Nah I'm out
Invested so much time but I just realized that the ML is actually a supporting character after all.The lead actress’s performance is good. I already loved her in Reset which is why I started watching this.
Just created an account(actually found out that I already had one) just to make a review because I felt cheated.
That's it.
EDIT: Didn't read the novel. I just want main leads to be main leads, not some freaking side characters.
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FL is an hypocrite
FL thinks her estranged husband poisoned her so she orders his death without any questions asked but when she finds out she was murdered by her brother in the past because he thinks she tried to kill him, she gets all sad and acts like she is a victim even though her brother had better reasons to kill her based on his suspicion and evidence than she did to kill her own husband based on just speculations.I really hated this about this drama and I must say this is the only flaw I find. It really got on my nerve how she acted like her brother is the villian even though she did the same thing and even almost tied to betray him in the present time. Ughhhhh!
Getting past this bit, the drama is a good one
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It is nothing special about this drama. It is predictable and watchable if you want to kill time.
Princess Royal is a historical costume drama about a second chance at one's life destiny through time travel. Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan misunderstood each other, and through the misunderstandings, with the help of others, they plotted to kill each other; after they were dead, they both awake back when Li Rong was 18. During that period, they discovered and communicated with each other to change the course of their lives.Synopsis: Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan married at 18. Li Rong used Pei Wen Xuan's family background to avoid disaster, and Pei Wen Xuan used Li Rong's identity as Princess to establish himself. They married for political reasons without the slightest bit of affection. Later on, she lost herself amid wine, song, and dance. As for him, he had a home yet did not bother coming home because he already had someone in his heart… Husband and wife for 20 years, yet nothing between them but power. In the end, it was hardly surprising that someone turned them against each other, leading them to die under each other's schemes. However, when they woke up, they had returned to the year when they were 18, returning to the most difficult time in their lives. So Pei Wen Xuan went to look for Li Rong. To be married again but with divorce in mind.
My Reviews:
1. The drama is okay to watch. There were some elements of comedic scenes between Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan.
2. Zhao Jin Mai and Zhang Lin He did a decent job in this drama, and their onscreen chemistry is better than her onscreen chemistry with Wu Lei in Amidst a Snowstorm of Love.
3. The drama is slow and draggy, and the last five episodes were stupid and long. It would be much better if 10 episodes were cut.
4. The plot is predictable and nothing new; hence, it did need to be 40 episodes long. It shows the emperor and his successor (her brother) are useless. It takes until the end for them to realize that she is more than capable of running and leading the country.
I give it a 7.0 rating because the acting and plot are mediocre. Overall, it is not a bad drama since nothing else special or great has aired in Cdrama this year.
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Excellent palace intrigue story with endearing but spiceless romance.
Acting was excellent, especially the emperor and main leads. Story was intricate, deliberate, and well made. Costumes and makeup were fairly good. Soundtrack and ost were absolutely awesome. Characters had some depth, and the complex relationship between the ML and FL was fun to watch and well acted.My biggest beef with this one is the fact that the romance lacked spice and passion, it was very sanitized and theres no sexual chemistry lighting up between the main leads, the kiss scenes are soulless.
There is also a forced kiss scene thats pretty stupid. I find some forced kisses hot and fiery but not this one. FL acts like a prude nearly all the time through the story, but at least shes a likeable prude. In the forced kiss scene she doesnt act like shes denying her desires... she acts like ML is actually assaulting her, as if she finds him repulsive or as if shes afraid of sexuality. Which for this drama and these characters, doesnt make sense.
I'd rewatch this for the entertaining well-made story, but not for the romance.
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Time Travel, Betrayal!
The Princess Royal" is a Chinese historical drama that captivates viewers over time, especially those who enjoy complex political stories and character development. At first, the series might seem slow to engage because of its length, but as you get into the plot, it becomes really absorbing. The pacing is just right, allowing you to understand the characters and their motivations.The story centers on Princess Li Rong, a strong female lead who shows traits often found in male characters. This focus on a powerful woman might explain why some viewers have mixed feelings about the series, as it diverges from traditional male-centric storyline. The plot features a time-travel element where Li Rong and her husband, Pei Wenxuan, face tragic misunderstandings that lead to their deaths after 20 years of marriage. They are sent back to their younger selves at 18 and 20, giving them a chance to navigate their relationship differently.
Key supporting characters add significant depth to the story. Crown Prince Li Chuan ,Su Rong Qing, Qin Zhen Zhen and Shangguan Ya. Each character has their motivations that are used against one another, culminating in a narrative where Li Rong ultimately bears the blame for the turmoil.
Both Li Rong and Wenxuan have their flaws. Li Rong is clever but struggles to trust. The story is full of betrayals, with each character acting based on their feelings and situations.
The acting is impressive, particularly Zhao Jin Mai as Li Rong, who brings her character to life with emotion. While the series requires careful watching to fully grasp its complexities, it ultimately delivers a powerful story about love, trust, and the impact of betrayal. For those who appreciate strong female characters and intricate political plots, "The Princess Royal" is definitely worth a watch.
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Could have been great with better writing
PLOT: The first marriage of convenience between the ML, commoner and brilliant scholar, and the FL, imperial princess, smart but arrogant, ended fatally for both. They come back to life, just before their wedding, determined not to make the same mistakes. However, the ML2 (FL's former friend/lover, castrated) constantly intervenes to foil their plans. Eventually, the ML and the FL agree to prevent the tragedy from happening again... Lots of plots, power games within the Court, with the emperor facing the great noble families in the background.+++ Very good actors (all of them) and an awesome CL. They're the ones who keep us hooked to the series. I really like Zhang Ling He, his acting, his micro-expressions.
+++ The secondary characters are well developed and well interpreted.
+++ The production is effective, with the clues given at the right time and the suspense is maintained until the end.
+++ The sets, costumes, OST are of high quality.
### The explanations about returning to life and sometimes the flashbacks make the situation rather confusing.
### The character of Su Rong Qing (very well played by Chen He Yi) is excessive and his behavior is not very consistent.
### Some narrative arcs are too long and we tend to lose focus a little.
### The ending is a bit abrupt (luckily there is the special episode).
=> A good series despite some flaws, thanks to the talent of the actors.
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PLOT: Le 1e mariage de convenance entre le ML, roturier et brillant érudit, et la FL, princesse impériale, smart mais arrogante, s'est terminé fatalement pour tous les 2. Ils reviennent à la vie, juste avant leur mariage, décidés à ne pas commettre les mêmes erreurs. Cependant, le ML2 (ex ami/lover, castré, de la FL) intervient sans cesse pour déjouer les plans. Finalement, le ML et la FL se mettent d'accord pour empêcher la tragédie de se reproduire... Beaucoup de complots, jeux de pouvoir au sein de la Cour, avec en toile de fond, l'empereur face aux grandes familles nobles.
+++ De très bons acteurs (tous) et un CL génial. C'est lui qui nous tient accroché à la série. J'aime beaucoup Zhang ling He, son jeu d'acteur, ses micro-expressions.
+++ Les personnages secondaires sont bien développés, bien interprétés.
+++ La réalisation est efficace, avec les indices donnés au bon moment et le suspense est maintenu jusqu'au bout.
+++ Les décors, les costumes, les OST sont de grande qualité.
### Les explications sur le retour à la vie et parfois les flashbacks rendent la situation plutôt confuse.
### Le personnage de Su Rong Qing (très bien interprété par Chen He Yi) est excessif et son comportement n'est pas très cohérent.
### certains arcs narratifs sont trop longs et on a tendance à décrocher un peu.
### La fin est un peu brusque (heureusement qu'il y a l'épisode spécial).
=> Une bonne série malgré quelques défauts, grâce au talent des acteurs.
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Men simping for an emotional abusive woman! This wasn't what i signed up for.
Who doesn't love a strong female lead? But when it borders on domineering with no respect for her husband Pei, it upsets me.The synopsis of this drama makes you think they will try to love each other again with their second chance at life. I am 20+ episodes into this and exhausted. I had SML syndrome at first, but i feel like that plot line is going nowhere because she's already married in this second life again.
There was a scene in the carriage where Pei blew up at her because she couldn't see that he loved her from the beginning. They made up, and then the next episodes they bicker at each other again. Another episode Princess thinks he knows her plan in the butterfly gorge, but he was just planning a date with flowers everywhere. Meanwhile she planned a trap and a scuffle with some enemies. His instrument gets destroyed, he gets stabbed and is heartbroken, and she's just standing there like ":O".
Most of the plot has been political plotting & there isn't enough romance to balance it out. Crown prince's woman left him for the border, and Shangguang gambling with su's brother is the only relationship worth the show.
There is just so much ANGST.
Sometimes.. reading a trash book or fanfiction is good. However, trying to realistically portray this relationship on screen makes no sense.
Maybe the book is meant to convey ML differently?. In the drama, ML says he likes a woman who bullies him. So maybe he has some kinda kink? IT'S SO PAINFUL TO WATCH. Princess is a complex character but has not developed any further in 25+ episodes.
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This drama didn't start out terribly.
I will be very briefI.I feel so conflicted about The Princess Royal. It was like I was playing out my own version of the love/hate game with the series while watching it.
Plot: this did not go where I thought it would! This drama is the absolutely quintessential enemies-to-lovers trope ! With polar opposite protagonists,none tension, and a mix of political and social games.This is a romance.It's no spoiler that things DO change between them. Love and hate are a fine line, after all.
It started off pretty interesting, but I don't know ... Pacing could've been optimized.
Characters: smart, annoying, arrogant, condescending and more. And I like them for it, because they're people.Not all, but most.
I am leaning toward a higher score because for all the issues I had with the drama at times, it was engaging and cute.
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Sweet...but that's it.
This truly female-centric drama is filled with sweet moments between Li Rong and Pei Weixuan, but don't get me wrong—I’m not complaining about that. In fact, it's the only good thing in this drama.The overall plot revolves around royal politics, but it fails to engage. Why? Because it's the same old story used in countless other Chinese dramas—cliché and predictable. The political aspect of the drama is especially problematic. Rather than enhancing the story, it overwhelms it, making the romance feel secondary. The political intrigue is replete with the usual power struggles, betrayals, and court manipulations seen in many other Chinese dramas. This lack of originality makes the political storyline just feels stale.
When it comes to the relationship between Li Rong and Pei Weixuan, there are many scenes that can make you swoon—scenes that other Chinese romance dramas should take inspiration from, not just for the moments themselves but also for the chemistry between the characters. However, that’s all there is to their relationship. It’s sweet, but as the episodes progress, it becomes bland. It lacks depth.
Emotional depth in a relationship means that the characters connect on more than just a superficial level. They should share their vulnerabilities, support each other’s growth, and face challenges together in a way that strengthens their bond (Which they do show but only at a a certain level). In this drama, the emotional moments between Li Rong and Pei Weixuan are tied to a few predictable elements:
Misunderstandings that get resolved: These moments can create temporary tension, but they often feel contrived and don't lead to any significant character development or deeper understanding between the characters.
Su Rongqing: The presence of a third party can add drama, but it can also distract from the development of the main relationship. Instead of focusing on how Li Rong and Pei Weixuan grow together, the drama spends too much time on external conflicts.
Imbalance in their relationship: It’s clear that Pei Weixuan loves Li Rong more than she loves him. This imbalance can create tension, but it also makes their relationship feel one-sided and unfulfilling.
Politics: While political intrigue can add complexity to a story, in this case, it detracts from the emotional core of the relationship. The characters are often more focused on external power struggles than on each other.
Reflecting on the drama "Queen of Tears," I realize how much Li Rong and Pei Weixuan's relationship lacks in terms of emotional depth. Their love story feels more like a series of plot points than a genuine, evolving bond. They never reach the point where being apart feels like losing a part of themselves. They don’t cry for each other or display the kind of profound emotional connection that makes their love feel essential to their existence. The focus on political intrigue overshadows their personal connection, making it difficult to invest in their romance.
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A total simp drama
His wife literally humiliated him, cheated on him and killed him in the previous life. But what did he do? He is trying to match his wife and her past lover (also who killed him). I mean, what the f**k. Can you be a bit man enough? It's not a realistic drama at all. The scheme plots till now are so vague that you will not understand actually what happened. I can understand one thing about Chinese drama: why there is always a male second lead, and the heroin is really close to them, but rarely any second heroin, even if there was, she will be treated as air by the hero. Feminism at its peak,Was this review helpful to you?
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I don't get it why everyone is hating SRQ. His whole family was killed, he was castrated and had to live his rest of his live as a servant. FL brother turned into a sadistic king, killed innocent people. Than why is SRQ the villain in this story? He got a chance to be reborn and change his and his familys future. On the other hand can't stand the ML character. He was reborn, he should have life experiences and be more mature but instead he is acting like a child. No woman in her right mind would choose a man like him. Was this review helpful to you?
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unrealistic and confusing. there are little spoilers in my review from the first 3 episodes.
I really wanted to like this drama. I have seen the ML before and felt he is a decent actor. I have reach episode 19 and the story remains confusing, unrealistic and clear as mud. The FL i am puzzled by. emotionless and stoney, but maybe that is poor direction i don't know as i have never seen her before. There is almost zero emotion from the FL about anything, after what is suppose to have been in a previous life/dream a 20 years of marriage. I would have given up long ago. She seems to prefer the man who killed her. go figure.So i am giving up now, and i feel sad. But there it is. you can't please everyone.
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