John Hart
This review may contain spoilers
RUYI is the Gold Standard
During the pandemic I was trying to find something new and different to lose myself in. I adored THE LAST EMPEROR when it was released in the 80's and wondered what Joan Chen had been doing with herself. I saw she was a 'star' in RUYI and checked it out. Let's just say --
-- she didn't last long in the series and that was a bait and switch move that introduced me to Zhou Xun. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am they did that bait and switch. Zhou Xun was a revelation of Chinese women and culture. Something I had no idea I desperately needed. There was a literal plague spreading on the planet and thanks to Zhou Xun my wife and I were cool with staying in our condo and absorbing this eye candy emotional buffet.
One AMAZING actress after another. Too many to list. I'm serious. RUYI is how I found MyDramaList, because here I can see what actors like Zhou and Chang and frankly most of the cast have done since. At least two RUYI actors are in MISSING PERSONS which alone made that must see TV. Because of this one emotional rollercoaster imperial epic WOW --
-- I watch 3 episodes of some sort of Chinese show a week. I am completely obsessed. I've now seen most of Zhou Xun's work and can name all sorts of Chinese actors like I frickin' lived in China. I actually stopped a Chinese couple in America, started talking about these shows, and they couldn't believe this white Anglo dude knew more about them than they did.
If you haven't noticed I'm not going to tell you what the story is about. If by Episode 4 you couldn't care less than walk. I promise you this show will hook you hard and stay with you months after you finish it. Some sick people rewatch and rewatch but I found it so emotionally draining I'm going to wait a LONG time before I re-watch it.
What I do want you to know with all of the sincerity of Western society is that Zhou Xun is Eastern Society's Bette Davis. If you know Bette that's one amazing compliment. It means I can watch said actor in anything. When they're young, old, in a great film or a piece of garbage. Their presence is so influential they rescue and perfect almost any production.
Stop reading this and start watching RUYI'S ROYAL LOVE IN THE PALACE. It's in my TOP TEN SERIES EVER which includes the original STAR TREK series, THE PRISONER, TWIN PEAKS, COLUMBO, STRANGER THINGS, DOWNTON ABBEY and TALES FROM THE LOOP.
It's THAT good.
-- she didn't last long in the series and that was a bait and switch move that introduced me to Zhou Xun. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am they did that bait and switch. Zhou Xun was a revelation of Chinese women and culture. Something I had no idea I desperately needed. There was a literal plague spreading on the planet and thanks to Zhou Xun my wife and I were cool with staying in our condo and absorbing this eye candy emotional buffet.
One AMAZING actress after another. Too many to list. I'm serious. RUYI is how I found MyDramaList, because here I can see what actors like Zhou and Chang and frankly most of the cast have done since. At least two RUYI actors are in MISSING PERSONS which alone made that must see TV. Because of this one emotional rollercoaster imperial epic WOW --
-- I watch 3 episodes of some sort of Chinese show a week. I am completely obsessed. I've now seen most of Zhou Xun's work and can name all sorts of Chinese actors like I frickin' lived in China. I actually stopped a Chinese couple in America, started talking about these shows, and they couldn't believe this white Anglo dude knew more about them than they did.
If you haven't noticed I'm not going to tell you what the story is about. If by Episode 4 you couldn't care less than walk. I promise you this show will hook you hard and stay with you months after you finish it. Some sick people rewatch and rewatch but I found it so emotionally draining I'm going to wait a LONG time before I re-watch it.
What I do want you to know with all of the sincerity of Western society is that Zhou Xun is Eastern Society's Bette Davis. If you know Bette that's one amazing compliment. It means I can watch said actor in anything. When they're young, old, in a great film or a piece of garbage. Their presence is so influential they rescue and perfect almost any production.
Stop reading this and start watching RUYI'S ROYAL LOVE IN THE PALACE. It's in my TOP TEN SERIES EVER which includes the original STAR TREK series, THE PRISONER, TWIN PEAKS, COLUMBO, STRANGER THINGS, DOWNTON ABBEY and TALES FROM THE LOOP.
It's THAT good.
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