Miss S is headlined by the effervescent Ma Yi Li in what has been her passion project from the get go. She certainly said as much during her interview in Singapore late last year when promoting this drama, which draws many parallels to her real life persona. Being a Shanghai native, the setting of this production albeit in a much different era, she is able to draw upon her many years of experience portraying strong willed, independent and feminist roles in playing the highly vivacious titular character.

Billed as the remake of the Australian series, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries which in turn is based on author Kerry Greenwood's historical mystery novels. Miss S probably feels more like an inspired loose adaptation of the screenplay to cater for Chinese audiences rather than an outright faithful retelling of the original version, although the intricacies of the plotlines and cases do feel awfully similar. The flavour, atmospherics and light-hearted humour are very much “Shanghai-nese” in comparison to the gritty outback setting of the original series.

For the uninitiated, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is about the female lead character setting up shop as a private investigator with a penchant for, you’ve guessed it, solving murder mysteries. While she solves a number of seemingly unrelated cases, there is an underlying conspiracy surrounding the death of her younger sister. In Miss S, the main character is the flamboyant, stylish and wealthy socialite, Su Wen Li (hence Miss “S”). For the most part, the murder cases are quite straighforward and nothing too “heavy” or thought provoking. This is more Murder She Wrote than How to Get Away With Murder.

No effort was spared as far as the quality of the production is concerned. Filmed entirely at the magnificently constructed Dream Bund Film Park which is part of Hengdian World Studios, the art direction and costumes are the two major defining technical aspects very much worthy of high praise. The mansions, automobiles (including that outrageous red convertible), in addition to the countless props, are reflective of the opulence and grandeur of 1930s Shanghai. The translation of the Mandarin title 旗袍美探, Cheongsam Beauty Detective, is most appropriate as it features exquisite cheongsams (qipao) worn by Su Wen Li and the female characters that reflect the beauty of the iconic dress. Likewise the tailored suits and uniforms make the men appear extremely dapper indeed. Shanghai’s French Concession is always depicted as the epicentre for glamour and style back in the day, and it is no different in this drama.

The award-winning Ma Yi Li, playing the lead role of Su Wen Li, injects a lot of fun and sassiness in her somewhat OTT characterisation. She has invited a whole host of well-known and very capable supporting and guest cast to this project. Vengo Gao plays her “love interest” and investigation partner, Inspector Luo. Perhaps it’s the experience and maturity of these two actors plus the fact that they are friends off the set, because the chemistry between them really does sizzle. His character is one that exudes wit and charm in equal measure.

Michelle Dong is involved as Su Wen Li’s bff, Dr Liu. Being the complete opposite, her character is down-to-earth and much more subdued but no less intriguing. Her portrayal here is reminiscent of her role in another Republican drama, The Case Solver. Yao An Lian has a prominent role but with much less screen time as the antagonist, Ding Ru Shan. Having seen him in The Long Ballad and The Rebel recently, this actor showcases much versatility and range in his varied roles.

Every featured case involves countless notable guest stars. Look out for appearances by Zhang Jing Tong, Zhang Yu Qi, Ren Luo Min, Xu Rong Zhen, Zhang Rui Jia, Zhang Xiao Qian, Xie Xin Tong, Chen Li Na, Huang Yi Lin, Huang Xiao Ge, Liu Yu Qi, and Cai Wen Jing, among many others.

The original score composed by renowned music director, Xie Nan for this production certainly captures the vibes of the era. Meanwhile, the emotional connection between Su Wen Li and Inspector Luo is fittingly expressed through the sentimental ballad by Saji, Peep. Track listing as follows:
Peep 窥望 by Saji 萨吉
Confusion 迷惑 by Ye Xuanqing 叶炫清
You Know 高嘉朗 by Gao Jia Lang 高嘉朗

Miss S is a light and easy watch that is infused with enough wit and humour to make it a worthwhile experience. It isn’t a groundbreaking, compelling procedural or overly complicated to make sense of, nor does it take itself too seriously. I had as much fun and enjoyment watching all 15 murder cases spread over 34 episodes as the entire cast did performing for this production.