This was the story Chiung Yao originally intended to write.

I think i dont need to say "Stop comparing" because of the other reviews. I'm surprised at myself for being able to reset myself immediately after finishing the original trilogy. Watching this show as an entirely new show is definitely the way to go.

My mom stopped me from watching this back in 2011 because she used the OG as a benchmark. But after 10 years, finally being able to find time to watch, I regret not watching this back when it was airing.

This whole package felt more complete, the transition from one part to another is very seamless. The previous trilogy felt like a botched mess when watching one part to another. Its like if Chiung Yao was given enough time and budget, she could have written this back in '98, and we might probably only see Vicki Zhao being the one and only Xiaoyanzi.

Story/Casting/Character portrayal:
The story is great, nothing less expected from Chiung Yao. I can still feel the emotional weight, and i cried at many different times, probably even more than the OG. The comedy is also still lighthearted as always. With 98 eps, I like how they expanded many arcs like Saiya, Hanxiang and Ziwei's entry to the palace, changed from Zhihua to Xinrong and removed some unnecessary arcs (mostly from part 3 of the OG). I also like the title of each part, very philosophical, especially the 3rd part. (Even tho I'm Chinese, translating those part titles can be sort of a challenge for me) I like the approach of Xiaoyanzi choosing to leave while Ziwei choosing to go back to the palace, it definitely made the scene harder to watch without pulling a couple of tissues. It also made Empress Dowager Chong Qing's repentance and acceptance to Ziwei and Xiaoyanzi even more impactful. This remake also fully and truly represents what is the "New Life in Dali" meant that Xiao Jian have been saying since the OG.

I have to say, Li Sheng is probably my new no.1 for Xiaoyanzi, Vicki close 2nd and Huang Yi 3rd. Her way of portraying Xiaoyanzi is fresh, bright and refreshing. Its like as if she created her very own version of Xiaoyanzi, she totally owns it now. Despite having the illiterate nature as a baseline, her character has more depth and more character development than previous versions combined. She also has the most tragic events happening to her as well in terms of romance. When she said "我投降了“ (I surrender) after Concubine Yu hung herself, I broke, I never expect Xiaoyanzi to say such a line with her optimistic and bright personality. It is ACTUALLY fun and also emotional to watch her mature and grow, from the slums to her new life in Dali. Her voice is actually great too. I kinda felt that Vicki's voice is a bit too sharp and rough after listening to Li Sheng. Huang Yi's dubbed ver was okay but never stuck to me. Originally, I was pretty turned off by Li Sheng, but because she moulded Xiaoyanzi so well, like the way she can convince people with her personality, I gradually opened up to her and I liked her more and more. Her version of "有一个姑娘" is also really nice to listen to on loop too. Chiung Yao picked the right girl again.

Ziwei was unpopular reading the feedback from Cnets, but I think its the writing that ruined her character, more on that later on. She also tried to make this Ziwei her own, but the writing keeps ruining her and she became the least developed character in the whole show. I would say she did a decent job on salvaging. She does lack the aura and poise that Ruby Lin possessed, but she makes up for it with her voice and acting. And damn she's pretty tall.

Yongqi was okay? Never really liked his character back in the OG, never really liked it here. But the writing makes up for it, he became the character who had to sacrifice the most for the love of his life. I still think he lacks character development but I guess Benjamin being his buddy was a way to provide some depth to his character. (More on Benji later) At first I feel that his chemistry with Xiaoyanzi isnt there, but they developed over time and they looked like a decent pairing now.

I did find Erkang unlikable at first, even thought that Lu Hong and Jia Hang should have swapped roles instead. But after Ertai left Qing for Mongolia, Erkang then finally started to show his charisma. I dont know its because Ertai's aura is no longer around to suppress him or just Erkang been pulling his punches. But anyway, I think he paired up with Hai Lu extremely well right off the bat, even better than Zhou Jie with Ruby back then.

One change I really really appreciate is the earlier integration and expanded roles of Qing'er and Xiao Jian. I always felt that Qing'er's arrangement felt like an afterthought during the OG and the romance of the both of them in the OG was too short and messy. It made their romance more bittersweet and more distant, while maintaining amazing chemistry at the same time. Apparently adding a Qing'er is enough to make the escape arc even more exciting and entertaining.

And also with Qing'er and Benji), they created a "十全十美家族“ (Perfect 10 Family), which I think was very critical to improve the bond between the characters, and also making the part where Qianlong Emperor convincing them to come back to Beijing even more heartwrenching.

Saiya here is definitely better, Ertai was hard to get used to because of his more serious tone compared to the OG. Hanxiang is also pretty legit and Mai Er Dan is also great. Xinrong was infuriating tho, she actually made me think Zhihua is more likable now. Ruby Lin cameo a nice touch. Qin Lan as well!

Okay, I did say no comparisons, but I am going to use some OG material to point out some flaws so bear with me on this one, no story is a perfect one.

I appreciate the depth that this story has gone, but with that comes with the consequences of having even more loose ends. What happened to the Empress Consort after being spared from the guillotine? Has she tried to make amends with Ziwei? What about Xinrong and Consort Yu after Yongqi's departure to Dali? (I have to say, Yongqi's face when he got the news that Xinrong gave birth to a prince is like as if he hit the jackpot, funny af) Benji???

I would really appreciate a 10 year later kinda ending (like Part 3 of the OG) as this ending with our main 2 characters kissing is a great scene, but I really cannot forget the scene of Benji leaving the duo at the back of my head, it gave me mixed feelings. Should I feel happy or sad???

Benji's character really felt extremely anti-climatic, and painful to watch (because I have been that guy before so its even more painful for me). I really wish Chiung Yao didnt add this character for fun. I also felt that the discrimination plot was a little bit unnecessary. (even though it would probably be true then during those times) Chiung Yao is probably leaning towards historical accuracy with this remake. He needs love, i would love for him to find his own happiness somewhere.

The torture scenes of Ziwei were a massive upsize from the OG, but i feel that sometimes they are trying a bit too hard to make Ziwei more pitiful. (and also surprised that she even survived LOL) I also dont like how Ziwei, despite being a part of the main cast, felt more of a sidekick/side character. E.g. When XYZ and ZW were on their way to the guillotine, Beijing residents only talks and reminisce about XYZ and not ZW??? While the OG having people praising both Princesses...? WHY??? And also her cue to being promoted to Princess Mingzhu is also TOO DAMN LATE. WHY DO IT AT THE END??? Its weird when the actual biological daughter has to sit behind an mistakenly adoptive one in terms of position FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE SHOW. This is why I said the writing ruined Ziwei massively and Hai Lu was slandered for that.

Music:
The mixture of the new and old was great. Took awhile to get used and get into the OP, but the EDs were great. Insert songs were the same but with new voices bring a new twist. The Power Station and Lee E-jun songs from the OG were CUED SUPER WELL AND I CRIED EVERYTIME THEY PLAY AHHHH.

Rewatch value:
There is rewatch value, but as a busy man, watching 98 eps again can be a chore... I would totally rewatch this together with the OG trilogy if I have 3 months of free time.

Recommend?
YES, and I think this has been said enough, PLEASE DONT COMPARE WITH THE OG (even though I broke this rule many times in this review, but hey I need references to prove my point). This is a remake, treat this show as a new story instead of a retelling, you will probably enjoy it a lot more than you expect.

i absolutely love this show, but the OG also have a special place in my heart, being a part of my childhood so I wont say which version is better for me.

I feel depressed from finishing this show, but at least i dun have to watch till 4am every night LOL

Now to find a way to convince my mom to watch it.

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This show actually made me very emotional... weird... MUST WATCH

This show is supposed to be light-hearted (according to Taiwanese Wiki anyway), but why is the tone soooooo dramatic after the 2nd half.

I loved everything about this drama, the setup, the progress, the journey.

The story was a bittersweet bait-and-switch. I initially thought that this show was simply about a divorce couple, the dude move on to another girl and the ex-wife fought him back or something simple... but no... I set the bar too damn low here.

The cast portrayal is pretty damn top-notch. I was not disappointed. The cast list may look stacked, but because of my initial expectations, I was expecting a little less. The breaking of the fourth wall at the end cracked me up.

Kimi's character really fits her, with her actual personality. She can perfectly portray a naive character so well, she doesnt look irritating at all. Her character development is even better, seeing her character develop really made my heart warm and fuzzy. Take note of her hair, it denotes her character development and personality changes.

Esther doesnt disappoint again. She gave me a solid impression of her being that independent, powerful woman, this is a first I seen her with those values and being a mother and a divorcee as well. She performs exceptionally well again. The premise of the divorce with Jie Kai is a little... weird, but its still a valuable setup to whatever coming at the 2nd half. But the story turned dark after her cancer diagnosis. What's even more painful is her stubborn personality and refused to rest while chemo. I was extremely frustrated and got emotional multiple times. When the couple kind of reconciled, I cherish every moment they are together with them. They are an extremely matching couple. Did I say that I cried multiple times? Oh yeah I did. I'm still in pain while writing this btw.

Jie Kai being that left right role really works for him, but I really preferred if he tried to chase back Esther. Feeling bad for Samuel Gu's role, dumped by Esther in youth, getting dumped by Kimi later in life, oh yeah his mother too, this dude can never catch a damn break. As for the other characters, they all fit their roles. They are not NPCs, they all add value to the drama and the main characters.

Music is very upbeat and I love it, but sometimes it doesnt fit the darker and heavier tone of the later parts, but its all right.

Rewatch value for me in this is EXTREMELY HIGH, if I had the time, I would have just rewatch it again right now, but I have other shows to watch. Will 100% rewatch this.

Recommend? Y E S.
I really love this show to bits and I was not expecting it to be like this at all. I would also highly recommend people to watch too. Its fun, its bitter, its sweet and its painful, every feeling is in one package.

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20% actual story, 80% filler arc

Whew this one was rough.

Story/Cast/Characters:
I was initially really intrigued with the setting and story, but I feel that the entire story was in like 6-7eps, and the rest is just afterthoughts with some cheap emotional weight at the end. I was initially thinking this is gonna be a 16ep long adventure to look for Cyndi's character, but the case was cracked so quickly and the story strayed from the original plot so bad all the way to the end.

The ending wasnt that great, with a lot of loose ends but at least its over. Ai Sen's love life is open-ended, i was hoping for Li Zi to come back at the end of pick him up.

Now about the characters.

The only lovable character in this show is Tony Sun's. The rest are very hard to get used to or even enjoy. The chemistry between Esther and Tony is still unmatched, they really mix well together no matter the setting.

Esther's vocal cords deserve a massive shoutout for the amount of screaming she makes and still did break her cords, still can even produce songs under Sweety. Her personality is pretty irritating, infuriating and not recommended to wear headphones when listening to her speak.

Cyndi's character left very little impression for me, and her story is really badly planned out. Her initial arc was really great at making her the focus, but after her arc, she is pretty much became 2nd class.

Wallace's character is probably the most annoyingly mysterious character. I really dont get the rationale of making him the antagonist and eventually a protag? Like c'mon... I was initially interested with his mysterious background, but eventually he really bore me out bad that i dont even wanna know anymore. I was hoping he would mix up or spice up the story for a bit, but nothing happened. AUGH.

And the game of chicken in the final eps, what was that??? And also the constant round of "Final battle" between Tony and Wallace... ARGH I REALLY CANT TAKE IT. I WANTED TO DROP IT SO BAD BUT I WANNA SEE THE ROMANCE BLOOM.

I should have dropped it sooner. Overall, it had potential, but the storyboard ended after the first half and everything else was just to make it to the episode count.

Music:
It slaps, probably one of the good parts of the show. I find myself dancing to some of the BGMs a lot. The placement and transition of music were pretty smooth too.

Rewatch value:
I am never gonna watch this again... even if I do, probably only the first half.

Recommend?:
Probably not. But i wont stop you if you wanna watch it.

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Dont Judge This Show By Its Cover

I didnt watch this back in 2005, because the plot looks wacky and non-serious... but I regret it now.

Story/Cast/Characters
Absolutely well-written. Fight scenes are actually decent, not the HK-type level, but its still pretty well-coordinated. Characters are a little over-the-top but that's okay, it actually made the show more watchable and fun. Story pacing is pretty decent. Character developments were well-arranged and executed.

Now to the characters...
I may be watching this for Esther, but I much prefer Joanne's character (Xiao Kui) the most, and also relate to the most. I cried to her scenes multiple times. Understanding her pain really killed me a little inside and had to take a break on multiple occasions. I was initially kinda annoyed by her lack of airtime during the first half as all the focus was on the love triangle between the 2 dudes and You Li. But the 2nd half made up for it with another love triangle, this time the focus on Xiao Kui (yay)

Feeling kinda bad for Zax's role as he was the literal punching bag for 75% of the show's airing. His character fit his rather wild, impulsive personality. But his character development throughout the series was very enjoyable, seeing his character grow is such a joy.

Tony Sun's role is probably my least favourite character, despite the character developments he had after losing all of his wealth, status and family. But his character being the most rational strikes a good balance between him and Ying Qi.

As for You Li, she's cute, but she has her own flaws. I didnt really like her character until ep 24 (the 45min/ep version), when she found out that her own father was a cause of this whole shithousery. Her burden as a indirect murderer's daughter really moved me. The scene where you apologising on behalf of her father destroyed entirely me inside.

I also want to give a shoutout to the senior actors and scriptwriters as well. they integrated the seniors so well, making them create an amazing history that cause repercussions to the present.

Maybe my underestimation of the show's value made me enjoy the show even more, but even with that, the story's quality is really top-notch, the plot twists and turns caused by the villians were really out of control and unpredictable. Its been awhile since I got this feeling from watching a drama. This show also balanced the combat and romance really well, nothing is overshadowing the other. Not entirely satisfied with the ending but its still a happy ending regardless.

Music:
Damn, those 5566 songs really slap even till this day. Loved the OP, loved the inserts, even the English covers. The BGM transitions are smooth, most of the time at least, but there are some patchy transitions.

Rewatch Value:
I dont have the drive to rewatch this, compared to Green Forest, My Home. But people who loved the articulating story and emotional ride that it had, will probably rewatch it. I might rewatch this in the future, probably in over a decade time???

Do I recommend? Yes definitely, especially judging from this page, it looks like no one has watched this show. Give this show a shot.

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I cried, for a guy who doesnt cry a lot.

I watched it back it was airing in 2005, but I was only 10 back then so I can only appreciate like 10-20% of the plot. Now, 2022, a lot more older than before, and finally finding the drive to watch drama series again, so i decided to revisit this one.

Story/Acting/Cast:
For 2005, when melodrama was at its prime, this show totally slapped. But for 2022, the story will definitely feel a little bland for most people, but not me. The magical feeling from 2005 still resonated to me, its like watching the show for the first time again (also probably because I forgot most of the story).

The romance is bittersweet, the plot is buttery smooth and cheesy, just as I liked it. The characters matched the actors/actresses. Esther's childlike, screamy nature (back in 2005) fitted Sophie, Leon Jay's mixed blood heritage and multilingualism fitted William (its like the script is tailor made for him.), Ethan's impulsiveness fitted Owen, I dont really know Ji Ai that well, but she played Susan pretty perfectly, playing the villain turned appreciative girl in the end.

I especially love Ji Ai's voice for her role, she reminds me of Amanda Chu in The Fierce Wife. Not annoying, pleasing to the eye yet still is main antagonist. Despite Susan's atrocious attitude, I dont feel as mad, but somehow I'm mad at Kim Taehee's character in Stairway to Heaven. I guess that's Ji Ai's specialty.

Ethan's character relates to me the most, and gets the most sympathy from me too. I would say my approach to romance is really similar to Owen, will pursue a girl I love, but if she love someone else, I wont stop her, in fact might even help her achieve her happiness instead. Can I also add that I love his hair a lot?

William isnt exactly a good main character for me. I guess they want to showcase William's mixed heritage so made his role multilingual, but a bit TOO multilingual. Its very hard for me to get used to him changing the channels mid convo. Its even more awks for me when he asked a question in English and then Sophie answered in Mandarin. This has got to be the most amount of English I have ever heard in a Taiwanese drama, like ever.

Esther did an amazing job portraying Sophie to her maximum potential. And also pulling off the 20s look when she's 17 (back in 2005) is also no simple feat. Maybe her chunky stature works? They even incorporated her chunkiness as a running gag is also a plus. Despite her screamy, aloof personality, her voice never made me shy away from her, but made me more attracted to her. I'm a guy who hate listening to high frequency tones/high pitch screaming from people, so this actually made me feel surprised. Maybe I'm biased to Esther? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The setting is great. I love the nature-oriented teaching style. Focus is so much on the Sophie-William-Owen trio that I feel that the school is a little sidelined. But romance funny so I can let that pass. Story pacing is slow, but its smooth, and every episode has its moments. I have a short attention span and this show managed to put me on my chair to finish the binge watch for 2 days, so that's something. Ep 11 probably my favourite, 2 stubborn lovers going against each other the cheesiest way possible, i laughed my ass off and awwed real loud when they finally kissed... Ahhh.

Now for some flaws, its extremely roundabout, but somehow when you find an exit of the roundabout, you will move into ANOTHER ONE. But the plot still moves on very smoothly despite it beating around multiple bushes. The romance is especially cheesy, I love this a lot, but most people i know dont, so I will put this as a flaw. The ending is a little rushed and i really dont like the fake suspense with the outcome of Sophie's illness. It just doesnt feel right, seeing William decided to open his presents at a yearly basis then seeing Sophie hanging herself by the stomach trying to put the star on the christmas tree at the end. And also, they could have squeezed a girl for Owen, it doesnt have to be Fiona, but any girl. Seeing him hanging around the couple as a 3rd wheel feels off putting for me. Make him move on, stop stagnating at the same girl like as if he waiting for them to divorce or something.

Music:
Definitely one of the best soundtracks I have heard in awhile. BGMs were nicely placed for 2005, but awkwardly played in 2022. Sweety's 爱神恶作剧 is definitely my favourite song of the list. The other insert songs were great too. William's singing was actually the biggest surprise for me.

Rewatch Value:
I definitely will rewatch again. But maybe after a few years when my memory of this show becomes fuzzy, do it as a refresher. Do I wanna rewatch now? Not really. I dont think i will get that same emotional weight I felt if I were to watch it again now.

Do I recommend? Yes, if you are into spinny, cheesy romance dramas, definitely give it a shot.

Update 1/9/2022: Just rewatched it again, my emotions overwhelmed a lot more than my first viewing. I absolutely love this show even more now. Updated my scores a little.

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