Reviews

So much potential

I had to give this 5.x because my policy for DNF due to fatal flaws is lower than 6. I won't finish this series even though it has a lot of positive qualities. I'm happy for the female lead to actually have this lead role, as she's been working in numerous shows through many types of characters! At the same time, I don't think that the assigned actors are glamorous enough or have enough gravitas to successfully carry the shifts of the show - although they really put their hearts into it and I admire them. There was just something about most scenes that felt like they were practicing on set - so not totally convincing.

I love all the red colors, the cinematography, and the music is inspiring and appropriate.
It's just that the story is so utterly predictable.

The mistakes that are made while pursuing intrigue are almost childish. I quit watching when the princess' pass was handed to the enemy, it was so stupid, it didn't make any sense in terms of the actors' role, objectives, and inside information, and it creates an opportunity for a bunch of nonsense and problems that serve only to drag out the drama. Such a choice, like several before that, just lead to more predictable and unnecessary hijinks. I chalk this up to poor writing and that's the main issue with this series.

The actors are acting deep, as if they're really involved with complex decisions and profound implications, but the things that they choose to do to further their ambitions, and the responses from their opponents are quite simple, and frankly, boring. Nothing is as complex as they behave, so the story alludes to depth but doesn't achieve the richness suggested.

How could the characters, declared to be so smart, really make continuous weak choices? We've been told repeatedly within the show that they are amazing and powerful, only because the written actions fail to demonstrate it.

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A Drama That Needed More Breathing Room

Too Much Going On, Not Enough Development

No Gain No Love started off strong for me. The first half was genuinely fun, fast-paced, and filled with entertaining characters. I enjoyed the humor, the strong female characters, and the refreshing take on soft masculinity. The production quality was solid, and there were plenty of interesting storylines that had potential. Unfortunately, the drama eventually became a victim of trying to do too much at once.

There were simply too many plotlines, relationships, and side stories competing for attention. Instead of enriching the narrative, most of them ended up feeling underdeveloped or rushed. Several storylines either received weak resolutions or no resolution at all. Ji Uk's parents, Hae Young's ex, the complicated relationship between Hae Young and her mother, and even some of the major emotional conflicts never received the depth they deserved.

My biggest issue was that the drama constantly introduced interesting ideas but rarely gave them enough time to breathe. Everything felt underutilized. There were so many relationships that could have been explored further, yet very little emotional development actually happened. By the end, I felt like I had spent twelve episodes watching setup without getting enough payoff.

The romance was probably the biggest disappointment for me. I like both Shin Min Ah and Kim Young Dae individually, but together they simply didn't work for me. I never felt much chemistry between them, especially during the romantic scenes, which often felt awkward rather than heartfelt. Considering how much the story relied on their relationship, that lack of spark became impossible to ignore.

Ironically, I found the friendships far more engaging than the main romance. The bromance and the sisterhood between the female characters were genuinely enjoyable and often more interesting than whatever the main couple was doing. The second couple also completely stole the show for me. Their relationship had more energy, more chemistry, and more memorable moments than the main pairing.

Another major frustration was the excessive product placement. I usually don't mind product placement in dramas because it's unavoidable, but this might be one of the few dramas where it genuinely annoyed me. It felt like every time the leads were together, they were advertising something. There were moments where emotional scenes would suddenly pause for product placement, completely killing the momentum. At one point, it genuinely felt like the drama cared more about selling products than developing its relationships. I have never been this irritated by product placement in a drama before.

The handling of serious storylines was also inconsistent. The drama wanted to tackle family trauma, parental neglect, abandonment issues, and emotional wounds, but often resolved these conflicts in ways that felt rushed or unsatisfying. Hae Young's relationship with her mother had the potential to be one of the strongest emotional arcs in the series, yet it never received the depth or closure it needed. The same applies to several other storylines that were introduced with weight but concluded with little impact.

The comedy remained enjoyable throughout, and there were definitely moments that made me laugh. However, the drama often struggled with balancing its comedic and serious elements. Some emotional moments were immediately followed by jokes that completely undermined the tension.

Overall, this is a drama that had all the ingredients to be something much better. It had a talented cast, interesting themes, strong production values, and some genuinely entertaining moments. But by trying to tell too many stories in only twelve episodes, it ended up giving most of them only surface-level treatment.

I didn't hate it, and I was entertained enough to finish it, but it felt surprisingly underwhelming given the cast and potential. For me, the second couple, the friendships, and the comedy carried the drama far more than the main romance ever did.

Rating: 8/10 (too generous) – A fun watch with good moments, but too many underdeveloped storylines and a lack of chemistry in the main romance keep it from reaching its full potential.

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Great Acting by Ryan Cheng. Great Character Development.

If I had my way, the English title for this drama would simply be its native name, Mo Li, rather than The First Jasmine. The original title is a brilliant double entendre: it combines "Mo" from Mo Xiuyao and "Li" from Ye Li. But phonetically, Mo Li (莫离) translates to "don't leave." This hidden meaning perfectly captures Ye Li’s deep devotion to her loved ones, echoing the tragic backstory of her life long before she ever married Mo Xiuyao.

At its core, The First Jasmine is a deeply touching story with beautifully written characters. Even though it’s a costume drama set in what appears to be the Tang Dynasty era, its moral dilemmas and emotional beats feel incredibly relevant to our modern world.

Both Bai Lu and Ryan Cheng (Cheng Lei) are veteran actors, and they both deliver incredibly convincing performances. However, I have to give a special shoutout to Ryan Cheng. His character, Mo Xiuyao, is wonderfully complex and layered. On the surface, he appears bitter, angry, and resigned to his fate. But beneath that exterior is a hot-blooded man fiercely determined to bring his enemies to justice. Confined to a wheelchair for years, he is deeply frustrated by his physical limitations. Imagine having to sit face-to-face with the person responsible for the massacre of your brother and your army, yet being unable to strike back because doing so would plunge the country and his own family into ruin. He has no choice but to endure the pain in silence.

Yet, when he’s with Ye Li, we see a completely different side of him. He starts off bemused and puzzled by her, which gradually melts into profound gentleness and care. Ryan Cheng captures this emotional duality flawlessly, bringing out the exact nuances the character requires. Bravo to him for such a stellar performance!

What I also loved is that every character is deeply human. There are no cartoonish, one-dimensional villains here. Everyone’s actions are rooted in their lived experiences and circumstances. Every major character has a compelling, understandable motivation: Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao are driven by a desire for truth and justice for their fallen loved ones; the Empress Dowager seeks power out of a desperate need to protect herself and her son; Mo Jingli just wants to reclaim what he believes is rightfully his. This nuanced portrayal feels much closer to the messy reality of real life, which is a refreshing change from the black-and-white morality we often see in Hollywood.

Ultimately, The First Jasmine grapples with a profound question: How should you act when facing an enemy who has slandered your family and murdered thousands of your people? Mo Xiuyao has to bow to the Empress Dowager regularly, knowing she orchestrated his brother's death. Ye Li faces a similar struggle—how do you treat the woman who was your mother’s best friend, even when you know she’s responsible for ruining the prestigious academy your grandfather built? Should they just accept the status quo to maintain national stability? Or should they risk everything to seek justice for the dead?

The author brilliantly resolves this agonizing dilemma with a beautiful philosophical anchor: a passage from Confucius’s The Great Learning (Daxue). It reminds the audience that true change and justice must begin from within:

"Ancient leaders who wanted to spread virtue throughout the world began by governing their own states well.
To govern their states well, they first harmonized their families.
To harmonize their families, they cultivated their own character.
To cultivate their character, they aligned their minds.
To align their minds, they made their intentions completely sincere.
And to make their intentions sincere, they extended their knowledge to the absolute limit.
This expansion of knowledge began with investigating the nature of things."

The First Jasmine is a gorgeous, thought-provoking journey. It asks the hard questions about duty, revenge, and forgiveness, and answers them with grace. Highly recommended!

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A Tender Drama That Leaves a Lasting Impression

A historical Chinese romance that blends palace intrigue, revenge, political strategy, and a slow-burn love story.
✅What works well
◍Strong female lead: Ye Li is intelligent, calm, and resourceful rather than relying on luck or clichés. Her quest for revenge is balanced by emotional depth, making her one of the drama's biggest strengths.
◍Complex romance: The relationship begins as a political marriage between two wounded people who slowly learn to love each other. Their romance feels earned through shared hardships rather than instant attraction.
◍Political intrigue: Court conspiracies, succession struggles, and strategic maneuvering give the story substance beyond romance. The revenge plot unfolds through intelligence and planning rather than constant action.
◍High production quality: The costumes, sets, and cinematography create an elegant historical atmosphere that suits the story.
◍Music/OSTs: The music in **The First Jasmine** is elegant, emotional, and perfectly complements the historical setting. The orchestral score and traditional Chinese instruments enhance both the romantic and dramatic moments without overpowering the story. Overall, the soundtrack is memorable and helps deepen the emotional impact of the series.
❎Weaknesses
◍I feel like they didn't fully utilize some of the characters. They had the potential to play much more important roles in the story, but their characters ended up being wasted.
◍Towards the ending episodes, it felt like they had cut a lot of scenes. For example, in the last episode, just when Ye Li was about to kiss Mo Xiu Yao, the scene was cut. The fight between Mo Xiu Yao and Mo Jingli also felt heavily edited, as if several parts were removed.
👩🏻Actresses👨🏻Actors/ Characters
◍Bai Lu was incredible in this drama. I was already a big fan of hers, but this drama made me appreciate her acting on a much deeper level. Her character, Ye Li, was so complex and beautifully portrayed.Through Ye Li, I laughed, cried, celebrated her victories, and even felt satisfied when she got her revenge. And when she finally got her happy ending, I was genuinely happy for her. It really felt like I experienced all of her emotions and pain alongside her. 🥹💖
◍Ryan Cheng also did an incredible job. I'd already watched some of his previous dramas, so I was really happy to see him paired with Bai Lu. Their chemistry was amazing. 🥹✨His character was incredibly intense and carried so much grief on his shoulders. I loved watching him slowly let go of the pain, melt the ice around his heart, and gradually open up to and accept Ye Li. Their relationship developed so naturally, and it was one of my favorite parts of the drama. ❤️
◍Cai Zhengjie also did a great job. I'd seen him in a few mini-dramas before, so I was happy to see him in this role. However, I personally feel that they didn't make full use of his character, Mo Jingli. He had so much more potential, but the drama never fully explored it. At first, I really didn't like Mo Jingli, but as the story progressed, I actually started feeling sorry for him. He deserved so much more. Yes, he was a calculated person from childhood, but I believe his circumstances shaped him into that person. He wasn't born a villain—the situations he went through turned him into one. He lost his father, his position, the woman he loved, and in the end, even his life. And all of it happened because of one power-hungry Empress Dowager. Yes, he was wrong for killing innocent people and wasn't worthy of becoming emperor, but I still believe he at least deserved the chance to kill the Empress Dowager with his own hands.
◍I also feel like they wasted Han Mingxi's character. I was really looking forward to Lin Muran's performance because I'd seen him in *POJ*, where I absolutely loved his acting. Unfortunately, his character didn't get enough screen time or a meaningful storyline, which was quite disappointing.
◍Well, at first I didn't really like the emperor. I thought he wasn't worthy of the throne and even hoped someone else would become emperor. I also felt that he couldn't rule without relying on the Empress Dowager. But towards the end, he completely proved me wrong. He showed that he truly was worthy of the throne and had the qualities of a wise and capable emperor.
◍One thing I really didn't like was how they handled the Empress Dowager's ending. I wanted Ye Li to take her final revenge herself, but instead, they let the Empress Dowager die peacefully while feeling guilty. I really didn't understand why Ye Li suddenly became soft-hearted when it was finally time to kill her and complete her revenge. That part made no sense to me because almost everything that happened in the story was caused by that power-hungry Empress Dowager. After everything Ye Li had suffered because of her, I honestly felt the Empress Dowager deserved to face the consequences of her actions directly at Ye Li's hands.

💜Final verdict
The First Jasmine is best suited for viewers who enjoy intelligent protagonists, court politics, emotional character development, and romances built on trust and less misunderstandings. If you're expecting constant action, it may feel slow, but if you appreciate layered storytelling and character-driven historical dramas, it's one of the stronger Chinese costume dramas released this year.

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When I started The First Jasmine, I expected a beautiful historical romance with a slow-burn relationship and plenty of emotional moments. While the drama certainly delivers all of that, what surprised me the most was how much depth it gave its characters. The biggest strength of the drama is undoubtedly A'Li. She is one of the strongest female leads I've watched this year—not because she is fearless or invincible, but because she feels incredibly human. Her past has left deep emotional scars, and the drama never tries to "fix" her overnight. Instead, it allows her healing to happen gradually, making every small step forward feel earned. Watching her slowly regain confidence, learn to trust again, and refuse to let her trauma define her was one of the most rewarding parts of the series.
A'Yao complements her perfectly. I really appreciated that his role wasn't simply to become her love interest. Yes, A'Li helps heal his injured leg, but in many ways, he is the one who helps heal her heart. He never tries to force her to move on or push her beyond her limits. Instead, he stays by her side with endless patience, quiet understanding, and unwavering support. Their relationship is built on trust rather than dramatic declarations of love, and I found that much more meaningful than many romances that rely on constant misunderstandings or exaggerated emotional scenes.

The chemistry between Bai Lu and Cheng Lei is simply wonderful. They don't need grand romantic gestures to convince you that these two characters belong together. A simple glance, a quiet conversation, or a shared moment of silence says more than pages of dialogue ever could. Their performances make the relationship feel natural, mature, and deeply comforting.

The supporting cast also deserves a lot of praise. While not every storyline received the ending I was hoping for, each character brought something meaningful to the overall narrative.
A'Ying, in particular, broke my heart. More than anything, I wished the drama had allowed her to find happiness through her own independence instead of tying so much of her journey to Mo Jingli. She had all the qualities needed to become an incredibly strong woman in her own right, which makes her story feel bittersweet.
Then there's Mo Jingli... probably one of the most frustrating yet fascinating characters in the drama. Mo Jingli never felt completely irredeemable. His obsession with Ye Li after marrying Ye Ying was undeniably unfair and often difficult to watch, but the drama also gives him enough emotional complexity to understand why he became the person he is. I didn't agree with many of his choices, but I could never bring myself to hate him completely. If I had to point out one weakness, it would be the final battle. After all the build-up leading to Mo Jingli's arrival in the capital, I expected a much larger and more impactful confrontation. Instead, the fighting sequences were surprisingly short, lasting less than a full episode. Considering how much tension had been built throughout the story, I would have loved to see more large-scale battle scenes and military strategy before the conflict was resolved. It felt like a missed opportunity, especially because the drama had done such a great job raising the stakes beforehand.

What I appreciated most, however, is that the drama never forgets its emotional core. Yes, there are political conspiracies, revenge plots, and palace intrigue, but at its heart, this is a story about healing. It reminds us that surviving trauma doesn't mean forgetting the past. Healing isn't about becoming the person you were before—it is about learning how to move forward while carrying your scars with you.
In conclusion , The First Jasmine is much more than a historical romance. It is a beautifully acted, emotionally rich drama filled with memorable characters, meaningful relationships, and one of the most mature love stories I've seen in a long time.

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YOO WHATS THIS KINKY SHIT ON MY SCREEN

Watched this drama like years ago so my memory is like hazy but the only thing I remember is like them being insanely annoying and the ML kinda rubbing off as obnoxious maybe cause I found the acting abit stiff but still the romantic scenes for some reason always came off as quite kinky like these 2 could js be making eye contact and it felt wrong to look like that was deffo an intimate moment. Also I hate that they make ML like this untouchable dude like cmon now he's like 22 bro does not know anything, he's barely an adult and this is actually a trend in many Cdramas - I need this trend to die like no uni student is that way les be honest with ourselves for a second. I know its just a drama but that's abit too unorthodox
Back to the main drama; they freaky like too freaky call me a prude idgaf it was always too intimate for a romcom Cdrama

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Very cute Kdrama but some people need to be shot in the face

The whole plot is q basic Kdrama like FL gets cheated on by her bf with her bsf, goes through major transformation and falls in love with the guy who helped her along the way... ok like that's fine its a cute tried and tested plot that works well BUT WHY THE FK IS THERE AN ARC FOR THE BESTFRIEND AND THE EX BF like I actually dont care if you were fat and bullied and sad like I dont give an actual fk that's not a reason to seduce your best friends boyfriend of 10 years and like the boyfriend how the fk are you going to cheat on your girlfriend of 10 yrs that has been by your side for genuinely everything you ugly sack piece of shit and IM SUPPOSED TO FEEL EMPATHY FOR THEM ?????? these 2 could get into a plane crash then a car crash back to back and Id still not give a fk abt them. Im not feeling any empathy for cheaters and traitors especially when they are the closest people to the person hurt. ruined the other than sweet ending for me

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ABSOLUTE BL NO NOTES

this is the best fluffy no angst sweetest BL I've watched in my life. its actually everything good in life wrapped in one cute adorable bl. Omg the ML is genuinely the cutest person ever I love how expressive he is in his face like it's perfect for every scene and emotion. The whole mix-up to me was actually so cute as well like I love how the mix-up was not dragged out for too long and that FL and ML ended up being really supportive of each other. The actual best drama to watch for only happy vibes like if I was on the verge of a breakdown im watching this to get my mood back up. AMAZING CINEMA 10/10 KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

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mixed feelings ...

It didn't turn out to be as what I expected , I thought this was going to be this fast paced strong revenge drama , yet what they gave us was a rather slow paced drama which tried to tackle many ideas at once and somehow each one turned out to be a bit unsatisfying for me .
so first of all the acting was superb , but the plot didn't serve the drama that much , this drama focused on many plot lines at once which was annoying at sometimes given the fact that I was mainly interested in mo xiuyao and ye li story and with all those storylines it felt dragged for me , ye li knowing medicine , martial arts and basically everything to get the ML out of trouble was quite annoying it felt like a loophole to fix any obstacle they faced .
I hated the whole mo jingli arc like he was so annoying and he wanted it all he wanted the throne and ye li even after he betrayed lishan academy, ye li was married and he himself was married to her step sister , he just got on my nerves .

cangbei princess was killed and they forgot about her ?? like they gave no explanation to the other nation or anything and her maid what was she trying to seek revenge from mo xiuyao for ? how would he have saved her when he himself needed saving ?? why would she call him her enemy like he wasn't the one to cause her to became a slave.

empress dowager after all she had done she got the easiest way out .
that has been said this drama definitely had its moments , from mo xiuyao getting closure for his brother and killed army and the emotional moments we got to know what happened at lishan academy.

this wasn't perfect but it desrves to give it a go.

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