This review may contain spoilers
Someone give this guy another lead role!
I really did enjoy a LOT about this show. The plotline, the OST, the coloring & general look. I was SUPER impressed with Ceasar Wu's acting and character and can't wait to see what his next project will be, tho his looks seem practically designed for historicals. (Wow!)I do wish we could have seen more of his character in the masked warrior's outfit, especially after we got to know him a bit.
Most of the side characters & their stories were also fun & interesting to watch. Especially the FL's maid & Su Su. They were adorable.
My issue was more with Shen Jin. I completely lived her in the beginning, but after she got comfortable with the relationship, I felt like she started becoming more and more immature, annoying and even selfish and self-centered. Quite possibly one of the most spoiled and pampered female leads I've come across in a historical. By the time it ended I still wanted them to end up with an HEA, but it's the first time I ever really wanted the male lead to have more concubines. LOL. I felt like he spent so much time ans energy taking care of her Needs & Wants and cleaning up after her messes, he deserved to have somebody to take care of him as well.
Most likely wont rewatch, but it was fun the first time!
Was this review helpful to you?
DiScLAiMEr:-not paid for complimenting drama
Not to harm any wild fantasies
Bye byee ?
Was this review helpful to you?
LOVE this couple!
This drama is a ROMANTIC COMEDY with some action & schemes/secrets. If you're expecting a serious dramatic love story or serious military heavy drama, this ain't it. The love between the FL & ML was deep, but more on the light hearted fun side. It also shows that they're just like other regular couples irl. Not just the "mature" types that many historical dramas portray.I noticed a lot of ppl rag on the FL character, but I love her. She's suppsoed be a playful teenager who's been cast aside, bullied, & neglected by half of her family. They basically didn't care if she played w/ the "lower class" growing up & was forced into becoming a childbride to a rumored "devil general" just to protect her mom.
Many viewers love him more cuz he's more disciplined & mature than her, but u gotta remember his character is a few yrs older than her & he grew up in a very disciplined environment compared to her.
What viewers tend to forget is that they're BOTH stubborn & petty. He's just more passive aggressive about it while she's more aggressive & wear it on her sleeve more about it.
Tang Min & Caesar Wu did an amazing playing their roles. Their chemistry is what makes me rewatch this drama so many times. Thank u casting director for putting these 2 together cuz the wrong actor/actress woulda made all those beautiful love scenes cringy af.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Caesar X Tang Min ❤️
First up, I started General’s Lady and continued watching it because of the cast and the OST! I watched it (quite forcefully) because I could not bear to skip this drama. I watched it to see exactly how good it is as I have seen many positive reviews of it everywhere.(+) I enjoyed the couple pairing - Caesar Wu and Tang Min. They did very well!!! Caesar Wu definitely did his best and did look and feel like a military general. Tang Min played her role very well. They definitely should film together again, especially in a modern drama. They sang the OST ”为一人” together and I loved it! The lyrics and title itself was well chosen.
(-) However, the plot is a mess. I had no clue what they were doing half of the time and skipped most of the unnecessary parts. It is not well developed and the amount of misunderstandings and fights they have is too much. Chu Xiu Ming is always the one defending and helping Shen Jin whenever she’s in trouble. Shen Jin needs to do something to show that she loves the general as much as he does too! It should not always just be the general...
After awhile, the plot gets really boring and a little repetitive.
(+) To be honest, I think the most interesting or rather best part is the beginning. I liked episodes 1-8 because it showed us that we only appreciate and cherish people when they are gone. I liked the scene where Chu Xiu Ming was panicking when he realised that Shen Jin is missing and hurriedly went to look for her and eventually broke down crying. It was probably one of the most touching moments and I remembered that episode’s scene very clearly. I even rewatched it thrice...? (even though I feel it is a little bit overly-scripted and unnatural) It took 8 episodes to make the general confess to her! When Shen Jin wanted to divorce Chu Xiu Ming and was gone from him, he could not help but feel sad and regretful. That was when he realised Shen Jin was the only person who cheered him up and made him feel happy.
With that said, I would only recommend this to people who enjoy sweet romantic historical dramas. This drama has good production. A pity the script is not well written...I wonder how it is going to be like for Season 2 (if there is really going to be one). It is pretty overrated on MDL...
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Chemistry chemistry chemistry
>> This got a higher than usual rating from me mainly because of generous kissing scenes and chemistry. <<Plus the leads and second leads are cute. I like their dynamic. Fave character is the ML. He is so sweet and charming ? also very protective of Jin Er. Jin Er is admittedly annoying a times but I love her sincerity for her husband.
For the plot, it was ok. Not really exciting but not bad. A decent story for a romance drama. I'm now into arranged marriage drama because of this.
Was this review helpful to you?
SUPERB! PERFECT, VERY ENTERTAINING & GOOD TO THE HEART❤
Not into dramas, very seldom, but chance upon this in yt and I got hooked even watching only the 1st episode.the ML, and his character, will surely be major attractions for viewers and the way the story and the director presented/ unravel his role is undeniably amazing.
Caesar Wu is perfect for the role ; his (so manly) facial features, his height, his built, his demeanor and acting skills of course,..
beyond expectations. He did a great job! He's not only looks but a great talent also.
Tang Min also did great, though I believe other actresses can do good also to the role. But since the general's role is more challenging, Caesar got and deserve more credits.
The script, well done!Watching it over and over again made me realize anew how good the script was written, relating the scenes to the main story or plot (i.e. why the general cannot just eliminate Jin just like the 3 wives previously betrothed to him... giving Jin a chance under his close watch even if she's kinda different, cunning and witty).
The phasing, not boring. Costumes, hair and make up, excellent!
The chemistry between the ML & FL is a bonus... BUT their acting is a super plus making it appear they are not acting especially in kissing scenes...it's as if they're real couple (I do hope so ?).
I also like that other characters were given their own stories...not focusing only on the ML and FL's romance/story.
Different issues were also raised (war, reconciliation, political, family, traditions) and dealt with or solved fast, not dwelling so much in just one issue... and everything was presented lightly... w/c I really appreciate, I'm not into heavy dramas.
Values, culture were clearly and well presented also.
Overall, this drama IS PERFECT, VERY ENTERTAINING, GOOD TO THE HEART.?❤
kudos to everyone on and off screen in this drama!?... worthmentioning also , the director, the scriptwriter/s, aside from all the actors and actresses esp Caesar Wu?.
Hope he'll get roles that will also illuminate his talent like, if not better than, the general.?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Beautiful Admiral Love Story
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS DRAMA & WOULD RECOMMEND 100%. I rarely to never watch any drama or series period. I prefer comedy & action. However, for some reasons this drama caught my eyes & I stared watching it from start to finish Not just one time but keep REWATCHING IT MULTIPLE TIMES. I LOVE the SIMPLE & STRAIGHTFORWARD personality of both ML & FL. If she wants something, she isn't afraid of asking for it. She isn't afraid to let her husband know she is jealous & she is crazy about him. She fights for what she wants, what she believes in, she does it in her own way that eventually WIN HIS HEART. So did he. They love, protect, support & care for one another in their own way. Their CHEMISTRY is undeniable. YOU FEEL LIKE THEY ARE REAL COUPLES. They fights, misunderstanding, break ups JUST LIKE REAL LIFE COUPLES BUT their love are so strong & unbreakable. Nothing & no one can come between them. They seem to understand each other thoughts & complete each other sentence. They are smart, fun & funny. I REALLY LOVE THEM TOGETHER. If you look for a Beautiful Love story, you will love this. If you look for crazy plots, political, war, extensive complex drama, this isn't it. I have to say, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST RELAX DRAMA I LOVE TO REWATCH OVER & OVER AGAIN. GREAT JOB TANG MIN, WU XIZE, ALL ACTORS, WRITERS, DIRECTORS... You make us believe in LOVE, KINDNESS & AUTHENTIC. THANK YOU! ❤Was this review helpful to you?
Romance in the air
The main leads steal the show in General's Lady .Tang Min and caesar Wu have done an excellent job they both look so good together .
Tang Min is a good actor her comedy timing is superb.
Caesar Wu looks too stunning a general Chu Xuming ,his romantic dialogues are the best. Chu Xuming is head over heels for his wife.
They make us believe they are so much in love.
The supporting actors have done a good job. There is a little bit of drag in episode 21 to 23 due to love story of the supporting characters but the lead pair make up for the loss and draw you back into the drama.
Overall a rewatch if you like romantic drama.
Costume designer has to be mentioned here, the clothes are beautiful . But generals clothes are absolutely stunning.
Fighting scenes could have been better.
The best part is the general Chu and Shen Jin will make us believe that true love exists even in arranged marriages . The drama shows us even though you might be the bravest warrior , but when your wife is upset you are willing to do anything to get her back.
Director must be praised , has done a great job. All the love stories shown in the drama are unconventional for that era.
waiting for season 2 .
I thank you tube for recommending this drama .
This is my first ever c drama and I am watching it all over again.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Female lead that I ended up falling out of love with...
I initially liked the first 2 ep as it featured a cold and cliche general, funny and outgoing female lead, and lovable side characters (there's side couples EVERYWHERE. At least 4 by the point I dropped the series). I love the romance-centric theme of General's Lady and how the leads fall in love quickly and have great screen time together. BUT. It got a bit boring for me so I decided to read recaps of the rest of the episodes - lol.Satisfying/sweet ending, but I don't think it was worth it to watch the last 10 or so episodes (especially since I was watching it in 2x speed).
PROS
❀ Sweetly/sickingly romantic | Like I said, there are side couples everywhere lol, and the main couple gets together pretty quickly. (The FL confesses in the first couple of episodes and the ML follows after another couple of episodes. Out of 30 episodes, they are officially a couple with reciprocating feelings in the first 10 episodes.) I liked this deeply romantic plot and how their love was emphasized throughout the story. BUT. At what cost?? (More on that in the CONS section)
❀ Pretty set and outfits | The visuals were aesthetically pleasing.
❀ Satisfying face-slapping | As the drama takes place a bit in the FL's family home, there are some cunning concubines/sisters she has to deal with. I loveee reading about family feuds and seeing the FL overcome abusive households, which happens in this drama. BUT I also feel like the abusers were let off a bit too nicely.
CONS
✕ The trade-off between romance and misunderstandings... | Okay, the thing about the romance is that you have obstacles to overcome romantic conflict, right? There's way too many for me in this drama to continue watching. Most of the conflicts arise from miscommunication/misunderstandings, and after reading recaps of the next episodes I saw it continued down the line. No thank you from this watcher.
✕ Wasn't feeling the 2 leads | I already wrote off the ML in the beginning because he literally has no personality, lol, other than being a military general and loving his wife, but I was super disappointed in the FL. The actress herself was hilarious and, imo, did the role well (she wasn't annoying in the beginning despite her antics), but I got tired of those machinations after 10+ episodes. She's not the brightest bulb, but she's also not dumb. She's just... there. In the beginning, she was quick-witted despite not having many skills and straightforward. As the pair fall in love, she starts scheming behind her husband's back (very inconsequential but also annoying things) and basically not contributing to anything. The bulk of the face-slapping with her own family was initiated by the ML (her plan with the new concubine was a small redemption). She just gave off very classic shoujo anime main character energy. The ML's character is hard to work with already, but the actor's stone-cold face didn't help. His lack of emotions was almost comical, and this stayed true to the end (as I ended up skipping to see the last episode). I mean yeah, he smiled sometimes, but I kinda need more than a couple of smiles to make me like the character... lol. He definitely becomes a devoted general husband, don't get me wrong, but his face didn't match his actions.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 7/10 | There weren't big misunderstandings in the grand scheme of the couple's love but it's still present. Even though the misunderstandings were about small things they were cringey and I had to skip through them. Chinese dramas really love to make use of the "innocuous yet grating for the sake of angst" situation, and this one was no different.
OVERALL
In essence, I had high expectations for General's Lady after the comical first couple of episodes, paired with my favorite tropes. (Tropes being: cold ML/heartwarming FL, FL gets married off to 'demonic' general instead of another girl (Beauty and the Beast energy), FL comes from mean family (Cinderella energy), etc.) BUT I should have known better, because along with those tropes came 2010 drama energy, where the girl is 80% of the time in need of getting saved, and the romantic plotline obliterates most of the characters' common sense. Which is fine! But hun, this was aired in 2020 and at this point of my life I'm ready for better romcoms than what we've had for the past 10 years.
(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)
Was this review helpful to you?
Love is in the Air!
Tang Min, portraying Shen Jin, showcased commendable acting skills that initially impressed but later faced some setbacks. Her portrayal of the character, reminiscent of individuals who used to test my patience during my professional years, had moments where her high-pitched and bratty demeanor became a bit overwhelming. To mitigate this, I found myself adjusting the volume and even closing my eyes to alleviate the intensity. Despite these challenges, she undeniably excels in bringing out the bratty persona with an almost disconcerting accuracy.The saving grace of the drama, in my opinion, was Caesar Wu's portrayal of Chu Xiu Ming. His character, initially stern and stubborn, underwent a satisfying transformation as he discovered a love for Shen Jin, a development that I welcomed wholeheartedly. Wu's commanding presence and graceful stature added a unique charm to the series, and his acting prowess left a lasting impression. I am eagerly anticipating more projects featuring this talented actor.
On a positive note, the set design was truly remarkable, complemented by an enjoyable musical score. The martial arts sequences, particularly those featuring Caesar Wu, were executed with excellence. I extend my gratitude to the writers, producers, staff, and the supporting cast for their collective efforts in making this story a captivating experience.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Silly cute drama with a plot you can't take seriously
100% the reason I started watching General's Lady is because of all the cute clips on Youtube.Watching this is sort of like reading a manga - the main couple are really cute together and there's a lot of kissing scenes and in the beginning it's fun to watch them play around with each other but it's also a bit cliched and there's instalove.
The ML and FL have a lot of chemistry and she plays a lot of pranks on him in the beginning which make for an entertaining show. She is super petty but they're a cute couple and compliment each other. Also this show is shouting-in-a-field level of dramatic. If you like a lot of drama in your romance shows, you'll like this show.
It's a light, silly drama but I feel like they tried to make it something it's not by having the underlying plot of the show be this whole mystery of how his family members died and stuff about politics/scheming that wasn't realistic. The king seemed so incompetent and the mystery plot wasn't really consistent in the first half of the show so it was a bit hard to follow/remember what had happened. The bad guys in this show are also really one dimensional and incompetent. Example: sending a random pregnant lady to the FL to convince her that the ML knocked her up.
If my Chinese was better and I didn't have to look at the subtitles and could just have it playing in the background while I was doing something else, it might have been easier to get through. But because I had to stay relatively concentrated on the drama, I couldn't help but notice the weak plot. Halfway through it started getting kind of hard to watch and I took a break for a few weeks. A lot of the plot is also made up of misunderstandings that lead to unnecessary drama that then gets resolved, so it was hard to watch more than a few episodes at a time.
I feel like this show would have been better if they actually shortened it to 24 episodes and they made the plot tighter instead. The end where it turns out it was a screenplay felt kind of unnecessary, like it was a sort of ploy to explain away all the inconsistencies by saying oh it was just a drama. I wish they had explained how he managed to rescue her, because I actually want to know!
One other thing that I didn't love - the FL was constantly jealous/suspicious of every single new female character that was introduced, like they were all there to steal her husband. It just seemed immature and I feel like she didn't have enough trust in her husband, even after they had been through a lot. She's super hot headed and jumps to conclusions / makes assumptions and I wish that there was more character development as the show progressed instead of her staying the same. Even towards the end, she doesn't trust him and thinks he's going to rebel when as a viewer I knew that would not happen.
I liked the theme song but I feel like they only have one song and played it constantly.
It would be nice if they had other songs too.
Unrelated to the review at all, but finding out that the two leads are both a year younger than me made me feel very old hahaha.
Was this review helpful to you?
