Luoyang (2021)

The wind rises in Luoyang

2021 has not been a particularly prolific year for detective investigation and wuxia themed C-historicals. The only one that I had completed this year would be The Imperial Coroner, which was quite good for a low budget web series. There were probably a couple others that I recall encountering but nothing large-scale in terms of the budget and prominence… until Luoyang came along. This is a highly anticipated production for several reasons.

> It is headlined by Wang Yi Bo, Huang Xuan and Song Qian. WYB obviously has his immense popularity and fanbase, but I also think he is a talented actor who has much to showcase if given the right script. The critically acclaimed and award-winning HX needs no further introduction while SQ is no stranger either with a fanbase for her music productions and acting honours in recent years as well.

> One look at the source material for the adaptation tells you pretty much what to expect. The story is based on Ma Bo Yong’s eponymous novel. For those in the know, Ma Bo Yong is the author of The Twelfth Hour in Chang’an, from which The Longest Day in Chang’an is adapted, as well as The Wind Blows from Longxi which is currently being adapted to a drama.

> Ever since the teaser appeared earlier this year, expectations have been soaring, judging from social media responses and even here on MDL. I was super impressed from what little had been shown because it looked very much the top quality content that it promises to be.

Luoyang is directed by Xie Ze, who helmed Jun Jiu Ling this year as well as the high profile Yang Mi fantasy, Legend of Fu Yao. Qing Mei serves as scriptwriter, after her interesting work on The Eight last year. Principal photography took place entirely at Hengdian World Studios between November 2020 and March 2021. This iQiyi co-production is big budget which reportedly involved in excess of 5,000 sets of clothing and modeling accessories, as well as more than 15,000 sets of props. These efforts were meant to accentuate the prosperous scenes of Luoyang during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty.

The story is set during the interregnum period of the short-lived Wu Zhao Dynasty, itself a part of the great Tang Dynasty. At this time the imperial capital was relocated from Chang’an to Luoyang. The fates of three unrelated individuals are intertwined as they cross paths during investigations into a mysterious murder case which puts them on a collision course with an enigmatic secret organisation that has nefarious designs on the reign of China’s only Empress regnant, Wu Zetian.

What I Liked

The production quality. Specifically the art direction, set designs, action choreography and most obviously the money well spent on the sheer numbers of extras. From the first minute of the first episode, you could tell immediately this is top-tier content. Luoyang actually resembles a real city, rather than merely a production set. The huge crowd of inhabitants walking the streets exude a metropolis feel to the bustling city centre. Although this was filmed at Hengdian, you simply couldn’t tell because the production team managed to mask the obvious very well indeed. The action sequences of the choreographed martial arts moves, the coordination of mass fighting and the frenetic street chases are absolutely superb entertainment. Meanwhile, the inner palaces and the throne room settings are gloriously opulent and majestic, thanks in large part to the visual framing of the scenes. The general appearance of this drama is reminiscent of The Longest Day in Chang’an, with the exception of a more polished colour grading and less grain in the overall visuals.

The premise and the plot. The Tang Dynasty and Empress Wu Zetian historical settings are favourites of mine. The infusion of an intriguingly extensive overarching mystery with a profoundly conspiratorial connotation and no lack of convoluted twists makes Luoyang all the more enthralling. It is complex, fast paced, eventful and unpredictable - it’s truly been a while since we had such a smartly-written mystery. The reveals are timed to perfection without letting the cat out of the bag too early or being underwhelming to adversely detract from the gripping nature of the storytelling. The story continuously builds and engages right to the climactic ending.

The main characters and portrayals. Huang Xuan plays the gritty investigator Gao Bing Zhu, the perfect ancient iteration of the hardboiled detectives in crime noirs. This is a deliciously layered and multifaceted role that suits the range and depth that he possesses. In fact, most of the powerfully emotional moments in this drama feature his scenes. Wang Yi Bo is the stoic but brilliant engineer and scion of a prominent house of imperial engineers, Baili Hong Yi (aka Er Lang). In many respects, this character is an exact replica of his Lan Wangji in The Untamed. I actually prefer his brooding interpretation here compared to the playful character in Legend of Fei where he just can’t stop smiling. Making up the dynamic trio is Victoria Song Qian’s female inner guard, Wu Si Yue. This is an interesting character who is the only one of the three leads that initially embodies the values of justice and professionalism in her conduct, whereas the other two have their own vested interests and personal motivations. It’s safe to say that Song Qian’s performance here indeed warrants the tag of strong and relentless FL.

Of the supporting characters and cast, I have to mention a number of performances that have left quite an impression on me. The veteran Yong Mei plays Wu Zetian in what has been a uniquely refreshing take on the iconic historical figure. Most depictions hitherto have been utterly colourful, fashionably stylish and, of course, hugely intimidating. Her version is understated, subtle and nuanced. Whilst the image appears less menacing and even motherly, given the twilight years of her reign, I still feel the ominous undercurrent that threatens to burst into life beneath that deadly calm exterior. Despite the limited screen presence, Zhang Li deserves credit for her portrayal of Yao Niang, particularly during one of the scenes of acting masterclass between her and Huang Xuan.

The drama features a total of six original songs in its soundtrack. My personal favourite is the contemplative ending theme by Huang Shifu, Longing of Heart. Full listing as follows:

长风送 Chang Feng Sang - 宋茜 Song Qian
心念 Longing of Heart - 黄诗扶 Huang Shifu
无关 Wu Guan - 汪苏泷 Wang Sulong
笑黄梁 Xiao Huang Liang - 李振宁 Li Zhenning
天机 Tianji - 李常超 Li Changchao
风起洛阳 Wind from Luoyang - Winky诗 Winky Poem

What I Didn’t Like

The somewhat trippy camerawork, particularly for the action sequences. The cinematography has been somewhat inconsistent in this respect, although it does progressively improve. I do understand that it is a stylistic choice in the way the fight scenes are presented, to immerse viewers into the atmospherics of the scenes. The quieter and emotional moments, on the other hand, are generally better framed.

I did not appreciate the melodramatic aspects of the plot pertaining to FL’s brother persistently attempting to marry her off or frequently constraining her investigative efforts. Likewise the story arc relating to a certain side character and his unhealthy obsession with a long-lost childhood love interest.

I need to rant about one character in particular, Liu Ran. Somehow a majority of C-historicals seem to favour this particular characterisation. The whiny, clueless, and besotted airhead who constantly annoys by ceaselessly crying out for the object of her affections. In this case, I think I’ve heard the name “Er Lang” being called out hundreds of times throughout the whole drama. Usually such characters would eventually experience tremendous growth but not so here. Her trajectory remains constant right to the end, unfortunately. However, I do not blame Song Yi for the portrayal. She could only make do with what she’s given and I know she has a lot more substance than that.

The last thing that irked me - the ending. Without spoiling it, let’s just say that while the story does achieve closure, the final outcome isn’t ideal. There is a huge room for improvement in this aspect but I fear this is as good as it will ever get for us viewers.

Final Thoughts

All things considered, Luoyang is most definitely one of the better C-drama productions and investigation themed historicals of the year that shouldn’t be missed by fans of the genre and for those interested in trying their hand at C-historicals. At only 39 episodes in length, the storytelling is brisk, intense and coherent which is very well-suited for the binge.

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Wild goose chase.

Ancient conspiracy thrillers are right up my alley so I looked forward to Luoyang with bated breath. This is set in Shendu (now Luoyang), capital of Wu Zetian's Wu Zhou Dynasty (690-705). As the only female emperor in over 5000 years of Chinese history, Wu Zetian remains a controversial figure - an ambitious, usurper whose exceptional intelligence and leadership is only matched by her ruthlessness against anyone in her way, including or especially her own children. She cultivated informers and multiple secret police and spy rings that gathered evidence against her detractors. and maintained a careful balance of power between the important political structures of her administration. This is reflected in the drama in the clear delineation of responsibilities between the Judiciary, Inner Guard and Secret Police (Lianfang). During this time, the Wu clan and Li clan were embroiled in a power struggle which persisted until Wu Zetian intervened and clarified her succession plans. Nonetheless it ended in messy plotting, betrayals and twists that are drama worthy in and of themselves. This is rich fodder for conspiracy plots such as this one.

The drama starts thrillingly with a bold daylight assassination of an informer and his daughter and the ensuing dizzying high speed chase through the streets of Shendu. All three main protagonists mortician Gao Bingzhu, foodie Baili Hongyi and inner guard Wu Shiyue are at the scene and invisible threads from their past pull them together to uncover a much deeper conspiracy that could rock the very foundations of Wu Zetian's empire. Clues emerge that connect seemingly unrelated cases and force the three protagonists to work together, at first reluctantly and with selfish agendas and then with growing mutual respect and trust that blossoms into deep friendships. I most enjoyed the tripartite friendship in the drama and would have liked to see it better explored rather than unnecessary romantic arcs. Huang Xuan nailed it with his cynical yet paradoxically idealistic Gao Bingzhu; whose shrewdness and insight into dark hearts of man does not extend to those he cares for. I also did not see much chemistry between him and Song Qian who impresses with her fight scenes but falters somewhat in her line delivery. Wang Yibo's performance is strong in some aspects but uneven overall with too many scenes where he is clearly unsure what facial expression to wear. This role does not elevate him for me from an actor that I don't mind watching but wouldn't seek out. That said the trio has enough combined chemistry that I am happy to watch them together again. As for Song Yi, she has gotten enough flack and her character was so poorly written that all I will say is this is a role such a wonderful actress should have just passed on.

I did not enjoy the first two episodes of the drama - too much was happening at the same time and the cameraman swung the camera so wildly I thought he was possessed. The action scenes are exciting and well choreographed enough they did not need to artificially augmented by cheap camera tricks. After the psycho camera settles down, the plot unfolds at an intense and exciting pace against a gorgeous backdrop of dazzling sets and with a deluge of colorfully garbed denizens - they must have hijacked and costumed practically every Hengdian tourist as extras on set I have never seen so many people crammed into each scene. My personal favorite set is the Unwelcome Well which looks almost too inviting to be a ghetto. While the costumes and certain props are anachronistic, everything comes together is such a vibrant and captivating panorama that it scarcely matters. This is complemented by well designed side characters that are based on well known historical figures. Hints of their personalities, scandalous affairs and alliances are quite faithful to history and add a nice ambiance to the setting. It set up for intriguing Dumas like plot twists that didn't materialize.

This drama builds to a top-notch, shocking and heartbreaking climax prematurely at episode 20 where both actors delivered standing ovation worthy performances. It achieves that perfect sequence of shock followed immediately by stunned comprehension and acceptance as all the clues rushed to the fore to blindside the viewer to the next unfolding twist. In the second half, the plot visibly loses momentum and digresses into romantic arcs that don't belong in this genre and filler maudlin flashbacks. The writing of the mini-threads in the second half is insipid with excessive gratuitous character implants, many of whom delivered cringe worthy performances.

In hindsight it would have been difficult to top the fantastic mid-drama climax but it is still extremely disappointing for the final reveal to be so bland. The hollow villain that everyone was on to as a bad guy early on but dismissed as too obvious turns out indeed to be the final villain, one that is not worthy of being called a mastermind. Both their motive and end game plot is not well articulated or convincing. Multiple clues and more interesting suspicious characters that don't play out leave me feeling like I went on a wild goose chase. I don't know if they ran out of money or wasted it on too many bodies but there is no sense of peril or excitement in the final showdown. Forget explosions or collapsing buildings, we don't even get one good last fight scene. The final insult is how unfathomably a feather brain like Liu Feng manages to find himself in the right place at the right time to deliver an unnecessary and uncalled for outcome. This is just a misguided attempt to deliver an audience shocker to make up for the nothing burger of a final reveal.

Even though this remains a very entertaining and highly recommended watch, the ending is a big let down that knocks 0.5 off my final rating for the show. I feel that an 8.0 is the best I can give to this show, which is still one of the better c-dramas of the second half of 2021.

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This is so intense and fast pace like there's so much happening, yet I don't feel overwhelmed. Very big production, the money that went into this was huge. The attention to detail is mind-blowing.
The acting is great, Huang xuan doing wonders, happy that he's able to showcase his acting here. His crying scenes are heartbreaking. Wang yi bo did a fine job, looks pretty good. In fact everyone's visuals are great. His and Huang xuan's characters only had one thing in mind..revenge, that changed as the story progressed.
Song qian nailed her role, her character is strong and smart. Her fighting scenes were fun to watch, her status doesn't hinder her from doing what she felt was right. She mostly uses that to her advantage. Song yi is adorable, Liu ran is the best wife that Er lang could have asked for. I would say that among the mains she has the highest EQ. She is able to help Er lang with that. She is just getting unnecessary hate, i agree that some of the things she does it questionable but the girl is in love and love makes people do stupid/immature things. Every time she is ignored by him, my heart hurts for her. Glad that Er lang started to treat her gently, like she is quite understanding. I would say that her character development was pretty good. I found their cp on the cute and innocent side while Si Yue and Gao Bing Zhu on the mature and intense side. Main problem between the cps is communication. The lack of it created unnecessary problems for them.

As for the supporting roles, my favourites were Bai lang, Shen fei, Yao niang and Yunzhi. Liked how whenever they showed up they just ligtened the mood, especially Bai lang, the man is so funny and he does it with ease. Shen fei and Yunzhi both priotise their masters (friends) happiness first. Shen fei always helping and protecting Er lang in every way he can. Regardless of how crazy it might be, he is always there for him. Yao niang was awesome to watch wished she had more scenes. The empress is feared by everyone, she holds so much power its frightening. I definitely did not like Liu feng, he was annoying, selfish and a waste of space.

I like how everyone was connected, each character protrayed well. The casting choices were good. The chemistry between the cast is great. The fighting scenes are pretty well done. The characters are complex, not necessarily easy to read. No one is set and stone, from the mains to the side characters. The plot is intriguing, captivating and clever. I like how everyone is trying to outsmart each other. No one is written dumb, like they have brain cells and the logic is there. It is quite fast paced but the flow of the plot is not affected. In fact that makes it even more appealing. It got me anticipating what is coming next. There is balance in the plot, no plot device is overshadowed by another. There are quite a few plot holes but doesnt really the storytelling.

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Secretive Intense Fast-moving

I’m intrigued by the background setting of this story. Adapted from a popular novel by Ma Bo Yong, the same author for Longest Day in Chang’an and Secret of Three Kingdoms, this story is set towards the end of the first female emperor’s, Wu Zetian’s, rule around 703 – 705 in Luoyang. Like the other earlier dramas, this drama is fast paced and heart-poundingly intense. The nail-biting story is abound with mysteries, conspiracies and hidden villains, layers after layers with multiple meanings for interpretation.

The author brilliantly mixes fiction and non-fiction together creating a fascinating story. The plots and sub-plots may be fictional, but many of the people and places, with probably the exception of the main characters, are real historically. Having said that, the names of the main characters could have been adopted from real people during the era but unrelated to the events (for example, Wu Siyue has rather similar homophones to Wu Zetian’s father’s name, Wu Shiyue).

It would be a fascinating watch if viewers are equipped with some understanding of the background setting so that all the elements in the drama, big and small, including dialogues and events, become interesting clues as the story unfolds. As it goes, the background becomes pivotal for the enjoyment of the viewers and I’d like to provide a brief explanation here.

After the death of her husband, Emperor Gaozong/Li Zhi, Wu Zetian maneuvered swiftly, created her own dynasty, Zhou, and soon proclaimed herself the emperor, basically taking over the throne from the Li family despite her own sons who were still the rightful heirs to the throne under the Li lineage. These have created various factions, with conflicts between the loyalties to the Li lineage and Wu’s family and followers. In the drama, we see these two factions at each other’s throat, jumping at any opportunities to put their opponent to death, for example, the King of Jin, Wu Shenxing (NingWentong), constantly pits against the Crown Prince Li Dun, and he him. The politics and infighting were enormous and deadly, which are captured vividly. It is under this setting that the story becomes captivating and rich. The hidden undercurrents propel the plot: who is the ultimate villain? Is it the Li’s trying to wrangle back power from the hands of Wu, or is it the Wu’s clan trying to legitimize their claim to the throne and pass on to their future generation, or is it someone else?

The story begins with the whistleblowers, who are historically real, risking their lives to try to send a secretive message to the Emperor. Before Wu Zetian came to power, the informant system was in existence to gather information on opposing forces to the throne. The use of secret boxes for the informants to submit information is rather similar to today’s suggestion boxes. Ironically, the inventor of the secret box was eventually executed as he was accused of his involvement in a rebellion through the system he had invented. This is rather similar to the case of Louis XVI, the last King of France, who was decapitated by the guillotine that he had invented.

The first episode where the three main leads are introduced is rather haphazard with fast moving events, sometimes in slow motion and camera work flying everywhere causing confusion and head spinning (at least for me). However, thereafter, such haphazardness almost evaporates and is replaced by seriousness and absorbing story telling.

Though romance is not the focus here, it does brush on light romance with Baili Hongyi (Wang Yibo) who initially opposes to a marriage arranged by his father, but gradually falling in love with his wife, and Gao Bingzhu (Huang Xuan) and Wu Siyue (Song Qian/Victoria Song) developing mutual admirations and love for each other.

Huang Xuan is a veteran actor and his acting skills are solid. He brings out the turmoil of his character, in his avenge for his buddies and the woman who has helped him countless times. Huang Xuan is convincing in all his roles, as a low life or as an investigative spy in the secret service. I like Song Qian’s acting too. As Wu Siyue, she is righteous, trusted by the Emperor and the Crown Prince, and abides to the book, Song Qian gives the viewers a wonderful performance here. Behind the scene, Wang Yibo is well known for being rather quiet with a cold look which fits the Bali Hongyi character very well and his acting captures the essence of the character, giving the viewers a lovable performance.

My Verdict

Luoyang is the ancient capital of China's thirteen dynasties. With such a location, this is an intriguing watch. Exciting and nail-biting. Starts with a head spinning fast pace in episode one, each episode is laced with danger and hidden conspiracies, one twist after another. This is a big budget production with not only great actors, the attention to details is immaculate, from costumes to headgears, everything is said to be as close to the real thing as possible. Accordingly, the production has prepared, among others, more than 5,000 sets of costumes with accessories, and more than 15,000 sets of props, striving to show the prosperous scene of Luoyang in the heyday of Tang Dynasty.

This drama has a great start. Unfortunately, like most Chinese dramas, it dwindles towards the ending. In fact, the ultimate villain seems to be rather haphazard and illogical to the overall plotting.

It is still a great watch for me, but with a giant plot mismatch ending, I'm afraid it's not a perfect one.

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BRAIN DRAIN

Firstly you are going to enjoy the Character Played by Wang Yi Bo as I have ever since the beginning of this month.

The whole plot is not too shallow and you enjoy the characters very much, furthermore, the chemistry between all three main leads is something worth watching.

The Crime drama has no shortcuts and shortcomings as it really involves you to think critically but no offense, I like the literary sense behind the story and I wasn't as disappointed.

Is it me just or Wang Yi Bo and Huang Xuan have that very cute Bromance that pushes me over the edge and keeps me screaming plus if you are a fan of Wuxia, you'll have to agree with me that the props are very lit and the kungfu is top notch unlike any that I have seen second to THE UNTAMED, WORD OF HONOR, NIRVANA IN FIRE and moreso I must say that after Wang Yi Bo's characters in the Costume Dramas THE UNTAMED and LEGEND OF FEI his follow up in LUOYANG won't disappoint you as of now I really think this guy deserves an Oscars.

You'll definitely enjoy the story and if you're worried about being confused trust me you won't be as I'd gladly say that this is one of those series that has smart leads and won't waste your time when you decide to take a leap of faith and watch it.

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Struggled to finish the drama

The drama kept me interested for a while until the two main leads GBZ and WSY started all of a sudden caring so much about each other and getting all emotional when something happened to the other. I think the plot was interesting, it kept me watching with the mystery aspects but the romance was done terribly. I think the two main leads had like two interactions and all of a sudden they are willing to die for each other and getting all jealous and wanting to control each other's decisions. It just didn't make sense to me. I like the plot and I think it could have been a great drama if they didn't add these poorly done romance aspects. Another annoying thing was how they characterize BLHY to be this super smart guy but a lot of figuring plots out is given to the character GBZ, and they show BLHY's intelligence mostly by BLHY figuring out what GBZ is trying to convey to him in threatening moments. The characterization and plot together just wasn't very coherent to me. I liked some of the support characters back stories like that of GBZ's lady friend, while the addition of other supporting characters were quite confusing. Like, why give such characters so much screen time when they have little influence on the plot? It was just annoying watching them (like that of LR's brother). The point of LR's character and her ear-piercing "Er Lang" was also confusing to me. Why??? What is the point to show us this besides annoying viewers?

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Where Does the Ultimate Good Really Lie?

I had been looking forward to seeing this one as it promised to be something intriguing. While by far not my favorite costume drama of the year, it kept me coming back for each episode. It had its pluses and minuses; I do however want to say that nothing I write below is to reflect poorly on any actor. Actors work with what they are given both good and bad.

Pros: My two favorite characters of the entire series were Gao Bingzhu and 16th Night. Both actors did a superb job in their characters. Huang Xuan was brilliant in his portrayal of this rogue badass who was hellbent on avenging the deaths of his friends and taking care of all of the people in the Unwelcome Well. His evolution into a more refined badass, didn't take away from his almost psychic notion of who the bad guys were even when they counted in the double digits and could be your closest friends if not family. When meeting Wu Siye and Baili Erlang, these two characters only expanded his already unbelievable ability to digest information that seemed like something in passing to someone else. He also seemed to be extremely lucky in survival no matter how many times he was practically pin-cushioned by 16th Night and others. GBZ was in the thick of it from the moment we met him in the first episode to his absolute last second on screen in the very last episode. This man is absolutely a class act and I would look forward to seeing him in other dramas particularly gritty ones.

Then comes probably the greatest antagonist I've seen in a very long time; 16th Night was absolutely a soulless, brutal killer, who took out adults or kids alike with her creepy three-sided weapon of design, using alleyways and rooftops to showcase almost immortal martial art skills. What made her character particularly amazing was that it wasn't until the episode of her reveal that we even knew she was a woman! Furthermore, she was totally hiding in plain sight and a friend of GBZ, who saved his life on numerous occasions while putting both herself and her "regular" business at risk. Her complete and total double life immersion was very impressive. Sadly, when she killed herself once she was exposed to GBZ, no other antagonist in the show, even the higher ups of the Four Seasons cult were able to replace her brilliance and brutality. Zhang Li who played her was a pleasure to watch.

The two other leads held their own. Victoria Song as Wu Siye had really great martial arts skills and her unfailing loyalty to those who she cared about most was what made her a solid character and leading lady to GBZ. I watched this for Wang Yibo originally as he's the only one I knew in the cast and though Baili Hongyi/Erlang was in a way the brain of the 3 musketeers because he could decode things and figure out maps and plans, his character took a while to thaw out and was reminiscent of his break out role of Lan Zhan in CQL because of his tiny facial expressions even though he had a lot more lines here. However, I appreciated his smarts and solving puzzles and when working together with GBZ and WSY, he was an integral part of the team. Though he couldn't fight and would constantly need rescuing (as the other two would often say to each other "Baili Hongyi is in danger"), he figured ways out eventually to save himself for the short term if nothing else. His and GBZ's hinting towards each other to solve a problem or get someone out of danger was a nice added touch. Showed that they had developed a very good relationship of trust with each other.

Other characters that were notable in good ways were Master Chu, Shen Fei who sadly perished saving BH's life and the sacrificial lamb or scapegoat Li Beiqi. The last was murdered sadly and only at the very end did people find out that he was innocent of all of the crimes against him. And the first always had the best interests of the Empress and people at heart so was reinstated; I actually hope that GBZ returns working for him again.

The last pros were the OSTs, some of the costumes, badass fighting scenes, and the set designs, plus CGI which were simply gorgeous. It was quite obvious where the large budget went.

Cons: In the very first episode, you felt like you already landed into the middle of the series and had to run to catch up. Now some people might like that but to me that's a rather messy start to a series. Furthermore, the amount of characters that were introduced was done at the speed of light and many died before you even had time to blink. You didn't know who was good or bad or why certain ones were killed until maybe the 6th episode in. It was all too hasty and had little cohesion.

The amount of bad guys was ridiculous, most didn't matter and who they actually were more often then not wasn't even properly explained but because there were so many bad guys, you eventually lost track of who the dead ones were. There simply shouldn't be that many completely useless characters running around.

Probably one of the most upsetting things for me was the killer who "replaced" 16th Night was probably the polar opposite of anything I would expect a savage killer to look/act like. Robot Barbie that didn't blink was beyond a cop out. They would have been better off not having another one, because even without the original 16th Night, this chick didn't scare anyone. Nothing about her said scary or killer; Robocop walked with more fluidity.

And how can anyone forget.....EERRRRRRLLLLAAAANNNNNGGG! Dear lord, hold the wheel! 30 out of 39 episodes of this ear bleeding, shriek that happened 76 times per episode. Liu Ran was the clingiest, most cringeworthy, annoying, and dumb as a brick character I've seen in a long time. She was like a pet chihuahua that wouldn't leave her husband alone and wouldn't stop nagging. I was actually amazed they evolved her in 9 episodes into a mature and emotionally stable woman who stood by her husband and trusted him as opposed to running after him and calling his name as she messed up his plans nearly getting them both killed a few times; because those first 30, I wasn't alone in wanting to send her character along with her brother, and maid out of town on the bro's camel!

Romance was the one genre that was not needed at all in this drama. When these kinds of scenes came, it was like throwing a well-oiled machine off kilter. It was unnecessary and extra. The mopey, clingy scenes just poured cold water on a hot detective drama where they just didn't belong. Not every drama needs to have romance because it just doesn't fit; it's like trying to jam a square peg through a circle.

The entire Liu family were either major jinxes or just plain evil. Her brother was another totally unnecessary character and his puppy love for someone who turned out to be also part of the cult, led him down the path of delusion and the even more inconsistent ending to the one character who shouldn't have died as it made zilch sense and made the ending of this series very confusing. Like how did he know where Lord Rodent w/rug would be exactly (a character that was so obviously the big bad since he first appeared on screen, that that revelation in the last episode was beyond underwhelming)? The 3 musketeers work together that one last time was impressive but they lost one. How does one get away with killing a leading inner guard of the Empress and not even get sentenced to prison but to go up a mountain and repent as a monk? That makes as much sense as only 10 days after her death, there was no real feeling of mourning amongst those people who cared about her the most. Again very inconsistent; because GBZ spent 5 years tracking down the murderer of his friends but he won't go up the mountain and take out the moron who killed the only woman he ever loved who actually loved him back w/out strings attached?

And lastly, what was the "greater good" that the cult was constantly yakking about? The massacre of an entire capital? Sounds very Jonestown to me, but it was never explained to the audience.

Would I recommend this drama? Yes, I would. It's a good detective costume drama, but it comes with many errors. So just be aware of that and decide for yourselves.

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Slow start, Excellent middle, Good finish

Completed - 1/6/2022

A sponsored, big production, "Luoyang" opens with beautiful cinematography and set designs. It introduces many characters and multiple plot lines all at once and took me a while to find my bearings. I personally find the first 10 episodes a little slow, but once the leads interact with each other more and the plot lines intersect, the pace is fast and exciting. It did slow down a little towards the end.

What I Like:

1. Plot - I am not much of a thriller/mystery watcher, so I can't compare this to other amazing shows. However, I am very invested in the mysteries and the investigations. There are a few twists that I have an inkling of what might happen, but for the most part, I went along with this thrilling ride and was quite surprised.

2. Acting - It's my first drama of Huang Xuan, and no wonder I hear lots of praises He was amazing as Gao Bing Zhu, a multi-layered and complicated grey character (to start). I've seen clips of Victoria Song in "Find Yourself" and didn't quite like her there (or I just don't like the drama). However, I am glad that I get to see her in LuoYang again. She surprises me as I wasn't expecting her to perform so well in emotional scenes. I am no stranger to Wang Yi Bo, and his acting is on par to what I expect. I also feel that his character doesn't provide him with enough range to show off his (maybe there) potential acting skills. The person that surprises me the most is Yong Mei, who played the Empress. What a presence she has! She doesn't speak loud, doesn't do much, but when she's on my screen, I feel her presence.

3. Production - The lighting! After watching so many historical C-dramas, I have come to expect certain big S+ dramas to satisfy my hunger for natural lighting. I am glad to see that Luoyang does not disappoint. The amazing use of candles and lanterns in Er lang's room and the Joint Corps pleases me the most. Aside from the lighting, the set designs and ornaments are beautiful. No CGI was used to have fake people. The drama employs many real people in this drama to act as regular citizens, and there are many scenes with crowds. There are any beautiful shots of Luoyang and realistic shots in Unwelcome Well.

4. Gao Bing Zhu + 16 Night - The last scene between the two of them is so amazingly acted by both actors. It's so heartbreakingly beautiful when we finally learn of the backstory between the two of them.

What I Don't Quite Like or want Improvements:

1. Flashbacks/Black screen/Camera work - My number one complaint of this show is the blurry flashback scenes. Why are they always so blurry? They are giving me motion sickness and making me dizzy. There are also many black screens that pop up to show a different camera angle. I've seen black screen used in other dramas, but mostly for scene transitions. But for the black screen to show up so many times just to change a camera angle, gets really annoying. The blurry flashbacks really affected my enjoyment of the drama. I also don't like the bright light behind the actors. I think they use this camerawork a little too often. Of course, this is all very personal.

2. Voices/Sound - I believe the actors are using their own voices, and I greatly appreciate that. However, I found Wang Yi Bo's line delivery very unclear in the first couple episodes. It sounds like he's mumbling. However, he definitely improves later on. I would love to hear live recording, but unfortunately, they are studio recorded. But overall, I found the dubbing for this S+ drama to be lacking. There are times when the mouths and sounds are not matching.

3. Not enough leads together - I hope to see more scenes of the three leads together. They are oftentimes working independently or only in pairs. I think the three of them have pretty good chemistry when arguing or investigating.

4. Liu Ran - As a character, she doesn't seem to provide much use. Her sole purpose to "humanize" Erlang. If they are going to do that, they could have developed the romance a little more. Yes, Liu Ran does call out "Erlang...Erlang... Erlang" quite a bit in this drama. But maybe I knew of it and have low expectations, I wasn't as bothered. I've seen enough annoying characters that I don't even find Liu Ran and her brother that bad. I've built up my annoying-character tolerance.

Other Observations/Thoughts:
1. Saw a different kind of wedding ceremony. Don't think I've seen a tent for the bride and groom to greet guests in any other historical dramas.
2. At times, the BGM is a little loud and I can't hear the dialogs.
3. Erlang is so multi-talented. He's a foodie and an architect. But he's also a chemist and a coroner as well.
4. Slow motion fighting again. Why???????
5. *SPOILER* Ending - Gao Bing Zhu and Wu Si Yue have gone through so much and have lost so many people in their lives. Why can't you let them live happily ever after???

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You get a long monologue, he get one, she get one…everyone get a Monologue!

It was good, almost great show. It could have been better. The beginning built an interesting premise and the flow was great in the first couples episodes. There no slow moments. But then around episode 10ish (it could be before) the flow became “stop and go”, the plot kept on pausing for “personal drama” and unnecessary backstory. I found myself passing forward all the forced “sweet” moments between the two main couple because I just want to continue with the main plot. I admitted I pass forward all the scene with Liu Ran, her family and her with Baili Hong’s love story. It was somewhat fun in the beginning but got trophies and didn’t being anything to overall plot line. At the end, I especially didn’t like her brother and his obsessive love story, so I passed forward when he came into the scene.

What I think was great the overall was the storyline and the production value, you can see they put a lot money into this with just the first episode alone. However, I feel the story could have being told in 24-30 episodes. I haven’t read the book, but my gut feeling said that scriptwriter add more to expend the story, like the love stories or Lui Ran’s family story ( hey, I could be wrong).

The acting was great that no one stand out, they put their characters first and the audience can focus on the plot. However, also I admitted I did pass for some of Gao Bing Zhu’s “self-pity” moments scene after the first or two scene with the graveyard… I got… he is “tragic”, “lone wolf” character. Again, thing could been edit out for a shorter drama. All characters had their annoying moments and there were no CP that I would chased. However, I did liked all the cool female characters that were well written, there no weak female characters (even Lui Ran).

The thing i didn’t like or was annoying is the BMG. At some points, I couldn’t really hear the actors dialogue over the BMG. Also the fade out to black at “life and death” moments and closeup to actor reaction expressions, but I have to give it to the director….he trained you to expect that those “fade out to black” moment will always end well and the characters are going to be save till he change it, which lead to ending…it could have end better. The last thing, which is basically the last episode…a long ass grand speech. There were so many grand monologue thought out the drama, it seem all the characters got have a grand defining speech-Here let me tell you my plan…why I did the that….my life story…There were so many “the bad guy explaining his plan while Jame Bond is tired under the laser beam” monologue. The bad guys did, the good guys did…the whole of the episode 39 was just that one speech after another. It like the director and screenwriter decide like do the reverse of all show and drama…started the show with an episode with all action without any breathing room and the last episode, where they just talk. Expecting a epic battle…nope I give a monologue.

Overall, it was a good to great show to end 2021 with, on personal note. I started the year with a Yibo show – legend of fei, which was a bad show that I forced myself to finish to end with the year with another Yibo show that was good in production and script that legend of Fei failed in.

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Not memorable, but a good one time watch

As far as dramas go, this was a good once over. I wouldn't watch it again, but I have no regrets that I took the time to watch it.

THE GOOD;
Good acting 95% of the time. The three main characters did great in their respective roles, although Huang Xuan as Gao Bing Zhu definitely stood out from the other two mains. Additionally, Zhang Li as Yao Niang, despite her short time in the show, also really stood out during her most prominent scene . Some side characters were not interesting/necessary, some were totally pointless and annoying, but some others were really likeable, such as Bai Lang and Shen Fei, who were necessary in the plot while also just being likeable characters. Shen Fei's death was a pity. Most other plot necessary characters were well cast, too, imo.

The cinematography was great as well. The scenery looked full and complete since the CGI was nicely done and the over all show's appearance was very attractive in the visual department. Music was fine, suitable and not overpowering in the scenes. The plot was predictable to a certain extent, but it was executed well enough that it was still interesting to watch.

THE BAD (or rather, not so good);
A bit of filler here and there that could have been nixed. Romances (that didn't have room to be properly developed) that could have been nixed. A few plot holes or loose ends or unrealistically handled scenarios, but that is not such a big deal, it happens. Last minute saves of main characters from being injured was no good, too predictable, lacks suspense and intensity. But the abrupt death of Siyue was probably the least necessary thing. It felt like a slap-dash sacrifice thrown in at the end to make the struggle for victory really hit the viewers right in the feels, which for me, it did not.

Which brings me to what I consider the biggest issue with a series of 39 eps; I did not actually get attached to a single character in the show. For example, I am a fan of Wang Yibo, but I truly did not particularly care if his character got injured or was killed. I was not caught up in his character at all. Same for the other characters. The show failed to drag me into it emotionally and I don't think this drama story is memorable. It might be the plot or the lack of suspense, but I just wasn't feeling it.

HIGHLIGHTS;
Great visuals on all fronts, nice fight scenes and no reasons to dislike the main three characters.

OVERALL;
I'd say it's a decent one time watch. I don't think most people will be riveted or will feel a major attachment to the characters or story, but it's still entertaining. I also enjoyed Huang Xuan's acting, and since I didn't know him as an actor before this, it was a nice surprise.

Give it a shot if you enjoy action/fight scenes, some humor and a bit of a whoREALLYdunit.

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The best period c-drama of 2021

2021 has been a lean year for period/costume c-dramas. There are hardly any period/costume c-dramas worth mentioning other than a handful like The Long Ballad and Word of Honor. Even then, these two c-dramas did not exactly meet the lofty standard and suffered from various issues such as disjointed storylines and plots, dubious incorporation of anime into the series, dubbing issues, etc. That is why “Luoyang” is such a refreshing change in an otherwise dull year for period drama fans like myself.

Ultimately, “Luoyang” will always be compared to “The Longest Day in Chang’An” – a hit costume drama of 2019 by the same writer. Both are penned by Ma Boyong and have the same complexities, mystery and intricacies unique to Ma Boyong’s writing style. Both are set during Tang Dynasty’s period. Both are highly engaging, entertaining and visually appealing with numerous twists and turns of various plots and subplots. If you enjoy “The Longest Day in Chang’An”, I am absolutely sure “Luoyang” is your cup of tea and this 39-episode c-drama will captivate and keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end.

The drama opens up with our main lead, Gao Bingzhu played by the mercurial Huang Xuan, awakens from his sleep in a coffin store, which turns out to be his lodging. There is hardly any artificial light in this very first shot other than those sunlight permeating through the voids in the window. It sets the tone lighting wise for the rest of the series. You won’t get too much artificial lighting here to lighten up the scenes other than those from candles especially for indoor and night scenes. Lighting over-exposure is non-existent here. It keeps the atmosphere real, with shadows visible during some night or indoor shots. Then we are presented with the aerial shot of Luoyang City. The capital setting with throngs of inhabitants filling up every nook and corner of the street is simply spectacular and breath-taking. It looks real like what a vibrant capital should look like and not just a scene filmed at one of the sets at Hengdian World Studio. Those people on the street do not look like extras. Immediately you know that this series is a big-budget production and costs a bomb to produce. Money is no issue and the producer is only concerned with quality product. Everything looks real and expensive - from the costumes, props, studio setting, extras to ancient Luoyang, Unwelcome Well (Ghetto), the HQ of Intelligence Services, etc. The first few minutes convinced me to KIV Yang Mi’s “Pearl Eclipse” and Zhang Huiwen’s “Heart of Loyalty”.

No one particular actor hogs the screen time here, and that is a plus. The story-line does not revolve around any leads, but rather each lead has his/her own plots. Gao Bingzhu is hell-bent on revenge for his friends’ death. Baili Hongyi is trying to find his father killer. Wu Siyue is just doing her job as the Inner Guard to the Grand Empress. The story is a labyrinth with twists and turns where excitement, disappointment, sadness and mystery await you around every corner. The writing has always been the main weakness of most Chinese period dramas; but not here. “Luoyang” writing is good enough that you don’t have to turn off your brain to enjoy this masterpiece. The acting is great as well. Special mention to Huang Xuan as Gao Bingzhu because at times, his acting moved me the way no other costume/period c-dramas could. I remember watching Xie Ze’s previous effort as a director with “Jun JiuLing”and laughing my ass off when the ML (Jin Han) cried his heart out after finding out his beloved had met her untimely death. Gao Bingzhu does not have to cry in this drama, but his tormented expression is enough to relay the feeling of helplessness and anguish. The scenes where he got his revenge against the 16th Night, and when his best friend turned enemy met his untimely death were scenes that I could watch time and again. His strength as an actor reveals itself in these highly emotional and poignant scenes.

Special mention on Luoyang’s beautiful cinematography, props, costumes and great fighting and chasing scenes. The camera angles are exquisite. There are times when I wonder how those cameramen manage to capture the shots of fighting and chasing scene through the Ghetto. The wireworks and stunts come out beautifully. The chasing scenes must have used professional parkour athletes because I don’t believe wireworks and post-production tricks alone could have achieved those effects.

Lighting is another aspect which “Luoyang” excels in. There is no over exposure from artificial lighting on most of the scenes. Night time and indoor scenes have the right amount of light - presumably from tons of candles - which produces shadows, realistic ambience and contrast. Low key lighting in this costume drama was in stark contrast to the last directed costume cdrama by the same director, Xie Ze (Jun JiuLing), where lighting overexposure was prevalent and became a negative point of “Jun JiuLing”. On the other hand, lighting seems to be the strong point of Xie Ze’s “Luoyang” with the night scene in the imperial City of Luoyang particularly impressive and eye-catching.

November/December 2021 is a great time for period c-drama fans because of “Pearl Eclipse”, “Luoyang” and the recently premiered “Sword Snow Stride”. The best period drama of 2021, and one of the best EVER without any doubt.
Story - 10.0/10
Acting - 8.0/10
Music - 9.0/10
Rewatch value - 10.0/10
Overall - 10.0/10

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Really very good quality

High level cinematography, interesting and fast moving plot from the very beginning, which put you in the center of the story (excellent idea).
Very good mass scenes, gorgeous costumes and decoration.
Intensive and well composed fighting scenes.
Acting of the main 3 leads was fascinating. All 3 lead actors delivered their characters completely and authentically. Especially pleasant was the FL character and Victoria Song acting (unusual female mature acting for Chinese dramas, without overacting).
Very good supporting actors and supporting characters revelation.

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