Editorials Captivating from start to finish
Unlike many Chinese series, this one has no slow moments. It is so addictive that, at the end of each episode, you immediately want to watch the next one. The series is neither too long nor too short.
The two leads (Wang Chu Ran and Zhang Wan Yi) are beautifull and endearing, have great on-screen chemistry, and deliver excellent performances. The personalities of the new Emperor (Chang Hua Sen) —who is indecisive and tries too hard to appease or play with opposing factions—and the Empress (Yuan Yu Xuan) - initially shy, lacking self-confidence, and with inferiority complex - are both interesting and original. The bond that gradually unites them, strengthening two individuals who are otherwise fragile yet complementary, is well conceived and portrayed. A more annoying element is the subplot involving the Prince’s physician friend and the porcelain merchant; their relationship issues add a touch of farce, but these scenes drag on for too long.
Sets and costumes are particulary stunning and the exceptional beauty of the two lead actors and their nuanced performances create a fairy-tale atmosphere, making the wohle production a true visual delight.
The only weak point, in my opinion, lies in the FL sudden personality shift when she regains her memory. At that moment, she transforms from a gentle, tender young woman into a fury, a cruel, brutal and crazy person, completely abandoning her former self. Later—after an overly long interval, and once she has forgiven the prince and acknowledged the sincerity and constancy of his feelings—she abruptly reverts to being again a gentle and tender wife. This lacks logic: either the director failed to properly prepare the audience for this personality shift (leaving us bewildered by the sudden violence or unexpected gentleness), or Wang Churan’s acting isn't convincing enough, making the transformation hard to believe. In any case, the personality change strikes me as too extreme and exaggerated to be credible.
The two leads (Wang Chu Ran and Zhang Wan Yi) are beautifull and endearing, have great on-screen chemistry, and deliver excellent performances. The personalities of the new Emperor (Chang Hua Sen) —who is indecisive and tries too hard to appease or play with opposing factions—and the Empress (Yuan Yu Xuan) - initially shy, lacking self-confidence, and with inferiority complex - are both interesting and original. The bond that gradually unites them, strengthening two individuals who are otherwise fragile yet complementary, is well conceived and portrayed. A more annoying element is the subplot involving the Prince’s physician friend and the porcelain merchant; their relationship issues add a touch of farce, but these scenes drag on for too long.
Sets and costumes are particulary stunning and the exceptional beauty of the two lead actors and their nuanced performances create a fairy-tale atmosphere, making the wohle production a true visual delight.
The only weak point, in my opinion, lies in the FL sudden personality shift when she regains her memory. At that moment, she transforms from a gentle, tender young woman into a fury, a cruel, brutal and crazy person, completely abandoning her former self. Later—after an overly long interval, and once she has forgiven the prince and acknowledged the sincerity and constancy of his feelings—she abruptly reverts to being again a gentle and tender wife. This lacks logic: either the director failed to properly prepare the audience for this personality shift (leaving us bewildered by the sudden violence or unexpected gentleness), or Wang Churan’s acting isn't convincing enough, making the transformation hard to believe. In any case, the personality change strikes me as too extreme and exaggerated to be credible.
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