This review may contain spoilers
She Wasn’t Broken. She Was Holding the World Together with Her Bare Hands
Historical dramas love giving their female leads tragic backstories. A dead parent here, a betrayal there maybe a few episodes of crying into a pillow before she “gets over it” and the plot moves on to the romance everyone actually tuned in for. The First Jasmine does not do this. It refuses to do this, and that refusal is the whole reason this drama stayed with me.What gets me is how the show treats Ye Li’s pain. It doesn’t play her composure as denial. It plays it as discipline, as a woman making an active, conscious choice, again and again to carry her grief privately so it doesn’t get in the way of what she has to do. Standing calm at the funeral of the grandmother who murdered her own mother isn’t a woman who’s “lost it.” It’s a woman who has decided, on her own terms, exactly how much of herself the world is allowed to see. That is not weakness. That’s armour she built alone with no one’s help because no one ever offered.
And here’s the part that really won me over. Even while carrying all of that, even while fractured, even while lonely in a way most of the people around her couldn’t begin to imagine, she still got up and did what needed to be done. She tracked down the men who destroyed Lishan and orchestrated their downfalls one by one, patiently, using their own pride and greed against them until they walked themselves into the trap. She helped heal her husband’s legs when the royal physicians had given up. She rebuilt a household that was falling apart around her. None of it came from anyone holding her hand through it. It came from her own intelligence, her own will, dragging herself forward one task at a time even while unraveling underneath. That’s the part of her character that feels the most real to me. She didn’t need to be whole to be capable.
And then, just when she lets that armour down, just when her husband finally earns enough trust that she’s willing to believe she doesn’t need to carry it alone anymore, he hands her divorce papers. Not out of cruelty exactly but out of his own wounded pride misreading her devotion as obligation. He doesn’t realise that the one promise she actually believed was that she wouldn’t have to go back to being alone. And the moment he breaks that, even unintentionally, she fractures further than before, because now even the version of “alone” she’d survived once already feels unbearable a second time with someone she trusted standing right there.
That’s not a romance plot device. That’s what happens to women, to people, who are taught that being needed is conditional that their pain is only acceptable as long as it doesn’t inconvenience anyone else’s feelings.
Ye Li isn’t a woman who needed fixing. She’s a woman who needed someone to finally stay.
This drama understood the difference and so did I, watching it.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
More Than Revenge, More Than Romance-Finding Home After Losing Everything
When I started The First Jasmine (Mo Li), I expected another beautiful historical romance built around revenge, palace intrigue, and a slow-burn love story. Instead, I got something far more thoughtful. This isn't simply a revenge drama or a romance wrapped in political intrigue. It's a story about grief, survival, healing, loyalty, and the choices people make after losing everything. At its heart, it's about the fall of one era and the rise of another, where every character is fighting a different battle. Some seek revenge, some want to restore their family's honor, some are trying to clear the names of those who died unjustly, while others desperately cling to power because admitting they were wrong would mean accepting that their entire lives were built on mistakes. Every alliance has consequences, every victory comes at a cost, and every political decision leaves ordinary people paying the price.As someone who loves history, I found the political writing incredibly refreshing. Rather than presenting a simple battle between heroes and villains, the drama explores how power shifts, how loyalty changes with circumstance, and how survival often requires morally difficult decisions. At times, it genuinely felt like watching a historical lesson instead of a work of fiction. The politics never existed merely to create tension. They shaped every character's motivations, relationships, and choices, making the world feel authentic and believable.
One criticism I've seen repeatedly is that the drama is slow, but I never agreed with that. To me, a slow drama is one where the story stalls and episodes are padded with unnecessary filler. **The First Jasmine** never felt that way. It's simply a character-driven drama rather than an event-driven one. Instead of rushing from one twist to the next, it allows every important relationship and emotional wound the time it deserves. Every conversation, every silence, and every small decision contributes to understanding who these people are. I stayed completely invested throughout all forty episodes because I cared about the characters just as much as the plot.
The drama's greatest strength is undoubtedly Ye Li. Historical dramas often advertise "strong female leads," but that strength is frequently reduced to physical combat, reincarnation or transmigration storylines, or an exceptionally intelligent heroine whose brilliance is confined to household politics. Ye Li is refreshingly different. Her strength comes from her intelligence, resilience, emotional endurance, and quiet conviction. The epidemic at Lishan isn't simply a tragic backstory that's forgotten after a few episodes. It continues to shape every decision she makes throughout the drama. She carries survivor's guilt, quietly dedicates herself to protecting others, and refuses to let her grief define her. She never needs someone to rescue her because her greatest weapon has always been her mind. Watching her patiently outmaneuver her enemies through strategy while carrying unimaginable pain made her one of the most memorable female leads I've watched in recent years.
Mo Xiuyao complements her perfectly. He's not written as the flawless hero who swoops in to save the heroine, nor is Ye Li there simply to heal his physical injuries. Instead, they become each other's greatest source of comfort. Ye Li restores his confidence long before she helps him recover physically, while he becomes the first person who truly understands the loneliness she has buried beneath years of composure. Their relationship is built on trust, mutual respect, patience, and quiet understanding rather than dramatic misunderstandings or overwhelming passion.
Because the romance is so restrained, much of its emotional impact comes from Bai Lu and Cheng Lei's performances. They don't rely on grand romantic gestures or excessive physical intimacy. Instead, they communicate through lingering glances, subtle expressions, and carefully measured silence. Their chemistry isn't loud. It exists in the way they look at each other, the way they listen, and the way they instinctively understand one another without needing words. Bai Lu delivers one of her finest performances to date, portraying Ye Li's grief with remarkable subtlety. Even in scenes where she says very little, you can feel the weight of everything her character has endured. Cheng Lei is equally impressive, bringing quiet dignity and vulnerability to Mo Xiuyao. Together, they elevate every scene they share.
One thing that deserves far more appreciation is the production design. Every frame feels carefully crafted without ever looking artificial. I absolutely loved the makeup and styling because they embraced natural beauty instead of trying to hide everything behind heavy filters. You can actually see the actors' real skin texture, natural complexion, and expressions, which made the emotions feel much more genuine. The costumes are elegant without being overly extravagant, and the sets strike the perfect balance between grand and lived-in. The use of natural wood, earthy colors, stone, and soft lighting creates an atmosphere that feels warm, timeless, and authentic. Nothing feels excessively decorated or overloaded with accessories just to look expensive. Every room, courtyard, and palace feels believable, as though people genuinely live there. It is the perfect amount of detail without ever becoming distracting, allowing the story and performances to remain the focus.
Another aspect I deeply appreciated was how the drama portrays women. Instead of forcing modern ideals into a historical setting, it explores the different ways women exercised influence within the limitations of their time. Ye Li, Guo Jin, Qing Shuang, and the other women each navigate power differently through intelligence, strategy, sacrifice, or political manipulation. Their stories never feel secondary, and they offer a refreshing perspective that is often overlooked in historical dramas.
The supporting cast is equally memorable, with each character contributing meaningfully to the larger narrative. Their individual stories never feel like distractions because they all reinforce the central themes of loyalty, family, sacrifice, and survival. Even the antagonists are written with enough depth to make their motivations understandable, reminding us that history is rarely divided into purely good and evil people. I also appreciated how the drama handled Guo Jin's ending. Rather than giving her a gruesome punishment, it allowed time itself to become her greatest enemy. After spending a lifetime controlling everyone around her, she ultimately faced the one thing no ruler can command. I found that far more poetic than a conventional revenge ending.
The drama isn't flawless. There are moments where the editing feels abrupt despite its forty-episode runtime, and a few supporting characters deserved stronger development. I also wish Princess Lingyun's storyline had been explored more deeply because it held enormous potential. However, these are relatively minor shortcomings in a drama that consistently remains emotionally engaging from beginning to end.
Ultimately, The First Jasmine isn't really about revenge, despite revenge setting the story in motion. It's about finding hope after unimaginable loss, learning to trust again, and discovering that healing isn't something you achieve alone. It asks its audience to understand people rather than judge them, to recognize that history is shaped by flawed individuals carrying impossible burdens. By the time the story reached its beautifully understated conclusion, I realized the greatest victory wasn't defeating enemies or reclaiming lost honor. It was watching two broken people slowly find a place where they could finally call home. That is what stayed with me long after the final episode ended.
Was this review helpful to you?
Solid Drama
This is a solid drama with good acting, good character development, and a believable plot. Finally.The capable woman trope is finally done well. She's not capable for the sake of impressing the audience but because she earned it. We see what she had to go through for the skills she has. They don't magically appear for because the moment needs it.
The last few episodes do drag. The momentum gets lost toward the last 20 episodes. It was okay with me, but I will admit I did lose patience and started fast forwarding through the memories or repeated scenes.
Even with that, I would suggest watching this drama. The way characters were handled make it worth any later slow down in the plot.
Was this review helpful to you?
A Drama That Rewards Patience
This drama has a high barrier to entry, and I think that’s exactly why it’s so divisive.It doesn’t constantly explain itself, and it expects the audience to infer a lot. Rather than spoon-feeding every answer, it gradually reveals the bigger picture through subtle details, conversations, and character interactions. If that storytelling style resonates with you, you’ll probably love it. If it doesn’t, you’ll likely wonder what all the praise is about.
One aspect I especially appreciated was how the drama portrays invisible emotional wounds. Some scars aren’t immediately visible, and the story explores this with surprising sensitivity and restraint. It reminded me that not every battle leaves a physical mark. Some of the deepest scars are the ones no one else can see, and healing is rarely linear.
It may not be the easiest drama to watch, and I understand why it isn’t for everyone. But for viewers who enjoy layered narratives, imperfect characters, and stories that reveal themselves over time, I think it’s absolutely worth watching.
Was this review helpful to you?
it's a solid show
Wow, just wow! Just finished watching Mo Li. This is my first review here, I just felt like dropping this. I almost missed out just because of the top reviews I saw....All I can say is it's a solid show. I'm a sucker for a good plot, and something I can relate to, I guess that's why I always struggle watching most fantasy dramas. I took breaks in between, and anytime I came back to continue watching, I'm always hooked.
It has tragic scenes, and I believe that's the main plot of the drama anyway, and what sells it.
It's a well-written drama and definitely one of the top dramas I've seen this year.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A Surprising Revenge Drama
I’ll start with the downside:40 episodes is a difficult length for a story built around revenge to maintain pace, and towards the end I did skip some of the side plots. I imagine viewers who watch every single subplot may feel that the pacing drags in the final stretch. The drama also introduces a lot of side characters, and unfortunately not all of them receive satisfying conclusions. Some simply disappear, making me wonder why they were introduced in the first place.
That said, none of those flaws took away from what this drama did exceptionally well.
It wasn’t another "revenge" story, the psychological aspect completely changes the viewing experience. Watching through Ye Li’s perspective genuinely made me forget no one in Lishan academy survived and the scene she imagined her master while actually performing the martial arts herself was directed perfectly.
Also seen people complain that the revenge wasn't satisfying, and I honestly disagree.
Lu Changfu's death was one of the most creative revenge scenes I've seen. Again, I think many viewers misunderstand the ending with the Empress Dowager.
It would have been unrealistic for the her to walk in and kill the most powerful lady in the palace. The Empress Dowager's greatest obsession wasn't staying alive—it was her legacy. She genuinely believed history would remember her as a great ruler. Instead, she was stripped of her honor, buried as a commoner, and the reputation she spent her entire life protecting disappeared.
The acting was another major highlight.
Bai Lu delivered one of my favorite performances of hers and Cheng Lei played the role of Prince Ding rightly.
One thing I also appreciated was that the supporting cast played their roles convincingly especially Prince Li’s actor, I think he was a standout character for me.
My only other criticism is that I wish the drama had handled the heroine's psychological condition with a little more depth and consistency. It was one of the most unique aspects of the story, and I think they could have explored it even further.
Overall, this was one of the biggest surprises I've had in years. I went in with almost no expectations and ended up completely immersed.
Was this review helpful to you?
Forgettable
No problem with the slow start and story build up so that wasn't an issue for me watching this drama.Liked it very much in the beginning actually.
It somehow started to get dull especially around episode 36-40 though.
The story lose me when they can't communicate with each other and the only option is a break up or divorce. Yeah, it didn't last long, but why even put that in the script? When ml knows his wife did so much for him and was ill herself. He doesn't think twice before making that dumb decision. It was disappointing.
Cheng Lei big fan of his work, but his character in this drama was not my favorite. I don't know if it's because of the writing of his character or not.
Just wasn't excited to see him on screen when it showed him. He did have a few cool scenes I give him that. It just wasn't enough.
Bai Lu and Cheng Lei had cute scenes together at first. Later it felt like they were saying their lines. Don't know how else to explain it. Wasn't excited enough about their characters relationship anymore.
Glad everyone else enjoyed it! It just wasn't my favorite from the leads.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The Most Tormented, Desolated Soul: A Mission for Justice & Revenge by the Woman Who Braved It All.
"The nation, including the people, is never an empire owned by one person. To blame oneself and one's kin is all for the sake of being blameless before the world." - Emperor Xuan (Mo Yan Qi)Right from the outset of this review, I want to declare that I experienced little to no worry or frustration while watching this drama. In fact, I was deeply captivated and swayed by how the narrative was delivered in a solemn, yet excruciatingly heart-wrenching manner. Truly a job well done.
From the beginning up to the three-quarters mark of the drama, the narrative delivered nothing but an inspirational and captivating story—one that tenderly cradles while simultaneously veiling the evocative, passionate, yet devastating elements of the plot. If I were to compare it to an object, it would be a jigsaw puzzle—a mysterious one that holds and conceals an underlying depth despite its seemingly light and entertaining appearance. Watching this show felt like an interactive activity of patiently collecting a single puzzle piece each episode until you can finally assemble all the fragments to see its full glory and discover the earth-shattering secret it has been ostensibly hiding all this time. It was a narrative where the plot was shallowly concealed by its craftsmen deliberately, as if they never genuinely wanted to hide its secrets at all, leaving them right out in the open, waiting for the audience's curiosity and foresight to figure everything out. That is why by episode 5, I already had a clear idea of the direction they were steering this emotional story toward, and even before reaching the halfway point, I had already perceived what the whole picture might actually look like—one so grim, saddening, and devastating that I knew for sure it would render me completely speechless with a heavy heart. A prediction that turned out to be entirely accurate. 😭
For the record, although the pattern of the main plot may seem to follow a formulaic structure—one so well-worn you can already predict what's going to happen—to me, it was more of the writers' leniency and consideration toward the viewers. It's like they never really intended to make this a heavy drama to start with. So as to lessen the impact and prevent us from being utterly devastated once the mysteries are finally unfolded, they instead deliberately left obvious clues early on to make things easier for us and to maintain its fun and entertaining vibe.
Sadly, in spite of its highly compelling run, the drama still suffered an unexpected low point—a hiccup around the final quarter of the story that spoiled the otherwise smooth and almost perfect momentum of the show. What bothered me, though, is that this misstep could have easily been avoided if the writers had wanted to, since the logical groundwork for the conflicts had already been aligned and laid out beforehand. Therefore, I was truly dumbfounded that they still pushed through with the whole divorce plotline when it was entirely unnecessary. It felt like a blatant plot contrivance, manufactured solely to engineer the friction needed to expose a specific outcome—the truth behind the disastrous incident at Lishan Academy. It became apparent that the writers wanted to reveal this truth all along but either missed the opportune moment or were simply uncertain of where it logically fit. Unfortunately, this narrative miscalculation undeniably disrupted the story's seamless run for me.
Looking at it from another perspective, what I appreciated most about this misstep was that the narrative didn't linger too much on it. Instead, they moved on almost immediately in the subsequent episode, resolving the conflict to finally stage the outcome they had so desperately wanted to reveal all along. This perfectly illustrates the "missed timing/plot uncertainty" I noted above; because the whole divorce plotline lacked the structural weight of a major conflict, it functioned merely as an instrument to pave the way for their long-awaited tragic revelation.
Conversely, the story's climax and conclusion were otherwise executed very well. It was deeply satisfying to witness how Feng Zhiyao successfully avenged Princess Lingyun, and how Ye Ying was finally reunited with her husband, Prince Li—only to be slapped with the harsh reality that his ambitions far outweighed their relationship, which shortly concluded in a complete tragedy as Prince Li was defeated and ultimately faced his inevitable downfall. Above all, what really stood out was the Empress Dowager's well-deserved utter demise. She was rebuked by her own son, stripped of her posthumous titles, and buried simply as a commoner, with all her abominable misdeeds exposed to the world to serve as justice for the unimaginable atrocities she committed.
If there is anything I want to express my dissatisfaction with, it would be Ye Li's duel with Mo Jingli. The execution, dialogue, and emotions infused into their fight scenes were nicely done. However, it was totally disappointing to see Ye Li getting floored by him when all this time her character was built up as someone who possesses formidable martial arts skills—which she learned from her renowned Master Zhu. For me, this is the most significant missed opportunity of the show. Her skills received immense hype but were ultimately proven to be useless and decent at best, as they were technically hidden—except for a couple of scenes where she was in a dire situation—until her duel with Mo Jingli. Honestly, it could have been a game-changer and a huge mood booster if they had only allowed her to fight alongside Mo Xiuyao. Instead, they kept her detained in the palace as a hostage. I am not saying it is a bad decision, as it completely aligns with the dramatic tension of the plot; it is just that I have been craving to witness her battle prowess for a long time, only to be provided with palace intrigue that, presumably, no one really wanted. In the end, I can genuinely say that her martial arts prowess was overhyped for nothing.
"The wise mend their deficiencies, while the foolish offer others their weaknesses." - Empress Dowager (Guo Jin)
Finally, for my closing statements, let me just dedicate some words of admiration to our female lead, Ye Li.
One key feature I incredibly admire about this drama is Ye Li's tenacity, perseverance, and determination to seek revenge, uphold justice, and demand retribution from the people who brought harm to Lishan Academy, at the same time diligently repaying their debt of gratitude to all the people, significant or not, who extended a helping hand when they needed it most. I deeply appreciate that her purpose was not entirely fixated on revenge, but also on returning the kindness they received, regardless of how big or small it is. She stands as the ultimate embodiment of the deceased and the living proof of Lishan Academy's existence.
I literally binge-watched the first three-quarters of the show without blinking an eye—aside from the several instances where I had to wipe away tears that unconsciously slipped through. It was a thoroughly emotional journey of endurance and painstaking effort to exact a delicately cultivated revenge. What made it more agonizing though was the fact that Ye Li suffered unimaginable grief and anguish in desolation, until she eventually developed bereavement psychosis—a trauma-induced, deceptive coping mechanism rooted in severe denial and dissociation, a condition that preserves one's sanity and life itself from an unbearable reality by creating an illusory bubble where everything remains the same as if nothing has changed, which was triggered by going through an agony so intense it led to self-exhaustion, leaving a sharp, world-shattering impact deep within her.
All that said, it breaks my heart to smithereens how she still managed to become a literal sun—irradiating the dark and gloomy lives of those around her, especially her husband, Mo Xiuyao, and the residents of the Prince Ding mansion—despite being engulfed in complete darkness herself. It is astonishing how she illuminated and bestowed blinding light upon the people around her, vitalizing them and bringing hope to their dreary lives while she, on the other hand, was being enveloped and consumed by loneliness inside. She is the very figure who raised the family up from its devastating ruins and mended its foundation to make it strong and whole again. Consequently, watching the plot unfold little by little made me slowly sink into great misery myself. She is the kind of character I want to envelop in my tight and warm embrace while gently patting her on the back for bearing through it all, knowing just how exhausting and excruciating it had been all along.
"Mo Xiuyao, don't let your life become a show in their eyes." - Ye Li
Story - 9.5, This could have been an easy 10 if not for the contrived divorce plot they reinforced to save their asses for their seeming lack of discernment on when the best timing was to unveil the biggest revelation of the story—Lishan Academy's demise. Although it wasn't highly dramatized, it still remains the biggest factor that disrupted my seamless emotional experience watching this show. Aside from that, I tremendously enjoyed this story. I was highly entertained by how Ye Li was orchestrating her own revenge schemes behind Mo Xiuyao. She played him big time there. Hahaha!
Acting/Cast - 9.5, I undeniably adore both of our main leads, but Bai Lu's masterful portrayal of her character—by properly conveying every emotion and how strongly it was received by the viewers—stood out the best to me. Watching Cheng Lei, on the other hand, reminded me of another drama (Scent of Time), specifically during his irritated, enraged, and beaming scenes. For some reason, while watching his portrayal, I unconsciously became so fixated and overly discerning of his facial expressions that I started getting bothered and weirded out by how different and unnatural they were from his usually calm, stoic, and dangerous demeanor, to the point that I started thinking of another actor (Wang Xingyue) while watching him, imagining that the character would fit him better... I am so sorry, Cheng Lei! In conclusion, I realized that he needs improvement for roles that require a wide variety of overly animated expressions. Other than that, I love that both of their characters are mature and adaptable, given how their conflicts are getting resolved shortly within the same episode—majority of the time thanks to Ye Li. Therefore, I want to give extra credit to her, as she practically carried 80% of the conflicts and emotional aspects of this show on her back.
Music - 10, Each track is individually remarkable, but when infused with the drama's sequences, their value immediately skyrocketed beyond expectations. They accompanied every scene they were played in very well, enhancing and bringing forth even more of the emotions hidden deep within. My top favorites are: 吻合 (In Harmony), 爱，不止如此 (Love is More Than This), 来日方长 (There's Plenty of Time Ahead), and lastly—I know it's weird—but I was overly captivated by the Sutra chanting part in the song 心世界 (World of the Heart).
Rewatch Value - 9.5, This is a drama I wouldn't mind watching again despite the plot contrivance I mentioned above. Thank heavens the writers didn't treat it as a major plot device; if it had turned out to be a major conflict, my perspective would certainly not be as light and calm as it is right now.
Overall - 9.5, Personally, I can say that this is close to a solid narrative, with the exception of the forced divorce plot. Therefore, I cannot understand the "hate train" of the viewers' dissatisfied reviews posted on MDL for this drama. The emotions were delivered perfectly, and so was the story, so, why???
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
mixed feelings ...
It didn't turn out to be as what I expected , I thought this was going to be this fast paced strong revenge drama , yet what they gave us was a rather slow paced drama which tried to tackle many ideas at once and somehow each one turned out to be a bit unsatisfying for me .so first of all the acting was superb , but the plot didn't serve the drama that much , this drama focused on many plot lines at once which was annoying at sometimes given the fact that I was mainly interested in mo xiuyao and ye li story and with all those storylines it felt dragged for me , ye li knowing medicine , martial arts and basically everything to get the ML out of trouble was quite annoying it felt like a loophole to fix any obstacle they faced .
I hated the whole mo jingli arc like he was so annoying and he wanted it all he wanted the throne and ye li even after he betrayed lishan academy, ye li was married and he himself was married to her step sister , he just got on my nerves .
cangbei princess was killed and they forgot about her ?? like they gave no explanation to the other nation or anything and her maid what was she trying to seek revenge from mo xiuyao for ? how would he have saved her when he himself needed saving ?? why would she call him her enemy like he wasn't the one to cause her to became a slave.
empress dowager after all she had done she got the easiest way out .
that has been said this drama definitely had its moments , from mo xiuyao getting closure for his brother and killed army and the emotional moments we got to know what happened at lishan academy.
this wasn't perfect but it desrves to give it a go.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A typical historical romance drama with a fresh twist
This would have been another one of those typical historical romance cdramas with wronged leads, lots of scheming for revenge, and court intrigue if it wasn't for one big twist - FL here suffers from severe psychological trauma and is an unreliable narrator. Add to that ML having a physical disability, and you get a dire mix of trauma dumping from the crippled leads in this drama, driving most of the plot. All in all, this drama is around 10% romance, 40% scheming, 50% trauma. So if you're looking mainly for romance here, you may be disappointed.TL;DR:
POSITIVES:
- Very interesting FL character's concept
- Stellar Lishan mountain arc
- FL's cunning revenge schemes
- Different POVs and clever use of unreliable narration from FL's perspective
- Beautiful OST
NEGATIVES:
- Very lackluster, prudishly filmed romance
- Some big, forced angst for the sake of moving the plot
- Convoluted plot device
- Uncompelling, boring villains
- The plot is not easy to follow due to how it was filmed
- Lots of forgettable side characters
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEMALE LEAD:
FL here is a genius level scholar, martial arts pro, experienced medical expert, skilled painter, savvy businesswoman, wise beyond her years and progressive, yet also kind, selfless and generally liked by all. She's also very cunning and plots elaborate schemes like a veteran strategist. She definitely falls into a typical Mary Sue category, but it's easy to close your eyes on all that because of her severe mental trauma.
5 years before the start of the plot, FL suffered a great tragedy at the scholar academy on mount Lishan, where she lived with her grandfather and other scholars. She survived, but it left a deep scar in her psyche, resulting in a severe case of PTSD, with symptoms such as hallucinating imaginary interlocutors, associating herself as another person, and completely erasing the tragedy from her mind. Her hallucinations come and go on a trigger when she's very stressed.
Because of this, it's very easy to sympathize with her - she's traumatized, her mind is fragile, she's lonely and yearns for family's warmth and somebody to lean onto. She's utterly devoted to ML after marrying him, and he becomes the anchor that keeps her rooted in reality.
She expertly hides her plans and intentions behind all sorts of masks to complete her goals - naive, overly cheerful, impassionate, pitiful...But behind it all she's still that lonely, scared girl, crying her heart out on a desolated mountain.
The plot is heavily centered around FL and, like always in Bai Lu's dramas, she carries the whole drama on her shoulders. Forget about ML, he's just a prop here. Her intriguing, unpredictable character is the main highlight of this drama.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MALE LEAD:
ML here is rather boring, to be honest. It's obvious he's mainly here to love FL and heal her trauma; it's a female-centric drama after all.
He's a typical brave and loyal general prince who got his legs crippled in a war 8 years ago and whose family almost got wiped out on unjust charges of treason. He harbors a grudge towards the same villains as FL and wants to clear his family's name, but in 8 years he hasn't achieved much on that front. Only after FL arrives at his mansion, do things start moving with him. He gets promoted to a prefect position, which allows him to investigate the villains' dealings. But in the end, it's FL who manages to clear his family's name through her scheming.
His character can be described as reserved, brooding, mistrustful and intolerant to pity.
Though very suspicious and wary of people after suffering from his own tragedy, he rather quickly gets enamored with FL, which later gets even a bit obsessive. After she convinces him to heal his legs and he learns of her mental issues, he tries to help her overcome them in return. And in the end, after weathering all the misunderstandings and villains' schemes, he becomes her one constant in the world to lean onto.
However!
One of the major letdowns of this drama also involves ML. To move the plot back to the Lishan mountain, the writers couldn't come up with anything better but to force a blown out of proportion, angsty misunderstanding between the leads. This led to the signing of divorce papers and FL, with all her imaginary friends, leaving back to the mountain. All because ML got into his mind that FL only pitied him and never loved him. He couldn't conceive it could be both. And, bro, you didn't marry for love; she did a lot for you, like, A LOT. But nah, one big misunderstanding and it's "off to the mountain with you, imma divorcing you". If people acted this flippant in marriage all the time, no sane woman would want to get married. It's not a fkn car rent contract.
Thankfully, they didn't drag this for too long. ML hated FL for pitying him, but after learning what happened to her on the mountain, he himself became overwhelmed with pity and rushed after her. The ironic hypocrisy at its best.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLOT:
The drama starts when FL is ordered to come down from mount Lishan back to her father's scummy family to marry ML in an arranged marriage. She leaves with a mental checklist of things to do:
• to avenge her mother's death;
• to avenge the mountain's graduates, who got persecuted;
• to uncover the edict plot device lost by her mother, which led to ML's family's ruin, and heal ML's crippled legs;
After the marriage, she immediately starts working on these things.
This is the most fun part of the drama - watching this dissonance-inducing character struggle with her mental trauma, all the while enacting her elaborate, cold and calculating revenge plans with precision and guile.
Another, absolutely stellar part of the plot was the Lishan mountain arc - FL elevated this drama to another level with her performance there. Prepare to cry.
Besides the intriguing mystery of FL's past and her revenge schemes, this is a typical historical romance drama - expect to see court intrigue, incessant scheming and plotting, annoying love polygons, etc. If you've seen a dozen such dramas already, there's nothing new to find here, unfortunately.
What they've tried doing cleverly with the plot here is carefully dosing crucial information about the mystery of what happened on mount Lishan, inserting different POVs, and introducing unreliable narration from FL's perspective.
Plot quality in this drama also fluctuates like crazy - this drama was written by a group of writers, and it shows. Excellently written FL's trauma and schemes (main plot) look like they were written by one party, boring ass romance by another, side stuff by a third.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PACING AND PLOT DEVICES:
Unfortunately, some scenes here were weirdly paced and edited, leading to uneven pacing overall. At times haphazard; at times dropping names, but not showing who these people are until later; at times showing people, but you've got no clue who they are; lots of "blink and you miss it" plot points.
The drama also got quite draggy in the last couple of episodes, but at least nothing was rushed. Everyone had enough sceen time for their own epilogue.
There are also some very convoluted plot points here.
For example, the general-governor, whose murder was investigated for a long time, had such an egregiously written path to the capital, you can't help but get confused.
And don't even get me started about the edict plot device. I even wrote a lengthy explanation with a timeline in discussions about it while trying to connect the missing dots.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VILLAINS:
There are 3 main villains in this drama, and unfortunately, none of them are anything to write home about.
Marquis is a lapdog of the main villain - the empress dowager. Together, they staged a coup 8 years ago against the Crown Prince and erected the dowager's son as the new emperor. They then intimidated or killed all dissidents and kept on doing that for 8 years, until other factions started digging under them and eroding their bond with court intrigues.
The dowager's scenes mostly are as dull as watching paint dry, maybe because they tried showing her sickly and heavily burdened by regrets over the years.
And the marquis is so dumb and reckless and gets played so often throughout the drama, you'll quickly start questioning how these two even managed to grab and hold onto power.
All in all, these two are one of the major letdowns of this drama - very uncompelling, flat villains.
Then we also have the 3d villain - SML. The son of the killed Crown Prince and a contender to the throne, he's a typical Hamlet-esque character with some very annoying flaws, such as being obsessed with FL, being self-pitying, self-destructive, ruthless and conniving. He's a bit more interesting to watch, but in the later part of the drama he gets swept under the rug for many episodes, only to reappear in the end with predictable rebellion and pathetic death.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SIDE CHARACTERS:
There are also lots of side characters plotting schemes against the villains, against each other, and against the main leads, but it's all been there, seen that. If you want to watch smart court intrigues, this drama definitely is not it, to a point it just starts to get cartoonish at times. They also kept adding a new set of side characters on the regular basis, making the cast very bloated in the end. Some side characters were boring and a plain waste of screen time.
And there were so many "dead end" characters' arcs here with worst possible endings - the stupid assassin boy, marquis's sons, ML's merchant friend+Cangbei princess, SFL...So many painfully obvious opportunities to make something great with these characters, but nah.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROMANCE:
Unfortunately, it was so lackluster and prudishly filmed, it became another one of the major letdowns of the drama.
I've thought about what was so off about it for quite some time and here are my thoughts:
First, in terms of FL, for the bigger half of the drama she so often switched from acting overly cheerful, kind and friendly in one scene only to turn into a stone-faced, cold and calculating mastermind in the next, that for the longest time it made me question whether anything she was doing or saying was genuine. So, her budding romance with ML also looked fake and not genuine for a long time. Maybe the actress failed to properly convey her character's complex emotions, or it was for a purposeful sense of dissonance. Whatever the reason, it didn't do any favors to the romance subplot. Way later in the drama, they tried assuring the audience that she loved ML from the beginning by showing her having a teenage crush on him after he saved her one time years ago. But the first impression at that point had already taken deep root, and since it happened years ago, it still wasn't convincing enough.
Second, while some viewers praised their good communication in the beginning, it mainly involved FL quickly resolving small misunderstandings with ML. But she never told him about or included him in her big revenge schemes. This led to a predictable, but very overblown conflict between the leads when ML learned she was lying to him. For the larger part of the drama they acted like a devoted married couple, but were working and plotting by themselves, never fully trusting each other, until it blew up in their faces.
Third, their relationship development skipped a few steps and never backtracked to pick them up.
Their romance here is a "slice of life", "skipping steps straight to the endgame", "old married couple" type. It lacked passion and sexual tension. The leads got married since the start of the drama, so the scriptwriters decided this couple can just skip all the normal romantic relationship steps straight to the end. There's basically no-lead up, stakes, or struggle to get together. Everything is taken for granted. ML was shown a few times to be nervous around FL, but she was looking like she's oblivious to any of these concepts all the time.
Even when they finally consummated their marriage, it all looked so flat and unenthusiastic, it made me wonder whether anything actually happened there. There are literally two prudish kissing scenes in this drama, with none left for the ending, not to mention any mention about kids.
One could argue there was often something interfering with their romantic life - emotional unavailability, misunderstandings, etc. But there were also lots of quiet, peaceful moments that were wasted on day-to-day domestic banalities and hand holding.
All in all, ML here shows more passion in being jealous and angry at FL's shenanigans, and FL acts most natural when she's executing her schemes and suffering from her trauma. It's possible the actors were uncomfortable with each other and failed to convincingly convey romantic feelings. But I saw these actors in other dramas, and I think romance wise the scriptwriters and directors simply did us dirty. And not including a kiss in the final episode of a romance drama is just a crime in itself.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRODUCTION AND MUSIC:
Compared to some of the recent cdramas, the sets and costumes here are on the cheaper side, but at least they're fresh and new. I'm very tired of seeing the same palace sets in every historical cdrama made in the last 4 years or so. They've also tried stylizing everything with eye-pleasing color palette.
The last major highlight of this drama is the music - the bgm instrumental music is superb, and Zhou Shen's intro delivered as always, and there were some other nice songs.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONCLUSION:
This drama sure was a rollercoaster in terms of how to rate it. I went back and forth as the episodes aired. And in the end, I gotta say that overall it's quite good. Some parts were stellar; some, unfortunately, didn't deliver.
If you're a fan of Bail Lu's work, it definitely is a must watch - compared to her other dramas, it's one of the better ones. She's been on a roll this year with good dramas. Her performance in the Lishan mountain arc will probably net her all the yearly awards, it was so good.
There were some very annoying letdowns in this drama, though, described in detail above, so I had to lower the score a bit. Overall, it's an 8 from me.
P.S. If you want to watch a drama where Bai Lu unquestionably fits her role like a glove, with none of the draggy soap in the plot, go watch her previous drama - Unveil: Jadewind. And it's funny, but even that grim detective drama had more exciting, natural romance than in The First Jasmine, even though it wasn't the main focus.
For an intelligent court intrigue and revenge drama with well-written complex villains, I'd recommend the recent Legend of Zang Hai.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The plot zigs when I expect it to zag
I enjoyed this drama somewhat. I also feel confused and dissatisfied. These are not minor issues. Some aspects really impacted on my engagement with this show.This is odd as I started off quite impressed. It has a fast paced, no nonsense start. Bold images and bold plots. Our leads are well matched and have good chemistry. Yes, it is tropey, no surprises there.
There is no doubt Bai Lu is the star. She is beautiful, smart, strong and . . beautiful. She is well supported by Cheng Lei as the handsome yet vulnerable ML. The production value is high. Maybe not quite S tier. One of the more notable costume dramas of 2026.
However, there seems to be a recurring problem with the script. Just when you think the plot is developing logically, it goes off kilter. It is functional, but you feel an imbalance in the Force. That's why I said it zigs instead of zags. It is hard to describe so I'll give you an example.
Princess Ling Yun of the rival Cang Bei kingdom is introduced early on disguised as a wandering male merchant. She met the ML's BFF and they developed feelings. The show builds a sweet little romance between them and then did the unthinkable.
It is a key turning point in the story, I get that, but it also feels pointless. It is a cheap trick to shock and awe us. She was portrayed as a good and resourceful person, she has a bright future ahead and they kill her off so ignominiously. They could have sub in a random barbarian prince. Job done, war starts. No emotional collateral damage.
On the flip side, I kept expecting her to show up and surprise the 2ML. She is smart enough to fake her own death. Why not? A double twist! Nope. She's dead, Jim. It won't take much to throw us a bone, dear writer. You are off my Xmas card list.
Unrelated, the FL suffers from PTSD. She has very vivid hallucinations after the events surrounding the Li Mountain Academy. I get that, but the show is inconsistent. It can go from mild to extreme. This creates uncertainty as we can never be sure if someone she sees is real or a fragment of her imagination.
Speaking of the Academy, that is a very sad and impactful twist. However, once the dust settled, it opens up a Pandora's box. By the show's own reckoning, the FL was only 14/15 when everyone in the Academy died at the same time. She buried 47(!) people with her own hands and then lived alone for 6 years! I assume she was hallucinating like crazy.
The salient point is when we see her at the start of this drama, she is ~21 years old, well-mannered and educated. Perfectly normal and well adjusted. It makes sense if she just left a loving community of scholars. Once we found out the truth, it felt askew and unsettling. Makes me question a lot of what went before. The drama just steamrolled through bumps in the narrative without a care.
Like all things, the end cometh. It was a bit draggy and they cheap out on the epic final battle. We got the breathless messenger rushing fore to declare the ML has won the battle. Huzzah! Thanks for taking a couple of eps to hype it up. The fight scene in the palace courtyard did partially compensate for it.
If I'm honest, the last ep is a letdown. I don't know how they did it, but they managed make an happy ending feel depressing. It is uncanny. They even give us a lecture on good governance in the dying minutes. How romantic? Nothing surprised me anymore.
Ok, before I conclude this, let's talk about the elephant in the room. While the romance between our leads is swoon-y and the foundation of this show, there is no intimacy. There are the odd hugs, lots of loving gazes and whispers of sweet nothing. Yet, not one kiss in 40 eps! Is there a no-kiss clause in their contract?
It got to the point when even the writer is making fun of their situation. She put together one whole EP where the sole aim is to get the FL pregnant. I kid you not. The ML's sister got so desperate she fed him aphrodisiac!
We then watch our OTP walking hand-in-hand into the night while the FL said (and I paraphrase), "let's just do it." Have they not consummate their marriage after all this time?! Why? I have no clue. Are they really that naïve?
In the end, I have mixed feelings about this series. When it is good, it is very watchable. Then the plot turns into an Ouroboros. I'm still not sure how a drama of this calibre ends up in this half baked twilight zone. I am perplexed. Peace.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The Sweetest Revenge Smells Like Jasmine
The First Jasmine is a drama about people carrying the weight of yesterday while trying to build a tomorrow worth living for. At first glance, it looks like another arranged marriage story between Ye Li, a young woman who descends from Lishan Mountain to marry the crippled Prince Ding, Mo Xiu Yao. At the same time, her younger sister Ye Ying marries Prince Li, Mo Jing Li, who was once betrothed to Ye Li and secretly schemes for the throne. Beneath these marriages lies a web of revenge, hidden identities, political conspiracies, old trauma, and long overdue justice. It sounds like a lot, but surprisingly, the drama never feels like it is juggling too many balls at once.One of the biggest strengths of The First Jasmine is its pacing. It feels like the writers actually knew how many episodes they had and wrote accordingly. Every conflict lasts exactly as long as it needs to. Nothing overstays its welcome, and nothing feels rushed. I eventually found myself predicting when a mystery would be answered or when a conflict would wrap up, and more often than not, the drama followed through. It was incredibly satisfying. Even the biggest misunderstandings were resolved without dragging endlessly. The balance between romance, politics, revenge, and character development is carefully maintained throughout. It is the kind of storytelling that quietly earns your trust.
The heart of the story is Ye Li. On the surface, she is cheerful, laid back, fearless, and almost carefree as she reenters society after years on Lishan Mountain. Underneath that smile, however, is someone carrying a revenge plan years in the making and a trauma so severe that even she does not fully understand it. Early on, she creates four straw dolls representing the four people she intends to destroy, and that alone tells you she is not your typical female lead. She is ruthless, meticulous, and incredibly patient. Watching her execute her revenge was immensely satisfying because she never acted recklessly. Every move was calculated to protect herself while bringing down her enemies. When she literally burned someone alive, all I could think was, "Atta girl." I rooted for her every step of the way.
What impressed me even more was how the drama handled her trauma. Instead of relying on the usual memory loss or simple hallucination trope, it explored the lasting psychological damage caused by overwhelming grief. Ye Li's mental struggles become one of the drama's biggest mysteries, and the eventual reveal adds incredible depth to both her character and the overall narrative. It is rare to see a costume drama approach mental health with this much nuance, and I appreciated how much time was dedicated to exploring it instead of simply using it as a plot device.
Mo Xiu Yao carries a different kind of wound. Once a brilliant general, he lost the use of his legs after battle. At the same time, his brother, the former Prince Ding, was falsely accused and executed, destroying his family and affecting thousands of loyal soldiers. Xiu Yao himself was imprisoned, delaying treatment for his injuries, surviving only because of the pastries a young Ye Li gave him after he once saved her life. Years later, he continues searching for evidence to restore his brother's name while living in a wheelchair.
I do wish the drama spent more time showing how his disability shaped his daily life and how he eventually came to accept it. By the time the story begins, he has already adjusted, so we miss much of that emotional journey. Still, the small moments showing his frustration were enough to leave an impression. Then, after his legs were finally healed, he immediately unleashed breathtaking martial arts that made me wonder whether he had been secretly practicing off screen all those years. Maybe muscle memory deserves an award. Whatever the explanation, Cheng Lei absolutely delivered. Every action sequence had my adrenaline soaring.
What makes Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao such compelling protagonists is how they mirror each other. Both carry unbearable pain from the past. One develops deep psychological trauma while the other lives with a physical disability. Yet neither allows those wounds to define them. Instead, they slowly become each other's place of healing.
Long before their marriage, Ye Li had already fallen for Xiu Yao after he saved her life. Unable to meet him again, she could only thank him by giving him pastries as he was escorted through the capital as a prisoner. Those pastries ended up saving his life in prison. At the same time, Ye Li had made a promise to Xiu Yao's brother before his execution that she would heal Xiu Yao's legs, restore Prince Ding's honor, and seek justice for everyone who suffered. She spent years on Lishan Mountain preparing herself to fulfill that promise. So while everyone pitied her for marrying the crippled prince, she gladly accepted the marriage because she already loved him and had chosen this path long ago.
Their romance became one of my favorite arranged marriage relationships in costume dramas because of how naturally it unfolded. Xiu Yao begins cold and distant, even offering Ye Li a divorce not long after they marry. Ye Li simply refuses and continues living her life with that wonderfully relaxed energy that makes her so lovable. She teases him, plays with the servants, spends time with the children, goes jogging, gardens, manages her business, and slowly chips away at the walls around his heart. She never forces him, yet she never gives up either. Eventually, Xiu Yao realizes he has been watching all of her so called strange little habits the entire time.
Their first kiss, first night sleeping beside each other, and first cuddles all felt incredibly organic. The butterflies were not the giddy excitement of young love. Instead, they felt like watching two married people quietly discover that home had been sitting beside them all along. Many call it a slow burn, but to me, they became a couple emotionally long before the romance fully bloomed. Everything progressed at a pace that simply made sense.
The synopsis promised that Ye Li and Xiu Yao would join hands to defeat their enemies. Interestingly, that was not really what happened. Much of the revenge remained Ye Li's own journey while Xiu Yao focused on his responsibilities and often found himself doubting her. Surprisingly, I did not mind. It differed from my expectations, but I genuinely enjoyed watching Ye Li stand on her own instead of relying on her husband to solve everything.
The only arc that did not fully work for me was the almost divorce storyline. It sparked endless debates among viewers about who was right and who was wrong. Personally, I understood both sides. Xiu Yao had every reason to be devastated after learning that the missing edict, which ultimately led to his brother's execution, had been connected to Ye Li's family. Yet I appreciated that he did not immediately lash out in anger. He took time to process everything before approaching her gently despite his confusion.
Unfortunately, Ye Li's mention of the promise she made to his brother sent him spiraling into the mistaken belief that her love was nothing more than repayment for an old debt. It was heartbreaking because she had already made her feelings clear long before that conversation. Then came the moment that truly frustrated me. Burning the pastry wrapper, one of the most precious memories they shared, felt painfully impulsive. Writing the divorce letter felt even worse. Xiu Yao is far too intelligent for such tunnel vision. He had already promised never to leave Ye Li alone, and I believe he was perceptive enough to notice the hints surrounding her past on Lishan Mountain. This misunderstanding stood out because the drama had consistently handled conflicts so efficiently until then. It felt like an obvious narrative shortcut to bring them back to Lishan Mountain. Once he found Ye Li there, everything suddenly fell back into place a little too conveniently. Fortunately, what followed marked a beautiful new chapter in their relationship.
After Ye Li healed Xiu Yao's legs and restore his family’s honor, it became Xiu Yao's turn to help heal Ye Li's heart and mind. The tragedy at Lishan Mountain was absolutely devastating. Watching Ye Li become the sole survivor, carrying every body herself and burying everyone one by one, was one of the most heartbreaking sequences in the drama. Her trauma suddenly made perfect sense.
That said, I found myself frustrated by the people of Lishan. Their commitment to principles and moral righteousness ultimately cost countless lives. Ye Li wanted to leave the mountain to seek help and resources, yet she was repeatedly stopped because doing so would supposedly compromise their ideals. They believed Master Helai could cure everyone despite the disease spreading rapidly and resources running dangerously low. I understood their reasoning, but I simply could not sympathize with it. It felt like blind confidence disguised as virtue.
I also wish the drama had explained why Ye Li never became infected herself. She spent so much time caring for the sick while wearing only a thin cloth over her face, sometimes even removing it completely. The story never addressed it, so I ended up convincing myself that perhaps she simply had natural immunity. Maybe that is my love for the drama trying to fill in the blanks.
One of my favorite moments came much later when Xiu Yao comforted Ye Li as she struggled with her trauma. After all the promises about never leaving her that circumstances forced him to break, his words about death felt strangely beautiful.
"A'Li, I'm no longer afraid of death. When I think that as we grow old and die, we can be buried together, and I can still hold you like this even beneath the yellow earth, I'm not afraid anymore."
There was something deeply comforting about that scene. It felt like a warm blanket on a cold night. On that note, the quiet cuddles, her head resting on his lap, his gentle hand stroking her hair, those simple moments carried just as much emotional weight as any grand confession.
Beyond the main couple, I appreciated how much care was given to the supporting cast. Every important character received enough development and closure to make their journey meaningful. Rival brothers eventually found understanding. Some lovers found happiness while others learned to move forward after loss. Their stories never felt like distractions because they all strengthened the larger narrative.
The cast also deserves plenty of praise. Bai Lu delivered one of her strongest performances as Ye Li. She captured every side of this incredibly layered character, from her playful warmth to her cold ruthlessness and quiet emptiness. Some viewers felt she lacked emotion, but I thought her restrained performance perfectly reflected Ye Li's psychological state. Cheng Lei was equally impressive. His microexpressions deserve their own fan club. A slight smile, a lingering gaze, or the smallest twitch of emotion spoke volumes. He handled the political scenes, romantic moments, emotional breakdowns, and action sequences with remarkable consistency.
The supporting cast was equally memorable. Yang Shu Yi brought so much joy as Ye Ying and added welcome comedy to the story. Her peacock scene remains one of my favorites. I only wish the drama had explored more of why she loved Mo Jing Li so deeply. Cai Zheng Jie still has room to grow as an actor, but he performed well enough, and his action scenes genuinely surprised me. Zhang Shu Lun once again proved why he keeps catching my attention. Ever since Pursuit of Jade, he has had a natural charisma on screen, and Li Fei Bai became another standout role for him. Even the child actors left a lasting impression and made me wish they had even more scenes.
The final battle also delivered several pleasant surprises. Watching the gravely ill Duke Hua rise up, defeat a major enemy, and somehow survive had me cheering. Mo Jing Li's martial arts also exceeded my expectations, and Cai Zheng Jie handled those scenes surprisingly well.
The ending itself deserves praise simply because it allowed the story to breathe. Rather than rushing toward the finish line, it took time to give every major character proper closure. Although many viewers wished for more romantic scenes between Ye Li and Xiu Yao, I actually felt the amount was consistent with the drama's overall tone. More romance would certainly have been welcome, but the story was never solely about love. It was about healing, justice, and learning to move forward. My only lingering questions remain the same. Why was the edict hidden in the first place, and why was Ye Li immune to the disease?
Visually, The First Jasmine is relatively simple, but occasionally stunning. One detail I especially appreciated was how natural everything looked. Instead of smoothing everyone's faces beyond recognition, the drama allowed us to see skin texture, fabric texture, and all the little imperfections that made the world feel more real. Some of the visual effects also stood out, especially during Ye Li's battles as Master Zhu, where the presentation cleverly reflected both the action and her mental state.
The music deserves special mention as well. Both the OST and background score elevated almost every emotional moment. The songs blended seamlessly into the scenes, while the instrumentals often reminded me of the orchestral arrangements in Bridgerton. Hearing Bai Lu and Cheng Lei's songs transformed into playful instrumental versions was an unexpected delight that made many scenes even more immersive.
In the end, The First Jasmine became one of those dramas that made me impatiently wait for each new episode. Even with a few unanswered questions and a misunderstanding arc that frustrated me, I genuinely loved the journey. The chemistry felt effortless, the pacing was refreshingly well controlled, the performances were excellent, and the emotional beats landed beautifully. More importantly, every episode felt like it had purpose. It never rushed, never wandered, and always knew where it was going. The First Jasmine reminded me that good storytelling doesn't always need constant twists or endless cliffhangers. Sometimes, all it needs is confidence in its own pace. Like jasmine itself, the drama never overwhelms with spectacle. Instead, it quietly blooms, lingers, and leaves its fragrance long after the final episode ends.
Was this review helpful to you?
