a really surprisingly good show
Initially, my curiosity was piqued simply by a desire to take a quick peek at the trailer for this show, largely due to my admiration for the female lead (FL). Going into it, I’ll admit I didn’t harbor any lofty expectations. From the outset, the production struck me as somewhat modest—perhaps even low-budget, if I’m being honest. The cast, too, seemed fairly unremarkable, with the notable exception of the FL, whose presence was the primary draw for me. I wasn’t anticipating anything extraordinary, and yet, something compelled me to stick with it beyond that first glance.As I continued watching, I found myself pleasantly surprised. The story unfolded in a way that hooked me, steadily drawing me deeper into its world. One of the standout aspects was how the director handled the dialogue—keeping conversations concise, sharp, and purposeful. There wasn’t a single moment that felt like unnecessary filler, which is a rarity in itself. Every scene seemed to serve the narrative, propelling it forward without wasting time or dragging things out.
What’s even more intriguing is how my perception of the show evolved the longer I watched. At first, I was skeptical about the production quality, but as the episodes progressed, my appreciation grew. I started to see the method behind what I’d initially dismissed as a flaw. The seemingly modest production values actually complemented the story perfectly, enhancing its tone and atmosphere in a way I hadn’t anticipated. Don’t get me wrong—I’m still not entirely sold on the aesthetic itself; it’s not my personal preference. But I get it now. I understand why it was done that way, and I can respect the artistic choice, even if it’s not my favorite.
The storyline itself is nothing short of captivating. It’s managed to hold my attention in a way that very few shows ever have. In fact, I’d go so far as to say this is the first series—aside from the obvious juggernaut that is Game of Thrones—to keep me this invested from start to finish. There’s something about the way it’s crafted, the way it builds momentum and keeps you guessing, that feels uniquely gripping. I found myself eagerly anticipating each new episode, a level of enthusiasm I hadn’t expected when I first clicked play.
I’d love to take a moment to tip my hat to the production team behind this gem. Congratulations are in order—seriously, well done. You’ve managed to take what could have been an unassuming project and turn it into something truly special. The effort and vision shine through, and it’s clear you’ve struck a chord with viewers like me.
Speaking of which, I’ve noticed I’m far from alone in my growing admiration. A quick glance at the ratings tells the story: what started as a solid 8 has climbed to an impressive 8.5. That upward trend speaks volumes. It’s evident that plenty of others have had a similar experience—starting off with modest expectations, only to find themselves increasingly won over as the series progresses. It’s a testament to the show’s ability to surprise and captivate, and I’m glad to be one of the many who’ve come to appreciate its brilliance.
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Gripping and thrilling story of a comeback
The FL is thrown away to the burbs at birth because a Taoist priest calls her bad luck . Now 17 and having survived abuse all her life with her vulgar and cheap foster parents she is back as the noble woman she was to reclaim her legacy and recreate her life but will she be able to see through the schemes, the politics and the ugliness of people around her and survive the plots ? The series is meaty in its plot, great with execution, good acting by the leads and is extremely intriguing as each episode unfolds layers of conspiracy and scheming ! Not like “ The Double” but more tightly woven story telling and focused execution of the plot! Loving it !!Was this review helpful to you?
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SUPPORTING ACTORS SHINE
Zhuang Han Yan (Chen Du Ling) was abandoned as an innocent baby and raised in the southern countryside by other family, being horribly abused and neglected by adopted family. One reason, she managed to survive to find her family in the capital to get to know her birth parent as well as step siblings. Too bad her family ignored her, her mother wanted her go - marry her off to far away land while her father was a weak mind and cowardly man. On top of that concubine Zhou were a over zealous woman with 2 other step siblings who always contradicted her in so many ways. Han Yan has to always on her toes to keep herself one step ahead. Her return catches the attention of Fu Yun Xi, a deputy minister at the Dali Temple, the brother in-law who married one of her already deceased step sister.Behind all that there're big secret her family act the way they do. Her mother keep hatred and painful regret marrying the husband while her farther is the one who instigate crimes and treacherous in mask of cowardly and weakness behavior as he kills most of his family. Han Yan starts to understand the stigma each individual of her family as she reconciles with her mother. Fu Yun Xi who suffers from a mysterious illness. Seeking a virtuous and capable wife to entrust with his family Fu Yun Xi finds Zhuang Han Yan, with her exceptional courage and kind heart, to be the ideal candidate. One thing I say here though, relationship between Han Yan & Chai Jing isn't like sisterhood - they're too devoted to each other like 'I will lay my life just for you' kind of thing.
Also as I watch this drama I found that skinny Chen Du Ling has characteristic of calmness and wary smiles that suitable with ML Xin Yun Lai, He has handsome aloofness. Although so far their pairing doesn't have much of couple sweetness but I think their cold-warm relationship is pretty enduring. Ep 20-21 is where they joint in marriage with assumption of 'close-deal' rather than admitting they're actually like (or love) each other. They both act good but I think all the supporting actors are the one shines especially Concubine Zhao (Wang Yan) remarkable acting (she made me hate her character) I think she deserves an award, as well as Yu En Tai as Zhuang Shi Yang (I want to knock this bastard off to the cliff). Up from ep 21, Han Yan acts more a hysteric nonsensical woman like her mother, ignoring husband who shown his compassion and self sacrifices on to his end of life, I don't know if I like her character change. Only vengeance, coldness and stubbornness pasted in her face instead of her youthful beauty. It's a happy ending. Zhuang Shi Yang get what he deserve.
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Give me 14 of these!!!
This isn't just a show. This is a masterpiece.It's about a woman who just wanted a home, a family, a peaceful life.
It's about women who were betrayed, who were evil, who were cunning.
It's about women who were strong, who were smart, who were kind, who just wanted to survive.
It's about women who were scapegoats, who were used or were tools, who stayed loyal till the end, and who fought together.
Each of them was so complex. Women who had their own dreams and goals, who had their own views and ideologies, who were wrongfully executed, and who fought for others' justice.
Yes, it had amazing male characters too. Even the villain guy was so smart (I have to give it to him). But the series sooo WOMAN iykwim.
The series doesn't start with revenge. Initially, revenge wasn't the plan or the plot (and I like that). Around the middle, it got a little boring, but by the 19th and 20th episodes, things got so interesting I couldn't stop watching. Not to mention the twists and turns waahhh!!
About the romance, which is not at all the point of this drama, I am glad they kept it so minimal. Even though they clearly had feelings, it would have been weird to show "romance" in between all that chaos. It won't suit the characters. Still, whatever scenes they showed were beautiful. Both ml and fl stuck with their own plans till THE VERY END.
It was such a long journey, and it was worth the happy ending ♡
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Showing women's empowerment
It's incredibly engaging to watch. Each episode keeps you hooked and curious about the problem, why that person did such a terrible thing, who the mastermind is, and other secrets.The two main characters have great chemistry and the acting is exceptionally good. I initially only tried watching it because the two main characters were visually appealing, but the storyline and production really captivated me.
I personally really enjoyed it. This drama showcases the strength of women, and I was deeply touched by the hardships women faced, especially in an era when women were severely oppressed and found it difficult to speak up. Love it, overall, this drama is a 10/10.
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Stellar acting, direction and costumes
The script was at times forced, but ultimately this is a story of mental illness, so a few incoherent twists in the plot can be excused. It has a dark mood: social glory can exact a very high price... but it is a fascinating and extremely classy kind of gothic mood. I wasn't over enthusiastic of the male protagonist acting, but Duling Chen was incredible in a very difficult role: we slowly acknowledge she inherited her father's carefully hidden psychosis, but her stubborn fight for love will redeem and heal her soul, while her father falls deeper and deeper into his murdering sickness. Her enigmatic mother is performed by a master actress, theatral in a traditional yet unconventional way. So the protagonist is excellent (and her costumes the best I've seen since Yanxi palace, expecially after she's married) but both her parents perform their cursed destiny to a vertiginous level. A feast for the eyes the scenography too. Don't miss this if you love gothic atmospheres with a psychological depth.Was this review helpful to you?
Good copy of The Double?
After watching "The Double" and "The Glory" I had to go see which one is 1st filmed and which 2nd. It seems "The Double" was 1st.Both are the same type of revenge story, even the title is similar.
Why I say the same:
Female leads were wronged
They return to the capital and start scheming their revenge.
Both are smart and dont fear anything.
They both meet high ranking official that takes interest in them and starts helping them
Both male leads are cold and sus at first.
Same family dynamic, jealous sister, power struggle
Slow burn romance
And not to mention same scene with a drum (you will see if you watch it both)
But most important not a single boring episode
As for the difference one has sword fights and war while other investigations.
Even tho overall, "The Double" is better, more emotional and has better development of supporting characters, The Glory gives us more satisfying ending except if you dont watch last 10 minutes of "The Double".
Since they made "The Glory" very good watch i didn't mind at all that its so similar and rating score difference between them is just by 0,5.
I had an urge to binge both and went to sleep at 4 am. I guess that means it's good right? Or better, watch them and judge it for yourself.
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Poor writing and sloppy
I don't know how this show got their 10* rating from many reviews while it had so many problems. The actors and actresses has good acting, but the writers, directors, producers decided to put them in bad drama as this. It started good and proper. An abandoned and abused daughter has to come back to her house because she has nowhere to go but she has other intention, for a revenge and for a sentimental feelings called family (who had abandoned her and left her to die). It's a good 10 episodes when the daughter finally met her real mother who holds power in the house but still chose to kick her out. I thought the next arc would be about mending their broken relationship, a redemption of a mother. But instead it went downhill. The ML fell flat, the FL is too busybody, going into everybody's business. And i snapped when they finally chose to leave the family, the mother got her divorce, only to be killed. I can't no longer continue with this ridiculous plot.Was this review helpful to you?
Personagens complexos ✨️
Eu gostei de assistir o drama, porém eu não sei se é intencional, mas eu percebi que nos dramas históricos chineses que assisti até o momento, as personagens femininas principais tem uma cara meio blaze atuando, o que me incomoda um pouco, pois acaba não entregando muitas expressões em momentos que está pedindo, sabe?**spoilers**
Eu gostei da história ter esse ritmo e transformação de enredo, indo de esperança, para vingança, para dar tudo errado e perder tudo, e ter que lutar novamente. Porém, chega uma hora que parece que acabaram as ideias. Por exemplo, os episódios 21, 22 e 23 são completamente fillers, os personagens principais mal aparecerem. E o pior de tudo: O último episódio pareceu completamente um filler. Eu fiquei muito decepcionada com isso.
Eu gostei da tensão entre o casal principal, porém, era para ela ter 17 anos?? Ela não parece ter 17 anos, e acho que poderiam ter muito bem escrito a história com ela sendo mais velha. Será que é por isso que não teve absolutamente nenhum beijo entre o casal principal?(Eu não aceito considerar aquele "beijo" mixuruca, faltando 2 minutos para acabar o drama). Sei lá, eles já tinham essa dinâmica de não confiar um no outro, aí fazem a menina mais nova, e acabam não podendo explorar essa relação dos dois. Eu agradeço de não ter aquelas cenas em que a mulher fica falando igual criança com os homens, mas acho que poderia ter um desenvolvimento muito melhor entre os personagens se ela fosse uma personagem mais velha. Ainda mais por quererem mostrar uma garota super inteligente e estrategista.
Apesar de tudo. foi uma história legal, personagens bem complexos, você não sabe em quem confiar, muitos plotwists, adoro. Um destaque para a atriz que interpreta a mãe da personagem principal.
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Great plot, but hollow lead characters.
I was looking for romance and great lead characters. What I received were two kisses, a Chinese girl boss and a lead male that does nothing but hold her coat. Please, China, don't follow Hollywood down the bllack hole of radical feminism and emasculated males! You can have likable strong female leads with strong and handsome male leads. See Pursuit of Jade for instructions. This story had an intetesting plot, but an ice cold FL, and an almost pointess ML. I kept hoping it would improve, but it never did.Was this review helpful to you?
Started good and..
The storyline started with potential but quickly became predictable and repetitive. Character development felt shallow, and many emotional scenes lacked impact due to forced dialogue. The pacing dragged in several episodes, making it hard to stay engaged. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity.Visually, the costumes and sets were appealing, but the script failed to capture the depth and complexity of the period. The plot relied too heavily on clichés in the end, and some historical details felt inaccurate or oversimplified. Performances were uneven, with certain roles coming across as one-dimensional.
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magnificent
oh.....my.....god. A magnificent show. Villainy unfolded layer upon hidden layer and hidden heart-wrenching love. 30 eps at 45mins ea, and I was riveted to the screen for every single one. Shock and awe mixed with both pity and love may not be to your taste but this is the kind of show where even a few episodes will be worth it for the memory.Give it a try. I recommend it.
An FL who resorts to biting or murder when all else fails, Zhuang Han Yan, played by the actress Chen Du Ling, is a realistic character who has never been loved by anyone except a piratical female bodyguard and childhood friend. Abused from the beginning of her helpless infancy she does not trust, and given the family she meets when she comes back for revenge, she is right not to do so. She still yearns and quietly hopes for some form of love in some corner of her heart, but she is definitely psychotically possessed by a need for revenge.
She is a lonely goose poetically who flies back north to find a home. There is a great moment about exactly halfway through where she hangs an anonymous poem about herself on a festival tree where girls invite poems in response. Fu Yunxi finds it by sheer powerful instinct and writes a perfect reply, which then gets lost and one despairs of these two, even though fireworks rain down overhead.
An ML both stoic and vulnerable, Fu Yun Xi, played by Xin Yun Lai, is a shadowy personage, an criminal investigator for the imperial govt, who plans so far ahead into the future that he knows when he sees ZHY that she is the wife he needs. A man who is playing a dangerous game that is not easily guessed by the viewer, he is so calculating that he manages, thank goodness, to predict when his love is about to go off the rails in some murderous rampage. Unlike the usual romantic hero he doesnt so much as magically rescue her from danger as protect her from herself. How does he understand her so well? She is baffled by him, as are we. Xin Yun Lai is gorgeous, so it is a pleasure to wonder and watch him as he plays out his long-term strategies.
It is a character-driven story, written by a novelist who has had other works successfully adapted to the small screen. The scriptwriter and director however must still receive great credit for emphasizing the classically 'tragic' elements successfully. Pity, fear and awe (w/a bow to the Poetics), all are evoked.
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