This review may contain spoilers
A splendid show
Let me start this off by saying I never would've watched this show if it wasn't for Winwin, but I'm so glad I did. This show was incredible! Easily one of my favorite historicals I've watched! I loved everything about it! The characters, the acting, the costumes, the sets, and the story. It was 40 almost hour-long episodes, and I still wanted more after it was done!
Starting with the story, it kept me hooked the entire show. Whether it was focused on the love story or the other plotlines, I loved it! I loved getting to see how the characters changed over the few years of the series. My two complaints are I wish it was a little clearer how much time was passing between each event and the finale had a little bit more after the fire, but it's okay. I loved that it ended with a war as well. So much of the show, especially with Fu Hai Lian, was leading up to that so I thought it was fitting that it ended that way.
Characters!
Our main 3:
Gu Jin Zhao: An absolute baddie!! I was in love with her the whole show. She's so smart, so brave, kind, beautiful, and really pushed the boundaries of what women were able to do back then. I loved getting to see her develop friendships and go through different things over the series. I understand why she had four or five men want her throughout the show. I loved her relationship with Chen Yan Yun so much. I loved getting to see them fall in love. I loved her relationship with Ye Xian too. They really relied on each other a lot and even when they had rough times together, they always came back to each other in the end. I adored her relationship with Qing Pu!! I loved how they interacted more as sisters or friends rather than master and servant. So sweet! Her giving Qing Pu freedom and property at the end too, omg love it! I could talk about Hin Zhao forever I loved her so much. Her actress Ren Min really had great chemistry with everyone as well!
Chen Yan Yun: He did frustrate me at some moments, but I loved him overall. I loved that he never strayed away from his morals and what he thought was right. I loved how smart and brave and dedicated he was. Seeing him fall in love with Jin Zhao was so sweet. I loved how down bad he was for her I'm not going to lie. I loved his relationship with Chen Yi as well. When he died you could see how bonded they were. I liked that his relationship with Ye Xian was always changing. They didn't like each other at times but also cared and respected each other at others and I loved seeing how it was always changing.
Ye Xian: After Jin Zhao, he was my favorite character (and I'm not just saying that because he's played by Winwin). Seeing his growth as a person over the show was so cool to see. He started as this bratty guy who used his name to get whatever he wants and ended the show a true hero and I loved getting to see that. Though I was heartbroken and cried over his death, I am happy he died with so many people who truly cared and loved him in his life. His deep love for Jin Zhao was so beautiful. It started out as just a little crush, but you could see how strong it became overtime, and it was so beautiful. I loved his relationship with Yan Yun like I mentioned before. His relationship with Xian Hui (I believe that's his servants name) was great as well and when he died, you could see how much of a bond they had.
Others:
Chen Yi: I loved him. He was such a good guy, and I cried when he died. He was a little silly sometimes too which was adorable.
Qing Pu: A baddie!! I loved her so much! Her and Jin Zhao were the perfect match together and I loved seeing how they were with each other.
Chen Xuan Qing: Oh how the might have fallen. He was one of my favorites in the show and then he became such a problem. I do think he got what he deserved in the end; I just hate that he got to that point. He could have been one of the great, but he got too obsessed with the wrong things.
Fu Hai Lian: Hated him and I'm glad the king constantly saw through his nonsense. I was very happy he died in the end. He was not a good man at all, but he did love his wife so I will give him that.
Gu Lan: There were definitely moments I didn't like her, especially in the beginning, but she grew to be a strong woman like her sister in the end. By the end, even though she wasn't in the show as much anymore, I really liked her character
The king: Loved him! He was so adorable! He actually was quite wise for his age as well. I loved seeing him on screen. His relationship with Ye Xian was so sweet too.
There are so many characters in this show, but I figured I'd just talk about a few that I really liked!
Overall, this show was just incredible to me. I loved every moment and I was interested in the story from start to finish. The romance was great and I loved that we saw it build overtime and none of it came out of nowhere. I loved all the relationships between people, romantic wise or not. There was enough conflict to keep the story going but not so much it felt like they were trying to just fill airtime. I wish there was more I loved it so much. The cast all did a great job too and again just have to give a shoutout to the costumes, hair, makeup, and sets!! So stunning! A perfect 10/10 for me!!
Starting with the story, it kept me hooked the entire show. Whether it was focused on the love story or the other plotlines, I loved it! I loved getting to see how the characters changed over the few years of the series. My two complaints are I wish it was a little clearer how much time was passing between each event and the finale had a little bit more after the fire, but it's okay. I loved that it ended with a war as well. So much of the show, especially with Fu Hai Lian, was leading up to that so I thought it was fitting that it ended that way.
Characters!
Our main 3:
Gu Jin Zhao: An absolute baddie!! I was in love with her the whole show. She's so smart, so brave, kind, beautiful, and really pushed the boundaries of what women were able to do back then. I loved getting to see her develop friendships and go through different things over the series. I understand why she had four or five men want her throughout the show. I loved her relationship with Chen Yan Yun so much. I loved getting to see them fall in love. I loved her relationship with Ye Xian too. They really relied on each other a lot and even when they had rough times together, they always came back to each other in the end. I adored her relationship with Qing Pu!! I loved how they interacted more as sisters or friends rather than master and servant. So sweet! Her giving Qing Pu freedom and property at the end too, omg love it! I could talk about Hin Zhao forever I loved her so much. Her actress Ren Min really had great chemistry with everyone as well!
Chen Yan Yun: He did frustrate me at some moments, but I loved him overall. I loved that he never strayed away from his morals and what he thought was right. I loved how smart and brave and dedicated he was. Seeing him fall in love with Jin Zhao was so sweet. I loved how down bad he was for her I'm not going to lie. I loved his relationship with Chen Yi as well. When he died you could see how bonded they were. I liked that his relationship with Ye Xian was always changing. They didn't like each other at times but also cared and respected each other at others and I loved seeing how it was always changing.
Ye Xian: After Jin Zhao, he was my favorite character (and I'm not just saying that because he's played by Winwin). Seeing his growth as a person over the show was so cool to see. He started as this bratty guy who used his name to get whatever he wants and ended the show a true hero and I loved getting to see that. Though I was heartbroken and cried over his death, I am happy he died with so many people who truly cared and loved him in his life. His deep love for Jin Zhao was so beautiful. It started out as just a little crush, but you could see how strong it became overtime, and it was so beautiful. I loved his relationship with Yan Yun like I mentioned before. His relationship with Xian Hui (I believe that's his servants name) was great as well and when he died, you could see how much of a bond they had.
Others:
Chen Yi: I loved him. He was such a good guy, and I cried when he died. He was a little silly sometimes too which was adorable.
Qing Pu: A baddie!! I loved her so much! Her and Jin Zhao were the perfect match together and I loved seeing how they were with each other.
Chen Xuan Qing: Oh how the might have fallen. He was one of my favorites in the show and then he became such a problem. I do think he got what he deserved in the end; I just hate that he got to that point. He could have been one of the great, but he got too obsessed with the wrong things.
Fu Hai Lian: Hated him and I'm glad the king constantly saw through his nonsense. I was very happy he died in the end. He was not a good man at all, but he did love his wife so I will give him that.
Gu Lan: There were definitely moments I didn't like her, especially in the beginning, but she grew to be a strong woman like her sister in the end. By the end, even though she wasn't in the show as much anymore, I really liked her character
The king: Loved him! He was so adorable! He actually was quite wise for his age as well. I loved seeing him on screen. His relationship with Ye Xian was so sweet too.
There are so many characters in this show, but I figured I'd just talk about a few that I really liked!
Overall, this show was just incredible to me. I loved every moment and I was interested in the story from start to finish. The romance was great and I loved that we saw it build overtime and none of it came out of nowhere. I loved all the relationships between people, romantic wise or not. There was enough conflict to keep the story going but not so much it felt like they were trying to just fill airtime. I wish there was more I loved it so much. The cast all did a great job too and again just have to give a shoutout to the costumes, hair, makeup, and sets!! So stunning! A perfect 10/10 for me!!
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