SPOILER ALERT!!!!

This is a super good drama but this is a definitely a slow burn one. And by i mean slow is a really sloooow one.

STORY
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I feel like it kinda similar to Bu Bu Jing Xin but in a way it also kinda not(?). I feel like BBJX has a more clear storyline that is enjoyable to watch throughout the entire series without skipping it, but sometimes in this series, i have to skip watch some of the scenes (especially in the earlier episodes). But it doesn’t mean that the story is bad, I just don’t prefer to watch the throne fighting scenes which sometimes could be too much for me to handle. I also find it very confusing with the time jumps because suddenly it could skip a year or two. Also, its very frustrating to see almost all the male character is trying to use her ESPECIALLY HER BROTHER LIKE WTH DUDE.

This is a harem drama since this is a historical drama and includes royalty

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I know that some people might hate the idea of polygamy (i mean me too) but this drama is a historical drama and thats what i came here for. I want to see and be able to experience how its feel like and i think thats the beauty and the pain from a harem drama. But TRUST ME, this is not your typical harem drama like (Yanxi Palace, Ruyi royal love) because this drama takes place when the Qing dynasty first establish. There is only a little power struggle within the harem but that’s not the main focus of it (they only show a little bit of the consorts fighting each other).

There is also no Empress dowager or the mother of the emperor or the grandmother whatsoever that literally could control the emperor or bind him with the rules in the palace. Basically the male lead character are the one in charge of the rules (since he is the one who will become the first emperor). So i find it very new that there is so much that the male lead could do because there’s nothing holding him back.

Also usually in a palace drama, the male lead even though he only love one girl (which is the female lead) he still have feelings or favor his other consort. In this series, the male lead is respectful to his other wives but he really makes a clear statement of who is the one he love, and proves it to his actions.

And lastly, what i find very new and very interesting is that, usually in a historical drama, since the system is patriarchy, the women usually do a lots of bows and kneeling (especially if the male lead is an emperor) but this drama don’t really show that from the female lead. And shes not the type of weak or timid character but also, not as badass like fan bing bing character in Empress of China. I like it cause it’s balance between the two.

CASTING / ACTOR
The chemistry between the two lead actors is sooooo good. And i really like Raymond portrayal of Hong Taiji. He is not the typical flower boy in Chinese drama. He really manage to portray a character which not only masculine and manly but also show how much authority he have when he talk or walk, and I think that is very attractive.

The female actress, Tang Yixin, did also an excellent job on portraying Dong Ge, a princess with a modern concept of love. Just by looking at her eyes you can tell how much sorrow she held and by the end of the series, you could see how much character development she went.

This is my first ever review of drama in any platform and I decided to write this long review because i find this drama very interesting and very very goood yet so underrated.

You could watch this series on youtube with an engsub but if you’re from Southeast Asia like me, the video might be blocked in your country so you could watch it in dramacool except for ep 45 because it’s not yet subbed . The only thing you could do is watch ep 1-44 in dramacool and watch ep 45 on Youtube using a VPN that the server is based on outside of Asia.

I hope this is helpful ♥

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