Royal Betrothal

An Enjoyable Show That Lost Itself in the End

I guess I preferred the illusion of the rainbow to the reality of the storm.

I liked this show for what it was. Nothing groundbreaking, no big political shenanigans. Rootable, compelling secondary characters. I was enjoying the ride. I thought the chemistry with the leads was decent. Not earth scorching, but pleasant. I fell in love with several of the supporting characters. I liked the second couple. I liked the plot of the FL trying to prove her worth as a scholar. I liked that the ML was supportive of her without folding into a paper towel like so many modern ML tend to do these days. I enjoyed all of this.

But apparently, I was only looking at the rainbow.

The show in its last run of episodes proceeds to tell me that everything that happened before it was just a lie. All of a sudden political machinations are the name of the game. But they are rushed and not given any of the nuance they deserve. I didn't like how unbothered FL was by her own people. I know she lost her memories, but it felt kind of sad seeing these people willing to die to honor her and she just shrugs and says whatever. I'm glad Yin Qing redeemed himself kind of in the end. But if he was just going to die by her hand and tell her to go back, why not just let her kill you in the hall the first time and spare all of the other unecessary nonesense? Why did she return with her people if she never even cared about their plight? Why did Nian have to die? Seemed needlessly grim. The whole ending left a bad taste in my mouth.

But I still enjoyed looking at the rainbow, even if the result was that I was left standing cold in the rain. I liked this show. It didn't stick the landing. That's where I'll leave it.

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They Had a Story… Until They Forgot What It Was

I’m Still Trying to Figure Out What Happened

The beginning had me hooked. It felt like there was a real story behind it, a clear direction, interesting characters, and you could feel that the writers had a plan. I remember thinking, “Okay, this could be really good.”

And then… somewhere along the way, they lost it.

I honestly don't know when it happened, but it felt like the writers slowly forgot what story they were telling. Every few episodes there was another secret, another identity, another problem, another plot twist. And instead of making the original story stronger, everything just became more and more messy.

It felt like they started with a concept they were genuinely excited about and then got bored halfway through.

It's like I can hear the production team say:

"This was supposed to be the story."

"Yeah, well... let's add this."

"And this?"

"Sure."

"Does it make sense?"

"Who cares, we need to finish." 😂😂😂

And the romance really didn't help.

I'm sorry, but the female lead and male lead had almost zero chemistry for me. She was so cold and expressionless most of the time that I kept wondering whether she was actually in love with him or simply following instructions.

She gave me serious “Step 1: stand here. Step 2: say this line. Step 3: look at him for three seconds. Step 4: leave.” energy.

I kept waiting for some real emotional connection between them.

Nothing.

I wanted to believe in their relationship, but I just couldn't feel it.

And then we got to the final episode.

Those last 11 minutes...

I'm sorry, but WHAT WAS THAT?

😂

They spent the whole drama building all these storylines and conflicts and then apparently remembered at the very last minute that they had to actually end the drama.

Eleven minutes.

They tried to resolve EVERYTHING in eleven minutes.

Everything suddenly happened so fast that I wasn't even emotionally involved anymore. I was just watching and thinking, “Are we seriously doing this?”

It was rushed, unbelievable and honestly a little insulting to the audience.

At that point I started wondering if the actors' managers and agencies actually read the whole script before agreeing to the drama.

Do they read the ending?

Do they know what happens?

Or do they just say, “The first few episodes look good, the cast is good, let's go!”?

Because I cannot imagine reading that final episode and thinking, “Yes, this is a satisfying conclusion.”

The sad thing is, I don't think this drama was hopeless.

That's what makes it frustrating.

There was something here.

The beginning proved it.

But somewhere along the way, it feels like they completely lost their original idea. They started with a concept, then wandered away from it, got lost somewhere in the middle, and eventually just wanted to get home.

By the end, I didn't even feel angry.

I was just disappointed.

That particular kind of disappointment where you sit through the final scene thinking:

“Oh… that’s it? Just two images of horseback riding in the desert and an open question from the ML: ‘Will you walk with me again?’ Seriously? That’s the ending???”

And then the credits roll and you're sitting there wondering why you invested all those hours.

I don't hate Royal Betrothal.

I just wish it had been the drama it seemed like it was going to be.

The beginning made me excited.
The middle made me confused.
The romance made me question my eyesight.
The last 11 minutes made me question reality.

I came for the story.

I stayed because I wanted to see how it would all come together.

Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, the story itself got lost.

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Caveat Emptor!!! buyer beware.

Caveat emptor. When something looks too good to be true, perhaps we should be wary.

Was I sold a bag of rotten eggs? And can I only blame myself because I was attracted to the beautiful packaging? I have been watching Royal Betrothal slowly unravel since the second half began, and I kept telling myself, perhaps it will get better. That is usually the danger with these dramas, you invest so much time and emotion that you keep hoping the writers will somehow find their way back.

Unfortunately, by episode 30, I finally gave up. Their version of a Game of Thrones “Red Wedding” was the moment I couldn’t even finish the episode. Everything about it felt wrong. The bait-and-switch, only to be baited and switched again, became exhausting. At some point I had to ask myself: How creative were the writers when they ran out of ideas? The excessive slow-motion sequences became almost comical, the fight scenes defied any sense of realism, and the drama seemed to substitute spectacle for storytelling. With only two episodes left, I finally succumbed to my inner desire to drop the series. Life is simply too short to finish a drama I no longer enjoy.

And that is particularly disappointing because this drama had so much going for it. The production looked beautiful, the cast was attractive, and there were moments early on when I genuinely thought we were getting something special. Wu Jin Yan and Chen Zhe Yuan are both talented actors, and they certainly have the ability to carry a good story. But as a viewer, I also have to hold them accountable not for the writing or directing, but for the choices they make about the projects they take on. As top actors, they have some say in the stories they attach themselves to. After this one, unfortunately, they have lost a little of the goodwill I had as a fan.

I know Chinese dramas are becoming increasingly mainstream and are reaching audiences far beyond China. That is wonderful. But please, don’t mistake international audiences for ignorant fools who will accept anything simply because the costumes are beautiful, the actors are gorgeous and the production looks expensive. We are watching. We are paying attention. If anything, expanding into the international market means the writing has to step up, more credible characters, more intelligent plotting, and storytelling that doesn’t insult the audience’s intelligence. The Chinese drama industry absolutely has the talent and resources to do this. I’ve seen it. And unfortunately, Royal Betrothal is no Pursuit of Jade.

If this becomes a continuing trend, audiences outside China may eventually shift their attention back to Korean dramas and other Asian productions. There is plenty of competition out there, and beautiful packaging can only take you so far.

Having said all that, I realize this is a rather long rant. But sometimes you simply have to get it out of your system. I really don’t like being sold a beautiful bag only to discover that someone forgot to check what was inside.

So, with two episodes remaining, I’m moving on. There are plenty of other dramas waiting for me and perhaps after this disappointment, it’s time for some completely senseless high-school BL nonsense. Sometimes that’s exactly what the doctor ordered.

And next time, please don’t call it Royal Betrothal.

Just call it what it really is:

“Chop Suey: The Movie… Part Deux.”

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Great potential, disappointing execution, and an ending that simply wasn’t worth the journey.

Royal Betrothal — Final Thoughts

Royal Betrothal was honestly a huge disappointment for me. I stayed until the end because I was invested in the story and especially the side characters, whom I often liked more than the main leads.

Unfortunately, I felt Chen Zheyuan and Wu Jinyan had little to no chemistry, and their pairing didn’t work for me. The main couple kept going in circles, and whenever the story became interesting, the drama would slow down with unnecessary scenes between them—only for the ending to feel extremely underwhelming.

There were also too many plot holes and unresolved storylines. My favourite side couple, Zhili and Di Nian, didn’t get the happy ending they deserved, while Nian’s death was heartbreaking. I also thought Zhishi and Fuzhi had better chemistry than the main couple, but their story became frustrating as they fought over Meng Tinghui.

Overall, the drama had potential, but the execution and ending left me feeling like I wasted my time. I stayed because of the side characters, not the main romance.

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Oookkk… I Have Thoughts. (royal betrothal? where?)

This is probably the first drama that has made me want to write a review, and I’m not entirely sure that’s a good thing.

ROYAL BETROTHAL was actually a drama I randomly came across through an MDL post. I hadn’t seen any promotions or even a trailer for it, so it almost felt like it came out of nowhere. Somehow, that made me more curious to watch it, apart from the fact that it already had so many elements I like in a C-drama.

The drama was more or less a hit or miss for me personally. It had so many elements that I genuinely enjoy in a C-drama — palace intrigue, a strong FL and ML, a hate-to-love relationship, romance, and all the usual court politics — but somehow, the drama felt more like watching bits and pieces of these elements rather than seeing them come together as a complete production.

The FL is strong, prideful and smart, which I really liked about her character. However, she somehow keeps getting herself into trouble, while the emperor, the ML, is an ambitious ruler who supposedly has his own plans and goals, yet somehow spends most of his time cleaning up after her and dealing with the aftermath of whatever mess she has gotten herself into. 😭 He also somehow has all the time in the world to meet her every day, and considering his position, I genuinely don't think that would be possible. At some point, I started wondering when this man actually had time to be an emperor.

I think my biggest issue with the drama was the pacing. Everything happened so quickly that I couldn't really emotionally connect to much of it. Enemy arcs ended faster than I could even process what was happening, and just when I thought something was going to develop into a proper conflict, it was already over. The suspense also wasn't really doing much for me because most things felt predictable. There was very little time to sit with the characters or the situations before the story moved on to the next thing.

The romance was another mixed bag. Interestingly, I actually enjoyed the lack of romance in the beginning because I love yearning and slow-burn relationships. I liked having that distance between the leads and watching their relationship gradually develop. But even that somehow became rushed in the middle. The drama had the ingredients for a romance I would probably have loved, but it never quite gave those moments enough time to breathe.

And, as usual, we get the childhood connection. At this point, I feel like C-dramas are legally required to have one. 😭 It wasn't necessarily a problem on its own, but with everything else happening so quickly, it felt like yet another plot element that was introduced without enough room for me to really become invested in it.

The cinematography also reminded me quite a bit of one of my personal favourites, THE DOUBLE, starring the same actress, Wu Jin Yan. She shined so brightly in that drama with her character, and I couldn't help comparing the two while watching Royal Betrothal. I think this comparison also made me more aware of how much I wanted her character here to have that same impact.

The ending, unfortunately, was something I wasn't particularly happy with either. By that point, I had already spent most of the drama feeling like I was trying to catch up with the story, and the ending didn't really give me the satisfaction I was hoping for.

Overall, ROYAL BETROTHAL was one of those dramas that made me say "oookkk" after almost every episode. 😭 It had all the elements of a drama I should have loved, but the execution never quite brought them together for me. The pacing was too quick, the suspense was predictable, the romance didn't get enough room to breathe, and I never really got the chance to emotionally connect with the story.

That being said, removing every other factor, as a fan of both Wu Jin Yan and Chen Zhe Yuan, I genuinely enjoyed seeing them on screen together and that was the one thing that me watch till the end.

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Good show, but that's it...

Nice watch, but I will solely put it on the cast made of great actors. The story is nice but feels repetitive at some point. When it comes to the romance line of the leads, this too was saved by the good actors. There is not much chemistry between them and I'll say it's because we don't see them spend much quality time together in all the years they've spent together. Which is sad because we quickly can tell they are into each other but to us it feels like they mainly see one another when there is danger, it's always life and death matters. So the confession scene and even the proposal one kinda fell flat to me. It was still nice moments but not memorable ones. I'm not fond of the ending either, it lowkey felt rushed.
Kudos to the supporting cast, I enjoyed their stories vey much, especially the female lead's bestie. She was such a nice character, very refreshing among all the chaos they go through in the drama. ^^
Overall, I liked watching it but it's not a must-see for me and it's because the script wasn't all that...

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This could've been an email

The biggest problem I had with Royal Betrothal is that I never really felt like I was watching the story happen. I constantly felt like I was being given the summary of a story that could have been much better. Everything moves so quickly and the scenes barely connect. They can talk about going somewhere together or sharing a ride, and then suddenly the next scene has one of them somewhere completely different. There is no time for anything to settle or for a moment to actually develop before we're already onto the next thing. It made the whole drama feel strangely rushed, like every scene existed only to deliver a piece of information and then disappear.

Because of that, I also never felt like I actually knew either of the leads. We see the FL doing things and going through hardships, and I genuinely liked her childhood story, but I don't feel like I know who she is beyond what the plot requires her to do. I don't know much about her inner thoughts, her fears, her aspirations or even what she really wants for herself. The ML has the same problem. He mostly exists in relation to the FL, and outside of that I don't think we get enough of his personality or his own thoughts to understand what kind of man he actually is. They both feel distant, and sometimes almost like they're just reading lines that were handed to them.

The romance suffers from this more than anything. Their childhood connection was such a good foundation, especially because he saved her life, and later he does so much for her. He changes rules, takes a beating, repeatedly stands up for her and remains determined to be with her even after finding out that she's the last royal blood of the Zhongween people. He clearly has very strong feelings for her, but somehow I never felt those feelings developing between them. There was no real tension or gradual warmth. Their relationship feels more like two people who have become very good partners and then suddenly we're expected to believe they're deeply in love. His confession in episode 24 was the clearest example. After waiting all this time, he confesses and the scene is over almost immediately. There was so little emotion or buildup that it honestly felt like the drama suddenly remembered it needed a confession scene.

The whole Zhongween storyline bothered me for the same reason. We're told that she's the last royal blood of the Zhongween people, but we barely learn anything about the people themselves or what happened to them. Her parents were killed, her people were killed, and the emperor's father was responsible for it, yet I barely felt any emotional connection between the FL and that history. I don't need her to spend the entire drama hating the ML for something his father did, but surely she should remember it and have some complicated feelings about it. The fact that she can apparently fall in love with the son of the man responsible for killing her parents and people should be a huge emotional conflict, and the drama barely touches it.

The bath scene made this even stranger. She sees the black bird tattoo and something is obviously supposed to click for her, but we never really get to understand what happened in her head. Did she remember something? Did she suddenly understand her origins? Did seeing it trigger a memory? I have no idea. She just rushes out of the bath and tells the emperor she wants to marry him. We don't even get a proper conversation between them about her origins or what she has just remembered before this huge decision happens. That should have been such an important moment for her character, but it felt like another plot point the drama needed to get through.

The same thing happens with her saying that she doesn't want to become empress. She says it more than once, but I never really saw her do anything with that conflict. If she genuinely doesn't want that life, especially considering everything that happened to her family, I wanted to see her seriously wrestle with what marrying the emperor would mean. Instead, she says she doesn't want it and the story continues toward exactly that outcome anyway.

I was also surprised by how little actual court intrigue there was. With an emperor, royal succession, political enemies and the last surviving member of a destroyed royal family, I expected the court to be full of schemes, factions and people trying to use the situation to their advantage. Instead, the political world felt strangely empty. There are officials and conflicts, but I never really felt like there was a living political system behind the characters. Even the investigations have this problem. We suddenly get evidence or discover something important without really seeing how they found it. I wanted to watch them investigate, make mistakes, connect clues and slowly figure things out. Instead, we usually just arrive at the answer.

I also struggled with the FL's characterization from the beginning. She's supposed to be an orphan who survived a difficult life, but she is incredibly confident and reckless from the first episode. She kills someone in public, chases another person with a knife and openly challenges the emperor, and I kept wondering why someone with her background wasn't more careful or calculating. I expected her to be quieter and more observant, someone who had learned to survive by thinking before acting. I also don't feel like she changes much throughout the story. Things happen to her, but I don't feel like those things really transform her.

The casting and styling didn't help either. I really liked the actress in The Double, but here I couldn't feel much of the character's inner life through her performance. Sometimes I genuinely couldn't tell what she was thinking, although I think the writing is partly responsible because she isn't given much to work with. Her chemistry with the ML also didn't work for me. The makeup, costumes and camera angles made it worse, and there were times when she honestly looked more like his aunt than his love interest. I don't mean that because of their actual looks, it was mainly the styling that felt rather cheap.

I actually found the second couple more convincing because their dynamic felt warmer and more natural. I was also confused by some of the deaths. Captain Di's death in particular made me wonder what the point was, and the ML's guard as well. If characters are going to die, I want their deaths to actually change something or carry some emotional weight rather than just being another tragic event added to the story.

The ending was probably the final nail in the coffin for me. The last few episodes felt extremely rushed, and then the final episode was packed with flashbacks. There was so much repeated material that it genuinely felt like the drama didn't know what to do with its remaining runtime.

And that's what makes this frustrating, because I can actually see how good this could have been. The childhood connection was good, the FL's background had potential, the ML's devotion could have made for a really compelling romance, and the history of the Zhongween people could have given the whole story a much deeper political and emotional layer. Even the conflict between her past and her relationship with the emperor could have been one of the strongest parts of the drama. Instead, everything is introduced and then immediately rushed past.

I think that's why I kept feeling so detached while watching. The drama keeps giving me the outcome without letting me experience the journey that leads to it. We're told they're in love without really watching them fall in love, we're given evidence without seeing the investigation, we're told three years have passed without ever feeling those three years, and we're told the FL carries this enormous history without really seeing how it affects her.

But After i knew that the director is actually the same from "Rebirth", it clicked for me why it's this bad. Also, stop adapting great novels to cdrama if you're not gonna commit to the same level, like the end was so good in the novel...why change it to something this vague? Nowadays, everyone is afraid of producing an end. I would chose a sad ending the whole day that an open one.

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A silent bomb

Comparing shows which had so much advertising, this show was randomly dropped but it’s so much better than a lot of other shows. The story line is new, I haven’t often seen the main lead as an Emperor, and it’s great actually.

Personally I don’t really like shows where the background is deserts and not snow/forests but this was so well done, I forgot the story is set in a desert.

Acting is phenomenal, the plot is great considering I like plots with actual twists instead of just romance.

After thoughts:
No. It went wrong at the end. The ending did not make sense it was like a sprial ending which was so disappointing. No clear explanation, it felt like they were ending it abruptly which is insane considering they could have made 2 more episodes.

The plot is nothing special, I think it’s quite common but that’s ok, what I didn’t like is how easy it was to guess the traitors. I mean by ep 10 everyone knew who’s a traitors.

A thing I noticed in later episodes— The makeup was horrible. The FLS cakey foundation was so obvious. I mean she’s no doubt beautiful but what’s with the white foundation?

I loved the build up though but the chemistry was off at some points and I don’t think I picture them together for some reason.

MangoTV, I’m disappointed because this isn’t the first show with good startings and horrible HE.

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