rated
10 / 10
genre
Historical, Romance
directed by
Zhang Kaizhou
starring
Zhao Liying, Feng Shaofeng, Zhu Yilong
no. of episodes
78
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Originally a novel, The Story of Minglan differs from other historical dramas in its focus on family and social politics in ancient China instead of martial arts and action or dynasties and kingdoms, which may make it seem confusing and boring for many. Frankly, even I, a fluent Chinese speaker, had trouble following along with some of the terms the actors used and the context included in the drama. I can only imagine how difficult it may be for non-native speakers who have to read the even more misleading and bewildering subtitles. But isn’t that what makes a piece of work beautiful? By using ancient references and phrases that were hard to understand, The Story of Minglan had me feeling like I was truly in the past. There are so many cultural elements to this drama that make it all the more accurate and immersing to watch.
This masterpiece of theatrical work stands its ground as an intricately designed and wonderfully crafted drama. After watching a similar yet disappointing drama, Serenade of Peaceful Joy, this one was quite the refreshment. With beautiful and complex but still apparently comfortable costumes, the design was one especially prominent aspect of the drama that many others lack. Once again, I could tell that the crew researched and planned the set with extreme detail to reflect the historical time period as realistically as possible. And it worked perfectly.
I think I’ve mentioned that love triangles are overused. I still think that to be true – which is why it can be easily written terribly and unoriginally. But that’s exactly what makes the slow-burning love triangle in this drama all the better. Although near the end of the drama, it’s clear that Minglan will end up with Gu Tingye eventually, viewers can’t help but fall in love with and feel empathy for Qi Heng, the contender, as well. This creates a stark contrast between it and Keeper of the Lost Cities, in which the fight between Fitz and Keefe caused a huge war in its fandom between the two. It’s also not as simple as who Minglan loves – there’s so much more, most noticeably the effects of the different social classes and other circumstances that affect her choice. It dives into on the powerlessness and unequal treatment of women in ancient China, and their struggle to live a good, fulfilling life, while not ruining the optimistic mood of the story.
The actors (none of whom use voiceovers!) of The Story of Minglan bring this tale to life with their natural performances, truly putting themselves in their character’s shoes. There are funny characters and serious ones, happy ones and sad ones, and each of them were brought to life incisively and vividly by the skilled actors. But it’s not just the design, overall theme, and actors that makes this drama stand out. Supporting these aspects is a solid, exciting plot that keeps the drama from turning into a bland, albeit beautiful, drama that can bore even the most patient bingers. The tale follows Minglan as she grows and matures from a unfavored, mistreated girl into a cunning, independent woman. Along the way, there are shocks and twists (for instance, it’s rather surprising that Gu Tingye was the male lead after all, and not Qi Heng, considering how few interactions Minglan had with him), highs and lows, despairing moments and triumphant ones. So whether you’re craving to learn about the historical Song dynasty, ready to binge through an angsty but happy-ending romance, or anticipating an exciting plot, this drama is the right one for you.
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