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Simple but Meaningful Story of Mutual Relationship
-- Review :First of all, don't read this review if you hate a review that loves comparing things and stuffs.
Second, I'm writing this from female lead point of view
Third, Lets separated it from the novel version because it's a drama despite they said it's adapted (or loosely adapted) from the novel.
FL Female Lead = Shiyi
ML Male Lead = Lingyi
In short, this story is about an independent lady that has talent in embroidering, kind heart but not easily bullied.
As she never thought she would love a person through arranged marriage, more over when she has bad impression for him, but later found out her husband is just that good (ehm perfect) so she finally fell for him and convinced to give all out to manage the family well, went through thick and thin together. Just like the synopsis said. Lol.
Shiyi :
1. Find the killer of her mother
2. Deal with trivial matters (concubine daughter status, harems, sisterhood issues, mother in law, offsprings etc)
3. Together with husband deal with bigger matters/politics/etc
4. Keep embroidering
Lingyi:
1. Lift the sea ban policy + revenge his father's death caused by Ou family + be a good govt official
2. Help Shiyi finds the killer
3. Only wish for one heart despite he got some concubines (it's usually two people said they'd love each other and would be faithful but then the male taking other concubines/cheating, while in this story the male got concubines already but then find his true love--and finally no concubines left in the house, lol).
I don't like point no. 3, but since it's set in historical time, rich people did have 3-4 wives that time.
And also, this is not Lu Yi from Under The Power who said "having one wife is enough because two or more will troublesome"
---Scores :
Story 9.5
It's rather typical, harem conflicts (but not as serious as Yanxi Palace or Ruyi, more or less similar like Minglan Story's harem conflicts), light politics (just like Under The Power but a little bit more serious politic).
The good points are how good the male lead toward female lead while herself isn't overaly dramatic person.
Two people with same moral and virtue, same vision about good governance and serve people, avoid unnecessary conflicts, such a pair made in heaven.
Acting/Cast 10
Male lead is veteran actor, experiences are priceless, his acting skill is unquestionable, while female lead is a well known actress that could deliver different expressions. So good watching them together.
Music 10
Love ALL the OSTs
Too bad not duet, each only sings their own song.
Rewatch Value 10
To be honest, because it's a generally simple storyline, not overly long, not overly dramatical and not tears drenching, it is trully rewatchable. Drama Goodbye My Princess, who's dare to rewatch? Me no. I need almost a year to forget the tragic ending. Also Rises of Phoenix, what a "brutal" ending. No rewatch. Lol.
I should add other scores:
1. Biased: 10 (fan of the actor and actress)
2. Adaption: 7 (to be honest, if the novel to be adapted, it might need 100 episodes and i don't think it's would even getting far and far away from genre idol drama, coz too many "strategies". lol)
3. Ending: 10 (THEY BETTER MAKE IT HAPPY)
4. Costume: 10 (because they retain the crucial points of make ups, clothing, background, etc during Ming dynasty).
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harem, harem and harem!
harem!!the drama theme that i mostly avoid watching becauze harem is always full of backstabbing women and bullying. but this time i gave it a try.
turned out just like i thought. full of bullying and backstabbing. but i managed to make it to ep 43 with lots of skipping scenes.
story:
doesnt suit my taste. harem, harem and harem. the story flow feels too draggy. it could've been better if it only had 30 eps. 47 eps full of backstabbing is just too much for me.
casts:
- tan song yun is good. she suits for the role. she looks very mature. i like it when she smiles. however i feel like something is a bit off.
- wallace chung is a bit dull here. idk. probably the character needed him to. i dont like him here despite his good acting.
- daddi tang xiaotian, this is the first time i watch his drama. his acting is a bit stiff, but he has potential, not so disappointing.
music:
music is good. especially the one that zhou shen sings. he always amazes me. every song he sings sounds so beautiful.
is it recommandable?
i might say yes, but not much. if you can handle 47 eps of backstabbing then you're good to go. if not, i doubt that you will enjoy this drama.
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When story is written with with overly victimized lead character that runs 3/4 of episodes long, it gets tiring and exhausting. The romance and triumphs were overshadowed by excessive degradation of the lead character and couple of other female characters.
It would have been nice if there was a balance but mostly the story from beginning evolves around the lead character being put down, degraded, humiliated, hurt, set aside, bullied, plotted against, etc. Gets exhausting to watch something like this even when the ending is in positive good light.
The lead female doesnt seem to fit the character. I was not content with her portrayal of a victimized person that only knows how to be nice and sweet to get through the abuse. There were a few situations wherein by speaking up she could have avoided the chaos but it was written to produce chaos to solve.
The male lead was convincing with his portrayal.
The wardrobe dept did a great job. Production obviously put a lot of work on details.
There's light humor that if you dont pay attention, youll miss. Many scenes that were unnecessary.
All artists were excellent in portraying their roles. Its the way the story was written that exhausted me emotionally.
I am seriously wondering why the writer didnt consider writing this story in a way that showed a much stronger character for the female lead.
At any rate, for me, I prefer to be entertained not be irritated consistently enduing 45 episodes of consecutive bullying, plotting, chaos and problems.
I probably wod have not fast forward a lot if theres a hook of triumps & accomplishment for every 10 degradation, bullying, and abuse but its a continuous negativity and suffering for the female lead and other female characters that i got exhausted and frustrated.
The ending is good but just like anything positive ornrewarding it was short and glossed over.
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Highly recommend this show!
This show is wonderful. I really enjoyed the storyline, chemistry was great. This is a slow burn romance, so if you are looking for insta love this isn’t it, but it’s a heart wrenching story. After losing her sister Lady Shiyi becomes the wife of her brother in law to raise her nephew in her sisters place. But there is another romantic interest and a handful of concubines that try to sabotage this marriage. As well as a family rivalry that rivals the Montagues and Capulets. The costumes and set design was beautiful as well. Highly recommend this show!I watched this on Amazon Prime, I know it is also on Viki and subtitles are available on both platforms.
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Such an underrated drama!!
At its core, this drama boasts a captivating plot that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. What sets this drama apart is its unwavering commitment to character development, particularly in the case of the female lead.
This isn't your typical Chinese romance drama where the female lead is relegated to a passive role, dependent on others for her happiness. Instead, we are presented with a heroine who defies expectations at every turn. She is not a woman of privilege; rather, she has to struggle and sacrifice that we come to understand the depth of her character. Admittedly, the female lead may come across as annoying at times, but as a woman, I found myself empathizing with her on a profound level.
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the power couple that overcame all odds by working together
Exceptional is the best way to describe this drama. VERY well done. The character and portrayal of the male & female lead roles deserve a standing ovation -- and is what made this my all-time favorite drama yet.So there's a lot of frustrating suspense. The odds are stacked against these characters just -- unrelentingly it seems. The frustrating reality of a concubine is illustrated in countless forms, and it is not an easy pill to swallow. Family rules and honor are constantly challenging the storyline.
But the devoted, loyal moral character of the leading man and the intelligent, good nature of the leading lady shine through as they each face these frustrating and relentless realities, but rise to each and every occasion with wisdom and grace. They never really let anything beat them down, and that spirit really is what pulls you in wanting to know and see where it will take them.
This was truly entertaining from start to finish (although stressful because of the countless conspiracies, misunderstandings, and injustices that occur throughout -- but every moment has a purpose and does get resolved genuinely well and cleverly at some point, so you leave pretty satisfied).
The costumes, sets, and cinematography are all so artistic; rich with beauty and color. There is a thoughtfulness that comes with almost every detail it seems. Just lovely.
The production value is there visually, but more especially with the acting. I adored both the acting from Seven Tan and Wallace Chung. Seven Tan brings such a unique and cheerful quality to all her characters, but I especially enjoyed the clever genius that she brought forward in this character. She truly embodied an individual who faces her unfair plight and all the difficult predicaments that come her way (most especially as a woman and even more so as the daughter of a concubine) with tenacity and discernment--devising cleverly to turn the tables where and however she can to persist. More than that she perfectly expresses her quiet resolve to live how she herself determines; while also encouraging and leading other women (even those who seek to destroy her in their own twisted desperation to survive) to weather their storms with more wisdom, elegance, and perseverance. Wallace Chung also depicted the complexity of a family head carrying the full brunt and weight of responsibility for his family's well-being and lineage, particularly in the wake of his father's/older brothers' deaths. While also simultaneously expressing the strong-but-silent turmoil when there is no real trusted person in his life or by his side, who genuinely understands or appreciates his loyal and upright character -- or who cares -- as he's only there to be exploited for his status or what he can offer in the way of a sure and esteemed bloodline. You see these two dynamic actors and characters, who in their own ways are not free to be their own person, come together, and toil to understand and find that authenticity and safety within each other. It's truly riveting and real.
My only complaint about that is that it's a slow and ongoing burn with the two leads (though that said, I personally prefer legitimate character development to hot-and-heavy relationships with no substance or build). The romance is very realistic and down-to-earth, and that's what I liked most about it. What women faced was beyond atrocious, and this struggle is played out in its full complexity, but in a way that leaves the main leads better in their unified resistance [though that in and of itself is a journey] to the strict regimes and life-or-death consequences which beset their circumstances.
Though it's a longer series to get through -- and it may occupy all your time for a few days or weeks -- the payoff is there. As is always good to know with a longer investment towards a series.!I personally hate when I get through a long show that leaves me on the edge of my seat, in the beginning, only to feel anticlimactic or underwhelmed in the end. Not so here. You won't be unresolved or frustrated with this ending in any major way. I could have even enjoyed another dozen episodes, I was that drawn into the characters and their story.
With the main leads, you really feel like they've both earned their relationship and it's incredibly fulfilling in my opinion. The character of the leads really does make it shine, and it's very *thoughtfully* written. I'd say this is #1 in terms of dramas for me overall (I've gone through many).
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Deep trust is important in a relationship
I think hvg deep trust in your partner is important but another important thing is communication too. Both can go along together toward creating a harmonious relationship. The deep trust is the theme of this drama. To your spouse, to your siblings even though they didn't treat you well but you still love them enough to wake them up, to your personal maids that you treated as a family.ML, Xu Lingyi, was a righteous man that had a cold personality and perceptive. He was striving forward to bring glory and justice to his family name. He cared deeply about the plight of unfortunate citizens that had been affected by the rampant piracy along the coasts of the kingdom. The piracy also related with his family feud with another family that had been going for generations. So, he was distant from his ex wife and concubines because he put more priority on his fight to lift the sea ban and clear his family name. Lingyi was moved by the pure-hearted and kind personality that his new wife the FL, Shiyi had. He watched times and times again how Shiyi sincerely did everything she can to help in a situation. So that was why he fell in love with her. When Lingyi fell in love, he deeply trusted shiyi, very protective of her and defended her every times. He tried to be close to her to build their relationship but he was a very patient man bcs shiyi rejected his moves quite a lot. Because he trusted her, he also very supportive of her passion and very understanding. There was a rough patch in their relationship and he deserved to feel hurt by what FL did bcs she disregard his feelings. He was valid for that.
I definitely enjoyed so much of Lingyi's approaches to be closer to Shiyi intimate moments, it just soooo butterfly-ish and sweet. The way I bit my hand at that one moment sksksks.
FL, Luo Shiyi, was a kindhearted woman, graceful, patient, smart, and an optimistic. She was also a gentle person but she had backbone. I forgot to add that Shiyi also had a very forgiving nature. Magnanimous. She was very gifted and passionate in embroidery. A daughter of a concubine that had been treated poorly in her family but she still maintained her optimistic nature. Tragedy happened and she needed to marry into Xu family for her investigation. She treated everyone including her husband sincerely but in term of emotionally, she didn't care about him that way at all. Like she didn't even try to hv a relationship with him. But she really understand her husband as a person, that earned her his admiration. So we can see how for such a long time, ML trusted her and treated her very well but she didn't return the same courtesy and that drove a wedge in their relationship. She didn't trust him at the important moment and that deeply hurt him. She was in the fault for this because she should definitely communicate with him earlier about her problem and trust him. Bcs of that moment, she started to realise how ML was really sincere toward her, wouldn't do anything to harm her at the cost of his life and that moved her heart. So yeah, she deserved a cold reception from him but fortunately for her, she didn't give up and gave it all to prove her love for him. Then that deep trust in each other helped both of them weathered the storms that keep coming.
I appreciated the additional of other couples like Linbo and Dongqing. They were so cute. Shout-out to Zhaoying, you were very entertaining. Not to forget, our handsome 2ndML, Mr. Lin (I don't want to spoil his real name), you were a righteous person and thank goodness you didn't disappoint me. Hupo, you were smart assistant, it was unfortunate of what had happened to you but you were still a loyal servant.
For the drama reviews that I love, I really like user Rhea's review and Blizzardahm. They wrote something that I thought but didn't know how to put it in words. Like how with Shiyi's wit and loving self, she brought Lingyi out his shell to be more affectionate toward his family members. And how Shiyi was steadfast to hold on her passion to spread the craft of embroidery and helping people to make a living from it.
The ending was my kind of happy ending where they told about how everyone's doing after the climax. I do wish we cld see adorable scene of Linbo and Dongqing, not just hear they were doing well.
20240320 1157
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Good Story Adaption
I watched "The Sword and The Brocade" 45 episodes [english subs] over 14 days. I had to be so strict and limit myself to a maximum of 4 episodes per day [could have easily binged and done a few all-nighters]....Thought the ending was very good because it went back and tied up all the loose ends. Don't you just hate it when you don't know what happened to some of the characters in a story?
I suppose my only complaint would be that some of the scenes were not connected, you know 'attention of detail' when reshooting a scene. Also, some of the script/lines had been used in other dramas [a bit of plagiarism].
On the whole, I enjoyed it very much as it had a mixture of storylines and kept me wanting to get to the end to see what happened - I did not cheat!!
Will definitely have a second viewing of the whole program and maybe extra viewing on certain episodes.
Reminded me a little bit of "Yanxi Palace" just a little ...
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Solid storyline, solid plot, solid character writing.
I'll say one thing: I generally don't like costume dramas and dramas with petty concubines. I also dislike "forced/arranged marriage that turns into real love" dramas. But I liked this one a lot, which must mean something.The characters were very well-written. Even the minor ones had a reason to exist in the story. The story was not very original, but it was different from other similar situations because neither the ML nor the FL begged to be loved, which was refreshing. The "married without love" premise may be the center of the plot, but the story doesn't really revolve around it. The ML and FL had a life and a complete personality both before and after their wedding and they also had to solve numerous problems that weren't related to their marriage. The interations among the various household characters and their friends and enemies was well-written and believable.
There was some exaggerated acting and some exaggerated sub-plots but they didn't manage to break the show.
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Head over Heels for this drama!
So I came across this drama in March 2021 and joined my mother in watching. So I started watching bits and pieces from Episode 13 onwards. I rewatched the drama approximately 8 times! It was so good it got me craving for more and started on my C-Drama addiction. Story is not extraordinary and goes at a slow pace. Plot is predictable the first time I watched. 徐令宜 is the guy you would fall for but also at the same time, laugh at. He has questionable actions but afterall, his love for 十一娘 is a chef's kiss. 十一娘 is witty to the point she tries to make her life count and better her quality of life. She doesn't make way when it comes to gender inequality. She empowers women. This drama also has quite the fights you would see in the harem. If you enjoy sweet slow romance, then this would be for you!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
a show that makes you want to keep watching
honestly, the ending of every episode is so exciting that it makes me want to continue watching the next ep, and always make me curious about what happens nextthe plot is exciting despite it being 45 episodes, and it doesn’t really feel like a drag?
though i’m disappointed at the ending, i was soooooooo excited to see what happened to my 冬青 & 傅大人 but they just brushed it over through using words like “so this is what happened to them”
&& their love are so cute, the way they bicker with each other & realising that they’ve fallen
though i have to say that i admire the love of the main couple, where they trust & love each other so much, it helped them overcome all the difficulties
though it’s also their love for each other that led to many issues but still cute
anyway, give it a try if you can!!! it’s really quite worth it though you’ll get angry at certain characters/ actions/ decisions throughout the show
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