A Dream of Splendor (2022)

Love is a many splendored thing.

A Dream of Splendor has rocked the staid, tired, cliché infested Chinese period drama world. It is an alluring adult romance that has set the internet on fire. It is a powerful and exhilarating story about downtrodden women who work together to stand up against feudal society. Written and directed by women, it is a story about how women survive, thrive, bond and love. The production values are astonishing, with meticulous attention to detail and appreciation for history and culture.

This story is about the plight of fallen women or jian ji 贱籍 during Northern Song Dynasty. Jian ji are pariahs or outcasts; people who exist outside of the four social classes of scholars, farmers, workers and merchants and are practically slaves, beggars, prostitutes, actors, musicians or fallen people below commoner status. This status is passed from generation to generation and cannot be easily changed and the women are not considered suitable for marriage into gentry other than as concubines. Promising beauties like Zhao Pan'er and Song Yinzhang are trained from a young age in the fine arts and performance to potentially become renown entertainers to the imperial court. Too often, like Zhang Haohao they become courtesans who flourish at the most elite levels of society and are almost indistinguishable from upper class women. Many hope to marry their patrons and leave this existence behind them. This explains both Pan'er and Yinzhang's insecurities and their strong desire to shed the taint of the jian ji 贱籍 status.

The drama was mocked for its preoccupation with chastity which does not fit in with the societal norms of the day. In Guan Hanqing's famous original zaju 杂剧 or Yuan opera 赵盼儿风月救风尘 (Zhao Pan'er Flirts to Save A Harlot), both Panér and Yinzhang are courtesans. Guan Hanqing's works are known for championing the oppressed and courtesans were historically viewed sympathetically. The grace, beauty and education of legendary courtesans is often celebrated in Chinese vernacular literature. The production decided however, that Chinese audiences would not be receptive to a Song dynasty version of Pretty Woman. While some may feel this does not respect the original works, it is not important. The drama adaptation in its entirety is far from prudish and remains faithful to the spirit of the play in its criticism of the hypocrisy of traditional morality. That is all that really matters.

After crushing personal setbacks, Zhao Pan'er, Sun Sanniang and Song Yinzhang make a fresh start in the capital Kaifeng. They are bonded by the hardships they endure due to their low social status. They are realistic characters with flaws aplenty who make mistakes with consequences. They don't always agree and when they fight, they can be woman style mean to each other. Pan'er is a talented performer and a connoisseur of tea, tea art and famous paintings. Despite her serene demeanor, she has her own insecurities but is determined to leave her painful past to become an independent and capable business woman. She won't be bullied, is vengeful and does not hesitate to seek legal redress for injustices.

Pan'er is overprotective of the immature and temperamental Yinzhang, a rare and talented pipa player whose ability is only exceeded by her arrogance and desperation to escape her low status. Together with the feisty and loyal Sanniang, a fantastic cook and pastry chef, the three friends start a teahouse with their pooled resources and combined abilities. On the way to Kaifeng, Pan'er clashes with the Living Devil Gu Qianfan, commander of the powerful and secretive Capital Security Office and all kinds of sparks fly. Liu Yifei and Chen Xiao are the stars of the show with their thrilling, combustive chemistry and screen presence. Both actors have matured considerably and it is fair to say Zhao Pan'er and Gu Qianfan are their best roles to date respectively. Even though Yinzhang is the character that shows the most growth, Lin Yun's portrayal lacks complexity and is not empathetic. It is the weakest link among the main cast. Liu Yan's Sanniang saves the day as the best friend everyone needs with her wonderful mixture of comedic belligerence, endurance and wisdom.

This drama's greatest attraction and also its greatest drawback is the incomparable romance between Zhao Panér and Gu Qianfan. The fervent, ardent chemistry between Liu Yifei and Chen Xiao has me grinning like a giddy, lovesick fool every time they light up the screen. I love how Chen Xiao communicates passion with heat in his eyes and how his expression can suddenly turn from guarded to vulnerable to hopelessly smitten. I leapt up from my sofa and yelled "liar, LIAR" at him in the very first episode when Gu Qianfan claimed not to find Panér beautiful even as his eyes oozed with pure male appreciation. Liu Yifei's Panér is such an exquisite and feminine foil for his masculinity that it is just entrancing to watch their courtship as it evolves subtly from friction to unwelcome attraction as she slowly beguiles him with her grace, independence and soft-spoken sincerity. Yang Yang is a phenomenal director whose gorgeous and intimate camera angles enhances the thrill of their budding romance and build up in passion to the point there are moments I feel like I am invading their privacy. The drawback of course is that the story is much bigger than the love story which is too engrossing and spectacular. All the other plot threads pale in comparison.

At the point I am in serious danger of diabetes from the sugar highs, Pan'er's and Qianfan's romance gets put on ice for a number of episodes for a flimsily crafted misunderstanding. I am less dismayed than most by it, because I like to see a relationship tested for duration by challenges. While their conflict could be better conceived, the writer has fewer degrees of freedom to work with because the plot is embedded within true events and historical figures of the day. This won the praise of many history buffs who got a huge kick out of deciphering who's who and which events, as was analyzed in detail by other viewers such as @CloudA. Panér's heartbroken but enlightened insight that her father fully knew well the consequences of his actions but chose to do so anyway is a resonating fresh twist out of a tired trope. Despite their hiccup, the couple remains honest with each other about their fears and have realistic expectations that it may not be smooth sailing all the way. Du Changfeng and Sanniang's story is charming and heart warming while Chen Lian and Zhaodi's is more youthful and high spirited. I have high hopes that both Yinzhang and Chi Pan will find happiness down the road.

The digression from the main romance plot makes way for the women's story to be properly told, for their bond to mature and for them rescue each other and themselves; to be mistresses of their own destiny. The debut of their fabulous Yong'an Restaurant showcases their combined business sense, artistry and ability to innovate and is for me is the highlight of the drama. Pan'er's riveting tea art performance at the beginning is eclipsed by the extravagant and absolutely decadent dinner performance where famous paintings came vividly to life. I love how spectacularly it involves most of the supporting cast. Both the cheeky He Si and Chi Pan made me laugh and the women looked stunning. It is analogous to how this production breathes life into the famous historical works of art and literature that inspired this story.

For me, the comedy mostly misses the mark. I find Guan Yunping's (Chen Lian) more subtly hilarious brand of humor more appealing than Dai Xu's (Chi Pan) more slapstick and exaggerated approach. The actor tones it down nicely in the second half and manages make me laugh and impresses me with his acting but unfortunately that is where the plot loses momentum. This is somewhat forgivable since it is more of a character story but nonetheless they should have kept things simpler. The political aspects of the conspiracy to disgrace the empress becomes overly convoluted and leaves loose threads. Even though Ouyang Xu's final confrontation with Pan'er is well acted and satisfying, he becomes the embodiment of too many bad men and love to hate stereotypes. The interpretation of Empress Liu-E, a brilliant and powerful historical figure as a woman pushed to try to conceal her humble origins is fascinating and aligns well with the dramas feminist theme. It is well known the Emperor was aware of her background and did not care. Theirs was surely another splendid love story for the ages.

Pan'er and Qianfan's addictive chemistry and their story convinces that love is a many splendored thing. They are certainly bound for the Drama Couple Hall of Fame. Despite the disappointment in plot, which is at best worth an 8.5, I am compelled to rate this a 9.0 for the romance and for getting the important things right including the empowering themes, the originality and the director's magnificent and distinctive visual composition style.

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Artistic, Beautiful, Classy, Elegant, Humorous, Sweet Romance, Mysterious

A Dream of Splendor is an adaptation of a very beloved classic story written by a playwright in the Yuan Dyansty (c. 1271–1368). The original story, titled 赵盼儿风月救风尘, in short “Saving the Courtesan” (救风尘), tells the story of Yinzhang marrying a man who forced her into prostitution. Zhao Pan'er came to help her by seducing the man into signing the divorce paper. Yinzhang later married the upstanding scholar who Zhao Pan’er was in love with. The story was so inspiring that over the years, it has been adapted into movie, TV series, dramas, plays, Chinese operas (越剧), and even into a comic book (manhua). In A Dream of Splendor, romance and politics are added to give it a complete flavor for today’s audience.

Though fictional names are used, this drama is said to have set in the Song Dynasty, around c. 1019, during Emperor Zhenzong’s reign. The Emperor was sickly and his Empress, Liu E assisted him in the ruling, handling various state matters. Having a less than pristine family background, court officials had divided opinions of the Emperor taking Liu E as the Empress. In this fictional story, the Empress was an entertainer in the past, and her image was captured in a painting as she was entertaining her host and guests. As a Secret Service for the Imperial Palace, Gu Qianfan (Chen Xiao) is ordered to retrieve the painting before it’s fallen into the hands of those who want to use it to expose the Empress of her past.

While searching for that painting, Gu Qianfan crosses path with Zhao Pan’er (Liu Yifei). After saving Gu Qianfan when he is almost killed, Zhao Pan’er comes to the capital city in search of her fiancé, Ouyang Xu (Xu Haiqiao), together with her best friends, Song Yinzhang (Lin Yun aka Jelly Lin) and Sun San Niang (Liu Yan aka Ada Liu). Each of them has had gone through the worst of their lives: Sun San Niang is jilted by her husband and denied by her son and she attempts suicide, while Song Yinzhang is abused by her gigolo husband. Zhao Pan’er has rescued both women while going through a breakup with a relationship for three years. The trio decides they need to maintain their dignity, depend on themselves and will not be subjected to the manipulation of any men. They first start a small and elegant tea house, and later run the most talked-about restaurant in town, employing the skills each possesses – Zhao Pan’er’s art of tea, Song Yizhang’s talent of the pipa instrument and Sun San Niang’s outstanding gourmet cooking.

Zhao Pan’er has a modern-day business acumen. She turns her adversaries into her allies. She is good in putting two and two together to figure things out. She is artistic, intelligent, and fast witted. In this drama, she ends with the best love of her life whom she deserves. Liu Yifei’s acting is natural and amazing. Her charisma exudes elegance, beauty, grace and calmness.

Gu Qianfan is a ruthless, intelligent head of the Imperial Guard, and he can fight very well. Chen Xiao’s portrayal is convincing and natural, and most of all, he has an undeniable amazing chemistry with Liu Yifei. Their dynamics are over the top, and their romance is sweet and real.

Other cast members are just as good and convincing. Here we have a comedic character, Chi Yanei (Dai Xu), to light up the mood and add colors to the story. There’s a lot of growth with the main characters, in particular with Song Yinzhang who grows from a naïve gullible girl to an intelligent decisive business owner.

My Verdict

As lovely as the romance in this drama, this story is about courageous women helping and saving each other from their most egregious times and conditions. It is heart wrenching and anguish to watch the reality of life for ancient women and such trend is still persisting in today’s world that women are still being treated harshly and unfairly, in particular in light of the recent abortion ban in the USA.

The 2001 version of the drama starred Le Jiatong as Zhao Pan’er and Fan Bingbing as Yinzhang. In this earlier version, there were no Gu Qianfan nor Sun San Niang. The two female characters were flamboyant and very strong since the beginning, especially Yinzhang. Their costumes were colorful and tawdry as they were dancers. The music and dances were some of the most beautiful scenes to watch and are commendable.

In A Dream of Splendor, the Ouyang Xu character is being vilified (vis a vis the scholar that was loved by both women in the earlier version), and the women’s characters are subdued and more dignify, giving them more class and elegance; Zhao Pan’er’s expertise in the art of tea and Song Yinzhang’s brilliance in playing the pipa instrument. Any viewers will be mesmerized by the beauty and elegance of these ladies when they execute their exquisite art forms. I like the way the characters talk, softly, and directly without beating around the bush nor losing grace, and without fear nor hypocrisy. The drama explores the main five senses of our bodies with some more in-depth than others: visual, sound, taste, touch, smell. Though the story and plot are not perfect with a lot of unplugged holes, the romance is warm and desirable, the aesthetic value is one of the best (Zhao Pan'er's art of tea, her dancing, visual of Yinzhang's pipa playing etc), and the instrumental music and OSTs are excellent.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable drama for all romance buffs and for viewers who appreciate the beautiful things in life. Don’t miss it. BRAVO!

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Glorious dreams, strong women and their 100/10 chemistry

A dream of splendor is adapted from the opera "Zhao Pan Er Feng Yue Jiu Feng Chen" (赵盼儿风月救风尘) written by Guan Han Qing.

Characters and Plot —
The drama revolves around three ladies Zhao Pan'er, Sun Sunniang, Song Yinzhang and the "living devil" Gu Qianfan. Zhao Pan'er is the strong backbone of their friendship who is intelligent and good in tea art. She uses her dancing skills to serve tea and her wit and ways of creativity wonders everyone. Sanniang is her close friend whose cooking skills are inferior to none while Yinzhang is a talented girl who will be seen carrying a pipa around often. Her pipa music is as magical as Sunniang's pastries. And Gu Qianfan is the cruel yet nice commander of capital security office.

A Dream of Splendor radiates women empowerment, women teamwork, a woman's self respect and how women can excel in everything. Our leading ladies aren't easy to be fooled, they have their strengths/weaknesses and they go through thick and thin together. They have self respect and just because she was once a "pariah" doesn't mean she doesn't deserve respect and is not capable.
(Pariah – a low status of woman back in ancient China who were performers or prostitutes who were looked down on by everyone)
Their sisterhood is another delightful thing to watch here. I can't forget to mention Zhaodi, she entered late in the group but I like her supportive character. So, if I have to rate the female centered plot, it's 9.5/10, almost everything I expected.

Along with this we have a good political plot going on which is more like a side topic, not too complicated, rather light and less angsty. Of course except that one mean guy I wish I could kill him in the starting. He's just so despicable, absolutely selfish.

Their Chemistry —
Zhao Pan'er and Gu Qianfan together are like two people who will give up anything for each other. Their concept of using yellow flowers to express "I miss you", their eye gazes, their longing, their protection for each other and just them being is love is everything. Small moments between them fill you up like a scene where he is applying medicine on her face (even I felt like a third wheel between them let alone other characters xD)

Humour —
We have Chi Pan who is amusingly naughty with lame, childish acts but his words and expressions often bring fun in the drama. And he's such a cute crybaby haha.

Cast/Acting —
• Liu Yifei – I came to this drama for her as she was returning to dramas after a long time and I am still impressed with her acting. Also isn't she so gorgeous in every frame. Her eyes, body language and this aura is strong just like Zhao Pan'er.
• Chen Xiao – Gu Qianfan is a great character and Chen Xiao also looks great in this role. His styling or I don't know what but he often reminded me of Prince An (Wang Ziqi) in the Imperial Coroner.
• Ada Liu – Sun Sunniang is such a cheerful lady with strong hands. Ada Liu suits for this role. All her strong moments like throwing someone in the river or showing off some butcher skills came out perfectly.
• Jelly Lin – I never had a good experience with Lin's dramas, most of them are like dropped after some episodes but somehow I liked her here. When she played pipa as Yinzhang, she looked so cool and her cute dimples work for me!
• Dai Xu – Finally! Chi Pan is my second favorite character after Zhao Pan'er. Just the comedy he adds and Dai Xu's expressions are out of this world. Would love to see more of his works in future.

OSTs —

1. Jane Zhang (张靓颖) - ♪Spare No Time♪ (不惜时光) …a slow and sublime song that ends every episode beautifully.

2. Liu Yuning (刘宇宁) - ♪Meng Hua♪ (梦华) …with the spirit of fighting all the troubles together and Liu Yuning's voice makes this song more special.

3. Sunnee (杨芸晴) - ♪What Year Is Today♪ (今夕是何年)
4. Kiki Wei (魏奇奇) - ♪Nian Nian♪ (念念)

5. Rachel (银临) - ♪The Red Apricot Branch Is Full Of Spring♪ (红杏枝头春意闹) …the song representing their ups and downs and the longing for hope.

To conclude, what's worth watching the most in this drama —
⛧ character development of three ladies starting from scratch
⛧ strong female characters
⛧ the chemistry between Gu Qianfan and Zhao Pan'er
⛧ great supporting characters and friendship/sisterhood/companionship
⛧ Chi Pan (Dai Xu) as a comedy factor.
~ A Dream of Splendor is recommended!

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Just watch it.

You know a drama is good when it has the comment section discussing the characters temper, personality and relationships as if they’re actually real people.

Where do I begin. This drama is: gorgeous, precious and will probably leave a hole in your heart when it ends. Not because it sad but because you’ll be immersed and involved in their daily lives.

I’ve watched a lot of dramas in the last 13 years and very few were this pleasurable. The characters are written so well, they’re layered, real and lovable. The pacing is delectable, not too action heavy, sometimes purposely mundane but always keeping your attention. The direction, cinematography, set design, clothes are tasteful, this is truly what they call the female gaze. YangYang just proved everyone that women just do it better and has set the bar to a new high.

The romance. THE ROMANCE. Mature, trusting, kind, understanding, realistic. This is the kind of drama where you can see the leads falling for each other just by the way they look at each other. The tension is unbearable at times, it made me scream with envy in my pillow.

This drama is VERY rich in human relationships. Father x son, sisterhood, womanhood, brotherhood, teen x mentor figure, teenage puppy love, motherhood and more. There’s something for everyone.

To me, this is without a doubt THE best historical romance drama I have watched. Not because this is the best most complex impeccable story ever written but because this drama will bring excitement back and get rid of you loneliness. The focal point of this drama is not the intrigue it’s the people and their personal hardships. I can’t wait to forget it so I can watch it again.

So just watch it, give it a go, at least 3 episodes. If you don’t like it, it’s probably just not your cup of tea, because objectively, quality wise this checks all the boxes. Great work.

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A very decent drama with many interesting characters

What you need to know:

The story is entertaining and logical and dragged only a little in the middle putting much attention to the restaurant business.

The characters are awesome: there are very moral people, just common people and people who change a great deal to good or to bad. But they are believable and their interactions in many cases are not clichés.

The surroundings and music are very pleasant; the whole series is performed in a very aesthetical way.

And now, hello longread! :) What you possibly needn’t know but I just want to say:

The Dream of Splendor is a beautifully made series, almost flawless. That’s the impression after completing the whole work. When I ask myself if there are any plotlines which haven’t got logical solutions, I can’t find any I can't explain at all. That’s rare.

Speaking of the plot, I really appreciate the feminist topic but not driven to absurd extremes. The three gracious, beautiful and more than once distressed women unite to stand up for their rights and build a better tomorrow for themselves. In a process they prove that women can be respected no less than men, they can be artistic and yet have a successful business. They may be deceived or betrayed by the men they choose but still rise with their heads up and find more sincere and caring husbands. They may be wise and forgiving or passionate and revengeful – in other words, they are living people with their rights and wrongs and only their choice defines their destiny.

There have been many political schemes as well, which is cool, although I felt a little puzzled at all those names and double agents (the reason is not narration, though, but the auto subtitles – with a complete translation everything would be easy to understand). I really loved how the plot shows the main bone of contention – the painting of the Night Revels which is being mentioned since the very beginning but actually appears only in the end. Family matters, politics and social morals are all intertwined. The way some people serve different masters and switch their allegiances is also intriguing. Some seek glory and others try to be noble and just. Some would sacrifice anyone to save their own pride and others are able to walk in different people’s shoes. That’s so interesting to watch – mainly because the story is character-driven and they are so alive, complicated and real you can actually believe them.

More about characters. Zhao Pan Er is the main of the female trio. She’s elegant, smart, decisive and proud. The way she’s almost always right makes her a bit too ideal but her character is still believable. Still, some of her deeds might have been a mistake. For example, I feel her responsible for Ou Yang Xu becoming a villain. All he wanted was a glorious career; when Pan Er took her revenge (made a fuss around his house galling his pride, frightened him so badly he was eager to ban himself from a city) she created a devious foe desperately clinging for an opportunity to rise again. She also rushed with a decision about (a main lead) Gu Qian Fan’s ‘betrayal’. He disappeared but not for years or even months – anything could have happened, so why assume he broke up with her in the most unbelievable manner?

Apart from these, Pan Er’s actions are full of dignity and intelligence. She’s a grown-up woman, which gives the series a new vibe of a serious piece of art. No girlish foolishness and clumsiness! Though she also may be seen having fun, entertaining others or solving misunderstandings. Finally, a decent FL character! Heavens, we do need more of them.

And there are some. Sun San Niang is another lovely woman, who is a talented cook and a bit less skilled mother, getting round all kinds of life troubles. While Pan Er suffers from her low status of a musician, San Niang is misfortunate as a wife and mother. When her son disavows her, she wants to die but finds strength to begin once again. She’s very reasonable, calm and caring (although she is shown as a fighting kind of a lady in the beginning). She’s Pan Er’s right hand both in business and life matters. She also improves as a mother of the family since she regains her son and turns a pathetical scientist, her future lover, into a noble man and always motivates him to get better at things.

Song Yin Zhang is a complicated character. She begins as a very naïve girl growing into a very haughty one. She is talented, true, but she has no right to hurt her sisters’ feelings and act like a princess. She’s impulsive, jealous and hungry for attention and admiration. She’s also a dreamer who knows nothing about what’s going on around. She’s in love with Gu Qian Fan but never notices he’s ready to marry Pan Er. She’s deceived by seducers twice. In the first half of the series, she becomes quite unbearable. She really gives a problematic teenager’s vibe.

Later, though, there’s a great deal of a character development for her. She becomes more mature and less pretentious. She learns how to put herself in someone else’s shoes. She even settles very troublesome incidents. All in all, she a great character and is really accurately depicted.

Gu Qian Fan is a ML and in the first episode he’s seen as he must be: a cold and merciless ‘devil’ whose job is investigation and torture. Later on, we learn he never took pleasure in such work; he only needs a higher rank to give a status to his mother and is also deceived by someone he trusts. Actually, he’s quite a contrast to the image the others see. (Although Pan Er guesses he's a good person surprisingly soon.) He’s a softhearted, dignified, caring, humble and generous man who needs some friendly support. He’s trapped in the political battle of wills; he also has got a father whom he loves (and who loves him) but doesn’t accept due to the difference of their life attitudes. He’s also very vulnerable (somehow the characters in these series don’t have the ability to heal in ten minutes, which is a good call) and is wounded like half a dozen times. Once he finds friends and a woman he loves, he is loyal to them. He may be prudent, daring, passionate, unsure, professional and respectful to ancestors or not quite – but he’s always a noble man.

Interestingly, Qian Fan and Pan Er are really well balanced as a couple. While he is so hard on the surface and warm and mild in heart, she is a woman who has limited physical strength but her will is as an iron bar. The actors have done a fantastic job as a chemistry of the main couple is great. (You can find such a description almost anywhere but only here I see what this phrase actually means.) The very first time Pan Er saves Qian Fan it must be seen as a happenstance but you feel it’s a fate. Not a cliché one you can find in any drama. The best artistically solid life-changing moment one you can only hope to identify in real life. Their romance is so sweet and touching! Qian Fan is ready to marry a low status woman; he even accepts her desire to be a business lady, although it will ruin his status. Pan Er is like an angel saving the ever-wounded Qian Fan again and again. He doesn’t find it ashaming to share his unrealized expectations and show her his sorrow – but would break up with her in order to conceal the truth about the blood revenge between their families. She’s ready to step through it just to be with the one she loves. The flower symbols, the hairpin, the chats on the boat and on the doorstep, the warmness in their glances and tenderness in their guiltless touches – everything is so esthetical, so romantic!

What I love most of all are the interactions between characters – the main four and the supporting cast (for example, I really loved Chen Lian, Zhao Di and Pan Er’s standing customers). The plot is sometimes really gripping and sometimes not (there have been so many episodes about tea, music and competitors – well, that’s logical since this story’s about the restaurant business! At least they are depicted very artistically.) Personally, my favourite one is the first arc (about 5-6 episodes on how the main characters got to the capital) and the last one (where all plotlines, personal and political, are well combined).

There is one more thing I appreciate: there aren’t any 100% villains. People are not evil just because the script tells them to be; it’s life that changes them. In this work, they are mostly seduced by the ‘city’, they want to grab its ‘splendor’ and this is a serious motivation for a political life of the capital. I also like that a person isn’t changed in a moment; that’s a long process when one may surrender or fight his or her destiny. Being proud isn’t a bad thing – but choosing immoral ways is. I don’t think, for example, Ou Yang Xu to be the rotten soul from the beginning. His expectations of his future career were just too high and the means for obtaining glory weren’t of unassailable integrity. But he acted as is still acceptable in his kind of social life. We understand he’ll be an antagonist almost from the very beginning but he seems so innocent and powerless that he doesn’t look like a villain. He’s almost always a victim – Pan Er hates him (although he still loves her), his career and marriage are ruined, he is lost and starving, scorned and beaten. I really like the way the viewer is deceived as we can’t help but sympathize him. Moreover, that’s the key to his decline: since he pities himself and blames others for his misfortunes, he gets used to the idea he can revenge and use others as tools (and later even commit crimes – he hates it but there’s ‘no choice’ for him if he still wants to pursue his goal, which to that point has become a fixed idea). It’s also interesting that his schemes are smart but lack either timing or luck; he’s overplayed by ‘good’ characters or just by circumstances. As a successful scholar, he knows he just must outsmart others but his obsession with power plays a cruel joke on nonother than himself and drives him crazy. Xu Hai Qiao did a great job portraying such an ambiguous character – I wish there were a bit more of him in the series but even so it was very interesting to watch this transformation.

To sum up, this series has been very pleasant to watch; thrilling when the characters were overcoming dangers, educating in terms of art and culture, funny at times and with a very balanced romantic line. The soundtrack is also great, as well as costumes and surrounding. But all of these wouldn’t be of a high importance if not for such alive, different, interesting characters.

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Real Feminist Drama with Mature Romantic Comedy

When I first heard about this drama, it didn't speak to me in the slightest but the more trusted people recommended it and the more clips I saw of it, I started to change my mind. I'm actually really glad I watched it. It was very well, for the most part, executed.

Pros: Our leads; ZPE, GQF, SSN, and SYZ all came together in a story very uncommon in c-drama land because it was one of real feminism of bringing each other up not vice versa while understanding though being in love and loved is wonderful, one doesn't need a man to be happy and successful. This message was brought front and center repeatedly in the drama. Many people only watched for the romance and felt that when the main couple weren't on screen, what was the point? But the truth of the matter is that though yes while the main leads' romance was important to the storyline, it wasn't the main point. And personally for me that was refreshing to see.

I'm not going to rehash the synopsis nor what others wrote. Other then the very mature and adult chemistry on screen between ZPE and GQF, the ever evolving relationship between the three women was so important because though this was a costume drama, it brought home many modern points of how life will repeatedly knock you down to the point of giving up or even wanting to harm yourself but, you must get up and take a step at a time to move forward. And when you have 3 great friends (well two as one was sheltered and protected for most of it until some fame turned her into a spoiled brat that only another hard life lesson made her finally break the mold and grow a backbone), who can lift each other out of misery to move forward, it's truly touching and inspiring.

The romance of it was also totally different that what we're used to seeing in c-dramas because the two leads were mature adults and not scared kids; both were older and therefore the communication, flirtation, admiration, and passion were on a much more adult and much needed level. It brought the drama to an older audience too. No one waited until marriage to be intimate. And though the drama focused a bit too much on the "pariah" status, it ultimately still didn't overshadow the strength of love between the leads or the bond and drive to succeed by the three women.

Other favorite characters; I have to say CL was the MVP of the show. This guy was the best wing man ever! He was the matchmaker/go-between/Cupid between ZPE and GQF. He could also protect everyone he cared about with his own martial arts skills, was very intelligent, and always knew how to get his boss aka GQF out of an ill state. No matter what, he could be counted on 150%! The guy was a gem! Z girl as I called her that joined their rag-tag family later on was whip smart, loyal, and a wonderful character. When she said YZ was actually dumber then CL it made me crack up. DCF who started off as a loser but then became humane and even quite likable after falling for SSN and always being there to help the women as best he could; their wedding at the end was awesome as well as how he handled SSN's spoiled brat of a son. The fat guy working under the annoying as nails CP was also awesome along with the two male regulars of the women's tea shop and later restaurant and later on the emperor. Though he was as a bit of a prick, younger bro of GQF ultimately did redeem himself by saving ZPE. Even though he was jealous of his brother, he never wanted their despicable father to kill her.

The costumes and scenery were quite beautiful though the only OST I really liked was the one sung by LYN. His deep, soothing tones, and inflection always gives each song he sings added nuisances. I loved the rawness of different portions of the story which all of the music illustrated.

Lastly, villains/characters I loved to hate were CP and OX but for totally different reasons. CP started off as a diaper baby with a ratty annoying voice that I just wanted to shove off a cliff but when he got a taste of his own medicine dished out by ZPE as well as made to feel inferior--quite effectively I might add--it was comical and seemed to make him grow a new portion of a brain. Of course he then very quickly fell for ZPE but at least the comedic relief that he was supposed to offer from the get go, was finally realized when they opened the restaurant together. Though I still found him ridiculously annoying, at least now he was more likable when he stood up for and helped them and each time they laughed at him for acting a plum fool was the comedic relief necessary.

As for OX, he was the real villain in this piece but a haphazard one. And the longer the series went on, the crazier he got. Everything he did was only for himself, he claimed he loved ZPE and than GH but he was only ever capable of loving himself. I would best describe him as a delusional narcissistic psychopath that on top of everyone else he killed or tried to also murdered a child. I was very glad that he was handed off to GQF for "a proper investigation" in the last episode, though like many others, I wish we got to see him get tortured and killed. He deserved everything he got and more.

Cons: The fact this very adult and mature thinking drama took 11 episodes for a really ridiculous misunderstanding/miscommunication trope between the leads, was beyond unnecessary. It essentially did what most of these dramas do when this trope is thrown in. Honestly expected more from the screenwriter. Breakups or separations occur but when a drama is this smart and you write something so idiotic, it will break down and make us question the intelligence of the leads up to this point. It essentially dumbs the characters down. Why couldn't another situation be used instead?

Even the blood feud angle was haphazardly thrown in 1 minute before they got back together because she had only learned about it and decided it had nothing to do with them while he didn't know she never got the bank note (who leaves that much money just lying around?) in the first place and thought he abandoned her. It was very messy and in-cohesive to the rest of the plot and pace device. Also why did it take 11 episodes to fix it? With only 40 episodes in the show, you waste 11 of them on this mess. And yes, the women were going through a hard time and they wanted to focus on the feminism aspect, which is great but that doesn't mean you need to compromise the rest of the integrity of the plot to get there.

Furthermore, though I thought the tea challenge was beautiful and well done, it didn't need to take the entire episode. Just like the trial of OX at the end didn't need to take up two; by doing that the ending was literally a mad rush into the last like 10 minutes of SSN's wedding and the leads walking hand in hand on the bridge while flashbacks of their times together flashed across the screen. It was that gallop to the end that wasn't needed and wasn't satisfying enough. By wasting something like 13 or 14 episodes on things that could have been done in literally half that time, the ending could have been done more appropriately and had two weddings maybe instead of one and not done at the speed of sound.

Many fishy characters that never really had particularly any closure though QM was sent to some outpost, but what about LJ or GQF's father, they went from being on screen a lot with motives and agendas to just basically disappearing into thin air. Another plot hole.

Would I recommend it? Yes, I would very much. This is a real feminist drama with mature romantic comedy. Despite it having some of the usual tropes, loopholes, and rushed ending; I still feel the pros outweighed the cons and I'm glad I gave it a try after all.

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Who run the WORLD! GIRLS

This is a story of 3 women that refused to accept their tragic fate and pursue their dream to be successful businesswomen. Pan er who's witty and a very good manager, San Niang who's a good cook, and Yin Zhang a pipa master. Together they embark on the journey to the Capital to be one of the most respected business owners out there.

Strength:
1. Character growth- All their struggles and hardships became the window of their character and attitude to face those people who belittle them.
2. Natural act of love- Definitely my standard drama on how to act like a normal couple. ZP and GQF show how to deal with the problems, how to support each other as well as the physical contact between them. Just a perfect way how a couple hugs and a kiss. YES, viewers! They kiss like they are deeply in love with each other.
3. Aesthetic view and costume- Every scene was perfect even and the costume really fits them well..

Weakness;
1. I think they can stretch it until 50 episodes just to tie up the relationship between GQF's father and Minister Qi, it looks like they rush it since it has a limited number of episodes.

But overall it was an enjoyment to watch... I purchased the express just to finish it and it's worth every penny. All the characters really did a great job!! :)

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What does the drama bring us ?

Culture:
It shows part of Chinese cultural elements: tea and tea plays, cakes, dancing, ancient paintings, instruments, clothing….and the history of the Northern Song dynasty. It’s really a dream of splendor in the Eastern Capital.

Casts, Costume, Set and Aesthetic View:
I must say, Liu Yifei’s beauty is like a diamond you can’t miss. She’s really a fairy in costume dramas. Chen Xiao is a suitable mature actor for her. They have great chemistry. Other characters are all in their stories.

This drama has gorgeous clothing, beautiful scenery, movie-like cinematography, and a laid-back atmosphere.

Relationships:
This drama describes the relationships between the couples, sisters, father & son, emperor & empress, female characters & their bad ex….. We can see all the characters vividly with their personalities and stories, even the villain Ouyang Xu. He is both immoral and poor because of his background.

Feminist:
I think this is the only costume C-drama in recent years that discusses the feminist and female survival situation. All the female characters have their growth path. It was very hard in ancient times. And it’s also thought-provoking in modern society.

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An odd but refreshing enough drama

First things first, this drama is aesthetically pleasing. From the costume, set, and visual direction, this drama looks beautiful. The cast is also lined with a feast for the eyes and has pleasant acting skills compared to many (and I mean MANY dramas). In fact, I think, if the acting wasn't done so well, this drama probably would not have been as enjoyable.

The chemistry between the lead characters is a lovely mix of banter, maturity, and impressive eye contact. APPLAUSE FOR THAT! 👏👏👏👏 Honestly, the level of maturity we were getting is a long time coming for dramas. In terms of conserving your energy, if all you want is the romance bits, I would highly recommend just skipping to their scenes only. Because why not? The relationship could've been more passionate, idk, there was just something MISSING about it for me. Can't put my finger on it.

For side characters, they were there. They played their parts. I couldn't genuinely say I cared for them. Most of them were there as comedic relief which personally pissed me off most of the time. The other two female mains were cute and had their moments but nothing much to me, personally.

On the topic of the story, it isn't anything we haven't seen before. The reason this drama, I would say, holds up better is that it is done well compared to many mediocre dramas. I know it has a theme pushing point about females fighting to survive and yada yada BUT personally, they didn't really go in as much. And those comedic inputs didn't help. It did a good enough job though, again applause 👏👏. The reason I mark this drama as a bit odd is that I did not understand the reasoning behind adding any of those comedic slapshit relief moments???? I feel like mixing with the level of realism was such an odd and stupid choice. Personally took me out of the drama.

8.5 out 10 for now (I am a notorious re-rater, so who knows) In terms of re-watch, uh 3 out of 10.

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Is it one of the best dramas of 2022?

A dream of Splendour started out as one of the best dramas .. it was smooth sailing and very pleasant and beautiful to watch. Constantly leaving a smile on one's face, and the sweet moment shared with FL and ML was quite a scene to watch. Flurries of excitements and peppered with intrigues were gold. Not only the romance between the ML and FL were great, but so was the love-hate relationship between the father and son. The three women and their strive to survive and make a mark in the male-dominated world were admirable.

Then came Ep 30 and thereafter things gets a little too exciting and a little bizarre and not to mention a little too repetitive not to mention several trope-y misunderstandings between the ML and FL. Somehow the father and son relationship was left unresolved, and wasn't clear if the father did try to have his son killed (Perhaps someone can clarify this point for me). I felt rather like hanging in midair where their relationship which started so good and full of sparks and dynamism, giving one a feeling like it's a supporting story to the drama, ended up completely flat.

From a rating of 9 dropped to 7.5 (feeling generous),.... What started out so full of promise then takes a nosedive towards the end. What a shame, it has joined the rank of the Dramas this year which started out great and ended on a low note. None of them is the actors' fault, which they did their part brilliantly, but the scripts and sometimes directions.

1. Autumn Ballad
2. Who Rules the World
3. Cry me a river of stars
4. A Dream of Splendour

Ending for a drama is so important as how you tie the knots.... if there is any loose ends then it's just a waste of an effort of what could be a very entertaining light-hearted drama.

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Completed - 7/2/2022 - 8.25 rating

Such great reviews came from China regarding this drama that it hit Douban ratings at a high of 8.9 in the first week or two of its airing. Now that the drama is just done airing, the rating remains at a high 8.5 (as of 7/2/2022). I came in with pretty high expectations as I am a sucker for amazing romantic chemistry between the leads.

Plot:
“A Dream of Splendor” tells the story of three women who for a variety of reasons, had to leave their hometown for the big city. They are strong and independent, and are feminists who are ahead of their times. We follow their journeys to build their careers and find love. The pacing of the drama is pretty good. There’s enough going on to keep me interested throughout the 40 episodes. Though the last few episodes are more focused on court politics, our three female leads are intertwined in this storyline as well. Compared to another female-centric drama “Marvelous Women”, this is less slice-of-life and hooked me right from the start. But as the story goes, I think I enjoyed the weaving/embroidery plot in “Marvelous Women” a little bit more than the tea house/restaurant/music plot in “A Dream of Splendor”. However, the tone in “Marvelous Women” is more serious than that in this drama. I rated this drama higher because the romance storylines are more interesting to me than that of “Marvelous Women”. There are many comedic moments in “A Dream of Splendor” and I am not sure I enjoy them as much as others. Dai Xu/Chi Yan Nei provides a lot of comic relief, but it’s too over-the-top for my taste and doesn’t quite fit in the general tone of the drama.

Romance:
I really enjoy the initial chemistry between our two leads and I can see why everyone is raving about it. I can totally see how Chen Xiao/Gu Qian Fan is so smitten with Crystal Liu/Zhan Pan Er. Every time he looks at her, I see admiration, respect, love and desire. However, I am not sure if I can say the same for Crystal Liu especially towards the second half of the drama. Maybe I am just too critical of female leads? I find Crystal Liu’s best scenes are of her as a business woman. But as a woman in love, I can’t see that passion in her eyes. Nonetheless, their romance is mature and honest (for the most part). The leads are very supportive of each others’ careers, and will not hesitate to provide some honest/harsh feedback when necessary. There’s a lot of PDA in this drama, which is quite rare for a somewhat ‘serious’ and non-romantic comedy. Are the kisses amazing? Not really, but decent enough that I see effort from both parties. I actually really enjoy the romance between Sun San Niang and Du Chang Feng. Opposites attract yet they are quite adorable together. The way they fall in love seems natural and I enjoy how Sun San Niang takes charge in their relationship. Song Yin Zhang is probably my least favorite female character but I pity her journey to find love. Poor girl just couldn’t catch a break. There’s plenty of romance in this drama to satisfy romance junkies like me.

Production:
There are quite a few nice scenes with lanterns and candles, but not quite the quality of top-notch productions such as “Luoyang” and “The Longest Day in Chang’an”. Those two dramas have become my golden standard. Nonetheless, we have beautiful people in nice costumes, decent set designs and props. A certain popular YouTube reviewer mentioned that Chen Xiao and Crystal Liu are the most beautiful couple in a period drama in recent years. I am not sure I agree with this reviewer. They are a good-looking pair, especially for a more mature couple, but there are plenty of good-looking couples as well. In this drama, I think Jelly Lin and Claire Jia are just as beautiful as Crystal Liu (or maybe more). I do think Chen Xiao looks the most handsome in his uniform. I also want to criticize the action scenes and the camera work in this drama. There are a few fight scenes, but the camerawork is shaky/blurry (maybe intentional?). This affects my enjoyment of watching Chen Xiao fight. The director also likes to use a lot of slow motion scenes in this drama for ‘dramatic’ effects, when it’s not necessary. I want to see Crystal Liu walk at a normal speed.

Other Random Observations:
1. I like the interesting tea competition - especially drawing on tea foam.
2. It seems like everyone can just go into FL’s house/courtyard. No security at all and the door is never locked.
3. It rains all the time - at least people don’t get sick often.
4. Spinning and pouring tea is a little too cringey for my taste.
5. I like boat rides as a major form of transportation.
6. I really like Xu Hai Qiao in "Lost Love in Times" but I hated him here as Ou Yang Xu. I wish to see another drama of his to fall in love with him again.

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Simply put, it's good

Sure, there are some flaws, but they are minor. For the most part, the leads have a healthy relationship and they really give a sense of facing troubles together yet also respect and support individual pursuits and decisions. The court battles are only shown when they influence the leads' lives and relationships. All other political struggles are only mentioned in passing and that too only if they are relevant to the story.

Only the actions by characters considered main, i.e, ML, FL, other 2 FLs and that other guy who is kinda SML, since I don't know what else to call him, are shown in clarity. Meaning, the other characters' (ministers, officials, businessmen, etc.) actions and the reason/logic behind them, are generally left to be judged by viewers as they wish. I've seen the subtle behind the scenes in dramas before too and I think I like it. But the thing is, remember I said, "for the most part" and "minor flaws", I think the reason for that might be, leaving too many things in the dark can sometimes seem like a dramatic and compelling scene has a weak logic behind it. Or sometimes, the emphasis on subtlety, can even result in a scene not being compelling enough in the first place. But this is only if you want to over analyse stuff. Otherwise, like I said. Minor.

Some beautiful shots and scenes, very good acting, you can just tell that the main couple are fond of each other. Great sismance. The ladies strike out at first, with relationships, with life. But they find a way to stand on their own, they trust people, face consequences either good or bad, make friends and enemies, both individually and while together, fight amongst themselves too sometimes but spoiler ending, they still get back to sticking with each other <3

Another thing, there's no extreme evil being done or was done, (yes, I'm being vague, but if you get it, you get it) like is generally in many historical cdramas that focus on politics, or even personal vengeances.

Overall, pleasant drama.

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