Early episodes, Jing Bo Ran’s character Lan Jui, is sublimely beautiful in movement and expression. His performance interchangeable, from calm and serene, to chaotically maniacal,…
At episode 17 now,… storyline has become draggy at times… still tolerable so far.
Beautiful stages and costumes, lovely backdrops and scenery (albeit, appropriately eerie at times)
Up to ep 22~ storyline is slowly moving along, a new character has been introduced! Wang Duo aka Shulin, plays him well! His long ago connection with ML Lan Jui, belies a weird feeling…it’s eerie.
Now at ep 25 ~ Shulin strikes me as a Very sly individual… hmmm…
Just completed the series… As Shulin, Mr Wang Duo’s multilayered performance was awesome!
Sweet ending … complete as is,.. with soft opening for a potential S2. Lovely OST! Shoutout to cast and crew!
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Okay I just finished it and here is my take.
So good!!!
I think a lot of people are trying to get that “the untamed” feeling again. And don’t get me wrong the untamed is superior and I’d give anything to rewatch it for the first time again. However, if you drop the idea that nothing will come close the the untamed? then this drama is really good! A lot of people say the ending is horrible or rushed but I think it was a normal ending and a good one for the story. I don’t feel like there was too many loose ends that you couldn’t tie together your self and I found the ending quit cute. People also had trouble with the characters, I did to at the start, but I actually think the actors did a really good job and the acting (to me) is beautiful! The characters all develop beautifully and you will grow to fall in love with each in different ways! Definitely worth the watch, but again don’t be expecting something great like the untamed cause it’s just one of the shows you watch to know and not to become obsessed with. Alright that’s all, 8.5/10 overall for me. P.S. Zhang Ping is amazing and I don’t care what anyone says.
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I loved the unraveling of intricate plots and unsolved mysteries as deciphered by Zhang Ping despite some inconsistencies. In some instances, I was amazed how easily a commoner can obtain access to the Empress, and how fast the higher ranking officials believed Zhang Ping's explanations. But if I overlook some of the loopholes, I find this drama entertaining to watch.
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I'm usually lazy so I avoid writing reviews but this one is an exception
Just finished watching the series and godd@mn I'm gonna be hungover from this one for a long time.It was a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings for real and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm so glad I watched this beautiful drama and I'm so sad that it had to end. I'm gonna miss it terribly. I'm not giving any spoilers because it will truly ruin the fun. There were a few little flaws but those could definitely be ignored cause nothing's really perfect in this imperfect world.
I'm absolutely thankful to the team who decided to make this incredible series ❤️ All I can do is hope that this one will have a season 2.. I'm eagerly waiting for the good news ❤️?
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Amazing Drama. Totally Recommend it.
Zhang Ping character is autistic. He has difficulty in talking and socializing with people thus he will take him sometime to get close to Mr. Lan but eventually he will find away to get close to Lan thanks to his cooking skills (yes he's a great cook). Both of the characters are very smart specially Zhang Ping. The drama is more of a thriller than romance but all the characters have great chemistry and its worth it. Zhang Ping is young inspiring detective and he will eventually help Lan in finding the murders in the country. Zhang Ping is from poor background due to him being poor and not being from high society it will be nearly impossible for him to find his dream job but when he meets Mr Lan he will be able to work his dream job thanks to Mr Lan recommendation. Mr Lan is a minister of rites, he's also the son of former Traitor Grand General. Lan become a minister inorder to clear his father's name.Was this review helpful to you?
Ancient Detective Once More!
Ever since The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty (2020) I've been loving ancient detective dramas. Most however are not big budget production. Although this does not beat Sleuth of Ming Dynasty on every level, its a solid pick.If you enjoy dramas like:
Sleuth of Ming Dynasty
Ancient Detective
The Imperial coroner
Miss Truth
Then you'll enjoy this one as well
Positives
Quality production
Great casting from MLs to supporting cast
Interesting cases if you like crime dramas
Good pace - not to fast in solving each case
There's a bigger mystery to be solved as well as short cases to keep the audience engaged
Could've been better
Drama is overly serious with only hints of humor
Bromance was only decent, not sure if the pairing really worked for me although both are very good actors
Rather short drama, each episode is ~34min x 29 episodes. I definitely could use more cases or wouldn't mind a S2!
I am still waiting for the next drama that can match up to Sleuth of Ming Dynasty
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This review may contain spoilers
An inference to current affairs in guise of an investigation drama?
Was this an ingenious view by the writer on world affairs? A cover-up with a cover-up.The title and initials LON are the same as League of Nations, an old name of the UN.
Spoilers Alert!
This hypothesis was mainly because the story had masks, man-made biological weapons, man-made balloon missiles, and man-made weather changes and mutated decoy empress.
The plot was simple a case of deception where the empress substituted her ill son to a healthy boy to safeguard her status.
There were 5 main characters:
The Bad Guys: FL, empress dowager and her son, Shulin, the 2ML. They started with deception and ended in extermination.
The Good Guys: 2ML ,Zhang Pin and Lan Yue and 1 2ML, the emperor. They were interlinked to their machinations.
In that supposition that the 5 main characters represented nations or aptly their leaders.
Zhang Pin: can compromise principles for the common good.
Lan Jue: fence sitter who can be influence to align to a side.
Shulin : seemly free on the surface but underneath is tyranny.
Empress Dowager: powerful and will do everything and anything, even sacrificing own countrymen to main status quo.
Emperor: rising power and bent on regaining lost prestige and lost territories.
The ending episode has a jerking, pulling the rug from under your feet effect. It was to highlight that the 2ML were abandoning their principle and goal.
The theme of the story was Justice. Was justice served? Yes, the criminals died. Was justice seen to be served? No, the criminals and their crimes were not exposed. What is abhorrence to justice is a cover-up. It’s a prime prerequisite and no abatement to the victims and the survivors of a crime if abetments were done. Otherwise it’s a pretentious and preposterous play.
The cast were exceptional good. 2 outstanding ones were Jing Bo Ran who played Lan Jue , the graceful, cool and elegant finesse official with panache for manipulative manoeuvres. Shi Yue Ling, who captured convincingly the imposing cold, menacing majestically empress dowager who spoke in a deliberately slow frost biting tone and a pair of sharp piercing eyes that can sent shivers down the spine.
The cinematography promotes a soporific, sinister, creepy atmosphere more potent in the hypnotic water vessels scenes. Fostered also by dancers covering their faces in masks or grotesque paints in primal ritualistic like dancing as though releasing inner demons into the air. At times the drama felt like a horror drama rather than an investigative one.
Re watch? Yes, control your inner demon. Don’t grade yourself to a lower
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Chinese Holmes, hehe
A fantastic story with maximum potential (BL/Mystery/Drama-Affiliated)Story - So far amazing, from start of episode 1 all the way through to 10, story will keep you on your toes and pacing is well done. There are some minor sections where it can be explained further however really good so far. The twists and plots and outwitting the enemy is amazing to see, legit reminds me of Sherlock Holmes but an eastern olden version hehe.
Acting: MLs have great chemistry, from facial expressions to dialogue really well done. Love how Lan Jue seems to have all things planned out only for Zhang Ping to either change his plans or see through them. The acting between the who is done superbly well.
Music: For me this was poor, no main theme for opening and no catchy tones. Sequence music in certain scenes are okay but other than this very dull (Subjective)
Rewatch Value: If you are into BL/Male leads and Brotherhood than this one is well worth rewatch. If this is not your cup of tea I highly recommend at least watch it the whole way through once, you won't be disappointed
Overall: So far so good, excited to see more episodes past 10.
Cheers all,
Shing
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Good but not stimulating
This series is a bit difficult to describe because the acting and character chemistry were pretty good. The plot (with exception of the ending) flowed relatively well. But for a 29-episode series, it was lacking that "entertaining" factor and the entire series felt like it was playing to a single note. The drama wasn't dramatized enough and the humor wasn't humorous enough. The cases and mysteries that revolve solely around the protagonists were interesting in the beginning but started to falter when they began to poorly insert new characters. And the ending is really where it begins to crack because there wasn't great character development for the aforementioned new characters and some existing ones. They made attempts to do so with some flashbacks but unsuccessfully. However, as with other average series, this one was still entertaining enough to complete with some time skips. Not much actions scenes and no romance (which I usually prefer).Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
handsome actors and beautiful cinematography!
The costumes and accessories look pretty good quality (idk if it matches the era) and the directing was amazing. I liked the color scheme which seemed to match the vibe of the drama. I love Jing Boran's character LJ. He's so good looking and his role is actually reasonable and smart. On the other hand, Song Weilong's character ZP who's supposed to be a smart detective is so naive who just wants to expose the truth with no fear of death and in historical times especially because he's a commoner, that attitude is dumb and will get him targeted and will get people around him killed. I just found Song Weilong's character and acting to not match the drama. I preferred the bromance between Lan Jue (Jing Boran) to be with Mowen and Zhang Ping (Song Weilong) to be with Chen Chou. Zhang Ping's status and aura just doesn't match with Lan Jue who has a dignified and elegant aura. I loved the colors and the deep meaning and symbolism everywhere. The music was also elegant and had a mysterious vibe which I thought was very fitting. Overall, I thought it was a good drama except for 2 main parts that I felt fustrated at because they were being hypocritical.SPOILER ALERT!
1. The first situation was with Lady Yuzhen, where she was punished for taking revenge on someone who hired men to sexually harass her. The revenge didn't harm anyone except the initial person who sent the men. Zhang Ping went to her and victim blamed Yuzhen, showing absolute no sympathy.
2. The second is with the real prince. The prince was literally killed by his own mother, the Empress Dowager when he was a kid and got replaced. He grew up hateful which is definitely reasonable!! His rescuer's whole village was also massacred because they saved his life. Then he wants revenge for himself and his rescuers and claim his royal status back only for the 2 people he trusted to betray him also (ZP and LJ) for "the greater good" even though the Empress Dowager literally framed both their families and killed them. Like I thought y'all wanted the truth no matter what! Like I agree the real prince was causing chaos to the world but the world betrayed him first. I agree that the real prince shouldn't be the emperor but I didn't like how they invalidated his experiences
also I was so shocked at the end when Lan Jue said he had a kid!
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This review may contain spoilers
CHOOSE BETWEEN DRAMA OR NOVEL
I read the novel and watch the drama, they are two separate entities, same characters but totally different story line. Drama is more ambiguous than the book. Zhang Ping was a skinny 20 something scholar, dull personality and had little words to say whose involved with 2 murder cases, which he helped to solve them. To be survived in the capital, Zhang Ping's selling noodle where Lan Jue came for a bite and had little interaction. Chen Chao was Zhang Ping's roommate and a scholar from the same hometown, he's not selling noodle or help investigation and both failed in national examination. Lan Jue was a vice minister of Rites, a youthful look (matured) man with a son (single father) very smart and collected. He's there witnessing the proceeding and process of Zhang Ping involvement in every cases. Wang Yan was assistant Minister of Justice who helped Zhang Ping investigate cases, even the young Emperor gave him so much leeway and face.Too bad the book was translated only up to chapter 27 (150 chapters more is delayed) while the drama went wild without any similarity (little to nothing) of story line. In my opinion, you either read the novel or watch the drama, because how different creativity on the plots not for the better though. Some hallucination, illusion of water work was uncalled for, some fantasy that didn't have any place on the book. Song WeiLong was acting 'bouncy', swinging when he walk- flap his hair, blah expression. While Jing BoRan wore generous lip gloss, sensitive, romantic and dreamy. If this is BL drama, for sure BoRan will be the feminine side of character, just the way he dressed up, hairdo, act flamboyantly. Wang Yan (Hong Yao) had better acting than these 2 ML, testosterone element than 2 ML. It's weird when this drama was about solving mystery while water illusion could make someone tell the truth, may as well use that ability than digging dirt and rumbles.
Ep 18 and haven't seen Wang Duo yet, his character as Gu QingZhang hasn't appeared (none mention on the book) I am more curious about Wang Duo's character and his part in the drama. Too many characters with mental disorders (don't like it), illusion (an instance of a wrong or misinterpreted perception of a sensory experience: Oxford dictionary). Story disconnected. Main actors miscast, mischaracterized of characters, full of fillers, editorial failed. It seem this drama was intended as BL but got butchered (censor) because of new rule that rendered as failure (big time) drama.
The book author Da Feng Gua Guo disassociated herself from the drama saying that the Show Team was only borrow the characters and title but the story lines was entirely the creation of drama screenwriter(s) which made sense with the impression I am getting. As the author blasted Song WeiLong, I can understand it the way I look into his poor performance. If the originality is the best, so novel is the choice, just be patient with the waiting for continuous chapters. I am down to it, Novel it is for me.
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Tanta tensione, ma a volte un po' troppo infantile
Il drama è un adattamento di "The Case of Zhang Gong", di Da Feng Gua Guo, ed è un tipico esempio, se mai ce n’è uno, di come delle buone premesse, un’ottima cinematografia e delle ambientazioni non sontuose, ma realistiche e visivamente appaganti, unite alla convincente interpretazione di molti degli attori coinvolti, siano stati parzialmente sciupati da una sceneggiatura non completamente convincente perché a volte troppo infantile e caricaturale. O, meglio: si tratta di un drama pieno di complotti, enigmi e suspense, con soluzioni spesso un poco estreme, che occorre guardare staccando la spina alla parte critica del cervello per poterne godere appieno.Dicevo: buone premesse. La storia parte bene, con un bel mistero da risolvere. Zhang Ping, povero orfano provinciale interpretato da un ottimo Song Wei Long, si reca nella capitale per gli esami di ammissione al servizio civile, con l’intento di seguire le orme di un investigatore autore di molti libri che oggi definiremmo gialli. Si picca di essere un retto paladino della giustizia e si comporta come il tipico elefante fra i cristalli. Inutile dire che combinerà più di un pasticcio, anche perché inizialmente è convinto che Lan Jue sia un delinquente.
Per contro, Lan Jue è un funzionario scampato alla morte nonostante sia figlio di un ministro giustiziato per tradimento. Farebbe quasi qualsiasi cosa per riabilitare il nome del padre e risolvere un tragico mistero di vent’anni prima. Il suo personaggio viene abbondantemente sviscerato, con tutte le sue contraddizioni: il suo desiderio di essere retto, contro la potente spinta a scoprire le vicende del passato e la riabilitazione del padre, formano un terreno fertile per scene emotivamente potenti e ben recitate. E l'interpretazione di Jing Bo Ran, in alcuni momenti languida e sensuale, è un vero piacere per gli occhi (specie coi capelli sciolti!).
Le vicende di questi due giovani, assieme a quelle di vari comprimari, verteranno intorno a quel fatidico periodo. E sono vicende molto intricate, in cui i vari casi giudiziari e il passato dei personaggi si intrecciano, sullo sfondo di una malvagia imperatrice vedova, tradimenti, eccidi e di un terribile segreto di palazzo. Dalla iniziale inimicizia e rivalità fra i due protagonisti si svilupperà man mano una bella amicizia.
Una cosa salta subito agli occhi: alcune sequenze, anche oniriche, che ricorrono durante il drama, sono visivamente allusive e appaganti, i colori sono spesso vivi ma non sgargianti, le scene, le transizioni sono gradevoli e catturano l’occhio dello spettatore, le soluzioni visive sono artistiche e gridano professionalità da ogni fotogramma. E, per il piacere delle orecchie, il commento musicale è molto azzeccato.
Le diverse investigazioni che vengono condotte sono anche abbastanza interessanti, ma vengono a volte risolte in maniera tale da non permettere allo spettatore di fare supposizioni informate, per cui si perde un po’ il piacere di cercare di indovinare. Il drama gioca con carte truccate, con molto uso di ipnotismo e incantesimi, portandoci decisamente nel reame del fantasy. Tutto sommato la prima metà della serie si lascia guardare più che piacevolmente, aiutata da una nutrita serie di bravi attori molto gradevoli alla vista, anche se talvolta alcune situazioni sono terribilmente esagerate e poco plausibili. Le cose però prendono una brutta piega passata la boa della metà della serie. Un paio di personaggi che avevano avuto parti importanti all’inizio scompaiono per parecchi episodi, riaffiorando solo in quello finale, per lasciare il posto a una new entry che si accaparrerà un sacco di schermo. La cosa è giustificata, ma non è bello nei confronti del pubblico inserire un personaggio di tale importanza così tardi, sbilancia la narrazione ed è un po’ come barare.
Soprattutto, ciò che infastidisce lo spettatore adulto è una gestione piuttosto infantile degli accadimenti. Se già era abbastanza evidente in principio, verso la fine è palese e manifesto: alcuni personaggi si comportano in maniera inverosimile e diverse volte capita di esclamare – ma no, dai, non faranno mica… - e puntualmente lo fanno! Personalmente sono stata molto irritata da situazioni pericolose completamente evitabili, da un’escalation finale poco credibile, dagli sbarellamenti di un big boss per certi versi davvero troppo sopra le righe, tanto da risultare inaccettabile nella sua apoteosi di vendetta contro una persona che diventa un eccidio di innocenti senza controllo. A che pro? La logica va a farsi un bagno troppo al largo, perfino per la testa di uno squilibrato.
Intendiamoci: la serie gode di una suspense potente, che ti prende per mano e ti trascina senza lasciarti via di fuga fino al finale, che è pure molto soddisfacente, solo che mentre ci arrivi ti trovi a imprecare perché inciampi qua e là in ostacoli che sarebbero stati magari evitabili se non avessero pestato così forte sul pedale dell’esagerazione e spettacolarizzazione. Certo che, allora, si sarebbe magari persa un po’ di tensione.
Se la completa logicità degli eventi per voi non è una priorità e se guardare uno spettacolo tensioattivo recitato da un nutrito cast di attori molto belli e anche bravi è quello che cercate, lo troverete qui, unito ad una cinematografia molto interessante e ad un commento musicale sul pezzo. Promosso ma, come diceva la mia maestra, poteva impegnarsi di più.
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