Reviews

Chu Zhao Steps Into Her Power

Episode ThoughtsThis episode was a definite improvement for me.The pacing felt much stronger than Episode 1, and I found myself far more invested in the political side of the story. The power struggles are becoming more interesting, the stakes are getting higher, and Chu Zhao is finally starting to show exactly why she's such an important player in this world.One of my favourite moments was seeing Chu Zhao ride into the palace alongside the Imperial Grandson. It was such a visually stunning scene and really felt like a statement of intent for her character.Character Notes❤️ Chu ZhaoMy favourite character this episode.We got to see more of her intelligence and strategic thinking, which made her much more compelling to watch. She's beginning to feel less reactive and more in control of her own destiny.👀 Xiao XunWatching his plans unravel was incredibly satisfying.For someone who seemed so confident in Episode 1, things suddenly aren't looking quite so certain for him.Favourite Moment🔥 The Imperial Decree announcing the Imperial Grandson as Emperor and Chu Zhao as Grand Princess.After everything Xiao Xun had been plotting, seeing his plans completely thwarted was so satisfying.Final ThoughtsThe ending has left me with so many questions.Chu Zhao has sworn never to marry or have children, which feels like a pretty bold statement in a romance drama. I'm already curious to see how that's going to play out.I also can't stop wondering about the connection between Xie Yan Lai (Fu Jiu) and Xie Yan Fang. The drama is definitely hinting at something there.And after realising this drama only has 24 episodes instead of 40, I'm expecting things to move pretty quickly from here.Current VerdictEpisode 2 was a big step up for me. Better pacing, stronger political intrigue, and a much more interesting Chu Zhao. Consider me officially invested

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marriage pt. 2?

BRO I KNEW Kuea was up to no good. YuNorth absolute wingmen. Tim is giving me secondhand embarrassment with his (justifiable) jealousy. I'm literally gonna throw hands with Kuea. FREAKING knew it!!! not me begging Pai for a second chance on behalf of Tim when he barely deserves it lol. omg using the scam house for your proposal is so based. how can they afford a house tho, aren't all four of them broke? spilling the tea to the parents damn, sir! now that's based. sorry but why are Tim's parents not taking any accountability for leaving him with the loan sharks??? why even put this in here if they are never gonna address it??? you could have just said he was poor which is why he scams, why the unnecessary tragic backstory?? rant over, our babies are back together again!!!

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The Beginning of Betrayal

First ImpressionThis wasn’t the strongest first episode I’ve watched recently, but it definitely ended stronger than it started.The drama throws a lot at you straight away—family politics, court intrigue, betrayals, power struggles, and revenge. At times it felt like it was trying to fit several episodes’ worth of information into one, which made the pacing feel a little uneven.Episode ThoughtsThe biggest reveal of the episode was discovering that Xiao Xun has been plotting against Chu Zhou all along. Learning that he views the Chu family as a threat because of their military power instantly raised the stakes and gave the story a much darker tone.While I wasn’t fully invested in the first half of the episode, the latter part started pulling me in. The setup for the revenge and rebirth storyline has plenty of potential, and I’m interested to see how everything unfolds now that the main conflict has been established.Character Notes❤️ Xie Yan Lai* Easily my favourite character so far.* A man of few words, but somehow manages to steal every scene he’s in.* There’s an intensity about him that immediately caught my attention.🌸 Chu Zhou* She comes across as both intelligent and surprisingly naïve.* You can tell she has potential, but right now she feels caught between trusting others and trusting her own instincts.🐍 Xiao Xun* The villain reveal definitely made him more interesting.* He’s already proving to be far more calculating than he initially appeared.Final ThoughtsThis wasn’t love at first sight for me, but I’m intrigued enough to keep watching. The pacing needs some work, but the revenge setup, political intrigue, and Xie Yan Lai’s presence have convinced me to stick around for Episode 2.Favourite Moment🔥 When Xie Yan Lai stabs Xiao Xun after finding him standing over Chu Zhou’s body.That was the moment the episode finally clicked for me.Trope Check✅ Revenge✅ Rebirth✅ Political Intrigue✅ Powerful General’s Daughter✅ Betrayal & Scheming

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Campaign to clear Wei name

The murderers were exposing the governor’s role in framing Wei for a rebellion. They would have been successful if Yuan Mo hadn’t been so observant. Minister Tan came to get them and things got more interesting when it was discovered he had motive to be a participant in dealing with the governor. He was the friend trying to help get Wei’s case reopened and name cleared. A set of bookends and the house chosen for governor betrayed him. Yuan Mo connected the dots and now there is a chance that justice will finally be made for Wei tho posthumously. Yuan Mo’s history finds him to be the son of an envoy who was stationed in the desert where he and his wife were killed. This left Yuan Mo alone to grow up by himself and explains the chip he has on his shoulder for all things serving the needs of the country. He is immediately tuned into the hypocrisy of it all and easily notes the pretense of things because of his bias. He is wanted for a promotion and Yuan Mo is less than enthused. The larger cases have been making the west court more noticeable and at the end of the episode the masterminds pulling the political strings are taking note. I am enjoying the humor and detective work of the drama. It goes at a good pace. I also enjoy the banter of AShu and Yuan Mo. Yes, she is incredibly bossy, but I think that is a nice counter to Yuan Mo’s laziness. He is forced to make more of himself than just lie around drinking and taking bribes. He is being forced to develop his potential by being wedged between her bossiness and Wang’s meticulous attention to detail and discipline. He is being literally whipped into shape. 😂🤣

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GREAT AS ALWAYS

dong joo and in beom get into a fight since in beom asks dong joo if he’s still kissing up to the higher ups like in his old hospital to get dongjoo pissed, and dongjoo replies back by saying that other than his father and connections in beom isn't any better than dongioo THIS CAUSES THEM TO FIGHT AND ITS SO HILARIOUS. But afterwards they get called to help treat a patient who came in with stab wounds, likely related to gang activity. LMAO INBEOM THOUGHT SEOJUNG WAS HIS HALF SISTER FROM HIS FATHER’S AFFAIR AFTER HIS FATHER GOT TREATED BY SEOJUNG AS A FATHER FIGURE. Afterwards seojung finds dongjoo, who got a busted lip from inbeom after their fight, and he goes on about how he got kicked out from the surgery where they were treating the patient with stab wounds because teacher Kim was angry that he was late and that dongjoo was hesitant to work with in beom as an assistant, since teacher Kim’s argument was that since there was a dying patient on the table, regardless of his position in the surgery he still should've come on time, since dongjoo was contemplating whether or not to work with in beom as an assistant, and so as Seo Jung is listening to dongjoo rant and she advises him to go back and beg teacher kim’s forgiveness and whilst doing so SHE PULLS OUT SOME VASELINE AND APPLIES IT ONTO DONGJOO’S BUSTED LIP WITH HER OWNNNN FINGER AND THIS SHOCKED DONGJOO TO THE POINT HE ASKS HER IF SHE COULD BE HER GIRLFRIEND. PUT OF NOWEHERE. THIS MAN’S TIMING IS SO UNPREDICTABLE. And so as dongjoo’s in the toilet he sees a man with a concealed blade so he goes into the or to warn them a gangster might be in the hospital trying to harm the patient getting treated on ONLY FOR THE GANGSTER TO COME IN TO THE OR AND TELL THE OR TEAM TO STOP OPERATING (lmao they were already done and tidying up but the gangster didn't know) OR THAT HE WOULD KILL SEOJUNG. DAMN HAVENT WATCHED A KDRAMA EP FOR SO LONG AND THIS IS THE CLIFFHANGER IM GIVEN??

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Poison and trigger discovered

Wang’s reaction has him in a desert mission and he’s berserk heading for Yuan Mo with his sword. AShu finds the antidote just in time to keep all Yuan Mo’s appendages intact. 😂🤣They now know the poison, how administered, and that red triggers as target. Now to find out about the red decorations and keep everybody on lockdown to gather evidence. The snooty East court leader is all ready to send the West back to their menial tasks when he is confronted by Yuchi. Three questions puts him at a loss and our western court guys the lead detectives. Yuan Mo is not above taking bribes and gets a literal shakedown to remove his ill gotten treasures. 🤣In spite of all their efforts to guard the governor and suspect, they learn too late of an underground access to the room and the governor was killed in his sleep. The top officials are pointing fingers and everybody wants to know what happened. Wang thinks it has something to do with an old case.

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f*ck !!!!! why OMG why do i gotta be right…

f*ck !!!!! why OMG why do i gotta be right - as is i was kinda disappointed that the reunion between Ryu & Arata didn't amount to much. yeah Ryu apologized but i need them to talk. for Ryu to at least try & be there for Arata given his disability. to try & offer support, friendship anything then what we got. it was depressing & felt ominous - especially for Arata. i hope that song wasn't an indicator that he is gonna try again - until he succeeds. *************************************************************& until the ending everything was going positive, the budding friendship between the mains was giving signs of affection, even deeper feelings of love in spite the distance.. & then when Jo Han finally had his freedom (ironic i know) that shady f*cker i was worried about at the start came back like a bad penny - i feel like the one who told on him was Jo Han's coach. but after the way Jo Han chose to tell him No - i get why he believed it was Jo Han. what a mess - hope the bar owner got CCTV in that place, but i have a feeling that wont help Jo Han. ugh

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I LOVE IT THE FIRST & SECOND TIME I’ll LOVE IT THE THIRD

I’m really pleased with the pacing & scene+flow of this start. i wonder if it could still be a little too fast for young children psychologically but there were so many key memolrable scenes i remembered watching this two years ago ，all from a great set+up & great acting too. each of them embody the campy caricatures they’re scripted to be. the jokes are cheesy but they land & it does make you smile.\ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ i think they did a great job with kengo & gentaro’s relationship. their strengths & weak★nesses compliment each other & it makes sense when they he says they need each other. i have zero issues with anything i just saw. i think every piece is placed on the board perfectly ，i think everything sold itself & merited its worth. i actually do have an issue with how many low the cameras are angled at every female actress but like. yeah ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ my favorite thing that dates this show is tomoko’s ipad & casing jmfkjlkjszdkj i really adore seeing closed+space fights a lot. it’s genuinely so dynamic & adding to tension. i love what they did with special effects a lot i do miss the fire &crisp of older productions. i also think the score for this show is brilliant my god. & it’s so diverse too which fits the comedy perfectly. i think this is a great start with a very clear understanding of what has to be done.

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My little joys of this episode

Is General Chu Ling already suffering from the poisoning? I thought the poisoned pastry was sent to him only after Chu Zhao married Xiao Xun… All three of those guys are just scheming their own schemes while trying to scheme with the other ones too... I just have to sit back, watch and see which plans will fail and which ones will succeed... there are so many plans now that overlap with other ones and then cancel some out.... And the "pleasant" exchange of words between Deng Yi and Xie Lanfang? I actually kind of lowkey enjoyed that. But what I loved the most in this episode? The cooking scene! Fu Jiu was so shy about correcting her hairpin. And I know why, because I have finally done my homework and learned what putting a hairpin in someone's hair means…

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