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Pledge of Allegiance chinese drama review
Completed
Pledge of Allegiance
1 people found this review helpful
by Xtinew
Apr 1, 2023
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 8.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

BECAUSE OF HIS LAST NAME 'LI'

It isn't a bad drama, bit of comedy, action, deception, apparently survival. The story is about Li Wu, a cunning smart thief, steal the identity of Li Dong Fang. Li Wu was one of survivors of 10 years ago chaotic, during the 25th-year reign of Hong Wu, the Crown Prince suddenly died of illness. His position became vacant which caused upheaval in the country. So chaotic that everyone including children, was being sent to prison even for minor offenses. In jail with a girl Shu Tang and another boy Song Zheng, Young Li Wu witnessed the dead of Song HeMing - the real father of Lu Zheng (Song Zheng) - as one of imperial guard who got betrayed by his own subordinate because of a secret letter that he hide on Juwei lock. 10 years later, 3 teenagers grew up with new identities and life experience. Ep 12, we got little reveal, but it's getting darker and each episode has connection from a decade memories and Juwei Lock is the source of what they're fighting for.

LI WU/FAKE LI DONGFANG (ZHANG YUNLONG)
He was a thief, money grabber and opportunist, smart and kind, fluent with his speech - so smart he'd tell lies after lies just to survive in every crisis that got himself into. He changed identity to Li DongFang, a visiting Brocade-clad Sargent from the north - a high ranking Colonel in Night Scouts, so he can get into wealthy household to rob. He found a unique metal ball amongest jewelries, silver, bank notes, without thinking he pocket it and run to find way out. He meet Lu Zheng, a imperial brocade officer who suspicious about his name - he tails him - not knowing that this fake Li DongFang was nothing but a thief and a liar. They meet the assassin that kill Wang GuKong the homeowner for his secret Juwei lock, she got injured and hide at the same place where thief Li Wu rob the place. They strike a deal, he help her out and she won't kill him. By using Li Dong Fang's name, as a Sargent from different branch, Li Wu became one of the brocade guard work together with Lu Zheng to solve their childhood memories without telling the other one the truth. Although Lu Zheng suspect Li Dong Fang as Li Wu, the boy that he witnessed kill his biological father, Li Wu was too eloquent to object them all. In time they'd know their identities and decided they're good in working together.

LU ZHENG (CHEN RUO XUAN)
Very straight forward Brocade-clad detective, had not many friend, adopted son of Chief Commander Brocade Imperial Guard. Lu Zheng witnessed one of the boy that his father freed from the jail pulling bloody knife from his father's chest and Lu Zheng intensively looking for that boy as now as an adult like himself, determine to put him to jail serve the justice. Lu Zheng learned from his lesson of saving someone only to literally stabbed him in the back so now, when it is criminal, he sees it only in black and white. He met Li Dong Fang, rumored he'd be promoted, curiously he approached Li Dong Fang. He didn't know it was the 'fake' Li Dong Fang (Li Wu). Although he's suspicious Li Dong Fang as Li Wu, he has no prove. He's determine to find who really is this Li Dong Fang and his wife by move himself in and doing surveillance to every move. He wasn't concerned himself with Juwei lock, his goal was to find answer the death of his biological father, and Li Wu had the answer to that.

SHU TANG (SUN YI)
She's involved in 10 years ago chaotic among 3 teens. As an adult, she's one of Night Scouts whose mission was to killed Wang KeGong and find the Juwei lock but got injured by Lu Zheng on the middle of mission. She hide in the room where Li Wu robbing the home owner, she couldn't trust Li Wu as he told many version of stories on how/why/what. Li Wu said that he used Li Dong Fang's name (Shu Tang's superior) as he couldn't personally watch in the area while he has more important things to attend, so Shu Tang attached herself as a (fake) wife of Li Wu.

When Song HeMing put young Li Wu to jail, he said 'because of his name (Li), so what? Lots of identity changing, every twist of the plots got complicated - like someone who did this before becoming different persona different time.The real Li DongFang was an ambitious man, he got critical injured few times but came back strong to life . He's the one who initiated to rebel, the agitator, came from previous dynasty to take back power. A great drama, collaboration between actors, setting and background was very realistic, no cringe no crying no begging. Writing a review on this section doesn't do the justice of the drama. Might not everyone's favorite though.
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