I finally got around to watching a C-drama for this year’s challenge! And what a drama. Legend of Yun Xi tells the story of Han Yun Xi, a woman with exceptional skills at detoxifying poisons, who is forced to marry Prince Qin, the younger brother of the Emperor. The Emperor suspects that Prince Qin is plotting to take over the throne, and Yun Xi soon gets drawn into the many dramas and political plots of the court. Naturally, Yun Xi and Prince Qin also fall in love along the way.
However, I’m not exaggerating when I say that’s only a fraction of the plot. There’s not one but two love triangles, and both are ridiculously angsty and melodramatic. There’s also multiple characters with hidden backstories and secret identities, revenge plots, zombie armies, concubine dramas, and family rivalries. Everyone gets poisoned multiple times, brothers turn against each other, and only one couple gets a happy ending. But only if you ignore the bizarre scene of sexual assault between them that is played for laughs because the woman is the perpetrator.
Is Legend of Yun Xi a good show? Honestly, I’m still not really sure where I stand on that. Ridiculously entertaining? Yes. Bingeable? Hell yes. But good? I suppose that would depend on what you’re looking for in a TV show. Legend of Yun Xi is over the top, melodramatic, and hand-waves away any plot points that inconveniently don’t make sense. But the cast is fantastic, it looks beautiful, and I couldn’t stop watching. Which at the end of the day, is exactly what I’m looking for in a TV show. Minus the sexual assault of course.
Suggestions for artists I should check out? Please contact me with your ideas. I hope you enjoyed your daily helping of art!
