Both are costume dramas about intrigues, ambitions and scheming between princes at the royal court where people look for power, justice and revenge. Both have typical Chinese ending (I'd call it 'Chinese nationhood wins'). Both have beautiful visuals and very good acting. Rise of Phoenixes is a little bit more slow but has a real female lead and more romance.
The Rise of Phoenixes made me think of Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo. Both stories are about a prince who is abandoned by his imperial father, and mother. Both princes are used to fighting and murdering since their childhood. They have to compete with ambitious siblings in the struggle for the throne. Both are emotionally scarred by family issues, but super smart in plotting and survival. As for the love interests in both series, those girls are both too nice for their own good.
- Strong and intelligent female protagonists.
- Both are historical dramas.
- Long drama that contains many episodes.
- Both are historical dramas.
- Long drama that contains many episodes.
- Both the ML’s are cunning, schemey, deliciously wicked anti-heroes who are soft only for their girl.
- Both have smart FL’s who hold their own, strategise and scheme alongside.
- Political dramas with themes of revenge, betrayals, palace politics, loyalty and brotherhood
- Male chases female first - dark love story + obsessive love from the male
- Characters have secrets and hidden agendas
- (SPOILER) TROP is heavier and a tragedy whereas while SOKP is also dark, it’s a happy ending.
- While TROP is the more well-developed drama with more complex characters, SOKP can be counted as its little daughter and has the ending that TROP should have had.
Fans of one will definitely enjoy the other.
- Both have smart FL’s who hold their own, strategise and scheme alongside.
- Political dramas with themes of revenge, betrayals, palace politics, loyalty and brotherhood
- Male chases female first - dark love story + obsessive love from the male
- Characters have secrets and hidden agendas
- (SPOILER) TROP is heavier and a tragedy whereas while SOKP is also dark, it’s a happy ending.
- While TROP is the more well-developed drama with more complex characters, SOKP can be counted as its little daughter and has the ending that TROP should have had.
Fans of one will definitely enjoy the other.
Intense revenge drama with complex characters. Both are set in a fictional but still realistic (and Tang-inspired) world/time period.
Romance takes a backseat in both of these series, but not in an annoying or dull way. The main story and everything surrounding it is riveting, while the loveline helps ground our characters- stopping them from crossing over into insanity.
Both are historical romance dramas,
- Both have a tragic undercurrent to them
- Both feature a romance between an older, cynical character and a younger more optimistic one
- Both cover many miles, and many years as the characters try to be together
- Both have high production values and epic battles
The Rise of the Phoenixes is more political drama first, romance second than My Dearest
- Both have a tragic undercurrent to them
- Both feature a romance between an older, cynical character and a younger more optimistic one
- Both cover many miles, and many years as the characters try to be together
- Both have high production values and epic battles
The Rise of the Phoenixes is more political drama first, romance second than My Dearest
Common ground: Strong female lead, Smart female lead, Revenge, Royalty, Court, Politics, Dark, Historically accurate costumes, Excellent production quality and acting, Deep & multi-layered actors, romance is not the central focus of the drama, huge re-watch value
These two dramas are both masterpieces in their own right. They're one of those works that you must watch before you died. If you liked The Rise of Phoenixes, you will definitely like The story of YanXi Palace.
These two dramas are both masterpieces in their own right. They're one of those works that you must watch before you died. If you liked The Rise of Phoenixes, you will definitely like The story of YanXi Palace.
-Palace intrigues with princes vying for crown prince position
-partnership between cunning ML and resourceful FL, with a love/hate relationship
-in Rise of Phoenixes, FL has to promise her mum never to marry ML, and in Legend of Hao Lan it's the ML who has to take a similar oath to his father, so your OTP is kind of doomed from the get go
-stellar cast of amazing actors, topnotch sets and costumes
-partnership between cunning ML and resourceful FL, with a love/hate relationship
-in Rise of Phoenixes, FL has to promise her mum never to marry ML, and in Legend of Hao Lan it's the ML who has to take a similar oath to his father, so your OTP is kind of doomed from the get go
-stellar cast of amazing actors, topnotch sets and costumes
Both are historical dramas that are centered around scheming and power struggles in the imperial court with intelligent and crafty protagonists seeking revenge against powerful political factions.
Both also have cross-dressing female leads. Empress Ki has more action and focus on the love triangle, while The Rise of the Phoenixes has more complex politics. The romance in The Rise of Phoenixes is also strong, but more understated. I found that both dramas had compelling characters as well as some excellent performances. The Rise of the Phoenixes definitely has higher production values. Empress Ki has faster (and generally more even) pacing.
Both also have cross-dressing female leads. Empress Ki has more action and focus on the love triangle, while The Rise of the Phoenixes has more complex politics. The romance in The Rise of Phoenixes is also strong, but more understated. I found that both dramas had compelling characters as well as some excellent performances. The Rise of the Phoenixes definitely has higher production values. Empress Ki has faster (and generally more even) pacing.
