This review may contain spoilers
Loved the acting
This drama overall was enjoyable to watch. From the beginning it caught my attention and kept me wanting to watch the next episode but it reached a point to where I felt what was the point if it was all a dream. I know there is a greater message that no matter what you do you can’t go back in time and change the pass but move forward and learn from the past but this drama for me just lacked a satisfying ending. Part of that was because of all that build up of romance beteen the lead couple and we didn’t really get any sort of affection between the two. If this drama focused a little more on the romance aspect I think I would have liked it better but thats just my opinion.Was this review helpful to you?
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DREAM, REALITY, REDEMPTION
The story is well filmed and directed. The only problem is that the dream takes too long ... more should be devoted to the ending, which is rushed. More should be shown between the dream and the real world. What the ML said and how the FL responds in the the dream world.Well, there's enough evidence that it can be a HE ... the script writer has put everything there that shows that they can be together if she accepts and loves him. This is a BIG IF though ... but in the dream she loves him so maybe it will carry through. In her dream she already worked out that she shouldn't hang on to the first love, ZYL, and the imaginary defender, HRZ.
She already knows that she shouldn't hang to HRZ as a self-protector because she knows she is strong enough with ZXW's love.
She went to the coma with the assumption that NO ONE cares and loves her. She wakes up because ZXW shared that he has always loved her for the goodness in her. He gave her motivation that she can do good like sharing the incense with everyone.
So it's a good ending because there's no need to explicitly say everything. BUT it's rushed!
I gave this drama an 8 because I feel the ending is rushed. There are 2 ways to deal with this: either show more interaction between the dream and real life (ie. he talks to her IRL) ... show those interactions or develop the ending more. The ending is rushed so we are left with a few cartoonish abrupt transitions. I think they should show how the ML talks to her during her dream and how she reacts (this is only done at the end).
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I loved it, I cried, I binged
Scent of Time (2023) 9/10 -cdramaRight at start I say I am overpraising this one. Its total soap opera, but I still loved it.
Whole drama would probably have better public rating if it got 29eps rather than 30 eps.
Since last 30th eps :unexpectedly: changes whole story situation of drama.
For me and probably to majority eps 30 changes drama to worse. At other hand it brings little of originality to whole drama which till now was mostly historical costume drama soap opera.
Now why I loved it? After long time first drama which managed to get few tears from me + keep me binge watching till end.[really sleepy right now]
plot - villainous woman which in her ambitions and blind love for one man hurt all around her. Died together with her whole family in bloody revenge. Luckily for her she managed to timetravel back to her wedding day and decided to make amend and set all on right track and that way save herself and her family from certain death.
genre- historical, romance, melodrama
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Decent story with lots of potential, killed by some fatal decisions
Usually these kind of stories starts off with a FL wronged in the prior life and gets a 2nd chance. However in this story, The FL is trying to correct her wrongs.There's a common theme referring to the scent (hence of scent of time)
The leads Zhou Ye & Wang Xing Yue is a good pairing visually.
Sets/production overall decent although inconsistent. Costume & accessories are beautiful especially for the FL. Then there are props that looks incredibly cheesy fake too.
What killed this drama little by little ...................
1. Poor choice of dubbed voice for the FL. Even when her facial expression is on par with the mood, the voice didn't follow. Actually it sounds like 2 different dubbed voices. One sounded older but either way, it was not good.
2. Mu Yao -- I was wondering how they picked someone who can't act AT ALL. Apparently she's some internet celebrity and end up getting this supporting role with enough lines that can kill a drama. So that happened.
3. OST overkill. It's a nice song but the ONLY song which they play bits of it 10x per episode x 30 episodes ....
4. Over smoothing of people's skin especially of Huan Rong Zhou. He has a wax figure face at times.
Potential not fully realized but not bad overall.
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This review may contain spoilers
Made an account to leave a review & recommend this drama!
It’s been a long time since I found a drama that made me want to watch multiple episodes at once, and even think of hacking somewhere to get episodes earlier!The story is probably nothing new for webnovels, but brought to the small screen, the story was surprisingly engaging, intriguing enough to keep me watching, with a good pace that’s not too fast nor too draggy.
The actors though not A list, are good enough eye candy with sufficient acting skills (is it just me or does everyone look too airbrushed in C dramas nowadays, to the point where I can’t see changes in facial expressions). I’m pleasantly surprised the cast fit each role well and together they managed to carry off the drama as a whole.
*Spoilers ahead*
This is not a sad drama, but damn I cried, from pretty much the start up to ep 11. I really hate the husband Zhong Ye Lan, for being indecisive in love, his cold violence (psychological abuse) of the FL and how he keeps delaying the divorce. I want absolutely zero redemption for him & I hope the divorce happens ASAP so FL can start living her best life.
FL’s showdown with her father/ family was heart breaking, because as someone who knows the future, she realizes that even if she tries to change events, it’s hard to change people’s character.
There are no clear villains yet, as the scheming cousin got dispatched quite easily & quickly. I’m kind of hoping that the “main character” Mu Yao turns out to be evil or at least not as righteous as she appears. Or better yet, let ZYL & MY just get together quick & get out of FL’s hair. She’s got better men to date.
I can’t put my finger on why this drama has me hooked. It’s like one of those not high budget non high expectations drama that unexpectedly just becomes popular because, well, everything just works.
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Is there a second chance?
Have you ever wished for the power to change the past and avoid regret? Huan Qian (HQ), the female lead in this story, faced the tragic downfall of her family and household. Captured and on her last breath, she's granted a "second chance" at life. The narrative takes an intriguing twist, emphasizing the importance of embracing our true selves, flaws and all, as no one is perfect. The characters are portrayed as refreshingly human, making it a compelling exploration of reality.If you're intrigued by Hua Qian's journey and her reimagined life, complete with complex love dynamics involving Zhong Xi Wu (ZXW), Lord Zhong, the "ex-husband" ZYL (Zhong Le Yan), and the trustworthy guard Hua Rong Zhou (HRZ), this drama is a must-watch. It weaves a captivating tale filled with intricacies and clues, much like the lingering scent of incense. Don't miss the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the story and its rich characters.
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This review may contain spoilers
Lost in the aromatic dream | A wake up call that what doesn't kill you make you stronger.
"Don't be afraid. I'm alright. I'll protect you." - Hua Qian"Don't Worry. Don't be afraid. You have me by your side." - Hua Wen Ang
The above are two (2) of the most heartwarming yet heartbreaking moments and I can still remember how heavy these scenes are for me. The mere thought of my sibling/s catching a sword stab for me and my father taking the blame to cover my shits will be the trigger for me to lose my screws, go mad and never recover ever again; and to think that Hua Qian experienced it twice (2x) just made me realized how gravely injured, badly traumatized and maimed she was all those times yet still managed to pull herself together to redo her life to hopefully rectify the past mistakes she's done during her 'first' attempt of it.
First and foremost, I wanna tell people to just watch it and don't even give a damn about all the negative reviews you may find on MDL. Don't be dissuade by those subjective opinions and never allow them as well to take this opportunity from you to watch such an excellent drama.
This story is like a manual handbook that will teach you how to lookback on your previous actions—what you've done wrong, what are the things you could've dealt with better and actions/mistakes you should never do again. It's a narrative that will make you remember that life is only good for a lifetime, that there's no 2nd life at all. So you must seize the moment, face all your fears, own up to your past mistakes, make ammends by correcting them and live your life better with satisfaction and contentment.
This drama gave me so much life lessons, inspirations and warmth that for some reason I feel like I can handle the situations ahead of me much better now. This show reminded me that "Kindness will never go unnotice and will certainly be rewarded in the most satisfying and unexpected way possible" and I know it may sound exaggerated however this story is truly one of those dramas that will make you look back at your life while thinking to youself...Have I been nice enough?, Have I been appreciative of what I currently have?, Have I ever hurt someone without any valid reason? and so on. This is also one of the major reason why I want people to watch this drama; because I want them to take some moment to ponder on how are they living their lives so far... was it satisfying? is it worth it? and is it something that you can be proud of when you think about all of it decades from now? I hope people can find peace, realization and healing from this wonderful anecdote.
I originally want to talk about the 3 male leads—their difference, what I like about them and which approach I like better; but then, how can I do that when there's 2 different dimensions and one of them which happened to be the main focus of the entire story turned out to be a dream? I myself got flustered after finding out; because I tend to take notes of the scenes I find interesting and want to talk about so that I can use it as a go to guide to write my reviews but how can I use that now knowing that the 98% of the show is actually a dream? I know it sounds dramatic but it really is complicated...since the things I initally observed turned out to be a creation of Hua Qian's dream/imagination only.
Anyways, I just want to say that out of all the 3 ML, I love Hua Rong Zhou the best! It would have been a thrilling moment to see him settle down and live happily ever after with Hua Qian but dang! the plot twist killed that idea for me. I'm sad but not even a bit disappointed about it because I understand that some people, specially those who are going through traumatic experiences may/tend to create an imaginary friend for them to feel secured, protected and loved. I understand that it's Hua Qian's defense mechanism working. Because she needs someone who will be there unconditionally for her. Someone who will always choose her whenever and whatever happens.
Regarding Zhong Xi Wu, I was conflicted of him at first specially on how he acted on Hua Qian's dream. However, when his true intention and feeling were revealed at the final episode, I was like, "Damn! I was wrong all this time. This man is even more devoted and crazy in love more than I thought he originally was." This guy is the sole reason why Hua Qian is even still alive and able to "re-live" her life through her dream. He basically gave her another chance to life, a new direction and a redemption path to take. It was all thanks to him that she was able to deal with her obsession, devious desires, regrets, and her overall inner demons. He made her feel better and in good health (physically) as much as he can and thanks to all that, she stayed breathing and eventually woke up; and although the 1st 'wake up' attempt was a failure because she's still unable to distinguish between the reality and fiction (dream), the 2nd attempt finally turned out to be a successful one. As it served as a conclusion and agreement to herself that she can no longer live in that way—under the spell of her illusions and imaginations; and that sooner or later she'll have to face everything because after all she still has a whole world infront of her to face and conquer—which is the reality she's been escaping all this time, as she was unconcious, greatly harmed and traumatized of what had happened.
More so, I wanna say that this story is all about facing her own fears and mistakes. Owning up, dealing with them and correcting all of them (as much as she can). Not because she needs and is obliged to, but because she has to, as a healing and coping process of all the bruises, pain and sufferings she had inflicted to innocent people as well as to herself. It's a redemption for all the mistakes of her childish and immature self and also a stand that she's ready to move forward, ahead and infront of the excruciating experiences she went through. Which is an indication of growth and maturity.
In terms of overall costume, production set up and editing, I wanna say that it's either this drama received a good amount of budget/funding or the people workong behind the scenes are just truly talented, flexible and resourceful to make it seem like it. Costumes are beautifully chosen and well coordinated and although the households look relatively small and cramped, I was still able to see how nice, huge and grand it actually looks like inside. So I really want to commend the production team/staffs for their hardwork and dedication to make this production look pleasing and convincing.
Lastly, I'm still in awe on how flawlessly they pulled off the story to become just an imagination/dream when all this times I was convinced it's a time travel plot. I felt stupid for believing what they made me believe it was and it's also the reason why the distaste still lingers in my mouth till now. It's like I was played by both the director and writer...and up until this moment I still feel bad because my ship (Hua Qian X Hua Rong Zhou) can never happen.
P.S. Hua Rongzhou picking up slacks the very moment Hua Qian got divorced still amazes and fascinates me. This is probably my top most favorite part of the story + him fighting Zhong Xi Wu's guards perpetually for 26 months to obtain the information regarding Hua Qian's whereabouts. His growth from being a weak boy into a vigorous man deserves so much praise and admiration.
Story - 10, I love everything about this drama. The story itself was nicely written and although the dialogues aren't as complex, poetic and deep in comparison to the typical historical costume dramas, it was able to keep its own uniqueness and identity for being simple yet clear.
Acting/Cast - 10, I want to praise Zhou Ye for her outstanding execution of Hua Qian. She went all out and I can now consider her as one of the actress who can really act whatever role you give to her. Aside from that I'm also satisfied with the whole cast and I just want to mention how I admired Zhang Zheng Yang's acting here. He's unreadable to me and I love that he made me feel that way.
Music - 10, I love the full list of songs used. I feel like they fits the dramas mood/vibe so much and it is simply calming. Listening to the songs put me at ease. Kudos to Music Team.
Rewatch Value - 10, No words can make me turn my back on this masterpiece. Although the plot twist shocked and disarranged me quite a lot I still love this drama so so much!
Overall - 10, Isn't obvious? lol This show is one of those 1 in a million dramas that actually puts value on the story composition itself rather than having it just beautiful and attractive. It is well crafted and delivers a logical and meaningful message that's crucial and timeless for everyone regardless of age and status.
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
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It's on the 2023 best list without a doubt.
Well well well! This drama should be renamed Love yourself really,Never have I been worried about a drama ending so bad that I was willing to go looking for spoilers on the internet ??.
I think I cried a little watching the last episode. And I'm glad ZXW is here for our Hua Qian. I would have appreciated another episode where they're back at home with a few kids being spoilt by ZXW's mother, but I'll take what I'm given and move on. Show had a good run. It has my stamp of approval, hard to receive in my 15 years of gluing my eyes to tv screens in the name of worshiping the drama gods ?
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A Great Ending (not saying sad or happy, it's not a spoiler)
First time writing a Review , bear with meAs you all know ending is very important in your opinion of how you value a drama after you see it.
A bad drama with good ending can raise the value and a good drama with bad and rushed ending can destroy it for you.
This drama had a unique and wonderful ending. You can see it that in the entire drama they were preparing for it and it wasn't like one those dramas that you feel the director woke up and decided that He wanted to end his drama some way depending on his mood. (LOOOTS of dramas are this way)
About the acting it was nicely done. PWY did a good job and I could feel his emotion through screen.
In the Back From The Brink I was completely disappointed in ZY and I didn't want to watch her dramas again. However, now I'm glad that I didn't make that mistake. Her acting was great and I will definitely continue her work.
Wish the best for both of them.
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Story
The story kept me on edge especially where the FL would land in her love life. The ending took me all by surprise and I appreciated it.Lesson learned: mistakes are made to learn from. Being honest with oneself will not fix the mistake but will lead you to a better path. Finally, no one is perfect.
I found each character had a story to tell and why they took the path they took. It is a good reflection of life.
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A story of redemption - of yourself and your family’s
Life has no redo - what if it does?Hua Qian got what she wished for as she found herself back to 2 years ago. And she wasted no time to right her and her family’s wrongs, one at a time.
The early parts of the story was intriguing, figuring out the dynamics between the characters and their respective reactions to Hua Qian’s changes. Hua Qian, in her 2nd life became ever the wiser and determined to stay on the right path, as it meant staying alive. And her greatest struggle comes was from changing her closest family, making the story and characters feel rather grounded - after all, change is hard when they hadn’t experienced what Hua Qian had already “experienced prior”. I liked that it was not a walk in the park for her just because she had additional knowledge about the events. And once she changed her earlier behaviours, they logically lead to different chains of events that would no longer give Hua Qian the same advantage.
Another thing I enjoyed about Scent of Time was how Hua Qian rely on her wits most of the time to get through her valuable 2nd chance. Sure, she earned her admirers and respect. But she was no damsel in distress and played an active role in her redemption arc. This made up for the rushed ending and [somewhat] plot twist on how she got her 2nd chance…just a little bit.
Another aspect that could be improved was the supporting cast’s characters development. There were many moments in the show I felt their involvement were just pushing the plots along. Though…since it’s Hua Qian’s story of redemption, I guess this is acceptable.
Overall, I would say Scent of Time had cohesive story line and an independent female lead who stayed focus on her goals. Can give it a chance if redemption and 2nd chance stories are your thing. For those who are into romance or comedy, I’d suggest to check out other stories.
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The story and casting are amazing
The Zhong family is the wealthiest and most powerful family in the city of Huang, selling incense and medicine to the royal family. The young Zhong Xi Wu is the head of the family and rules with a firm but kind hand. General Manager Hua has a haughty and arrogant daughter, Hua Qian, who would stop at nothing to marry a member of the Zhong family Zhong Ye Lan. With the help of her father, she successfully marries him and also disposes of a rival manager and his family, the Mu family. Her misdeeds do not go unpunished as the daughter of the Mu family, Mu Yao, seeks revenge against Hua Qian. Hua Qian’s entire family is sentenced to death or exile. She tries to escape but faints in the chase.She wakes up to find that she’s transported back to her wedding day to Zhong Ye Lan. Stunned at the turn of events, Hua Qian tries desperately to rewrite history and make amends to those she has wronged. However, she never accounted for how history sometimes will go a certain way exactly because of human nature. In her journey to change, she loses more than she bargained for but also forged new relationships in which she does not know the outcome.
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