Enjoyable revenge drama with strong female lead

Unexpectedly, I enjoyed this drama. For me, episodes 1-10 and 40-49 were my favourite. I watched this in 2024 on YouTube after reading fan reviews. I heard that this drama was heavily censored in China and you can tell that some scenes were cut out. I would've loved to see the uncensored version.

Acting:- All the ladies in this drama did a fantastic job, especially Consort Gao, Consort Xian and Er Qing. The emperor was also amazing in acting. I also cannot forget Li Yu (Emperor's eunuch) - his micro-expressions were always fun to watch! The only one who disappointed me was Fucha, the actor does not have a wide range of expressions.. sometimes his acting made me laugh, but he has a nice smile.

Characters:- I loved the FL, Ying Lou. I think she's my girl crush. I also liked her chemistry and witty banter with the Emperor. They were a pleasure to watch on the screen. If you liked the FL in 'The Double', then you will like her here. My favourite side-characters were Li Yu, Ye Tianshi (the only doctor who can treat diseases lol) and Xiao Quanzi.

Plot:- I think the revenge part is true and done well. The FL is an "eye for an eye" kinda character, so it is satisfying to watch. This is not a romance show, so don't expect that. It's a slow burn for sure. But it shows platonic love very well - friendship and sisterhood especially. The pace of the show varies and drags sometimes, so I found myself fast-forwarding especially when they discussed palace or war politics. This is the reason I deduct one star.

Rewatch value:- I very rarely rewatch shows. Since this is very long, I will rewatch my favourite episodes. I think you will like this show if you like smart female leads.

I rate it 9/10

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