This review may contain spoilers
Must-see show for hardcore history lovers
I read many reviews about Under the Microscope, which write that the plot of the show is very dry. THIS IS PRECISELY WHY I LOVED IT AND WHY YOU SHOULD TOO!!!I have a PhD in medieval European history, and always find Western medieval shows to be entertaining but wildly inaccurate and off the mark about the real issues and mentality of medieval people.
Under the Microscope is the very opposite. It is centered around an extremely important issue that was omnipresent in the life of people: taxes and land. Behind these issues lie broader concerns about governance, class, power, managing an agricultural society… You can tell that it is based from archival research by author Ma Boyong.
I know a show about taxes and land sounds less sexy than a xianxia romance, but if anyone is Interested in the nitty gritty of history, this show is one of the best and most unique ones I’ve watched. It shows you how the Ming administration worked, how different levels of government could be levelled against one another depending on their jurisdiction, how a seemingly small matter had life-or-death consequences for ordinary peasants, how corruption was widespread, how social inequalities created by land and wealth concentration within the hands of a small aristocratic elite could bring disaster to a whole region… It might seem abstract, but the plot and production make it very engaging, and embody these problems within the scenario and the characters.
On top of these qualities:
- The acting is great, especially the acting from the veteran actors.
- The production value is high. The costumes, cinematography, sets are all great.
- It’s only 14 episodes, unlike the slow-moving, unncessary 50-episode shows which don’t respect viewers’ time. The pace is good. The plot moves forward every episode.
- There are great character arcs that will make you scream YESSSS!
- It is appropriately cheesy and heroic like normal Chinese dramas. There’s some action thrown in here and there to spice things up. There’s moving moments that made me cry at the end!
I hope many Chinese history fans will give this show a chance!
Spoilers below
- I loved how most characters are given credible motives and context. For instance, Magistrate Mao is depicted as a bad guy, but he is given a great scene in which he explains he’s not from a noble or scholarly family, so yes, he is corrupt and is in Master Fan’s pocket, but he’s got nothing to lose. Similarly, I loved how Magistrate Deng explains to Shuai Jiamo that he may agree with him about the hard math, but because of politics, his hands are tied.
- The show was very smart in explaining how the small matter of the silk poll tax could impact both the average people, and be an entry point for officials to curry favor with the imperial court by tying it to the meta-issue of land measurement.
- My favourite character arc was Magistrate Fang’s, who evolves from his mediocre, do-nothing attitude to a heroic stance. There was something very believable in his initial flailing, then his move towards being indignant of his colleagues’ treatment towards him, and finally his redemption arc as a righteous magistrate.
- Many characters are endearing as hell. Feng Biyu and Feng Baoyu were adorable, and Cheng Renqing was a compelling figure.
- There are some plotholes (why didn’t the bad guys kill Cheng Renqing, the lawyer, being the biggest one), but overall, the plot holds.
- The depiction of Shuai Jiamo is problematic, and it was clearly used as a narrative device to contrast Jiamo’s purity with the world’s corruption.
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Really boring and drawn out.
This was quite boring and I was amazed the thin premise couldn't support even the very short 14 episodes.That's it, really.
The actors were mostly solid, but they don't have much to do, since nothing happens.
This could've been a movie and I'd watch it, the basic idea is not entirely uninteresting.
But 14 episodes of THE SAME THINGS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER?
God no, this was dire.
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The acting is good, but I found the plot was boring, so I am dropping it.
Under the Microscope may have an excellent cast with strong performers, but I think Zhang Ruo Yun is being typed cast in investigative historical dramas. This is not the first drama I have seen him in, he played a similar role in Joy of Life, and I am sure Joy of Life 2 will be similar. The same goes for Sword Snow Stride, for they are all about solving corruption and/or murder in the royal palace or some dynasty.After 5 episodes, I could no longer continue because I found it boring and not enjoyable. I heard great reviews about the Joy of Life, so I am watching it but don't find it enjoyable.
I am dropping this drama and giving it a 6.0 rating because of the acting, but I don't care much about the plot. The visual and production quality is quite good. iQiyi knows how to produce good quality production dramas, unlike Tencent.
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ZHANG RUOYUN!!!!!!
Before I say anything I would love to know if Zhang Ruoyun is actually a genius in real life. This is the third drama am watching him (After 1. Joy of Life 2. Sparrow) and he's still not disappointing. And why is he always a genius when I meet him. It's too early to review after just 4 episodes but 4/14 is a percentage and with such a drama every moment is worth it.1. STORY
I wont say much because I don't want to spoil for the ones that haven't started. So I'll generalize and say it's a wonderful story in a wonderful world about a mathematical genius in those historic times. And so far so good on that part, no disappointment in the scripts. I wonder how rich he would have been if it was actually someone living among us in our current world with these betting stuff and lotteries. It's a story worth your time, so if you haven't, then better go ahead.
2. CAST
This part they really got me. Ruoyun(ML also in Joy of Life and Sparrow), sentiments aside, was the only best person to take on this role. He does it so well and as I said, he actually looks like the genius he plays. I wouldn't imagine anyone else in this role but maybe Yang Yang (ML in Who Rules the World) would have given it a meaning but in this case he can't beat Ruoyun.
Next perfect placing was the second ML(Also second ML in Lost in the Kunlun Mountains). I watched him last just recently and he's a top notch actor. He's always beside top talents 1. Xu Kai in 2022's Lost in the Kunlun Mountains 2. Zhang Ruoyun in 2016's Joy of Life. and now once again with Ruoyun for the second time am watching them together. He should quit acting acting and become a head of police or a huge business person (Lol, just joking, he has that face).
Over to Wu Gang who also am watching second time together with Ruoyun after Joy of Life. This 'old' man is a talent and he does so great as a villain. I wonder what he would look like if we met on the road. Scary? He reminds of Jin Mu in 2022's KDrama Alchemy of souls.
**This casting was so good and having such three high profile actors would be beneficial to any set-piece.**
MUSIC
The OST is great, not too much noise with vocals and personally I like it that way. The OST carries you into the episode and prepares your brain on what you're about to watch and the world you're about to enter. I liked the same from Princess Silver, Sparrow, Royal Nirvana, Nirvana in Fire, Game of Thrones, Westworld, HOTD and a few more(On the Hollywood side, not Asian), Martial Universe, Legend of the Phoenix, …
Not too much of SFX and it's great where used.
REWATCH VALUE
So far so good, the 4 episodes are rewatchable but early to determine if the rest will be up to standard which I hope they will be.
OVERALL
A must watch if you love historical dramas. Good acting and production. Good story. Let's meet when it ends. Happy watching till then.
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