Hmm…I really loved it when the least anticipated drama turned out to be really good. That’s right. Unsurprisingly, I had very low expectations for The Rise Of Ning before it aired. But after watching the whole series, I’m very glad to admit that I was wrong. I’m not saying it was the best, but yeah, it definitely was a pleasant surprise for me this year.
The Rise Of Ning ( native title: 锦绣安宁) based on the the novel “Shou Fu Yang Cheng Shou Ce” (首辅养成手册) stars Zhang Wanyi and Ren Min.
My Ratings: 7.5/10
Photos credit: Tencent Video
Plot Summary
Luo Yining (portrayed by Ren Min), the legitimate daughter of the noble Luo family, is treated as an outsider by her father and other family members, except for her grandmother and aunt. After being away for ten years, Luo Yining returns home to celebrate her grandmother’s birthday. Originally, she planned to return to her residence after the banquet, but at her grandmother’s insistence, she decides to stay with the Luo family for a while. This decision unexpectedly leads her to uncover the mystery surrounding her mother’s death.
During this time, she also meets the talented young man Luo Shen Yuan (played by Zhang Wanyi), who turns out to be her third brother. As time passes, the two grow closer as they work together to tackle various challenges and family issues together.
Popularity And Impression
Just as I mentioned in the beginning, The Rise of Ning was one of the least anticipated dramas for not just me but for many other viewers. However, after the drama started premiering, it began to perform very well in terms of rankings and ratings. That’s right. The drama exceeded 28K Heat Index on Tencent Video and accumulated over 1 billion cumulative playback volume in the entire network according to Maoyan Data.
Many netizens said that Zhang Wanyi seems to be managed by a good and talented agency, as every 3 costume dramas of his released this year ( Lost You Forever Season 2, Are You the One, and The Rise of Ning) performed very well in the market and also received positive reviews for his performances. On the other hand, netizens noted that the leading actress, Ren Min, whose acting skills was heavily criticized in last year’s drama The Longest Promise, has greatly improved her acting in this project.
The Rise Of Ning Review
The Rise Of Ning is a typical family ancient costume drama set up in a complicated, intricate world of the prominent family called Luo Family. It explores theme of family, love, reunion, and personal growth. Even though it might be solely focused on family, the series is full of drama, family politics, mystery, actions including thrills. But everything is balanced in a way that makes it a light and heartwarming watch.
Like 90% of the drama is invested in the family politics, as viewers get to see the murder, mystery, and investigation unfold within the walls of the family. The struggle for family power, discrimination, jealousy, obsessions, and favoritism everything is right there. There’s a bunch of evil characters whose mission or purpose is to constantly bring down the main protagonists and witness their downfall.
However, they’re still no match for the two smart, strategic partners who join hands to fight against the odds, tackling complicated family dynamics, relationships, and their career goals together. If you’re someone who enjoyed watching dramas like The Story of Minglan, then I believe you’ll enjoy watching The Rise of Ning too.
In the beginning, viewers are introduced to a large joint family, and some might even find it confusing to determine who’s who and their relationships with one another. Like there’s this principal wife, concubines, their children, and the divisions into first and second houses and so on can be overwhelming. So, yep, it takes a little time to become familiar with the overall plot setting and the characters within it.
The good thing is, as the plot unfolds, everything becomes clearer. The overall pacing of the drama is decent, as it is neither too fast nor too slow. Despite having very few fighting scenes, those that are present are very well-crafted.
Well, what I ended up loving the most about this series is its consistency and well-built characters especially main protagonists. From start to finish, they do not sway away from their original intentions or motivations, and don’t act out of character. As a result, all the characters and the overall plot setting simply felt realistic.
The female protagonist is a woman who grew up in a fairly difficult environment, far from her family and relatives once her mother passed away. She might not know how to fight like fighters or chivalrous heroes but is smart, and knows what to do and what not to do, whom to forgive and whom not to. In other words, she is a woman who knows how to set clear boundaries. She does not tolerate any injustice or wrongful acts against her.
This trait of hers remain consistent throughout which is definitely one of the best part of the series. In the house full of schemes, the female lead’s every move to protect herself and those around her is engaging to watch.
This line “even from the cracks of stone, a sacred fig grows” perfectly fits the male protagonist, Luo Shen Yuan here. Ignored, treated as a nobody, and denied from education and identity since childhood, he eventually shines like a phoenix through years of hard work and resilience. He’s a skilled strategist, a fighter, and a businessman. In a way, Luo Shen Yuan is a relatable character who teaches us that if we are overlooked, we can become capable enough to command the respect of those who once disregarded us. Not only is he talented, but he is also a kind-hearted gentleman who wholeheartedly loves and cares for Yining.
So, if someone is thinking of watching this show just for romance, it might be a poor choice. The amount of romance present in the series is quite low since Romance Is Not The Primary Focus here. The two protagonists’ relationship has to develop from siblings to lovers, it takes a really long time but it makes their relationship transition smooth. Really….you’ll have to wait at least 30 episodes to see some sparks fly between the two. Even so, the last 10 episodes are where the romance truly shines. It’s realistic and natural; especially those intense gaze, well hidden feelings, and sweet smile of Zhang Wanyi all are simply magical.
Despite both being capable individuals, they never get in each other’s way. Instead, they trust and support each other wholeheartedly. Surprisingly, all the careful details and element contributed in making the chemistry between Zhang Wanyi and Ren Min is simply perfect than what I imagined.
Speaking of the actors’ performances, they were all great. Zhang Wanyi was so convincing as a neglected child who, through years of hard work, earns his own place and respect from all family members. His subtle expressions and action scenes were top-notch. Meanwhile, I’m so glad to see that Ren Min has greatly improved her acting compared to her previous projects. She perfectly carries the aura and vibe required for the character and, overall, delivers a very satisfying performance.
Though I was slightly surprised by the significant amount of time given to the second couple in the story. Even though there was some character development in the male character, there was none in the female character. Despite their portrayal as lovers, they felt more like siblings. Additionally, the actress’s performance seemed lacking, as something felt amiss. She was just shown to loving to eating and always running here and there. Sadly, this character was rather poorly written.
Final Thoughts
The Rise of Ning was such a fun ride! It’s way more than just your average family-politics drama. With a well-written script, an engaging plot, and a talented cast, it really is good. I’d give it an 7.5 out of 10, and if you’re into lighthearted family costume dramas, definitely give this one a shot! The drama is availbale on Tencent Video, iQIYI and Mango TV.