Rating: 0/10 | Genre: Drama | Seasons: 1 | Episodes: 15 | Status: Returning Series
Starring: Bai Lu, Ryan Cheng, Cai Zhengjie, Yang Shuyi, Lin Muran
So I just finished “The First Jasmine” and I have to be honest with you. I went in expecting a lot based on the cast and the premise, but this show really let me down. A 0/10 on TMDB should have been my first red flag, but I figured maybe it was just people being harsh. Nope. They weren’t wrong.
The basic plot sounds solid on paper. Two sisters marry two princes on the same day. One of them has a secret revenge plot. The husband she marries also has secrets. They team up against enemies. That’s actually interesting material. But somewhere between the writing and the execution, this show just falls flat.
Season 1
Okay so we’ve got 15 episodes in season 1, and honestly by episode 5 I was already wondering if I could just skim through the rest. Ye Li, the main character played by Bai Lu, marries Mo Xiuyao who is described as crippled. The dynamic between them should create some tension, some intrigue. Instead it just feels awkward and forced.
The pacing is terrible. Nothing happens for like eight episodes and then suddenly everything happens at once in the last stretch. I found myself checking how much time was left constantly. That’s never a good sign.
Ryan Cheng plays Mo Jinglei, the other prince, and his scheming to take the throne is so predictable that I called every move before it happened. Cai Zhengjie and Yang Shuyi are fine but forgettable. Lin Muran shows up and I genuinely couldn’t tell you what her character was doing half the time.
The revenge subplot with Ye Li being a descendant of Lishan could have been really interesting. It could have added layers to her character and made her motivations complex. Instead it just becomes another plot point that gets resolved without any real weight behind it. She’s supposed to be this conflicted character torn between revenge and duty and love, but she just kind of moves between each plot point without much struggle.
The couple’s journey to becoming allies is the one thing that actually held my attention for a bit. When they start realizing they’re on similar paths and decide to work together, there’s a moment where you think the show might actually find its footing. But then it just drags on and gets lost again.
I’m not sure if I’ll watch season 2 when it comes out. This show had everything it needed to be good and just didn’t deliver. Have you watched this yet, or are you thinking about it? I’d be curious to know if other people found something in it that I missed.
Episode Guide
Season 1 (15 Episodes)
Episode 1: Episode 1
Episode 2: Episode 2
Episode 3: Episode 3
Episode 4: Episode 4
Episode 5: Episode 5
Episode 6: Episode 6
Episode 7: Episode 7
Episode 8: Episode 8
Episode 9: Episode 9
Episode 10: Episode 10
Episode 11: Episode 11
Episode 12: Episode 12
Episode 13: Episode 13
Episode 14: Episode 14
Episode 15: Episode 15
Where to Watch
Streaming availability varies by region. Check your favorite streaming platform to see if this title is available in your country.