A Dream of Splendor (2022)

Watch this because of Chen Xiao, but turn out I enjoy it more than I expected.

This drama talk about friendship, family, politic and of course love.... Take place where they still underestimate woman, especially if they come from entertainment background, like Zhao Pan Er (PE) & Song Yin Zhang (YZ). Yeah sometimes they have a very thin line to separate performer with prostitute. This story revolve around how PE and her friends make different, talk about feminism.

What I like:
+ I really like the point of view that Zhang Hao Hao take, if you proud enough with your status, no matter people how look it, it still one very proud profession, but also vise versa if you think it's something shameful it will become shameful.
+ The chemistry between Chen Xiao & Liu Yi Fei. I really like how Gu Qian Fan (QF) see PE. We can see how deep their feeling toward each other.
+ How to separate past & future. Especially when it's about revenging your father died. Really like the point of view PE take, usually with c-drama family problem is big problem, and when other family murder must get revenge.
+ The growth of our girls, especially Song Yin Zhang. We can see in our screen one immature girl turn into mature woman.

What I don't like:
- How they shape the bad guy, Ou Yang Xu.
- How perfect looking for PE. It's like she is one complete package that everyone eventually grow to like her.
- The pulling & pushing between PE & QF.

Overall this is one good historical drama. but it think I quite agreed with some reviewer who wrote the story have nosedive in the end. Somehow I also feel this have quite meaningless end, it's like they lack something when they close the curtain....

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Sisterhood / Modern Romance / Visually Stunning Sets and Costumes

The perfect slice of life historical romance c drama. I really feel like this drama was made for me. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed Dream of Splendor. It has the perfect balance of day to day interactions between interesting characters and a really charming romance that just puts a smile on your face as you watch it progress. The best part of the drama for me was the lack of politics and very minimal misunderstandings.

Amazing costume and sets – You can really see the high budget production of this drama. With beautiful simple but colorful costumes and organic sets. I love all the woodwork and simple details that really shine bright on the camera. I felt like the women wore dresses very elegantly but simple since they held no position.

The perfect casting – It’s to note that the drama is about three ladies and their sisterhood bond. The romance between the main character is an equal and heavy part of the drama, but if I didn’t love the side characters so much I don’t think I could have stuck to the drama. I was very much invested in all three women and their tales of triumph and woes.

The romance between the main leads – The BEST part of the drama and it had a heavy emphasis in the overall plot and story of the show. I really enjoyed the pacing of the relationship between the main leads. I would consider it a slow burn at the beginning and probably my favorite part as they get to know each other.

I found the relationship very respectful and overall they spoke about their issues and it just felt very mature and enjoyable to watch.

Liu Yi Fei – It’s Mulan! I was surprised to see the FL played Mulan in the 2020 Disney live action remake. As much as everyone swooning over the ML, I truly enjoyed and found a kinship with the FL. Her acting is incredible. I would call her subtle acting and I loved it. She didn’t really have to yell or be over the top, you can see her emotions by her simple expressions. It’s also easy to love her because of the character she played. She’s very strong, smart and just character you want to root for.

Chen Xiao – Everyone loves Chen Xiao and I can see that. As a character who isn’t super tall or look super idol looking, he can create a presence. The chemistry between main leads was very good. I loved their banter. I haven’t seen a drama with the ML and I will be on the lookout now.

Art of filming– The score was pretty good. It was simple, catching and fit the tune of the drama. I did enjoy the artsy part of the drama. I loved the dancing, the tea pouring. The directing was very good in expressing the history and cultural of China through beautiful characters, art and visually stunning sets.

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2 separate dramas in 1

The first half of this drama was SO good. I was hooked from the beginning and loved the pacing and story line. The ML and FL were a perfect match and from the first episode, there was no question about their chemistry. The friendship between the 3 ladies was refreshing and I looked forward to seeing where their journey would take them.

What threw me off and became a struggle was the second half of the drama. The ML and FL's time together always seemed short and fragmented. A misunderstanding that lasted for NINE episodes in which the ML is barely getting screen time was disappointing and confusing. He was suppose to be one of the main leads right?! I was expecting the ML and FL to be a power couple with their smarts and wit to defeat the evil doers, but it became a drama about managing a restaurant and ruthless business men. The CP was what made this drama so special... without it, this became another drama completely.

If I had to do it again, I would watch again. The first half is that good...at until episode 27...then I'd skip to 31 or 33 and then to 36. But even then, if you're looking for your CP to actually get time together, you're probably better off jumping to the last episode.

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So many good things about this drama!

I’ll keep it brief.

This was a very great story, very strong. The plot was well thought out. The visuals were well done and I appreciate the natural coloring of the sets as well as the actors not having overdone make up. I enjoyed the plot and all of the ups and downs that they went through. The plot maintained consistency, as I didn’t find many holes or unanswered questions. The acting was amazing. Everyone did a really good job in their role. I definitely enjoyed the romance in this story as it seemed more real and the two leads had very strong chemistry.

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Wow... fantastic production

Three women (and good friends) of low social status was driven to the capital of Kaifeng during the Song dynasty due to unfortunate circumstances in their love and married lives. This is a period known for high class consciousness, highly conservative values and prejudice against women, especially those from the lowly slave class. They struggled to setup and run a business, and pitted their wits against commercial bullying and political sabotages.

Zhao Pan-er's father was punished for disobeying orders as a general and was killed. As a young girl, she was branded as a lowly slave and was trained as a dancer to entertain senior government officers but was eventually freed from her slave class. Intelligent and commercially savvy, she ran a successful teahouse for a living along with San-niang. While helping a scholar to prepare for the imperial exam, they fell in love. The scholar pledged to marry her when he passed the imperial exam, and they were engaged. Unfortunately, good news came along with bad. He was ranked as the second scholar and he was matched made to marry the daughter of a high ranking officer. Not believing that he was a faithless man, she was determined to travel to the capital to confirm the truth.

Sun San-Niang formerly worked as a butcher and built great physical strength. She was also a very good cook and a good mother. Her biggest ambition was for her son to succeed in the imperial exam when he grew up, so she could be awarded a set of tiara and ceremonial gown as the mother of a scholar. Unfortunately, her husband had other plans and fostered her son to his late cousin's wife on the pretext that his son would inherit the cousin's estate. He divorced San-niang when she discovered that they were having an affair. To add salt to her wound, her son chose to take side with the foster mother as she pampered him in contrast to his mother who forced him to attend school and do well academically. Greatly hurt, she jumped into the river in a suicide attempt.

Song Yin-Zhang was the top pipa (lute) player in the Qiantang province. Being a performer, she was also regarded as from a lowly status class. Anxious to be freed from her registered status, she ran eloped with a 'wealthy' merchant, against the advice of Pan-er whom she regarded as her sister. She was unfortunately mistreated as her new husband tried to extort money from her.

Gu Qian-Fan, a commander in the Imperial Capital Bureau, was well-known for being ruthless and earned the nickname, 'Living Hades'. He was assigned to investigate rumours in the capital and to trace a painting which would reveal a great secret against the Empress who had been assisting the Emperor in court matters and was hated by the ministers fighting for power. While on this mission, he was made the scapegoat for the murder of a minister and his family.

Zhao and Gu were at loggerheads with each other as Zhao hated the Imperial Capital Bureau which arrested her father. However, along the trip to the capital, they crossed each other's path and had to help each other to get to their destination.

Would these unfortunate souls survived and eventually find they love they deserved? Who exactly was Gu? Why did the new prime minister help him?

What I like about this drama?
1. It depicted the gender prejudice during that era and how three women braved the odds in their lives to run a successful restaurant. While at the same time, there were a lot of light-hearted moments. You might expect it to be quite dark for a theme like this, but it is not. Unlike some dramas where the villain always wins throughout, this drama is the oppose.

2. The chemistry between the lead actor and actress as well as that between the secondary leads was phenomenal.

3. The dance performance at the opening of the restaurant was the best I have seen in all dramas (I have watched a lot).

4. This drama is full of good looking actors and actresses - Chen Xiao (Gu), Liu YiFei (Zhao), Xu Hai Qiao (the villain), Liu Yan (Sun) and Fei Xia (Song). Call me shallow, but good looking actors and actresses with good acting skills always make a big difference to a drama.

5. The flirtation between Gu and Zhao - subtle initially and more obvious later. The exchange of words was so poetic in episode 5 when Gu visited Zhao at the inn, if you can understand Mandarin.

6. Liu YiFei playing the seductress to hoodwink ZhouShe in the story - she was absolutely superb.

7. Excellent overall production: lovely cinematography, excellent cast, beautiful costumes, well choreographed dances, lovely opening and closing theme songs - very well executed from the beginning to the end.

8. Last and not least, it earned my empathy and tears not from a dying scene of the hero or heroine (a departure from the usual) but from the appeal against the prejudice of that age.

What I dislike of this drama? As with most dramas, it was not without questionable moments. Here is my nitpicking:

1. Gu was severely injured during one of the scenes. Zhao appeared to help him, took a flare from him and fired it for help. Wonder why Gu did not fire it earlier himself when the assassins appeared and not get himself so badly injured.

2. Song Yin-Zhang's playing of the pipa is completely out of sync with the music. It appeared she knew nothing about playing the pipa and was not even musically trained.

3. The opening and ending theme songs were lovely but I wish there were more musical moment in the drama.

The story appeared quite straightforward. But still it would keep you glued in front of the screen, trying to find out what might happen next. I am rewatching it as I write this review.

Highly recommended. This is the best drama I have watched over the last 2 years.

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Strong female lead but looking for too much support and making it useless

A strong female lead is a great thing… but what are the issues:
1. Her former lover is the main enemy at the end when she is so good in assessing character and ouyang in fact was not bad to start with; if you are so clear about your lovers …only two lovers in her life… will you go to the extent of banishing him …will you not do your due diligence or let go as you are a strong lead
2. Her 2nd lover has to work hard to gain her favor in the later part of the story…again flawed…i really have two close friends in my 30 years of life…do I need a convincing from this person again…what sort of character am I… how can I be a strong lead…or champion among people
3. She is a strong lead but tries to prove herself in a bunch of hopeless men and women who act as authorities …if not for the support of these hopelesss people she would have died long back…if her character is not thorough or smart how can she a strong lead
- she goes to main inspector to negotiate who could have made her a concubine if not for her lover support…utter foolishnesses
- she accepts getting flogged 20 times and her lover as well…when they clearly know she can die out of flogging…another foolishness when it’s said she is the best businesswoman and her lover being the top agent
- she could have been killed by officials or empress anytime…where is the strength if you don’t know how to play politics and being the top businessswoman ?
- she goes to negotiate with the top businessman who could have also made her a concubine if not for his poor portrayal….
So is there anything strong about the female character here? Doing 4-5 things does not mean the leader among women…..one needs to show how smart she is to make it right 90% time…

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stressful drama, lots of miscommunication and villains alot

stressful drama, lots of miscommunication and villains alot where really seems the whole world is against you; drama was too tense for me

Life is too short for stressful drama. Why spend all that time watching and be stressed? Don’t our lives already provide enough of that?

Summary of the series:
- not a lighthearted rom/com; series is a stressful for me; so many people against you and you have to win them over 1 by 1, so exhausting
- my favorite part is to see how they can start a tea house business and make it successful; the 3 FLs work together, other than that, its not much to rewatch
- constant miscommunication, back and forth; had some great story line but it was just exhausting even with lots of fast forwarding due to the slow pace
- exhausting characters with a lot of torture both physically and mentally
- a show that implicates all people are bad until you can win them over
- the romance was kinda hard to watch as well
- everyone is a villain to start with, lots and lots struggles, calamity and miscommunications galore for stress
- it tries to put so much stress, serious issues and mingle with jokes song and dance

watch this if you like stressful full on struggle every step of the way; it was a joy to watch for the business part of the story; ends after wrap up, no extended joy to see how they finally can have peaceful lives; then this is for you.

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Great chemistry! Be prepared to read between the lines.

I was impressed in the first episode with the cinematography and how grand it all appears. Everything looked like the makings of a great drama and for the most part it was but it fell short by about 2.5 points. First, let me say the wardrobes were spot on beautiful and flowing for the women, strong and fierce for the men. The production was done well and made you feel as if you were somewhere real instead of a green screen. Thumbs up to the casting directors because they picked a great cast of actors. Each of the characters big and small does a great job of bringing you into their world. From Gu's father to the Goa's father. The only character I never connected with along with all of his scenes was Chi the gangster. I fast forward most of his scenes which were actually quite a few. They could have skipped those storylines and put back many of the ones they edited out.

The FL and ML have great chemistry and if you like romance there is a lot of it. Now this is also where they loose points with me for bad editing. It seems they edit out some key points in this drama. You will have to fill in the gaps, holes and even make up some episodes on your own. Don't bother going back to see if you missed something (You didn't). It was cut somewhere when back on the editing floor. Who ever the editing team were which would include the director they left out a left a lot of key elements on the editing floor. Which made me really angry. They spent too episodes trying a create love triangle that just fell flat, flat , flat. It was quite annoying.

Even at the last two episodes you may be confused because what could have been good for the drama and made it better got cut.

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WATCH IT! You won't regret at all!

Yes I finally completed this drama after waiting for like 2 years after its first trailer!!! Great great drama given that C-dramas has been rather disappointing for quite a long while now especially for the historical genre! The cast is just wonderful and unexpected for the great chemistry and synergy, Chen Xiao and Liu Yi Fei together in a drama again is a total gift from heavens and their "lovers" set up is so believable and so sweet just by watching it!

Jelly Lin's acting gave me a big sight of relieve as she's finally starting to act well/normal in her roles after so many past dramas she had destroyed with her real bad acting.

Ada Liu's performance here made me so happy for her that Ada Liu could finally get her revenge against the people who bullied her in real life! If you have watched the scene whereby Sun San Niang throwing Du Chang Feng into the river for him saying demeaning words towards the three ladies, though it was a super funny scene but you may not know how is this scene related to a real past controversy of Ada Liu. What happened was that Ada Liu was the bridesmaid to her celebrity friend's wedding in China and after the ceremony ended, the Groom along with Groomsman decided to "prank" Bridesmaid by throwing one of them into the pool/pond in the venue which ended up they chose Ada Liu because she had "great figures"... The situation ended really ugly due to the fact that all the guys involved didn't bother to apologies nor admit they were wrong but instead pushed the fault to Ada Liu for making a big deal out of a small issue when she wasn't the one who blow up the issue (She was even made to apologise on the situation!). Since then, she was bullied by the Groom and Groomsmen's fans/netizens name calling her being "slutty" and many disgusting behaviors from the internet...

I really like how the story is setup especially the smooth ending leading towards the last few episodes which many dramas tend up end up rushing or make sudden bad ending due to poor management of quality checks. I particularly like Xu Hai Qiao, Guan Yun Peng and Zhang Xiao Qian's splendid acting here and made their mediocre roles stood out! Though Xu Hai Qiao's character isn't a good one at all but honestly his performance here really make you forget he's an actor and really naturally progressed from a timid guy to turning evil. Guan Yun Peng's character expressions are really charismatic when it could have been a mediocre character if not acted right! Just that his initial behavior from a small soldier to when he became the right-hand man was kinda odd for me as it does seemed that he had motives getting close to the Gu Jian Fan and not as innocent/righteous as portrayed.

So there are certainly quite a few flaws even though it was nicely produced. One would be the fact that Zhao Pan Er managed to be on intimate/good terms with many "foe" characters so easily every time she used her sincerity is quite unrealistic TBH... Olden days people in these capital cities are honestly not as trustable and easily persuadable as what was portrayed in this drama due to their complicated environment and strict social classes...

Overall, really recommended for everyone to watch and enjoy the natural sweetness of the main couple and feel real satisfied with all the revenge they have taken on those who kept bullying and belittling them!

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Like it!!!

I like the early episodes to the middle episodes, this part is what I always repeat.
Their chemistry is really good. Like it!!!
actually it's been a long time since I've keep up in Chinese dramas, and Chen Xiao.
and when I saw chen Xiao after a long time, something had changed about him, he had become more mature, masculine, cool, and handsome.
and yes I was stunned to see him as Gu Qianfan.
and Liu Yifei she is more beautiful and elegant.
I like the story of their friendship.
Pan Er's figure with her intelligence and ingenuity I like it.

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More shows like this Please!

I LOVE this show. I enjoyed it very much and did not once FF it. It would have been perfect if the last few episodes didn't feel rushed or random to me, but C-dramas have been notoriously bad at sticking their landings!

The story line was engaging. The characters were dynamic and three-dimensional. I love the agencies the women had in this series. It was good to see a storyline where the women weren't catty with one another, but rather supportive to each other. This includes ALL the women in the series, not just the leads. The romance was void of dramatic spins, falls, and catches, and not too many slow-motion beauty shots, so that is always a PLUS in my book! It has been quite a while since I've enjoyed a C-drama this much (since the Imperial Coroner), especially after so many highly-anticipated ones which ended up be so disappointing to ME (Who Rules the World, Pearl Eclipse, The Long Ballad, Snow Sword Stride -- Don't come for me! If you love those shows, that's awesome!) To each her/his/their own! :-)

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Yes. In this lifetime and every lifetime: yes.

I didn't have a lot of expectations going into this drama, but what I got was a beautiful story of three AMAZING WOMEN who gave this story its true charm. The romance was there, but it took third seat behind the gorgeous tale of these three strong women, and then the hilarious comedy of Chi Yan Nei and his goons. So many hilarious, laugh out loud moments.
Zhao Pan Er was the perfect FML. She was smart, beautiful, witty, and not perfect. She grew and learned, but always kept her head held high and was always so positive without being naive.
The only tiny niggle that is barely anything is that Gu Qianfan is nicknamed "The Living Devil", which sounds badass, right? But he doesn't really... so anything devillish or badassish.
But the chemistry was for sure there.

Either way, this is a must-watch.

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