[Drama Review] The Story of Yanxi Palace: Episodes 1 - 28 Review/Thoughts
August 20, 2018
Status: Currently up to Episode 55, could easily end up as my favorite drama of 2018, quite interested in getting this subbed!
My Thoughts:
Well, I've joined the craze and sat through 28 episodes of this drama without fast forwarding a single scene. Many doubted this drama since it is a production of the notorious producer Yu Zheng, who has been accused of numerous counts of plagiarism. He also tends to release dramas that attempt to ride on the wave of an upcoming drama, e.g. Startling With Each Step vs. Palace, Legend of Zhen Huan vs. Palace II. This time, it seems like this drama is vaguely similar to the anticipated Ruyi's Royal Love In The Palace, which has a star-studded cast. I do have to give it to him: his dramas are quite entertaining because they can become illogical. That is what makes it entertaining; you can't really guess the plot because anything can happen.
But I have to say, The Story of Yanxi Palace is heading towards the right direction. The scriptwriting is not perfect, neither is the cast but sometimes things just work at the right time. What exactly made this a binge-worthy drama? It is during a time when we, the viewers, don't often see such a cunning and non-Mary Sue female lead. I mean the other shows do have cunning female leads but what makes them unrealistic is always their ability to forgive in the end. I enjoy watching how the female lead Wei Ying Luo, played by Wu Jing Yan, stays consistent throughout and had one goal in mind: to seek justice for her closest kin, her older sister. After that gets resolved, she moves on to avenging the death of another sisterly figure.
Another reason I like this drama is the emperor's character. Unlike Legend of Zhen Huan, where the emperor is portrayed as an untrusting old creep who in the end deserves to be poisoned by his concubines to death, the emperor here is much more intelligent in handling his harem. Many have criticized the portrayal of Emperor Yongzheng in Legend of Zhen Huan since Yongzheng was a prominent, well-respected figure in Chinese history. Therefore, I am content to see the writers didn't write Emperor Qianlong's character similar to Yongzheng's character in TLZH.
However, I am also excited to watch Ruyi's Royal Love In The Palace since it spins a different tale about the second empress during Qianlong's reign. It would be interesting to see what the storyline will offer especially to an audience that has already been exposed to this period in history and when the female lead in Ruyi is the biggest villain in Yanxi.
68 episodes are out now, with 10 being leaked out. Some speculate that it is of the producer's doing since some are saying that he had done something like this before. I am not too concerned since I don't really have time to binge watch the rest this week so going to keep to my original schedule.
Cast:
Wu Jinyan as Wei Ying Luo
The first time I've seen this actress was in the drama Beauty at Crossfires with Shu Chang and Sammul Chan. She played a pair of twins but it was her role as the despicable twin that made her memorable. She is not the most beautiful actress out there but I think she did an amazing job as Wei Ying Luo as a newbie actress.
Nie Yuan as Emperor Qianlong
A seasoned actor with masculine looks, a main reason why many viewers enjoy the scenes between Wei Ying Luo and the emperor. I remember reading a comment mentioning how if Chen Jian Bin who played Yongzheng in Zhen Huan played Qianlong, she would have cared less about the interactions. Anyways, wanted to catch an old drama with him and his old flame in it a few months back, maybe I'll get to it after this?
Qin Lan as Empress Fucha Rong Yin
I usually hate goodie-two-shoes character but this one simply worked --- might be because this character wasn't the main lead. Anyways, the way Qin Lan portrayed Empress Fu Cha, her tone and air perfectly persuaded me that she was a gentle and loving woman. We do see that she is not perfect in her incompetency as the empress, which we see in her scenes with Qianlong. She explains to Qianlong how Wei Ying Luo represents someone she wanted to be but had lost her identity after becoming the empress. I personally think she is the prettiest in this drama, her eyes are very beautiful.
Charmaine Sheh as Empress Ulanara
Never liked or disliked Charmaine. Surprisingly, she is doing quite well in here; her expressions are on point and I think her brows play a huge role. I loved the confrontation scene between her and Concubine Chun that I rewatched it two times. Her character is multifaceted and invites sympathy from audience because of tragedy she has to endure. She is able to keep her own hands clean by psychologically manipulating other consorts in the harem and borrowing their hands to eliminate her rivals.
Qu Kai as Fucha Fu Heng
Another newbie, quite a good-looking one too. He has the height, the looks, but acting can be lacking sometimes especially his supposedly stoic expressions. He could improve in this area but as a newbie, not bad; he is lucky that he has the looks.
Jenny Zhang as Shun Pin
Seen her in other Yu Zheng's dramas, funny thing is, I think she is considered a guest star here. Her role is probably introduced to add on to the drama but can't say much because where I've watched up to, she hasn't appear yet.
Tan Zhuo as Concubine Gao Ning Xin
Her character is very interesting. I wished they would have introduced more about her background earlier in the story so that I can pity her more. She is villainous but her love for the Emperor can never be doubted mainly in the scene where she danced for the Emperor one last time after being injured by the sparks. I think the actress was too exaggerative in certain scenes but it adds on to the overall catfight/dramatic effect.
Wang Nuan Ke as Imperial Concubine Chun/Su Jing Hao
I think she was also in Ruby Lin's Singing All Along as the evil empress. Her dubbed voice in that drama was excruciating painful to bear so you don't know how glad I am that the actress' voice was kept. I was wondering throughout the beginning about her purpose for avoiding the Emperor's favor and once it became obvious, it was also obvious that she will become a villain in the drama. I do like her forced smirks when others step over her or steal her spotlight.
Hong Shao as Aisin Gioro Hong Zhou
Mainly played a role in the mystery behind the death of Wei Ying Luo' sister. He has since become a secret admirer of the Empress Ulanara, waiting to see what other havocs he will wreak.
Su Qing as Sitara Er Qing
Another good character turned evil but her villainous expressions are intimidating. She can easily go from a nice and sweet expression to a ruthless one in seconds. She is an underrated actress, I hope to see her lead a drama in the future.
Lawrence Wang as Dolar Hailan Cha
A character you will like --- he will most likely become the Emperor's closest confidant at this rate. Where I've watched up to, the Emperor seeks him out for all sorts of advice lol.
Jiang Xinxin as Ming Yu
At first a obnoxious character but I realized she in comparison to Er Qing, she is just simply immature. She doesn't have ill intentions (at least no intention to kill) towards anyone but she is rather straightforward so she can easily offend others. I heard she will have a sad ending and I am ready for it. Somehow, the maid or the best friend of the main lead usually dies. Is this some form of a plot device?
The opening theme, part with the humming, is addicting. I just found out a few days ago that there are actually lyrics for this besides the Chinese opera monologue.
The ending theme songs have changed three times. It seems like each song represents a different phase of the storyline. Only one I liked so far is the second one, which has two versions, one sung by Qin Lan (who played Empress Fucha).
7 comments
An irony is that Story of Yanxi Palace maybe better than Ruyi, the sequel to Empresses. The problem with the sequel, which I am noticing and some fans of the older series, it is too bleak too quick and ultimately the villain wins everything just so history is accurate. Wei Yingluo character in this series is flawed to her historical counterpart, but Ruyi depiction of her historical counterpart is simply cold and calculating.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Qing Dynasty history, Consort ling was a good royal consort to Qianlong Emperor and she had his heir to the throne, Daqing, who was in turn a decent Emperor and worked diligently to keep Opium and other issues from destroying the Qing Dynasty. There's no indication in history of her being wicked or that Step Empresses was "good"/"innocent" as Ruyi portrays.
A problem I think Ruyi version of characters come to play is based on historical bias. Modern historians, in the west especially, hold her son Daqing Emperor in low regard and denounce him as one of the failed Emperors for not doing enough to lessen civil strife or improve military, however in reality, he did his best in short reign to keep his nation secure, punished corrupt officials of noble Manchu ranks, and curb opium trading. Still, many western histories hold a strong bias against him.
The bias is likely due to persecution of Christians during his reign, the fear of the spread of the religion led him to sell Christians and missionaries into slavery and create Civil Codes that outlawed the religion.
That's very interesting to learn about especially the persecution of Christians during his reign. There was a drama recently produced by TVB called Succession War and it revolves around the conflict between Jiaqing Emperor and corrupted official He Shen. That drama highlights exactly what Jiaqing was able to accomplish during his reign. However, it has become too late since his father Qianlong was too relaxed during his reign, which indirectly led to the start of Qing downfall.
DeleteI've read through numerous comments and some enjoy how Ruyi spins a new tale that provides a perspective different from the recorded history because sometimes history is written by the victors. However, with countless evidence present, it's difficult to envision Empress Fucha as a vicious woman and Consort Ling as a scheming villain.
Besides the plot, I also enjoy watching the aesthetics in this drama, really pleasing to the eyes.
pls continue to post your review from ep.58 onwards pls thank you
ReplyDeleteHi! I've already posted a somewhat final review of this drama. Here is the link in case you've missed it: https://jasminechaitea.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-story-of-yanxi-palace-return-of.html
DeleteI've also included the link above that post, might make that new post the featured post since it's easy to miss.
I would like this kind blogger or any1 please answer me 1 question.. I watched this yanxi palace drama quite late (+ v +) compares to others, so some stuff i quite blurr..
ReplyDeleteI want to ask, in the last ep70, after HongLi left WYL room and she fainted, she like daydream and see *a guy in blue clothes walking away front her*.. And then when wakes, zhen zhu said that she finally cured by the antidote gived by Hai Lan Cha,,
From ur opinion.. I rly want to know
*Who's that guy? And what happen to Yong Qi, is he survive and cured dame as WYL ?
kindly hoped someone explained to me
The guy is Fu Heng and I believe it's kind of in a way his spirit saying a final goodbye to her since he indirectly died by finding her cure. It foreshadows the next confrontation scene between Wei Ying Luo and Hai Lan Cha. As for Yong Qi, I believed he survived since his death wasn't mentioned. I guess the scriptwriter wanted to end on a happy note so they didn't address Yong Qi's death, which supposedly happens the same year Empress Ulanara passed away. I don't think Empress Ulanara passed away yet so from that fact, I surmised Yong Qi survived.
DeleteGreat readingg your blog
ReplyDelete