Story of Kunning Palace (2023)

Disappointingly overrated

Ning an Ru Meng started off very well and somewhere around the 15th episode I was convinced this was one of the best historical dramas this year, It certainly had all the right elements: a potential redemption arc, political intrigue, interesting characters.

Let's start with the positives: I enjoyed many things on the show. The flashbacks to the previous "life" were very engaging and well tied to the present. I enjoyed many of the characters and their little arcs. Among them the characters with the most engaging character arcs were You Fangyin (whose arc kind of ended very early on) and the princess (a very good performance from Liu Xie Ning). The political drama was overall quite enjoyable till the second half of the show, although a lot of it wasn't particularly complex or unseen before.

Now the negatives:

The romance. Yes, the “romance”. Replace the handsome Zhang Linghe with a not-so-pleasant-faced actor and many of the things he did to Ning will appear creepy. Yes, very very creepy. A teacher who has power over her - who can kiss her forcibly and make her cry. And how many times did Xie Wei do this? Episode 32, episode 34, ep 36. This toxic love story is sold to audiences at fantastic paces. In episode 34 Ning tells XW that she does not love him, so what is his response? Basically it was something on the lines of- “the things you’ve done for me prove you love me” and then he drags her outside and forces her to plunge a knife into his stomach. Hmm. Ning has done a lot of good things for many people- does that mean that she loves them all?

Well, that brings me to the person she actually loved for most of the show - Zhang Zhe. She loved him so much that she died for him in the previous “life”, and she retained those feelings. It soon became obvious that the two of them loved each other. So, circumstances allowed his feelings for her to grow - he was certain she loved him too, and in this life there were no real barriers to them being together. In fact, as it is established later on, her father would have readily chosen Zhang Zhe as a son-in-law. Yet, the novelist/screenwriter decided to put an end to this love story in the most ridiculous way possible. No-one breaks up with the one they love when their beloved is suffering. Soon after his mother died, Ning decides to break up with him and she chooses to do it by pretending that she never loved him, wringing his heart dry. It was absolutely convenient for the story not to show Zhang Zhe much later either, and neither do we watch Ning weep over him.

What was the reason for that breakup? Truly insignificant. In order to prevent him from hurting further, she hurt him even more. It truly makes no sense. Are the novelist and screenwriters suggesting that good people don’t end well? Evidently, one need not look further than Zhang Zhe to find that.

In truth the purpose of cutting short this love story short is to allow the male lead and female lead to get together. By episode 34 however, she herself says that she doesn’t love Xie Wei. Of course, everyone is busy convincing her that she DOES love him. The music is suggesting that, and all of XW’s crazy, obsessive behaviour suddenly appear romantic.

Show don’t tell- evidently the screenwriter forgot that.

Xie Wei kisses Ning’s forehead after she is flogged by Xue Shu. As I said earlier- replace ZLH with someone ugly and this won’t fly that well. Her father happens to see this and confronts XW indirectly, but XW’s reaction is hardly apologetic. Instead it’s almost as though he owns her. Then when he goes “crazy” he kisses her forcibly. The background music really presents it as the most romantic scene ever.

This toxic “love” story is presented as the most beautiful one and that is truly a concern. The wrist-pulling, force-kissing abusive ML is presented as an ideal partner? Is it 2023?

I think had this story been placed in the back burner I would have been somewhat okay with it, but when the screenwriter decided that the ML and FL must be together the plot turned to ridiculous mush. All the palace politics that had held my attention earlier dissipated.

This show started off solid - it was interesting, and then it nosedived its way into a toxic “romance” with the historical bits taking . The performances have been good, and ZLH may have received his best role so far. I really enjoyed several characters and I wish the show makers had spent more time on those character arcs.

Overall I am so so disappointed. and I think 8 is already too high.
(My actual rating: 7.75)

Citeste mai mult

I've seen 250+ dramas, and this is the only drama I've ever given a 10.

I am a vampire freak, who loves romances when they are dark, slow-burn, supernatural, obsessive, angsty and passionate. I love stories with an ML who is red-flag, possessive, controlling, antihero, badass, or morally gray. I like stories about demons, devils, gumihos, legendary beings... you get the idea.

This drama isn't about vampires at all. But it's so close it might as well be. He looks, talks, acts, and thinks just like a vampire. All that's missing is the fangs and the superhuman abilities. And it's funny that a drama that is in no way about vampires, is the best vampire romance I've ever come across. It just satisfies my vamp-cravings so perfectly.

SoKP is deliciously slow burn. The best slow burn I know of besides Charlotte Bronte's 'Jane Eyre'. An unbelievable amount of patience is required to get to the payoff. But what a payoff. The fire that finally sets off is so hot that it permanently scarred my brain.

Aesthetics and color palate, styling and makeup and costumes... everyone in this drama was made to look incredible. Even the tertiary characters. I'm not saying everyone was stunningly model-hot. I'm saying they brought out each actor's best. This is true on an acting level as well. The directors and producers cared about each actor and actress, about their inner beauty and their natural talent shining through. The execution of this story was almost completely flawless. The casting was perfect in every way. Ling He is so excruciatingly gorgeous, and Bai Lu is beautiful beyond compare in her role here. Supporting cast was incredible and perfectly suited to their individual roles.

The political/intrigue part of the story was interesting, immersive, sufficiently complex to hold your attention, but not overly complex to make you feel muddled and mentally taxed as you watch.

I cannot recc this drama enough. HOWEVER. You will not like this drama if you fall into one of the following categories:

Looking for a green-flag ML---> this ML is morally gray, controlling, manipulative, forceful. There is some throat-grabbing and forced kisses as well.

Like to watch "boring stuff" on 2x and FFW'd during dramas regularly when your attention isn't engaged ---> this story requires your full attention, immersion, and patience in order to experience the full effect of the romance. It will not hold up to someone who is skipping or 2x-ing through parts, because you'll kill the pacing and atmosphere that needs to be established. You can skip some parts in episode 1 to get you going, but after that, I'd strongly advise against it.

This is a very special drama. You can never watch it for the first time twice. So, if you do decide to give this a chance, savor your first watch-through. Watch it on a dark, rainy weekend when you can binge it fully. with the lights out and some candles going or something, and let yourself get really into it. Happy viewing <3

Citeste mai mult

One of the Best Chinese Dramas 2023

I really like the drama. Really deserves to be one of my favorite dramas this year!

It's slow going at first, but I advise you to be patient and pay close attention to the storyline. The more you watch, the more addictive you will become.

Even though there are flaws in the editing, I like the action scenes in this drama. The prison scenes at episode 20 and at the Shangqing Temple just amazing.

The chemistry between Bai Lu and Zhang Linghe is also great. Their acting is perfect and makes this drama even more worth watching.

I also love all the OST. Just amazing
Solid 10/10

Citeste mai mult

Different cdrama with some great politics

Greetings!!
I am writing review for this because i think this drama shows different side of chinese dramas and not just the typical romantic story i mist say it started low but the value is certainly increased even if you are struggling in first few just go through it till 3 or 4 then you will understand the whole thing.
This drama has the cast like the perfection for their each role Zhang Ling He and Bai Lu play the character slightly different this time but also showing their talents and it just remind me of Xianxia "Till the End of the Moon" where Luo YunXi and Bai Lu slayed their role and so in this Zhang Ling He and Bai Lu also slayed together and also Bai Lu's on-going drama "only for love" is also the great hit in modern romance.

The story showing some interesting politics also and that's what i love to see the more you watch the more you want to see the head strong Jiang Xue Ning who can do anything to become an empress, manipulated many people, betrayed and control them then died by killing herself in regret to exchange life for someone else and whereas Xie Wei who killed entire palace help of Yan Lin who is betrayed by Jiang Xue Ning as his lover and Zheng Zhe almost played important role of Xue Ning's lover and he has his seperate charm also his character play is great anyways not spoiling the second part of story enough for catching your intrest maybe and the most important part that it is not like the other show "My Journey to you" that drama's script was not very liking to me but this is just amazing you are drawn to this drama.

The OST: I would say that i didn't get to know all of the songs but those i have listed it feels straight to heart you can definitely feel the music like every person says you should feel yes that feel! you know what I mean...

Overall this is a very good drama with amazing costume and scenes also contains comedy with some romance i enjoyed watching it and a little disclosure, THIS DRAMA WON THE “HALL OF HONOUR” AT IQIYI SCREAM NIGHT 2023
Thankyou ^^

Citeste mai mult

cringefest

The biggest problem I have with this drama is the script. There were so many instances where I had multiple question marks thinking how can this be allowed?? ML had so many cringey forced actions and IMO did not convey the complexity of the character well. There were a few cute moments between the leads but the rest of the time, it felt really awkward. Bailu did well but zhang ling he unfortunately fell just a bit short. I watched it at 2x speed and some parts were still so draggy and unnecessary. Halfway through I realised I was just speeding through it for the sake of finishing it, the storyline became so repetitive and boring after a while. The only saving grace of this drama is the music choice, even then I sincerely do not recommend this drama.

Citeste mai mult

Best Chinese Historical of 2023 and in recent years !!!

Let me preface this by saying that I dont like to reveal spoilers in my reviews so this will be spoiler-free. I would like to first applaud the writers, director, technical team, costume department....all the many people involved behind the scenes who worked so hard to make this drama a success. I love to see people hard work bts rewarded. Now on to the actors. Everyone did an amazing job here. ZhangLihe is a revelation. This is my 1st drama of his and I am now a fan. I loved his acting here and the nuances he gave in his performance. Quite honestly these types of MLs are really not my cup of tea in dramas but I really attribute the fact that I loved his character so much to him, the actor. I havent watched any Bailu dramas since Arsenal Military Academy and she did an amazing job here; I love the myriad of emotions she portrayed as well. The other second male leads and other actors did a great job. The way the comic timing seamlessly blend in a " dark, serious" drama like this is a testament to the actors and also the writing. I love the political intrigue, fight scenes, reverse harem , harem court drama....all of this contributed to make this drama such a good drama. I hope ZLH and Bailu work in another drama in the future because their chemistry in this one was outstanding. I also loved that it wasnt heavily romance focused; dont get me wrong, I love a good romance in a historical drama but I also appreciate the political intrigue. Give it a try, you will love it and I dont even like to follow trends or whatever but the hype that this drama is getting is very well deserved.

Citeste mai mult

A Story With a Male Lead Like No Other!

Story Of Kunning Palace has a well-laid-out plot that will make you sit through all the episodes without the urge to fast forward or skip scenes. The story unfolds with bits and pieces of the past that are told through flashbacks. The past heightens the intrigue as it is surrounded by a sense of darkness. The flashbacks serve the purpose to contrast with the FL's present events as it shows her what could happen in the present.

The characters of Story Of Kunning Palace are one of the major factors that make the drama fascinating because the characters are not your typical leads. Zhang Ling He as the male lead was outstanding as Xie Wei. There are scenes where he gets really angry such that there is a dark side of the character yet a times a rather endearing side especially when he shows jealousy when there is another love interest for the FL. Bai Lu again succeeds in forming a certain chemistry with her ML.
Her scenes with Zhang Ling He were well connected as they were matched in the dynamics of their performance.

Story Of Kunning Palace is an excellent choice if you are looking for a drama mixed with palace intrigue, revenge, and romance with the unique addition of flashbacks to a past life to add a quality of hindsight. The characters are well-written and interesting with a plot that keeps you going from one episode to the next. The romance is slow burn but when the leads finally come together, it is well worth the wait. And of course, Xie Wei as a ML like no other, is well worth the watch! And the kisses....more than worth the wait!

Citeste mai mult

The most satisfying ending EVER for a historical chinese drama!!!!!

I have watched a lot of historical chinese drama. Almost in all of them, they will closure the drama in like 1 min or so leaving us with so many questions. But ladies and gentleman, this drama has the perfect ending. We got all the characters ending and of course our Main Leads happy ending in DETAILS !!! *chef kiss* PERFECT ENDING. I give this drama a solid 9/10 i would have given it a 10/10 if only they gave us more details of the past life, like her affairs with the MLs, her emotions like why she was so pbssessed with having power and the empress position but most importantly i wanted to know badly the outcome of all the characters in the past life.

Citeste mai mult

After scheming her way to becoming Empress, Jiang Xuening is forced to take her own life after a coup staged by the equally scheming Xie Wei and her former childhood friend Yan Lin upends the state of Qian. She awakens to find herself back in time before she entered the palace and is determined to change her fate and the fate of others around her. Little does she know that the seemingly treacherous Xie Wei has a painful past and is much more than he seems.

While the setup is nothing new, the drama manages what I feel is a rarity these days in Chinese drama land - sustaining my rapt attention for the full 38 episodes. The script wisely stays focused on the story and characters - balancing the political storylines with the slow burn romance that is allowed to develop organically, without anyone acting out of character just to create a sense of forced drama or romance. The supporting characters are given time to develop as well and actually add to the overall story. They support our male and female lead in their journey of finding their true selves and each other.

What prevents me from giving this a 10 is the often heavy-handedness of the direction - blinding lighting, distracting camerawork and odd framing of shots give an overall unpolished look. There is a tendency to make things a bit over the top, but these are small quibbles and a matter of taste ultimately. The cast overall do a solid job - I am most impressed with Wang Xing Yue. Despite his young age, he is able to hold his own in a very stoic role.

This is a great one to binge and re-watch. It's not meant to be an artsy, profound expose on life, death, fate vs self determination, etc. It's just great fun to watch.

Citeste mai mult

Perfect drama with lots of interesting plots

BaiLu and zheng linghe both are good looking and great potential to play strong characters. I personally liked BaiLu because she is the one who described her role gracefully. Jiang xiuening who played by BaiLu had so many relationship issues which caused her hell. All of her characters justified very gradually and most importantly her co male artist all of them are so sweet and doing their job greatly. Zhang linghe and BaiLu both have great chemistry which can show off camera.. and yes of course BaiLu always had relationship with her co star so not like they are lovers etc.. I just find them looking great together

Citeste mai mult

If only the secondary characters had been allowed more room to bloom.

I almost dropped it at episode 32.
I really tried to like this drama but by episode 10+, I realised I was slowly starting to look forward to the secondary characters story and would have stayed if they have been given say...five minutes tops every episode from 10 upwards. And then when episode 32 happened, I just couldn't fake it anymore ?.
I couldn't pretend even for the dramatics of Dingfei and I really wanted to see more of the Jie-hui and Lu-Yin couple. Oh the story it could have been!
I was highly expectant of cast and story even after the basicality it decided to adhere to right after the sixth episode. That commonly plot vice of going back in time and wondering why the new timeline is not sticking to the script after hijacking it, then scrambling around trying to make it work and causing disastrous results. It ain't that drama for me, but you could enjoy it. Try it.

Citeste mai mult

"Story of Kunning Palace A Drama Worth Every Second!"

WHY TO WATCH THIS DRAMA?--If I can write this much , its definitely a worth watching , you can read my review but it has spoilers .
.I WANTED TO WRITE BEST REVIEW ON THIS DRAMA COZ I LIKED IT SO MUCH , HOPE YOU GUYS CAN HELP IN THIS MATTER????

Okay, let's spill some tea about "Story of Kunning Palace." This series? It's like an addictive drug; you start with one episode, and before you know it, you're in deep, binge-watching until the sun comes up, and you're still craving more. Seriously, this drama takes you on a wild ride—imagine a rollercoaster of emotions mixed with an entire squad of main characters whose acting skills are like top-notch gourmet meals. And yeah, even the side characters? They bring their A-game too.

So, there were rumors flying around about Bailu and Zhang Linghe dating, which, honestly, had us all hyped. But whether or not they're a thing, their on-screen vibes? Straight-up fire! The chemistry between them? Chef's kiss It's like they're meant to be together on that screen.
STORYLINE/PLOT
Now, let's talk about episode one. Hold up, it hits you like a plot tsunami! Jiang Xue Ning, our lead, starts off as this ambitious queen-to-be who's playing a crazy game, messing with friendships, family, and love just to snag that Empress throne. And then bam! She takes herself out at the end of the episode, leaving us hanging like, "Wait, what?!"
But plot twist alert! It turns out it's all part of this novel set in the modern world. So yeah, we're relieved 'cause we knew that couldn't be the end. Next, Xue Ning gets a redo, time-traveling back to square one in the capital. Classic, right? But here's the kicker: this girl is on a whole mission to right her past wrongs. And trust me, it's not your average rebirth drama. Xue Ning's out here, trying to fix things she messed up in her past life, making it a real tear-jerker.

That line, "BUT IN THE FATHOMABLE
THERE'S ALWAYS AN INVISIBLE HAND THAT PUTS EVERYTHING BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL PLACE", hits different, am I right?

Then there's Xie Wei, the ultimate complex dude. He's like a walking drama of his own—cunning, dangerous, manipulative. And guess what? Our girl Xue Ning is scared of him. Like, big time! The tension between them is thick enough to cut with a butter knife. We're talking fights, schemes, and zero trust. You're there thinking, "How on earth are these two gonna fall in love?"
==============CHEMISTRY BETWEEN XIE WEI AND JIANG XUENING==========================
The chemistry between Xie Wei and Jiang Xue Ning in "Story of Kunning Palace"? Girl, let me tell you, it's a rollercoaster ride wrapped in a tornado of emotions! These two? They're like magnets, constantly drawn together despite being on opposite sides of the game.
Picture this: they start off as these fierce rivals, scheming against each other with all the intensity of a high-stakes poker match. There's this tension crackling in the air between them, and it's so thick you could cut it with a knife. Xie Wei? He's the definition of complicated—cunning, dangerous, with layers so deep you'll need a shovel to uncover them all.
But here's where it gets wild. As the story unfolds, these two find themselves teaming up against the baddies. Yep, the classic "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" situation. And guess what? Sparks start flying! Their bond begins to grow stronger as they navigate the chaos together, fighting the same battles and facing the same dangers.
Now, here's the kicker: while us viewers are shipping them like FedEx, these two are clueless! I mean, seriously, they're both doing the whole "I'm-not-in-love-with-you" dance while we're all shouting at the screen, "Just kiss already!" It's like watching a romantic comedy where everyone can see the love story except the main characters.
Jiang Xue Ning's got legit reasons for keeping her guard up around Xie Wei. I mean, she's been through some rough stuff because of him in her past life. Imagine dying because of someone—yeah, that's bound to make you a little cautious, right? Her fear of him is understandable, but man, the tension between fear and some underlying feelings? It's a whole emotional rollercoaster.
So yeah, their chemistry? It's not just about stolen glances or sizzling tension. It's about growth, trust-building, and the slow burn of emotions simmering beneath the surface. These two might not realize it yet, but their love story? It's written in the stars, and we're just here waiting for that "aha!" moment when they finally figure it out.
In a nutshell, their love story isn't your typical fairytale. It's messy, it's complicated, and it's real. And watching these two navigate their feelings? It's like witnessing a fireworks show—you know it's going to explode, but you're eagerly waiting for that moment when everything just lights up.
Yeah, "Story of Kunning Palace" isn't just about palace politics and power plays. It's about a love story brewing amidst chaos, fear, and redemption, and let me tell you, it's one epic tale.

============CHEMISTRY BETWEEN YAN LIN AND JIANG XUENING=========

Jiang Xuening and Yan Lin? They've got that childhood buddies-turned-potential-sweethearts vibe. From day one, Yan Lin's been all heart eyes for her, but she's got him locked in the friend zone.
Remember that line? "I WILL MARRY THE ONE I SPOILED???"?
Smooth move, bro! Yan Lin's got some serious romantic game, but Jiang Xuening's just not catching those feels. I mean, in her past life, she kinda used him, and that's some baggage hard to shake.
Thing is, Yan Lin's journey from carefree dude to Mr. Responsible is legit. He's out there, fighting bad guys like he's in an action movie, all while looking dashing AF. But here's the twist—he's not just added for the fight scenes. He's got a whole character glow-up going on!Jiang Xuening? She's got his back, no doubt. Risking it all to protect him in this life, showing she's a real one. And boy, does he wait for her to finally get those heart eyes in return. But dang, that friend zone's like a fortress!
Their chemistry? It's like a slow-burning candle—steady, warm, but waiting for that spark. And Yan Lin? He's not just a pretty face; he's leveling up from brooding to bro who's got it together. But hey, Jiang Xuening? You gotta stop leaving him in the friend zone, girl! ??✨.
This drama breaks the mold, especially with its male lead, Xie Wei. He's not your typical sword-swinging hero—nah, he's all about the brains, zero brawn vibe. But that's what makes him real. He's a mastermind without a clue about wielding a sword, giving us a refreshingly imperfect yet realistic character. Big shoutout to Zhang Linghe for bringing Xie Wei's complex emotions to life. His acting? Next level! ??.
============CHEMISTRY BETWEEN ZHANG ZHE AND JIANG XUENING=========
Yo, the love rollercoaster in those 20 episodes? It was all about Zhang Zhe and Jiang Xuening heating things up, making Xie Wei low-key jelly(jealous). But hold up, it was a tricky web with Xuening scared of Xie Wei while catching feels for Zhang Zhe. It had us all like, "When's the romance gonna kick in?" Drama, tension, and romance—talk about a wild ride! ??.
[EVIL CHARACTERS]
Yo, peep this drama's villains—no shortage of 'em! "Story of Kunning Palace" ain't about just one baddie; it's a whole squad of chaos creators. Xue Shu takes the cake for being the queen of despicable, stirring up drama left and right, while her pops adds to the mess in the court. That Xue fam? Straight-up bad news.
[PRINCESS]
But hold up, we've got more! The princess? She's out here, protecting our girl Ning'er, and things get intense when she ties the knot in enemy territory. And let's talk Liu Xie Ning—first costume gig and she's slaying it! This role? Made for her. Bet she's gonna crush it in future dramas 'cause, let's be real, she's stunning.
[SUPPORT CHARACTERS]
And check this—after watching this show, you won't be forgetting the side characters' names anytime soon. Xue Ding Fei, You Fang Yin, Lu Xian, Shen Jie the Prince, even Dao Qin—they leave an impression. This drama ain't about just the main leads hogging the spotlight; these supporting players? They're stepping up, shining bright, and adding their own flavor to the mix. They're the unsung heroes making this drama one to remember. ??.
===================================NEGATIVE THING===========================
Okay, hear me out—this drama's got almost everything on point, except maybe a bit less of that sweet romance between the main leads. But hold up, that's just a minor setback in a sea of awesomeness. Trust me, every hour, every minute, every second you spend on this show is a vibe!
And here's the kicker: you can binge-watch this till sunrise, forget about those dark circles—they'll bounce back. But that curiosity this drama stirs up? That's gonna stick with you until you see it through to the end. So, dive in and don't sweat the tiny stuff, 'cause this ride's worth every second! ??✨

Citeste mai mult