Startling by Each Step (2011– ) User Reviews

Beautiful, intricate plot

[ZakDuende · 9/10 · 22 November 2013]

This shortish serial was probably the best plot in a TV series I've ever seen. So cleverly worked out, everything is top notch - the sets, costumes, the score, the characterizations. Really heart wrenching plot lines and the finale is something I don't think anyone who followed the series will ever forget.

They handled the time travel determinism quite well too - the lead actress works out the hard way no matter what she does to try to change the fates of those around her it only ends up creating the events that actually happened historically, usually disastrously!

The only thing I found was that it took a while before I was able to work out who was who. At first especially 8th, 13th and 14th princes looked quite similar - since they all have identical Qing dynasty hair styles (the shaved forehead and long ponytail) and look a little alike anyway. Thankfully some of the guys like the lead actor are very distinctive. It's a bit silly in places but I can overlook that for the overall plot.

If you're looking for something a bit different, a taste of a totally foreign culture - outlandish costumes, hairstyles, hats, ceremonies and a cracking plot with twists and huge surprises - and don't mind subtitles - this is great stuff.

Season 1 is way better than Season 2

[thefox-08833 · 8/10 · 14 August 2019]

Season 1 is very well done and deserves 8 stars. Good performance, poor screenplay and too many gaps and bluffs in Season 2.

SCARLET HEART: Time Travel Romance Classic

[Jinxxa_Wolf · 10/10 · 1 July 2019]

SCARLET HEART (Bu Bu Jing Xin / Startling by Each Step) was such a great show. Once I got sucked in, I could not stop. I really liked the concept of traveling back in time from modern day times to the historical Qing Dynasty era via an accident. Such a great plot and I'm now dying to read the novel which inspired it. There was some truly brilliant acting in this series. Everyone was so interesting and extremely well-casted. Unforgettable.

Actress Lui Shi Shi a.k.a. Cecilia Liu was really great as the spunky modern heroine Ma'ertai Ruo Xi (Zhang Xiao) and her wit, charm and personality really brings her character to life. Even when I disagreed with some of her choices, I couldn't help but love her and admire her strength and heart. She is just a character that one can relate with and feel for. Imperfect and sometimes reckless but lovable and well-meaning.

4th Prince (Yinzhen) fascinated me from the very beginning, because he's just that kinda guy, but I did not expect to LOVE LOVE him so much by the end. 4th Prince was so dynamic a character, cold and aloof yet somehow so very expressive; cunning and pragmatic, yet loyal and sincere. Such an intense character. Yes, 4th Prince slayed me. Nicky Wu is such an amazing actor. He rocks and was totally awesome in this role, completely captivating and compelling.

The onscreen chemistry between Ruo Xi and 4th Prince was electric and yet so very tragic. (So sweet to learn the two actors married in real life. The love was visibly real. <3 ) An unforgettable pair, and a truly haunting tragic love...

TEAM 4th PRINCE!!!!!!!!!!!

Among my other favorite characters were 13th Prince (Yinxiang), 14th Prince (Yinti), 10th Prince (Yin'e), Emperor Kangxi and Eunuch Li. Many of the female characters were outstanding as well, such as Ma'ertai Ruolan, Lüwu, Gogoro Minghui, Gororo Mingyu, Princess Suwan Guwalgiya-Minmin, Qiao Hui and even Yutan.

8th Prince (Yinsi) was well acted but I could not bring myself to really like his character, or accept his affair with Rou Xi. His "love" for Rou Xi felt creepy and superficial. 9th Prince (Yintang) was just plain unlikeable. Even still, I enjoyed how diverse and unique each prince and character was. Not a single character felt 2D. In my book, that is great writing and character development. And although the plot is a bit slow at the start it really picks up. Scarlet Heart is so addictive. <3

The whole series was very well done, beautiful sets, intriguing plot, gorgeous costumes, interesting historical portrayals, and amazing , heart-wrenching music. While there is comedy and heavy elements of romance, it is never as heavy as the drama, political intrigue and the ultimate tragedy. This show ripped out my my heart, and then fed it to me, multiple times. The ending, although haunting and moving was very painful. I sincerely loved it though... <3 ((BEWARE: NO HEA...))

A modern woman in a Qing Dynasty court

[magnoliacream · 6/10 · 29 May 2022]

Time travel story about Zhang Xiao (Cecilia Liu), who gets transported from 2011 to the Qing Dynasty era during the reign of Emperor Kangxi. She inhabits the persona of Ma'er'tai Ruoxi, the younger sister of the 8th prince's second wife. She befriends the 10th and 13th princes and gets romantically entangled with the 4th (Nicky Wu), 8th (Kevin Cheng) and 14th (Kenny Lin Gengxin) princes.

The story is interesting enough in the first half but became revolting for me when Ruoxi, who initially did not approve of sharing a man with other women, becomes romantically involved with her brother-in-law then with another married man. Things get worse when she lets her lover usurp the throne. She has a chance to change history, but afraid it would lead to her being erased in the future. For this greedy, selfish woman, two lives in a lifetime are not enough, so she condones an injustice and supports a usurper just so she does not change history and possibly erase her future self.

What kept me watching despite my dismay at Ruoxi's muddled situation was the charismatic 14th prince who I was hoping would be served justice. However, he turns out be yet another married man she gets entangled with. What a messy world when women were treated as mere pets and pawns.

One of the worst TV Series of all time!

[XueHuaBingYu · 1/10 · 26 February 2018]

The film is so slow and boring. I don't like the plot. I feel like it's going into a looping and never gets out of it until she's dead. It's all about the love story between a female, 4th prince and 8th prince like Gong TV Series. But I think Gong is better. At least, it doesn't circulate. Because it's boring, I stopped watching it. All in all, if you don't have anything to watch, then watch it. Otherwise there are a lot of movies and TV Shows out there. Leave this one and watch the other one. I won't recommend to watch this.

Boring..

[ganny_kusno · 1/10 · 24 March 2019]

Ruo Xi should be a smart modern woman in the beginning is fun and interesting, turn into selfish boring person story ... Not recommend to anyone

The 2016 remake is far superior to this one

[Bibiliography · 1/10 · 15 September 2022]

Starling by Each Step aka Scarlet Heart was remade in 2016 as Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo with an entirely new cast and a scintillating and engrossing script that far surpasses this iteration. The Princes in SC-Ryeo were pure eye candy but in this version they all come across as old men with ugly hair styles and boring personalities. Bottom line, don't bother with this version, go straight for Scarlet Heart Ryeo.

(The series tells the story of a modern-era woman, Zhang Xiao, who time-travelled from the 21st century to the Qing Dynasty during Emperor Kangxi's reign, where she, as her previous incarnate Ma'er'tai Ruoxi, encountered the Emperor's sons, who were involved in a lengthy battle for the throne. During the course of the series, the female protagonist would meet and eventually fell in love with Fourth Prince Aisin Gioro Yinzhen, who would later on ascend the throne as Emperor Yongzheng. The plot of the series was largely reminiscent of the original novel's plot, though the series's ending differed from that of the novel, along with a few minor differences from both the series and novel.)