This review may contain spoilers
The best historical romcom cdrama of 2020!
The cast are amazing. The chemistry between leads are the best! Love how they can turn serious scene into a funny one.No moments spent on this drama regretted. This drama worth all my time in this world ?the best cdrama of 2020 for me!
Hope to see more of the leads project in future. They made such a great pair!
Totally recommended for those who haven't watched it. The OST's are exceptionally really good. My fave is the ost sang by the female lead actress herself.
Best fantasy+romcom+historical drama I've ever watched!Best couple of the year! Lusi & Yuxi?
Was this review helpful to you?
An Amazing Short Drama
This story is very hilarious and highly recommended for drama lover who want a short, quick series. The actors themselves had great chemistry that was very natural and comfortable. It felt like they actually liked each other and there was not a hindering amount of scenes in which the director forcibly pushed the lead together for the audience to go "oh yeah they're the main couple." The supporting cast was amazing in their roles as well. I also really loved how Zhao Lusi sang a song for the drama and voiced her own character (it's kinda weird why they didn't let the male lead do the same for some reason). There was one issue with the color with the shots as one the brightness and vivacity of the setting would be different throughout the drama (and sometimes even within the same episode). I have heard it described as if two editing teams had worked on it but didn't communicate with each other, so it resulted in drastic coloration at different scenes. Other than that, everything else was amazing. The interesting plot brought a new sense of fresh uniqueness and the acting was commendable as well. It certainly is one of my favorite dramas.Was this review helpful to you?
Comedic break-the-4th-wall moments
These days, I somehow love dramas who could break the 4th wall and laugh at its own typical troupes and cliché-ness of romantic dramas. A drama about female scriptwriter being stuck in her own story in parallel historical female centric world? Sounds intriguing for sure, and plenty opportunities to poke a hole or two on the 4th wall.The thing about breaking 4th wall though, where they were overly done or where they missed the mark, the drama would feel like a try-hard than witty. Not RoTR though – the moments were well executed, illogical and sometimes even crazy as they seem.
Chen Qian Qian, being stuck as a character who was supposed to die in episode 1 in her story, only focused on wanting to survive until “Happily Ever After” so she can go back to her real world. Han Shuo, a calculative and cunning heir with a terminal disease since young, only wanted to get the cure and mine ore from Chen Qian Qian so he can return gloriously to his city and succeed the title. Both have different motives, but both got more than what they asked for, even more so when they fall in love with each other.
Their servants also deserve a highlight – these two have the cutest dialogues, expressions and interactions. A lot of the comedic and perfect execution of break 4th wall moments come from these two and this drama would feel very different without them.
While it was a good ending, it feels like there were some loose ends, perhaps left untied intentionally. Hope season 2 would be here soon!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
really liking the drama's approach to addressing gender discrimination ♡
this was a really sweet and funny series! i kinda wish it was clearer how and when the main leads fell for each other (maybe i missed it) but when they started seeing how much they cared for each other, their chemistry was really beautiful ;;; i also wished the ending part was longer but oh well it was cute lol and i loveddd the way the male lead looked at the female lead...his little smiles and laughs are so ♡ i have to admit i skipped quite a few scenes and didn't Really get interested until the last few episodes, but overall i enjoyed the development of the storyline and the characters' relationships! highly recommended!!some spoilers and my essay of thoughts are below lol bewaree
*****spoilers ahead*****
lmao I've never been so invested in writing this much for a drama but i have time and passionfruits so here we go: my mini essay on gender discrimination in both cities of this drama
one thing (out of many) that i appreciated in this drama is how the drama later addressed a flaw in the female lead's script, where each city had its own bias towards a gender in the gender binary (women/men). at first i disliked that fl's idea of a "feminist" city was just a matriarchal (female-dominated/female-centered) society where women abused their power and treated men as the inferior sex (i might be wrong but i understood that the fl thought the princess' matriarchal city, Huayuan City, had a more "equal" society as compared to the prince's city, Xuanhu City, which was patriarchal or male-dominated). i felt that the princesses' city was nowhere close to having reached gender equality or equity - it was almostt the same in comparison to the prince's city and the unwelcoming patriarchal society that a vast majority of us live in today.
i mean maybe the fl wasn't aiming to make her script into a specifically "feminist" work but if she did, then I'd have to argue that she had a Lot she needed to change in her script, which she kinda started doing after she realized later on that Huayuan City was actually practicing gender discrimination in similar ways Xuanhu City was.
but yeah, feminist works don't aim for women to overpower men or anyone. while feminism does center women as their focus, ultimately it aims to address and tackle inequalities and oppressions, and to help uplift those that are underprivileged (I'm reading into this part of the drama quite heavily but lol i promise i understand that this is dramaland and that the attempt at a female-centric drama is refreshing and brave).
anyway, like i said,, in the last few episodes our fl realized how unfair and unequal Huayuan City's practices regarding gender actually were. when she resolved a lot of her storyline's issues and gained more royal power, she quickly worked w the city to help give women And men the same opportunities to educational, political, and economic power.
alllll that being said,,, i admit i was amused when, at the beginning, the women of Huayuan City were chastising/punishing and heavily criticizing men for various things that women in our REAL world constantly face and struggle with. it was satisfying to see and hear them say to men what irl men always say to me/women (specifically in my own asian community). and i say "satisfied" not to mean that i agree w that kind of system, or that i want to see men w a lower social status, or even that i like how men are treated poorly based on their assigned sex. i say that I'm "satisfied" to mean that it was nice how the drama blatantly pointed out the sexist ideas that exist in real life towards women, except this time the roles were switched and the "normal" in Huayuan City was to be sexist towards men.
to some people, women in Huayuan City may have seemed excessive or overbearing, but this happened in the fictional world...real life men/societies are actually like this and a lot of us are okay w it. I'm not excusing Huayuan City's ideas on gender roles,, I'm hoping that the seemingly ridiculous/dramatic presentation of gendered ideas in Huayuan City will let more people acknowledge the gender disparities in real life. through the mouths and positions of women in this drama, i felt that a lot of people (mostly men) in real life were called out. again, hopefully this factor in the drama planted a seed into people's (men's) minds and helped them realize how unfair our current societies are towards women.
i hope this all makes sense btw lolll it's midnight and I'm in my thoughts
sadly the world today is still very much like how ml's city, Xuanhu City, was (a male-dominated society). i saw this especially clearly when our fl moved to Xuanhu City. the way Xuanhu City's men treated their women, and even the way the women treated each other based off patriarchal influences....it all felt too painfully and frustratingly real. well, bc it is real for me.
oh and i also don't mean to make it seem like after fl improved the cities' situations, everyone in the cities instantly had equal social status - changing practices that are so deeply rooted in cultures and lifestyles takes much, much, Much more work than that. buttt, again, this is dramaland and the drama took a very courageous approach to addressing this issue.
i very much liked seeing the attention on gender discrimination overall. the shift in people's mindsets about gender roles, expectations, and stereotypes was nice too; for example with fl, minister pei, ml's parents, and the palace people in Xuanhu City. ml's dad was especially annoying - at a certain point of the drama he was wayyy more annoying than the second princess loll even tho he only appeared for like 2 episodes?? maybe he reminded me of men i know irl..lol
okay maybe last point for now: i teared up when ml helped support fl and women in front of his parents (esp his dad) and palace people. this hit me hard...bc irl, the support of men and their acknowledgement of both an unfair society for women and the lack of action from men,, are Such important factors in stepping towards a more equal world for women and men.
when ml talked back to his dad and genuinely supported fl and women in general, i began to love the ml That Much More. like, in this drama, ml is really genuine towards fl...he gives her everything he has while still being true to his feelings (altho i still struggle with seeing how he Really really started liking her so much lol sorry). he stands by her side, admires her and cares for her, and supports and understands her. more importantly he changes his thinking that women are of lower status than men, and goes against his upbringing and city's traditions (i also struggle with accepting how easy this happened tho lol...what can i say, dramas aren't perfect).
maybe this hit me harder bc Xuanhu City's patriarchal ideas reflect many of our own societies... altho i do see that Huayuan City's "matriarchal" ideas are also problematic in its respective ways, i don't feel as bothered (oops). maybe it's bc i view Huayuan City's female-centered practices as being highly fictional rather than real.
okay FINAL THING (I could go on forever lolll): i found it so funny and cool how ml's mom is...mulan? like at least i think she is......which is Super cool..she's awesome i love ml's mom w a full heart!!!
Was this review helpful to you?
IN LOVE
A MUST WATCH!!!This drama show so much beauty. Once you start you can't stop. Its like a drug that keeps you wanting more and more.
I love drama that the casts have chemistry. These two main character and the rest of the cast crew has such funny relationship off and on screen. They are what make this drama so DAMN good. You have to watch it to know what I'm talking about. I haven't enjoy a Cdrama for a very long time and this one just ACE it.
Storyline is a 10/10. I will not spoil anything but I will say the storyline is very similar to ever other Cdrama (where the girl go back in time) but the twist is she's in her own story that she wrote.
Lastly, the #1 reason why I love this drama so much is how it show what a good healthy relationship should be. Yes, there are downfall and misunderstanding between the couple, but in the end they show trust, loyalty, and caring for eachother. This drama show what a healthy relationship should be. It also show that when a man is really in love with a woman, he protects her with all his strength, he believes in her with all his heart, he will sacrifice himself for her...and she also did the same. I can't say much, but see that their love is pure and is true love.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I've heard good things about this drama that's why I gave it a try and I wasn't disappointed. Apparently this drama was a sleeper hit? I'm not sure if what I've heard is true but it was really popular with the international audience.STORY:
Imagine a world that is governed by women? Yes! Of course I would say that because I'm a woman and it would be fun to see that kind of world (but of course, we should fight for equality). The story follows Chen Xiao Qian (Rosy Zhao), a screenwriter struggling to finish her script in time for the shooting of the drama to start as she crosses paths with the arrogant actor in her drama who always opposes her script, actor Han (Ryan Ding). She struggles with finishing her script: lacking script, forgetting to eat (which is the reality of writers) as she also deals with the pressures of the production and the director. She then gets sick and transports herself in to the world she created. Yes, she was transported inside her script where she is the 2nd female lead, who was supposed to die anyway in the 5th episode? As she also sees Actor Han as Han Shuo the prince from a neighboring city where men ruled the world. This is sort of who is better ruling, men or women? You can see the partiality of both sides which was also not good since we should live in a world where equality is observed. Anywho, that is where the hilarious story comes about because she as the second female lead should've brought her sister, the real female lead and the male lead together in order for her to get out of her trance and finish the story. What's funny is that the story that was supposed to happen didn't follow the original tale due to the fact that the male lead fell in love with the second lead. The cast was on point and I really enjoyed this series. They really love their time travelling/other world travelling novels and drama and that entertains me a lot. The ending though. It was funny to see Actor Han having all the memories of Han Shuo in the modern world. If there was a season 2 of this drama, I hope that they get the same cast. I really do.
ACTING/CAST:
I really love the leads chemistry and they complement each other so well. Even the other casts were perfect for their roles. I hope Rosy Zhao and Ryan Ding get paired up again in another drama or better yet a season 2 please!
MUSIC:
There was this one song that I liked but unfortunately it didn't stick to me like the other OSTs of other dramas.
REWATCH VALUE:
I've seen this drama for 2 times now and if this was an underrated drama, I suggest you give this a try.
Was this review helpful to you?
simple but interesting drama⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆
My very first Zhao Lusi’s drama that I watched! I didn't think I would like this drama so much!? Every time I feel tired I rewatch this drama, it really saved my life!Zhao Lusi and Ding Yuxi's chemistry as Chen Qian Qian and Han Shuo are amazing!! They are my comfort couple, hope to see them working together again in another drama-`♡´-
This drama is actually very simple, there isn't too much conflict, it focuses more on romance interspersed with comedy and that really suits me.
There are only 24 episodes, for a Chinese costume drama it's very short, but from this drama I fell in love with Zhao Lusi and Ding Yuxi very deeply until now, they are the best!✨
This drama unexpectedly exploded and became famous both in China and internationally, as a loyal viewer who always rewatches this drama, I know this drama and all teams really deserves it.─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Why should you watch this drama?
When the episode first begins, it is a bit boring but to see another type/side of Rosie Zhao is really amazing. The first episode basically explains what she is and her current occupation. The second episode is really funny and includes poison, wine, green hats, and glaze plates. I really do recommend watching this even though the main actress is a little off looking with a funny voice. You will begin to love her as you finish this drama. This drama rewatch value is really high because there aren’t really many scenes viewers would hate. The episode that really got my captivated was episode 2 where she acts very funny and eats food like she is searching for poison. The guy also got me sipping for him and finishing intense love. The OST is very catchy and sound absolutely amazing. I really watched this 3 times no skipping episodes. One thing I really hate is the second female lead, Chen Chu Chu. She keeps biting and never let’s go. Although I love her, the acting really got me annoyed. Thank god there was Ryan Ding playing as Han Shou, the main lead.Was this review helpful to you?
A fourth wall breaking period rom-com
What a delightful little fantasy/period drama (it is not really historical as it is not based on any recognisable history). It is light-hearted and fast paced for a c-drama. Lots of cute and funny moments. While the plot is almost farcical it was acted out with a lot of energy and heart. The plot is not new but the fourth wall breaking set up allow a lot of in jokes. The FL is relatively new but did a great job. My only complain is the 2FL was never punished for her bad deeds. While the show gave us the happy ending we wanted, the execution was a bit rushed and contrived.Was this review helpful to you?
One of the best in 2020
I watched this drama in 3 days and I am impressed how well, pretty much everything was done even though the drama is kinda short with only 24 episodes.The story is simple but surprisingly well done! While there were minor holes in the story but with the satire around it, you will not even notice it.
The end was great but it does bring some questions like: Where are the rest of the "team"? There must be somewhere in the world -This aspect of the story could have been explored further but it would bring complexity to the storyline.
Main actresses and actors were great with good chemistry and just as good supporting roles. Mrs. Zhao is perfect for this role and despite her age, she plays the character very well with all the range of emotions. I have always enjoyed shows she's been in.
With the fast passed story, you will not even notice the music but I liked the OST nevertheless.
Overall, this drama is definitely worth your time!
Was this review helpful to you?
Well Done Rom-Com Parody on C-Drama Tropes
OVERALLI won’t say much because there are not many episodes and I don’t want to spoil many moments. I promise that you will be laughing your way through this drama. There were some moments where it can feel slow, but they are doable moments. You will fall in love with the supporting cast and end up wanting a second season. The production quality isn’t great, but with this low budget and great acting, it was something that could be overlooked.
STORY
The story first started with our male lead questioning the script of the drama. Why do the main leads have to fall in love with the female lead just because she was the female lead? This is an issue that I have seen lately with dramas. Just because they are listed as main leads, they are to fall in love but there is little to no courtship or compelling reason for them to fall in love with each other. It is like an arranged marriage that is to happen per your parents’ request.
The second trope is time travel/jumping into a novel/taking over someone else’s body (my guilty pleasure trope). If you read enough web novels or watch enough C-dramas, you know this is a popular trope. If there was not a ban in China on this trope, we would see it more in the web novel turned dramas. This trope showing up in the drama made it into a comedy filled with so much laughter involving our female lead.
There are many more tropes, but they are easter eggs for you to find when you watch it.
ACTING/CAST/CHARACTERS
Zhao Lu Si has done it again in bringing her character to life and this time as Chen Xiao Qian/Qian Qian. Her character was so hilarious to watch because she knows she’s stuck in a predicament where she wrote for her character to die. She tries to stick to the original storyline but then tries so hard to survive so that she can go back home.
This is my first drama with Ding Yuxi and he is a great actor who uses his facial expressions and little movements to add to his acting. I’m so excited to check out more of his works.
Honorable mentions to Zi Rui and Bai Ji for making me laugh so much! I hope to see them all in the second season!
MUSIC
The music didn’t stand out much for me while watching. Henry Huo’s Rumor and Shuang Sheng and Yao Yang’s Moonlight were great tracks. Zhao Lusi also sang one of the soundtracks.
RE-WATCH VALUE
I would re-watch this series again. It’s a lighthearted romantic comedy that doesn’t take more than 16 episodes to complete. I think that itself is a great reason to re-watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
OMG...Hilarious
Zhao LuSi and Ryan Ding were the cutest couple..their chemistry were genuine, hilarious and perfect match for each other. Zhao LuSi was cheerful, mischievous, happy, and smart while Ryan Ding more naive in the name of love but also calculated and kind, he's super jealous to Pei Heng (of course, why would his wife flirt with an old flame/ex fiance?). From the start they met till the end, it was full of sweetness, comedy, and survival techniques (for Chen Qing Qing). There're a lot of memorable scenes but my favorite was when Chen Qian Qian elected as the leader of rebel and she got drunk from celebratory feast and Han Shuo came to save her and...well it's so dang adorable and funny. I want to have best bud like Zi Rui or even Bai Ji that would fill the days with laughter. Although it wasn't a happy ending in the other dimension but a happy one in modern life. I definitely want season 2 and hope it will be the same main leads.Was this review helpful to you?
