Nelly
Canada
Enjoyable...with some skipping
OVERALL
This drama is really the prototype of "slice of life". Watch it if 1) you like dramas with a mature feel, 2) you're looking for a fun couple and cute lover antics, 3) you're a fan of character development. Think twice if 1) you can't stand a drama with no main plot, 2) you easily find small holes in plots and that annoys you, 3) you are expecting a FL like the one of Yanxi Palace.
THE STORY
I feel like this drama is very niche. Only the true fans of slice-of-life series will appreciate all of it. I'm not one of them...so I could only watch it with consistent fast-forwarding. On the plus side, it's gorgeously done and feels very mature and natural. No childish, quirky background music like in many historical C-dramas. No slapstick comedy or in-your-face jokes. THAT I like A LOT. It takes ages before the OTP gets going, but when it does, you fall for it. The romance is definitely the best of the show, not just because they have fun scenes or they're cute, but because there is some relationship growth (which almost never happens in dramas). I wish the drama had spent more time on it! FL is depicted as a mature, smart, strong character, and the best part is that we really get to see her evolve throughout the drama, resolving traumas she has due to her upbringing. There's really a lot to like about Story of Minglan.
But, but, but...it's WAY too long. I understand why the drama includes certain parts (to set up the character development), but many of them could have been much shorter - like maybe 2-3 episodes long instead of 10-15. Honestly, apart from the first 5 episodes or so (which are fast-paced because they're about childhood events), I almost get the feeling that the story only begins around episode 30. That's nearly halfway through the drama! If you know anything about storytelling arc, that's like spending half of your story on the exposition/introduction! It's too much. Something else that bothers me about Story of Minglan is the obvious decline of FL after her marriage. As a single girl, she's smart and cunning, always five steps ahead of others, but as a married woman, she can't even see what's in front of her and constantly needs the help her husband *sigh*. There are smaller issues with the drama, such as some aspects that seem unbelievable, some repetitive lines or the very unsatisfying ending scene (the ending isn't bad per say, it's just kind of random?), but these two are the most serious problems in my opinion. If you're fine with the pace and the decline of FL, the drama is definitely worth you giving it a try.
THE ACTING
I heard FL and ML were played by a married couple. That explains a lot haha I didn't feel that there was chemistry between the leads but they looked comfortable and natural with one another and that's what sold the couple. Individually, I liked her more than him. Minglan goes through hell, and because Zanilia is expressive, she really makes you feel that. Secondary cast was also quite good, especially Minglan's legitimate mom. I just have a problem with the villains. It's just so stereotypical the way they act, I don't like it - but I'm sure it was on purpose and isn't a reflection of their acting ability.
THE MUSIC
Mild and fitting background music. Cute opening too. There's nothing I'll listen to now that the drama is over, but I was digging how music was so scarce, and you had lots of scenes with only silence or ambient sounds in the back. Such a breath of fresh air, when compared to the excess of sound we get in many dramas!
REWATCH VALUE
Completely? Not very high. I think I will definitely go back to this drama but I'll skip the first 1/3 and start when the real action begins...and even then, there'll be skipping involved. That's the problem with slice of life. Since it's not a story, but just a collection of episodes in someone's life, you don't necessarily care about all of them.
This drama is really the prototype of "slice of life". Watch it if 1) you like dramas with a mature feel, 2) you're looking for a fun couple and cute lover antics, 3) you're a fan of character development. Think twice if 1) you can't stand a drama with no main plot, 2) you easily find small holes in plots and that annoys you, 3) you are expecting a FL like the one of Yanxi Palace.
THE STORY
I feel like this drama is very niche. Only the true fans of slice-of-life series will appreciate all of it. I'm not one of them...so I could only watch it with consistent fast-forwarding. On the plus side, it's gorgeously done and feels very mature and natural. No childish, quirky background music like in many historical C-dramas. No slapstick comedy or in-your-face jokes. THAT I like A LOT. It takes ages before the OTP gets going, but when it does, you fall for it. The romance is definitely the best of the show, not just because they have fun scenes or they're cute, but because there is some relationship growth (which almost never happens in dramas). I wish the drama had spent more time on it! FL is depicted as a mature, smart, strong character, and the best part is that we really get to see her evolve throughout the drama, resolving traumas she has due to her upbringing. There's really a lot to like about Story of Minglan.
But, but, but...it's WAY too long. I understand why the drama includes certain parts (to set up the character development), but many of them could have been much shorter - like maybe 2-3 episodes long instead of 10-15. Honestly, apart from the first 5 episodes or so (which are fast-paced because they're about childhood events), I almost get the feeling that the story only begins around episode 30. That's nearly halfway through the drama! If you know anything about storytelling arc, that's like spending half of your story on the exposition/introduction! It's too much. Something else that bothers me about Story of Minglan is the obvious decline of FL after her marriage. As a single girl, she's smart and cunning, always five steps ahead of others, but as a married woman, she can't even see what's in front of her and constantly needs the help her husband *sigh*. There are smaller issues with the drama, such as some aspects that seem unbelievable, some repetitive lines or the very unsatisfying ending scene (the ending isn't bad per say, it's just kind of random?), but these two are the most serious problems in my opinion. If you're fine with the pace and the decline of FL, the drama is definitely worth you giving it a try.
THE ACTING
I heard FL and ML were played by a married couple. That explains a lot haha I didn't feel that there was chemistry between the leads but they looked comfortable and natural with one another and that's what sold the couple. Individually, I liked her more than him. Minglan goes through hell, and because Zanilia is expressive, she really makes you feel that. Secondary cast was also quite good, especially Minglan's legitimate mom. I just have a problem with the villains. It's just so stereotypical the way they act, I don't like it - but I'm sure it was on purpose and isn't a reflection of their acting ability.
THE MUSIC
Mild and fitting background music. Cute opening too. There's nothing I'll listen to now that the drama is over, but I was digging how music was so scarce, and you had lots of scenes with only silence or ambient sounds in the back. Such a breath of fresh air, when compared to the excess of sound we get in many dramas!
REWATCH VALUE
Completely? Not very high. I think I will definitely go back to this drama but I'll skip the first 1/3 and start when the real action begins...and even then, there'll be skipping involved. That's the problem with slice of life. Since it's not a story, but just a collection of episodes in someone's life, you don't necessarily care about all of them.
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