The biggest point of controversy lies in the power and strategy line - a factor that is considered the soul of historical films. Instead of multi-layered intellectual battles, the plots in Kieu So and Mac Ly are considered simple, illogical and too dependent on the main character.
In Kieu So, the female lead So Trieu from a young lady unexpectedly given supreme power after only a few upheavals. Many viewers think that the character's promotion process is too easy, lacking convincing basis. Detains such as a person without royal bloodline but still being granted a special title or easily taking power to mobilize imperial guards make the story lose its authenticity.
The fighting scenes in the court are also commented on as rudimentary. Many plots are resolved with just a few words of response or the timely appearances of the main character. Instead of creating a feeling of tension, the confrontations make viewers feel like pre-arranged situations to honor the female lead.
Meanwhile, "Mac Ly" is not much better when turning power struggles into personal revenge scenes. The female lead Diep Ly continuously gains an advantage over her opponent thanks to plans that are almost without obstacles. Many details related to investigation, pursuit or intellectual battles between factions are handled superficially, making the power and strategy lines lack weight.
Besides the script issue, the film pace of both works also caused much debate.
Kieu So" chooses to tell stories at a very fast pace. In just the first few episodes, a series of important events such as family extermination, female lead's birth, divorce, entering the palace and holding power take place continuously. Speeding up the tempo helps the film create a dramatic feeling but at the same time makes the psychological development of the characters become superficial.
Conversely, "Mac Ly" falls into an unnecessarily prolonged situation. Many supporting stories about family, love or side characters are exploited too much, causing the investigation and revenge flow to be interrupted. This reduces the appeal of the story, which is advertised as focusing on intellectual competition and strategy.
Another common point of the two films is that the image of "the great female boss" is not really convincing. Both So Trieu and Diep Ly are built intelligently, bravely and always win. However, those qualities are mainly expressed through introductions or favorable details, instead of the process of maturity with failures, mistakes and lessons.
The fact that the main character continuously wins while the opponent often makes incomprehensible mistakes makes the revenge journey lack persuasiveness. Many viewers believe that the two female characters lack inner depth, lack the necessary tug-of-war and conflict to create the appeal of a female power image.
Despite owning a cast of famous actors and being invested in the setting, "Kieu So" and "Mac Ly" have not yet met the expectations of audiences who love the historical drama genre. Initial reactions show that viewers are increasingly demanding more scripts, especially works labeled "big female bosses" and "triumphalants".
