It's definitely on my list to watch. Plus, I love the male lead. I fully agree about the directors. Too many of…
I completely agree with you. I have written about directors on my profile before. Some of them are amateurs, while others are geniuses. I can usually tell quickly after watching the first episode whether a drama is worth my time or not. For instance, if Dilraba or Irene are in it, I don't even bother giving it a chance.
Do watch Tan Song Yun in Sword and Brocade. There's not a single instance of being childish there. I also dislike…
It's definitely on my list to watch. Plus, I love the male lead. I fully agree about the directors. Too many of them praise the virgin childish persona, and sadly many actresses are hired just because they fit that mold. That's why I added the names of the dramas because they are not always acting that way, but there are some that I just cannot stand.
But there is chemistry? I'm really impressed with these two, especially Zhang Miao Yi, she has chemistry with…
Oh dear.… Allen is just unable to be romantic and in his mind kissing must be a sin! Lolll I think each partner learning he will be must have a twisted face, one side happy to surf his popularity, the other side rolling their eyes thinking they will kiss an iceberg lolll
Ah good! I prefer seasoned actors for this! I remember Zhao lusi saying she had a hard time kissing her partner in dating in the kitchen. So it depends who with who.
This drama is an absolute masterpiece, a true 10 out of 10. The captivating storyline taught me a lot about the intricacies of internal courts, the roles of elders, the customs of arranged marriages, and the lives of concubines, first wives, children, and even maids. The actors were outstanding, bringing the characters to life in a mesmerizing way. What stood out to me were the incredible details that the director included in every scene, from the costumes and set design to the music and lighting. Everything was meticulously crafted to create an immersive and authentic experience. All in all, this drama has earned a spot in my top 5 list of all-time favourites.
I personally don't care about the number of episodes. In my mind, the more, the better if I get this quality of story, casting and directing. I never felt it was slow. The title says it all from the start: the story of Ming Lan. So, of course, it started from childhood, teenagers, engagement, marriage, and motherhood. It is neither a wuxia nor xianxia story. Thus, the pace is different with each character's development. It is all about families, women, men, and children, all interacting with the heaviness of education, morals, rules, taboos and society. Arranged marriages in societies often left love as a one-in-a-thousand chance. The resulting drama was not a mere fictional tale, making it all the more intriguing.
The main leads, a real-life couple (at that time, now divorced), deliver an outstanding chemistry in this drama that has it all - humor, romance, fights, family feuds, and palace power conflicts (mostly in the last 10 episodes). It's a true masterpiece! I found myself rewatching some episodes with pleasure, drawn in by the authentic portrayal of the historical setting and the emotional depth of the characters.
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Here is a YT 8 min summary with eng sub
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3EOXVVs1Uk
I remember Zhao lusi saying she had a hard time kissing her partner in dating in the kitchen. So it depends who with who.
I personally don't care about the number of episodes. In my mind, the more, the better if I get this quality of story, casting and directing. I never felt it was slow. The title says it all from the start: the story of Ming Lan. So, of course, it started from childhood, teenagers, engagement, marriage, and motherhood. It is neither a wuxia nor xianxia story. Thus, the pace is different with each character's development. It is all about families, women, men, and children, all interacting with the heaviness of education, morals, rules, taboos and society. Arranged marriages in societies often left love as a one-in-a-thousand chance. The resulting drama was not a mere fictional tale, making it all the more intriguing.
The main leads, a real-life couple (at that time, now divorced), deliver an outstanding chemistry in this drama that has it all - humor, romance, fights, family feuds, and palace power conflicts (mostly in the last 10 episodes). It's a true masterpiece! I found myself rewatching some episodes with pleasure, drawn in by the authentic portrayal of the historical setting and the emotional depth of the characters.