Story of Yanxi Palace - 1/2 Way Review

Only those who have gone through similar experiences as what the empress had gone through would understand what she meant by "she's my hope". Ying Luo represented the freedom that she never had. Ever since she married the emperor, she lost herself. She lost her rights to express herself freely and doing what she wants because her status expects her to behave in a certain way contrary to her true self. She had been never been able to be herself at all. This is why she became so attached to Ying Luo, it's because Ying Luo is living the life the empress craved and wanted to have. She didn't choose to marry the emperor. She only did so to protect and secure her family's footing in the palace. She protects Ying Luo so that Ying Luo can carry on her desires and will for freedom (might not make sense to some of you but I hope you get what I'm trying to say). Ying Luo is the embodiment of the empress will for freedom. This is why she needs to protect Ying Luo because she is protecting her desires for freedom. This really revealed alot about the empress. She is inadvertently a victim of circumstances. Her life is a tragedy.

I don’t know about you, but I finished the entire 70 episodes in one week, that’s literally watching 10 eps a day. I’ll say it’s even better than legend of fuyao and the twist and turns of the storyline is extremely interesting, no draggy episodes at all. The “games” that’s played among concubines and the latter empress and the main actress, it’s the best I’ve seen among all the palace types of Chinese dramas. The few main female leads are amazing in this drama. So again, I have to disagree with you on your opinion about this drama.

I am so surprised how anyone can not understand what the empress means by “she is my hope”. The empress herself explains her quote, which is totally realistic. I can definitely relate to what feels and why she protects wei yinglou

The Emperor already explained why he couldn't cry for Yongcong: An Emperor must cry in three situations: When a parent has died, when a tragedy has befallen the Empire, or for some other reason (not for the death of other family members, I know that for sure). When the Empress was unconscious and he was talking to her beside her bed, he said in a depressed exasperated laugh that he could "favor his consorts, but not love them". Its not bad acting, its etiquette. That one mistake in episode 10 is probably like one of the only mistakes in the entire 70 episode show.

This was my first ever C drama and it will always hold a special place in my heart, no matter how many cdramas I've watched/yet to. It's extremely beautiful and emotional.

I thought this drama was excellent and very addictive!

Just visually, I love the vintage look. It is more in keeping with the ancient era that it is set in, thus it doesn’t look like a film set. I also love the well-designed elaborate costumes. It shows their attention to detail and commitment to produce a real visual treat to audiences.

I've heard alot about how the heroine act carelessly when she was a maid. Damn, she could've been beheaded right away if Hua Fei was there...

Why is that weird? Nobody was allowed to live as themselves inside of the palace, especially the queen. She said it herself, she was first a queen, then a woman. That's why she wanted to protect yinluo, like how much she hoped for a person to protect her back in the days too. The only choice that the queen has made that was from her own person and not as a queen, was jumping of that roof. But even after that, she still cared for yinluo.

My main issue with this drama is that it often gets soapy in a way that undercuts a lot of the genuine intrigue and emotional moments they set up. They just keep adding ridiculous layers that they really don't need to add to make the lead look clever and brave. I wish they would have taken it down a notch or two.

I can't agree with you for most of the things you said, especially the empress part. For me it was totally acceptable that the empress wanted to put hope on Ying luo. It is like parents wanted their child achieve their dreams on their behalf. But I do agree with one thing, Nie Yuan is a great actor. I hope I know him earlier and enjoy his much earlier works.

I'm a little late to this drama, but I am one that hates any harem plot lines. But I was bored one night and gave this one a try because Xu Kai was in it. And I was hooked! The female lead was refreshing to watch, she didn't sit and stay still for no reason. She fought back with words and hands, she believed if someone wronged her or her loved one, THEY HAD TO PAY FOR IT! And when she does sit still and let other people hurt her, that means she's letting them do it on purpose so they can fall into her trap. She's seriously a hunter in this drama, no one else hunted her. Lots of twists and turns, and I like how likable she became when she was with her first love. Damn, I need Xu Kai in my life to protect me. All the women in the drama, I didn't hate them at all... all of them were just trying to survive and be in the Emperor's eyes. The first character that I thought I would hate was Noble Consort Gao, but that soon changed when we got to know her story and how her life ended. And she was such a drama queen and just pure entertainment. The first empress was depicted as a goddess, she was too kind and I wondered how she made it that far? But she was so loveable from the first scene. I know that the female lead eventually has to become the emperor's woman, but her true love for me will always be Fuca Fuheng. This is totally worth your time if you like twists and turns with a female lead that has a brain and the guts to carry out her revenge. I like how eventually she does get her sister the justice she deserves. Also, towards the end, before the cease-fire deal between the female lead and the empress... they both agreed to never hurt the children. I love that they both kept to that promise.

I love how this drama shows that there aren’t actually good or bad guys there’s just the past that you can choose to forget or continue to think about until you eventually become a “bad guy”.

As much as I agree Mary sue, I just can't stop watching her antics; it's like what she gonna pull next..

Thanks for your review of this drama. I disagree with you on the part where the Empress said, Yingluo is her hope. In my perspective, it means that she envies the way Yingluo lives because Yingluo can express herself much unlike the Empress she needs to be a motherly model to the Harem and the Great Empire. She must not show any signs of weakness or flaws that may call her attention. Sometimes no matter how supreme or high you rank in the society, it doesn't mean that you're happy and fulfilled. In the Story of Yanxi Palace, the Empress didn't live a life for freedom, instead, she became a slave of the imperial system. I've watched all episodes on Tubi TV. I can relate to the story because it somehow is relatable to what's happening in reality. Thanks for the review!

Oh my god that scene you talked about of him wiping his one tear away me too!! When I watched it I thought it was so subtle yet genius and conveys so much about being an emperor as you always have to put on a mask showing no weaknesses what’s so ever ugh I’m so glad you mentioned it ^-^

I would disagree about lazy writing, the actress was cunning enough to seduce the queen's brother that's why she always get help. She used the queen as a back up too. By the time she created huge problems, the queen was close enough to her to let her go, that was developed over a good amount of time, not unrealistic. And she even later seduce the King as well. I don't think a pretty and cute actress would cut this character, it requires a "smart" look. And the actress for this matches it a lot. She was smart, and quick witted enough that if anybody wants to kill her they do need valid reasons. While at the same time she knows how to manipulate people so much too, it's realistically hard to kill her off. Though she's too daring, well she threaten people with really really high power, but to the point they must give in to her anyway (and sometimes amicably). So it wasn't really she just get lucky all the time, she was smart enough. It's really well written IMO.

I really love this drama. Everyone person in this drama were just excellent. Their acting was so on the money. The scenery and clothes spectacular. Just a beautiful story that I have watch I know 35 times so far

This drama holds a special place in my heart. I cried so much. Ying Luo and Empress was so close to my heart. I love Chinese Dramas. The soundtracks are so Amazing. I actually sort out the lyrics and try to sing the songs 🙂

Korean dramas are more popular here in the Philippines than chinese dramas but this drama took our hearts much during this pandemic 2020. It was dubbed in tagalog but we were not able to continue so we watched it in youtube even if it mixed up. The actors and yinglou were brilliant for me. It opens other chinese dramas to be watch Seriously.