Although the dramas are set during very different time periods and in different parts of China, both are historical dramas that follow the story of a strong female character over time who become elevated to a status they didn’t initially seek, during a time when there is major transition in who is ruling the country. Both dramas very nicely showcase the entanglement of family and politics, and the complicated relationships between sisters. In both, the romance is present and important but still ultimately feels incidental to the growth of the main female lead, her development as an individual, and the broader storyline about stabilizing a country during a time of turmoil.

Ming Lan is a bit more slice of life and has more melodrama between wives and concubines, while Xiao Chuo focuses on life during the Liao Dynasty, the dynamics between the Khitans and the Hans.

Both dramas focus on a group of modern women in their 30s (or about to turn 30), as they pursue careers and romance, not necessarily successfully. Highlights are the strong female characters and the bond of friendship between them. Both dramas broach divorce, motherhood, family dynamics, and the social pressures of being single in your 30s.