Zhen Huan Zhuan

My review and ratings depends on which "Empresses in the Palace" you are seeing. I started off watching the "complete series" in English, which consisted of 6 episodes on Prime Video. It, certainly, whet my appetite for more. I found it very interesting, but it seemed to jump too quickly from one scene and crisis to another. So, I gave it a 7, and looked for more. I found that it is a series consisting of 76 episodes! No wonder it seemed "off." How do you shrink a 76 hour program into 6 hours? The answer, not very well. Was it still entertaining, yes, but not great. The acting was great. Locations inside The Forbidden City outstanding. But, the story was just not smooth.

The 76 episodes version, on the other hand, were wonderful! I only got to see about 47 episodes, but the story was consistently terrific. I got to know and care about the characters. I watched them grow, age, mature, and change as life within the harem of the Emperor grew more and more complicated, as emotion, power, greed, and jealousy shaped their lives. And I, suddenly, understood those gaps in the "complete series."

The original episodes I got to see were on YouTube. They had English subtitles that were the work of a group to translate them all into English subtitles.

I check back every few weeks to see if more episodes have been added to those with English subtitles. They are over half way through, and I really hope they continue, because it's a 10, and well worth watching!

Think of the "complete series" as cliff notes!

Really like Sun Li's acting and all the details of the drama. Those places are beautiful as well as the scenery. Good work! First time to get know about the history or China., quite interesting. Sometimes I really get confused about the name of those concubines. But still good!! Really like this movie. Going to watch the original version of 76 episodes instead of 6 episodes! Really hope that there will be a sequence. Although sometimes I feel sad about the dead of some characters I liked in the drama. But it teach me a lot of things, especially in the real world. It's really a good drama, hope everyone enjoy it!!

I am British but have no time for our TV soap operas such as Eastenders and Coronation street but having watched Empresses in the Palace I have gone on to watch many Chinese TV dramas. It is very colourful and also in the main very well acted. The twists and turns in the plot held my interest all the way through and I was genuinely deflated when I came to the end. I particularly like the acting of the star Sun Li (Susan Sun) who manages to portray ageing often with just her posture or movement, and also has a convincing range of emotional expression. I would highly recommend this if you like booing pantomime villains and have an interest in colourful well dressed drama.

The plot, the acting, the sets and landscapes, the direction-- A truly wonderful experience.

Unlike a previous subscriber who considered the Emperor a poor actor, I think he is perfectly cast, and he portrays so greatly the poise, economy of emotions and regal stillness of the Son of Heavens. He shows his bliss through two short burst of austere laughter, through small gestures of his lips, through his impassive majesty.

The female actors offer lessons of artistry and talent chapter after chapter. They are rich characters, with a complex mastery of the subtle whims of human heart, at times queens of manipulation and cunning, then goddess of deep philosophy and reflective thought.

I strongly recommend this show. It is as beautiful as interesting and rich.

I've lost count of how many times I've watched this TV show. Every line, every scene, is not superfluous, it is all carefully designed. Even some of the details, I have watched many times, do not find the mystery.