that her heart healed. However, their love is still threatened by political wars, and they are separated once again. Finally, after many political conflicts and battles, they are able to find their happy ending.
***
Thank you to SueLee in the discussion section. The translation after the ice lake was cute and helped the closure of this drama.
Blogger, Ninja Reflexion, cut some book chapters but it helped to understand what happened after the ice lake. CREDIT to https://ninja-reflection.com/
https://ninja-reflection.com/2017/10/04/princess-agents-novel-translation-just-bits-not-whole-thing/
https://ninja-reflection.com/2018/03/28/princess-agent-novel-translation-part-2/
https://ninja-reflection.com/2018/04/05/princess-agents-novel-ending-translation-last-part/
MDL doesn't allow links in reviews, so you have to copy/paste ;)
***
The entire novel is truly a revelation. Season 2 will likely require a significant budget as it includes many wars and battles with millions of deaths starting from the lake scene in the last episode of season 1 until almost the last chapter of the novel. In addition to the intense action, there are beautiful love stories (plural) and a death that made me cry in a few chapters. The main couple is a genuine love story that fans will swoon over but with many twists and turns. The story spans 20 years.
In the TV show, the characters and plot were significantly altered from the original novel. While the novel does have villains, they are not as prominent as they are portrayed in season 1. The focus in the novel is more on a few characters who are seen in season 1. Therefore, I think the screenwriter and director might reduce the number of battles and instead focus on a smaller number of villains to control the budget. When I mention numerous wars and battles, it's probably about two-thirds of season 2 that is dedicated to battle scenes. . As per the novel, she doesn't have super powers except being a great martial artist and a genius war strategist.
I am completely certain that a major revelation will never be disclosed in a potential second season of the show. I had to carefully read the text multiple times to ensure I fully comprehended it. Yan Xun, when he became the most powerful emperor and assimilated Yan and Xia empires, way after she finally married Yue, Yan Xun had an affair with a male general. Many twists and turns. This is only the last 10 chapters of the novel. We discovered his life once he became emperor, married, and had hundreds of women in his harem. Yet only loved ah chu and this male general Xian Mo.
“Xuan Mo and he are good friends, and only so. Once the relationship changes from brotherly love to romantic love, it ceases to exist.”
So I am pretty sure season 2 will be different from novels except for a few major moments. It is a good thing because in the novel new secondary characters showed up and I could hardly remember who was who. Sadly the author did not give a lexicon
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This drama is rather lurid and violent. The violence includes not only far too many people turned into pincushions but also sexual assaults, which are only alluded to, not depicted, but, I think, is handled poorly, particularly the aftermath. I also found the various storylines to be confusing and inconsistent. Sometimes one side complains about the lack of troops but the next minute they have enough to attack. Other times one side has a CGI army of thousands, only to withdraw for flimsy reasons, followed by scenes of only a few dozen fighting on each side or galloping all over the place (distances seemed to magically expand and contract, too). People sneak in and out of each other’s territories or houses or super-secret sect tunnels too easily or fail to notice somebody hiding in plain sight. The politics seem to consist mostly of everybody screaming revenge. As for the heroine, although she kicks butt, she's a little too sanctimonious for me. The hero is supposed to be the strong, silent type but he seems wooden, blank and awkward instead. I winced more from the shots of all of the horses falling down on their heads (does anybody know whether horses are trained to do that for movies?) than the hero getting attacked. I kept hoping that the heroine would ditch him and go for his bodyguard, who had much more presence. Or the second lead, who had a lot more charisma, especially after he discovered eyeliner and went bad.Was this review helpful to you?
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Overall, this drama was amazing and long. The story between the leads was great. There is a lot of sadness towards the female lead in this drama, besides this it was nice. It did at one point to start stretching the scenes, which got boring, but it didn't last for long. What I most loved about this drama how the female lead protect and believed in herself and others, she was a warrior. Even after many terrible things happened to her she still came to war to battle even against her own friends. She did what she believed in. Every part was nice except for the ending. You cant tell weather the leads lived and remained together. Which was disappointing, it should of had a better ending because leading up to the end, it was wonderful. Even thought this drama has some flaws, it should still be watched and even re watched. Was this review helpful to you?
