The Sword and the Brocade (2021)

A Ming Dynasty Downtown Abbey!!!

I baulked at the notion of watching a 45 episode C-drama. But having invested the time, I am glad I did. It was extremely well directed, well written and made me think deeply about how much has changed over time and how some things are still the same. Yes, it was hard to accept that somethings truly have remained the same. More on that in a while.
The summary and the reviews are clear enough so I will not go into the basic story and its premise. However I will say that the central themes are particularly interesting - complex family feuds, deep seated anger and resentment against the system and people in power, the helplessness of those without power, the dignity of those who truly loved their nation and their people, the inflexibility of a Confusion world and those who still found ways to work with what they have to win. While the context is very different, it is possible to draw parallels to the modern world.
We are all placed in situations where we have little control. Shiyi's story tells of ways to never lose hope, dignity or courage - to forge ahead despite all possible hurdles, with determination and work towards finding solutions. Her calm and smiling face faces countless challenges which she handles head on. The choices she and the Marquis have to make are impossible ones at times. At every turn inside the home and outside, there are forces trying to trip them over. The life of women in ancient times in all societies was truly demeaning and soul destroying and the Ming Empire was no exception. The life of concubines who were neither lowly enough to have their own freedom in an ordinary family nor high enough to be given respect, dignity and love was possibly one of the most tragic of any group I have seen. Their lot was truly soul destroying.
Even the mother in law from hell - the Dowager was in own right trying her best to do what she thought is important for the family and society. While she came across initially as a truly horrible person looking at her actions from the modern eye, listening to her reasoning and putting it in context, it did make sense however harmful and painful many of her attitudes and decisions felt. And credit to Shiyi for never missing that or hating... perhaps that is one of the greatest lessons of all from this drama - that Karma can be b****, that being kind and thoughtful to everyone pays off (and not being so also pays off in a horrible way even if you are not paying attention), that those whose behaviour may seem incomprehensible and reprehensible may still have a strong logic and reason for their actions and one can oppose them without hating them.

Read More

Love the story line and performance

Read one review from someone who didn't like the big age gap between the two leads but that's how the story is. ShiYi (Seven Tan's) character is supposed to be 16 years old marrying his older brother-in-law when her sister died. At first I didn't understand why they choose an older actor (male lead) to portray this character Ling Yi but that's what he is supposed to be, an older guy who is already a general. Although there's a big age gap, I am not surprised to see Seven Tan and Wallace (female lead and male lead) have great chemistry. Seven Tan' is such a great actress and she makes everything look so natural. She works well with any male lead you pair her with. She is the queen of Chemistry and can work well with any male lead. With any Chinese historical drama, the men of the house always have a legal wife (matron) and several concubines. I love the deep relationship between Shi Yi and her mom. I love her character Shi Yi , strong but gentle, knows to survive and being independent. She and her mom were cast out without any support from the Luo family but they survived by selling her embroidered products. I like the pace where they have to show how she overcome all the challenges thrown at her, and slowly gained her husband's trust and respect. I like the fact that she is not afraid to speak up when she was wrongly accused. So far, I am enjoying watching the drama and will continue to watch it every night . Looking forward to see all the episodes. I love seeing how she solved each issues/problems as they arise (either caused by her own family, concubines and mother in law).

Read More

Started strong, disappointing final few episodes

If you want historical/cultural/logical accuracy, you can skip this drama. The history fanatics complained about the costumes and some character settings being inconsistent with the time it was set in and stuff. If you're in for witty leads and cute lead chemistry, read on.

What I really love about this drama is even though it's about the stereotypical ancient Chinese drama "battle of the wives," each arc is relatively quickly resolved and to our leads' favor. For once we had a husband who wasn't stupid!!! We don't really have detestable second leads who can outsmart our lead characters here either (that's what I hate most about typical drama tropes)... so it's just arcs and arcs of how the female lead wittily overcomes problems, sometimes with the male lead's help. Cute interactions.

However, the last 3 episodes definitely made me angry in how random the conflict was... as if it was just there to drag the show longer. The way they depicted the characters in this arc was inconsistent with how they were depicted previously (personality / choices wise) so I definitely wanted to throw things at the scriptwriter. The writers also settled for the tropiest trope of a grand finale, with the typical time skip (wtf was wrong with those fake moustaches omg ew) and the "everyone gathers together in harmony and chants some uplifting adage in unison" scene (rolls eyes -- I didn't know those still existed, I thought those were stopped like 20 years ago). That final final scene also reminds me of Under the Power, if you watched that too... but at least in Under the Power that banter was witty and funny... here it was just very cheesy and sappy :(

The story had so much promise given it's amazing cast and the lead chemistry (though there isn't as much chemistry here as there was in Under the Power... sorry that previous Seven Tan drama set my bar real high). However, the writers really just gave up and didn't keep the delivery consistent, so the drama lost some points there. One difference with Under the Power is at least Seven Tan uses her original voice, so anti-dubbers may appreciate this one more (though Wallace Chung is dubbed because he speaks Mandarin with an accent...)

The songs are amazing though! All 5 of them. Zhou Shen is ultimate period drama OST king <3 And we got Seven Tan and Wallace Chung each singing a track... and Yisa Yu is a very established singer who contributes amazing drama OSTs... and I don't know the singer of the insert ballad but the song is good too!

Rewatch value wise... no scene really stood out as "classic scenes" to be rewatched over and over again, unlike Under the Power (omg I still love rewatching certain romantic scenes from that one).

Read More

Whether or not u will like this drama depends on how well you can handle a slow romance. The romance is slow but its a teasing type of slow like any other love after marriage dramas.
The Sword and The Brocade is a well produced period drama. The story is well written and sweetly manage to balance reality with fiction.
The fact that having several concubines, the harsh reality of a concubine's and legitimate daughter issues, all portrayed in a logical aspect and amidst all that is our heroine trying to overcome one challenge after another while trying to survive in a family with a trillion rules.
With a supportive husband who trusts her implicitly, the two make and unbeatable team against their adversaries.

This drama made me realize that Seven Tan is a queen of chemistry!

Read More

A magical slow-burn love

I absolutely loved it! It was simple yet it managed to capture the complexities of relationship in an era where every relationships were governed by rules and morality.

This story is about the daughter of a concubine from a prominent family who will end up marrying her deceased sister's husband to safeguard her nephew's future.

It didn't sound exiting to me when I first read the synopsis and I started this drama as a filler but soon enough I was absorbed by the intricate plot of this drama.
It's quite new for me as I usually watch period dramas that are set in the royal palace. Here it takes place outside of it, in a high-ranking family household and while we hear about the Emperor and see the characters being subjected to his command, we never see him or hear his voice. It was quite refreshing to see how people lived outside the palace, how they fared and how a household was run.

What I loved the most was the slow-burn love between the leads. We could see and feel them fall in love with one another and one could just swoon while watching them.

The characters are well written: FL is a modern woman of her era who while respectful of the rules still wants to stay independent despite marrying in a noble family of high status. She's open-minded and treat everyone fairly -which might have to do with her being born and brought up by a concubine ; she's nice, smart and wise despite her young age. All in all, she's an anomaly which might be why she was the only woman who was able to melt the ML's heart.

As for the ML, he's upright, cold, dutiful, patriotic and uptight. He's praised for all his achievements and his sense of justice. Despite having already been involved with 4 wives/concubines when he marries the FL, he's not lustful or player. He's instead a filial son who always obeys his mother when she asks him to take a concubine for one reason or the other.
He's someone who does everything out of duty and doesn't seek any pleasure out of life ; that's why I loved seeing him fall slowly fall in love and sometimes bend the rules for his wife. It was heartwarming.

Both characters might seem sickeningly sweet to some, but I feel one has to watch this drama in its entirety to see how these two could actually hurt others with their behavior.

The ensemble cast was great and all the characters added to the drama.


THE MUSIC was beautiful. I'm listening to it on loop.
It was perfect for the drama because it's soft and enhances the emotional scenes. My favorite is Fallen Ink sung by Wallace Chung (the lead actor).


RE-WATCH VALUE is a strong 10 for me because I actually want to go back and watch it all over again (which I'll actually do soon enough). I still have a strong hangover.

Read More

If It's from Wallace Chung It Must Be Good!

I would watch every drama series if WC is the main male protagonist. I like his simplicity in acting, his mysterious smile when looking at the woman he loves, his beguiling smiling eyes when intending to fool someone. Other actors would go over the top, use all energy in expressing emotions but with WC, a simple glance or smile would say it all. I would say his face value may not equal to the handsomest of all but his charm that appeals to the audience is undeniable. This is why in this specific drama series where he is portraying a cold-blooded General and a facial expression is vital, he is the best actor to be casted. The story itself is good, not unique but at least not boring. I don't like ST as the female lead but WTH, WC is there so I've going for it.

Read More

Marriage before Love

first off, I came to this show with completely no expectations or whatso ever so what I am about to write is really an objective POV from a seasoned drama viewer. The reason I started this show was only based on the teaser I saw. Previously, I had not watched any of Wallace's / Seven's works, though I am aware that they are known for their acting skills. There's nothing to say much about Wallace since his acting/ singing has been remarkable since years ago when I became aware of him, but had never watched any of his shows. For Seven, I tried watching Under the Power but it didn't tick the desire in me to go beyond Ep 1. I was aware of Go Ahead too, but I didn't really had time to watch when it aired and didn't had the desire to start since the hype was already down (I am more of the kind that chases ongoing series).

Moving on, many had placed comparison with Story of Minglan which I actually managed to watched at least 50% of the series. It was great but, it was just a tad too lengthy for me. Though I had not watched the series, I could see the differences, but as they are 2 different stories, it might not be as fair to compare both.

Story & Characters
What I liked:
- Shiyi's character: For a concubine daughter, she is calm but gutsy. Opinionated but reasonable. She isn't selfish, though she has dreams of her own in a setting that doesn't support strong female characters. She doesnt curry favors, but proves herself through her actions and sincerity.
-Lingyi's uprightness and loyalty: I saw several comments at the start of the series whom find his character disturbing because he alr had a few wives and some kids. As an Asian myself and my understanding towards Chinese culture, this setting was fine to me especially in the dynasty this series was set in. It was pretty obvious most of his marriages are out of responsibility/ political agendas. Considering how Xu household faced downfall, and his sense of belonging and determination to reinstate Xu's glory, it makes sense for him to use political ties to grow his forces? While he did not have feelings for his wives, at least he made them his responsibility to ensure they are well-taken care of, which I think was already remarkable on its own if you compare him with the Wang guy... moreoever, once Lingyi fell for Shiyi you could really see his goofy and childish sides & all he is willing to do to earn her trust and smiles :) which was really what all matters to be honest
-I think while the show portrays the frustrations of women in the era, it also equally portrayed the burdens of a man as well ? Children in the past, men / women alike are bounded by legtimacy (di & shu), that kinda determines the life they gonna live for the rest of their lives. Woman have to mostly scheme to secure their spots & children's future, at the expanse of sacrificing their own dreams (maybe they aren't even allowed to have one). Men shoulders the responsibility in growing and protecting the family, often or not they have to give in to requests they are unwilling to (aka marriages)
- I really like the props and outfits?? They are so pretty?
-The side characters are quite cute in tryna pull Shiyi & Lingyi together? And Linbo + Dongqing's loveline, though i felt more scenes could be added for them lol
- Unpopular opinion but Concubine Qin lol. Her story was the one i emphasized the most? The other concubines were really just selfish and harbour ill intentions for own reasons but Qin's story was kinda sad? She was deprived the right to bear her children & didn't receive love. All she wanted was a simple love & a child of her own. Sigh

What I dislike
- honesty speaking, the story was not a strong one. Plot was predictable and excessive use of the 'divorce trope'? Draggy right til the end :( kinda wasted chemistry of the main leads?
- they could have given more lovely moments between the main leads? It felt like the second half of the series was rushed? Like just when we are about to see some light to the slowburn romance, there has to be some sort of misunderstanding (aka my husband killed my mum trope) that cause some sort of conflict and separation. This almost appear in most of the historical cdramas I watch, so was hoping for some creativity lol
- Madame Xu. Sigh, using her authority and biasness that puts her own son and Shiyi in difficult positions. It seems like every concubine she chose for Lingyi has problems and Shiyi whom was the only 'unchosen' one proves to be the right fit. I guess i shall not elaborate why else I disliked her character, you can read the comments
- SML. Don't get me wrong, his character was likable and he did the right thing til the end, at the expanse of sacrificing his household to do the right things. But I felt that Daddi Tang was kinda under utilized in this show? His character didn't even have much appearance or valuadd to the story other than him being part of Ou's & creating conflict for Xu household & Shiyi?
- Hupo. I believed she was smart and loyal but sigh, she proves to be gullible and helpless when it comes to her sister
-The villians, period. Though i thot Concubine Qiao was kinda cute because she obvious failed as a villian haha

All in all, this drama proves to be enjoyable though there were frustrating parts. It was nice seeing two people who each have their own set of problems and trust issues towards people open up to each other and devoting in their real feelings to each other. From being bounded by marriage to being bounded by each other and becoming inseparable. I was glad both had found sollace and each other in their respective journeys. They truly deserved each other. It was a great drama for the first quarter of the year though there are many areas that can be improved on. However, the great cinematography effects, amazing acting & OSTs had made me looked past. I will probably rewatch the happy parts of this drama because Shiyi & Lingyi was once in a lifetime :)

Read More

A classic Ming dynasty that is beautiful in terms of character and plot!

Okay I normally do not watch dramas that are currently on air. I am the sort of person who waits till the drama is done, looks out for reviews on the drama as a whole and then begin. But this one piqued my interest and I intended to skim through the first episode but ended up watching 8 episodes at a stretch without skipping a beat. That is how intriguing the plotline is! Now I am on episode 14 and the plotline is still strong and the main cast has done an amazing job. The ming dynasty colors and costumes are totally appealing and they add to the overall production value of the drama. And yes it certainly has The Story of Minglan and The Story of Yanxi Palace vibes. So far I have seen a lot of comments on the age gap between the main leads, I totally understand, the romance will be cute if there is no great age gap. But that said you should also consider the storyline and the culture during the Ming Dynasty. The plot is about a Marquis/General in his early 30's who marries a second wife in her late teens and so considering that, the cast is perfect for the job. And for those of you who might think that there might not be a beautiful romance or chemistry because of the age gap between the leads then I must say you are sorely mistaken. So far the romance is subtle and beautiful and the chemistry between them is stunning. Not to mention the comedy that ensues between them in the beginning. All in all the drama has been promising and intriguing so far and if it goes downhill which I doubt, I will definitely update this review.

Read More

i don't know how i feel yet.

I am currently about halfway through this drama and I feel like I have forced myself to keep watching.

Let's start with the good things.

The cast is phenomenal. Tan Songyun is an actress that I have been following for a while and I personally love her. She makes acting so realistic and natural. She can play characters that are almost half her age with ease. I loved her in Go Ahead and Dear Mayang Street. She also has to ability to have great chemistry with every single one of her male leads. In this drama, she still plays her role very well. She delivers and doesn't disappoint her fans. I don't think that she is the perfect casting for this role because she has more of a sweet and cuter visual appearance and Shiyi feels like someone who is a more rigid and more serious vibe. Although I haven't seen any of Wallace's other dramas, I have heard from others, including my mom, that he has other dramas that were great. His character just doesn't give you the feeling that other male leads give you. There are times where he is very cool and attractive but he is very mellow and listens to his mom a little too much. He barely pays attention to all the trouble and drama that is happening between his concubines and wife. Speaking of concubines, I haven't hated a character as much since I watch 10 miles of peach blossoms. Qiao Lianfang makes me want to slap her across the face every time I see her. Kudos to the actress for playing such a hated character so well. The MIL is also a pain. She plays favorites wayyyyy too much and it's so annoying to see her like that.

One of the best things about the drama is the OSTs. They are so freaking good. The main OST is sung by Zhou Shen, who is one of my favorite singers.

On to the bad things. The script gets very boring and kind of predictable. As of right now, it's very boring. I think a big plot twist is coming up soon so it might change my mind but it's taking a lot to keep me watching. I'm partially only staying for the cast but that's about it. The whole story is about Shiyi finding the person who murdered her mother and she is kind of blinded by it. She uses the people around her to find everything and doesn't think about how it might hurt others, especially her relationship with the male lead. I don't know if it is because I am watching as it is releasing but it doesn't keep me drawn in as other dramas do. I had very high expectations from this drama. From the stills to the trailer to the cast. Everything seemed good.

I'll probably watch all of it or at least hear about it from my mom as she watches it but at this point I'm very disappointed.

Read More

Better Then I Thought

This drama gives you a realistic view about the wives and the concubines and the maids who serve them. How scheming all of them had to be for survivable. Maids were bought and sold or made into concubine, if they follow the family rules and behave themselves so they could make children for the family. The story tells you about how many of the women wanted some independence and change the old family view. It was hard for the Noble women to earn money and keep it to themselves. The matriarch of the family rule and never really care about the feelings of their son or daughter-in-law. I see how many children fought for power when many where from concubines and not consider legitimate. The head of the family brought as many concubine so the family would have a lot of children. The treatment was not always the best, worst for daughters. This story is great and very well written. It has so many twist and turns and suspense. The romance between the 2 leads is nice and slow and you see how they fall in love and trust each other. The actors did a great job in their performance and the chemistry. The only thing that confuse me was the ending. I can figure if several years had past or was it just 1 or 2. It does not tell you and i was left confuse on what is happening in the end.

Read More