*****BIG SPOILERS***** that explain my points, so be warned


The story/plot of the show is ok. I feel like that they should have focus on other things more than the love story. Some of the other characters personally issues would have made the show a lot better if the extended it. Some of the parts were too slow, and others were too fast. I was so excited for this show but the ending for me was disappointing.

STORY:

Yes the story is mainly about the love ( Ashes of LOVE duh ), but I feel like the plot should have focused on Run Yu character more.
1. He was abused as a child.
2. Taken away from his mother
3. His stepmother is horrible to him and his father kinda of neglected him
4. His love is in love with his brother
5. Found his mother but neglected her
6. Mother basically died in front of him
7. He overcome his father and stepmother
and etc

Run Yu had the best character development I seen in the show. He was like a protagonist, but turned into an antagonist.

The title "Ashes of Love" is perfect for him.
1. he was engaged to a person he love
2. his love left him and all he had left was a broken heart

define Ash(es): "the powdery residue left after the burning of a substance." -google

His brother burned(took) Run Yu's love away and what was left was ashes (a broken heart). ( idk how to explain what I meant but I hope you somehow understand it ).

The show should have ended when Run Yu and JinMi got married. ep 45
I thought they were prefect for each other. Run Yu is dull in expression but felt love, and JinMi is dull on love but had lots of expressions. I was Team JinMi/Xu Feng but I changed to JinMi/Run Yu. No much chemistry between JinMi and Xu Feng anyway so who cares which one u ship.
I thought if the show ended there, it would been the prefect ending plot for an antagonist/bad guy.

The main characters, JinMi and Xu Feng, in my opinion the character development was poor, there were some development but nothing big for the main character. Someone can try to change my mind if you want, but I don't see much development.

I like ep 1-45, ep 46-59 was too slow, ep 60-63 when too fast.
(JUST MY THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS)

ACTING/CAST: the only reason I found this show out because of Deng Lun and Yukee Chen. Deng Lun was in Princess Agents, and Yukee Chen was in Princess WeiYoung.

I felt like Yang Zi's acting was lacking in the show. The way she carried out JinMi character was eh, JinMi did development but I don't know if it was the writer or Yang Zi's acting but the development of JinMi was so unrecognizable and plain. I'm only pointing out Yang Zi because her character is the focus of the show. But some of the other actors/actresses who kinda did a poor job too

MUSIC: I love some of the ost, most of it was not good tho.

REWATCH VALUE: I would never

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I’m a sucker when it come to dramas that have monarchs, crime, corruption, mystery, or love. This show had it all. I literally watched all 52 episodes with in 24hrs. A drama with a monarchy in modern society, I was hella excited.
Even though the acting was a bit over dramatic, it fit for a over dramatic plot!


STORY:

I loved the beginning, catching the audiences’ attention with a crime, corruption and set in some what modern times. It so excited that I had no sleep!

Showing how Empress Dowager is a tiger mom, watching the Emperor every single move. Already knowing how controlling and crazy Empress Dowager is, I was some what cheering for her. Hoping that one day she would come to love Sunny and stop her ways.

What was interesting was that instead of fight for his love for the female lead character, the male lead was fight for his love with the second lead. It was like a tasteful surprise spice for the beginning.

The pure hearted, naive Sunny fallen into the Imperial family hot mess.

I honestly didn’t see Hyuk and YuRa as an item from the beginning. I saw it as they were just using each other, which they were.

They show how strong willed Woobin is to get revenge since day 1, both when he’s fat or fit. He had the same mind set.

Sunny getting the shock of what is like to be a royal was amazing.

The crime with Woobin’s mom was amazing. It was well executed and with a character like YuRa, it shows how sneaky the characters is goin to be. YuRa’s quick thinking left me speechless. Some of the things she did, backfired even when it was suggested that she should carry out those plans.

Flashing back to Empress SoHyun shows how much when Hyuk love, it’s strong. Lines that Sunny said and it was like SoHyun, shows how Hyuk is trying to protect Sunny and don’t want the same fate as SoHyun for her.

I really wish that the love story between Sunny and Woobin development more. But I think Sunny was just to wrapped up with Hyuk!! And I honestly was hoping to see the love story of Sunny and Hyuk really bloom, but Sunny couldn’t forgive him for his terrible crime. How could she?

Grand Empress Dowager's death was a mess.

The end was a lil rush not gonna lie. They a wrote Woobin off, it was a mess!!! He could have a better written story ending for his character. The rush to show the corruption of the Family, was ok, but they could have made it last longer.


THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENTS!!!

Was a innocent naive girl turned to a badass. Sunny was it! I thought she would going to be annoying at first, but she blossom to a badass! From a carefree girl to someone who can piece puzzles together, standing up for herself and beliefs. she wasn’t willing to back down. When she face bad times, it made her stronger. Her have a charm to her character. She developed beautiful to a strong woman!

YuRa’s character was so interesting! A ruthless woman in the beginning, but turned out to be a lost soul. Precious things was taken from her, leading her to use her sexuality to get her way; using that to get back control and power through the most powerful person she can seduce.

Woobin is inspiring me to go to the gym more. He was so messy, but he soon became well disciplined. He’s way of approach to his enemy was gold. You know what they said, “keep your friends close, but keep yours enemies closer”. I wish he had more expression though.

Hyuk was such an evil psycho person. Created by his own mother. Even though Hyuk and Empress Donwager fought. They still protected each other. You can see his character development, trying so hard to become a better person for Sunny. His own mother mess up him so bad that it was hard for him to change till the very end. His character was so complex, I love it!


ACTING/CAST:

NaRa as Sunny was prefect! She have such a innocent looking face, and it helps playing for Sunny character. She was amazing when she have to show the character’s emotional pain.

Elliya is so good that she made me hated her so much in the beginning as YuRa. She made it seem like is the person that will be evil to the very end, and had no compassion.

JinHyuk made his character amazing. He did a good job at playing a cold hearted Woobin, but let the character soft and tender side shine through in areas.

SUNGROK WAS BEST SIT FOR THIS ROLE! He really sold the character to me. SungRok playing a psycho and mess up person is beyond prefect. He knows how and when to give a psycho expression. And when Hyuk was trying to change to a better person, SungRok really made me feel sorry for Hyuk. He sold Hyuk’s pain amazingly.


MUSIC:

I love the vibe of the music. It gives me a 2010s vibes, which a love!
My favorite song from the OST is “Low Voice” by Jimin Park


REWATCH VALUE:

Definitely would watch again!

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I watched so may times, and got so many others to watch this show.
Highly recommend!!!

STORY:

2 kingdoms hate each other, one got taking over, girl(XinEr) try to get revenge. Took the place of a minister bastard daughter(WeiYoung). Fell in love with enemy’s grandson(Jun).
Im about to call XinEr as WeiYoung now bc she took WeiYoung’s place.
The minister highest wife and kids(WeiYoung half siblings) try to make WeiYoung look guilt for everything and framing her which doesn’t work out. They are doing this because they want the daughter (ChangLe) to marry Jun, but Jun is in love with WeiYoung.
WeiYoung solve many of the enemy’s kingdom issues. And gain higher positions.
As more people see WeiYoung’s beauty and intelligent, more men started to like her, including BaYu, the enemy’s son.
WeiYoung and ChangRu(WeiYoung’s other half sister) were very close. When BaYu started to show interest in WeiYoung, ChangRu got jealous as she had a crush on him since both were kids.
BaYu like WeiYoung but also want her because some many people like and trust her, and marrying her will raise he’s likelihood to be emperor.
Many people died.
In the end, WeiYoung and Jun where together.
_____
WeiYoung is smart, strong, independent, and power women, that played a huge role.
ChangRu was annoying.

ACTING/CASTING:

It was smart that they casted Tiffany Tang and Luo Jin together as they have worked together in other dramas and they are a couple.

MUSIC:

All in my playlist so that tell you I like it.

REWATCH VALUE:

100% yes. I rewatch this drama every few months!

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I have watch this drama a few dozens time, so yeah!

High recommend!!!
I has always like to read/learn about Empress Wu and that’s y I started to watch this drama
I just want to say dramas in this genre, you have understand the social classes, and positions in the kingdom; also the time period.

STORY:

Based of the real Empress Wu, with some tea(drama) added in to many it more fun. Even tho in real life, her life have a lot of real drama. The drama have many accurate events that happened in Empress Wu(Wu Ze Tian) life.

Plot of the drama starts with Wu RuYi/Mei Niang(aka Empress Wu, she had many names) entering the palace and training to be one of the Emperor ShiMin’s many wives. ShiMan soon fell for RuYi as she look like and dance like the pass empress.
RuYi’s sister/ShiMin’s other wife, XianFei got jealous and growth hatred toward RuYi, still pretending to be her friend.
ShiMin die(old age) and XianFei out of the picture, RuYi said she is pregnant with ShiMin’s baby. (If u understand ancient Chinese social class/level it would be easier for u to understand this part of the story, both in real life and in the show).
But really, it was Emperor LiZhi, ShiMin’s youngest son, baby. RuYi’s baby died bc of LiZhi’s empress. Rumored had it that RuYi framed LiZhi’s empress to gain power. later RuYi and LiZhi had a son.
After LiZhi’s death, she was in power through her son because the son was still to young, so she “help” him. Later on RuYi overruled her son and became the 1st female Emperor in china. during her reign, China expanded. The spread of Buddhism, Taoism, education in china. She started a new dynasty.

The plot was cute with both the love between RuYi/ShiMin and RuYi/LiZhi. Yes the ages gap is like WTF, but please remember, this was at the time where age doesn’t matter as much in marriage.

ACTING/CASTING:

Amazing cast, no complaints.

MUSIC:

Im sad that the OST of this drama was so bad

REWATCH VALUE:

Yes I have watched many time, will I watch it again? Yessss

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Man I wish I posted my review for this right after I watched it.

I highly recommend this drama. It make you keep wanting more and more as you watch. The plots have some issues but I’ll explain more. The acting was amazing.

STORY:

YuanAn is a strong tomboy female who like to be independent. She is smart, young beautiful young lady.
In the first half of the story YuanAn have a crush on LanZhi. I was on that the team for YuanAn/LanZhi right away. Then MuLe came in the picture, but in the beginning they really made as if he was the second lead male actor, who will never be able to be with the lead female. YuanAn/LanZhi were like partners in crime and MuLe was their sidekick. YuanAn/LanZhi solve crime together and had many cute moments. MuLe on the other hand was a brokenhearted servant, as YuanAn only really saw MuLe as a servant and a friend.

When LanZhi got married to the annoying MingHui, YuanAn married MuLe as like a revenge in a way. The writer make it seem like it was a cute romantic thing, but it was only cute for MuLe, and YuanAn did it to make LanZhi jealous. Which is really mess up, but in these kind of dramas/shows the social view will always be mess up and messy.

Later on MuLe remember who he was and stole the beads. When he went back to his kingdom, he forgot everything in the other kingdom. YuanAn was ordered to go get the beads back. YuanAn and MuLe slowly fell for each other as YuanAn became MuLe’s servant. ( oh how the table have turned ) Team YuanAn/MuLe

Many people died in the end but that’s how most dramas in this genre end with, so I was use to the bittersweet ending.
_____
The show have some cheap love scenes but all shows have that and it’s cute.
YuanAn’s character was best in the beginning, but in the middle of the show, she was like an immature kid who threw fits when they didn’t get what they wanted. Later on her character recover and came back as a strong character but some way wiser.
LanZhi/MingHui’s relationship didn’t really make sense as they worked out their problems when the show wasn’t focus on having them in the eps.

ACTING/CASTING:

The acting in this show was amazing.
like Zheng YeCheng as MuLe was the best, as he play an amazing naive servant to a smart prince.

MUSIC:

I have the whole playlist in my phone and listen to it a lot

REWATCH VALUE:

I will watch it again

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I wanted to like this drama soooo bad but serious, it was a train wreak. I'm not going to continue wasting my time on this this show.


STORY:

The plots is mostly predictable. When it’s not predictable, it goes downhill.
I skipped so many parts of this show. it was unbearable to watch!
The beginning when Jing Chen and Yang Mi have something going on, I thought it was setting up for something good, but nope.
When Fu Yao was in disguise, they should have let the actresses who played the disguise take over until Fu Yao didn't need it anymore. The viewers just saw Fu Yao's face and not the disguise's face, it look the magic away from the show.

The chemistry between Fu Yao and Wu Ji is so plain af. Fu Yao don’t show any sign of falling in love with Wu Ji, but always have flashbacks to the “cute” times. Wu Ji have some signs of liking Fu Yao but he always end up using it Fu Yao. I can see Fu Yao and Wu Ji being friends, but definitely not a couple.
Lanzhu was cute and all, chasing after Bei Ye.
I thought Fu Yao could end up with Jing Chen or Bei Ye, not Wu Ji.
If they really wanted Fu Yao and Wu Ji to be together, they need a better plot line for the love story.
I don’t care if Love is not the main focus point of this drama, but if they gonna have a love story, ATLEAST MAKE IT GOOD!!!


ACTING/CAST:

This drama have so many good and famous actors/actresses and yet have a horrible storylineThis drama have so many good actors/actresses and yet have a horrible storyline!
A few cast the from "Eternal Love", while is one of the best drama. They have an actresses who had a small part in "Princess Wei Young".

The actress Yang Mi, was amazing in “Eternal Love” but this show is a no. Her body language & how the character acts is almost the same as “Eternal Love” but she’s trying so hard make it look different.
The actor Ethan, is decent in other dramas but this one is just a no. His expressions r over done, in his other dramas it fits the characters but it doesn’t fit Wu Ji.
Ethan's face expressions is just so bad, even in his other dramas.


MUSIC:

I like most of the music, and might add some of the songs in my playlist. I have some of the songs in my playlist already, no known that it was in this drama.


REWATCH VALUE:

Considering that I'm gonna stop watching this show at ep 30, I'm not going to rewatch this.
if someone can change my mind about the direction of the show, I may reconsider, but for now, I'm not finishing this show nor rewatching the parts I have watched.

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