Legend of the Female General: High Potential, Frustrating Endings, and Unbelievable Tropes
A promising female-general revenge drama with Cheng Lei’s gravitas, a heroine weakened by comic writing, and a final stretch that wastes too much of its potential.
Spoiler warning: This review discusses plot details and the general direction of the ending.
More official viewing links: iQIYI ↗ · WeTV ↗ · JustWatch Canada ↗. All 36 episodes were listed as free with ads on Viki in Canada when checked on October 14, 2026; availability may vary by region or change over time.
I wanted to love Legend of the Female General—I really did. The premise started with so much promise: a woman whose military achievements are stolen by her family is blinded, betrayed and left for dead. High stakes, heavy drama, endless potential. (iQIYI)
And then… parts of it felt like the writers smoked something and gave up on logic.
Her master restores her sight, so there is an explanation, but the recovery still felt far too convenient. (iQIYI’s episode guide) She returns to the military disguised as a man, and when people discover her identity, keeping her secret often seems suspiciously easy. Because she is the female lead? I needed more convincing. Instead, what should have carried serious consequences started feeling almost comic.
And what the heck is up with checking someone’s wrist pulse and immediately knowing their sex? Seriously. How much disbelief am I expected to suspend?
The Cast and Character Dynamics
Cheng Lei as Xiao Jue: I am in love with this man. Cannot quite explain it, but everywhere I see him, he is just so attractive. He has a gravitas that I find missing in a lot of other actors. Maybe it is personal preference. Whatever it is, it works. His chemistry with the cast kept me invested even when the plot was testing my patience. (IMDb)
Zhou Ye as He Yan: She is fine, but I cannot say I loved her here. The character felt needlessly comic at times, which undercut the seriousness of her story. A woman can be funny and formidable; here, the balance felt off. I think the writing did her a disservice. (IMDb)
The nephew, Cheng Lisu: I kept looking at that familiar face thinking, where have I seen him? Li Qing is credited in the role and also plays Gongsun Yin in Pursuit of Jade, which I reviewed here. Finding out he was born in 2000 surprised me; his presence in Pursuit of Jade felt so mature. There is a casting complication here, though—more on that below. (Li Qing on IMDb)
Zhang Kangle as Chu Zhao: I really liked the second male lead initially. His character had so much potential, but the direction they took him in toward the end felt forced. Conflict is one thing. Undermining a compelling character to manufacture more of it is another. (IMDb)
The Verdict
Why do so many promising shows do this? They build something worth caring about, then weaken the final stretch with needless conflict. It reminds me of my frustration with The Prisoner of Beauty, which I will write about another time. It is a pattern, and honestly, it sucks.
Would I still suggest watching it? Yes, with reservations. The premise is interesting, Cheng Lei is very much worth watching, and there are characters worth caring about. I just wish they had used the immense potential they started with instead of letting so much of it go down the drain.
I did not need it to be perfectly realistic. I needed it to at least try to convince me.
Casting note: Reports say Li Qing’s face digitally replaced original performer Li Mingde’s for Cheng Lisu. That makes these two dramas an unreliable basis for comparing Li Qing’s growth as an actor, despite the familiar face. (Layar Hijau)