Short Review: The Princess’s Gambit (2025) 桃花映江山
Summary: Jiang Tao Hua (ft Meng Zi Yi) is the princess of the Northern Yuan Kingdom. In order to save her younger brother, she agrees to be married off to a prince in the Qi Kingdom. Shen Zai Ye (ft Liu Xue Yi) is the Left Chancellor of the Qi Kingdom. Jiang Tao Hua and Shen Zai Ye become embroiled in a scandal created by Shen Zai Ye’s political rivals. The two agree to get married as a result. Amid the turbulent power struggles between the two kingdoms, the pair engage in a battle of wits, constantly scheming against each other. Yet, as they are forced to work together against formidable enemies, they gradually develop feelings for one another. Faced with the choice between love and duty to their nations, they overcome countless obstacles and ultimately join forces to reshape the fate of their kingdoms.
Platform: Tencent
Episodes: 36
Airing Date: June 26, 2025
Final Rating 6.9/10 [After 19 episodes]: An adequate politically focused period romance drama starring two handsome leads but several logic defying plot twists left me scratching my head.
Shen Zai Ye 沈在野 Liu Xue Yi 刘学义
Young but powerful Left Chancellor who must navigate the political minefield of the Qi Kingdom
Jiang Tao Hua 姜桃花 Meng Zi Yi 孟子义
Princess from the Northern Yuan Kingdom who is determined to save her brother
Meng Zhen Zhen 孟蓁蓁 Liu Ling Zi 刘令姿
Wife of Shen Zai Ye who is just a pawn to her family
Mu Dai 穆无瑕 Liu Hao Cun 边程
4th Prince of the Qi Kingdom who believes in justice and peace
Luo Ren 向清影 Song wei long 范静雯
Younger sister to Shen Zai Ye with aspirations of becoming a great martial artist
Mu Wu Yin 穆无垠 Gao Han 高寒
3rd Prince of the Qi Kingdom who seems to be free of worldly desires
Final Thoughts
This is Meng Zi Yi’s first drama to air as a lead since last winter’s hit Blossom and another period romance drama to air for Liu Xue Yi. Meng Zi Yi was the highlight for me Love in Pavilion and Liu Xue Yi was respectable in A Moment but Forever, but the two inexplicably don’t translate their individual chemistry to this drama. The main characters are extremely intelligent which makes for good TV but there were several instances in the development of their relationship that left me rather exasperated at the two of them.
The plot moves quickly but not always coherently. Political schemes, betrayals, and sobering moments about the cost of innocence are all present, but the lack of impactful follow-through makes these moments feel hollow. Despite plenty of activity, the drama struggles to maintain narrative momentum, and the result is a story that somehow feels both busy and bland.
This drama unfortunately was another dud for the two leads and Tencent, barely breaching 26000 on its popularity index and averaging less than 15M views per episodes. This is another misfire for Liu Xue Yi, his 3rd already this year. Again, he’s not a bad actor and the dramas he chooses aren’t bad but it definitely seems like he doesn’t has the best luck with landing an overall top production.
What I Liked
- Power at any cost: The drama shines most when it leans into the brutal, calculated pursuit of power. Characters were scheming and plotting against each other. They were willing to sacrifice almost anything including family and friends to achieve their own aims. Characters understood that they were only pawns on a chessboard and knew that there was no turning back from the paths they set in motion. A brother-sister duo was particularly touching as they strove to pick the winner and did everything in their power to win. There was only a hint of humanity left within them but that was more than could be said of others putting pieces on the chessboard.
- Survival Through Grit: Jiang Tao Hua spends much of the drama at the mercy of others namely being drugged, tortured, and mistreated by nearly everyone around her. As a Princess, she knows she’s just a bargaining chip and must remain useful to her younger brother. Though her kindness often puts her in danger, it’s her resilience and determination that allow her to endure and draw the attention of Shen Zai Ye. She’s not a typical damsel in distress, she survives because she refuses to break.
- Growth in Turmoil: While the 4th Prince’s storyline didn’t initially stand out, it eventually offered a welcome shift in pace. Watching younger, more idealistic characters mature into politically aware adults provided a necessary contrast to the darker main plotline. These interludes gave room for optimism in a world driven by strategic maneuvering. That said, the acting from the 4th Prince and his love interest lacked the depth needed to fully carry their arc, making their scenes less compelling than the core narrative.
What's Didn't Work - Minor Spoilers Ahead
- Confusing Political Logic: For a drama that is centered on politics, the politicking doesn’t quite stand on its own. There are moments when it shines, especially in regards to the Meng family and the ruthless battle between princes, but the overall premise for the drama leaves a lot to be desired. For example, Shen Zai Ye is the powerful Left Chancellor who has married the daughter of the Right Chancellor as his wife and has 2 other women as concubines from noble families. If the Emperor’s goal is to weaken these influential clans, why allow Shen Zai Ye to consolidate so much power through marriage? It seems counterproductive and would be extremely dangerous as Shen Zai Ye could just as easily privately change his loyalties. Here’s another example. To survive Jiang Tao Hua agrees to become a concubine of Shen Zai Ye. Realistically, her homeland would never permit such a politically damaging arrangement since this is now a Princess being married to a lowly official even if he is the Left Chancellor. At this point, Shen Zai Ye’s harem rivals the entire court in influence, how would that ever be allowed to stand?
- Glaring Plot holes: Perhaps my most exasperated issue with this drama is that it repeatedly sacrifices logic just to get that “aha” moment. Characters who suffer serious injuries bounce back in the very next scene miraculously healed. Others nearly drown but reappear completely dry, in full makeup and costume, without a scratch. These scenes undermine the emotional stakes and timelines, making it difficult to stay immersed in the story. The drama very much wants the “yes!” moment but fails to follow through.
- A Troubling Romance Dynamic: Jiang Tao Hua’s relationship with Shen Zai Ye is problematic from the start. Jiang Tao Hua is tortured and threatened several times by Shen Zai Ye or his men. Shen Zai Ye is understandably suspicious of this cunning Princess and has a layer of armor on as he interacts with her. He is the first to fall for her because he sees her tenacity and brilliance despite him. Jiang Tao Hua begins to fall for him, but the drama never fully addresses how toxic that dynamic is. This is why I can’t fully ship this couple.
- Uninspired Visual Direction: The cinematography lacks variety. Too many scenes are reduced to tight facial close-ups, cutting back and forth between actors with minimal movement or blocking. While the leads are undoubtedly attractive, the constant close-ups highlight overly done makeup and strip the scenes of physical nuance. More spatial awareness and interaction between characters would have brought much-needed life to the visuals. I wanted to see more interactions between characters rather than just talking heads.