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This review may contain spoilers
I Spent a Whole Year Side-Eyeing This Drama, Only to Put It on My Top List ?
⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD, BECAUSE I HAVE THOUGHTS 😮💨
I’ve been skeptical about this drama for a whole year now, which is kind of funny because, ironically, it’s actually very much my kind of drama. 😂 It has so many things I enjoy — smart and capable leads, mystery, political intrigue, good teamwork, revenge, and a romance where both characters remain strong in their own right.
My very first impression from the trailer and poster was that the leads looked more suited to playing siblings. At that time, I didn’t even know their real-life ages, so it wasn’t because of their actual age gap. It was purely based on their looks and how they looked together on screen. FL looked more mature, while ML gave me more of a little-brother vibe.
Looking back, I kind of regret not watching it earlier... 😂 There were a few things I normally avoid or had doubts about — amnesia, enemies-to-lovers, whether the leads would actually look good together on screen, and even the FL’s voice. And honestly, I rarely watch dramas when I already have this many reservations about them. I’d just skip them altogether. So the fact that I ended up watching this one — and actually enjoying it — is pretty ironic. 😂
Now that I’ve watched it, I really love how both leads are so smart and eloquent, especially when they’re trying to piece together all the mysteries and political intrigue. Their teamwork is honestly so good! I also really enjoyed their sarcastic banter in the earlier episodes. It gradually made me less skeptical. I started seeing their bond more as a close friendship and partnership, and I think that’s what eventually made their relationship work for me.
Then, as they slowly started catching feelings for each other, I somehow began accepting them as a romantic couple too. They became even more captivating once they finally opened up to each other and began seeing the experiences that shaped who they are.
What I especially appreciate is that they’re allowed to be in love without changing who they are. They’re both capable and confident in their own right, and neither of them has to become weaker for the romance to work. ML respects her judgment and never treats her like someone who constantly needs to be saved, which I really appreciate. It makes their relationship feel like a genuine partnership even as they become a couple. ❤️
There’s something compelling about how they challenge each other and slowly broaden each other’s perspectives. FL becomes more willing to question what she once believed and stand up for what she thinks is right, even when it puts her in difficult situations. And ML, who is so driven by revenge and duty, gradually learns to see beyond his own anger. They don’t simply “save” each other — they make each other see things differently, and their relationship genuinely changes both of them. ❤️
I know some people mentioned that either the FL or ML wasn’t really to their liking, but personally, I didn’t have much of an issue with either of them in this drama. I haven’t watched all of their dramas, so I can’t really comment on their overall acting range. But I actually found FL’s character to feel quite real and genuine. Especially considering that she’s an amnesiac, I think her emotions being somewhat inconsistent actually make sense.
Tbh, I have a lot to say about the supporting characters and villains too, especially from episode 24 onwards. Even though the plot was getting increasingly suspenseful, I felt like the villains’ betrayals and motivations started becoming rather petty. ML basically became the target of everything the Emperor did, and somehow that ended up driving all the villains’ motives.
To me, the Emperor, Princess Xiyang, Xia Jing Shi, and Xia Jing Yan were all broken souls in their own ways, though Xia Jing Shi was both broken and twisted, having allowed his grudges, desires, and resentment to consume him. The other villains were more like twisted souls who let their own grudges and desires get the better of them. The two empresses were also deeply obsessive and ruthless, to the point that they didn’t seem to consider even their own children’s feelings or perspectives, whether biological or not. I wasn’t a fan of the whole Princess Xiyang part either. Everything she went through was largely a consequence of her own choices, so it was hard for me to feel sorry for her. In a way, she really got what she had coming to her.
But I figured it was probably unnecessary to go too deeply into the supporting characters and villains since I’m mainly focusing on the leads and the overall plot here. I’m sure other reviewers have already written plenty about them anyway. They will always have their pros and cons in every story/drama — that’s just part of the balance.
Still, if ML wasn’t the target of the villains’ motives, I would’ve easily given this a 10/10. But the plot honestly left me frustrated… It’s basically the whole “a parent’s sins, but the child has to pay the price” kind of situation.
As for the ending, though, I’m actually really happy with how it ended. Since I don’t read novels, I went into the drama without any expectations about how their story was supposed to end. So honestly, whether they had an actual wedding or not doesn’t really matter to me. As long as they’re still together and choose to stay by each other’s side, that’s enough for me. ❤️
All in all... really glad I finally mustered up the guts to watch this. 😂 Definitely going into my top drama list, alongside Joy of Life, Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty, Nirvana in Fire, and Sword Snow Stride. 🥰
Never thought the drama I’d been side-eyeing for a whole year would end up making it onto that list. 😂
I’ve been skeptical about this drama for a whole year now, which is kind of funny because, ironically, it’s actually very much my kind of drama. 😂 It has so many things I enjoy — smart and capable leads, mystery, political intrigue, good teamwork, revenge, and a romance where both characters remain strong in their own right.
My very first impression from the trailer and poster was that the leads looked more suited to playing siblings. At that time, I didn’t even know their real-life ages, so it wasn’t because of their actual age gap. It was purely based on their looks and how they looked together on screen. FL looked more mature, while ML gave me more of a little-brother vibe.
Looking back, I kind of regret not watching it earlier... 😂 There were a few things I normally avoid or had doubts about — amnesia, enemies-to-lovers, whether the leads would actually look good together on screen, and even the FL’s voice. And honestly, I rarely watch dramas when I already have this many reservations about them. I’d just skip them altogether. So the fact that I ended up watching this one — and actually enjoying it — is pretty ironic. 😂
Now that I’ve watched it, I really love how both leads are so smart and eloquent, especially when they’re trying to piece together all the mysteries and political intrigue. Their teamwork is honestly so good! I also really enjoyed their sarcastic banter in the earlier episodes. It gradually made me less skeptical. I started seeing their bond more as a close friendship and partnership, and I think that’s what eventually made their relationship work for me.
Then, as they slowly started catching feelings for each other, I somehow began accepting them as a romantic couple too. They became even more captivating once they finally opened up to each other and began seeing the experiences that shaped who they are.
What I especially appreciate is that they’re allowed to be in love without changing who they are. They’re both capable and confident in their own right, and neither of them has to become weaker for the romance to work. ML respects her judgment and never treats her like someone who constantly needs to be saved, which I really appreciate. It makes their relationship feel like a genuine partnership even as they become a couple. ❤️
There’s something compelling about how they challenge each other and slowly broaden each other’s perspectives. FL becomes more willing to question what she once believed and stand up for what she thinks is right, even when it puts her in difficult situations. And ML, who is so driven by revenge and duty, gradually learns to see beyond his own anger. They don’t simply “save” each other — they make each other see things differently, and their relationship genuinely changes both of them. ❤️
I know some people mentioned that either the FL or ML wasn’t really to their liking, but personally, I didn’t have much of an issue with either of them in this drama. I haven’t watched all of their dramas, so I can’t really comment on their overall acting range. But I actually found FL’s character to feel quite real and genuine. Especially considering that she’s an amnesiac, I think her emotions being somewhat inconsistent actually make sense.
Tbh, I have a lot to say about the supporting characters and villains too, especially from episode 24 onwards. Even though the plot was getting increasingly suspenseful, I felt like the villains’ betrayals and motivations started becoming rather petty. ML basically became the target of everything the Emperor did, and somehow that ended up driving all the villains’ motives.
To me, the Emperor, Princess Xiyang, Xia Jing Shi, and Xia Jing Yan were all broken souls in their own ways, though Xia Jing Shi was both broken and twisted, having allowed his grudges, desires, and resentment to consume him. The other villains were more like twisted souls who let their own grudges and desires get the better of them. The two empresses were also deeply obsessive and ruthless, to the point that they didn’t seem to consider even their own children’s feelings or perspectives, whether biological or not. I wasn’t a fan of the whole Princess Xiyang part either. Everything she went through was largely a consequence of her own choices, so it was hard for me to feel sorry for her. In a way, she really got what she had coming to her.
But I figured it was probably unnecessary to go too deeply into the supporting characters and villains since I’m mainly focusing on the leads and the overall plot here. I’m sure other reviewers have already written plenty about them anyway. They will always have their pros and cons in every story/drama — that’s just part of the balance.
Still, if ML wasn’t the target of the villains’ motives, I would’ve easily given this a 10/10. But the plot honestly left me frustrated… It’s basically the whole “a parent’s sins, but the child has to pay the price” kind of situation.
As for the ending, though, I’m actually really happy with how it ended. Since I don’t read novels, I went into the drama without any expectations about how their story was supposed to end. So honestly, whether they had an actual wedding or not doesn’t really matter to me. As long as they’re still together and choose to stay by each other’s side, that’s enough for me. ❤️
All in all... really glad I finally mustered up the guts to watch this. 😂 Definitely going into my top drama list, alongside Joy of Life, Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty, Nirvana in Fire, and Sword Snow Stride. 🥰
Never thought the drama I’d been side-eyeing for a whole year would end up making it onto that list. 😂
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