Under the Power (2019)

So Addictive

My feel-good drama, a heartwarming drama with a never-ending suspense. So underrated, although reviews are high, I never really see many people referring to this drama on online forums and comments sections which is so surprising. I have grown up watching Chinese dramas with my family and this drama turned over a new leaf and inspired me to enjoy dramas alone as well.

Story 10/10 - This drama is so original although having used the common historical detective trope. With a mix of slow-burn romance and mystery/suspense, this story was addictive and I never wanted it to end. The drama is set out in a very light-hearted way, perfect for those who may be new to C-dramas or look for something light but meaning-full and worth watching.

Acting/Cast 10/10 - Perfect acting, roles played as well as i could have imagined, especially the memorable acting of the ML. I loved the interactions between many of the characters and their different personalities which I found very entertaining. It is interesting to see the main leads be casted in many different dramas following Under the Power due to their flawless acting.

Music 9.5/10 - Any music sung by Zhou Shen ensures the music is beautiful which was wonderfully presented in the Main OST. I appreciate how one of the OSTs of this series are sung by Ren Jia Lun, the ML as he is not only well known for his brilliant acting, but his music career as well.

Rewatch Value 10/10 - When i was watching with my family, 1 episode each day, as I got past the halfway mark I could not contain myself and watched the drama beginning to end alone. I have watched Under the Power 5 times all throughout 2019 and could see myself watching it again if i were to run out of new dramas to watch.

Overall - 9.5/10 - A must watch for all C-drama fans, especially new watchers who enjoy detailed but light hearted stories. The storyline was fast paced but detailed and I can see myself watching this drama more times in the future

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Definitely Recommend

Wow. Hmm. Where to start.

Firstly, all the actors/actresses in the show seem to have such great chemistry with one another. For me, it was Gai Shu and Ling Lin that had great chemistry with not only one another but with the main leads as well. I always look forward to scenes where they appear with the main leads. Their presence never fail to make a scene so familial and full of care and concern for the main leads that I just feel like the show did them dirty by not giving them a proper conclusion.

Secondly, the soundtrack was great. Zhou Shen’s voice is heavenly. This is the only show where I sit through the theme song of every single episode because of how nice it was. Ren Jia Lun and Tan Song Yun also contributed to the OST and their songs fit the atmosphere of the scenes really well too. The instrumental OST are also pleasing to the ear.

Thirdly, the acting. The villain, Yan Shi Fan, was awesomely horrible. I’ve never been truly scared of any antagonist in my life but this one made me thank the lords I wasn’t born in the same era as him.

My favourite character has got to be Lu Yi. I’m totally smitten. Mind you, I have never fallen head over heels for any male characters from a drama before. Lu Yi is the first. I’m now officially a fan of Ren Jia Lun and will probably watch every other Gu Zhuang Xi he acted/will act in.

Other honorable mentions would be Jin Xia and Zhai Lan Ye. We all know Jin Xia is adorable and vivacious. But Zhai Lan Ye was another character that stood out for me. She is truly the human embodiment of the phrase “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”.

Lan Qing Xuan also stood out for me. However, I was under the impression he had a tragic back story related to Yan Jia that would reveal why he was so willing to help get rid of them. That back story never came so I am a bit confused? What was his motivation to bring them down? Was it because of what happened to his master and disciple? It didn’t feel like a strong enough reason to compel him to forsake his own life to do so though. Or maybe I just didn’t understand the story lol.

My only complaint with this show was that there were too many scenes of supporting characters like Shang Guan Xi and Yang Yue. Fortunately I could adjust the playback speed to 1.5x whenever they appeared or I would have died of boredom. Took her 30 episodes to stop simping for Xie Xiao, who was an equally irritating character. He also didn’t even take over his dad’s business in the end (and this was such a big deal in the show for his character) so my question is what happens to Wu An Bang now that both leaders are gone? The show also never really explained why Lu Yi’s mother had to die? I thought it’d be related to the main ordeal with the Xia Jia but it’s not?? Probably just a plot tool for Lu Yi to have a tragic back story I guess.

Finally, I think the whole series had a good and proper conclusion. The part where Jin Xia visited the prison every day in hopes to see Lu Yi was especially touching. This is a show I will never forget. 100% recommend! But would I ever rewatch? Not even my man, Lu Yi, can convince me to sit through the whole Yang Yue and Shang Guan Xi scenes again.

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Lovable leads & Amazing chemistry

This drama was almost perfect. The beginning was so fun, and it really drew me in. I love how Seven Tan portrayed Jin Xia in a way that was endearing instead of annoying. She brings us a FL with a truly unique personality I wish I saw more in dramas. And Lu Yi... *swoon* Allen Ren did such a good job here. He really brought the stern yet soft Lu Yi to life. The way Lu Yi looks at Jin Xia makes me wanna eat him up (iykyk ;) hehe). The middle of the drama was my favorite. It was full of such sweet fluff and angst that wasn't over the top. However, the last 10 episodes or so is where some of the magic was lost for me. It got a little trope-y and draggy. I stuck through purely out of loyalty to the main couple since the secondary couple(s) weren't anything to write home about.

Overall, I definitely recommend this drama. The hilarious moments, slow-burn romance, and flaming-hot eye contact are definitely worth the sluggish ending. Not to mention, the opening song is so hauntingly beautiful it makes my heart ache... in a good way.

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The Power of Women

This is truly an epic tale. It deserves all the praise it has received. It's beautifully shot, perfectly cast, wonderfully written.

Firstly, I cannot think of.a better or more standout cast. Allen Ren is perfect as the serious, stoic, upright yet broody Lu Yi and Seven Tan really has her moment shining so brightly as Yuan Jin Xia. They complement each other perfectly. Like other viewers commented, the villain Han Dong with his glass eye was so sinister, even I as the viewer was terrified of him. This is a lengthy drama and I don't think a moment within the 55 episodes was wasted. You can tell all the cast work hard at developing their characters.

This show is really about the Power of Women. I feel Under the Power's English and Chinese name (锦衣之下) does not do justice to this truly powerful epic. Maybe it should be called In The Power of Women. It's all about the women in this drama. Yuan Jin Xia as a woman constable set aside all pre-conceived notions of women and kicked aside all traditions to serve as a female constable. Even the fact that her mother adopted her and raised her as a single parent was admirable. And then you have Shangguan Xi who is the leader of a famous gang and even Dr Lin Ling who saves the day with her knowledge of poisons. Not forgetting the standout emotional epic battle scene which was led BY women. The truly memorable character which should have had a bigger part was the General's wife who fought to protect Hangzhou. Like seriously - one of the few epic battle scenes were led by WOMEN? That is some serious female power!

The women really shine in this show. Don't get me wrong, the men shine too, it's just that this show really lets the women have their moment. I really love how the men are so confident in their own masculinity or just confident in themselves that they are so happy and willing to let the women shine. Yang Yue is the perfect example. He is happy to be the assistant to Yuan Jin Xia, oftentimes letting her take the lead in solving crimes and then later on being the content companion of Shangguan Xi - stepping aside to let the girls fight - but always their to help and to assist and to cook delicious meals. This show allows men to show emotion - shows them cry, shows them have deep feelings of unrequited love / or reciprocated love. It shows them head over heels in love.

This show is truly a gem. I cannot recommend this show more. It's just EPIC. If you are considering whether to watch this show or not - just start. You will not regret it. One of the best shows I've watched. Hands down.

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My Favorite C-Drama

I finished binge watching this series a few days ago and I must say this is by far one of my favorites if not my favorite Cdrama ever. The story/plot is pretty interesting, and it's enough to keep you watching throughout the series. But what I love the most about this series is the chemistry and romance between Lu Yi and Jin Xia. Like their chemistry and relationship is pretty unique. Usually in other dramas it's a standard to have the cliche 'misunderstanding' last for a chunk of the drama, or have it so that there's multiple misunderstandings throughout the entire series. But in this series I felt like the misunderstands were kept at a minimum and towards the end of the series. The majority of the series is them trying to solve their investigations and them getting to know one another, and by them doing that you get to see their relationship grow stronger and you can really tell that they care deeply for each other.

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Good Series

Watched this in: iQIYI
[X ] As paid subscriber
[ ] Free

I consider this as
[ ] Excellent
[ X] Great
[ ] Good
[ ] Just Okay
[ ] My Mother taught me to be quiet rather than say anything bad.

As for recommendation:
[ ] Highly Recommended/Worth the Subscription Payment
[ X ] Add to your watch list
[ ] Watch if you need something to watch while waiting for a good one to release and can be seen for free.
[ ] Do not waste your time


What I like about this entire series:
[ X ] Production sets/Props used; attention to detail is evident
[ X] Wardrobes fitting scenes wellp
[ X] Artists portrayal of individual roles are good
[ ] Theme Music: opening credit, closing credit
[ X] Story and good way it was written for the screen
[ ] DIRECTOR'S creative vision and imagination translating the script into a visual form.
[ ] Awesome CGI
[ X ] Fight Choreographies are beautiful and synchronized.

What personally didn't work for me
[ ] Lead Actor's Role portrayal
[ ] Lead Actress Role Portrayal
[ ] Story
[ ] Costumes Used
[ ] Set Designs
[ ] Script Lines could have been better
[ ] Too many, too much corny & cliche scenes
[ ] Too many scenes that do not make sense at all. Inconsistencies
[ ] Too many fillers (useless scenes) to fill time.
[ ] The Director's work here can be described as "someone who got paid first, and did the bare minimum with didn't care attitude.

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Great Acting, Sweet Romance, Good Story

This drama has a very good combination of a good and interesting story that doesn't feel too draggy even though its 55 episodes. It has good character developments throughout these episodes. The story while overall has a serious plot, but also carries humour at certain moments. It has a very good combination of seriousness and funny moments.

The lead actor and actress performed very well for their role, very natural and expressive of their character at the same time. I have seen this lead actor before, but he definitely out did himself in this drama with his subtle and natural acting and still expressing his feelings through its subtleness. I can feel how their emotions would be during those moments through watching them and carries me into their world. The action is decent too, not overly much, but enough to keep those who likes actions going.

The romance between the two is sweet and has a nice chemistry. Their sweet moments although often are short scenes here and there, but are all very sweet just makes you want more. The director also did well in adding the artistic side to it. Overall, It has a good balance of action, romance, decent story with a touch of comic relief and topped with great acting performance from the lead actor and lead actress.

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Terrible Drama. Low production and cringe-worthy dialogue

This is such a terrible drama. I am shocked at the high rating. I started it based on this rating and I think it must be a biased rating from the fans of the ML and the FL. There is a reason why this drama was held up for so long after production - it’s just terrible. The underlying story is thin, the “cases” they solve are not interesting and poorly written, the characters are uninspiring and the story drags on and on pointlessly. I have not seen a more terrible drama in recent years. Even the low budget web dramas are far superior than this.

Let’s start with the main characters. Can they be any more cliched? The ML is an arrogant, cold, rich lord who is also a high positioned investigator. Now. I’m tired of dramas that romanticize assholes. He is just a mean asshole and he is mean, rude, degrading and controlling of the FL. I don’t find that romantic in any way. Yet, here we are. I don’t care if he has a trauma related to his mom it still doesn’t excuse his poor behavior.

The FL is supposed to be a lower ranking investigator and forensic analyst but she doesn’t come off very capable. In fact, her deductions are so elementary it’s always the ML that helps her solve the problems or it’s some “test” by the ML to see if she can solve the problems. Like, the FL can’t seem to do her job right without the ML and is relegated to being is lackey. MOREOVER, she has a gun and this is supposed to be her weapon of choice. If that’s her weapon of choice shouldn’t she know how to shoot people with it? Of course not. She is a terrible aim and I have yet to see her hit anything with it, moving or not. And to add insult to injury it’s the sword-wielding ML who “teaches” her how to aim with it! Like, she didn’t learn how to aim the gun when she chose to first use it as her weapon of choice? And then whenever she runs out of bullets in the middle of a fight. She struggles to reload it and it’s the ML that has to rescue her each and every single time. SO FRUSTRATING! Can we please get FL who are at least COMPETENT at her chosen profession? Why must she be a lackey, dumb, incompetent investigator who needs constant saving by the ML??

Then, there is the story and the production. This is SO low budget. I have to go beyond suspending disbelief to watch some of the scenes and it’s tough. Everything down to even the “fresh” flowers clearly look fake. Everything looks like a set, and the swordplay is fake, the action looks overly dramatic, close-camera fake, just everything. It’s like they just didn’t give a shit or they as really really low budget but decided to go all out on these scenes with the low budget they had. If you don’t have the budget just keep the set and props contained. I have seen low budget web dramas look higher quality than this.

And the story is worse. What IS the story? It’s just a series of unrelated and uninteresting cases that shows the evil villain has an evil plan. Yeah, we get the villain is evil and he has an evil plan simply from the fact that they decided to give the villain a glass eye to basically put a sign on his face that says “he is the villain.” I’m half way through the series and it’s just one drawn out boring uninteresting case after another that adds nothing to the plot of character development.

Finally, the dialogue. I thought no dialogue could be as boring and uninteresting as Siege in Fog and this drama proved me wrong. What is the point? And can the FL get better lines then one that is about her eating too much, is sucking up openly to the ML or just otherwise being a loudmouth crude nosy busybody? Ugh.

I am particularly disappointed (to say the least) about this drama because I like the actors who play the ML and FL. It’s so disappointing that they wrote the characters this way and directed the story this way. What a waste. And what am incredible waste of time on you if you spend a minute watching this terrible drama.

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Still in the jinyi pit

I would recommend this one to anyone who just like to fall in love. Technical aspect is really a bit low but the acting is really superb. It's like Jin Xia and Lu Yi came out from a comics book. They don't look like they are acting when you watch them. It's like just watching two people flirting and you can't help rooting for them to end up together. I would say story is a bit simple unlike other investigation series. But grandma jinyis don't mind because I think the main goal of the series is to spread dog food 😭😂😭😍

It's more than a year now but I still can't find a Chinese costume series that is half as good as under the power. Other shows have better effects and more good looking cast but only jinyi really captured my heart. I tried watching other costume series with good rating but the characters can't win me over. Either the female lead is too stupid or the male lead has facial paralysis so I have to stop watching for the sake of my sanity. I also tried to watch Ren Jialun other costume drama but the female leads made me cringe that's why I go back to the pit. I already read the novel and several fanwai but I still can't get enough. I hope we can have a season 2 or movie to show their life after master Lu came out from prison.

ATM I'm reading the novel of Jinxin si yu to at least start digging myself out from the pit. I really hope adaptation would be good so I would have new series on my playlist.

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Venting on the persistently Irritating under the power

If there is a team of writers involved in the scripts for this extremely long series for something that is draggy and painful to watch some of the episodes. The series could have been great if they can condensed it to maybe 30 episodes, keep the story tight, and action fast and irritating scenes short. I am now pretty sure they have one writer dedicated to writing irritating personality and scenes for Xie Xiao another for Jin Xia, not to amuse but really to bug the audience. Many times I feel like borrowing the pistol from Jin Xia and shoot him in the mouth. That character has no important role in the series except for being a childish git, and by the way the actor is too old to play a 16 years old boy by the way, a note to the casting director. Some of the scenes just becomes repetitive, same fight but different places. Its like going to different parties and you see the same faces dancing to the same crappy music, even a hardcore party animal will eventually give up and stop hanging out with the same bunch of losers.

I know the production houses wants these long draggy scenes because they can dragged into 55 episodes so that they can sell it for more money.

I have been trying to listen to reviews on Under the Power from my usual source, and guess what? Not one of them talked about this show. Now I know why? A bloody time waster. And I am shocked that the rating in MyDramaList is as high as 8.4!! I guess there are many bored people in here who will watch anything and enjoy every single crap the Chinese Production houses can ditched out! I heard there are over 500 series per year being released, and there are always idiots out there who will love them.

Lets have something ORIGINAL for once pleaseeeeeee. Why don't they make Heaven Official's Bleissing into a live action TV drama series, the animated version is excellent!!! It has all the original and entertaining elements.

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I loved it!!!!!!!

There is so much romance!!! The story always surprises you, oh I absolutely loved this!!!!!!!!!!!! The romance is incredible! They have chemistry! I want to see them together in another series!!! This male lead in his uniform is completely astonishing!!! I love the female lead too, she is humble and powerful and great! I hope to see more series like this with the romance over the top and all of that. Some parts were a bit scary like when thr antagonist was in the screen but he is so scary! Hahaha still I just loved this series! There is action, great effects! Great actors, the music is magical! Thank you for this amazing series!!!!! I love all the actors. 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 The song is beautiful!!! I want to find it!

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