Fan Service at its Best

First, let me warn you by saying don't look for these to strictly adhere to continuity. It's really fan-centric one-shots meant as a gift by the actors and producers. For example Byeong-In is in one episode as the captain of police at the same time Cheoljong is looking at the Queen's Dictionary which has notations about voting and gold/dirt spoons, which occurred later. In another segment, Hwan is sporting the sunglasses he first wears in episode 20 whereas all but the prequel seem to indicate the stories taking place right before or immediately after the banquet.

Segment 1 - SY and CJ meeting for the first time as adults. More So Yong centric than Cheoljong. At least they did manage to flesh out her character just a little bit. The prequel is beautifully shot with CJ romanticized and looking like Prince Charming from a storybook to the Nth degree. It has a dreamy quality to it.

Segment 2 - An absolute hilarious acknowledgement of the fans' comments about the similarity in looks and build of Prince YP and Byeong-In.

Segment 3 - Focused on the flirtations of the Royal Chef and Lady Choi

Segment 4 - KDramas are known for several tropes, one of which is the jealous lover. Didn't fit into the narrative of Mr. Queen too much, though they did manage to fit in one small scene towards the end, so the producers created this one-shot that is jealous KDrama lover overload. Very, very funny and really showcases the comedic timing of Kim Jung Hyun.

Segment 5 - Card game gone extreme between the Kim powerhouse siblings with poor So Yong's father caught in the middle.

Segment 6 - The most enigmatic one. This segment had some moments of comedy, but it had a strange undercurrent of wistfulness and melancholy as well which is tied into the wishes each character makes upon seeing their first meteor shower.

Overall, it was just fun watching. The comedic elements were ramped up and more campy than usual. The segments were definitely poking fun at the characters and storylines while at the same time trying to give fans elements that they couldn't necessarily incorporate into the main drama.

Looking back, I also feel that it supports my reincarnation theory. Prequel hints at the idea of destiny, middle segment answers the question of where the love and attraction is stemming from, and the last gives us the promise of reunion for the soulmates.

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Couldn't hold my interest

Being a fan of Shen Yue's works and down-to-earth portrayals, I decided to give this show a shot. While not a hard-core fan of coming of age/slice of life dramas, I'd seen some recently that were fantastic, and the trailer for this one looked good. The first few episodes were okay, but the plot soon flatlined into a dull buzz, and I found myself fast-forwarding through a good bit towards the end.

Great acting from pretty much all involved. That's about it for me, honestly, in terms of good points.

As for cons, the biggest is the script. At times it wants to take itself very seriously and tries to set up moments of intense realism/realistic issues but then uses the most ridiculous and fantastical scenarios to "solve" them. The conflicts are repetitive and (without revealing any spoilers) don't really show much growth in the characters - just a dull acceptance from the characters themselves or those around them, which I don't believe was the intended takeaway.

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Deliberately misleading

***I've included my thoughts on where the writers were trying to go with this in the comment section of this review. Still think they could have handled it better, but it does make much better sense now and had me improve my rating. Can't do a perfect 10 though - episodes 17 and onward were weak (not just with the romantic elements) and filled with stupid decisions and too much deus ex machina. Might change this entire review at a later date but for now it stays as it is an honest representation of how I felt at the show's conclusion and how poorly they executed their intent that I had to sit here ruminating for a week to see where they were going with this all.***

I haven't felt this betrayed by writing since the controversial last season of Game of Thrones. The entire premise of this show was built around the love story of SoBong (Bong Hwan in So Yong's body) and Cheoljong. From episodes 1-19, it was a steady progression of these characters falling in love with each other...not with a memory and not the physical appearance but the substance of each of them as they strove to understand and accept each other. It was one of the most beautiful love stories I've watched. The writers perpetuated this idea by various methods:

1. CJ's fascination with SB was completely with the SB personality. The audience saw his fascination with SB's otherness, heard it in his confession of love for them, and saw it in how he treasured those aspects enough to write them down and pour through them to reminisce and help heal his own wounds.
2. The writers made the SY character a stranger to the audience. We get only the barest of flashbacks, and nothing to show us anything but a one-sided love. Even the prequel in the Bamboo Forest leans heavily to this idea. Which is why so many viewers then feel puzzled as to how the ending makes sense.
3. The writers deliberately made it seem as if the SY character was gone. There's a scene where the queen jumps back into the lake in order to regain more memories and SY's "spirit" or whatever appears before her but at the end she sees her close her eyes and falls back to sink to the bottom. Additionally, when the BH character briefly flashes back to present times, SY does not return, even for a minute.
4. The writers showed a true progression of the feelings in SB for CJ. In the last few episodes, there were major milestones to be had and shared with the viewers. The character of SB accepts their feelings. Reciprocates those feelings. Initiates intimacy - which in a story of quasi-gender bending is a penultimate moment. It's all been culminating to this point where you feel as though everything leading up is falling into place and then Wham! We draw a "Go To Jail" card.

Not only is the soul sent back but the contributions of that character are marginalized. Heck, forget marginalized, they're not even acknowledged in the slightest...as if this brash and vibrant personality never existed. The continuity issue with that alone is enough to curse at my screen. The entire story was about Mr. Queen...yet when Mr. Queen "left the building," there was no true sense of loss felt by their friends or even their love. We get one scene where the king looks puzzled for all of five seconds and asks "did I lose something." Yes...the main character of this entire drama. The show had already struggled with continuity issues such as selective fighting skills to fit the narrative and other minor faux pas but this...who just negates the existence of the main lead? Sure, SY's body is still there, and she's conveniently staying mum about the entire thing and letting everyone think it was her the entire time. The fans vilified Hwa Jin Jo when SHE pulled that move, but it's all good now. A few curses interspersed with an annoying high pitched giggle, and we're supposed to buy that she's SB 2.0 as she simpers "jjeona" like a teenager. Meanwhile the main male character, who is brilliant enough to stage a coup against one of the most powerful families in history, doesn't notice a thing.

I can't with this ending. I just can't. It obliterated all of my excitement and joy at seeing this story unfold. Seeing CJ and SY hug at the lake was like seeing Bran crowned king. Felt like I'd been gobsmacked by a 747. All of these feelings of betrayal could have been avoided by better writing. I'm not intransigent. I could have gotten behind a SY/CJ ending, IF it fit the narrative leading up to the finale, but it didn't. So frustrating!!! The acting though. Not a single complaint there. The acting was brilliant. The music too. I still can't listen to "Here I Am" without tearing up, and the comedic scores were on-point. However, I can't raise my rating higher because despite all of these things being components of a whole, the writing is the heart, and this one stopped beating right at episode 20.

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A seemingly satisfying sequel

I'm going to be honest - it's not as good as One and Only. I don't know if it's the modern setting (I do admittedly prefer historical dramas when it comes to Chinese cinema) or if it's seeing the characters I had expected to see mirrored instead take on such different personas in their reincarnated lives, but it just doesn't hit that high note for me that the prequel had.

Music - There were a few songs which I really did enjoy, particularly "Continued." Many of the lyrics of the songs helped carry the theme of reincarnation and finding love again, which was particularly thoughtful, especially given the censorship which prevented too much focus on the past lives element. However, after rewatching scenes from One and Only and then Forever and Ever again, I feel like this drama lacks in having a minimal background score, which is one factor which gives a more polished quality to the ancient times version.

Acting/characters - Bai Lu and Allen Ren are adorable in this drama too, but whereas I was engulfed immediately in their chemistry in One and Only, this was an excruciatingly slow buildup, perhaps because of Allen Ren's character in this life. While Zhousheng Chen of the past was warm and protective, the modern Zhousheng Chen seems more introverted and awkward. It isn't until much later that we see he does retain the same warm personality as his past self, but it's closely guarded due to the circumstances of the plot. Shiyi's character also changes quite a bit. Gone is the eager-to-please little girl pulled by the strings of responsibility and in her place is a rather assertive young woman who is comfortable in her own skin and in standing her ground to get what she wants. Honestly though, the true star of this film was the character of Zhousheng Ren (the male lead's cousin). To say he's precocious would be an understatement. Portrayed as wise beyond his years, his subtle Old Man way of thinking which breaks every now and then - usually when interacting with Shiyi's female cousin - is just adorable to watch.

Story - I honestly found all the awkwardness a bit tiring. Even the potential for more comedic elements was tamed into just a few glances and stunted attempts at teasing. The film does suffer just a bit from diluting the fact that, in the novel, Shiyi remembers her past life and her desire to be with Zhousheng Chen is what drives her forward to pursuing him. It was only after I read the translation of the novel the show is based on - which the show follows very, very faithfully except for the reincarnation remembrance - that I accepted the direction the show was going.

Would I watch again? Eh, probably not. It's nice to know there's a happier ending, but my joy at their pairing isn't for the Shiyi and Zhousheng Chen of the modern era. It's for the reunion of souls and the continuance of love from One and Only as it's the relationship in the past that made me want them to be together. Had this been a standalone drama, I'd have dropped it after the first four episodes.

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Have the Kleenex ready

I haven't cried this much since Goodbye My Princess. The only saving grace for my poor shattered heart is that this is the first of two parts with the modern drama promising a happier ending. Since it's pretty much been touted as such online, even by the actors and studio, I don't feel as if this is in any way a spoiler. Having said that, I'll jump right into what I loved about this show. No cons because honestly, I don't have any.

First of all, the acting. The acting is fantastic with so many familiar faces. I actually found myself trying to pick out all the actors who had starred together in recent dramas together such as Song of Youth or Under the Power. Nobody presented themselves as a weak link here, and the two main leads have amazing chemistry together. I knew that Allen Ren conveys a ton of emotion through his eyes, but I think Bai Liu really shone here as well - she really had to since some of the earliest episodes presented her character as being mute.

Secondly, the plot. Very, very good. Excellent feel-good comedic moments (the look of astonishment on the ML's face as the FL gives her daily obeisances was priceless) and sweetness without artifice in their romance. The tragic parts were unavoidable - the "prequel" and their star-crossed status being what drives the modern installment - but done so well that even as I bawled my eyes out, I could appreciate how it slowly developed and was written in an inescapable fashion but without casting a shadow over the happier moments. I also DEEPLY appreciated that the FL was not a sniveling brat and the ML was not tragically stupid. Not a single pouty, arm-swinging, baby-talking moment in the entire 24 episode run. Whew!

The background score was sweeping and the use of various stringed instrumented gave scenes a melancholy note which was appropriate for the theme. Definitely going to rewatch, but I need to catch Forever and Ever first and give my poor eyes a break from the boo-hoo fest.

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Guilty Pleasure

Odd grammatically written title aside, this was a thoroughly toxic and enjoyable watch. Yes, that sounds paradoxical, but sometimes you want to see a drama with an irredeemable anti-hero whose intentions lead them to make the most awful choices a la Goodbye My Princess. This guy was, in my opinion, even worst than Li ChenYi, though a recent drama where the ML outright kills the FL in the first episode but promises to be better to her in the next life takes the absolute cake. And yes, if this were reality, it’d be a horrific situation, but it’s fantasy, so feel free to indulge in the obsession and heartache. Quality of music and sets was okay, but the acting of the ML is what cinched it for me. He could sell both the dark and light aspects of himself very well. If you love a dark tale and angst, it’s hard to beat this one. Just the first two episodes alone will fill your heart with all sorts of emotion.

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Role Reversal at its Comedic Zenith

I'll keep this short since many other reviews have already hit high points and plot elements. Oh My General very, very silly at times and doesn't take itself very seriously (even makes fun of its own product placements by giving them an almost QVC feel), but there's just something so good about this show. I think it's Sandra Ma and Peter Sheng's performances. They both play the caricaturesque elements of their role (military meat-head and dandy) well but always there's enough there to support the idea that, despite their limitations - her lack of education and his lack of bravery and strength - they're not stupid. When depended on, they're both great at what they do. Even the brattier moments that I normally cringe at have me laughing instead, and I don't know if that's because of the role reversal or because the show consistently has them showing growth in both their personalities and the relationship - probably both. Either way, one of my favorite C Dramas. If I had to cite a flaw, it's not to do with the plot or acting but the sound quality. At many points, the background music is much, much louder than the dialogue, making it impossible to hear or just fluctuating so wildly that I had to toggle the volume up and down at various points. Doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the show, and I've rewatched this now many, many times.

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Beautifully written and acted drama

I love Cdramas and love the tropes and over-the-top plots, but sometimes it’s nice to come across something a little more steeped in realism, and this drama scratches that itch perfectly. Centered around a trio of friends all dealing with challenges in their professional and personal lives, the drama is entertaining without resorting to overt melodrama or descending into farce. Every challenge is easily one the audience can empathize with and, in some cases, has experienced. In particular, I really loved how they handled the issue of infidelity from the perspective of both sides and without excuses, vilifying one side, or shying away from saying the painful truth out loud. Same for the relationships in general. No one was painted a martyr or a saint. Not all breakups were because of ground shaking moments and not all reconciliations were due to one character simping their way back into good graces. Opportunities were found and lost and that loss regretted. A very human drama that touches on the complexities of life.

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Strategy? What strategy?

I started watching this drama because the trailer seemed intriguing. While not a huge fan of the “girl boss” trope, I do like a heroine with intelligence. Unfortunately, this is not the case as the bad writing basically has any gains the FL makes (other than snagging her concubine position) a result of things just being dropped in her lap. Her entire attitude is no different than any other submissive little court lady, despite what we are led to believe is the survival of the decimation of her clan and infiltration as a slave in order to save what remains of her people. It’s like the writers want to make her strong but don’t know how to escape from the more typically written female characters in this genre.

For example, after our FL becomes the emperor’s concubine, he visits her expecting to spend the night together. Her internal monologue states that this was the ultimate plan - to use her body and beauty to save her clan. Then she gets cold feet. Like what?!? Your family was almost wiped out, your country doesn’t exist anymore, your one surviving family member is waiting to be saved and you will risk dying to save them but not sex, even though (according to her) that was her whole plan to begin with? And no, I’m not some sort of perv - it just isn’t logical. The next second has her making some vague statement to get out of it and the emperor saying there are better ways to use her presence, and that’s all well and good but that should have been HER line. She should have said something like “yeah, I can sleep with you but so can a dozen other women here - wouldn’t I be of more worth by helping you with X, Y, Z…” Like look him in the eye when you say it too - show some determination instead of presenting as this delicate flower that constantly needs to be rescued. Because if I was that emperor, I’d have zero expectations that you could help me, especially as I’ve had to save you twice now in three episodes. Ugh! That would have made more sense. Nothing she does seems intentional or clever. It’s just happenstance, leaving her weak and just a placeholder for the strategy of more driven and intelligent characters. She’s not “sword,” as her character states in the trailer. She’s a ornamental goblet waiting to be filled by others.

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A confused drama

Yes, confused…not confusing. Because this drama acts like it doesn’t know what it wants to be: a comedy or a tragedy. I was so looking forward to this series based on the beautifully edited trailers that had me chuckling at the witty antics of the FL. I knew there would come a shift in tone as the more serious palace matters took precedent, but those usually come towards the end of these types of plots. What I didn’t expect was that this drama was shot in a way that even the scenes that previously had me laughing in the trailer fell with a thud in the actual drama. What was portrayed as cute pranks turned out to be acts of petty cruelty by a FL who isn’t nearly as intelligent as I had hoped for. I’ll give an example:

Minor spoiler here, though it happens in episode 3/4 so not a huge giveaway. Our FL is shocked the man she thought she trusted over everyone would be implicated as the one who poisoned her. We, as the audience, are just slightly surprised UNTIL the backstory is given that his entire family was slaughtered by FL’s father and this man was then made into a eunuch because the FL asked his life be saved and then she shows more “kindness” by offering for him to serve in her palace. Like what?!? And then when it’s revealed he hated her, she’s like “but I saved his life.” How stupid is this character? No, not stupidity - entitlement and completely out-of-touch with normies. This shows up in early episodes with some nasty bullying of the ML. At one point reminding him that he’s just a commoner and that, as a royal, she can take his life whenever she pleases and then this chick turns around and asks the other guy (also a commoner) if he will be her consort after he witnesses and hears her rant. Who would want to marry this and spend their lives catering to - from all he can see - a power tripping harpy?!? And she honestly thinks he’s going to say yes. ? How am I supposed to get on the side of this nasty, bratty character. At this point I’m hoping the ML escapes her claws. But no, he’s mind-bogglingly kind and loyal, which just makes her look even worse.

Who ruined this drama? I honestly put 30% of the blame on the script and the rest on this director. Everything from his direction of acting to the bad editing to the abysmal lack of proper BGM, essential in comedic films. Because the show can be funny. The trailers showed it can be amazing. But the way this director put everything together was just awful. Like imagine the plot of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days but shot with the tone and intensity of Schindler’s List. Ugh!

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Weak storyline and weak characters too

I couldn't get past 3 episodes of this drama and dropped it after much eye-rolling and frustration. The storyline wasn't the most exciting (either from a romantic or thrilling aspect), but what killed it for me were the characters that we were supposed to be invested in were just so weak. The FL was just spineless and let her cheating ex walk all over her. How many times is the audience expected to just be satisfied with increasing scumbag behavior from the ex and only get an open-mouthed look of shock from the FL and nothing but acquiescence and silence? Is it her life's mission to not stand up for herself and be treated as a doormat? From reading other reviews, it seems this doesn't change much throughout most of the drama so no. Just no.

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