This review may contain spoilers
If you loved BLOSSOM and THE DOUBLE, you will definitely love this one!
For my many years of watching c-dramas, this is actually my first time writing a review, so please bear with me. I started watching this drama because of DYX, plus the plot seemed interesting, and it really was! The first episode was already captivating, and I must say... unique. It immediately made me curious about where the story was going and what kind of journey these characters would take.
The character of Fu Tingyun immediately captivated me, and Deng Enxi's portrayal is perfect! I initially thought she was just a simple, innocent, and fragile character, but I was amazed by how much her character grew as the plot progressed. She isn't the kind of female lead you can understand completely after just a few episodes. There's so much more to her character as the story unfolds, and I really enjoyed discovering those different sides of her.
TRTS made me feel as if I were watching my favorite historical c-dramas (Blossom & The Double) for the first time again. It feels nostalgic and, at the same time, refreshing. There were moments that gave me the same excitement I felt while watching those two dramas... the kind where you finish an episode and immediately want to know what happens next. It's been a while since a drama made me feel this invested in every little development.
Okay, so let me talk about DYX's character, Zhao Ling. Unlike the male leads in Blossom and The Double, who both came from noble families, Zhao Ling is an orphan who came from a humble background, at the very bottom of the hierarchy. He's a simple man who smuggles salt to provide for his brothers. And that's what makes his character so interesting to me. He's not someone who starts with power, status, or an influential family behind him. He starts with almost nothing, yet there's so much more to him than what meets the eye.
One of the most beautiful yet heart-wrenching scenes that I loved (and is probably my favorite) is when Zhao Ling chose to save Fu Tingyun despite what she had done to him. That scene genuinely stayed with me. For me, that was the turning point of everything, and it was what fueled me to keep watching the next episodes. I became so eager to see how their lives would change after that event and, more importantly, how their relationship would develop from there.
I really enjoyed watching how their relationship gradually developed because it wasn't something that felt rushed. There are so many circumstances that put them against each other, and yet there are also moments that make you wonder how these two people will eventually find their way to each other. Their journey is definitely one of the things that kept me hooked.
Also, my stress levels while watching this drama were as high as what I experienced watching The Double! Gosh, the villains go around plotting schemes in almost every episode! There were so many moments when I was just sitting there thinking, “PLEASE, CAN THESE PEOPLE JUST HAVE ONE PEACEFUL DAY?” 😭 But I must say, the villains are sooooo well-written. They're not just there to create unnecessary conflict. Their actions actually push the story forward and make the stakes feel much higher.
And that's probably one of the things I appreciate most about TRTS: it knows how to keep you invested. Whether it's the characters, the political schemes, the relationships, or the constant twists, there's always something that makes you want to watch just one more episode. And yes, DYX was the reason I started watching... but the story is what made me stay. 🥹
I LOVE MY FU TINGYUN AND ZHAO LING SO MUCH! I ALSO LOVE THE GANLIN PEOPLE <3
The character of Fu Tingyun immediately captivated me, and Deng Enxi's portrayal is perfect! I initially thought she was just a simple, innocent, and fragile character, but I was amazed by how much her character grew as the plot progressed. She isn't the kind of female lead you can understand completely after just a few episodes. There's so much more to her character as the story unfolds, and I really enjoyed discovering those different sides of her.
TRTS made me feel as if I were watching my favorite historical c-dramas (Blossom & The Double) for the first time again. It feels nostalgic and, at the same time, refreshing. There were moments that gave me the same excitement I felt while watching those two dramas... the kind where you finish an episode and immediately want to know what happens next. It's been a while since a drama made me feel this invested in every little development.
Okay, so let me talk about DYX's character, Zhao Ling. Unlike the male leads in Blossom and The Double, who both came from noble families, Zhao Ling is an orphan who came from a humble background, at the very bottom of the hierarchy. He's a simple man who smuggles salt to provide for his brothers. And that's what makes his character so interesting to me. He's not someone who starts with power, status, or an influential family behind him. He starts with almost nothing, yet there's so much more to him than what meets the eye.
One of the most beautiful yet heart-wrenching scenes that I loved (and is probably my favorite) is when Zhao Ling chose to save Fu Tingyun despite what she had done to him. That scene genuinely stayed with me. For me, that was the turning point of everything, and it was what fueled me to keep watching the next episodes. I became so eager to see how their lives would change after that event and, more importantly, how their relationship would develop from there.
I really enjoyed watching how their relationship gradually developed because it wasn't something that felt rushed. There are so many circumstances that put them against each other, and yet there are also moments that make you wonder how these two people will eventually find their way to each other. Their journey is definitely one of the things that kept me hooked.
Also, my stress levels while watching this drama were as high as what I experienced watching The Double! Gosh, the villains go around plotting schemes in almost every episode! There were so many moments when I was just sitting there thinking, “PLEASE, CAN THESE PEOPLE JUST HAVE ONE PEACEFUL DAY?” 😭 But I must say, the villains are sooooo well-written. They're not just there to create unnecessary conflict. Their actions actually push the story forward and make the stakes feel much higher.
And that's probably one of the things I appreciate most about TRTS: it knows how to keep you invested. Whether it's the characters, the political schemes, the relationships, or the constant twists, there's always something that makes you want to watch just one more episode. And yes, DYX was the reason I started watching... but the story is what made me stay. 🥹
I LOVE MY FU TINGYUN AND ZHAO LING SO MUCH! I ALSO LOVE THE GANLIN PEOPLE <3
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