Story of Kunning Palace (2023)

A "Dream" Not for the Faint Hearted

As a novel fan anticipating this drama, and waiting out those extra months for SoKP to air, I was worried at various points that this adaptation won't meet viewers' expectations. And whilst I felt that it started a tad slow, the momentum picked up and soon turned into a wild rollercoaster ride.

This isn't your typical palace love story. Therefore, you need to be ready for the heart-tugging tears, the constant bloodshed and the playing of your emotions as if you were a Chinese zither in Xie Wei's hands. Add in political palace intrigues and you have a story that keeps you wanting to watch on.

The storyline was always going to be solid. What took it to another level was the cast and their perfect articulation of their characters. Zhang Linghe's Xie Wei is a dark character that screams red flags, but you can't help rooting for him and Bai Lu's Jiang Xuening. They share so much in common and in essence, need each other to heal, to complete each other's lives.

A special mention needs to go to Wang Xinyue's Zhang Zhe. For the first half of the show, I wished that it would be a happy ending for him with JXN, all the whilst knowing it wouldn't be. I am hoping for a third collaboration between him and BL, where he finally gets the girl!

And most importantly, after so many c-drama's awful endings, SoKP gives us the perfect wrap-up. XW and his interactions with his children are one of the cutest scenes in C-drama history.

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absolute ROLLERCOASTER of emotions. love it

Such such a good show i'm actually so sad it's finished I wished I could've seen more of Ning Er and Xie Wei together. Absolutely AMAZING acting, I'm not even gonna lie originally I thought Zhang Linghe was justt a hottie and not all that skilled in acting but...boyyy am I SO wrong. Bro is TALENTED and he can seriously act. Zhang Linghe portrayed xie wei so amazing literally every emotion was conveyed so brilliantly through his eyes.....and lowkkk I love it when he has the crazy eyes 🤭. Bai lu never fails like u know girl will always come in clutch w her acting that's without a doubt. And the chemistry OMG, main leads chemistry is actually insane this shi needs to be studied. anywayy Side characters all did amazing too and the villains... well they sure are good at being villainy I'll say.
ANYWAYSS, highly recommend a watch do NOT miss out on this top TOP notch drama soo good I promise u will love, however get some tissues ready bc this is a rollercoaster, but a brilliant and thrilling rollercoaster.

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You will get regret if you didn't watch this!!!

Ummmm where should I start? From the beginning when I started watching this, I had many expectations for this as I wanted a drama to watch every evening. Not surprisingly, they didn't disappoint me but surprisingly, it was just more than I expected: the best watch where I enjoyed the drama every second and minute.
The story, the plot, the plot twists, the higher and higher climax, the characters, everything was just perfect. Personally, as a person who adored novels, I genuinely love this drama and how it can give me a mysterious attractive feeling like I'm reading a novel or like I'm actually in that universe sometimes from outside and sometimes from the characters.
There are many side characters who are good, loyal, evil, selfish etc. One thing that made the story better was how unique each character was and how the plot, characters, their actions and consequences are so relevant.
I don't want to say much as you would be able to taste the best feeling without any spoilers.
However, in the end, I must say the most important point of the drama which continuously pulled me towards it; chemistric romance between the female and male lead. The way they talk, look, stare, gesture, smile, hold or even kiss, all the things they do just express their thoughts, feelings and chemistry beautifully. What makes it more appealing to me is how they changed their behaviours and words as they developed feelings for each other. At first, I was curious and worried about how they would fall for each other. Nonetheless, this slow-burn love became the biggest piece of the most magnificent puzzle picture. Only with the touch or kiss between the main characters, it's worth watching!

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Excellent!

Excellent drama! Very enjoyable!
The cast was beautiful and acted well all around. The sets, costumes, hair makeup was all beautiful.
The story was interesting and kept me chasing episodes! Chemistry was very good between ML and FL as well as with the SFL and SML.
Bai Lu delivers as always in costume and looks good with Zhang Ling Hei. She has good chemistry with both males. Zhang Ling Hei is good but he his acting can still improve a little bit. He has good screen presence and excellent chemistry with Bai Lu. Wang Xing Yu was excellent as thr SML! I cant believe he is so young.

Overall highly recommend!

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#mustwatch

Congratulations to the production team for choosing a great cast!! the actors and actresses played their parts beautifully! Their portrayals and emotions were 👏👏👏👏👏

The adaptation, the music, the cinematography were 10/10. The story progressed just right, providing the right closure to each character. The music was superb. I hope the OST wins. The use of lightings was smart and provided the right setting for each scene. The action scenes were not excessive and enjoyable, great acting to the father and son tandem. Xie wei's crew provided the right icebreakers and were cute and funny.
Bailu and ZLH played their characters very well. They are well matched. I could feel their passion and strength in their portrayals. Their characters are both 'dominant' and both ZLH and Bailu were on point in their acting. Zlh greatly improved in his acting so i am looking forward to his projects. Bailu is empress material and very beautiful.
Congratulations director! I became your fan after Ashes of Love. This is another masterpiece. 👏👏👏

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My Perfect Kind of Drama

SOKP is so unreal, like the way it has everything I want: fix-it rewrite, isekai, villain x villainess leads, enemies to lovers, intricate costumes, beautiful actors, exploding chemistry, and heavy pining??? How is it possible to be that perfect?

I love everything about it, especially the pining. The way the ML was pining for nearly the entire drama is literal gold, and the leads have this tension every time they met, like a string stretched so far wide without them knowing and then near the end it finally snapped. I loved it. They both are morally grey, yet unapologetically loyal, strong and truthful and I loved that about them.

The chemistry is perfect. Everyone has great chemistry with everybody, and I love how the leads all have this presence about them that makes their appearance so magnetic to see, and I find it hard to skip scenes because all interactions are so beautifully executed. All the casts look majestic and I think they really nailed the casting on this one.
What's interesting for me, though, is that I find Zhang Linghe's look serene and peaceful by default, so seeing him playing a red-flag, cunning character is a surprisingly nice experience for me.

The story plots are consistent through the end, and although the ending could use a bit more closure, I am perfectly happy with how it turned out and everyone got the ending the deserve. Also I liked how the evil people are out in the open and consistent throughout the drama, so I didn't have to expect sudden character betrayal or some sorts. Neatly written, brilliantly executed.

P.S: Thankyou SOKP for making Zhang Linghe a father character I'm actually crying real tears he looks so good with the kids. Also every drama with Bai Lu in it, I don't think we have to worry about chemistry because she nailed it every time, no doubt about it.

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Perfect Ending

As I have read the novel I really wanted Ning Er to know that XW had special feelings for her in previous lyf as well in the drama, as he commits suicide after she dies, this was beautifully shown in the form of a dream which Ning Er has in the end.

Their relationship had hints of comedy as well, when he 1st kisses on her forehead and her father see them 🤣🤣🤣, when they fight causing XW to stab himself and everyone around them knows abt it 😁😁😁.

Overall it was really a very good drama, with a hint of every emotion, I really enjoyed it. Now my lyf feels empty as I dnt have to count every hour and wait for new episodes anymore 😔😔😔

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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

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If we have a chance to relive our lives, can we change our lives? Or is it all fated?

Wow... completely mesmerised.

Jiang Xue Ning was an unscrupulous woman who schemed and plotted her way to the position of empress. But her reign was short-lived as Xie Wei, someone she had once saved, rebelled and seized the capital together with Yan Lin, her childhood sweetheart. As Xie Wei stormed her palace, she pleaded with him to spare the life of Zhang Zhe, a righteous man who had loved, pitied and helped her, but was sentenced to death as a result. She regretted her evil ways and offered her life for his.

She fell to her death, but to her surprise , she woke up as her 18 year old self. Armed with the knowledge of the 'future', she set to right the wrongs she had done. But along the way, things started to happen again as what she had experienced in her 'previous' life. She wondered whether it was all fated. Were things going to turn out differently for her? Would all the tragedies happen all over again?

What I like about this drama?

1. The story was very interesting. Although there had been a lot of back to the past type of dramas and movies, what made this interesting was someone had the opportunity to redress her wrongs. So you would be wondering how things is going to turn out for her this time. The previous and the current lives were very well intertwined.

2. The chemistry between Bai Lu and Zhang Ling He, the two main leads, was amazing. More accurately, the chemistry between Bai Lu and all the three male leads were amazing. What made it more interesting was that it was difficult to tell in the earlier two thirds of the story who she would choose among her 3 suitors, or would she somehow end up with Prince Linzi again, this time against her will? Even though she said to Yan Lin she only treated him as a good friend, but would his sincerity changed that? Would the stern and scary Xie Wei win her heart? And when she and Prince Lanzi ran into each other again, would Prince Lanzi mistook her for his love and rekindled feelings for her? Would she and Zhang Zhe whom she felt so indebted be together in this life?

3. Zhang Ling He was an amazing actor. He portrayed such a diverse set of emotions so well - the evil traitor, the psychotic, the stern dignified teacher, the jealous lover and the emotional nephew when he saw his uncle. He is one of the few actors who looks handsome when stern. And of course Bai Lu was very good too: the nasty resentful teenage girl, an empress full of regrets and the determined girl fighting for the people she cared for.

4. The overall cast did very well with very little shortcomings among them.

5. The costumes were beautiful and the backdrop was good.

6. The drama started with the scriptwriter not wanting to end the story as a tragedy was interesting: a departure from a scriptwriter drawn into the story as one of the characters. Also, this hit a note with me as I dislike tragedies which left me unhappy.

7. Although an intense drama, there were light-hearted and seriously humorous moments, for example when the carriage driver flipped the carriage curtains only to revealed Xie Wei kissing XueNing, to her stunned father, in old conservative China. And the way the fake Dingfei made fun of his 'father' was rather amusing. When his annoyed 'father' told him he was a disgrace to the family, he gleefully offered to change his surname to Yan (the rival family), and I burst into laughter.

8. There were touching memorable moments, for example the series of events leading to Yan Lin going into exile - Xie Wei recited a poem at Yan Lin's coming-of-age ceremony - the poems were all hinting at what was to come - and his playing the qin at the city gate when he was exiled.

8. This was one of the few occasions when I actually liked the ending. There were the last moment twists.

What I dislike about this drama?

1. There were some comments on Mydramalist about flashing bright light in the background but I was so engrossed in the story that I did not notice.

2. Music was generally good and two of the theme songs were melodious, but not outstanding. I must say music standards seemed to have deteriorated in dramas released since the pandemic. I did not come across many outstanding pieces that left a lasting impression except for those in Till the End of the Moon.

3. A couple of scenes were rather contrived, for example the two scenes that Xie Wei ended up in bed with XueNing.

What I liked about this drama largely outweighed what I do not like. You can therefore understand why I gave this drama a rating of 10.

This time I made an effort to check on the director and screenwriter as well. The director is Chu Yui Bun whose accolades include Starry Love, The Blue Whisper, The Long Ballad, Skate into Love, Eternal Love of Dream, Ashes of Love. Success of a drama production depends a lot on the teamwork: excellent cast, director and script are the obvious, then there is the editing, makeup artist and more.

To add an advice: don't watch any trailer on how the drama would end. Let it hold you in suspense until the end. Then the twist and turns would be less predictable and more striking.

Finally, it would be great if there could be a prequel to this drama. I was wondering how XueNing became the empress given a domineering Dowager who had someone else in mind for the position, and a scheming rival who more than matched her wit. But the main cast for the prequel must match this drama. Of course, this would be a tall order as I had not seen many sequel successfully completed or had seen sequels which were disappointing flops.

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Trying to change one's destiny isn't easy.

I haven't read the novel, so I came in totally blind. I know a lot of people had trouble understanding the plot, and while it's something some people abhor, for me it was a relief. I don't like it when the writers take viewers by the hand and serve them everything on a platter.

Even as someone who hasn't read the novel, I picked up the story quickly. My best advice : don't focus on what you don't know, but on what you learn.

The story is about Ning'er, a young woman with endless ambition that drives her to crush everyone in her path to reach the highest position : Empress. Including Yan Lin, her childhood friend whom she betrays after his family is massacred. Once in power, unfortunately the Emperor fell ill and die. Taking this opportunity, Xie Wei (the royal tutor) and Yan Lin rebelled ─ for a reason not immediately revealed ─ and seized power from Ning'er's hands. Ning'er in a desperate attempt to save the only man she has ever loved, Zhang Zhe (a righteous scholar and official at the Minister of Justice), who has been imprisoned, she makes a deal with Xie Wei, to follow the Emperor in his death, committing suicide in exchange for Zhang Zhe's freedom.

This is where it all begins, once she dies, she wakes up and discovers that she has traveled to the past. This time she decides to avoid making the same mistakes, to make amends and above all to renounce her thirst for power which destroyed her and those close to her before.

Unfortunately, this is where things get tricky, because she remembers past events, past relationships that haven't happened yet, and she has to change the future without herself being caught in the web of machinations of the Xue family, the royal family, the rebels, the Yan family, and above all, the terrifying Xie Wei.

The plot/story and production:

I'm rather divided. On the one hand, I think the background on which the story evolves has been really entertaining, it's an intense struggle for power and a terrible story of families being torn apart, leading to a terrible event 20 years ago that will set the revenge motivations of certain characters on a bloody path. I don't know how to describe the exact tone of this series, because there are truly terrible moments and great strategies that are however shown in a counterproductive way. I think it's more about the way it was filmed - close up, echo voice, slow-motion, bright colors, humor. I felt like I was watching a terrible scene unfold in the most light-hearted production. There was a clash. I think the drama would have benefited from a production similar to "Rise Of the Phoenixes", "The Rebel Princess" something more mature. But overall, the story is entertaining and engaging, I like following its progress and discovering the web of relationships between the characters, past and present.

Acting :

I think the standout here is inevitably Zhang Ling He, who played Xie Wei. This character is a ruthless snake whom the audience cannot help but root for. He is a complex character, who has suffered numerous traumas, but who possesses an iron determination and spirit of justice that nothing will deviate him from his trajectory. Bai Lu in the role of Ning'er did her job perfectly, and if she stands out less than Zhang Ling He, she is no less the star. I liked that she embodied a manipulative young woman in both her lives, who doesn't give in and reciprocates tenfold attacks on anyone who dared to go against her, even if her machinations are still not the best and sometimes likes to bite her in the ass, so to speak. All the secondary characters were up to the task and convincing, I wanted to slap the antagonists myself and hug the poor characters who suffered. The dynamics of several characters are amazing and touching to discover, especially I liked the interactions between Xie Wei and the Yan family, father and son.

Romance :

If romance is not in your face, it is still very present, but for someone like me who isn't into such dramas, I was not bothered. I even found myself rooting for couples. I'll try to keep it short, but in her former life, Ning'er had three men in her life. Yan Lin, her childhood friend whom she was promised to but never loved and betrayed, Zhang Zhe whose good nature she admired and ended up loving, and the Emperor (where virtually nothing of this relationship will be shown in flashbacks or in the current timeline) that she never liked and used as a stepping stone. Among all this, Xie Wei was a rather distant and abstract presence to Ning'er, she was terrified of this man in the past, and for a good part of the series in the present timeline, she continues to be as she can't understand him. It goes without saying that in the present timeline, she has the same suitors except that the emperor is replaced by Xie Wei this time. The love story between her and Xie Wei is one of the biggest slow burns I've witnessed, while they both have quite a few moments throughout the series, they are overshadowed by the fact that Ning'er is terrified of Xie Wei and she likes Zhang Zhe. It took them up until the very last episodes after the 30th to start seeing him as someone she cares about. And I can't say that the set up was ideal, Xie Wei is demanding, and often takes what he wants without tenderness. I didn't like him forcibly kissing her the first time, even though there were extenuating circumstances due to his dementia, nor all the times he was physically harsh with her. It's not romantic. But Xie Wei is a bad guy, was never portrayed in any other way, at least that. From what I know, in the novel, he and Yan Lin are much more brutal so the writers have toned down in the series even if some of it is slightly implied from the little clues if we know what to look for.

However, I was 100% sold by their chemistry from the second they interacted, but beware it's really a slow burn, who just not cute and full of rainbows.

Overall, I liked this drama, it solidified my opinion that Zhang Ling He is made for more ambiguous and complex roles than the one-dimensional do-gooder. His acting really shined here. The story was entertaining, honestly, a good series.

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