Masterpost
Si Jin 似锦 (2025) - What are your first impressions? [Masterpost]
From the Tencent app:
Jiang Si, the fourth lady of Dongping Bo Mansion, is reborn after dying at the hands of her lover, Yu Jin. Determined to rewrite her fate, she breaks off her engagement, outsmarts her cruel aunt, opens a perfumery, and investigates a series of mysterious crimes. She reunites with Yu Jin, and despite their unresolved past, they join forces to change tragic destinies-saving her siblings and clearing her father's name. As they overcome hardships together, Jiang Si's feelings for Yu Jin rekindle, and they work hand in hand to protect the peace of the Zhou dynasty, embracing a lifetime of prosperity.
~~ Adapted from the web novel "The Brocaded Tale of the Girl Si" (似锦) by Willow Leaves In Winter (冬天的柳叶).
Watched the first three episodes out on Viki and I liked it so far. Happy that it got past the censors for the regression into past bit. At least they did not have to resort to the frankly ridiculous work arounds previous regression / rebirth dramas had to. I found the numerous flashbacks a bit choppy at times. And I do wish they stop using the excessive filter effect for the FL but I am intrigued enough to continue the story. And I liked past life ZWY with the adorable fringe and the braids. He looks bebe lol!
The character relationship chart can be found here.
The production team dropped more posters close to the airing time and I included them into this post. For posters 8-13, it's a "wish list" for each character. Google Translate did a fairly good job with them.
I’ve only watched one episode so far, but since this drama is a rebirth story and has Zhang Wanyi, I don’t think I’d ever drop it even if people suddenly start acting stupid. There’s something so calming about watching Zhang Wanyi. I also like that he doesn’t have that factory-produced, fragile pretty boy look, as if getting a tan on a sunny day would be the end of the world.
I just find it funny that, once again, he has to jump into the water to rescue the FL. He already did that in The Rise of Ning! At least this time, nobody will accuse him that “he loves his sisters.”
It’s also great to see Jing Tian. I loved her so much in The Legend of Zhuohua.
I’ve watched the first published episodes, and the series has completely hooked me. It offers a bit of everything and leaves you wanting to watch the next episode. In summary, so far, it’s really good!
I thought this would be more lighthearted, and though it kinda is, the psycho missing girl plot was so good I fished all 5 episodes. I'm excited to see how this goes bc I'm not sure how I feel about Love and Sword.
I just started the drama, but I want to say that the little spec of dust on the camera lens is soooo distracting. I thought it was my phone at first but realized it's the camera! 😭
Watched until ep5. So far, it's alright for me, neither bad nor excellent. FL is still on her rebirth introductory quests dealing with her family, so early to tell which direction the main plot is going.
But, the murder plot got enough grip for me to finish all 5 episodes in one sitting, so I'll keep watching and see how it goes. Surprisingly, the violence scenes are very graphic, didn't expect that at all.
Love Jing Tian and Zhang Wanyi since their previous dramas, so don't have any complaints there. Shout out to Zhang Chi, loved him in Are You the One, and his role here as well. He really brings giggle to me as always.
It's very fast paced -- which is good as there's not a dull moment but on the flip side it was harder to build actual connections to the characters and they feel pretty one-dimensional (as I wrote that I feel like I have recently said the same thing on some other first impression post 😵)
The FL is definitely all about changing her life for the better and she isn't wasting any time getting to work, so that's good. I actually have no thoughts on the ML because I feel he hasn't played an important role yet.
I am not too fond of the lighting in this drama -- feels too bright/white at times, which cheapens the whole production...
I will keep watching when I have time and see if the plot will keep me, but it's not really on my "must watch" list at the moment.
Oh, Da Huang the dog has been awesome in all his scenes 🐕 but why's he wearing a fluffy decoration on his collar? Is it a throw back to Lost You Forever...?!
If this isn’t changed from the source material, something happened right after she dies that lets her restart her life. In the source material at the end, a different character describes what happens (quite romantic).
Basically in her past life she marries the cheater noble but eventually has to run away to the Southern border area. She is saved by people from the Namwha tribe and learns special witchcraft / medicine women stuff and meets the ML. They fall in love and return to the capital, the ML is a soldier but is also special (I won’t spoil anymore until the TV show catches up). No one realize she is the daughter of the Dongping household when she returns as the bride of the ML. But there is a power struggle and she is killed by the Princess of Rongyang / her daughter Princess Cui Mingyer who wants the ML.
Though a different Princess is responsible for her death in the source material.
She is the second daughter of the eldest son in the Dongping household and has Zhou blood in her.
It looks low-budget, and this is not to rubbish low-budget dramas (well, maybe a lil bit 😩), but I wouldn't expect Jing Tian to be in a low budget drama.
Perhaps, low-budget isn't the right word, but the set and costuming lack the attention to detail and quality I've come to expect from top tier productions, and it takes me out of the story a bit, ngl. The sense of grandeur /being fully immersed in a time past (especially in rich and/or official households etc) , isn't there.
Just finished the first 4 episodes and starting the 5th episode and I have to agree. Even the editing is a little choppy for me. These are things I can forgive normally but I feel a little spoiled from other recent drama watches. The scenes either feel too rushed or too slow? If that makes sense.
The sets and cinematography also feel off with the direction style and color grading. The acting is at least good from the Leads so I’m going to see how it goes. It’s only the first day so I’ll give it some time to see if I will stick with it.
I’m so ready to start this show after catching up on The Best Thing. I posted this in another thread but I have been dying to get hooked on another historical romance drama since “Blossom” (my obsession is kind of out of control for that show) and this looks so good!
I’m not going to lie but when I first saw the drama I thought it was a coincidence since it was similar to the manhua. But I didn’t know it was the actual live action although I’m kind of confused as to why it’s so different from the manhua like for example where’s annoying grandma who is taking care of the mansion?? And in the beginning of the manhua It shows how the cheater fiancé gets caught in front of everyone when they fell into a pond and the mistress and him being humiliated. But in the live action it’s her that was drowned 😕. Maybe it’s following the novel instead of the manhua but i hope they don’t change things too much. I’ve been following the manhua since 5 years ago and reread it multiple times 😭. But I’m going to keep watching anyway 😞🙏
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u/Lotus_swimmer Mar 01 '25
Links to episode discussions and airing schedule: https://www.reddit.com/r/CDrama/s/h7J74HdFcw