Redemption and Revenge
This was my first introduction to c-dramaland back in 2024. Once I started I couldn't stop watching, because the pacing of the storyline and character development was excellent. After watching many other cdramas, I realise revenge / rebirth plots are a dime a dozen but the screenwriters did a very good job in making you engaged with the drama and moving the story line forward in a way that makes sense.Synopsis: The Female Lead (FL) in the story gets a chance to redo her life and she vows not to make the same mistakes, help her best friend avoid past tragedies, and right some wrongs. In the process, she uncovers the real reason why there was a rebellion in the past, and helps the Male Lead (ML) with his revenge. Of course, ends up with the ML. :)
I know some people have issues with the time period of the costumes and all, but I care more about the plot and character building. You can understand most characters' internal logic and motivations and there is enough action (sword fighting, etc) to make it interesting. The ML can be a bit of a red flag as he is a little mentally unhinged due to trauma when he was younger but Zhang Linghe makes it believable and it helps that he is very easy on the eye.
As usual, the story moves really well until the last few episodes when it feels very rushed and the screenwriters try to resolve the revenge / plotlines cleanly to the point that you have to suspend your belief in some scenes / plots. Still it was a good ending and probably that helped to make this the success that it was.
Acting wise, Wang Xingyue's Zhang Zhe stole the show in some scenes and it was evident when he delivered a major performance in The Double after that. Other than that, all the leads delivered a solid performance which helps to make this show something that you can rewatch.
The soundtrack is truly evocative and helps to bring emotions to the forefront. Jane Zhang's 与爱 and Zhou Shen's 借梦 is so hauntingly beautiful that it truly adds to the entire production. Bai Lu is not really a singer but she does a decent job with the love theme 雪季.
Definitely a good watch and something that I sometimes play again for background noise.
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This review may contain spoilers
"Story of Kunning Palace" follows Xue Ning, a woman who wanted to be empress and did everything to achieve that. She ends up dying and wakes up in the past. Now, she wants to changes things, with this second chance in life.The problem is, not matter how much she tries, things kept happening how it was before. Xue Ning was afraid of Xie Wei, because she knew what he could do if he has power, so she tried to stay away from him and that only made him more interested in her. Xue Ning have always been in love with Zhang Zhe and that didn't change after she goes into the past, but by spending time with Xie Wei, she gradually sees his love and falls madly in love with him. Their kiss scenes is amazing, really impressive.
Zhang Ling He is truly an incredible actor, in the same year he played two incredible roles, showing two opposing sides of his personality: in "My Journey To You" he was an honest, good and caring man, here in "Story of Kunning Palace" he is calculating, cold and can kill without mercy... but we fall in love the same way! HAHAHA'
The chemistry between him and Bai Lu is tangible, which is why it's a shame that the drama took too long to form the couple, it was disappointing to think about everything we could have seen of them together, but that didn't ruin the quality of the drama, it's a wonderful story.
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Unnecessary negativity and conflict
I started this drama because of its popular recommendation, however I'm struggling to see why others find it so good. I fell asleep several times in the first half but mustered through. It's not entirely bad, but I feel like I may need to rewatch it in case I missed something?While the drama had a unique hook, the execution didn’t fully land for me. Some of the acting felt forced, and the story kept pushing itself to one direction.
Jiang Xuening was portrayed as the constantly upright protagonist. The drama leaned so heavily on comparing her past and present life that it was repetitive.
Xie Wei’s characterization also felt overdone. He was obviously meant to seem cold and cruel, but the constant scowling, shouting, overly hoarse voice, and choking during romantic scenes made the performance feel cringey. His mean personality and her giving in because she felt pity was confusing to watch.
The antagonists conflicts were dragged to such extremes that they became exhausting. The same villains were being squeezed for every bit of evil possible by the producers just so the protagonist could eventually overcome them. Even non-villians were portrayed to extremes, such as her mother’s constant nagging becoming very irritating, even if those conflicts were eventually wrapped up in a touching way.
I think the narrowness of the characters and the storyline made this drama difficult to watch. No character development. Basically she grew from her past, so we are already at the stage in the story where she has already grown. Typical palace drama ... and why make the king sick? He doesn't do much except for being sick. But shoutout to the sister for a change. Some of the scenes were also unflattering for the cast -- like why wideangle them in the only scene they're in bed?
The pacing was another issue. The buildup was really slow, and finishing the drama took patience and self-control not to skip scenes. The emotional payoff did hit near the end, but the conclusion felt restrained, like the story spent so long building tension only to quietly wrap everything up and move on.
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Top 3 historical cdrama
I loved it. The acting was great and so was their chemistry. I loved the ost as well. The little snippet of their wedding left a smile on my face during the whole thing. I wish they got into a relationship sooner, but he was so insecure and there was a lack of communication from both of them. I understand why she was hesitant in the beginning, she knew another version of him, so of course she was scared. They had very cute moments in the last I believe 10 episodes, very small and short ones but got me giggling. I wish You Fangi didn’t die and wished we saw more of her and her husband’s married life. In the end him basically bullying his son was so funny, he’s so insecure over Zhang Ze (was only funny to see on the show, if it happened in reality that would’ve been disappointing).Was this review helpful to you?
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Started ok, Finished Wonderful
The high score attracted to look into it. Than i saw Bailu and Zhang Ling He and i was convinced to proceed further :). At the beginning i was thinking why is so high rated, yes they play well, yes is filmed nicely, yes to the environment, yes to the music, but i couldn't get that emotions to keep me engaged. Is a lot of Palace dialogues and plans on revenge from different sides of the story. From ep 12 it started to move a little bit, emotions between Ning and Zhang Zhe won me to continue. I felt that love from both sides, the sadness, the helpless, the powerless, the sacrifice - played beautifully.All story goes well, I can't say that it was something really new, but the way story goes along and how is transmitted from flashbacks and back is executed gorgeously.
The last 10 episodes made me stay hooked wholly. The first kiss is absolutely dashing, ohh boy Xie Wei - this is when i said, is all worth watching it - don't get me wrong i am not a pervert :)), but sometimes in the dramas you need this to won the scene. It was rough, craving, longing for it and i could feel his desperation, the strong desire for love and caring.
Overall is a beautiful masterpiece, absolutely all characters played well, the bad ones, the good ones, the passer by's. I loved the many locations and places they used, the decorations, the nature, this gives richness to the drama. A little bit of abuse of camera to go into eyes and see the others, or the faded colours, it didn't spoil too much, but overly done is not good either.
The only thing i didn't like is the sister story - the prince didn't tell her that she is not the chosen one, yes they show at the end as a happy family, but it got me very frustrated (i know on those time that was something ordinary, but i still don't like it :)).
Enjoy!!!
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An Addictive Historical Drama!
I didn’t expect to enjoy this show as much as I did! I went into it blindly, but I really loved the ride. Normally, I find it hard to finish Chinese historical dramas, but this time, it didn’t bother me at all. There were no cheap plot twists or an overly dragged-out storyline filled with unnecessary filler. In fact, I could’ve watched many more episodes!This is a high-quality drama—there are no awkward cuts or overplayed music. Even though the same songs are used throughout, they are rotated and placed so well that they never feel repetitive or annoying. Everything about the production feels polished and well thought out :)
I highly recommend this drama!
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She doesn't look like someone who had reincarnated.
TL;DRML is toxic, abusive, doesn't take no for an answer and manipulative, things that i personally hate. But amidst all that, what really infuriates me is that she doesn't look like someone who had a second chance when she did everything she could in the first life to become the empress, in this life, she simply became a cornered lady waiting for her savior. She was portrayed as merciless, badass and strong empress then, now, all of sudden, became a puppy in front of ML, it really turns off... to the point i had to drop it.
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Bad camerawork !!! Bad direction !!!
The number of times I had to turn away from the screen because of very bad camerawork , its incredible I completed this drama.I really must award myself for the immense patience ... lolThe premise really intrigued me , a shrewd empress tries to rectify her mistakes in her second chance and this really had potential for a good series ahead - I dont understand who was behind the camera for this whole series - shitty camerawork making all the actors look bad , making the emotional scenes laughable , it was just a visual torture .
Bai lu , Zhang ling he , wang xing yue are decent enough actors to hook me into this series but it was quite a feat to reach the end of the drama .
I really feel bad for zhang ling he especially in this show - he really had the most unflaterring screen presence inspite of being a good looking guy in real life .
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Zhang Linghe's best acting happened in this drama
This drama is one of my fav. Not just because of BaiLu but because of Zhang Linghe's character Xie Wei. That possesive and psychotic behaviour in Xie Wei,god how much I love it. And not to forget,his and BaiLu's kissing scenes..I can say I've never seen such passionate kissing scenes in cdrama. MAN WAS EATING HER. THAT JAW CLENCHING 🤌🏻✨ Even after years I still can't get over of Xie Wei daren. This is ZLH's best character out of all the characters he played so far. 10/10 recommended if you like possesive psycho male leads!!Was this review helpful to you?
Watch, watch, watch...especially if you want a short break from exaggerated xianxia magic!
I am still 'newish' to cdramas so please do forgive me if my review is not as detailed as others, or if I have missed anything about chinese culture and history, I am still learning so I can't add what I don't know yet!If you are looking for 'far from innocent', even doubtful main characters, enjoy period cdramas ( and possibly looking for a break from over the top wuxia and xianxia storylines) then add this to your cdrama binge watch list!
The cinematography, tone and entire vibe of the drama are very mature, and realistic ( no xianxia style magic in sight) which I personally enjoyed for a change, but there are moments when you 'remember' that you are watching fiction - the fake blood used is not the best, very obvious ( more like unedible cherry sauce), whenever the characters display their frustration or anger, I noticed the camera zoomed in on their clenched fists..nearly EVERY time and.......WHY?! It did start to annoy me the more I observed a pattern of that as the plot and characters developed! Even the actor who played one of the 'revealed' villains, Lord Pingnan , had more than a few scenes with exaggerated facial expressions more suited to a pantomime, but he did get better towards the end!
As for the main characters, both the male and female lead are not innocent, but 2 opposing magnets that match each other in manipulation, ruthlessly know one another's flaws and darkest secrets, and there are times where you might find it challenging to 'root for' or really support them as some of their choices and decisions are greyish at best, but equally display a level of shrewdness that even a leading anti-hero may not show!
It would have been really cool to see the 2nd male lead ( a rising military general- like character) and his father have more visibility and screen time in the middle episodes - without spoiling what happens to them, but there are approx. 5 episodes ( can't remember exactly) where they don't appear.....at all! I know why, but I would have liked to see the 2nd male lead get shipped with another female character and what both he and his father do.....with their unfortunate yet temporary fall from grace ( I'll leave it at that!)
I don't know if this was intended but even the name of the palace in the story, Kunning = is very close to the word 'cunning' in English, so maybe that can be a hint to international/ English speaking audiences about the 'cunningness' that is threaded throughout the drama by several characters, and of course, by the main characters!
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This review may contain spoilers
When Ruthlessness Finds Its Rest
After watching Zhang Linghe in POJ as all so perfect and gorgeous Marques of Wuhan here I land on The story of Kunning Palace to watch him as a red flag toxic ML with cute chubby cheeks!While the FL often maintains a beautiful but somewhat static composure regardless of the stakes, Zhang Linghe carries the emotional weight of the show. You see ML with all varied emotions. You can feel his anger, frustration, desperation ,coldness, madness and longing to be loved .
In her second life, the Female Lead is granted the proximity to finally see the Male Lead for who he truly is. He is far from the conventional "boy next door"; he is a high-and-mighty, ruthless strategist who demands both respect and caution.
Initially, her heart is ruled by a deep-seated fear, but as the layers of his cold exterior peel away, terror transforms into a profound, aching pity. She begins to understand the wreckage of his past and the physical and mental sickness that haunts him. What follows is not a typical fairy-tale romance, but a raw, mutual recognition of shared brokenness. Their bond becomes a transformative process—a journey where two flawed souls stop running from their shadows and instead begin the difficult, beautiful work of healing one another.
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Not Just Another Palace Drama—This One Will Wreck You (in the BEST Way)!?❤️
Okay, so I just finished watching Story of Cunning Palace and OMG I am OBSESSED!! Like seriously, this drama took over my whole brain—I can’t stop thinking about it. The story is just SO good, not like the usual time-travel palace stuff we see all the time. In this drama so many things are happening, and you're literally going to be so hooked!!Normally, the female lead goes back to the past n got confused etc, trying to get out like that. But here? The twist is that in her past life, she was actually the villain. Yep—the scheming, power-hungry villain who did all the dirty tricks to become Empress. But when she gets a second chance at life, she decides she doesn’t want to repeat her mistakes. She chooses a different path, and that’s where everything gets sooo interesting. The drama shows that nobody is born a villain—sometimes life just pushes them into that role. I LOVED that message.
The best part for me is how mature the whole drama feels. Like, everyone’s character is so well-written, and they actually trust each other, which is so rare in political dramas. The emotions?? Wow. You can laugh, cry, get mad, feel shy butterflies—literally every emotion is there. And the political side of the drama is done so smartly, it never feels boring.
Like you're going to be- INVESTED!!
Also, can we talk about the Emperor?! Thank God he’s not an idiot like in so many other palace dramas 😂. He’s smart, aware of what’s happening, and no one can easily fool him. I actually really liked his character because he knew exactly what it meant to be Emperor.
Now about the love story… oof, my heart. The female lead didn’t choose the man who loved her the most, and honestly, that was sad because that man was just… perfect. 💌 Like, he REALLY loved her. But instead of turning jealous or petty when she fell for someone else, he just accepted it. He was genuinely happy for her. That level of maturity??? So rare in dramas. I adored his character so much.
The male lead had a tragic past, but after meeting her, he grew into such a strong and inspiring character. His love for her was so deep—he wanted to live for her, but he was also ready to sacrifice himself if needed. The only thing I didn’t like was when he sometimes kissed her forcefully just to show his feelings. That made me uncomfortable. But aside from that, their relationship was full of love, care, and understanding.
In the end, Story of Cunning Palace is not just a drama—it’s an emotional rollercoaster. It has politics, love, heartbreak, maturity, and so much depth. It’s the kind of drama that keeps you hooked like, “Oh my god, what’s going to happen next??” I love ZHANG N BAI LU 😭❤️
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