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Episodes 9 and 10 were so emotional. I cried so much when Zhang Haixia appeared. Ding Yuxi and Zhang Xincheng did an excellent job. This drama is truly a new masterpiece. I hope many people get the chance to watch this excellent drama because good works deserve recognition. I also hope Zhang Haixia comes back in the next few episodes. I really want to see the two brothers together again.

This drama deserves a rating of 6 or below. An 8.2 rating is far too high for it. After Rebirth, this is the second-worst drama. Whether you judge it by the acting or the plot, there are many aspects that are poorly executed.The story is so illogical and frustrating that watching it can make viewers with average intelligence, feel as though their intelligence is being underestimated.

There are different different cases but all those cases are connected.

I really love Thriller dramas. I've watched other dramas of the "The Grave Robbers Chronicles" series. The first 6 episodes are too good.I really like Zhang Xincheng characters also love Ding Yuxi's character. They both are great.

Many people are praising ML and FL, and they are obviously great. However, I really want to praise the director and the scriptwriters. They have done an amazing job. I've tried watching many costume dramas, but either the directing is poor or the script is badly written. Surprisingly, I've watched seven episodes of this drama without skipping a single second.

I also found the sister-in-law's acting really impressive—she genuinely looks depressed and portrays the character convincingly. The other supporting actors, including the uncles, senior brothers, and maids, have also done a fantastic job. In fact, I'd say that all of the supporting characters are portrayed exceptionally well.

I've read the original novel. The female lead character was too good in the novel. The full story revolved around her. But in this drama, there are 60–70% changes. They gave the ML highlights that were not even mentioned in the novel, like when he saved Chu Zhao and Xiao Xun, when he saved Chu Zhao and the little emperor, and many more.

Chen Duling's acting in this drama is not that good either. Also, the ML's acting feels forced and fake sometimes. He is trying too hard to act cool. The fighting scenes are the worst. There are no details. Out of nowhere, the ML comes and just does slash slash with his sword, and he defeats all the enemies within a minute.

Chen Duling is visually great in this drama, but the ML doesn't suit it at all. In fact, Chen Duling's fans gave up on this drama because of the poor script, the unattractive ML, so many highlights for the ML and FL's weak character. They supported the drama, but when the drama broke 10,000 views, they started leaving.

What are you talking about? I've also watched 6 episodes of The First Jasmine, and I can say that the storytelling is really great. It has a logical plot, and the director did a great job.

Those who like fast-paced dramas may find it slow-paced, but for a long drama, its pacing is excellent.

Also, about the acting? I found the supporting actors' performances even amazing. ML and FL's acting is excellent.If the acting of the actors in The First Jasmine is poor, then the acting in Ashes of Crown is even worse.

It's a big-budget drama, but they basically wasted all that money on poor screenwriting, excessive editing, and bad dubbing. Even though it's supposed to be an S+ production, apart from the OST and Chen Duling's costumes, it doesn't feel like an S+ drama at all.

The only people who seem to be enjoying and praising it are those who watch mainly for the romance between the leads. However, for viewers looking for a good story and at least some logical storytelling beyond romance, this drama is really disappointing. Of course, it's a drama, so expecting perfect realism would be unreasonable, but a long-form series should still have a certain level of internal logic and consistency. Without that, even many short dramas end up being more enjoyable than this one.

I've become a big fan of Cheng Lei. After watching "How dare you?" and this one, I can say he is the king of Costume dramas. He can play all types of characters, and his face really suits both modern and costume dramas. His micro-expressions are just wow.

I have been really enjoying *The First Jasmine* so far. The scriptwriter and director have done an excellent job in bringing this story to life. The storytelling is engaging, well-paced, and keeps viewers invested in the characters and their journeys.

One of the strongest aspects of the drama is the director's vision and execution. Every scene feels meaningful, and the emotions are portrayed beautifully. The main lead delivers a remarkable performance, bringing depth and authenticity to the character. In fact, not only the lead actor but all of the supporting cast members have done a fantastic job as well.
Although I haven't read the novel but I really like the story.

What's wrong with saying an actor could gain some weight for a role? Appearance is part of acting, especially in a visual medium like television. Viewers comment on styling, costumes, makeup, physique, expressions, and screen presence all the time. That's not hate—it's part of discussing a performance.

Not everyone finds Zhou Yiran convincing as Xie Yanlai, and that's a valid opinion. Some viewers think other actors in the cast have stronger screen presence. Whether people agree or disagree doesn't make the criticism fake.

Bringing up rankings doesn't invalidate people's opinions about the actual performance.

I personally became a fan of Zhou Yiran after watching Twelve Letters because I liked his acting there. But liking an actor doesn't mean I have to praise every project he does. I didn't enjoy this drama as much, and I wasn't particularly impressed by his appearance or portrayal in this role. That's a normal viewer reaction.

The real problem is when fandoms start treating actors like they are beyond criticism. People are allowed to love the drama, dislike the drama, love the actor, dislike the performance, or feel somewhere in between.

The screenwriter changed the story to give the male lead extra screen time, making it almost equal to the female lead's. I've also read the novel, and they changed it drastically, making the female lead rely on the male lead much more than she did in the original story.

In the novel, the story was primarily about Chu Zhao's revenge and personal growth. She was the driving force behind the plot. However, the adaptation seems to have turned it into a much more romance-focused drama.

I always wondered why Chen Duling's fans were criticizing the male lead from the beginning. I actually felt sorry for him because of how much criticism he received. But now I understand their concerns, since the adaptation ended up changing the story to give the male lead equal screen time and shifting the focus away from Chu Zhao's journey.

Now I can see why fans of female-centric dramas are always worried about whether an adaptation will remain truly female-centric or not.

Why would her agency treat her like this? If she's doing well and becoming more popular, that should benefit the agency as well. A successful artist can generate more income for the company.

I also know Zhou Yutong, who is signed under the parent company, yet she doesn't seem to have many projects either.

I agree that Zhou Yiran is a very talented actor. I watched 12 Letters and became a fan because of his performance there. His acting feels natural, emotional, and mature.

However, I don't think his screen presence in costume dramas is as strong yet, especially in Ashes to Crown. In this drama, he didn't really give me the feeling of a leading hero. In fact, some of the supporting male leads were more eye-catching. If someone were watching him for the first time without knowing his previous work, they might find ou the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th male leads are really good(eye-catching/Proper male lead type physique) compared to him

I also think his physique plays a role in this. If he gained a little more weight and built a stronger frame, he could look much better in historical and costume roles. From certain angles, especially from behind, his silhouette can appear quite delicate. It looks like the silhouette of a female actress, which makes it harder to project the commanding presence that many costume-drama heroes need.

Jackson Yee is almost legend type.I can't compare him with these actors.HE only act in films.And he is way too popular than all those tv drama actors.

There are also Wang Xingyu,Chen Xinhai,Zhou Keyu, Xu Zhenxuan, and recently Lai Weiming. Wang Xingyu is at the top among all 00-born actors.

In my opinion, one reason Wan Peng may not be getting as many roles is that the company representing her isn't as influential as some of the bigger agencies in the industry. Another factor could be her choice of supporting roles—many of them haven't been particularly memorable or impactful enough to significantly raise her visibility. Talent alone isn't always enough in the entertainment industry; strong management, good project selection, and standout characters often play a huge role in helping actors gain momentum.

I also think that taking strong second female lead roles in costume dramas could help boost her popularity. We've seen actresses like Dai Luwa and Kong Xueer gain significant attention through memorable supporting roles in hit dramas, which later helped them secure more leading roles. A well-written and impactful second female lead character can sometimes leave a bigger impression on audiences than a lead role in a less successful project.

Another thing is that actors often need to actively audition for roles instead of relying solely on their agency's connections. I remember hearing that Deng Kai mentioned during a livestream that he got his role in The Pursuit of Jade through an audition. Before that, he had mainly appeared in short-form web dramas. That shows how important auditions can be for breaking into bigger productions. Sometimes opportunities come from putting yourself in front of casting directors again and again rather than waiting for a company to secure a role. If Wan Peng wants to expand her career, consistently auditioning for strong supporting roles—especially in high-profile costume dramas—could be a good way to gain more exposure and eventually land bigger leading roles.

Yes, I can understand that, but Zhou Yiran has always seemed too skinny, even in his previous dramas. Also, I think his posture looks somewhat effeminate in costume dramas, especially when he wears tight-fitting clothes.

I know other actors like Cheng Lei, William Chan, Wang Anyu, and Song Weilong, among many others, and they are not that thin.

Appearance is very important. If he looks less imposing than the female lead, how can't land good roles in costume dramas

I really like Zhou Yiran's acting, but after watching Ashes to Crown, I feel he's a bit too skinny for costume dramas. His image looks very youthful but somewhat effeminate. He suits modern dramas well, but historical male lead roles usually need a stronger and more masculine presence.

He looked much better physically in Twelve Letters, especially in the dad role. It would be great for him to build a little more muscle and develop a more mature screen image if he wants to take on more costume-drama leads in the future. His acting talent is already there—he just needs a stronger visual presence for these kinds of roles.And i think because of his skinny appearence he is getting few opportunities despite his good acting skill.There are many people mentioned this on Weibo and i also feel the same way.

She lost too much weight to look teenager coz in the novel she was only 13 years old.