Ru yi zhuan

Very elegantly made. Each episode builds up to an epic ending. You will fall in love with the main character Ruyi. She is a really selfless character full of heart. And the people that she cares about are like angels in her life. You will love watching this show. All episodes are in YouTube.

Although it is a sequel to the brilliant Zhen Huan Zhuan, Ruyi is different. Liu Lianzi took us on a different perspective here. I'll make it simple, Zhen huan used her head, but Ruyi used her heart. Both are completely different, but equally amazing. Not mentioning the costume, sets, bgm, and the casts, they are purely amazing. If you're not intrigued with Chinese history, at least Zhou xun's acting will hook you up to episode 87. Amazing drama! Embark yourself on an emotional rollercoaster ride, I promise it's a journey of a lifetime!

My two visits to the Palace Museum / Forbidden City invited imaginings of the lives lived there. This extraordinary series provides insights on so many levels. I spent 7 years in China and wish I had seen-and learned from-some of the content of this interpretation of history before moving there. It reveals much about a culture that continues to this day. And, it would have helped with workplace machinations!

The visuals are extraordinary-as is the Forbidden City itself. Costumes reflect the astounding embroideries seen in many of the crafts today. I was intrigued by a Suzhou artist's (can't call her a seamstress) work-really amazing.

The acting is great and with 87 episodes, there is ample time to feel you now these characters as people. Yes, it is a bit of a soap. But look beyond that and you are well rewarded.

English subtitles are...well not so good. There are errors. Still, the sometimes awkward expression seems (weirdly) to contribute to a sense of reality.

FOr architecture & art fans, the film is a visual feast.

Highly recommended.

RUYI'S ROYAL LOVE IN THE PALACE (Ru Yi Zhuan) (2018) was a really well made series. I watched it right after I finished Story of Yanxi Palace, back to back, and at first I had very mixed feelings. But instead of letting my love for Yanxi interfere with my love for Ruyi's story, I decided they were both great and equally lovable, albeit different perspectives of the same era, during Emperor Hong Li (Qianlong Emperor) reign.

Personally, I really loved that Ruyi's story tells almost the complete opposite story than that of Yanxi. Both are such amazing series and two of my top favorite historical dramas now. Both are stories of equally strong women and how they survive in the Forbidden City. Both drama's are almost perfect in their own ways.

Some reviewers criticize UlaNara Ruyi (Xun Zhou) for being a weak portrayal of women, but if anything, it is the exact opposite. She is exceptionally brave to endure all that she did, all the twisted schemings, and hidden dangers of the palace. Never does she whimper and try to flee, or worse-join in on the twisted schemings herself-instead she becomes a woman worthy of respect and honor. For Ruyi, there was so much brutality and backstabbing around her. For her to endure with grace, humility, and even optimism all that she did-well she's all the more a strong woman for it. She fought for her love and yet, stood up to him when it mattered most. And, compared to Yanxi's heroine (who I equally loved in her own way), Ruyi offers a more realistic portrayal of historical feminism in China. Neither should be seen as lesser.

I agree, with those that criticize the Emperor Hong Li (Wallace Huo), it was difficult to watch as his character degrades throughout the length of the series. It became harder and harder to see what Ruyi saw in him, but the fact that she stood up and held her own made the ending so much sweeter and poignant. It was so moving. Honestly everything was so great, the cast, characters, visuals, story, music, etc. I loved this series.

For those that wish to compare and contrast it to Story of Yanxi Palace, as if the shows were rivals, don't let that make you miss out on a great historical drama that is Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace. This was a unforgettable series. Brilliant.

As a Chinese viewer who have watched lots of Qing Dynasty harem dramas, the main female lead are always portrayed to undergo a malicious change to evolve into a 'strong, capable and victorious' character in the end. Zhen Huan had casted away her love for Emperor Yongzheng and Yun Li, and only became the Empress Dowager for 'feeling safe'; while Wei Ying Luo can easily be summarized by a single word, which is 'revenge'. Falling in love with Fucha Fuheng or becoming the Imperial Noble Consort wasn't her initial motive either.

We have been so used to the concept in these dramas that to succeed, one must 'cast away our pure original heart, and embrace the dark side in us', while at the same time these dramas also portray that climbing up the peak of the haram is equivalent to as 'achieving success'. But is that the real case?

Ru Yi clearly knows that she CAN choose this path that'll lead her to success and prosperity but she refused to, as she still persists and held on to her true self. The beauty and essence of the drama lies exactly at here: A constant reminder that in the materialistic world where succeed is measured by the power and wealth you hold, it is still a façade and not as important as to holding on to your 'true self'.

I personally believe that a good drama doesn't necessarily mean that it should have a fast exciting pace, superb acting skills or flawless editing, but rather the moral values that it brings. This drama impacted me very, very deeply and changed my views on life. Of course, I dare not say that RRLITP brings out the best moral values, but it definitely embodies the Chinese idiom: Blooming from piles of mud, yet the lotus flower remains unstained.

Signing off here, and I hereby wish everyone a good day. Enjoy the series!