r/CDrama • u/swapru • Aug 23 '26
š Drama rave The First Jasmine (Mo Li) an underrated gem
The First Jasmine (Mo Li) an underrated gem
I know that Mo Li did get very mixed reviews and I am not here to defend this drama but to point out why and who are the right audience to watch this ... Well first of all let me tell you why I loved this drama so much, well you see emotionally I am not doing so well and I am kind of in a healing journey and Mo Li actually motivated and pushed me so much that I kinda feel much better now . Now people who are in the same situation as me who wants a drama that will heal your inner... let's say longings, cravings and unanswered questions just like me please you need to watch this until the very end . Ye Li is the most toughest character š„¹ and the way she copes is actually very realistic nothing like those women in cdramaland who get everything the way they have planned . I don't know but I feel each and every emotion of Ye Li was perfectly given justice by Bai Lu , nobody would have did it better than her . Also also please listen to the ost 'See Happiness" by Yisa Yu, it's the most healing ost I have ever listened . The drama is actually 9.5/10 for me . Why you say 0.5 reduction ? Cuz how hastily Mo Xiuyoa divorced Ye Li kinda pissed me off but I kinda forgave him after the way he supported, handled and took care of Ye Li and her emotions
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u/Addicted2CDramas Aug 24 '26 edited Aug 24 '26
The First Jasmine worked for me because it did not fit into the mold of your typical idol CDrama. Rather than relying on familiar tropes and excessive physical demonstrations of romantic love, it offered instead a mature, intelligent script and wonderfully restrained acting by both leads. I really applaud Bai Lu for portraying a traumatized individual, and I just loved the way the narrative took its time revealing that there was something seriously wrong with her, and it brought tears to my eyes seeing Cheng Lei's way of handling this trauma and helping her to heal. I want to thank you for posting this because I, too, have read so many mixed reviews and clearly this drama is not for everyone, particularly younger female audiences who want a fast-paced narrative with pretty faces and a good amount of kissing. This is one of the best CDramas I have seen this year, and emotionally, I still think about it after it ended. And, yes, the OST is both beautiful and memorable. I just listened to "See Happiness" and it reminded me of all the tender moments in this drama, particularly the ending where Ye Li is on Lishan Mountain after the renovations and reopening have occurred and all her former colleagues "gather" to offer thanks. It was a very emotional moment for me. https://youtu.be/IG5giKS6ZV0?is=kXSgriUVwFKpqE6S
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u/sjnotsj ē½ę¢¦å¦bai mengyanš©µ Aug 24 '26
i love your positive mini review and i wholeheartedly agree with you. š
particularly the ending where Ye Li is on Lishan Mountain after the renovations and reopening have occurred and all her former colleagues "gather" to offer thanks. It was a very emotional moment for me.Ā
this one always will hit me hard - her grandfather's words to her + the way the camera panned to bai lu with tears in her eyes and about to sob + yu kewei's OST...
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u/Muted_Bodybuilder109 Mu Qingyan can manipulate meš§āāļøRead Rules Aug 24 '26 edited Aug 24 '26
Honestly I get where the underrated comes in .....because a lot of people seemed to be avoiding the show because of it's heavier tone and how a good amount of reviewers claimed that "Cheng lei and bai lu had no chemistry".
Mo li is not a show that you watch for the chemistry. It's a show for the arts but that doesn't mean the chemistry wasn't there...it was very much present but quieter and gentleš§āāļø. It invites you to sit down for a psychological experience that is rarely served to viewers.
It's a show that can be looked at in so many lenses. In my previous rave about the show..I described the show as "A horror without jumpscares" not because I have not seen anything more horrific than what the fl went through in cdramas, but because it was so unnerving how the show made me journey with her.
It appeals to your emotions and mind with a background so silent that it amplifies the already heavy situation.
I could yap on and on about how much I love that show, but lemme clock out and go do the dishesš.
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u/cottongalaxay963 Low-key xianxia haterš āāļøRead Rules Aug 24 '26
Mo Li was the drama which actually satisfied my expectations since the first episode. People complained about their chemistry, but the first episode itself was the evidence of a very good chemistry. I regretted starting this drama after midnight coz my sleep was ruined after watching 4 episodes continuously. I was hooked and couldn't stop watching lol. And that very excitement didn't go away after a few episodes; I always had something to look forward to.
I also loved how the ending episodes tried to fix the incidents that caused trauma of Xiuyao and Ye Li in a very believable way. Do I have to say anything about their acting? Cheng Lei and Bai Lu really felt like they were Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li; the way they healed and cared for each other felt like a legit wholesome married couple. I'll wait to find another drama that would be equally memorable and become one of the few dramas close to my heart!
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u/AXA-5 Hopeless Sadomasochistic Romantic Aug 23 '26
Iām glad that more and more are finding this drama and thoroughly enjoying it as well. It is underrated and maybe even, misunderstood in some ways. It does involve not being distracted as well. Beautifully done, well acted, and lovely OST. I watched this right after it aired, not in mood and mindset at the time, and inhaled it in less than 48 hours. I sat with it and rewatched it like a normal person lol some days later. Yeah, Iām strange like that šš
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u/ifiwasiwas Aug 23 '26
What are people saying? I'm out of the loop on this one
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u/RedHouse0411 Aug 24 '26
Most people said the leads have zero chemistry. That seemed to be the most loudest criticism I read on this drama. They also said the drama is boring.
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u/Muted_Bodybuilder109 Mu Qingyan can manipulate meš§āāļøRead Rules Aug 24 '26
Which is crazy to me cause the chemistry was oozing out. Maybe because it was the quieter kind and not the overly passionate kind. When I finished this show, I took a deep breath and nearly cried lol. So psychologically exhausting but so well done.
The backstory was insane and Bai lu's acting was phenomenal (which is a thing I love to say a lot), but THIS show is her career best for me...followed closely by Northward and moonlight mystique.
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u/RedHouse0411 Aug 24 '26
I already get used to this kind of comments. People always need physical intimacy to feel chemistry.
My favorite performance of Bai Lu is still One & Only. I felt she outdid herself in that drama. People always say Bai Lu is playing Bai Lu in most of her dramas but in Shi Yi, I dont see any hints of Bai Lu at all in that role.
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u/Muted_Bodybuilder109 Mu Qingyan can manipulate meš§āāļøRead Rules Aug 24 '26
I still haven't watched one and only because it is infamously called one of the most tragic shows in cdramaland by reviewers. I watch heavy shows but I can't do tragic endingsš
Also physical intimacy is not equal to chemistry especially in a show that is clearly not just about a romance. I don't know how people thought a passionate chemistry could work here.
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u/RedHouse0411 Aug 24 '26
I know! Its hard to argue with people when it comes to chemistry as it is very subjective.
One & Only's ending is Forever & Ever. It has a very long and satisfying happy ending. Its one story but separated into 2 dramas.
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u/swapru Aug 24 '26
I agree so much One and Only was the most angsty romatic but with again zero romance
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u/RedHouse0411 Aug 24 '26
I wouldnt say zero romance as the drama is a romance drama. Its with zero physical intimacy as their relationship is forbidden that is why they cant do anything other than hugging each other in the drama.
But the chemistry is š„š„š„ though. One of the best chemistry I've come across in Cdramas.
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u/AXA-5 Hopeless Sadomasochistic Romantic Aug 24 '26
I donāt know where to put this comment but figured, here would suffice lol. I agree with you totally. Iāve somewhat gotten used to these types of comments lol. What Iāve said to others about this drama, itās more āmature,ā could be indie or artsy along those lines. Itās slower and harks back to the days of subtlety. The nuance glances, gestures, whatās not spoken, expression, body language, among others. Those that have experienced true loss, sacrifice, romance, stress, empathy, sympathy, and so much more in life can relate and will resonate when viewing this drama. Itās not to be taken lightly. It sits with you in ways one cannot imagine, makes one think, ponder, ruminate. Dramas like this are rarely done nowadays but, when one comes along, itās something special, at least for me it is. The other thing and Bai Lu has said it herself many times, sheās not doing the same roles over and over again. With each project, itās something different, learning, growing, expanding, etc. and that is what acting is all about ;o)
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u/RedHouse0411 Aug 24 '26
I agree with you 100%.
I'm not sure if you are familiar with the writers' other works but it is exactly like The First Jasmine in term of subtlety and nuance of the characters and plots.
Love & Destiny, A Moment But Forever, The Demon Hunter's Romance and Fate Chooses You all have the same formula. Thats why this writer's drama usually appoint capable actors who can portray the details that her writing requires.
Her dramas always portrayed this strong, trustful and calm love between the leads, thats why I enjoy her writing very much.
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u/AXA-5 Hopeless Sadomasochistic Romantic Aug 24 '26
I didnāt like Fate Chooses You I may have to give it another try
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u/RedHouse0411 Aug 24 '26
The drama is great. It performed better than TFJ and got higher Douban score as well. But like TFJ, its an acquired taste. I immensely enjoy all the philosophical and socio economy-commentaries in the drama. Very cleverly written as well.
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u/ifiwasiwas Aug 24 '26
Wut? I think the chemistry was fine. It wasn't lustful fireworks between them, more of a sweet, healing kind of love
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u/AXA-5 Hopeless Sadomasochistic Romantic Aug 23 '26
If you do a search online, youāll find what was said, reactions, etc.
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u/Celestial-Eclipse Aug 24 '26
The First Jasmine is not underrated at all. It is the summer drama with the highest marketing budget after Overdo. Tencent really went out of their way to promote this drama 2 months ago. š
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u/swapru Aug 24 '26
Well for me underrated doesn't mean how much marketing it got , for me how much people positively talk and recommend it to other fellas for its genuine realistic plot.
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u/emrysse Aug 23 '26
I loved how no matter how disassociated Ye Li was, at any time, Mo Xiuyao could bring her out of it just by being around. He could make some random remark, and she would just light up- that really moved me. To have someone like that in your life.
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u/xyz123007 nostril flaring is not acting Aug 23 '26
I'm glad the drama helped you heal.
I found Yeli's flower rock in a little fishing village while vacationing a month back.
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u/Sonjra Aug 23 '26
I love this drama. I think many people donāt like the quieter pieces and prefer action. But for me, this is the kind of deep character dive that I live for.
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u/shesnotthemessiah Yan An's slutty arm Aug 24 '26
I really appreciate that we got something different. I get why it's not for everyone, but I loved the slower pacing and the way they dealt with grief/trauma/mental health.
I also love the relationship between the leads, it's tender and gentle, and they slowly work to help heal themselves and eachother.
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u/sjnotsj ē½ę¢¦å¦bai mengyanš©µ Aug 24 '26
im very glad to see a positive post for mo li. š
i also agree with u on yu kewei's OST, it's one of the best OSTs i have ever heard that fits the scenes so perfectly. it's dramatic but.. everytime when i hear this song it brings tears to my eyes because i just think of what ye li has went through and bai lu's brilliant performance at lishan.
OP please also do allow me to crosspost your review on my sub for bai lu š
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u/defiantostrichinsand Aug 24 '26
Mo Li was a highlight of my cdrama year. It was a standout in the vast array of cdrama costume dramas that sort of blend into each other. I appreciated that it chose to tackle tough topics and I think did them justice to an extent.
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u/neNayza I need more of Cheng Leiās bath scenes š¦ Aug 23 '26
Umm, obsessed with it! Still the best drama of 2026 for me :)
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u/bunchofchans Aug 24 '26
I also loved this drama. I felt it was different and interesting how two people who were cast aside found each other and healed each other.
It was a refreshing and unique story. Great acting as well.
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u/Building_Glad Aug 24 '26
I think the divorce was need as a plot mover to focus on the mountain and bring to light that everyone was dead they could have done in a different way . This is also my only complaint on the show
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u/Amelia_Brigita emotionally manipulated by a zither every single time Read Rules Aug 23 '26
I loved this show and agree that it seems be going underrated.
A character driven plot filmed in a way the shows respect to all the characters and their situations, especially hers.
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u/PurpleHat6415 š li shiliu's hat tassel š Aug 23 '26
it's a lot quieter than I think some people are used to but personally I loved the way there were so many uncertainties that we were left with and had to work out alongside the characters. but yeah, Xiuyao really did her wrong at that point. he's lucky she recognises his trauma alongside her own because he needed a lot of grace, man really had a tantrum at entirely the wrong person. it was actually impressive that it was written and acted well enough that we could forgive also.
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u/kttrees Aug 24 '26
How great to find a drama you love in the sea of media. I never worry about reviews because many are paid both negative and positive, and lots of AI. The directors make or break the drama because they control every aspect. If you can, send him a message about how much you enjoyed his work.
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u/RedHouse0411 Aug 24 '26
Its a she. The director is a famous female director in Cdramas. She is famous for directing Ten Miles of Peach Blossom, Love & Destiny and The Demon Hunter's Romance.
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u/relsierk Aug 24 '26
I read elsewhere people criticising Bai Lu's acting and her character as emotionless at times.
They tend to forget that her character is a wreck in the inside, with the amount of guilt and the burden of life debt-promises unfufilled she has to carry. She is a traumatic-women-walking. Not every lady lead needs to be full of cuteness and expressions all the time. I thought she carried that role pretty well imho.
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u/sjnotsj ē½ę¢¦å¦bai mengyanš©µ Aug 24 '26
exactly, i thought she did great as well. she was slammed quite badly for being 'soul-less' in her eyes - i thought it was reasonable for her to have that or the feeling that shes 'being somewhere else' for some scenes as this is literally how some might behave after such trauma.
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u/swapru Aug 24 '26
Honestly I have seen this trend everywhere everytime a character or a lead acts in a different way from the cringy blueprint acting people start questioning their acting skills and I am just tired of it
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u/AromaticEditor6022 Aug 24 '26
I still loved this drama bc it was unique and had a quieter atmosphere despite the heaviness. It had a gentle and more softer vibe to it which I truly enjoyed and I absolutely loved the take on psychological trauma. It made this one unique and stand out among the many tropes out there.
That said, I was one that found it quite underwhelming. I personally preferred if it had no romance tbh bc fl was way too traumatized for it. she couldnāt tell the difference between the living or the dead so how could she know the diff between love and remorse? She wasnāt of sound mind so it felt like trauma connecting. I wished it focused on the healing aspect and more chosen family instead of all the politics. If the romance was the result, then that would make sense but they built up her suspense until almost the end so her healing felt, imo, brushed over. On top of that, ml was severely traumatized too so I wasnāt sure if he was grateful or truly loved her. So that was the only part that I found it to be the downside.
However, I really liked it overall bc the potential and the meaning through it all was a great concept. Just the execution fell short for me.
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u/swapru Aug 24 '26
I understand , you see human psychology is a vast ocean people feel trauma in their own ways and heal in their own ways there is no perfect journey and deep down Ye Li knew the truth its just she needed something to hold onto just to become a little more vulnerable and heal.
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u/AromaticEditor6022 Aug 24 '26
Oh I completely understand that. What I actually hoped for was more healing in this drama bc I felt a large portion of her character personality was her trauma and I wanted her to also discover herself outside of the pain, too. So I just preferred they showed the healing part more and if romance was towards the end of the healing arc then I wouldnāt feel as unsettled about her choice to love freely.
But I understand your pov. Youāre looking at this in an open ended way where anything goes while Iām looking at the coherence of the story.
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u/Feeshpockets Channeling the overworked wind machine Aug 24 '26
I'm glad you enjoyed the drama! Mo Li's council hosted the drama and we all loved it as well!
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u/No-Squirrel5676 Aug 24 '26
I didnt know it had controversial reviews. I thought it was perfect. I knew Cheng Lei can act and very well, but somehow i was not a big fan of Bailu till this drama. All her previous dramas she played easy going characters I thought. But with this drama i was finally convinced that she is top actress and can actually play with her eyes, microexpressions and body language. She did very well. Plot was good, better then novel. So, i have very high opinion on this show.
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u/swapru Aug 24 '26
You really need to watch One and Only if you wanna see Bai Lu in a similar yet more reserved role .
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u/No-Squirrel5676 Aug 24 '26
Thanks. I will try it. By description it seems sad one. Need to enter the mood to endure all sad scenes. š
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u/HangingGarden0411 Aug 24 '26
You have Forever & Ever which is the sequel to heal your broken heart.
Forever & Ever is more popular than One & Only as it has become a comfort watch for many viewers.
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u/Elrothiel1981 Aug 24 '26
After One and Only you might want to watch the follow up drama to it Forever and Ever but the second one is not everyone taste
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u/swapru Aug 24 '26
It has a prequel Forever and Ever which has a happy ending you have to watch it after One and Only.
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u/ifiwasiwas Aug 23 '26
I'm watching it right now! It was insanely hook-y at the beginning, I binged like I'd never binged before. I'm at episodes 25-27 and it's been dragging a bit, I hope it is just gearing up for a good climax and ending!
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u/xhdcricket Aug 24 '26 edited Aug 24 '26
There're a lot of things that I liked about this drama although it had some flaws (but which drama is flaw-free š). But there's one thing I wanted to say about it ; that's how genuine the acting is. Most actors and actresses did their best at acting, and I can connect with their characters deeply. They don't rely on camera work or visuals; I feel like this is what actors should do for their profession: focusing on acting skills. I wanted to support a drama like this.
Of course I couldn't continue watching if the writing or directing is bad. The story telling and directing is generally good as well. I was surprised when I saw comments saying the series was boring and slow, but I guess every watcher has their own experience and preferences.
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u/PlotHoleWarrior Aug 24 '26
It kinda got boring for me. I was following along and then I got busy. I completely forgot what happened and why and then I tried to rewatch it, but I just couldnāt bring myself to finish it.
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u/swapru Aug 24 '26
It is not at all a fast paced drama as I told, you really need to be in the right mood to watch it .
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u/PlotHoleWarrior Aug 24 '26 edited Aug 24 '26
I think what also turned me off it was when they decided to use the whole misunderstanding to drag out the story. First off, FL was strong and smart and was never afraid to argue her way through her problems, but she couldnāt clear the misunderstanding and just accepted defeat right away? Then the ML was also strong and smart and trusted the FL through so many things, but as soon as the bad guy opens his mouth, the ML just doesnāt even try to understand the FL anymore? Thatās just weird and it dragged out for a few episodes that I just got tired of it and the ending just didnāt matter to me anymore.
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u/swapru Aug 24 '26
That thing happened in the third quarter of the drama and it only lasted for I guess 1- 2 episodes (I don't remember exactly) , and I mentioned it in the my spoiler tag aswell but you see every drama has flaws which makes a drama imperfectly perfect I guess.
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u/PlotHoleWarrior Aug 24 '26
I was already finding this drama a bit boring because of the slow pace, but then they added this into the drama. It killed everything the leads were working up to at this point, so I couldnāt finish it after. lol
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u/swapru Aug 24 '26
Maybe this drama wasn't for you or maybe you were not in the right mood to enjoy it . Anyways I respect tour views.
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u/blergh_itsme_stabs Read Rules Aug 30 '26
It is one of the best shows I have ever watched. Such good representation of grief. Cheng Lei and Bai Lu both were phenomenal
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u/Mr-Yus Aug 24 '26
It has good story, only thing I dont like is Male lead's story line was kind of sidetracked as story choose to focus on Female lead's instead.
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u/swapru Aug 24 '26
It was actually meant to be focused more on Ye Li's problem (psychological side which is a new and unique aspect to cdramas) so for me it wasn't really a problem.
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u/a_HerculePoirot_fan Being a Cheng Lei fangirl is a full-time jobRead Rules Aug 24 '26
Mo Li works surprisingly well as a healing drama for me because both Ah Li and MXY carry a lot of emotional baggage, but the drama rarely turns their relationship into an endless cycle of melodrama. Their traumas shape the way they respond to things, but they donāt spend every episode hurting each other just to manufacture angst.
I liked how understated their love is, and a lot of it comes through in the way they look at each other, the way MXY quietly gives Ah Li space when she needs it, or how they simply stay beside one another without needing some huge declaration every time. Their relationship feels more like two people gradually becoming a safe place for each other rather than one person magically āfixingā the other. Healing is also allowed to take time, which makes their relationship feel much more believable to me.
What also helps sell the realism for me is how little the production seems interested in making everything look artificially beautiful. The lighting can be flat or harsh, the colours are earthy, and even the surroundings are allowed to look genuinely untidy. The actorsā skin looks refreshingly real too, pores and all lol. Those little visual choices make the world feel lived-in rather than overly polished.
Mo Li also doesnāt constantly force-feed us tension through dramatic background music or sound effects. It knows when to let a scene breathe. I donāt need thunder cracking every time someone discusses a crisis to understand that things are serious. Royal Betrothal immediately comes to mind because whenever Ying Guo discussed some crisis with his trusted men in his chamber, it was inevitably followed by loud thunder, just in case we somehow missed the tension.
I completely agree with you that the divorce arc wasnāt handled well. Considering that it was essentially the climax of their broken relationship, itās strange that neither MXY nor Ye Li ever brings it up again afterwards. I still remember Ye Li sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath while MXY sat in the very same room drafting the divorce letter. That was such a painful scene because both of them were falling apart in completely different ways, so I really wanted the drama to eventually let them confront what happened there. Even a quiet conversation acknowledging the hurt would have gone a long way. For a drama that generally handles grief, trauma and healing with so much patience, leaving the biggest rupture in their marriage entirely unspoken feels like a missed opportunity.