The First Jasmine

A Must Watch!!

This drama was what we all needed.. a break from the usual storylines.. i love how it tackled mental health, resilience, and just the human heart itself.. Bai Lu was perfect for the FL role.. she really pulled this one off.. Cheng Lei is always the right person for these General roles.. i swear this man was a General in his past life.. i love how the writers paced the story it wasnt rushed or lagging.. it flowed. And they gave each character development and closure in the end.. nothing was left undone.. this drama was not romance heavy so dont expect heavy making out.. but their chemistry was wonderful.. their love was so endearing and gets you right in the chest.. I really truly enjoyed this drama. Go give it a watch! Gonna go rewatch it again right now lol 💜

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Masterpiece

This drama highlight trauma, mental illness, abuse, love, family, politics great combination. The leads def did a great job they chemistry together was everything their stories apart were deep and moving. Bai lu proved again what a great actress she is playing a character dealing with trauma and mental illness and fighting scenes chefs kiss. Cheng lei he has grown as actor i felt his emotions through the screen. Him and bai lu they played a great married couple so well made it seem real. If they do a drama together again im def watching.I did feel bad for the second male lead too him losing family and being locked up and bad influences took him down the wrong path his ending did break my heart. As villian empress im glad she got her karma that she killed alot innocent people but still thought she was great ruler a true narcissist. My only issue didnt see emough lin mu ran in this drama glad his character made it to the end though i def recommend this drama id def plan on rewatching it soon again.

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Done watching, its so worth it and so top tier!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The First Jasmine is easily one of my favorite dramas of 2026. From the very first episode to the finale, the story remained engaging, emotional, and beautifully written. The pacing was well-balanced, allowing every character and relationship to develop naturally without feeling rushed.

Bai Lu once again delivered an outstanding performance. She brought so much depth, strength, and emotion to her character that every scene felt genuine and impactful. Whether it was the lighter moments or the heartbreaking ones, she completely immersed me in the story. Cheng Lei was equally impressive, and the chemistry between the leads made every interaction memorable.

The production quality was excellent from the cinematography and costumes to the soundtrack. Every detail helped create a rich and immersive viewing experience. The emotional scenes hit hard, while the heartwarming moments left a lasting impression.

What I appreciated most was how the drama stayed consistent until the very end. The finale was satisfying, meaningful, and gave the characters the conclusion they deserved. The First Jasmine is a drama that made me laugh, cry, and become deeply invested in every episode.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best dramas I've watched this year and a series I would gladly recommend to anyone looking for a beautiful, emotional, and unforgettable story.

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⭐ A Drama I Didn’t Expect to Love This Much ⭐

I started watching The First Jasmine without knowing anything about the novel 📖

No spoilers. No expectations. No reading comments beforehand. No comparing scenes with the source material. I simply started because the synopsis looked interesting and I thought I would just enjoy the ride 🌸

And now after finishing it… I can honestly say this became one of my favorite drama experiences 🥹🤍

Before starting, I already knew I wasn’t watching for romance.

I’m not really someone who watches dramas mainly for romantic moments (maybe because I’m still single 😭), so I never expected myself to become emotionally attached to this story.

But this drama surprised me in the best way ✨

Because for me, this was never only about romance.

It felt like a story about people carrying pain, making difficult choices, healing slowly, trusting again, and finding someone who understands them without needing too many words 🤍

That’s what made this drama feel different 🌙

One thing I appreciated immediately was that the story respected the audience.

It didn’t constantly explain every emotion loudly.

Sometimes characters stayed silent.

Sometimes expressions said more than dialogue.

Sometimes scenes felt calm but carried so much meaning 🥹

Those small moments made me connect to the story more.

And because of that, every episode felt easy to continue 🤍

I never watched thinking, “I just want to skip to romantic scenes.”

I genuinely wanted to know what would happen next.

I wanted to see characters grow 🌱

I wanted to understand their choices.

I wanted to see relationships slowly change.

That feeling stayed until the end ✨

Now let’s talk about Ye Li 🤍

She easily became one of my favorite female leads 👑

What I liked most is that she never felt written only to support another character.

She had her own thoughts.

Her own decisions.

Her own emotions.

Her own struggles.

She wasn’t loud but she also wasn’t passive.

She wasn’t cold but she also wasn’t overly emotional.

She felt balanced ✨

Strong when she needed to be.

Soft when moments allowed her to be.

Watching her move through situations calmly while carrying so much internally made her feel human 🥹

And Bai Lu honestly did an amazing job 👏✨

This role relied a lot on expressions and quiet acting rather than exaggerated emotional scenes.

A small smile.

A pause.

A change in expression.

Little details like that made many scenes stronger 🤍

You could understand what she felt even when she didn’t say everything directly.

That kind of performance always leaves a bigger impression on me 🌸

Now Mo Xiuyao… 🤍

At first, I thought I would like Ye Li more.

But slowly I became attached to him too 🥹

His character felt reserved yet emotional in ways that weren’t obvious immediately.

There were moments where he seemed distant, moments where he seemed guarded, but as the story continued I started understanding him more.

And that’s something I appreciated ✨

His growth didn’t feel forced.

It happened naturally.

He slowly opened himself up.

He slowly trusted.

He slowly became warmer 🤍

That made his character satisfying to watch 🌙

But the real reason this drama became special for me was because of Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li together 🥹🤍

Not because they constantly had romantic scenes.

Not because of fanservice.

Not because of dramatic declarations.

But because they felt peaceful.

They felt like two people who understood each other.

They respected each other.

They listened.

They supported each other.

And most importantly—

they healed each other 🤍✨

That dynamic stayed with me more than any romantic moment.

Their relationship never felt like one person saving the other.

It felt equal.

Like both people carried pain.

Like both people slowly found comfort.

Like both people became stronger because the other existed 🌸

That’s the type of relationship I enjoy watching.

The quiet kind.

The mature kind.

The type that doesn’t need endless dramatic scenes to feel meaningful 🕊️

I also loved that this drama wasn’t in a rush.

Relationships changed gradually.

Trust developed naturally.

Emotional moments felt earned.

That made scenes hit harder because I actually cared 🥹

Another thing I noticed while watching—

I never felt exhausted.

Some dramas start strong and then become repetitive.

But here I stayed interested 🤍

Every episode gave me enough reason to continue.

Even emotional scenes didn’t feel overly heavy.

The balance worked for me ✨

And maybe this opinion became stronger because I didn’t read the novel 📖

I wasn’t waiting for specific scenes.

I wasn’t comparing details.

I just watched the drama as its own story.

And I think that helped me enjoy it more 🌸

I know not everyone will feel the same.

Some people may want more romance.

Some may prefer another type of pacing.

Some may compare it to the source material.

And that’s completely okay 🤍

Everyone watches differently.

But for me—

this drama gave me exactly what I wanted ✨

Good storytelling.

Characters I cared about.

Emotional moments.

Growth.

Comfort.

And a relationship that felt deeper than romance 🤍

I started this drama expecting nothing.

I finished it feeling unexpectedly attached 🥹

And that’s probably the best compliment I can give.

Thank you The First Jasmine for giving me a story that I enjoyed much more than I ever expected 🤍🌸✨

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MANIFESTING A BAI LU & CHENG LEI REUNION!!! ?✨

It’s been a while since I last reviewed a drama, but 'Moli' literally brought my soul back to life....

It’s such a huge relief to see Ali finally heal from her shadows and Ayao recover from his injuries and past. Honestly, I thought their romance would be way hotter, but this was so much more than that. Just their subtle skinship alone was enough to make me blush, cry, and get emotional... Their chemistry is truly on another level; they literally healed each other. For about 21 days, Ali and Ayao's love story kept me in tears. At first, I thought 'Moli' would drop or flop due to some scandals and issues during filming, but it completely exceeded my expectations.

I love Ali because she taught me to love myself more—something many of us often forget to do because we’re too busy loving and thinking about others. Ali....... 🥺💗

I’m going to miss those days when Ayao would lecture Yeli; honestly, it felt like I was getting lectured too LMAO.

I really hope Bai Lu and Cheng Lei can reunite for a second project, bai tuo bai tuo (please please) 🙏✨

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Life changing

Many reviews will tell you what happened, story-wise, and it’s received some criticism for not being romantic enough, but this is the First C drama I’ve watched with a life changing message !
What I was trying to tell us didn’t really hit me with full force, till the very end. The end credits lyrics say it all. I will definitely be re-watching to see how all of the threads are woven together to achieve this.
From the beginning it seemed like several stories, several themes, several genres (with one surprising episode being close to horror). The audience was repeatedly urged to question “why?” (even, “why not more romantic scenes?” and we finally received the answer at the end of the final episode.

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Perfect with All the Imperfections

I started watching this drama with no expectations. I was simply excited to watch another Bai Lu drama. But once I started, I couldn't stop. Every character slowly pulled me into the story, and each one had an important role to play.

The setting was beautifully designed, and it was clear how much effort and time went into making this drama. Everyone involved did an exceptional job. The production quality, writing, cinematography, music, editing, color grading, casting, and direction were all excellent and deserve appreciation.

Every actor gave their best performance. From the main leads to the supporting cast and even the actors with the smallest roles, everyone played their part sincerely.

Bai Lu has never disappointed me with any of her roles, but this is easily one of her best performances. I honestly can't imagine anyone else doing justice to Ye Li the way she did. She truly outdid herself and deserves all the praise she's receiving.

Cheng Lei was a hidden gem for me. I wasn't very familiar with his work before this drama, but his performance as Mo Xiuyao completely impressed me. He conveyed so much through his expressions alone. His micro-expressions were incredible, and he didn't always need dialogue to express his emotions.

The story wasn't perfect and had a few flaws, but no drama is. Considering everything else this drama delivered, those flaws were easy to overlook.

In the end, thank you, The First Jasmine (Moli), for taking me on such an emotional rollercoaster and giving me such a wonderful experience. This is a drama I'll remember for a long time.

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A Story That Trusted Me

I don’t write reviews immediately after finishing a drama. I need time to process what I watched. But this is one of those rare dramas that I knew I wanted to write about the moment the credits rolled.

This is not a conventional romance. It is not a conventional political drama. It is not even structured in a conventional way.

The story unfolds through layers rather than a straight line. The past and present constantly weave together, asking the audience to pay attention instead of simply waiting for the next exposition dump. I was continually asking myself: Who did this? When did it happen? Is this connected to the current timeline or to the events eight years ago? Instead of frustrating me, it pulled me deeper into the story. The writers trusted the audience to assemble the puzzle, and that trust paid off beautifully.

The romance is one of the most mature I have seen in a historical drama.

Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li don’t fall in love because the plot says it’s time. They become each other’s refuge through shared grief, loyalty, respect, and healing. Their marriage begins in Episode 1, yet physical intimacy is almost irrelevant. Watching their relationship grow through quiet moments, unwavering support, and genuine understanding was far more satisfying than grand declarations ever could have been.

The political intrigue is equally impressive.

Every decision has consequences years later. Small details that seem insignificant early on become central pieces of the larger picture. By the final episodes, I realized just how carefully everything had been constructed. Nothing important felt random.

The acting deserves enormous praise.

Bai Lu delivers one of the strongest performances I’ve seen from her. Ye Li is extraordinarily competent, but underneath that competence is unimaginable grief. The gradual revelation of what she endured completely recontextualizes her behavior throughout the series. Watching those pieces fall into place was heartbreaking.

Cheng Lei gives Mo Xiuyao tremendous dignity and restraint. His performance is built on subtle changes rather than dramatic speeches. You watch a man who has spent years believing he no longer deserves happiness slowly return to life. His transformation feels earned every step of the way.

The supporting cast is equally strong. Even characters I disagreed with rarely felt one-dimensional. Prince Li, in particular, became far more tragic than I initially expected. His story is not simply about unrequited love but about a man trying to reclaim an entire life that history stole from him.

One scene near the end will stay with me for a long time. Ye Li returns to Lishan Mountain after we finally learn the truth of what happened there. The emotional weight of that revelation reframes everything that came before it. By the time the mountain opens once again to new scholars, the story has moved beyond revenge into something much deeper: healing, remembrance, and choosing to build a future without forgetting the past.

Very few dramas genuinely surprise me anymore.

This one did.

It surprised me with its structure, with its emotional restraint, with its confidence, and with its willingness to let its audience think.

This is unquestionably one of the finest historical dramas I’ve seen and it unquestionably earns a place among my highest recommendations.

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A beautiful masterpiece!!

This drama is a complete package of love, family, friendship, loyalty,angst, pain, grief,revenge combined with the court politics.
It doesnt mainly focus on the revenge, but the plot and the twists are rather unraveled as the story progresses further, mainky emphasizing emotions as the central plot.
What i loved about this drama most, are the conversations between Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao. Their little talks, mutual support for each other, way of handling things and misunderstandings, everything really were perfect!! 👍
Mo Xiuyao and YeLi-a perfect couple😍
Bai Lu as Ye Li was outstanding in her performance. She is calm, composed, smart, highly intelligent, confident, elegant,considerate.She is the most smart female lead I have ever seen. Perhaps, this is the best role of Bai Lu for me. 👏
Cheng Lei, as Mo Xiuyao, is excellent in his acting, especially in the emotional scenes. As a prince who has been wronged and crippled for 8years, he is perfect in his performance👌. I cannot imagine anyone else as Prince Ding.
All the other actors were outstanding too in thier acting👌
On a final note, The first Jasmine has really impressed me and has joined in my rewatch list.
A simply written, perfectly portrayed, pleasant and refreshing drama, which focuses on the physical healing of Mo Xiuyao and emotional healing of Ye Li.
Can't wait to rewatch it!!
A MUST WATCH AND WORTH WATCHING DRAMA!!

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TheFirstJasmine: Worth the Time, the Tears, and Every Emotion?

I went through a full range of emotions while watching Moli from frustration to tears to joy. In the end, it was absolutely worth it. I won’t make this too long😄 for me, Moli remains an almost perfect drama.
I do wish the chemistry between the two talented leads had been explored even more because their chemistry was truly incredible almost something you could feel through the screen.That said am still satisfied, especially because some scenes are left open to interpretation, which i really appreciated. The romance and overall relationship feel mature, except for the “almost divorce” storyline, which fortunately didn’t last long.
Kudos to the entire team this drama features a truly impressive cast of talented actors. Special mention to Cheng Lei and Bai Lu, who portrayed 'Ali and A'yao perfectly. i also appreciated that there wasn’t an unnecessary killing spree of characters, except perhaps for one… the princess (I won’t name her).
I highly recommend Moli, also known as The First Jasmine but if you don’t like slow-burn dramas, this might not be for you. As for me, it was absolutely worth the time and money spent.🔥♥️This is absolutely no doubt, going on my rewatch list

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