Princess Agents 楚乔传 just had the mother of all cop-out endings. I don’t know what’s worse, that such a promising show fizzled out in the least satisfying way or that the showrunners drowned any hope of a happy ending into an icy cold lake. Pushing the airtime back an hour also had its drawbacks as the last three episodes fell below 2.0% with the series finale earning only 1.8%. Really though, it might as well have been due to the fact that no one liked the ending, and I know I’m generalizing here but who isn’t a little angry at this point. Warning: Spoilers ahead.
Episode 58 (Uncut Version) begins with the calm before the storm. After running into each other and catching up over hotpot, Chu Qiao (Zhao Li Ying) warns Yuwen Yue (Lin Gengxin) that they are bound to face each other in battle and that he shouldn’t look out for her when the time comes.
He asks whether she would chop off his head, to which she responds that she wouldn’t kill him, but that she would think of ways to defeat him. Yuwen Yue muses, “Is that so, but I can’t do that.” (aww, go back to him already!)
 |
 |
Cheng Yuan (Hu Chun Yong) learns about the little run-in through his spies and reports it to Yan Xun (Shawn Dou). They also get information that the 7th Prince (Jin Jia) is heading their way with an entire army and Cheng Yuan stirs trouble for the nth time by implying that Chu Qiao may have switched sides. Yan Xun shoots down the idea immediately, but green-lights the plan to kill Yuwen Yue.
The 13th Prince (Niu Jun Feng) blocks his brother from waging war on the basis of a letter from Yuwen Yue that might not even be real. We would have known from the previous episode that the 7th Prince already knew it was fake but was manipulated by his advisor to forge ahead anyway.
The 13th Prince recounts how their father was the one who started it all and that the people cannot withstand another war. He offers up his life to appease his brother’s lust for blood and it works for the time being. The 7th Prince sets up camp elsewhere though the 13th Prince knows that his brother wouldn’t think twice to attack if Yuwen Yue doesn’t come back alive.
Yan Xun fails to kill Yuwen Yue on his first try and watches as they escape into the forest. Cheng Yuan secretly devises a twofold plan to lure them out which involves using Chu Qiao as bait. He sends men to arrest her and the Xiuli Army on charges of conniving with the enemy and sends one man to relay the message to Yuwen Yue.
The man tries to pass himself off as one of Chu Qiao’s men who urges Yuwen Yue to escape. He also ‘unintentionally’ lets on that Chu Qiao may be in danger before killing himself for having said too much.
Yuwen Yue and company find the story hard to believe as Yueqi (Xing Zhao Lin) deduces that there is an 8/9 out of 10 chance that the man is lying. Yuwen Yue agrees but he can’t ignore the chance that the man may be telling the truth and says that he has to see her to make sure that she is safe. (ya, he’s definitely going to die now)
En route to answer the summons of Yan Xun, Chu Qiao turns grim when it dawns on her that she’s being played for a fool because the target all along is not her but Yuwen Yue. She sends her men on their way and rides alone to confront Yan Xun.
“Where is Yuwen Yue?,” demands Chu Qiao. “He’s been shot by me,” says Yan Xun. Yan Xun justifies his actions by saying that there is nothing wrong with killing an enemy who has trespassed into his borders and adds, “Ah Chu, in your heart, the entire Yanbei and I cannot compare to Yuwen Yue.”
Chu Qiao argues that Yan Xun can kill Yuwen Yue in battle, but not in this way, not by using her and taking advantage of his feelings for her. Yan Xun counters that everything he has been doing was for her, but she calls him out on all the times that he has ‘protected’ her – killing her comrades, forcing her to abandon her beliefs, doubting her, using her and spying on her.
She doesn’t know whether her feelings for him are love, but he was the most important person to her, and yet she’s having doubts as to whether or not it was worth it and whether she really saw him for who he was. Now, he’s got his wish because she is going over to Yuwen Yue and for the last time she warns, “if Yuwen Yue dies in Yanbei, I will never forgive you.”
Outnumbered and alone, the last twenty minutes of the episode brings the focus back to Yuwen Yue as he fights a losing battle. Chu Qiao is the most badass that she’s ever been as she avenges Yueqi’s death by dealing a skull-crushing blow (is this Game of Thrones?) to Cheng Yuan and stabbing him in the heart for good measure. Xiao He and the Xiuli Army stave off the attackers to allow Chu Qiao to go ahead and save Yuwen Yue.
 |
 |
She eventually makes it to his side just after Yan Xun shoots another arrow that goes straight through him. Yuwen Yue repeatedly tells her to go but she refuses and cries, “Sorry, I will never leave you again. Hold on, you have to keep holding on. Hold on.”
From a distance, Yan Xun does his whole monologue about how he has never changed. Chu Qiao just never knew what it is that he wanted and he is about to show her now. He sends more men in which breaks the ice and causes Yuwen Yue to plunge into the water. Chu Qiao dives after him, but he pushes her away and urges her to live on.
The waters engulf her and seems to awaken something within her as her flower tattoo reveals itself. At the same time, she opens her eyes.
 |
 |
Final Impressions: So we get an ending that barely does anything for the plot. Chu Qiao still isn’t freeing any slaves and worse, Yuwen Yue dies. Yan Xun trudges the same path of destruction that he’s been on ever since his family’s brutal massacre while side characters come and go with absolutely no follow through.
I never caught the name of the man who has become the advisor of the 7th Prince, but he’s the big bad that no one even knows about despite it being the last episode. Xiao Ce simply faded along with the potentially intriguing Liang Kingdom storyline, and it’s also weird that Xiaoqi and Xiaoba dropped off the map without explanation, not that I miss them. Xiao Yu managed to keep her story going, but that went loopy when the show tacked on a one-sided love with Yuwen Yue that felt so out of the blue.
I suppose the only consolation is that Chu Qiao finally leaves Yan Xun though I’m still peeved that she actually thinks that it is okay for Yan Xun to kill Yuwen Yue as long as he does so honorably. I get that the show never intended to tell the entire story from start to finish, but I have a hard time seeing the point of killing Yuwen Yue while setting up the stage for a possible sequel. Is he dead in the novels too or is it one mean joke?
I’m sorry about ranting for so long, but I can’t truly diss a show that was ultimately my new crack for the past month. I would have recommended it to anyone in a heartbeat because it was so unique and unflinching. I still blame whoever it is that decided to bring together an A-team only to waste their talents on a half-baked story with filler episodes in between, but props to the cast and crew for making the epic moments stand out and the crappy ones more bearable. In the meantime, I might just watch The Eternal Love to get over the trauma of Yueqi being killed by Cheng Yuan.
Melodysweetmusic177
the eternal love is really nice, it's light and low budgeted but enough to make yueqi's death soothened, 😀
雪鹰
Oh, this is really strange, but season 2 is available in China right now. It has a happy ending. Just to relieve some of the anger here. Don’t know why it’s not in the west. I am sure because I saw season 2 myself with my grandmother.
雪鹰
And my name is pronounced Xueying. Don’t know why I had to write it in Chinese. Literally means snow eagle. The reason for all the money-making in Chinese shows is that most of the people you see on the top get on the top by cheating(most of the time) and corruption
Rynzy
Really? I hope the season 2 will be available in the Philippines, too. I’m dying to know what happened after in the Icy lake.
Erika Joy Magsisi
I am waiting for the Season 2 , gosh it terrified me , the ending is not what I expected. 58 episode and yet the Finale was not the happy ending , seems like a sentence without a dot.
lillianyu
is it princess agent season 2 ? was yuwen yue alive in season 2 ? i dont like ending here where yuwen yie dies its not right for the good person to die here i dont agree not good
Mayce
The Eternal Love is a cute & pretty light drama. Funny enough, I believe the actor that plays Cheng Yuan is Yue Qi's trusted bodyguard in there.
Lady Jaye
To start off with something nice to say: I think three actors did very well: Zhao LiYing, with he expressive eyes and infectious smile, Lin GengXin who IMO infused a classically cold character with an aura of warmth, wisdom and contemplation, and Shawn Dou, who with his infectious smile and high cheekbones made me pay attention to him whenever he was onscreen (I am not as enamored of his portrayal as many people seem to be, but I do agree that he did a very good job).
As you already know, I am absolutely LIVID about this show. Not the ending so much (don't get me wrong, it pissed me off), but the whole damn shebang. It was a complete failure of storytelling. Yes, the actors did well, all of them, but it does not take away from the fact that this production was abysmal, so bad that the good acting cannot cover up how bad it was. The CGI was bad, the pacing was off, and worst of all, the plot – the freaking narrative! – was terrible. From excessively long introduction episodes, to middle and ending arc that were either so overdrawn as to be filler or did nothing to advance the overall story arc; characters acting out of their established characters, with no explanation for it whatsoever/unbelievable explanations (no, Chun-er COULD NEVER have infiltrated any camp, let alone succeeded at even pretending to be a doctor, and don't get me started with XiaoYu's love. How did 7th Prince suddenly become an unreasonable warmonger); plot threads that just started abruptly outta nowhere and then were left dangling, so that the whole production was a mess of abruptly discontinued/introduced storylines (Zuo BaoCang, Wind and Cloud Decree, the concubine who hated Chu Qiao, the Big-Bad-Guy, XiaoQi and XiaoBa's fate etc etc); letting what should have been side stories hijack the main plotline (this was supposed to be about Chu Qiao's fight to end slavery (and falling in love along the way), but watching it, you'd think we were here to see YanXun's revenge that wasn't a revenge because it left him alone and bitter and unloved by every-damn-bpdy); NOT doing any of their main characters justice (YWY had his hands tied most of the show, YanXun devolved into some static character who was always glaring at everyone, and Chu Qiao was all over the place)……..this is just bad storytelling, and that is unforgivable.
For me as a viewer, that is what hurts and angers me the most. I entrusted over 60 hours of my time to these people in exchange for a good story. Even with the problems in the beginning re CGI and slow -moving plot with irrelevant storylines, I trusted that they knew what they were doing, and would tie the major points up to produce a satisfying and reasonable narrative. But no. They just kept going, making even more and more egregious mistakes, being bigger and bigger failures at storytelling. And I can't let that go. 60 hours of non-reclaimable time. It was a betrayal of trust. I know I'm being dramatic, but I am very upset. Even flippin' GENERAL AND I, which is terrible on all counts, told a COHERENT story. Come on!
I am fairly traumatized. 60+ hours. Good acting alone can't make up for that. And actors, no matter how great, need to be able to tell a story – which they were not able to do here. I don't think I can watch a Chinese historical production any time soon. Or any production, really. Was looking forward to TRIBES AND EMPIRES, but now I just can't.
Anonymous
I've heard that originally there were only 40+ episodes of this drama. They showed it to a test audience, and the reaction was absolutely wonderful! When they saw how popular it can potentially be, certain actor/actress who played supporting roles (I shall not name names, you can tell who they are by counting screen times in the filler episodes) brought in big financial sponsorship to the production, and demanded more screen time! That's why scenes of those who didn't bring in sponsorship were cut, plots were rearranged, and new script were written/changed on a daily basis, it was a big MESS! I heard they were going to cut the scenes of Green Hill Court to make more room for those supporting roles with filler episodes as well, but ZLY put a stop to that…
Unknown
And i thought The King's Woman was d most heartbreaking ending… I was sooo wrong. How could the writer end this beautiful drama like this??????
Lady Jaye
OMG that was a long comment. Also, they killed YueQi. What did he ever do to anyone but be sweet, kind, and adorable????
Jen
I strongly agree with your comments. The plot barely coherent. Despite the fact that they managed to craft very interesting characters (or was that from the book?!), they did not do anything with it. Okay, so Xiao Ce looks silly but is actually really smart. Thank you, Show, for telling me that. So what now? They introduced so many characters but failed to deliver on so many counts. And too many episodes spent at the beginning to develop YWY and Chu Qiao's relationship (which were yummy but really, how many scenes of training (and YWY saving her) do we need in order to know that YWY is training her to be his spy?). Chu Qiao had barely any interaction with Yan Xun and suddenly we have to believe that she would die for him?! Time was spent advancing useless plots (the 4 lady warriors from Yan Bei and the love story with YX's chef-cum-guard?!) and too many cop-outs. There were times when 3-4 episodes in a row did nothing to advance the plot and Chu Qiao appeared for less than 5 mins in those episodes (or disappeared in the case of YWY). Suddenly Chun Er was this big bad who stole the military token and she had command of the whole army and the Wei Dynasty was in trouble because she directed ALL the troops away from the city?! Never mind that everyone knows that the token was stolen. Killing Yu Wen Xi (creepy grandpa) took 3 episodes. 2 episodes of plotting and 181828282 previews for the final moment when she killed him. YX examining his family's head/his 'execution' took up 2-3 episodes. Chu Qiao and YX were stuck in jail for 3 episodes. They were in Chang An for more than 3/4 of the show?! They talked about Yan Bei since forever and they were still in Chang An after aaaaaaall that plotting. Many many scenes of Chun Er whining for YX (before she became evil). Many many scenes of the Liang Princess plotting and the Wei King going mad. Too little scenes of Deng Lun. He appeared for like 2 episodes? And then after that his sole purpose was to save Chu Qiao once. And it wasn't even in his capacity as Da Liang's prince. -.- He could be anyone and still save her. Why did they introduce him if they didnt make good use of that character?! And Xiao Ba had a not-so-secret crush on YWY and then she disappeared. We all thought she was gonna betray Chu Qiao??!!
I started the show because of the kickass trailers but that seems to be the only thing this production team has done well. And special mention to Hunan Weishi TV station for being a pain in the ass and cutting the episodes so terribly. The plot was so thin and yet the TV station still chopped them up and give like 10 minutes of recap for each episode. LIKE OMG I DID NOT FORGET THE PLOT. WHY DO YOU NEED A RECAP?! AND I THINK I SAW THOSE SCENES IN THE LAST EPISODE. CAN WE JUST MOVE ON???!!!! The actors and actresses had amazing chemistry but even they couldn't save the show. Interesting and dynamic characters wasted on this mess of a production. I will look out for the casts' new show but I really need a break for awhile.
Unknown
So,, its good that i did not finished this drama, i wanted it to be like General and I, with war and treason, but with that love that Chu Bei Jie and Bai Ping Tin had… so sad.
Unknown
The main problem in the final episodes was they gave too much screen time to Princess Chun Er instead of showing how CQ saves YWY using her super powers. In the novel YWY survived using his own abilities (or was rescued by somebody) bec CQ had no super powers in the novel. I heard the drama expanded the role of Princess Chun Er that was not even found in the novel so maybe that actress was just cheaper. The final episode did answer the most important question of the drama and novel which was who will CQ choose, the evil friend YX or her love YWY. They were not able to deal with the many villains like the assassin from the angry concubine, the assassin with jade ring, the former yanbei official dong feng ji who is probably the usual evil jealous former boyfriend who betrayed Luo He. Season 2 will probably show how Xing Er and Yu Wen Yue go about abolishing slavery and being anti-war. The Xiu Li army will probably help them. Not sure if the Wei government and Eyes Of God spy group will be on the side of YWY (Prince Yuan Che does seem to have more agreement with YWY). The drama invented the Underworld spy group which also wanted to abolish slavery and was anti-war (ep 17). I heard in the novel, the Liang Princess will have a political marriage with YX.
Unknown
China dramas tend to increase episodes and profits by too many flashbacks, doing side stories for side characters, outrageous plot twists, outrageous personality changes in the characters, etc. so often it is hard to finish china dramas bec the later episodes tend to deteriorate more as writers become more desperate in figuring out how to add more episodes for more profits.
Anonymous
I feel your anger. I was so mad from this ending I had two bad days in real life. I don't watch dramas to be this stressed out.
What bothers me the most is that there is a happy ending in the book. They couldn't even add three minutes for her to rescue him. They had to leave it on a cliffhanger. So annoyed. If there is any consolation is that Yuwen Yue survives in the novel. I am also super mad that they killed Yue Qi, who also survives in the novel. They just went after my two favorite characters for no reason.
I was also so confused by CQ saying it was okay if YX killed YWY honorably. That is why I don't think she loves YWY, you can't love someone and be okay with someone else killing them as long as it is honorably. It doesn't help that CQ has to be one of the most unlikable characters ever.
The drama was really interesting at first for me then it had a couple of twists and turns that kept me engaged, however the plot went all over the place for the last 10 episodes. I read that they had three writers, so the last part of the drama was written by one writer and I need to know her name so I never watch anything by her. She really messed it up. On top of that Ciwen/Hunan edited the drama and removed parts to give more screen time to supporting cast members with strong backing. Truly a shame. This story had a lot of potential and the actors did a great job, but everything else was not up to part. They couldn't even give us a proper ending.
I am watching The Eternal Love and it is cute and romantic. Since it is a webdrama acting is pretty weak but okay overall. The story is a bit all over the place but it is fun and light.
Anonymous
In the first half of the book, CQ did love YX. They were under house arrest for 8 years, not 3 years. She also gave her first kiss to YX. That dialogue (of how it is okay to kill YWY as long as it is done honorably) was taken straight from the book. That's why it no longer makes sense in the drama, because in the drama, the writers changed the characters relationships… IMHO, if they should've changed the dialogue to match the new relationships. BTW, in the book, YWY and YX were not close friends at all.
Anonymous
None of the romantic relationships seemed authentic other than YX and CH. Yes, YWY protected her and trained her but they never even had a decent conversation in the whole drama. All of their physical interactions were forced except the accidental kiss and the kiss on YWY's forehead in the last episode. Unpopular opinion, but I really like YWY's character. He was boring and a privileged know it all. YX won me over because he had the most personality (which the writers later through out the window). Also, I hated how CQ was all over the place. Like she was literally going from one man's bed to another. I'm just so disappointed with the writers.
Anonymous
Incredibly frustrated with the way they dropped the ball on this story and ran! I'm just left feeling confused as if no story here was never told. So many unfinished side plots and characters vanished without explanation. Pure laziness on the part of these writers. What were they thinking?
Unknown
CQ maybe just did not want to admit in front of YX that she loves YWY so she said it was ok for YX to kill YWY. I would guess that CQ was disappointed that YX would kill their friend YWY when YX spared the lives of Princess Chun Er and Prince Yuan Song. My guess is YWY would not kill his friend YX even in war. In ancient china, I do not know if your are supposed to treat prisoners of war humanely bec YX maybe could've kept YWY as a prisoner of war instead of trying super hard to kill the helpless and dying YWY.
Anonymous
I totally agree. The beginning was promising but then I started noticing the flaws, certain scenes didn't make sense or just wasn't cut in properly. The worst scene they didn't edit properly was the last episode. The part where Yuewen Yue was shown to be shot by an arrow first time at night, then the next scene is him sitting (without a wound) being fed false news about CQ. Then we move along to him being on the frozen lake where there is an arrow wound shown. The storyline was all over the place after episode 24 and the only thing holding it together was the reunion scenes between the CQ and Yue. I've seen Lin Geun Xin's previous drama God of War, I felt he was superb. Princess Agents actually is his best acting to date. I hope to see him more in period dramas. He's only 29 years old but he's so down to earth and casual. I never read the books so I don't know the ending but from how the fight scenes were going, I knew it that it was going to be a cliffhanger. I too felt my 60 hours was wasted. I don't have closure, and being part OCD, it's very painful. Re-watching earlier episodes only serve to be painful. For 2017, there really hasn't been any good period dramas as from this one and I'm a picky watcher. It seems the most potential is going to happen late 2017 and 2018 which Legend of Dugu and it's sister show (Queen of Dugu).
Anne J
I think I managed to let it all out that I don't have much left to add other than yes to most of the comments above. And yes, I noticed Yuwen Yue's arrow wound disappearing too, and I'm never meticulous enough to notice movie mistakes which says a lot about how bad the ending was.
The most annoying part was how they saved the rest of the story for later when there is no assurance that they can even bring together the same cast to do it so then what's the point, right? I feel like that decision alone led to characters that were introduced but then left out and then all the fillers in between that had to be there because there was no story left to tell.
@LadyJaye aww no.. don't lose hope, Monster Killer 2 is coming out this month! As for Tribes and Empires, it looks too good to pass on but maybe to be safe, wait till the show is done airing? haha i doubt I could resist tho have been waiting for that forever. It looks like cinema quality good.
Anne J
thank u for sharing that YWY survives and Yue Qi too.. I'm just going to ignore what happened in the last episode and revel in the fact that they're alive in the books.
I feel like CQ didn't really know she loved YWY yet, which is why she said it was okay for YX to kill him, I think she probably only realized her feelings during the final scene when he was dying in front of her and that was the wakeup call. I loved ZLY's acting there – it was so raw and emotional.
Unknown
One interpretation could be that CQ was just too dumb to know what is love until the final ep. YWY in danger of being killed was definitely enough to make CQ realize how much she loved YWY. My impression was that CQ already loved YWY since the earliest episodes even though YWY treated CQ like a slave, forced CQ to become a spy, and CQ would not kill YWY even though she thought YWY killed her brother and she only left YWY when she thought YWY did not love her.
Another explanation is in chinese dramas, people tend to sacrifice love for other greater considerations. Even though CQ loved YWY, it was for the greater good that she leave YWY and prevent YX from doing more evils. Based on earlier episodes, CQ knew that war could validly kill her love YWY so she was ok with YX killing YWY in the war, but of course, she was very disappointed with YX killing his friend YWY which probably was enough to cause the break with YX. YX could have kept YWY as a prisoner of war and CQ probably could no longer stomach the cruelty of YX (YX was probably just jealous and could not spare the life YWY). YX allowing the use of YWY's love to trap YWY was obviously too devious for CQ to stomach so she decided it was not worth it anymore for her to sacrifice her love for what she mistakenly thought was the greater good and she should just be with her love YWY. CQ told YX she has already decided to leave YX and be with YWY and I think that already implies that she admits she does love YWY in front of YX.
Anonymous
In the book, YQ saves YWY. I think YX sells YWY's "corpse" back to the YWY family, and the family strikes him from the family book and whips his "corpse". CQ takes the "corpse" and buries it, opens up a restaurant and basically hibernates for 3 years. I believe CQ and YWY meet again 3 years later. My recollection is hazy and my reading of the Chinese language isn't the best though.
Note that the book started with CQ being a special agent in modern times, died, and was reborn into an 8 year old's body, but having the memories of a 27 year old. She didn't have super powers that she inherited from her mom. She spent 8 years living with YX after YX's family was killed, and the book discussed her relationship with YX much more than her relationship with YWY in the beginning.
Anonymous
I actually dropped this drama from episode 30 because I thought it was not going anywhere but just kept dragging on. And then I checked out the ending and was literally laughing out loud. It was so ridiculous!
FYI: In the books..Yan Xun is the main male character and not YWY.
Bookworm
YX is not the main male lead in the book. The author gave him a lot of thoughts, but it's still undeniable that Yuwen Yue is the main male lead.
Unknown
In the drama, CQ has super powers so most people are expecting CQ to save YWY using her super powers. What is the use of having super powers if you cannot even save 1 drowning person. Season 2 should probably just skip the boring 3 year apparent death of YWY. In the drama, CQ did not seem to love YX and they only shared the same vision for many years and their relationship quickly fell apart once their visions diverged. In season 1, CQ seems to be mainly a vision driven person rather than a love driven person. In the early episodes, CQ did not have time for love bec she was obsessed with revenge for her dead family members. Later CQ became super busy as she got sucked into the revenge plans of YX, and later felt responsible for preventing YX from doing more evils (she was partly responsible for encouraging YX to get revenge).
Unknown
YX will probably be the main villain in season 2. I heard YX will have a political marriage with the Liang Princess. The drama seems to have expanded the role of Princess Chun Er in season 1 so maybe this actress was just cheaper and I was surprised Princess Chu Er got so much screen time even in the final episodes.
caranita
In order to expand the roles given to the bigger stars, the producers and the writers butchered the original story. They didn't even make a good job at it, with incoherence and plotholes all over the series. The final production makes both the book lovers and, eventually, the drama fans angry. This is so deja vu of Chusen season 1.
Very rarely an adaptation follows the original source to the T, including those that have been adapted numerous times (eg the Condor Trilogy). Some go to an extreme change, but they ought to be done decently. I'd give Border Town Prodigal a prop for a fine execution of a heavily butchered story. They completely changed the leading roles, as well as the main romance, and altered parts of the story — but somehow it works. The story was draggy in the middle, some of the characters became quite unlikeable, but that is to be expected in a Chinese drama. The Legend of Qin is another adaptation that IMO is quite successful with its changes. The changes were indeed disliked by the original anime fans, but it still worked for the viewers who never watched the anime. Even when the main character (Jing Tian Ming) needs lots of episodes to grow up & the repetitive scene of Jing Ke attempted assassination drive one crazy, the story as whole is enjoyable, there are character developments, and it has satisfactory closure — a happy ending that is quite rare in Chinese period dramas (sorry for the spoiler). It's opposite to my experience with PA. I came with zero expectation and no comparison since I didn't read the book, got interested and watched it for 30 something episodes despite my growing impatience with the story — was staying mainly because of the actors — but the mess became too much to handle, the characters unbearable, so from then on I just watched a few random episodes though still following the story in blogs and forums. TBH, I don't understand why people demanded that the drama closes with a happy ending following the book, because it has deviated largely from the book from the very beginning.
AndreaK
Such a good comment! I am so intrigued by the book! Could you share any other major differences between the relationship between CQ, YWY & YX in the book that was missed in the show? For example do CQ & YX or even CQ & YWY have any sort of obvious romantic relationship in the book? It's been so good reading everyone's comments. I originally thought I kept missing something, or some episodes were missing, but now I know its the bad writing and editing.lo Such a shame, had such high hopes for this one!
Unknown
Before viewers started on the drama, most have probably read the summary derived from the novel about how the heroine initially helped YX before ditching YX for YWY, and goes about abolishing slavery, and the drama does agree with the novel summary even though many details were probably changed.
Unknown
My guess is they wanted to cover the part about CQ ditching YX for YWY in the final ep so they were not able to cover the many villains such as the assassin sent by the concubine, the assassin with jade ring, and the former yanbei official who seems like the usual evil jealous former boyfriend who probably betrayed Luo He.
Yua Li Chen
Calling on whoever read the book, I just want to know why does it take 2 years for YWY and Xing'er to meet again? I understand that he probably needs time to heal his wounds, but it shouldn't take 2 years, right? so, why didn't he look for her earlier? was he trying to test her love for him?
I don't understand why people keep saying that Xing'er doesn't know if she loves YWY or not. Of course she knows that she loves him since the earlier episodes. She cried with disappointment when she thought that he only wanted to use her because she heard his grandpa say that. She had to choose to be with YX to keep him from committing further atrocities, but YX turned out to be worse than she thought so she decided to leave him. The noble Chinese people in that era tended to sacrifice their personal feelings for the greater good. That's all Xing'er was trying to do, but luckily she had her limit.
Who said that YQ and YWY were dead? YQ told Xing'er to go save YWY and he closed his eyes. He might just faint from his wounds and not dead. YWY pushed Xing'er away and he was sinking, but nobody knows what happens to him after that…was he dead? was he still alive? There are a lot of unresolved plots because they want to make season 2. If everything is resolved, then what will they do with season 2? ^_^
AndreaK
Good comment, I also have all those same questions, would also love to hear from someone who has read the book! Is the book available anywhere in English?
雪鹰
Yeah it is. Wattpad. Just sign in with google or something.
Welcome
In the novel, CQ did love YX. When she said YX could have killed YWY in the battle, she would've been ok. She did mean it because she was still supporting YX in winning the war. However, she felt betrayed and was heartbroken when YX kept using her repeatedly, especially to kill YWY. Even with that, she didn't completely gave up hope on YX until after YWY's death, and YX went on to kill more people…
YWY was pulled out of the lake by YQ. It took them 2 years to meet because he couldn't risk exposing his identity. After his "death", he was abandoned by both his country and family for they deemed his sacrifice for a woman was a disgrace. He had no where to go and had to reestablish a new home. With his intelligence and strategies, he quickly turned an abandoned region into a democracy where there's no slavery and people succeed based on skills. They finally met again during NewYear's eve, the same time where he bought her a rabbit before.
Unknown
My heart got broken when yue qi got killed . Who made this drama. So stupid!
Unknown
The ending was so annoying! If i know that that was the ending i shoudnt waste my time watched it. Why yuwen hue died? And why his bodyguard yue qi got killed??? I feel so angry. Yue qi got stabbed!!! Who made this drama. Damn you!!!
EU MI NA
Nice optimistic comments.it does give me some hope for a happy ending between YWY and CQ. I will delay the last ep until it is confirmed that there is second season. I cant bear to watch YWY die… i was too heart broken even just by reading the last ep synopsis… please please make the second season asap
ekk
This drama is one of my best Chinese drama i have watched but i totally agree with everyone here that the ending is poor. Maybe am expecting a sequel otherwise i will disappointed in the drama. Although i have watched it three times i still can't get the ending right. There should be a sequel which includes YXY and his bodyguard.
Unknown
Is this from.the novel?? Thanks for sharing!! Give me hope for a happy ending after all.
Anonymous
"I still blame whoever it is that decided to bring together an A-team only to waste their talents on a half-baked story with filler episodes in between, but props to the cast and crew for making the epic moments stand out and the crappy ones more bearable. " This is probably the best summary I've seen thus far about this drama. LOL!
Anonymous
It took 3 years for YWY to recover from his injuries and became the ruler of Qing Hai territory. Qing Hai is a territory where Wei emperor sends his exiles and the most dangerous criminals. YWY went there because he knew it is a new land and he can establish new rules there. Under his rule, Qing Hai became a prosperous country with free trade and free of slaves. But he hid his identity so no one really knew who this new mysterious "ruler" is.
Unknown
Can anyone tell me where or how to get a copy of the book or novel in English,please
Dr. Jean Hickam
Originally advertised as 64 episodes. Through out this series references were made to special cold powers. With 10 episodes remaining the main characters were dumped into an icy lake. NOW THE COLD POWERS SHOULD TAKE OVER…but no, the show was cut. This is no way to treat your viewers who have watched for 58 episodes. Makes one wonder what is more important, advertisers or the folks who are your viewers. I am confident that this review will be cut. But at least I have expressed my disdain. DOC
Unknown
I've been looking for it too. Was so disappointed and a bit heartbroken with the ending of the drama.
Unknown
so am watching this all the way from Kenya Africa,, i jumped from episode 25 to 59 just to confirm who won Xigner..to my surprise she did not have yuan or Yuwei or the brother to the princes…..this is so sad,,no more watching,,end of watching..am disappointed
Unknown
Where is so 59 for princess agents
Unknown
Would someone please tell me if season 2 is out yet & where can I watch? Also, has the book been translated into English?
Unknown
I would love to read this book. Would someone please let me know if this book has been translated into English or Vietnamese?
Unknown
Anyone has information regarding season 2 please share. Thank you!
Cornelia Wriedt
Staffel 2 bitte – und sei es auch auf Englisch – ich komme aus Deutschland. Es ist für mich sehr schwer alles zu verstehen. Vor Verzweiflung leren ich schon Mandarin.
Bookworm
She didn't realize that she love YET because there were no spy training in the book. She was just his maid until she killed the old man and ran away with YX. They didn't have that much interaction like the drama portrayed. She developed her love for him because the countless time he saved her which the drama cut off a lot. Even so she was always unclear about her feeling for him because between them also exist her grudge about he killed her family (he was really a bad guy at the beginning in the book. He did kill her siblings cruelly), political opposite, and her feeling for YX. So whatever feeling she has for him, she always try push it deep down and not think about it.
Bookworm
They probably be back if they make season 2. A guard save YWY by pulling and swimming away with him. And use his head to break the ice, pushed his master up. The guard die after that but Yue Qi found YWY. It took them half years to heal his wound. After that they went to an abandoned land to build his new army and slowly make it become the dream land for his girl
Bookworm
I know the English version is only translated to c37 but the Vietnamese version is full and very easy to find online. Just type So Kieu Truyen. Also YouTube has the audio version too
Unknown
was looking forward to watching the whole of it but because Yuwen Yue is dead and Chu Qiao does not confess her love for him then am not wasting my tears. need a drama where by the love birds actually end up together coz this z jst a tragedy drama.
Unknown
How can he die?? Cant I get one historical drama were by the love birds actually end up together?
Anonymous
Three Lives Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms/eternal love is really good where it ends in happily. One of my favorite shows. Stays strong throughout series. I felt that princess agents was super strong early but somewhat fell off.
Unknown
Im so upset with yan xun! My mo lian cheng died in this drama?!! Why no one in this drama have their happy ending!
Unknown
I want to know whether yuwen yue died please is there any episode coming
saeye
Even after knowing all of these, I still cannot come to hate Yan Xun. He is and will always be my favorite character in the series even after the horrendous way the series unfold. I feel like the author gave him such an cruel background, normally given to heroes of novels, only to throw him into the pit. Yue and Chu's relationship feel forced to me…so I couldn't even stomach their relationship. In the end, the author and writers of the series did what they did and as a viewer, I have no say. T^T sigghhhhh I just want a good ending for Yan Xun. Can someone just tell me what happens to Yan Xun at the end of the novel? The worse and best that could happen would be death. T^T
Ash
Yan Xun is so terrible. I hope he dies in the most terrible way.
Unknown
A list of Zhao Liying's 10 historical dramas!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p20Kyda73bg
Unknown
Check the first trailer of Zhao Liying's new drama [The Story of Ming Lan] in Eng Sub
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMFVhREGzuE
Unknown
I AM SO heartbroken!!!Am devastated!!!WHY WILL YWY die!!!I was hoping for at least for a happy ending btw YWy and CQ…After soo much killing!soo many people died!THIS MOVIE IS SOO SAD!!!Whoever wrote this movie is Soo Heartless!I FEEL SO SAD….I just want to cry!!!I wish I never watched this series!Am soo Sad and heartbroken!!!HX IS A BASTARD!!He dares to kill YWY!!What did YWY ever do to him!!He never betrayed him….CQ was Yuwen Woman to begin with…Yuwen met her first!!I HATE YAN XUN…I just won't ever see any series he featured in….I HOPE TO FORGET THIS STORY OF PRINCESS AGENTS as soon as possible…PLS IF YOU ARE READING THIS….DONT WATCH THIS MOVIE…it's a heartless and sad Movie!!I waited my time…Am soo Sad about this Series… I REGRET WATCHING IT
Unknown
I hope he dies!!
Unknown
I pray he survive…I wish he won't die
I am soo sad!!
Yan xun dares to hurt him!!!Yuwen never did anything wrong to Yan Xun!!!Yan Xun is soo Evil…driven by hatred…I hope he dies!
Unknown
This is the second movie of Zhao ling am watching that is heartbreaking and no clarity. Legend of chusen2 and now Princess agent. I was so intrigue at the beginning cant imagine it just ended like this. Majority of comments xo far is rite. The script writer shud do sometin abt dis. YWY and Chu was my favourite characters. Xo am expecting a season 2 n pls dnt kip us waiting for too long. Xo i dnt continue to feel dis regret for watching it at d first place
Unknown
THere is a next season!The movie can't just end like this….but if it does I will term the Producer of this series as "STUPID" and "MAD"…..YUWEN MUST NOT DIE!!!YUWEN MUST NOT DIE!!YUWEN MUST NOT DIE!!……WE WANT A NEXT SEASON….PRINCESS AGENTS CAN'T END LIKE THIS….KOLE WORK!!!That heartless Yan Xun!!I Used to like him…Ooh!I hate him with all my heart now!!!
Anonymous
Is there a sequel for this drama? Cause I fine it's unlogical to end a story this way.
Anne J
no news of a sequel that's why it's so frustrating the way they ended things.
Viewer
so not satisfying with the ending 🙁
Unknown
when will season two release /
Unknown
Who know that princess Agents season 2 release date?
phantomshadow
where's the season two, don't prolong the agony. come on!
Anonymous
Good story line and good actors, but producer has ruined everything!!!!
Why why why????????
SHQA
Thanks to all the commentators for sharing their POV on this drama. The ending was shabby, and there was too much time filler from the beginning to the end. The director should have done a better job managing the 48 episodes. I would have been more interested in watching a drama about YWY's new kingdom.
SHQA
Sorry! I should have typed 58 episodes instead of 48 episodes.
Anonymous
it was not acceptable ending, cause the story was incomplete. we were expecting that someday she would recover from amnesia and show her true powers to everyone.because from the begining of the story they were hinting us that she has something special powers but because of amnesia she dont know about her powers.now whole season is over but we haven't got anything to see.
As per such ending there must be second season.
Unknown
I think the ladies loved the actor who played Yuwen Yue. The chemistry with the main couple was great. There was no way they would survive being together. They would have been hunted down and killed by everyone since they since they would become rebels.
This novel was never about romance they tried to stretch it that way for the viewers. She was just not going to end up with either of the leads. The acting and action scenes are what elevated the drama.
People have seen enough war and dying dramas. Gotta have love and hope and also dramas where love wins. God knows we have plenty of those where it's doom and gloom, backstabbing. I stayed for Yuwen Yue and the actor that played him. He knew that even if she left for him he had no place for him.
I know this drama was made from a book adaption. Next time they need to just write the type of screen play that viewers want. I want a lot more love there is more than enough agony death and destruction. They need to add more hope, for love in these dramas. At least a hopeful ending. I know there is going to be a season 2 but that is no consolation since there is no Yuwen Yue.
Dr. Jean Hickam
All the hints in this series were ignored. The last several episodes were abandoned,thus leaving the viewer more than upset after viewing over 30 episodes. NO CLOSURE
Unknown
Sungguh menyenangkan klu ternyata ywy & yQ masih hidup,
Semoga season 2 ,mereka berdua masih berperan , semoga di ahir cerita ywy & CQ ,bersatu dlm kedamaian.ini akan menjd ahir cerita yg memuaskan. Seperti General & I , lost love in time, peach of blosom , film ini mempuyai ahir cerita yg memuaskn.berahir dgn bersatu.
Unknown
Sungguh menyenangkan klu ternyata ywy & yQ masih hidup,
Semoga season 2 ,mereka berdua masih berperan , semoga di ahir cerita ywy & CQ ,bersatu dlm kedamaian.ini akan menjd ahir cerita yg memuaskan. Seperti General & I , lost love in time, peach of blosom , film ini mempuyai ahir cerita yg memuaskn.berahir dgn bersatu.
Unknown
Sungguh menyenangkan klu ternyata ywy & yQ masih hidup,
Semoga season 2 ,mereka berdua masih berperan , semoga di ahir cerita ywy & CQ ,bersatu dlm kedamaian.ini akan menjd ahir cerita yg memuaskan. Seperti General & I , lost love in time, peach of blosom , film ini mempuyai ahir cerita yg memuaskn.berahir dgn bersatu.
Unknown
Kutu buku
Apa benar yg km ceritakan , ini akan menjadi cerita selanjutnya ? Season 2, klu benar q tdk jd kecewa. Ywy YQ CQ tdk blh mati dlm cerita ini. Klu 3 org ini di hapus ,sy tdk ingin nonton kelanjutanya.
Unknown
Am I the only person on earth who was okay with the ending? XD Probably cos a) I'm a fan of tragedies and b) I was pacified by the fact that there's supposed to be a sequel coming out and the book that this series is based on has a happy ending that involves a living Yuwen Yue.
I'm basically banking on the hope that Yuwen Yue is alive in the next series. I don't even care if the way he comes out of this alive is completely ridiculous (after the prince stayed alive after losing his arm and Yan Xun continued living after being stabbed up to near death on the day they burned his family's remains, anything is possible at this point) If he isn't, haha, then I'll be just as upset as everyone else. But for now, I'll recommend anyone to this drama, especially for the first half of it, and I'll pacify anyone who finishes it by telling them that this isn't the last that we've seen of our heroes. 🙂
Unknown
I'm not happy with the ending..i think 99% viewer having the same expectation as me…happy ending btw ywy and xing'er and those bad people getting equal punishment..but the ending really made me crazy… so frustrated. Hope there will be another series to settle down viewer heart to see beautiful ending.. really love all those actor and actress in this drama..they play their role well…plsss..ywy and xing'er must be together..
Gede
I do not like the end of an unhappy story. YWY,and YQ are not dead!
Unknown
Hate the ending Yuwen Yue must have killed all Yan Xun army since his martial Arts is the best and get Yan Xun killed by Chu Qiao to avenge and in the very ending Chu Qiao should have get married to Yuwen Yue that would be so romantic
Esquerda
I agree wholeheartedly. The drama has a crappy ending and gave me nothing but disappointed and broken heart, thinking that I wasted my precious time watching this useless drama! Damm production company and Director. I got over it by watching “eternal love with Mark Zhuo and Yangmi’s phenomenal acting and love!
Gaia Miranda
I disagree with many here and I think Chu Qiao and Yan Xun make it back into the next season because the tiger lily comes alive and awakens a tremenous inner power that allows her to save him and get him to the surface in magical fashion whereby she transfers he Chi into him until he can be mended. I think its in the best interest of the show as well to also use the same actors for the season 2 for these two main characters. Also I wish someone would have hit Chuen'er upside the head with a 2X4 when she was into one of her self indulgent 10 minute poor pitiful me sobbing sessions and put her lame butt out of commission for good.
Anonymous
Anyone know when season 2 will be out?
Anonymous
Looking for this also. Anyone can update latest news if there will be season 2?
Coolio64
Well 10 rated ,But do all the episodes. Was well written and acting was great. Episodes not bad, Not much boring for me. For a series this long I made it through them. First 1. Very well done movie. Yan Xun was really bad and she took to long finally finding out how bad he was. Now finish this with all the Episodes to make since.
Unknown
I think i wasted my time watching tye show to have a finale just like that.i expected more ?
Unknown
Apapun itu, princes agent season 2 please
Unknown
please YWY should rise and win CQ for the movie to look nice because i think they match
Unknown
Sir, I am Indian . your drama is very nice & I like it, why should design the character of yuwen Yue so patiency?I can't understand.how many parts of princess agent. Please give me reply.
FoxtrotSQQ
Can someone advise if the novel is translated into English ?
And where can I obtain a copy ?
Otherwise, where can I buy the Chinese version ?
Natalie Lee
I am flabbergasted that the ending is such a cliffhanger, it's like you read a novel with the laste few pages torn off. I thought it would have a closure of CQ exhibited her ice inner power to save the dying YWY… CQ is a character i like most but somehow I feel she has done nothing much for YWY and YWY is as foolish as CE given his rationality… The only difference is YWY love for CQ is unconditional, touching and discreet but CE love for YX is childish, impulsive and ridiculous.
The plots are also weird like the Da Liang Yue Er who is in love with her pen pal… She seems so smart, confident and crafty, it doesn't make any logical sense to be in love with pen pal…
Euri
I couldn't get over Yueqi's death. He was my favorite character aside from Yuwen Yue, of course. ?
Unknown
oh! man, i just finish watched all the episode of princess agent,. i can't wait to see the princess agent season 2. Does anyone of you know where I can watch the season 2?? Pleas. I can't wait to see if yuwen yue is still a live or not and whats happening after then???
Unknown
That good for nothing, spineless YY deserve it …after watching what happened with YX's family and country, even though YY had so many ways to avoided it but that loser was busy in training achu to use her fighting skills for his own sake, i decided than that if one day YX tries to kill YY i m with him ….
Keke
This story line had more spies than the FBI, CIA, and Interpol combined!! Families plotting against each other, and the emperor and his mind games; he was so damn paranoid and annoying at best, how are you going to plot against your best friend and have his son killed as well?? It was ridiculous trying to follow all the story lines and who was spying on who, and which spy was the master at martial arts and what nots!!! The ending was perfect for a nonsense storyline.
Unknown
Trash, the drama is trash. Even the emperor that started everything did not die, YX is eaten up by hatred and envy, CQ is blind and foolish, my yue'er is potrayed dense but then why does he need to die? Where is CQ superpowers? Where is xioba and sister? Where is luohe cos she isn't dead? The worst drama 1 ve ever watched, my 50 hours is wasted,I would never watch Chinese series ever again
Unknown
Ahhh! I simply can't get over the ending. It is a teledrama from two years back but i just finished it last night after a marathon of viewing. And i am just lost….no closure. And it seems like there really might be no closure.
The acting was great. i never watched a chinese drama except for this and i fell in love with Chu Qiao, Yan Xun and Yuen Yue. But an ending like this? It is….painful.
Siriphone
I just finished watching this in 2020 lol …enjoyed it so much and even though tons of episodes left me hanging, I had high expectations for the ending to make up for it…nope. So disappointed with the ending…why did they kill off Yuwen Yue? He was the most consistent character lol I was expecting Cu Qiao to ignite this cold spell that’s been dormant and send spikes of icicles to kill off everyone, especially that Yan Xun lol then rescue the guy who’s been constantly saving Cu Qiao throughout this whole 58 episodes! Lol in any case great actors, enjoyed it still and love Cu Qiao so much I can’t wait to see her in Legend of Fei !!!
To end, if there’s sequel to Princess Agents, I would be happy for sure but will expect director/production to step it up!! ��
kjmcali
Me and my mom just finished watching this tonight and we watched this in just 3-4 days I think (like we’ve been watching this for 12-15 hrs a day as far as I remember LOL). And we were stoned when we saw the ending. The ending was really heartbreaking but at the same time a beautiful ending because technically the entire story is based on Chu Qiao’s journey from slave turned into a powerful and passionate woman and also this is a story of survival. The trio made us fell in love with the entire season and also great job to their second leads, and other casts of this show. My mom literally searched for season 2 on Youtube hoping that there will be a happy ending for Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue (but sad to say she only saw a lot of fan-made videos HUHU)
The only thing that I’m not a fan of whenever I watch shows or movies is a low-quality effects and edits you know but it’s fine because the characters and the execution of each artists were so great!
So. basically we’re a new fan of this show and hoping in the near future Zhao Liying (Chu Qiao) and Lin Gengxin (Yuwen Yue) will reunite for another show and I hope it’s another romantic drama, and please please please make them end up together– a happy ending indeed for everyone (and I think we deserve it HAHAHA)!
P.S. This is my first time watching a Chinese drama that has 50+ episodes and it’s worth it!
Loving all the way from Philippines!
Andy
Anyone annoyed by wtf how the princess steal the seal and also able to get so close to try to kill daddy even after she was banish?
abdul yahya
what about the fonian tally eshue
ultron2099
Following the story I think a few logical plot lines can be extrapolated. Chu Qiao powers awaken, and she comes forth from the ice water like a Hydromancer Goddess. Scaring everyone who is on the ridge into retreating.
News of Yuwen Yue death reaches Yuan Che and he mobilizes his army to push forward. Badly outnumbered Yan Xun switches to hit and run gorilla warfare tactics. Meanwhile Chu Qiao returns north to her tribe, having learned she was born not of Northern Yan but of the barbarians farther north. There she completes her self discovery of her powers as Yuan Che’s army is chipped away by Yan Xun. Both armies exhausted and on the verge of collapse retreat to their respective strongholds.
Chu Qiao descends from her homeland at the head of a barbarian horde that over runs Northern Yan’s Vanguard army. At the same time this happens Yuan Che returns to the borders of Northern Yan with an even greater army, and between the Barbarians and the soldiers of Wei, Yan Xun watches as his dream of vengeance and empire are destroyed. In the end he dies in a personal battle again Chu Qiao, who also kills Yuan Che.
The one armed prince Yuan Song becomes Emperor. He reforms some of the practices of the Wei empire but conquers Northern Yan reestablishing the border against the northern barbarians; who have also retreated back to their homeland.
Chu Qiao is last scene alone in a small cabin, looking over a lake, her face a mask of pain, regret, and reflection.
Anyhow, that’s how I kinda see how the story would have ended based on how they did things so far, how they ended it, and a little Game of Thrones maudlin endings mixed in.
Unknown
Why did YWY die,from the begining i thought i was enjoying it,but not knowing that is so heartless,i regret ever waisting my time,waisting my data washing this heartbreaking movie.I believe season 2 is the upcoming season,and i hope YWY will be back and defeat YX
Stumble Guys
This movie is pretty good but I don’t like the ending