A Girl Like Me Review

I had the initial impression that A Girl Like Me (我就是这般女子) is a fluffy kind of historical romance drama with nothing much going on in terms of plot. I don’t know why but the poster just gives me those vibes. But after completing all the 40 episodes, I think I have to change my original assessment. Well, it is indeed a case of don’t judge a book by its cover. My A Girl Like Me review below will have more details. Whether you will love or hate this drama will depend a lot on how much you like the female character. Read on for why this is so.

My rating: 7.5/10
Episodes: 40
Type: Romance, Historical
Aired: January 2021
Images Credit: Tencent

The Cast Of A Girl Like Me

• Gabrielle Guan Xiao Tong as Ban Hua
• Neo Hou Ming Hao as Rong Xia / Count Cheng’an
• Li Chung Lin as Ban Heng
• Xia Nan as Shi Fei Xian
• Zhao Shun Ran as Shi Jin
• An Yong Chang as Xie Wan Yu
• Ye Chao as Xie Chong Jin
• Leo Jiang Hao Min as 2nd Prince Jiang Luo
• Song Han Yu as Crown Prince Jiang Zhang
• Elaine Wang Yi Ling as Shi Su Yue / Crown Princess
• Wang Jian Xin as Ban Huai / Marquis Jing Ting
• Yang Ming Na as Mrs. Ban
• Jerry Chang Cheng as Emperor of Daye
• Tang Qun as Eldest Princess Dening
• Wu Yu Heng as Du Jiu
• Zhao Lv as Ruan Mian Mian / Softy
• Hu Yoo En as Ying Bang Bang / Rocky
• Yin Guo Hua as Minister Xie / Count Zhong Ping
• Zhan Yu as Xie Qi Lin
• Shao Tian as Prince Akeqi of Aipo

Main Characters

Ban Hua

Ban Hua is a straightforward and domineering lady. She always speaks her mind and is not afraid to offend others. Ban Hua can also be bad-tempered and willful. This makes her unconventional compared to other ladies of nobility. Ban Hua is good in martial arts which she inherited from her late grandfather who was a powerful general. Her grandmother is a princess while her father is a marquis.

Rong Xia / Count Cheng’an

Rong Xia is a scholar and imperial court official. He is an intelligent man who is also a good strategist and is known as the most talented man in Daye. Rong Xia is favored and much trusted by the Emperor. He was brought up in the palace as the Crown Prince’s study partner after the death of his parents.

Supporting Characters

Ban Heng

Ban Heng is Ban Hua’s younger brother. He is streetwise but very playful and leads a carefree life given the family’s wealth and status. He has great respect for his elder sister and they share a close bond.

Shi Fei Xian

Fei Xian is Prime Minister Shi Zhong Hai’s granddaughter. She always seems calm and courteous and is known as the most beautiful and talented lady in Daye. But Fei Xian is also a scheming woman especially when it comes to getting Rong Xia whom she loves. Shi Jin is her elder brother while Su Yue is her elder sister. She is also a good friend of Xie Wan Yu.

Shi Jin

Shi Jin is a general and commander of the imperial guards. His grandfather is the Prime Minister and the Shi family has great influence in the royal court. Shi Jin is an honest and principled man. He has 2 sisters, Fei Xian and Su Yue. He also has a deep love for Ban Hua.

Xie Wan Yu

Wan Yu is the daughter of Minister Xie. She is a feisty lady but can be a little naive. She doesn’t get along well with Ban Hua. Wan Yu has 2 brothers, Xie Chong Jin and Xie Qi Lin.

Xie Chong Jin

Chong Jin is Minister Xie’s eldest son. He works for the 2nd Prince. Chong Jin is a smart man who always strategizing to help the 2nd Prince to ascend the throne. He is ambitious and will sacrifice morals for position.

2nd Prince Jiang Luo

The 2nd Prince is an ambitious man who covets the throne. He will not hesitate to harm others to achieve his aim. However, he is not particularly bright and relies on Chong Jin for advice. The 2nd Prince has deep feelings for Fei Xian.

Crown Prince Jiang Zhang

The Crown Prince is a weak and timid man who is also softhearted. He lacks talent in managing the state affairs and has no real interest in ascending the throne. His consort is Shi Su Yue.

Crown Princess Shi Su Yue

The Crown Princess is Prime Minister Shi Zhong Hai’s granddaughter and Fei Xian’s elder sister. She is often frustrated with the Crown Prince’s lack of ambition and careless indulgence towards the 2nd Prince.

Ban Huai / Marquis Jing Ting

Ban Huai is Ban Hua and Ban Heng’s parents. He is an officer of the imperial court and the son of the Eldest Princess. He is a comical man who enjoys the good life. Together with his wife, they are open-minded parents and tend to listen to their daughter when it comes to family matters.

Emperor of Daye

The Emperor is a smart and cautious man who will scheme to balance out the power of the various aristocrats in the imperial court. He is a responsible ruler but also has his worries of being dethroned. The Emperor has 2 sons who are the Crown Prince and 2nd Prince. He also trusts Rong Xia.

Eldest Princess Dening

The Eldest Princess is Ban Hua and Ban Heng’s paternal grandmother. She is also the Emperor’s aunt. She is a shrewd woman who knows how to use the Emperor’s fear and respect for her to protect the Ban family.

Du Jiu

Du Jiu is Rong Xia’s loyal aide and personal guard.

Ruan Mian Mian / Softy & Ying Bang Bang / Rocky

Softy and Rocky are Ban Hua’s servants who are like friends to her. Softy is good at martial arts and is a little tomboyish.

Minister Xie / Count Zhong Ping

Minister Xie is a long-time imperial court official. He doesn’t get along well with Ban Huai and they always bicker. However, Minister Xie is not a very smart man and generally harmless.

Xie Qi Lin

Qi Lin is Minister Xie’s younger son. He is Ban Hua’s fiancee but breaks off the engagement.

Prince Akeqi of Aipo

Prince Akeqi is from the neighboring Aipo state. He is a straightforward young man who is attracted to Ban Hua at first sight.

Synopsis

Ban Hua comes from an aristocratic and wealthy family. She has royal blood by virtue of her grandmother being the Eldest Princess and the Emperor’s aunt. She is a direct person who speaks her mind and often has no patience for other noble maidens with their pretentious attitude. Ban Hua has been dreaming that misfortune will befall her family and a new Emperor will ascend the throne. She also dreamt that her fiancee will break off their engagement and her dream came true.

Rong Xia is the Emperor’s trusted advisor but is quietly investigating the death of his family years ago. In order to find out the truth, he needs to befriend the Ban family for clues and plans to do so through Ban Hua. At the same time, Ban Hua needs to be friendly towards Rong Xia as he might be able to help her if her family faces trouble later. She fears her dream will come true.

As Rong Xia and Ban Hua spend more and more time together, they start to develop feelings for each other. But he has to hide his investigation from her as her grandmother holds the key to the truth on his family’s death and it might also implicate the Emperor. In the meantime, he is dragged into the 2nd Prince plans to usurp the throne.

A Girl Like Me Ending (Spoilers Alert!)

A Girl Like Me has a happy ending. Rong Xia and Ban Hua got married after successfully overthrowing the 2nd Prince and re-installing the Crown Prince as the new Emperor. Although their happiness is nearly marred by the Crown Princess who tried to kill Rong Xia on their wedding day, Shi Jin has anticipated it. They then set a trap to catch all the perpetrators and supporters in one swoop.

In the last few scenes of the last episode, Ban Hua and Rong Xia is still a loving couple. They are at a temple where they had made wishes earlier. Ban Hua had once saved the deity statue from being razed in a fire at the temple. The caretaker tells her that it can be the deity who came into her dreams or it can be any other object depending on what she chooses to believe. He points out that many things also depend on one’s actions apart from fate.

Ban Heng ends up with Wan Yu. They have their own restaurant given that Wan Yu loves cooking. Du Jiu and Softy are also a married couple. Both Wan Yu and Softy are pregnant and ready to deliver their babies. Rocky and Prince Akeqi are together and he wants her to follow him back to his home state. Ban Huai and his wife are living in their old home in the countryside and enjoying a simple but peaceful life. Shi Jin is now an army general and a new recruit reminds him of Ban Hua.

Who Killed Rong Xia’s Family?

Both Rong Xia’s father, Count Rong, and Ban Hua’s grandfather, General Ban, were poisoned. It was Yan Hui’s plot to kill them to help the Emperor to get the Tiger Symbol as the holder of the symbol will be able to control an army. General Ban is the owner of the symbol. Yan Hui forced Count Rong to ask General Ban for the symbol when the latter retired and was ailing. It was to sow discord between the 2 families who were good friends. The general claimed that it was lost. Keeping the symbol was the only way to ensure the Ban family remained safe from political machinations.

Count Rong was then accused of treason for failing to get the Tiger Symbol and was killed by Yan Hui. His eldest son was drowned while his wife committed suicide in exchange for Rong Xia’s life. Prime Minister Shi Zhong Hai was complicit as he was aware of the plot. He even pretended to be on the Eldest Princess’ side in the hope that she will reveal information on the Tiger Symbol to him. When the deed was done, Yan Hui informed the Emperor who was livid. But he didn’t punish Yan Hui and the Prime Minister as he wanted the Tiger Symbol to ensure the safety of his throne.

Who Was Keeping The Tiger Symbol?

The Eldest Princess was keeping the Tiger Symbol all along to protect the Ban family. When she knew she would die, she handed the symbol to Rong Xia who promised to protect Ban Hua and her family. She was sick and her days were numbered. So, the Eldest Princess arranged for herself to be killed while with the Emperor to make him feel guilty and indebted to the Ban family. This was her way to ensure her family remained under the Emperor’s protection.

Did Rong Xia Blame The Emperor?

Yes, he did initially. The Emperor indulged Yan Hui and Prime Minister Shi Zhong Hai because he had just ascended the throne then and wanted to secure his position. Rong Xia was disappointed and angry that the Emperor let the murderers go. The Emperor felt guilty and indebted to Count Rong who was his loyal subordinate. He took Rong Xia under his wing when the latter became an orphan to protect him from the Yan and Shi families. But the Emperor did have genuine affections for Rong Xia and regarded him as half a son. Hence, Rong Xia’s heart softened towards the Emperor in the end.

How Did The 2nd Prince Get The Throne?

The 2nd Prince wanted to poison the Crown Prince but it was Ban Hua who got poisoned instead when she took the Crown Prince’s drink. Rong Xia needed the antidote from the 2nd Prince to save Ban Hua’s life. Fei Xian made a deal with him to help the 2nd Prince to ascend the throne in return for the antidote and the Ban family’s safety.

Subsequently, Rong Xia and Ban Hua rebelled with their soldiers as the 2nd Prince had caused sufferings to the people as the new Emperor. The 2nd Prince was defeated. Even Xie Chong Jin turned against him. Xie Chong Jin was angry that the 2nd Prince agreed to let Fei Xian to become the Empress and to deal with him once they have successfully overcome Rong Xia and Ban Hua.

After the Crown Prince was installed as the rightful heir, Xie Chong Jin was stripped of his position and reduced to a commoner. The 2nd Prince and Fei Xian were imprisoned. They were not executed but lived as commoners. The 2nd Prince had become mentally unsound.

Did The Crown Prince Abdicate?

The Crown Prince wanted to abdicate as the duty of the Emperor was too much for him to handle after his father died. He wanted Rong Xia to take over but the latter declined. His consort became angry and feared Rong Xia would be a threat. She wanted to be the Empress and the power behind the throne. Su Yue plots to have Rong Xia killed on his wedding day but failed. She was arrested and exiled. The Crown Prince finally stepped up to his duty as the new Emperor and wanted a fair administration after all that have happened.

A Girl Like Me Review – Better Than Expected

A Girl Like Me is really better than what I had initially expected. I was assuming it would be similar to General’s Lady with nothing much going on except for an overdose of sweetness and fluff. But it is not that type of drama. It does have a pretty detailed story behind the romance with some comical scenes provided by the Ban family and Minister Xie. What makes this drama really stands out for me is the way they have packaged the female character.

Ban Hua is a very unconventional lady of noble birth for a historical drama. Her behavior is like a domineering modern gal which means she is smart and not easily bullied. She is independent and takes matters into her own hands. Her parents listen to her instead of the other way round. Thus, if you like to watch a strong female lead who doesn’t sit around waiting to be saved, A Girl Like Me would fit the bill.

The Lead Is Not Instantly Likable

Having said that, I think it is also prudent to warn readers that Ban Hua is not a character that is immediately likable. She is not like the lead in Legend Of Fei who is quietly determined and strong. Instead, Ban Hua is very assertive to the point of being arrogant and even mean. Some might also see it as childish. These are the personality traits that will hit you first when you begin this drama.

Therefore, it can be annoying to watch Ban Hua in the beginning. It took me a few episodes to get used to her and the acceptance slowly increases as more layers of her personality are revealed. It also becomes understandable why she can’t stand some people in the drama as all the schemings unfold. I can’t tell you whether you will enjoy watching Ban Hua but suffice to say that she is a very direct person who doesn’t give face. So, it is a matter of how much of that “rudeness” that you can take in a female lead.

As for the male lead, he is a very handsome guy with huge puppy eyes that make him look sweet when he gazes at the woman he loves. Despite his looks, his character may not be instantly likable either because of his initial manipulations and deceit towards Ban Hua. So, when you take them all together, it is very tempting to drop A Girl Like Me after the first few episodes. Patience is really needed for the characters and story to grow on you when you watch this drama.

Chemistry

Being a romance genre, a certain level of chemistry is expected between the 2 leads. The interactions between Gabrielle Guan and Neo Hou are pleasing to watch. Their good looks help. Their costumes add another layer of beauty and visual appeal especially for the female lead. While everything looks pleasurable to the eyes, it stops there.

What this means is the chemistry is good enough for a love story but it isn’t anywhere near electric like the couple in Maiden Holmes and The Sleepless Princess. The crucial test is they are not annoying to watch as a pair but there is certainly plenty of room for improvement. It is indeed a pity that they couldn’t generate more sizzling chemistry to really push the drama up to another level.

A Detailed Plot

A Girl Like Me has a story to drive the romance. It has the investigative aspect as well as the palace power plays between the 2 different camps. For me, these sub-plots spice things up as the romance itself isn’t that impressive unlike epics such as Ten Miles Of Peach Blossoms and Love And Redemption. They are also well-developed compared to the half-baked sub-plots in Jiu Liu Overlord. While I feel that 40 episodes is a tad too long and there are boring stretches in the middle, the story in A Girl Like Me does pick back up after Episode 30 or so for a quick-paced finish.

My Verdict – Still Worth A Go

Despite the weaknesses, I think this drama is still worth a go. Patience is paramount here to allow time for the characters to develop. I recommend a watch because the female lead is really very different compared to the usual fare for historical dramas. She may appear annoying at first but there are many layers to her character which need time for viewers to discover as the drama progresses. I think this is the first time that I find a female lead who is so direct and straightforward in a historical drama.

It is a given that not everyone will be able to accept Ban Hua as she has her flaws. Hence, you might want to drop this if you really prefer a goody-goody type of female lead which Ban Hua will not be able to offer. For me, it just makes the character more lively and refreshing.

I also like that there is a story behind the romance and not just pure fluff. The Ban family also consists of pretty fun people who share a close bond. There are none of those angsty family arguments and tussles. Neither is there a protracted love triangle as the main couple is very clear about their feelings although they do encounter others who are attracted to them.

For this A Girl Like Me review, I would give it a score of 7.5/10. it is not an intense love story that will bring you on an emotional roller-coaster like The Wolf. The kisses will hardly excite you although the romance is there. instead, I would say watch it for the badass female character and plot which offers little surprises along the way with its mild suspense and unpredictability rather than looking forward to the kisses and romance.

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