Well made for what it is

jqf-31988

This dramatic depiction of Wei Yinglou's rise to prominence in the imperial court is a captivating exercise in cinema. The spell of the drama falls apart at many of its edges if interrogated too deeply, but under a proper suspension of disbelief, the series is very fun.

It is very important to memorize the differences between the courtesans and servants early on. It can take a while for their character traits to distinguish them from one another.I particularly recommend rewatching the second episode a few times before moving on, especially if you're a non-native speaker of Chinese.

If you particularly care for palace intrigue or exceedingly vicious machinations of jealous wives, you will certainly enjoy the film. It is incredibly easy to love and to hate these characters. You can find far better plot synopses elsewhere, but I am here to encourage you to give it a shot based on fun alone. Go for it!

score 7/10

jqf-31988 3 May 2019

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw4825068/