Marvelous Women (2021)

What an underrated, unexpected gem.I highly recommend, give it a chance! You won't regret it.

I give it 10/10! If I could I would give it 20/10! It wasn't the most perfect drama to ever exist by any means, it had multiple issues but! It made me VERY VERY happy! Constantly and consistently from beginning to the end, on multiple fronts.
Amazing casting and acting. All the characters are very human and down to earth. None of them were perfect and all of their flaws and plus sides were shown equally in every ep. Sometimes they are progressive, sometimes not, but the show never judges them too harsh and instead sheds a sympathetic and understanding light on them which added SO much gravitas and strength to their characters.
It showed that period dramas can have women that are more than the "weak, pitiful, purpose is to marry well and make babies" stereotype and the "21st Century feminist who doesn't give a damn" stereotype.
Marvelous Women ladies were none of those, and both of those and also more at the same time. Even the most minor character got their own storyline and it was integrated well to main plot, so it wasn't forced or distracting.
From the premise I mainly just expected a typical pretentious Yu Zheng drama about Suzhou weaving and a dash of GL, but it ended up being quite the thoughtful discussion about period typical sexism, patriarchy, misogyny, polygamy, sex work, what does it mean to be "virtuous" and where does the woman's choice lie among all that, and much more to various but quite satisfying degrees.
I think it just shows how rare this kind of storytelling and how much I've been craving for it, when I think back about my initial impression of this drama, how unsure I was about what to make of it. I couldn't even pinpoint that this was exactly what I wanted at the beginning! Because I haven't seen such a work in so long, I was unused to it.
And now I think it spoiled me for period dramas. I'll be subconsciously judging and dropping 2x more dramas than I used to in future.?

Read More

Ancient Poetry in Motion and Girl Power!!

Marvelous Women（当家主母）is a 35 episode drama produced by HuanYu Entertainment. The drama premise itself revolves around the art of Chinese traditional weaving culture, Kesi (cutting silk) and how the two women in that era tries to defy the traditional norms.

Produced by HuanYu Entertainment, the drama aesthetics itself is visually stunning. Marvelous Women uses a soft and muted colour palette and grading making it visually pleasing for the eyes. It has beautiful cinematography, such as wide, fluid shots that will draw you into the story. In addition, the outfit details and daily items details during the Qing dynasty is also shot beautifully.

What I loved about Marvelous Women is that all the characters are three-dimensional and real. Their actions are understandable, they didn't feel generic, they felt like real people with real stories. For instance, one of our female leads, Zeng Baoqin was once from an affluent family, but her family was ruined overnight, thus she was sold to a brothel. From then on, her personality changed and her outlook towards life has also changed, and through learning about her story, you can understand where she came from and why she does this and that. Moving on, the female characters in the drama are also not those young and innocent women but they are all strong and independent women. Both female leads started off as friends during their childhood, but then they grew up and become love rivals but then they became friends again. I simply love how both of them worked and racked their brain together to protect Ren family.

The cast of Marvelous Women is not stellar or star-studded but every single performance is stellar. This is one of the examples where drama doesn't have to have actors to bring tremendous traffic or to be star-studded; a good script, cinematography and production is the key. The most commendable actor I find is Zhang Huiwen (Lin Shufang) and Mao Zijun (Wei Liangong). There is not much to say about both the female lead's acting, both Jiang Qinqin and Yang Rong manages to be complex while never compromising on the very real human emotions being experienced by the characters. Meanwhile, other than Zhang Huiwen's character in Nirvana in Fire 2, I have never taken a liking to the characters she played until now. Her portrayal as Lin Shufang is excellent. YES, she tends to play dramas where she's cold and aloof, but here I can see a few changes and I find myself immersed and invested in her story. Mao Zijun on the other hand, his acting has never disappoints but his depiction as Wei Liangong here is very fleshed out. He managed to depict a sickly but gifted scholar perfectly, he speak through his eyes. Also special mention to the little boy who played Xiushan, he is so adorable!!

Moving on, honestly, I don't think I have any issue that I find in this drama, only that the whole drama is average in every aspect, the only thing that stood out in this drama is its cinematography and aesthetic. But as a Yu Zheng production, his aesthetic has always been the same, if you have ever watched Story of Yanxi Palace or Winter Begonia, you can find that there are a lot of similar and recycled elements. It is still pretty and beautiful, but it is just not refreshing.

In conclusion, the story itself isn’t that compelling but if you are looking for a visually stunning drama with a beautiful aesthetic, do pick this up!

Read More

Trailblazing women Challenging Traditional roles in family and society

Completed - 12/14/2021

Not a lot of talk about this feministic drama with a focus on women who don't want their lives dictated by men and society. This drama revolves around three main female characters who came from very different backgrounds, and have tremendous character growth throughout the drama. We learned of their journeys from being young and stubborn to achieving their own dreams. This is a very mellow drama and it took me a while to get invested. I wouldn't say the pacing is slow, but it feels like not much happened in the first 10-15 episodes... just very slice-of-life. The plot picked up afterwards and there are more actions and events that keep me more interested.

I would recommend this drama if you like:
1) Women overcoming challenges in family and society
2) Smart women with high IQ and EQ
3) Learn about Chinese culture and the weaving and embroidery industries
4) Minimal, mature romances
5) Life of the common folks - not noble or royal families

Weaving/Embroidery - Though I don't know how accurate the depiction of the weaving industry and the techniques are, I do enjoy watching all the weaving scenes. The drama shows us the weaving process from start to finish - silkworms, to making silk, dyeing, drawing designs, weaving and the finished product. However, I would love to hear more of the "experts" explaining and/or critiquing, so that I can learn about why a certain product is better than the other. In the K-drama "Lovers in the Red Sky", I feel like I learn more about paintings from that show, than weaving from here. LITRK not only showed us beautiful paintings, but through competitions, I learned about the meaning and techniques. I wish "Marvelous Women" has a similar approach.

Female Leads - Our three main female leads come from different backgrounds, have different personalities, yet all try to challenge society's expectations of women. All three of them are smart, courageous and have very high EQs. They don't need to rely on men but use their intelligence and perseverance in making their own decisions and achieving their goals. I would not say they are all "likable" in the traditional sense. I don't think I like them as much as I have liked other strong female characters, but this might just be my personal taste.

Romance - If you are a romance junkie like me, you might be a little disappointed. We have sort of a love triangle in the beginning between two female leads and the male lead. I never find there's much chemistry between the three of them. Shen Cui Xi (played by Jiang Qin Qin) is older in age as an actress and character.
Visually, she does look older than her two love interests. Her forbidden romance with Wei Liang Gong (played by Mao Zi Jun) didn't feel right to me. Even though Wei Liang Gong is mature for his age, the age gap is too much for me to enjoy this romance, which is supposed to be a bittersweet. The romances are quite melodramatic and not passionate. I do applaud that the younger women learning how to make their own decisions about love and marriage.

Character Development - Not only our female leads learn and grow throughout the drama, all of the supporting characters do as well. As the story spans over 10 years (I think), you can see all of them started out making mistakes or questionable decisions, and learning/growing from them. None of the characters is perfect. They are flawed but that also make them real.

I thought I would like this drama more. I think in the end, I like "The Sword and Brocade" more. "Marvelous Women" does not have enough plot twists to keep me engaged, and I am missing good romantic chemistry.

Other Observations:
1) Love it when actors are using their own voices. Really makes the drama a lot of more enjoyable without annoying dubbing.
2) Very muted color tone in costumes and set designs. No bright colors.
3) Acting is great by all cast members
4) The drama could have been shorter (30-32 episodes) as I think a couple of the side plots could be eliminated
5) Two lovely theme songs and not overplayed.

Read More

A genuinely good story, well written, well produced.

If you’re looking for light and fluffy, put this one on your watch later list. It’s absolutely worth a watch when you’re in the mood for a drama with a wide range of emotions and heaps of sincerity.

Watching this was one of those rare experiences from dramas that make you feel like you understand living in the culture of the time better after watching. The characters were all multi dimensional and changed with their experiences. Although you won’t always agree with the choices the characters make, it’s easy to empathize with their humanity. I’ve only found that in a hand full of dramas, including The Sword and The Brocade and The Story of Ming Lan.

This felt like a fresh story because the female characters were always making choices most drama writers would never allow them to make, even if they try write the character as a strong and intelligent being, they usually ruin it by making her a stereotype and pretty much treat it like a vehicle to get the male leads’ attention.

Although there are themes of love in this drama, it’s not the focus. It’s one aspect of these women’s lives. The main focus is the personal growth and relationships between the characters as they navigate challenges in a changing world.

I love it. I highly recommend it. I hardly ever write reviews but this was worth the time and effort. Happy watching, everyone!

Read More

Trying to control/restrict a woman is a sheer waste for a society...

I join other reviewers to say that the production, cinematography, cast and story are really the strength of this drama.

It is everything that I want to see in a woman-centric drama... strong, stubborn, hard-working, highly principled and independent women. It portrays the lives of 5 women, their interrelationships as well as relations with men. I must say that the guys are really horrible in this drama, especially the three dreadful, highly ungrateful uncles... thank god for the redeeming Mr. Wei who shows how a man can contribute to inspire a house-bound, duty-bound woman to liberate herself and go in pursuit of her own happiness. It shows the courage of a maid who rejects the marriage proposal of the man she loves because he cannot love her as she wants and deserves. It portrays the despair, harshness and strife for survival of women who have been let down by the men they loved, be it a lover or a father. Most importantly, it portrays that women do not need to compete for the affection of men. That women can be friends and can support and fight for each other's dream to come true.

One particular scene remains in my mind... when Mr Wei and Cui Xi are standing at the doorstep... it is so evocative that behind him, there is the whole world waiting for her and he is inspiring her to broaden her perspectives.... just love that scene.

Read More

Inspiring and empowering drama about women

In this period of history, women were definitely little more than shoe horns to men. The rules and regulations they suffered through were so tragic and unjustified that the story writer must have cried through much of the recapping of this period of history. Nonetheless throughout the story telling women are the backbones of family life and even the changes in history that we all have experienced through even modern times. This drama is an "epic" drama that ends in various chapters, but begins in other chapters to maintain continuity and filling of any plot holes. The underlying thesis of "overcoming" is a theme that begins and ends to the point that the viewer must begin to channel his or her thoughts to compare the past versus current realities.

What is most enjoyable about this drama is not only the women - but the interactions they have with the men in their households, the men that control their destinies, and the men in power that they encounter. The most satisfying drama I have watched and definitely a hidden gem. It is now in my top 10 list of dramas that must be watched.

Read More

Hidden gem until the last episodes

First half of the drama is honestly a masterpiece, I came to love every character minus the husband. The struggles women has to endure in that era and the friendship and heartbreak ughhh our fl is so pitiful and strong ?
All great until a certain someone comes back and from that point onwards the drama feels super draggy until the very last episode which is sad because at first I thought the easiest 10 out of 10 out there. With that said I wholeheartedly recommend to watch it. It's really a shame to miss the better 3/4 of the drama for the 1/4 of the bad episodes

Read More

When the wives throw over the husband and say, Nah, we can do it.

Marvelous Women is clearly some Chinese's director's answer to the ban against hair-pulling harem infighting. So you don't want to see women fighting over the favors of one man? Let's pit two singularly stunning and capable women at odds with one another, then make them work together to save their family, their children, their livelihood, and each other.

I do appreciate Cdramas that take the drama out of royal politics and center it around other characters entirely. The setting of Marvelous Women does that just. One woman is the respected but unloved first wife, the other a childhood sweetheart turned secret lover/concubine. Either one of these character types would be ripe as a villainess, and the show just barely teeters on this edge. Neither one of them is infallible. And they're not honestly always 100% good. They are messy and they have their faults, but more than that they have their wills. When the family finds itself in danger, it's up to them to band together. And then we're giving the picture of what might happen if two potential villains actually don't decide to fight each other. Perhaps, they can learn to be even more loyal to each other than anyone ever thought.

My. brain wanders, and this drama doesn't completely stamp out the possibility that in another country... these characters could have gone in another direction entirely. A romantic one perhaps? Find yourself a still of these women holding hands and you'll see what I see. That said, what the show gave us already is more than enough.

A satisfying, rich, and lovely watch overall.

Read More

sensuous semi-historical costume drama with great script

I am writing this without finishing the watch bec although I was cut off about 2/3 of the way through by its removal from viki's list in my area, I still wanted to record the powerful impressions it left me with before they fade. Therefore I can only recommend it provisionally, but since it is a very literary adaptation of a novel with amazing actors and fascinating visual detail, I can do so with confidence.

It is the first cdrama I have seen set in the 19th century/Qing dynasty. It is set in Suzhou, one of the largest non-capital cities in the world in the pre-modern historical era prior to this story, just south of Shanghai now, whose production of silk fabric boomed in the 19thC (although foreign export was still banned) along with huge family businesses devoted to it. Although this show may superficially resemble Blossoms in Adversity it is of an entirely different genre. It is not episodic, not light entertainment and definitely not set in a generic fantasy-ancient china, so it supports much less anachronism of the simple and clear sort found in fantasy.

The drama starts at the central cause of the story, the disappearance of the titular head of a silk-producing family business. The main characters are vividly established at the very beginning. Events leading up to that moment are flashed back to as each character comes into focus at different points, and character development unfolds beautifully in sequence.

Appropriately for a family engaged in the fabric trade the costuming is awesome. Natural fabrics, cotton, linen and raw silk with woven and dyed patterns in loose rather baggy combinations of vests, overcoats and over tunics look very chic and modern in the present moment. The long undertunics, often of raw silk, have nice neck detailing in their closures. I also have never seen such a flock of handsome men careering about in Manchu tonsures and beautiful long queues (although closeups of the artificial hairpieces on backs of their heads should have been avoided).

I was struck in particular by some shared trends with western female dress of the 19C because it dovetailed with my impressions of literary concerns held in common. The detachable stiffened collars with embroidered or starched points radiate out from the neck to emphasize that middle parted and flattened hairstyle with a low bun shared also with women in this hemisphere at mid-century. So often in literature a woman's nobility of character is described in common with a 'noble brow' (forehead), and calm radiant expression, both of which were sought after by women and enhanced by similiar costume details.

The importance of the needs of an individual's soul is considered now to have first been extended via literature to women and children of this time period, and Marvelous Women uses a similiar focus on two major female protagonists who work towards a personal self-realization within the extreme pressures and responsibilities of their family crises. The very simple Rousseau-ean set-up of natural personal feelings opposing those dictated by an artificial society clearly informs the struggles over the young son born to a concubine who is technically the 'son' of the matriarch by custom.

I need to mention the incredible interpretation by Mao Zi Jun of a tragic man whose love brings one of the protagonists alive psychologically. He and Jiang Qin Qin (who plays Shen Cuiu Xi to his Wei Liang Gong) exchange true soul-to-soul glances as they fall in love. His (and others') aesthetic interest in operatic singing and painting are important to the story as all of these characters essentially 'paint' using embroidery or a brocade weaving technique. More time is spent on these aesthetic productions in the first third of the show, but as events move more swiftly in the central section the exposition of these recedes and I was sad.

I suddenly realized last week that the gardens in the show were not generic sets but parts of (or imitations of?) the real Suzhou Ming-era classical gardens, some of which remain today. I will just have to wait for the show to return to see which gardens the rockery and the waterfalls belong to.

So, there it is. This show is a feast for the senses in so many ways. The soundtrack is excellent, and although for westerners the style of chinese operatic singing is very unfamiliar, I think that listening with attention to it produces a provisional comfort and familiarity which one must needs cultivate as a matter of respect to such an important world cultural production. The acting is amazing, absolutely amazing. I feel like a reader/listener of Dickens anxiously awaiting a missed installment, while I wait for the rest of this great show. Hope I wont have to wait too long!

Read More

Di antara menggunungnya drama historical ala-ala kerajaan berbalutkan kisah romantis. Maka drama yang satu ini seperti angin sejuk di tengah musim kemarau ??. Plotnya berbeda dari tipikal drama yang hanya berfokus pada romantisme ML dan FL.
Tata busana dan makeupnya juga WOW. Tenunan pada baju yang dipakai, hiasan dan gelung rambutnya. Mata kita juga dimanjakan oleh tampilan arsitektur kota, termasuk perabotan dan bahkan kanalnya, belum lagi alat tenunan sutra Kesi, proses menenunnya benar-benar dibuat dengan sangat bagus dan sungguh hati. Aktingnya? Jangan diragukan lagi. Layak tonton.

Wanita ketika itu dipaksa untuk menggantungkan hidup dan nyawanya pada pria. No school, can't read and write, nothing but looking for husband when they considered old enough. Bahkan jadi istri kedua pun tak apa. Ketika istri pertama tak suka, maka jangan mengeluh bila kau dijual ke tempat pelacuran.

Dijualbelikan ke 'brothel' atau keluarga kaya untuk menutup hutang keluarga atau dipukuli suami itu hal yg dianggap wajar ketika itu.

Padahal, banyak wanita yang sebenarnya sekuat pria bahkan lebih kuat dari pria ketika dihadapkan pada kondisi yang menekan hidup mereka.

Shen Cuixi salah satunya. Menantu keluarga Ren , keluarga ternama , keluarga pengusaha industri tenun. Para pria dalam cerita ini seperti Ren Xue tang contohnya sungguh sangat 'tak berdaya' dan loyo. Belum lagi dia malah melarikan diri dari masalah yg dibuatnya sendiri. Dibiarkannya istri pertama dan keduanya menyelesaikan masalah keluarganya. Adiknya Ren Ru Feng untungnya masih bisa bertobat dan berubah menjadi selayaknya pria keluarga Ren.

Beberapa pria dalam cerita ini memang hanya menjadi parasit keluarga. Termasuk di episode 30-an, seorang pria dengan tongkat kayu yang tak bisa berjalan tapi masih bisa menjual anak gadisnya dan memukuli istrinya. Jangan lupakan Ding Rong yang mengandalkan istrinya yang sedang hamil anak ketiganya untuk meminta ampun pada Tainainai Shen Cuixi. Lalu masih ada Cao Wen Bin si walikota gila harta yang mencelakakan seisi rumahnya..

Shen Cuixi dan Zhen Baoqin memang adalah marvelous women dengan cara mereka sendiri. Kebesaran hati Baoqin untuk mengundang Cuixi bertemu Liang Gong juga layak dipuji. Cuixi sendiri mau membuang ego ketika menerimanya sebagai sahabat sekaligus nyonya kedua di keluarga Ren. Jangan remehkan ketika para wanita bersatu menunjukkan cakarnya. Go girls ???

Read More