Du hua nian

Finally a Chinese drama where ingenious dialogues construct a really enjoyable tale, retaining the audience interested from start to finish. Can't express how thankful I am of all characterizations, where each situation emphasizes the human conflict, drifting apart from the old clichés. Fortunately, this drama stays far from the odd plot twists, with tons of CGI and "god ex machina" interventions, so recurrent in the xianxias. Simplicity is key, focussing in a very stressing context, that opens a curtain to family affiliations and power. Of course, there are several trust issues, but the real focus remains true to learning to find the self in the middle of this struggle.

Now, I found some utopian references to communism, but I neglected going any further . All in all, Princes Royal is an outstanding work of scriptwriters, costumes and great acting. Wish there would be more productions like this.

As TPR opens, the kingdom is in shambles and our Princess is very ill. She /knows/ her husband, Pei Wen Xuan, has poisoned her. She orders her minions to kill him as everything fades to black. When she wakes, she has time-slipped 20 years back to age 18. She's alive once again, and no one in the palace has ever heard of Pei Wen Xuan.

Another chance? How will she handle things and avoid disaster this time around?

TPR is a 2024 release that is rated 8.2 on MDL. It is 1 season consisting of 40 fantastic 45-minute episodes. One thing about Chinese historical dramas is that they will make a person happy to be a commoner. Nobody wants to hang with these noxious royals. Soon, Rong will learn that Pei did not kill her. She will never guess who the real murderer is.

TPR is not in the later episodes what it seems like in the earlier ones. Towards the end, the cesspool of the human heart is uncovered and the stench permeates. The show leads up to Rong's pained and impassioned soliloquy: "All of you were really disgusting. How evil. Father and son weren't real father and son, siblings weren't real siblings, couples weren't real couples, and friends weren't real friends. Everything in the past was just a rotting swamp filled with disgusting pus... The ruler showed no mercy to his family. The successor neglected ethical values. The officials plotted rebellion. People's lives were just pawns." It really is heartbreaking.

Zhao Jin Mai (A Little Thing Called First Love-8.6, Amidst a Snowstorm of Love) is Li "Rong"., Her acting is stellar. She's a woman who's lived over 40 years but is now back in her 18 year old body. Her demeanor says mature. She actually has a tired air about her. She's measured, she's never in a rush, she's always composed, and she's pensive. Zhang Ling He (Love Between Fairy and Devil-8.9, Story of Kunning Palace) is "Pei" Wen Xuan, Rong's husband. She wants to marry "Su" Rong Qing, who was her best friend in her prior life. They loved eachother, but he had been castrated, so they remained as friends. When Rong's father holds a banquet to get a look at potential suitors, Su will not engage with her. She ends up being stuck with Pei again. She quickly learns that he traveled back just like she did. He insists that he didn't kill her. He's certain that Su did. Ouch. That hurts. Chen He Yi (Till the End of the Moon, Summer Again) portrays Su, who is a Minister of Justice. His Long pensive stares make us wonder what's on his mind. The wheels are clearly turning and churning.

He Qiu (Xiangbei Regret) is Qin Zhen Zhen, the girl-warrior who has captured the heart of the crown prince. Rong's mother is simply hateful - she's the most wrong character of the show. Zhao Pei Lin (Go Ahead, Hi Venus) is the Empress and Shangguan family devotee. Cheng Guo (Married, The Lord of Losers) is the spritely Rebel Shangguan Ya. She's always donning peasant clothes and sneaking off to gamble. When important work needs to be done, she's a go-to resource. In the first go-around, she married the crown prince. When we meet her she's awesome. She's in a pleasure house, disguised as a man, and slapping down cards while yelling out drink orders. Her personality shifts rather quickly though. She's one of the oldest members of one of the most powerful families, and ambition takes over. The way her character goes is a little bit disappointing. Will she make a comeback?

The tensions between the noble families and the common folk is what's driving politics. At one point, the emperor, who truly wants to help the people, can't even look at his wife. Her elaborate jewelry would feed so many poor if they sold it. "Do you know what's the scariest thing about wielding power? It's when it corrodes one's heart. The person whose heart is almost corroded to the core cannot feel anything at all," Rong will point out. That describes the privileged families and it's no different from what we see today.

"If an emperor thinks he's incompetent, the sense of shame will drive him mad." Part of the problem with the past is that Rong's brother ended up being a terrible ruler. He's a tenderhearted boy who wants to do the right thing, and he doesn't even want to be king. All the above turns into bitterness when he gets no assistance and feels completely isolated during the course of his reign. He becomes spiteful and cruel. Liu Xu Wei (The Glory) plays crown prince Li Chuan. "Do you know what the hardest thing about being a ruler is? Everyone around you may be deceiving you. While anyone else can obtain the truth easily. As the emperor, I have to search for the truth in the middle of a trove of lies. What's more, the truth often consists of the half lies they tell me.... I was born with free will, yet I couldn't live freely," laments the king. Yet, for his son, Chuan, it's much worse.

This time around, Pei & Rong know that power won't satisfy, but wielding it for good, will. They know a simple life of love is what makes it all worth it. "Only the incompetent ones need to use the weakness of their wives to prove themselves. What I desire is for my wife to achieve her aspirations... My love for my wife is not about trapping her in a gilded cage but about being able to offer her opportunities to do whatever she desires without restraints." Pei wants a partner, not property.

I don't have many nitpicks. The cadence is relaxing but it flirts with dragging at times. It's a slow paced show. It is methodical and elegant, but I suspect some won't like the pace. Pei's lipstick is too much in many scenes; positively Maybelline Plum #3. At the very end, they go ahead 3 years but don't show us any kids. In the context, they should have. None of the needs-improvements stack up against the filming, which is beautiful. Cinematography and costume designs are exquisite. The wardrobe is wearable art. The sets are opulent but not overdone, with the rich colors serving as a balm to the eyes. The music is lovely. There's several fights and skirmishes. Fight scenes are largely typical but also graceful and exciting. The sword fight in ep 40 is riveting.

The acting is top tier. There's a stunning love confession in the rain. No kiss, though. Since the confession comes earlier than expected, I guess they can't jump into things too quickly. They eventually generate some lovely, well-above-average romantic moments. It is even funny at times. The blemishes are few; this show is magnificent.

TPR gives the viewer plenty to consider. We see people chasing after power and privilege with nary a whim about what they'll do with it. Helping the poor and disadvantaged never occurs to them! Most fall on their own swords, in the end. There's no better last words than this: "I also went through so much to finally understand that my whole life should be dedicated to my righteousness." We shouldn't save those thoughts for last, though. The sooner we work on acting and thinking "right" the better for us, and everyone else.

Things split and go in unexpected directions In the last 7, or so, episodes. We hear more about the past from 2 or 3 different perspectives, and it's shocking. It's sad, all around. Rong is confronted with a huge dilemma. But, Rong is going to Pei. He will figure it out. Pei is the way.

QUOTES📢

The worst thing women can do is pin their hopes on men.

The essence of power is understanding people.

People only have the right to choose when they are strong enough.

〰🖍 IMHO

📣7.9 📝8.5 🎭8.5 💓7 🦋6.7 🎨9 🔚8 ▪ 🌞4.5 ⚡4.9 😅2 😭4.2 😱3 😯2.8 🤢3 🤔4.8 💤1.5 🤗5

🎵/🔊7 Shazams: songs by Ye Xuanqing & others with No English title available.

📝Original Creator Mo Shu Bai (Destined)

📝Screenwriter: Rao Jun (The Journey of Flower, Ancient Love Poetry-8.6)

📣Director: Go Yik Chun (The Empress of China)

Age 13+ mild sexual content, moderate violence

Re-📺? Would.

The story is about a princess who, due to the palace wrong education and intense court competitions, has become extremely stubborn, self-confident but not in a good way and emotionless, she has been forced to do all the missions herself without others advices so that she does not even trust her husband, and because she does not know the true meaning of love, her distance from her husband becomes greater and greater. After this distance, a miraculous opportunity arises for both of them to make up for the past and resolve misunderstandings, but this girl is still a fool until the final episodes, and her husband also tolerates her unbelievably.

The actings are all excellent except for the actor who plays Su Rongshin, he looks like a robot and there is no emotion on his face or in his acting.

In my opinion, the plot of this chinese drama is new and interesting, but the number of episodes and the stubbornness of the leading actress are very boring and make the audience discouraged.

I give this series a 7 out of 10 points.

First, let me address the myth that Time Travel shows are banned in China. That is not true. What is banned is any show where the past is a good place to live, especially if the past is better than the present. Of course, reincarnation is actually banned, but that is a different story.

So, what would happen if you died and your soul traveled back in time to when you were 18 or 20 years old to live your life again? Would those decades of experience help or hurt you? Would history play out the same again or would you attempt to change it? Would this change you and your decisions? What if you weren't the only one? What if you were a member of the royal family?

This is the essence of this drama. I generally found it well done and interesting. I did watch it to the end, which I don't do with shows that bore me. I did debate between giving it 7 or 8 stars as there are obvious flaws and mistakes. But, ultimately I decided on 8 because what show doesn't have flaws?

There are several unexpected twists in the show, I would have liked to see more. There is a sense of humor in the show, where the main characters can say something to each other, then laugh at what they said. I liked that, the ability to laugh at yourself is always appreciated.

Overall, worth your time to watch. I suggest you watch at least the first three episodes, before you decide if you want to keep watching it.

I am now watching The Princess Royal for second time, right after the first time. Its an awesome intrigue story line.. If you speed through it and not pay attention to every single word, it says, you won't get the get the back-and-forth of the intrigue.

You also want to get the personality changes of the others who are from the future.

So I give it a nine, also because of the facial expressions of the main characters, which tells you a lot of what's going on.

It has an intriguing, husband and wife relationship throughout it, very similar to my husband's and I of 55 years, I am so much like the princess and my husband is so much like the husband of the princess.