Xi Qian Hua (2023)

It wasn’t what you expected and I’m sad for the romance

I really enjoyed watching this series and the first time I’m writing a review! I waited every day to see every episodes that comes!
I wanted her to make a corrections of the mistakes she did in the her past life so I believe for her reincarnation!
As her wishes, I wanted to keep her family alive too but unfortunately it’s all a dream ? and she’s been in a coma for over 2 years which made me disappointed ? from what the writer did ! She didn’t want to wake up from her happy dreams but when she finally accepted that the only one alive that really love her was Song Wie , she wakes up ! It’s not really romantic for me but I was hoping for a happy ending! I hope ? so ? if his mother will finally accept her ?

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A new outlook on villainess(es)

I was on a search for time traveling story plot right after watching A Time Called You with Ahn Hyo-seop and Jeon Yeo-been with a great twist compared to regular time-traveling dramas these days.

I watched two of Zhou Ye’s previous works and loved her sparkling eyes, her acting needs some improvements however. So
I ventured on another one with her acting as a main lead hoping this will be something that would make a mark. And it did. More than expected. The feeling of overachieved is so much better than a disappointment. FR!

I didn’t think I’d have liked it as much as I do, probably 2 eps and left. Well, I finished 11 eps in one night. Needless to say, though I could hardly stay awake the next day, I couldn’t wait for the night to come so I could continue with her time-traveling adventures.

The story isn’t new yet how the director’s and script writers’ new takes on villainess(es) was beautifully done. The viewers get to see the reason behind the villainess(es)’s action. They are not a bunch of bad eggs. Sometimes, circumstances and their over-achieved character aka passion for love drive them to a rather darker road especially, when there are no one who would wait for them in the other end. The villainess(es) can change once they realize the ugly truth thus, knowing they are loved, care for like every other person.
On the other hand, the so-call kind and smart protagonist such as Mu Yao, Zhong Ye Lan could be so annoyed and heartless when the camera rolls are on them. The situation makes us viewers feel sympathy towards them however; their stubbornness and silliness (with a weak nature) are part of many reason we feel frustrated towards their decisions and actions. How could you be so one dimensional and still be loved by many (male partners?!)

This storyline gives me hope in a smarter, calculated yet kind and strong characters. For those that not naturally evil, they simply are strong-willed and know what they want, and go get it. As human, we all make mistake. They can change the path if they are given a new start. Though not everyone is lucky enough to have that. The same goes with Hua Qian, she thought she was given a second chance to revert her action and be a better person, to fix almost everything.
*******Spoiler: however, it was only a dream. She still needed to wake up and deal with the consequences. She was lucky to have someone who cared and stood by her the entire time. Some were perhaps not that fortunate.

I wish there was a couple more ep to really define a happy ending and how she recovered from her mental breakdown, start over. But, I understand how the writers wanted to leave it at that for us to linger, to imagine and to wish her a new start with her man, who had loved her since the beginning of time.

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Segundas oportunidades

Sinceramente tengo tantas cosas que decir de este drama; que si intento expresalas todas, en lugar de uana reseña u opinión, terminaré escribiendo un libro completo, así que intentaré ser breve y no divagar tanto ?

En primer lugar tengo que aclarar que adore a la serie y a su protagonista, es una historia maravillosa, y también dolorosa, sin embargo, deja muchas enseñanzas que te pondrán a pensar porque incluso podrías compararla con situaciones que estes viviendo en tu vida cotidiana. Hua Qian es un personaje excelente, se notaba que la historia era suya, incluso aunque su interés amoroso era un gran hombre, siempre nos dejaron claro que la protagonista era ELLA y eso lo ame; me encanto ver su evolución a lo largo de la serie, como aprendio de sus errores e intento mejorar y ser una mejor persona a pesar de todas las adversidades que se le presentaron, y a pesar que no fueran "reales" su crecimiento personal si lo fue... Aunque siendo honesta, amaba sus dos facetas; la chica dulce, carismática, inocente y que siempre ayudaba a las personas que quería, y la mujer dura, despiadada y calculadora que no se dejaba de nadie; de verdad Hua Qian era un personaje muy complejo y con una personalidad arrolladora que siempde despertaba interés y empatia hacía ella, eras feliz cuando ella lo era y sufrias cuando ella lo hacía.

Sé que a muchas personas no les gusto el final porque decían que era triste y cruel, pero estoy en desacuerdo, aunque también sufrí muchísimo y llore un montón por mi niña preciosa; me parecio que dicho final fue bastante adecuado y realista; no tengo palabras para describirlo con exactitud, pero las palabras del Lord podrían ayudar a que se entienda mejor: "No se cambia el curso del tiempo. Cometiste un error, pero esta bien; también es normal arrepentirse. Si quieres empezar de nuevo, nunca es tarde...Sé que la realidad es muy dolorosa para ti, pero escapar no es la solución". Como bien lo dice él, somos humanos y muchas veces nos atamos a nuestros errores del pasado, pero aunque no podamos cambiarlos; podremos aprender de ellos y mejorar para tener un futuro mejor. Siempre habrá personas que intenten ponernos obstáculos y recordar todas nuestras equivocaciones; pero no debemos sucumbir ante ellos; si no esforzarnos para ser cada día mejores y así obtener una vida plena e incluso ayudar a otros a que lo logren también.

100% recomendada; van a reír, van a llorar, van a encantarse con algunos personajes y odiar a otros. La ambientación, los vestuarios, la banda sonora también son cosas preciosas que te ayudaran a disfrutar este drama, ¿Es que quien me puede negar que no se embeleso con esos openings y endings animados? Eran preciosos... Espero que muchas más personas se den la oportunidad de por si mismos adentrarse, conocer y enamorse de este bello drama, les aseguro que no se arrepentiran ???

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Worth watching!

No drag scenes. Sad/painful moments in the drama can make you cry too and heartbroken. Especially in her dreams,it felt so real. I just love that in her dream, she didn't become a damsel in distress though she dont know martial arts and no other important skills (like best in making poison ,medicine or business*she owns shops but not the one who actually manages it*). In other dramas,i hate it when FL was not given any skills coz they become damsel in distress. But not Qian. I never skip any scenes. The only thing that this drama can't be 10 (for me) is because i need more of it. Surely i am happy that Ziwu's smile at the end means he's happy Qian already woke up from her dreams and she called his name. I JUST WANTED A FEW MORE SCENES LIKE THEM BEING A HAPPY COUPLE.

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Dream to escape reality

Very interesting drama of redemption. Making up for mistakes you made. I have to watch Hua Qian's eloquent dialogues is what I like the most about. I really admire Zhou Ye's acting prowess. I saw her at Love Me Love My Voice, totally different kind of romance from this - the reason I watched Scent of Time. I wanted to see more of Zhou Ye.
After episode one I knew, I would want to continue watching more episodes. I thought I will see some kissing scenes but none. That did not stop me though. Even without it, I was very interested on what she will do and say next. All the supporting cast including the main leads acted very well. I really like the ending that's for sure unexpected, she created Rong Zhou in her dream because of the trauma she experienced in real life. He symbolized her safety someone she can rely on for help, protector savior, worth living for. Rong Zhou played a very important part in making her wake up from her dream and return to Xi Wu whom she really had feelings for.

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IAM BEING CHEATED BY WISHFULNESS

When I got to the end of series, I felt like I am being cheated by Hua Qian. At first I thought 'Scent of Time' is another drama version 'Story of Kunning Palace', a story of reborn woman whose redeeming her mistakes to her new life but there's a twist that makes it different from other. The tragic love between 4 individuals Zhong Xi Wei, Hua Qian, Zhong Ye Lan & Mu Yao. Beginning episode Hua Qian was being hunted by soldiers and witnessing the dead of her mother and brother. She's collapse and wake up in different reality on the time marrying Zhong Ye Lan, the man she's fallen in love with since childhood. Hua Qian realize then that she's reborn and determine to redeem her mistakes from previous life so instead of being a jealous and hateful wife, she tries to reconnect her husband Zhong Ye Lan to his childhood love Mu Yao, she approves her to be concubine and demand divorce for herself. Hua Qian comes clean for all the wrong doing and determine to be a nice person to people around her. While Zhong Xi Wei is still in love even after her marriage to his brother, as the head of Zhong family he happily agrees to give divorce degree so he can pursue her as a single woman. As taboo as it sounds, a divorcee woman can't remarry the brother of ex-husband. He pursue her tirelessly...convince her that he'd be there if she would just trust him. Besides all the disputes between Hua & Mu family, fragrant big family business, death of love ones, hatred and misunderstanding, also appearance of faithful lowly guard Hua Rong Zhao (Zhang Yi Jie) as her sole console and protector in her position.

Hua Qian's desperation is the fruit of hope to start her miserable life all over again, admitting mistakes as a new person . Curiously this drama should be ended in ep 26 but no...continue to more lighter version to finally grand finale. I like Zhong Xi Wei (Wang Xing Yue) here although Xing Yue has been taking similar character in his other dramas (Zhang Zhe in Story of Kunning Palace & Liu Zixing in One and Only) the guy with irreconcilable love, in this drama though he's more stellar to fight for the woman he loves. Wu Shuo Mo (Li Yun Rui) is outstanding, better than his role the Last Immortal, he can take role both coarse or dignify (in LLtG) character as his next project. Hua Qian (Zhao Ye) though isn't too convincing in few of scenes (drunk scenes and traumatic life experience scene on last episode) her dimple is so pretty when she smiles. Sadly, none of them smile. I find this despondent love story is beautiful...we implore emotion in love, regret, hope, struggle, trust just to be forgiven.

What I like about this drama?
* Beautiful costumes in my favorite dynasty with little hair ornaments and bare make up
* All actors are collaborating nicely, great supporting actors, love the OST
* Unusual plots and twist in very creative story telling
* It's a beautiful tragic love stories with happy ending

Last episode Hua Qian says sober farewell to Hua Rong Zhao as she go back to consciousness after 26 months coma where she's been recreating her imaginative longing different life as the real life struck in bitter facts that she has to deal with. All 29 episodes are wishful aspiration from a woman who realize many flaws and errors she committed but there is a man who won't give up on her and love her no matter what. Whispering calling his name soft 'Zhong Xi Wei'.......he's so happy. That's love.

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Scent of Time - a truly apt title

Little hints are dropped throughout the drama and I am so happy to be surprised with the twist during the final episodes. Heartbreaking as it was, it felt so much more real in many senses and so very well grounded when compared to Story of Kunning Palace.

While this drama and SOKP both have a do-over storyline, I was more touched with this storyline and how it was told. Not overly dramatic and more relatable showing the FL as a real person - hair completely down and no make up when sleeping - something SOKP wasn’t good at as they seemed overly focused on giving us a FL and ML to drool over all the time.

The romance between the FL and the various men were very well portrayed and provided just enough angst to keep me watching to find out how the events would unfold.

Some minor things left hanging and I would have liked a longer happy ending but overall, I am surprised by how much more I liked this compared to SOKP. Once the twist is revealed, it’s best not to think too much as certain events doesn’t bear close scrutiny. Bittersweet ending…

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Refreshing and Unpredictable Chinese Drama Experience

I recently had the pleasure of watching this drama which has truly left a lasting impression on me. Unlike many others I've seen, this particular drama managed to captivate my attention from start to finish, offering a refreshing departure from the typical clichés and predictable storylines often found in the genre.

One of the standout aspects of this drama was the exceptional acting. The performances were top-notch, devoid of the exaggerated expressions and over-the-top bloodshed that sometimes plague Chinese dramas. Instead, the actors skillfully portrayed their characters with depth and nuance, drawing me into their world and making it easy to emotionally invest in their journeys.

What truly sets this drama apart is its ability to keep me guessing. Throughout the series, I found myself pleasantly surprised at every turn, unable to predict the outcome. This rarity in Chinese dramas allowed me to experience a sense of loss and emotional attachment that lingered long after completing the series.

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A thoughtfully crafted historical drama

Pros:
- You can tell the production team really put a lot of thought into making this drama. It's unlike other historical dramas; the concept feels fresh. The whole "travel back in time" thing makes more sense as the story progresses.
- They reveal the truth gradually, making everything click perfectly by the end.
- The characters are well-developed, especially the female lead. She's morally gray, which is understandable given her backstory. It makes the story feel more realistic. The chemistry between the characters is amazing. The emotions portrayed by the leads are palpable.
- I enjoyed it. Some might find it slow, but it's all about the build-up, and it pays off.

Cons:
- I don't know much about royal rules, but it seems off that private matters always need to be reported to higher authorities.
- Qian keeps talking about her "rebirth" and past life, but no one really reacts or questions her, except her maid. It's bizarre how this becomes normal, and no one questions a noble lady rambling in public.

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a powerful journey for redemption

I started this show on a complete whim not knowing anything about it but it ended up taking my breath away. I could not stop watching it and ended up binging it for two days with very little sleep. But each episode left me wanting to see what happened next and on more than one occasion it left me in a puddle of my own tears. Such a well thought out drama about transmigration/ going back in time. Every character worked in this drama since they are all developed and multifaceted. Their motives and moves all make sense as the plot plunges forward. The pacing kept me from being able to turn it off with never a dull moment.

The two leads did a fantastic job and I could feel the chemistry between them. What really sent these two over the top is their emotive acting in their eyes. The story is by far more about redemption for the main character and the love line takes a side seat as you watch Hua Qian make different choices to change her fate. You see her become a kind and generous woman while remaining strong and stubborn.

The only thing that takes points away from this drama for me is the slower pacing in the last few episodes and the ending. It makes sense and worked in teaching a lesson to the viewer but also in a way it feels like it invalidates your emotions as the viewer having watched and been emotionally involved in storyline. It also fails to give enough explainations to satisy all of the 'whys' I have about it so the ending is not ver satisfactory. I almost feel like it would have ended better at episode 26. Still I will probably talk about this drama for a while for its mere impact it had on me emotionally. I love any drama that can bring out enough emotion in me to make me actually cry. Very well shot, produced, and acted. Two thumbs up. Just start watching it and I promise you wont be able to stop.

One note is on Mu Yua. I do not know if it was the actress or the way the character was written but she was the weakest performance. I never once understood how she could have been so well liked in the previous life nor did I feel any chemistry between her and YeLan. The story tells you that they love each other but is very weak in the reasonings and the lack of chemistry makes it hard to believe so I had a very hard time understanding why in the end her chose her and not Hua Qian.

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