Story of Yanxi Palace

Last month, my wife and I binge watched this gargantuan 70-episode Chinese period drama and let me tell you, I loved it.

As a child, I casually absorbed historical palace dramas (where “all the women are trying to poison each other,” as my mom describes) because they would sometimes be on TV at home. In my late teens, I rediscovered them via Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace), an amazing Korean period drama that took the world by storm. After that, I watched a whole bunch of Asian dramas, but not a single period drama in earnest.

Until now. This drama, this drama!

Story of Yanxi Palace made me laugh, cry, yell, and sing its various musical scores while cleaning the dishes. I consider it one of my favorite series I’ve ever watched, hands down. And it also stamped out all of my lingering resentments about the end of Game of Thrones.

What it’s about

In 18th century China during the Qing Dynasty, a young woman named Wei Yingluo enters the Forbidden City to serve as a palace maid, determined to uncover the truth behind her sister’s death. During her time at the palace, Yingluo uses all her wits to survive and outsmart the forces that try to stop her. In addition, the series also follows the lives of the Emperor Qianlong; the kindhearted Empress Xiaoxianchun; the Empress’ brother, a high-minded young man named Fuheng; and the various palace consorts who plot and struggle for power. Most of the main characters are based on real historical figures (including, to some extent, Yingluo herself).

What I loved

• Yingluo is a wonderful protagonist: she is sharp, fearless, and fun. She doesn’t always win, but watching the gears spin behind her eyes as she plans to tear down a basic bitch execute her comeback plots is so satisfying!
• Conniving, backstabbing, tragic chains of events, and all-around trickery at its height. YES.
• The pacing. Practically no filler (sometimes to detriment tbh, there can be some whack editing lol). Something is ALWAYS happening.
• The comedy, which is sometimes completely unintentional and the result of absurdity haha.
• Female friendships <3 this is the real tear-jerker.
• The costumes!!!
• Fantastic villains. Noble Consort Gao will always remain my favorite! (And there is also another villain who, when she revealed herself and to her very last moment, left me shook).

• The narrative of female roles within the constraints of a patriarchal, feudal, and shame-based society (Guilt-shame-fear spectrum of cultures on Wikipedia). Frankly, this one surprised me and held me fast. I was expecting a very on-the-nose representation of female roles, but this show subverted all my expectations at least 10 times around. I really enjoyed it.

What I disliked

• They always dressed up Gao in that same green gown. Come on y’all, I know there was a budget for more than that!
• The last 10 episodes of the show were not quite up to the same writing quality as the ones before, but you know what, it was still pretty good. The character development remained consistent and there were some interesting historical tie-ins that I didn’t see coming even then.

Memorable music

Every single track (link to the entire soundtrack playlist on youtube) but especially:

The “someone is up to no good, despite things being relatively OK right now, but yeah mischief is definitely afoot” music:

Is someone cutting onions? Wasn’t there an onion recall recently? Hello, help, the onions…

Anyway, that’s all I’m going to say about this show, lest I rant and rave for another 2000 words. I loved Story of Yanxi Palace and it will be something I remember fondly always.