First, to the Anon who asked if I was going to watch and I said I wasn’t. I’m sorry. I was wrong. Mea culpa. After seeing @dangermousie​ post about it, I got intrigued enough to start it and, man, this show is a masterpiece. 

I don’t watch a lot of Chinese dramas because of two general reasons. First, the length. They are, for the most part, upwards of 60+ episodes and honestly, that’s a lot for me. Chinese dramas generally have an episode a night with a small break and when I’m watching a lot of KDramas (like now), keeping up with a show that long is difficult. Second, I like happy endings unless I really know what I’m getting into (*cough*TheWolf*cough*). If I’m going to invest 60 or more hours in a show, I want my OTP together and happy in the end.

But I thought, hey, I’ll give this a try and if I like it, I’ll just watch when I can. By episode 6, I was pretty solidly impressed and now at episode 14, I’m in hook line and sinker for this show and this OTP. 

Why? I’m so glad you asked even though you didn’t but I’m going to tell you anyway.

The OTP. These two. Boy howdy, y’all, I didn’t think I would have this couple on my top 5 OTP of all time list by episode 14 but here we are. Zhang Zi Yi is amazing. Period. I don’t give a rat’s furry behind that she’s supposed to be 15 in the first couple of episodes even though she’s obviously not. Because she’s magnetic. She plays lighter scenes with a sweet innocence but she absolutely  shines in the quiet, strong moments of her being a princess. And, man, is she a princess. Even though she’s supposedly a ‘pampered’ member of the royal family, she’s not immature, selfish or annoying. She’s kind at heart but she’s not putting up with anyone’s BS.  I don’t think I’ve ever loved a CDrama heroine this much.

Zhou Yi Wei honestly isn’t my ‘type’ in a guy. He’s ruggedly handsome in his way but when I started the drama I was kind of like, ‘eh he’s fine for the part.’ But now? Friends, I am shook. He portrays Xiao Qi with such a gravitas that is, to overuse the term, magnetic. The character isn’t cruel or dismissive, he cares about his men and adores A’wu. And I mean ADORES her. He talks with her, is open and protective but pushes her when she needs it. 

This is a ride or die OTP and that is my ultimate favorite thing ever. (Look at how he stares at her and smiles! Dead. I am dead.)

This show isn’t dubbed. When I watch dubbed CDramas, I get this sense of disconnection from the characters because it’s not the actors voices. Not here.  The scenes feel grounded because you’re hearing the actors talk and emote rather than having a high pitched actress voice the female lead and a husky guy do the male voice. Zhou Yi Wei has a nice, soft voice and I’m so glad I get to hear it because it makes the character so much more real.

The most important aspect and what makes this show so special for me is that it thrives and relishes its quiet moments. That is not a usual thing for longer dramas. Normally, there’s lots of plots and scheming and it feels chaotic and loud. Sure, there’s scheming and plotting in Rebel Princess because palace politics and all but that’s not what drives the show. This drama isn’t afraid to spend 3 minutes on a scene with no dialogue showing A’wu embroidering a cloak for Xiao Qi. It’s beautiful and intimate. 

The scene where Xiao Qi tells Awu the truth about why he married her and the fact that her father is a scheming jerk is rooted in the softness and quiet of the moment. No yelling or screaming. She’s not freaking out or taking the acting over the top- she’s heartbroken and you feel her pain as she sits and cries softly. When she breaks, at first she wants to cry alone but then gently calls his name and he’s instantly to her side holding her. He helps her shed the rose colored glasses in which she viewed her family - particularly her father - and he simply holds her. And she holds him back, clinging to him because he’s utterly hers now. 

There’s scene after scene like this. Just the two of them together - sometimes alone - where they just talk and it’s captivating. The two of them are literal magic together. They play off each other perfectly - flirty, soft, fun...you can feel how much they love each other in those moments. 

There’s plenty of action to come and I know from Mousie’s post there’s some great moments of Awu being even more of a badass and I can’t wait for that. 

So, yeah, it’s not just a great show, it’s an amazing show. This couple has captivated me as much as any OTP I’ve loved up to this point. 

I leave you with another soft moment cause they’re so good at it. 

[Legend of Fuyao Episodes 9-16]

There are aspects of this story that continually surprise me in very good ways. I think I’m really jaded in some respects and have lost my faith in dramas to do right by their women. But so far, every time I wince about what happened on screen, there is a follow up that kind of (but not always) fixes that wince and makes me go “huh.”

THE UNCLOUDED SOUL EPISODE 14 HAS LASERS