The Rise of Phoenixes (2018)

My 4 Year Closure with TROP

I really like the acting on this after rewatching it for the second time after the first which was almost 4 years ago, dang. But thankfully Croton uploaded most episodes on youtube and 1080p because, back then, I watched it at 360p and I can understand why I did not fully realize that the production was lit.
First of all, the intro reminds me of the Kdrama "Empress Ki".
Second, I had to read about the characters in wikipedia especially the supporting characters because I knew they were not properly introduced, most of them, in the drama, and the dialogue centers more on Ning Yi and Feng Zi Wei's plots. I mean, first, we see Ning Yi looking like a monk in penintentiary but is actually imprisoned by his emperor dad. We learn throughout the next episodes that he is planning to go back to the palace, pretend like he's changed for the better, act sickly, and basically plot schemes while getting entangled with this woman he met on the streets who was being chased by a murderous brother. He helps the woman with the help of a mentor/professor he's close with. The woman is Feng Zhi Wei disguised as Zhi Wei, the typical trope like Mulan. My exact thoughts were: "They're gonna end up together." And then Nan Yi showed up. Change Ning to Nan and then add Yi. Handsome, Loyal, has attachment issues but grows, you see that with the ending at episode 70. With regards to Zhi Wei, I thought she was mentally and emotionally smart so the ending really strucked me, I thought she was going to show us how she've grown but the writers wrote that off instead, dang! I don't understand her story arc. With Ning Yi, he's complicated much like his parents. I believe his mentor is a healthy father figure to him if he weren't his biological father's advisor. Ning Yi managed to detain his emperor dad- now former emperor- as Ning Yi became the emperor- and avenge his mom, his younger self, his love, his 3rd brother.. I get his arc. By choosing revenge instead of loving yourself, you grow to hate yourself and lose people. Once again, the palace is a place of torment even for the head of the palace. "Scarlet Heart" vibes. They want to become commoners, and basically have equal rights. They can't when they are expected to embody imbalance (subordinate and dominate) in the palace not by themselves but by the people that surround them all the time. I mean, at first, I find the ending fitting for such a story but as I grow older, I understand the characters and their real life inspirations. I learn more of how the writing is made. The typical tropes and story arcs. How a story can be life changing, or not. For the conclusion of this story, I remember the quote, "It's the journey, not the destination." I will remember the good scenes from here and on. I find most of them comedic. I find Chen Kun's interpretation of Ning Yi endearing as he acts like how Attorney Woo Young Woo acts when amused, their expressions are strikingly similar. I like how he has a support system that also actively protects his woman for him and they all call her his cat to protect her identity. I like his bestfriend bodyguard, he seems nice, should've gave this character a love interest trope but this is a dark story (with little to no bloodshead onscreen, chinese media regulations, I have not formed a solid opinion on yet).
I know Empress Ki have a historical inspiration and I was also hoping for this one but I can't really find one on this "internet" part of the world or I have yet to.
Now that I see more clearly the costumes and aesthetics, I want more, just improve the story please. The aesthetics looks a bit similar to the animated ones and it flashes in my head everytime, like the hair buns, the women hair buns, the hemlines, the colors, even the emperors face. The new character here is the consort, I've never seen her in animation. I like how the emperor doesn't have a crown on his head too, most of the time, the younger emperor has this eunuch-like headdress but the older emperor doesn't need one, it seems. I like how the men wear down their hair, no pins, especially Ning Yi. Some of Zhi Wei's hair style were very interesting. I see why China is the fabric capital in ancient history. I like Zhi Wei's "under" dress and her almost tarmor like outer dress in Episode 70. I know it's sad but can we commemorate her journey. She's the phoenix in my opinion. From the fallen Dacheng princess to the first female Royal Inspector/Minister to being a Empress candidate but protecting her people, she has an A curve. I think the actress who portrayed her ( Ni Ni) still deserves an award for her great performance. I recently watched a "uglified" scene in YouTube and that's where I decided to rewatch this. I somehow admire the supporting characters' stories and how they somehow mystified our main characters, especially Zhi Wei, of their backgrounds that I have to remind myself to not focus too much on the supporting characters' background. It was hard. That's why I give this drama 6.5 stars.

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Win some or lose some

Hands down for best one of the top political dramas out there. When I say it’s POLITICAL-ING, I mean it dives into some seriously complicated situations. The plot's twists have me hooked, and I often find myself trying to guess the best moves the characters should make to get out of the mess they’re in. You know how sometimes you watch a show and think, “Yeah, this is gonna involve a lot of sacrifices and trade-offs”? I was spot on. The plot sets a dark tone from the start, showing that nothing comes easy and everything has its cost. Just a heads up before you jump in, lol.

The female lead starts off looking all optimistic and a bit naive, but don’t be fooled—she’s super brave and knows how to play the game. She fights for what’s right, and the best part? She’s a total powerhouse who does whatever it takes to tackle tough situations (seriously, I love her). What really makes her shine is that, even when she seems overwhelmed, she’s actually incredibly smart and resourceful. She might not have the connections or privilege others do, but she relies on her instincts and quick thinking to rise to the top, earning trust while still being seen as the public enemy. Now, the male lead? His morally gray character and revenge-driven motives really amp up the drama. He comes in strong, making a big impact right from the start with his sly, calculated moves. He’ll do whatever it takes to reach his goals, even if it means using people as pawns. Trust me, you’ll feel his emotional struggle after 40+ episodes. He’s always torn between saving the people he cares about or throwing them under the bus for a bigger win. So, don’t expect to figure him out—it’ll just leave you drained.

I’m really enjoying how the plot keeps getting more intense as the female lead and male lead pull off their plans. Plus, I love how they show the FL as this “powerful” person that everyone is low-key scared of, lol. The way she rises to the top is so well done. I also appreciate the contrast between their approaches. The FL wants recognition and to make her mark, while the ML prefers to stay low-key to carry out his schemes without drawing attention. You can totally see how the plot and tension will unfold between them and everyone around them. It’s a classic back-and-forth, kind of like a cat-and-mouse game.

As for the ending? I know some of you might have issues with it, but honestly, it fits them perfectly. Think about it: throughout the whole story, they faced tons of challenges and made tough choices, so it makes sense for their journey to wrap up this way. Plus, it adds depth to their characters and the overall story. Sometimes, the most powerful endings are the ones that leave us feeling a mix of emotions, and this one definitely does that.

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I always have interest in political palace story. Hence why I started this series though it's like long way to finished (70 ep, OMG!) And I expected a good one since the actors are most likely veteran and experienced actors. This series no doubt has fulfilled my expectation

Story: The political plot are very tense, made me unstoppable from binge-watching every episode. Yet it also made me feel exhausted, because of the cruelness and evil intentions of most of the character in this series. Negative ambiance of the relations between characters indeed deep that effected my feelings. However, some of the episode had side stories that I found irrelevant and just added to this series as dramatic side, and I do fast-forward them many times. Specially the last episodes. Although the ending isn't what everyone wished for, but I happened to feel logically satisfied. And yes, the last episodes felt too rushed, because many unjust cases didn't revealed by investigation and proofs, just given the punishment instead.

Acting: Chen Kun is interesting actor, some of his acts as Ning Yi are exaggerated, but it shows the complexity of his character. His acting is so good you can feel his love and pain with his expressions. Ni Ni as Feng Zhiwei also nailed it. Before I watched this drama, I actually had seen her acted in other drama, and all are satisfying. She is very expressive, as a free will girl who won't cover up her feelings to others, and yes she lived up the character who is easily loved by others. And the veteran actor who acted as the emperor made me melt with his soft spot as a father and leader. He made me questioning what step he would take every time he had to solve a case.

Music: The music score is beautifully arouse the calm yet thrilling ambience of this drama. The emperor palace is always a calm beautiful palace yet it kept danger in every side of it. And the song of Ning Yi - Feng Zhiwei love is sad and sincerely depict the deep feelings between them.

Rewatch value: Because this is a political drama, I don't think I will rewatch it, moreover there are 70 episodes of it. However, maybe I will watch the clip of love story in the OST video as the song is too good to forget.

Overall: It is one of the most impressive political drama for me. I recommend it for everyone who like politics and smart plot, and won't feel tired for those long episodes

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Great story with the worst ending ever

"The Rise of Phoenixes" offers a visually rich and promising historical drama that unfortunately falls victim to a major flaw: the frustrating decisions made by the heroine. While the series presents an intriguing setting and captivating premise, it is overshadowed by the inconsistent and often maddening choices of its lead character.

The production values, including intricate costume design and stunning visuals, create an immersive world that draws you in. The potential for compelling character arcs and intricate relationships is evident, yet the heroine's actions consistently undermine the overall narrative.

As the story unfolds, the decisions made by the main character become increasingly illogical and infuriating, leading to a sense of detachment from her journey. The lack of coherence in her choices not only hampers the character's growth but also leaves viewers questioning her motivations.

Despite its strengths, "The Rise of Phoenixes" struggles to maintain its appeal due to the frustrating character decisions that dominate the storyline. If you're able to overlook this significant flaw and appreciate the series' other aspects, you might find some enjoyment in it. However, if inconsistent character behavior heavily impacts your viewing experience, it's best to approach this drama with caution.

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Great chemistry between lead actor and actress

I watched this drama a long while ago. All I could remember is that it is a great production. Chen Kun and Ni Ni acted well in the drama. Acting was excellent, period costume was beautiful, scene setting was great. It was interesting to watch how the pair fell in love in the story although they continued to 'fight' throughout the plot. Scheming in the palace for the position of the crown prince is the theme. Story was convoluted and baffling. I could not wait to get to the final episode to find out who eventually seize the throne.

I thought some parts were a little juvenile and the sudden switch in people's personalities were not quite realistic - for example the hero upon finding his mother and the decision of the heroine in the last episode. I could not remember much of the music - likely because it was not great.

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I hope and pray that a lot of these writers stop glorifying suicides in these dramas. The diversity of people is influenced by these movies and TV shows. Too many beautiful, normal, talented people are committing suicide thinking that is the best way out of a situation or can't accept life. If the writers just kept going with their strong story, this would've been a 10 for me. I so love this cast NiNi is on my top 10 favorite Asian Actresses. The cast carried the storyline all the way to the end. Chen Kun, wow, what a great actor! I wonder why this is his last work since 2018, well I hope it is not his last.

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Amazing acting, terrible writing

i am full of so much mixed feelings after this. i had to binge-read fix-it fics. i deeply loved this but also hated parts of it

The bad:
- incredibly slow pace. I had to watch this on 1.5x speed, and even then most episodes were slow
- THE LAST FIFTEEN TO TWENTY EPISODES WERE BULLSHIT. as most of the reviewers here say, it was incredibly rushed. i lost all emotional investment and started skipping chunks of scenes because everything was so abrupt, and characters started acting out of character. the ending was also really terrible. i didn't even feel anything, i was just like, 'what the fuck'
- Feng Zhiwei's character suffered from poor writing although Ni Ni (the actress) tried her best and did a fantastic job. whenever she was dressed as a man, she was a delight to watch and her scenes were incredibly fun. the minute she returns to being a woman, she gets forced into that really annoying trope that female protagonists get in cdramas - the passive, mary sue-ish, suffering, easily manipulated woman. it almost felt like watching two separate people and it was really frustrating

The good:
- the chemistry between the two main leads!! their banter was so good. i was so delighted by their constant back-and-forth, the way they snarked at each other, the way they came to each other's rescue, the way they understood each other, and especially the way Ning Yi would start smiling/laughing involuntarily whenever he was around Feng Zhiwei. it is so rare that the male and female leads can go toe-to-toe. i haven't shipped a couple on tv so hard in years
- the acting by the two main leads. it was absolutely amazing. Chen Kun played Ning Yi and i loved his range. he would go from a mocking and overwrought 'poor me' persona to a badass, 'two steps ahead of everyone while smiling threateningly' persona. it was awesome. Ni Ni played Feng Zhiwei and she brought a lot of emotional depth to her role. Feng Zhiwei was incredbily passionate and bold. i really felt for her and cried with her every time she cried
- the sets were absolutely beautiful, and the court etiquette seemed to have been deeply researched

i really loved this but god i wished it had not been such a dumpster fire for the last twenty episodes.

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Complicated impression …

Complicated impression …
So amazing costumes! The designing team is really professional and capable!
So amazing acting!
Chen Kun is definitely one of the most talanted chinese actors. Top world level. Above and beyond all cliches. With such huge charisma, incredible gaze and facial expressions - he is the core of the story. The sixth prince Ning Yi is amazing and distinctive from "hero" type man. WOW!
Ni Ni - the best chinese actress, I've seen so far. Beautiful herself with good acting skills. She does not have typical over-acting, inadequate immature expressions and silly annoying behaviour as most of the "famous" chinese female stars have. Her performance was on point. I like her more as Wei Zhi, but as Zhiwei she was also good.
The Emperor and his first eunuch, Xin ZiYan, Gu NanYi, Ning Cheng, Chang ZhongXin and the Lord of Minhai - all of them were soo impressive!
However the plot is a mess with a lot of holes. Without such incredible actors the drama would be a disaster with this plot.
The drama is too long and slow with many unrealistic scenes, that could be cut. The drama would be very good 40-45 episodes instead of 70. Also there were a lot of minor characters, who do not bring value and quality, but only confusion - thus they could be cut at all too.
The end has some ambiguity. The female lead looks too lively vital and energetic to commit suicide. And also ... after so many people sacrificing themselves for her such end looks a bit unbalanced.

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I personally found this drama quite enjoyable but would have loved it more I think if it was 20 or so episodes less. The filming was beautiful. The music was enjoyable but nothing really catchy. This drama is so long and never really has a lot of scenes that I would be dying to watch again. I really only wanted to watch scenes with the main leads. They are what made me enjoy this drama. This is the 1st drama I can say where while I was dying to see them together I also was very much so enjoying what they were doing apart Usually in dramas the couples become "a couple" and I just want seems of them together. However the leads in this drama held onto being themselves the whole time.,,maybe because of spoiler reasons... Both were so smart and witty and I will miss them both since the drama is over. I enjoyed the Emperor a lot as well as Gu Nan Yi. The story was okay but there were lots of parts I felt were dragging and I did not find any satisfaction with the ending. I recommend though just because of the leads! They are phenomenal and I look forward to watching other dramas they star in.

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The Rise of Phoenixes is a hunger games of the royal family.

I put off watching this for 2 years and finally I got the courage to watch this. 70 episodes?? tai duo le!! The story begins light heartedly, your everyday gender bender period drama mixed with politics and palace schemes. But over the length of the drama it transformed into many forms taking us through an emotional roller-coaster. Its hard to describe in one words, the emotional turmoil this makes you go through. The story is not perfect, its boring at times and interesting in another.

The acting is the most noteworthy in this drama. The main leads deliver us an unforgettable version of the broken Zhi wei and Ning Yi.
From the very beginning the drama hinted the possibility of tragic romance.

This drama has many flaws but I think its yet worth watching. I believe 70 episodes it too draggy. They dragged the story for 60 episodes and then fast forwarded the last 10. I pretty much skipped most of the first 20 episodes or so and the last few. But the middle part of it is interesting

In the span of 70 episodes Feng Zhi wei went from Zhi wei to Wei zhi to Ultimate scholar to Director Wei back to feng zhi wei then to Zhangsun Zhi wei to royal inspector wei and finally Queen of Jinshi. Which shows how much changes the story goes through over its course.

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