I don't know how to comment, let me translate a review from China that I found truly meaningful.
"Sword Rose" shows us that a powerful female lead is not defined by screen time, but by the weight of her character.
To speak honestly, Deng Yan may not dominate the screen in every episode, but her presence has already left a deep impression in viewers' hearts. She is not a lofty, idealized heroine floating above reality - she is a female police officer grounded in the real world.
The empathy of a woman in uniform is incredibly precious. When she feels pain for the kidnapped girls, when she treats the abducted children with such gentleness, her tears feel genuine and heartfelt - and the audience can't help but be moved.
Because for her, the fight against child trafficking isn't just a duty, it's a belief she holds onto. She doesn't just want to bring criminals to justice - she wants to light the path toward reunion for broken families.
The latest plot twist truly shocked me: it turns out that day wasn't even Deng Yan's birthday.
Which means, all these years, the guilt she carried wasn't just about being ten seconds too late to catch Ranran - but also about the two extra days she had asked for.
Deng Yan's strength lies in how she quietly endures her emotional scars, yet always remains calm. She poured all her longing and pain into the letters she never sent over the past two decades.
Her brilliance also lies in her extraordinary leadership - assigning the most logical tasks, making the most meticulous deductions, and playing a crucial role in solving the case.
Night after night, she burns the midnight oil without complaint, combing through documents over and over again, visiting leads tirelessly.
The drama presents Deng Yan as intelligent, brave, and unwavering - a woman who charges into the front lines of anti-trafficking, driven by a relentless sense of justice.
Dilraba Dilmurat shows a major breakthrough in both her appearance and acting in this role.
Her styling intentionally downplays her beauty, but in this grounded storyline, she appears even more authentically beautiful. In the past, many of her roles have been glamorous and striking - but Deng Yan is different. She is a public servant.
She embodies a quiet strength - calm, capable, and commanding trust. She has softness beneath her toughness, the scent of flowers with the edge of a blade. There's warmth behind her efficiency. You want to listen to her speak; you feel compelled to trust her.
So, the charm of a strong female lead doesn't lie in how much screen time she gets - it lies in the depth of her character.
Deng Yan leaves behind an image in our hearts - someone who gives her all for the people, for the girls and children who were trafficked, and for the beliefs she holds.
She moves us far more than any label could.
She earns the respect of everyone who witnesses her journey.