Good ice-break
Just finished watching this drama and I can say, the climax storyline is sad. While the beginning of story when she acted as a man, she did dragged it off, it was too dramatic. In my opinion though, she did the best job in acting as this 2 roles but need more work specially her voice & laugh is quite not match nicely. But all characters was played very nicely and fitted especially fifth prince. For feedback to producer and writer it is too hurry to fix all story with 23 & 24 episode. Overall good to watch this dramaWas this review helpful to you?
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Sweet romance with a 100% rewatch value
Not the best looking pair of actors but chemistry between the OTP makes their storyline so endearing . The pacing reminds me of Korean drama where the story develops quickly from episode 1 . Love that there are no unnecessary side characters whose stories are of little interest to the viewers but served to drag out the drama unnecessarily. I watched all 24 episodes without having to press ff which is rare with most Chinese dramas. I also like the swoon worthy ways the male lead shows his love - his gaze is often on the female lead, the way he puts food on her bowl and the childish and needy side that is only shown to her while the rest of the world see his cold and calculative persona. Kudos to the director for inviting the viewer to draw their own conclusions . For instance, the female lead remarked that the change of clothes he gave her when she fell into the river fitted her so well but I infer he made it for her as it fitted her to the tee and it’s in green, a colour he is often dressed in. A lot of people think it’s a sad ending or at least an open ending but I disagree. The clues are there - she came back to the capital after 3 years and gifted his pendant to the owner of the restaurant knowing very well he is his supporter and likely to show it to him. I like to think this is her way of telling him she is back and to come and find her. Also when she heard someone said ‘Your Majesty’ her face brightened and she turned round looking for him . Surely with his resources he would be able to find her quickly. She is a general daughter who understands politics, duty and looking at the big picture- I like to think she just need to spend some time alone to grief for the destruction of her family and her army before she can let herself be happy again.Was this review helpful to you?
Waste of a good story.
Can you believe I've binged the entire drama till the last 10 minutes before fast forwarding to the end? I don't even care if they all live happily ever after or not; nor did it matter if the villains got their just deserved. As a matter of fact, they just died off the scene leaving meaningless taste of dissatisfaction. Though they tried to bring the ending to a climax by bringing the audience to an all time low first, that was at a risk of losing audiences' attention.On the bright side, I actually enjoyed the music score more which is usually seldom. Overall, it's a good, enjoyable drama but has a disappointing ending; it's like reading a novel that has the last page missing.
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Enjoy it at all!!!
This drama really caught me from the early beginning. I am not afraid how it ends from my point it was said in last episodes: According to customs of Chen people can get married............. otherwise they'll have to do that after 3 years of mourning for the dead. Close to the end of episode it says "After 3 years" why do you think she come back to the city directly after 3 years? She even give that present to the father of new born boy. She know that emperor will know very soon that she is back to become his wife finally :-)Was this review helpful to you?
Cross-dressing Han Warrior
Surprisingly entertaining short drama. I don't get why just because there is a cross-dressing FL, she has to pose as the most vulgar male student ever just to pass as being a man. The other young men in her class aren't that crass, so why draw unnecessary attention to herself in that way? Doesn't seem very logical to me.The actress playing the FL is absolutely gorgeous and she was decent in this role. The ML is likewise very handsome, but didn't have much of a chance to show off his acting skills, as he just played the stoic nice guy. FL could have been more rational and considerate of other people besides herself, but then there wouldn't be misunderstandings, and no plot as a result.
Overall, a watchable, low-budget, short web drama, nothing unique or new or different, except the FL can actually act, that is.
Open-ended closing scene is a result of the director wanting to be artsy, but he did say the leads would be reunited at the end, so just imagine the ending as better than it actually is.
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Successful in crossdressing FL, failed on ROMANCE
Slow start, I came to the point of almost dropping the show. Story picked-up at around episode 6 or 7.Started of with a fun going crossdressing FL, with a no none-sense ML. The show had a comedic start I thought it was a RomCom. Then it turned political with a lot of betrayal and deaths. It turned frustratingly ugly ending.
If you're looking for a happy ending or even just a good ending like me, then this is not for you. Some show gives us an epic journey but with a frustrating destination. But this one is not an epic love story, and it has an abrupt ending. This one's not for me, it feels like a waste of time.
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The best series I’ve seen in years! No kidding.
It’s sad, that we as the audience mostly get series / dramas of a format “Silly you, silly me. I like you, you like me…What are we going to do for the next 20 episodes? A detective story, or a political conspiracy. Full stop.” to somehow wake up our interest. Very seldom, we can come across a drama that is actually written and directed aimed at our minds, at our knowledge, at our participation in the lives of the protagonists and everything that happens to them. “Heiress” is such a masterpiece! If you want your own mind to be mentally challenged, to relish in the effort to understand the meanings which are hidden over several episodes, to puzzle over the events and enjoy when your idea was the correct one, then start watching “Heiress”! → End of the short review.What’s the finish, you might ask? Well, that depends on whether you want to read the long review with spoilers.
→ Long review (I unbelievably enjoyed this series, so the long review is definitely “not objective” :) and filled with SPOILERS!! You are warned :) Continue when you’d like your mind fascinated! )
Let’s start with the end. Is this a “happy ending” or a “bad ending”. (I had no opportunity to read the book, because is wasn’t translated into English and I can’t read Chinese, therefore), everything is based on the fact the series provides. It is a “happy ending” aka “She ends up with Him” ending (according to some statements in the book they are happily married, Emperor and Empress, and they have 2 babies – 1 girl and 1 boy :) !). The disturbance in the public of the audience is based on two facts, in the last sequences: 1. she misses (to spot) him, 2. the song states “she is far away / in foreign country”. Well, guys (all of you, unbelievers!), that is a TRAP (for everyone, me included) → but now I am smarter and can explain the “real setting”.
From the very beginning the whole story shows “balance” in everything. Black is balanced out by white, pain by love, revenge by loyalty, female by male, etc. You may find countless examples of this over the whole series. “She” is “His” counterpart, “He” is “Hers”. They belong together. She is the Phoenix. He is the Dragon. As a phoenix → She survives every attack, resurfaces, as a dragon→ He governs the secret army, the country. Both of them are the Emperor and the Empress. Thus, yes, they end up together. As always. As in the beginning. Always.
When you don’t mind some directions for you to watch out (balance) and enjoy as much as I do. Here are just some:
- her “two girls” fight his “two boys” (they come up even → balance)
- she is very strong (the boys bend over when she hits them a little), he is very precise (when he pinches the pebble or the nut). (Strength vs precision → balance)
- she is not afraid of dogs. Han’s residence keeps dogs. (Her fear is faked to make her look more “unable, weak” as a balance to the distrust of the emperor and probably his male child → the 5-th prince)
- during the hunt: she wears white, he wears black.
… (→ leave a message, when you want more of these balances)
Last sequence, detailed → She keeps his love token, the hair pin at all times! The red pendant is not a love token, but a keepsake for the time they are apart. She gifts this pendant to a new born baby as a sign that the old mourn born from the death of the Han army / Han family is gone. (Death vs Birth → balance)
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AHHHHHHHHHH SERIOUSLY
SERIOUSY!!! WHY WHY WHY!!! This show hooked me from the get go I liked the actors and acting the costumes and cinematography. I thought this is well made and for once a female that is pretending to be a boy was actually convincing as a boy. I didn't sit threw the show shouting that dummies she is obviously a girl, she made a convincing boy... however she was discovered as a girl faster than usual. Kind of ironic when she was convincing as a boy for once in this kind of genera. Anyway the show was pretty great I was enjoying it and didn't feel the need to skip episodes or try to watch the ending to see if it would be satisfying... (this has become a bad habit of mine after numerous shows with just plan ol' WTF endings) Usually you can tell from the progression of the show that the ending is gonna be bunk, with this one I didn't guess until about episode 20 thats when this show took a turn for the WTF land. The ending for me ruined the whole show. I would not rewatch as I know the ending would cause me nothing but frustration. I find it so dumb that the FL who supposedly loved the ML would not even let him explain anything she just condemned him just like that. The ending was dumb but at least it was only 24 episodes. If you are looking for a satisfying ending this show is not it. I don't even need a happily ever after but at least a satisfying ending for the leads... it had one for the side character but not the leads dumb!Was this review helpful to you?
Great drama with frustrating ending! Needed season 2!
I watched this drama religiously without skipping and never tried to cheat myself by watching in advance nor from episode 10 to final episode ... because i like this drama!I never expected to be frustrated at the end....
I like the story,
the female lead - Han Shiyi | Han Yuanniang who played as a man .. she handled it neatly
i love the male lead, - the Fifth Prince who deeply fall in love with Han Shiyi ... i like his character of the story as being calmed and of course handsome .. lol
I was anticipating for a happy ending but I was disappointed! because i hated it the way how the story ended!
There should be season 2 !
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This review may contain spoilers
A very obvious logical problem with this drama's plot crops up almost immediately. It is so obvious, in fact, that I assumed that the writer was engaged in some sort of deep fake and was going to come up with a fiendishly clever explanation. Ha. I watched it until the end and, how should I say this, “The Heiress” circle would never overlap with the “clever” one in a Venn diagram. There are soooooo many logical lapses that it’s almost impressive in its own way. Even the ending makes no sense at all. I can’t believe I watched this. What was I thinking????? Was this review helpful to you?
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Enjoyed the characters portrayed
Really enjoyed this drama. Kudos to the FL’s stylist for more convincingly styling her as a man. Perhaps it’s her height, minimal makeup and clothing. Love her elegant and beautiful ‘manly’ clothes. So flamboyant yet suitable. I like her strong yet plucky character. She had accepted her fate to live her entire life as a man to provide her family with continuity and safety. In the beginning, her father told her to act the playboy, never to take sides and never to reveal her female identity. The 5th prince is a strong character and resolute in his love for her. Told Han Shiyi if he can’t marry her, he won’t marry. He is portrayed as someone who will do what he promised. He was also smart enough to see through his Chu cousin’s scheming so there was little of the angst associated with him believing his vicious cousin. The 5th prince also learned good cooking skills in military camp - how cute. Both FL and ML are good looking and have good chemistry together.I choose to believe that, in ep 24, they did see each other when the carriage passed. If even they didn’t, he’d find her since he knows she’s in the capital as he’s been able to locate her many times in the past. Based on her reaction when the children called out to the emperor, she looked forward to seeing him again.
The pacing was good as there are only 24 episodes.
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