Favorite role reversal shows

In the world of historical RR verticals, this one is an undiscovered gem. The plot is nonsensical and is really just there to provide a context for the romance, the ML is faking being blind (a disappointingly common trope), and the FL has some moments of being weirdly demure here and there, but overall there is plenty of RR goodness. One of the cutest MLs in RR verticals. FL is great too; besides the few OOC moments, she's commanding, tough, and a little shady, which I loved. I really enjoyed both leads and had a good time. Just don't expect a coherent plot, and prepare yourself for the usual vertical amount of insane melodrama!

I recommend, YMMV

100000% role reversal, featuring a feminine guy whose relationship with gender presentation actually gets explored in the show as part of his story and character arc! Both leads are wonderfully talented and portray a sweet romance with tons of cute moments. They adore each other and you can feel their love for each other radiating from the screen. They also help to make each other's lives better; the story is very interested in how love and support can be a positive force in someone's life, beyond just cute romantic fluffiness (though there is plenty of that too, yay.) The plot is what I'd call "slice of life", both heartwarming and very refreshing. :')

Highly, highly, highly recommend, one of my personal favorites <3

Yet another rebirth-to-make-things-right story, featuring a general FL who uses her cunning to prop up the crown prince and make him her puppet emperor, becoming as his regent. I was intrigued by this type of pairing, and found it both interesting and dleicious RR-wise; I would've gladly watched a full show with them, haha. I love tough women scheming and plotting. The fact that he was really into being her spoiled concubine was sooo cute.

The downsides of this show: sometimes there are more trad or egalitarian elements to their relationship, and most of the other women characters were villainous, as far as I remember. FL is not as commanding as you'd hope for a general-turned-regent, and they slotted her into the usual palace fights between women, instead of letting her bicker with the ministers the way a regent should. FL is also not super physically aggressive, and ML is more often taking the initiative there, which I thought was kind of disappointing.

After all those downsides-- why watch it? IDK, for some reason this show really worked for me, and I enjoyed it. Maybe I just liked FL and ML's chemistry. Even the later episodes were fun for me.

If you prefer to skip through the plot where FL is searching through her own kingdom, you won't miss much. Be sure to watch the end, though, for ML abdicating to become her consort and FL taking charge of both kingdoms as all-powerful emperor. So cheesy and fun, haha. Timestamp around 2:02:50, iirc; but just make sure you start when they're back in the palace to see all of it.

I enjoyed this a lot, YMMV.

Now this show got flack for casting ZLY as an older actress to play a younger role-- but personally, I love ZLY and I love older women, so that was a bonus for me. Fei is the hero of this show, wielding swords and kicking ass across the entire story, carrying her ML around and defending him. WYB (who is younger than her, potentially a bonus if you enjoy that sort of thing, which I do) is playing her love interest: a charming, flirtatious mystery man with a dramatic secret.

He has an amazing line later in the show about how all he wants in life is to do his wife's hair and make her happy-- you can guess at the dynamic between them! Also, shoutout to the scene where she kicks ass and then he holds up the scabbard for her to put her sword away! So much of their banter is similar to My Lady General-- he's the flirty cute one who ends up falling for the lady hero, and she's the gruff stoic one who's a bit flustered by this pretty boy admiring her prowess ;)

While there are some egalitarian moments, their romance has a huge RR undertone to it. Back when it was airing, I saw a lot of people who thought the same, so if you watch, PLEASE feel free to message me and tell me what you thought! :D

(Also, her parents kind of have a similar dynamic, which is so cute.)

Highly recommend, one of my all-time personal favorites

Not sure if this is intended as a role reversal, but the FL is written exactly like an ML would be written. Otherworldly, all-powerful, detached and mysterious, broody over the ML she's definitely not in love with but also won't let anyone possess, etc etc. The ML, by contrast, has so many FL-like moments. He's absolutely down bad for her and has lots of cute flirty moments with a definite role reversal slant; her care for him and dynamic with him has a strong role reversal element to it as well. The leads are both really talented which adds a lot of great depth.

She is 100% on top and he is 100% into it. There are some egalitarian or trad moments but overall, this felt like an RR leaning romance to me. They're a real "freak for freak" couple, which I really enjoyed. YMMV, I had a good time

Classic role reversal! Leans into the reversal hard, except for the very end with the happy ending epilogue scene, which I felt was a bit more trad, but YMMV. The plot is super interesting, and would've made for an excellent longer drama. Supporting characters are great! The leads are wonderful and have insanely good chemistry. I love flirty characters who end up tripping on their own flirtations XD and that's exactly what happens to ML! He thought he had the upper hand but surprise! His feelings for this dashing lady general weren't so fake after all ;)

The FL is a stoic, gruff, straightforward general who looks great in armor. She wears her courageous, kind heart on her sleeve, and gets the sort of complicated relationships and camaraderie with other male characters in the cast that MLs would typically get. ML is putting on a cute, coquettish act as part of a bigger plan-- but they keep the role reversal going even after his true identity is revealed!

Amazing rewatch value. ML is playing a long con that ultimately bites him in the ass in the most tragic and romantic way, and when you know all his secrets, you notice the hidden layers to his performance in every scene building up to the heartbreaking reveal. Truly a masterpiece and so delicious. Happy ending though, I promise!

One of my personal favorites, I highly recommend it! :)

watching right now ^_^

Another rebirth-to-make-things-right story. Even though FL was dramatically betrayed by her own brother, when she's reborn and given a second chance at life, her top priority is wooing her scholar husband lol. And who can blame her, he's really sweet!

I thought this vertical was pretty fun. The lead couple is very cute together, which carries the show; FL doesn't get as much commanding general-type moments as I'd like, but she's definitely tough, in charge, and very regal, which I liked. Toooons of family drama drives the plot (what there is of it), and I wish FL had schemed against them earlier on, because relatives from both his family and hers caused nonstop trouble lmao. Overall though, I had a good time! Recommend!

Imagine my joy when I saw a badge featuring this show in the Role Reversal Club XDD

I loooove Legend of Shen Li. I think it's one of the best xianxia romances out there, and I agree there are many great RR moments; the FL essentially has what would usually be an ML's character, and she's never pushed out of the spotlight, made into a damsel (even when she's very in distress) or trivialized. Her power only grows as the show goes on and she has a terrific arc as a brilliant warrior and leader.

What hooked me from the start was the RR nature of the leads' relationship in the early arc of the show: FL is a powerful immortal who needs to limit her power to stay in hiding, ML is a weak mortal who she chooses to protect. He loves pissing people off and being lazy- the best part is that's kind of just his personality LOL, even after his true power is revealed, those elements are still in him when he's allowed to truly be himself (i.e. when he's with FL). There's also a few cute moments where he points out that she's the more masculine one and she's like "true, and you're not, we balance each other" and he just agrees. <3

FL is constantly protecting him even after his true power is revealed. He has some amazing scenes where he protects her too, but I would characterize him as more of a nurturer, while she is not at all. I'd say it is RR, but with egalitarian vibes as well. Overall though, she's a powerful badass, not traditionally feminine at all. I really really loved her. I'd recommend watching just for her XD but there are SO many good characters and interesting relationship dynamics!

If you like the whole "all-powerful being has it bad for this one woman and would do anything for her and is following her around all the time" kind of dynamic, this is the show for you!

One of my personal favorites, highly recommend