A Total Cinematic Feast
Good heavens—this is absolutely phenomenal!I am still completely reeling from this drama. Every single element is hitting the mark for me. Visually, it is breathtaking; the cinematography and production design are pure eye candy. But it’s the atmosphere that really sets it apart. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an intriguing blend of comedy and high-stakes drama. The funny moments have this irresistible charm—even when they lean into slapstick, they never feel cheap—and the dramatic beats are so emotionally resonant. The way the show dances between these two polarities is seamless.
The acting? I’m honestly speechless.
Cheng Lei is, as expected, wonderful, but this role gives him a creative playground unlike anything he’s had before. He’s showing us colors we haven’t seen yet. Wang Churan is a breath of fresh air. I love her character's "vibe"—she’s deeply feminine and graceful, but she’s no "sweet idiot." She’s sharp, calculating, and sensitive all at once.
The Villain is top-tier. There’s something magnetically chilling about him; he has that rare, charismatic pull that makes a great antagonist. Tang Xiaotian in this role was a total surprise! I previously saw him in Story of Pearl Girl, where I found him a bit bland, but here? He is genuinely fantastic and full of life.
I love Cui Yi as the cross-dressing bodyguard. It’s a brilliant performance and, for a Chinese production, feels surprisingly bold and transgressive. Other second and third plan characters were also endearing, well written (without nonsensical behaviour) and very well executed.
As for the plot—I was hooked from the first episode. On the surface, it might look like a familiar trope, but the execution is fresh and unpredictable.
To top it all off, the soundtrack is fantastic, perfectly framing every scene. In short: this isn’t just a show; it’s a total feast for the senses!
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wish it was longer
i loved this drama so much that i can’t bring myself to rate this lower than 10/10. despite watching it almost 2 months ago, it’s still the historical drama that always manages to resurfaces in my mind. i’ve loved other historical cdramas but this one feels different than the others somehow, and the lead actors have become some of my favourites for their amazing acting.there is one thing that disappointed me about this drama, and it’s the same thing that i think most dramas fall short on: the ending felt too sudden/rushed however, i think other dramas suffer from this issue more (PoJ immediately comes to mind). i guess my real issue is that i really wanted this one to last longer, or maybe to last forever.
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beautiful pairing, great storyline
Wow, yet again, a stunning performance by the beautiful Wang Churan. I fall in love with her acting and visuals the more I watch her. And don't get me started with Cheng Lei. This is my second drama with him, right after Legend of the Female General and I watched snippets of him in My Journey to You, and OH MY LORD, is he so fineeeeee. Love these two's chemistry and visualllllsss. And their acting is beyonddd, one of the greatest actors that actually acts with their eyes and makes you feel everything they're feeling.Amazing plot. It got me hooked from beginning to end; I haven't binged a drama like this in a while. I thought it was like the many other transmigration storylines that I've watched before, but it is just as good, if not better, than the othersss. I am more of a serious, backstabbing, plot-twisting kind of drama watcher, so after watching the trailer, I thought I wouldn't like it so much because it seemed more comical, but boy, am I WRONG. I loved every bit of this funny, plot-twisting, heartfelt, gut-wrenching drama. I cried almost every episode, so you know it's good ASFF.
9.6/10 stars phenomenal. great ending.
(minus 0.4 stars for kind of rushed ending? and a LACK hot makeout sessions) hehe just being picky LOLOL
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A Transmigration Drama That Actually Nailes It!
This is one of the most well-executed romance fantasy and transmigration dramas I have ever watched. I have always been waiting for a storyline where both the male and female leads transmigrate, and this show absolutely nailed it. In fact, it easily tops my list of historical romances.A Breath of Fresh Air: The Romance & Leads
What truly sets this drama apart is the healthy, cooperative romance. Unlike most dramas where relationships are riddled with misunderstandings, toxic tropes, or borderline infidelity just for the sake of "drama," this couple is a united front. Both leads played their roles exceptionally well, presenting us with nuanced, real characters who are neither over-achievers nor losers. They complement each other perfectly without ever putting the other down.
The ML shines brilliantly as a trapped tyrant puppet rather than defaulting to the typical overpowered, cold "eye-candy" idol trope. He is a normal, emotional man with genuine non-physical vulnerabilities. Desperate for love, he still maintains a level-headed mind with the utmost consideration and respect for his partner.
The FL is equally admirable. She has firm standards and self-respect, and the show brilliantly navigates the reality and restrictions of being a woman in ancient times. It handles this with nuance rather than being preachy—showing her overcoming these societal boundaries while remaining a loving, nurturing, and upstanding partner.
Supporting Cast & World-Building
The world feels incredibly nuanced and lived-in, with real consequences. The drama boasts top-tier casting, and the supporting characters are fantastic. Their individual stories are integrated seamlessly into the plot without wasting screen time or dragging out the main narrative.
Critiques: Tone, Pacing, and Missed Opportunities
As much as I loved it, the drama isn't without its flaws. First, it feels like they omitted a good amount of character-building to fit the runtime. Second, the pacing gets somewhat stretched towards the final third.
My biggest critique, however, is the visual tone. The show was shot with a vibrant, almost happy-go-lucky vibe (which might just be how the original author wrote it). However, this plot would have landed so much better with a darker, more serious, and gritty setting. A moodier atmosphere would have made their hard-fought achievements feel much more impactful and the setbacks far more doom-filled. Balancing that gritty reality with a few sprinkles of comedy would have provided a much stronger emotional grip. Additionally, they could have done a better job portraying the high stakes of being stuck in a novel—specifically, the genuine peril they would face if they were killed inside the book.
Visuals & Costume Design
Despite the overly bright tone, the costume design is absolutely chef's kiss. The Empress's bold and exquisite style is a breath of fresh air; rather than the plain, doe-eyed styling typical of many other dramas and manhuas, she truly lives up to the gorgeous villainess vibe.
Final Verdict
Even with a few missed opportunities in the setting and pacing, whatever the creative team created here is a fantastic drama. The characters' struggles feel real and grounded, the empowerment message feels natural, and the main couple killed it with their acting. I absolutely loved and appreciated this drama, and I hope to find more like it!
(Written with the help of GenAI)
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This review may contain spoilers
A Solid Series That Has One Flaw
This series was super solid with a well-developed plot. The acting by the leads and support cast was great and really delivered. I enjoyed its playful take on the transmigration genre—especially when they just invented guns, which I just kept laughing about to the end like "Ha, you brought a knife to a gun fight?!"There is only 1 flaw for me. Which is: Is Zhang San okay? After learning that this guy was trapped in the novel for over 10 years, on hell mode, since he was a CHILD, basically tortured and alone for so long, I NEEDED more than the ending we got. I needed to know, unambiguously, that he returned to his time and got to live out his childhood and grow up normally or SOMETHING. The happy marriage sequence with the novel characters is romantic and all but those facts had me stressed AF about him in the real world. Like, would he return to his time? Or would he, like, wake up from a coma? Would it feel like a dream? Would he need therapy for like 800 years? Because I feel like I would!!! I mean, talk about childhood trauma. I needed to know that he would be okay. I'm being somewhat facetious here, but my fragile emotions could have used the last 1 or 2 episodes wrapping up the real world side a bit more because I needed to know more than just their characters meeting outside the novel.
But yeah, anyway, great series!!!! I swear I'm totally carefree on the inside!!!! 🫣
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This review may contain spoilers
Smart, chaotic, and surprisingly addictive
I went into How Dare You?! expecting something light and a bit chaotic — and it definitely delivers on that, but it’s also more clever and engaging than I expected.The story follows a familiar transmigration setup, but it plays with the trope in a self-aware and refreshing way. The dynamic between the leads is a highlight, especially as they work with (and against) the “script,” which makes the political intrigue feel more strategic and often unintentionally funny (modern logic in a historical setting should not work this well, but here we are 😏).
The pacing is solid — things move, and it never feels like you’re waiting for something to happen. At the same time, it keeps a good balance between comedy, romance, and plot without taking itself too seriously.
The acting is strong across the board. The female lead brings a natural, slightly sarcastic charm, while the male lead adds more depth than the typical trope. Their chemistry really carries both the lighter and more emotional moments.
It’s not as deep or heavy as more serious dramas, but it doesn’t try to be. It knows exactly what it is — fun, clever, and easy to watch — and executes that really well.
Overall, a refreshing and entertaining take on a familiar genre.
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An absolute must-watch
I have never expected this to become my new favourite costume drama. My favourites among costume dramas are usually deduced from the amount of tears I cried while watching because I'm not someone who cries easily.I just finished watching so I'll keep this short and maybe update it later once I take it all in.
Honestly, you have no idea what you're getting into. It starts fun, unserious, a little silly. Around EP 10, it goes downhill FAST. Currently, I don't even have the words to describe the atmosphere, the music, the characters, nothing.
The reason I put 9 stars for the story instead of 10 is that in the middle, the plot was a little hard to follow. It might be because of the English translation therefore I don't want to take off more than one star.
The acting and casting was absolutely incredible. The music was well chosen for every scene and beautiful. Rewatch value is a 10 because it was that good. I'm definitely going to rewatch it once I forget about it a little bit.
Another thing this drama (and especially the actors!) did very well is playing with sympathy. No matter how much or how little screentime a character has, you will absolutely cry when they die. So many characters died and I bawled my eyes out during every single death.
The only one I have never felt sympathy for was Prince Duan. Tang XiaoTian did a magnificent job portraying him because I hated every single scene he appeared in.
This is a must-watch.
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No romance at all, liars in review section
Starting is good, chinese drama author only know to start well but don't know how to keep it going well,it becomes bad, boring from half of the eps ? i watched till 15 eps and the story isn't focused on romance at all but historical, ml are not bad but not good nothing different, they literally behave life close friends from start till 15 and how are they suddenly going to fall in love now ? when there's no romantic scenes interaction at all ? i thought after being 10yrs in kdrama and avoiding chinese because they're really bad at writing stories ,now I thought they have improved? now feels like they're still the same I hardly rate any drama 10 , these drama completely lack romance ,I read review and started are those fake reviews or what where is comedy in this ? where ? and where is romance? only historical that's itThere's no romance in this ,the romance that didn't exist for 15-20 eps they're probably forced into it later or at end ,it isn't slow burn , they're like friends all the time , comedy is for starting few episodes only ,this one isn't even slight category
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Main Leads are chemistry
Watched this lovely series for the comedy and to see Cheng Lei portray a comedic character. As expected, Cheng Lei did not fail in portraying comedic character Xiahou Dan and not just that, mixing in the comedy with serious attitude Cheng Lei mae the role great and exciting to watch, I was surprised by the acting of Wang Chu Ran, well this is not the first of her drama i have watched, Wang Chu Ran slayed the role of Yu Wan Yin bring in comedic character with action mode. The chemistry cannot explain super hot, never knew Wang Chu Ran and Cheng Lei would bring this boiling chemistry on my screen.Wang Chu Ran and Cheng Lei did excellent with their acting, movements, facial expression and chemistry. Looking forward to watching the next episodes.
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Super boring. Terrible acting. Cringe ending.
A comedy that isn’t funny - only boring. Not just boring, but exceptionally boring.I gave it 5 episodes. It was unbearable even with fast-forwarding, which I did for most of it before finally dropping it. Still, I skipped ahead to see the ending. It was disappointing and so cringe.
The pacing in this series feels completely off. Everything drags. The acting from both the FL and ML is terrible. Nothing feels convincing. Instead, the pretentious, fake atmosphere (from the acting) is obvious.
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A different FML from other c-dramas
first the drama was perfect, loved it and main leads had great chemistrynow about FML, in the era of boss girls and self centered FMLs she was a good one. in this era almost 80 percent of FMLs are mostly talks, we are no less than men, this sentence is ALL OVER their entire drama and then they humiliate a man to show they're right again and again if this happens in some dramas it's ok we say they're doing it to some incapable or wicked but this is happening in almost every major drama we see, in these dramas women are usually seen as angels even if they are part of the bad guys their reason is ALWAYS JUSTIFIED this shows it seems like some writers have grudges against men in general!
NOW in this drama again we saw the 'we are no less than men' phrase again BUT the difference was first it wasn't said in every single episode like they're forever stuck in a slogan mode second FML did her job or duty RIGHT and by doing that she proved her point she didn't compete or tried humiliate others. If you seen GOT Remember when Tywin said: Any man who must say, "I am the king" is no true king. It's something like that. Do what you're good at others if they're wise enough will know your worth.
Now if we move on to the relationship of main leads
Before FML, ML had one goal, survive. After he saw her he began to take more responsibilities he tried to be better he wanted to be a good emperor.
Other girl boss FMLs are like I wanna do this if you don't like it, it means you don't support me then we're done, IF this is in the BEGINNING of the show, it's ok you've JUST met and you're not there yet BUT this happens usually when the drama is well advanced or in later stages of dramas when they've gone through all kinda ups and downs. In THIS stage being SELFISH like that is too much.
FML in this one was WAY better bcs she understood ML. She considered her and his situation and They found a purpose TOGETHER and they tried to reach a certain goal together.
Being a queen of a country isn't for everyone and SHE deserved it UNLIKE other FMLs.
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This review may contain spoilers
Why not ditch this book-world & just date in the present day?
The comedy ‘How dare you?’ is adapted from the web novel "This Is Ridiculous" (成何体统) by Qi Ying Jun (七英俊). And its premise is that 2 people from the modern world are transported into a book as villains - but they end up changing their destiny, fate and character arc - by doing good, saving people, and the kingdom, they also fall in love, marry, etc. etc. - all the while still being in the other world of a book. So whatever action you are likely to see is within the construct of a preordained written word and the leads change their fate essentially - the message for viewers being you are in charge of what happens to you and can change your life.In the book, the heroine comes to believe that this is another dimension or alternate universe and not just a book, because they have treaded far beyond the confines of the book’s original trajectory and story line.
In the web novel, the heroine is from the year 2026 and is an unexceptional worker in an office, the hero is a boy from year 2016, is still in high school. So the trope of older woman and teenage boy is used as well.
Plus, as villains in the original book their lives were short and insignificant, but since they changed everything, he lives as a good king, dies first and goes back to being the high school boy from year 2016, the heroine lives on as the reigning queen, in the end leaving everything to her son and roaming the earth meeting friends old and new, sees what she was able to build and accomplish, and then dies a natural death at which point she is back in the modern world - year 2026 - in the same subway train in which she fell asleep - and that’s how the 2 star crossed lovebirds meet in the present timeline.
In the web novel, in present day he’s the lawyer for the production house that is making a drama on the book and he has been waiting for her for 10 years. She recognizes the rest of the cast as people she met in the novel’s timeline.
If you are watching the drama, you’ll notice that there are some changes from the web novel early on: the male lead says he’s a CEO in 2026, so when they go back, they’ll be the same age and he most probably will be the owner of the company she works for or CEO of the production company making the drama.
But watching the first 2 episodes, all I could think was why are these two people sticking around in this fake make-believe world when they can get out through some door to the present day at any time, or die, and start courting each other, because I wanted to see their interactions as actual people in present day. What’s the use of all that energy and maneuvers and ambitions in a fake place? This is the bit where such dramas lose me. Because why would anyone want to stay trapped in a make-believe world with a real person? So it’s a no-watch for me.
I understand why transmigration of soul or past life or time travel or dream world would be attractive as a genre - an ordinary person gets to live a larger than life treacherous adventure that tests their mettle, their strength, their bravery, their perseverance and their humanity in extraordinary circumstances, where everything is glamorous and chaotic and exotic than their dull real life, and the person gets to be appreciated for his or her brains, looks and actions and noticed by the hottest guy or girl. Issues of self worth or self-esteem won't come up because in the fictional world they have the answer for everything.
This is escapist fantasy world has a lot of fans. The cast is good, the costumes are good, but the story has by now FOUR real people duking it out in palatial politics. My question is why? Go back to your day jobs and hook up with the girl you met in the dream book world!
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