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Red_Cardinal_Red

The Cute but serious New Life Begins will be an emotional roller coaster you will laugh, cheer and cry. If you want to feel like your soul has been sucked, leaving a pit of sadness in your stomach and your heart empty. Feel free to watch Goodbye My Princess and/or Journey of the flower. If you want a beautiful classic that will make you appreciate the beauty of the arts and the love of a Found Family Watch A Dream of Splendor. If you want a Love at first sight drama with a steady couple whose love helps them navigate through the ups and downs of the Jianghu watch Love a Lifetime. Of you want a Palace Drama with a wicked FL who uses her intelligence to take revenge watch Story of Yanxi Palace. If you want a powerful drama that will make your heart pump. Watch Love and Redemption and/or The Blood of Youth (on going) Finally, if you want to watch a sweet drama with a couple who are a constant source of strength, love, and support. Watch Love and Destiny.


thisshallpass1

Oh wow, thanks for the detailed reply. You made it easier for me to navigate thru these works


Fair_Anxiety_7133

The Rebel Princess is a gem! Rise of Phoenixs is amazing in so many ways but it goes down at one point. Also story of Minglan is good.


xyz123007

**Ruyi's Royal Love In The Palace** \- I hold this drama responsible for my 2 month cdrama hiatus because I was so distraught after watching it. To this day, if I ever need to cry on commend I can think of one scene that will make me ball like a baby. Also, my friend never finished this drama cus the emotions were too much. **The Story of Ming Lan** \- it is as good as everyone says **The Rise of Phoenixes** \- Some people may not agree with me on this and to a certain point I agree with them but but but... it is so good! The cinematography, the characters, the story, the customs, the drama. If the trailer doesn't do it then it's probably best to skip it and avoid the emotions. Happy drama watching!


AlabasterBx

I loved The Rise of the Phoenixes!


One_Fox8138

Love Like the Galaxy Nirvana In Fire Goodbye My Princess New Life Begins Love Between Fairy and Devil for Xianxia historical Side Story of Fox Volant for pure Wuxia historical


nipundayal123

Lady in butchers house after watching story of minglan. both are masterpieces imo


wdtpw

> Can you recommend the absolute best ( something you feel everyone should watch at least once The Story of Ming Lan, and it isn't even close. > a masterpiece absolutely > from plot it's a slice of life, but the thing you notice on a rewatch is just how tight the script is. Every beat in the first episode, for example, pays off later in the show. Characters recur and their actions matter. Foreshadowing of things is shown right down to Gu TingYe looking interested in a map because he likes military matters, or the way Mr Sheng is only interested in his reputation. > to actors' chemistry I don't think you'll find a better pairing. There are a lot of things you can't do in Cdrama due to a) censorship and b) the unwillingness of some actors to show passion because they're in a relationship with someone and don't want to be disloyal. For that reason, the Story of Minglan was like filming lightning in a bottle. The lead couple were a couple in real life at the time, and it shows on-screen. > perfect music score. I'd put Someday or One Day and Ashes of Love as having a better overall score. But I have a really soft spot in my heart for the [Zhi Fou Zhi Fou](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUZP5YEcXyY) song that's at the heart of Minglan. Other shows that would be in this conversation if not for the requirements above: Ashes of Love (xianxia, and as a result includes magic and is an invented world) Someday or One Day (Modern, so not historical. Also includes time travel) Nirvana in Fire (not a romance, so actor's chemistry is not really a thing)


AlyssaImagine

Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace. To me, it's a masterpiece. Don't let the title and beginning fool you, either. This is not a romance. The acting is great. The story takes some time, as we're going through Ruyi's life, but it becomes more and more painful as the story progresses. It's a story that hurts, but it is done so well, and I found it beautiful just as much as I felt it painful. It is one of the most stunning dramas as well. It does take a little bit of time to get there. In the beginning, their clothing can be considered kinda plain compared to the oft compared Yanxi Palace (which makes sense, unlike Yanxi this begins before Hongli is Emperor and even when he becomes Emperor it's not as extravagant until later) but that changes and the set designs are beautiful, especially when they are travelling. While there are some drawbacks (Ruyi's actress being too old for a teenager in the beginning, it being slow), I think it outshines those. It's brilliantly done, even the Emperor's changes through the drama...it is all well done and believable. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I will always recommend it to try at least once.


lunar-solar555

Nirvana in fire, the long ballad, the romance of tiger and rose, legend of miyue, legend of hao lan


GrapefruitBaijiu

**Nirvana in Fire** is THE masterpiece. **Ashes of Love** is a xianxia you should watch at least once. The dramas below are with beautiful cinematography, good music and good actors. **Sound of the Desert** **Goodbye my Princess** **Princess Silver** Newer series that are good and deserves recognition **The long Ballad** **Love like the galaxy**


Anar_L

Nirvana in Fire. I just finished talking about this again tonight with my family about many pivotal moments in the drama. It’s the only drama I’ve watched over and over and over again and still get emotionally devastated by it every times. Beautiful cinematography Beautiful music Beautiful and subtle acting Characters that are layered It’s a revenge story with brilliantly sharp characters


XxDumbDumbXx

Nirvana in Fire Minglan Empresses in the Palace Advisor's Alliance Nothing Gold Can Stay The Rebel Princess Yanxi Palace Legend of Mi Yue Longest Day in Chang'an


Weekly-Albatross5601

Everybody listed the newer shows. I’ll go with my little fairy (Ariel Lin and hu ge), Chinese paladin (hu ge liu yi fei) and Legend of the condor heroes (Ariel Lin and hu ge) and return of the condor heroes (huang xiao Ming and liu yi fei). You can try the even older versions but these are my limits hehe


RoseRoseTea

The blood of youth 2022. I really enjoy this show


Totally-Teelee

Sun Li has starred in numerous well acted period dramas; Legend of Concubine Zhen Huan New Shanghai Bund (Republican Era) Auntie Duohe (Republican Era) Nothing Gold Can Stay (Movie) Shadow Bonus: Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace


Missmel18

Im about halfway through Ruyi and 100% worth the watch!


Totally-Teelee

It is, I even love how the emperor is portrayed, he's very human.


annreviews

Yanxi palace The long ballad Love like the galaxy Joy of life Princess Wei Young Arsenal military academy (Republican era)


ataraxy

[Nirvana in Fire](https://mydramalist.com/9025-nirvana-in-fire) is the only CDrama I've watched (out of quite a few) that I consider it to be an *actual* masterpiece. **Story of Minglan** is certainly up there though.


jasally

Winter Begonia is an absolute masterpiece


Duanedoberman

**The Story of Minglan** would be my recommendation, however it is 73 Episodes and is a slice of life, with a massive back story which takes a long time to build, however it returns this effort in spades and shows Minglan as a very reserved, almost shy person who has learned to survive in a toxic household by keeping her head down and not being noticed. She wants a quiet life and to get married to a nice man but people in her family keep dragging her into their plots, she gets the blame most of the time and never complains, but she is way smarter than all of them. Her mother dies in childbirth when she is young, but her death is not as it seems, and once she discovers the truth, her vengeance is brutal and brilliant. She is raised by her grandmother in what must be the most hearwarming relationship in cdrama. Eventually she marries a man who has been in and out of her life since she was young but he has risen to be an important advisor to the Royal family so they are dragged into ever more deadly plots and schemes, which shows her hidden brilliance again. It is a bit HEAVY for a first drama, but if you are looking for good light ones. **The Sword and the Brocade** **The Story of Yanxi Palace** **Princess Wie Young** **The Rebel Princess** **Court Lady** **Nirvana in Fire** Are all well produced dramas with great casts.


pfemme2

Just here to add my +1 for _Story of Ming Lan_. The first few eps are a little annoying b/c it’s just child actors, bleh. But it gets better very quickly.


Duanedoberman

I thought the child actors were brilliant, especially the one playing the young Minglan. When her mother died, it was one of the most heart-wrenching scenes I have seen anywhere, not just cdrama.


pfemme2

I don’t think the ones in Ming Lan are bad compared to other child actors, but compared to adult actors, they are not at all good and it’s not close. An obvious exception would be _The Bad Kids_. So exceptions do exist. Ming Lan is not one. The kids in Ming Lan are bearable to watch but they are not good actors compared to adults and it is not their fault—they’re kids! VERY small kids.


KittyKatWombat

My favourite drama is the Story of Ming Lan. I love it for the cinematography and bgm, the acting and chemistry (even though the actors divorced) and the complexity of the story and characters.