1Justice is blind and not heartless.
I have never had a good impression of China's opaque legal system so I was both curious and skeptical about Draw the Line. This drama is a fascinating tour of the inner workings of China's grassroots level judicial system. It shines a surprisingly candid spotlight on gaps in the Chinese judicial system from rapid economic growth, modernisation, changing social values and the proliferation of the internet and social media.Fang Yuan is the presiding judge at the Xingcheng District Court, a local people's court of first instance which handles both civil and criminal cases. Fang Yuan's division handles civil cases while criminal matters are adjudicated by his colleague Song Yufei, a deputy chief judge of the intermediate people's court. What surprises me most is how hands on the grassroots judges are in the Chinese legal system. They do a lot of field work themselves from directing the gathering of evidence to personally interviewing plaintiffs, defendants and witnesses. The role of lawyers is so passive and marginalized it is as if they are for decorative purposes only. For civil cases, the court first seeks to resolve conflicts through court sponsored mediation. If an agreement, is reached, it becomes legally binding once it is reviewed and documented by a judge. Mediation can be a draining process, especially when dealing with less educated, unreasonable and belligerent citizens. Thus beyond legal knowledge it takes a combination of investigative and persuasive skills and a healthy dose of patience to be effective as a grassroots judge in China.
The arrival of Ye Xin, a young researcher from the Supreme Court is met with speculation and trepidation by the close knit community at the Xingcheng District Court. She is an annoying character in the beginning because she has no practical experience, and adopts a rigid by the book approach to interpreting the law. Experienced grassroots judges like Fang Yuan and his mentee Zhou Yian are more pragmatic about bridging the inevitable gaps between static legal codes and the myriad complexities of real life cases. Still it is never easy to figure out where to draw the line between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. Beyond the heavy case load, the courts also face the challenge of social media, where cases are tried in the court of public opinion on distorted facts. Although the judges do their best to weigh the the practical, moral and humane aspects of their decisions, they don't always get it right. They have their own flaws, biases and personal or familial pressures. These dynamics set Chinese Supreme Court down the path of judicial reform, where case law is increasingly implemented instead of just statutory law.
The impeccably curated cases create a fascinating mosaic of moral, familial, commercial and social issues great and small confronting the Chinese public today. They are based on thought provoking and relevant real life cases; some of which have sparked public debate and controversy. The drama is very even handed about presenting both the plaintiff and defendant's point of view. The writers very effectively showcase resembling cases to illustrate the range of different human emotions, motives and outcomes. There are cases where two sons are driven to kill because of their mother, sexual harassment cases with different power dynamics and common reasons for the breakdown of marriages and related child custody disputes. From the mundane and petty to the serious and complex, the cases strike a riveting, sometimes heart rending chord because we have all read about or heard about or experienced something similar. At the same time, these cases deftly illustrate the many challenges faced by grassroots judges. They are the everyday heroes who navigate the grey areas of the law and morality with compassion to deliver justice that is blind and not heartless.
The cast in this drama needs no introduction and does a stellar job in drawing out the complex human aspects of the cases. Jin Dong delivers a multi-faceted Fang Yuan who is everything to everyone at work - a stern and impartial judge, a tireless and persuasive mediator, a wise mentor and a playful colleague. This leaves him with much less to give at home as a father and husband. We see a very down to earth version Cheng Yi as the introspective Zhou Yian, the young judge who must surely cut his own hair! He convincingly navigates a crisis of conviction after making some mis-steps. Both Yian and Cai Wenjing's Ye Xin are the characters who show the most growth in this drama but the characters that move me most are either defendants or plaintiffs in some of the more heart rending cases.
The best, most thought provoking case to me is the one about the roommates that is analogous to tripping a friend to escape a bear attack. Even though all the cases are interesting, there are too many of the cases in the back half that personally entangle various court personnel. This requires repeated suspension of disbelief in terms of how impartial and self sacrificing the various protagonists managed to be. It also highlights in my opinion an area that still needs judicial reform, which is how conflicts of interest are handled. It seems there is no requirement for judges to recuse themselves when their colleagues end up as defendants. The ending case is just too personal with too many coincidences and conflicts and an outcome that I find the least equitable with some defendants getting off too lightly while others are very harshly indicted. It is not the right note to end on and as a result I rate this an 8.0 instead of an 8.5. Overall a highly recommended, eye opening, thought provoking and fascinating watch with heart felt performances from some of my favourite Chinese actors.
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A must watch drama for 17+
Why? Read till the end…I didnt expect a court drama will be so interesting like this, the cases are from real events and very well choosen. Lots of famous real cases from this drama encourage us to think and understand the dilemma of both sides (defendant and plaintiff), how judges have to balance between law and morality.
The cases often spark debates, force us to rethink and open our mind in unexpected ways.
Acted by Jin Dong, Cheng Yi and lots of other veteran and excellent actors, undoubtedly they make this drama enjoyable to watch.
There are countless life lessons we cant ever get from ordinary dramas and we will regret if we miss them out.
So, for new watchers, just try to watch 2-3 series to see if you get hooked with the stories or not.
*The english subs is not the best, but still understandable. Its available on mangotv youtube channel too, where the translation seems better there.
**updated after finishing 40 episodes without skipping any scenes (which is rare nowadays)
Till the end, the plot flows smoothly, no dragging, fillers, etc.
Draw the Line is a rare gem and a must watch drama for 17+ people, not because of xxx of course, hahaha, because it needs deep comprehension and matured thinking to be able appreciating this kind of drama :D
It also teaches us to be aware on how to “draw the line” in our own life, since we are facing bad/good/grey area and have to make decisions everyday.
So if you are 17+, you must enjoy DTL, if you dont enjoy it, then you should call your parents to watch it, hahaha
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Nothing to say about the main leads. Jin Dong, Cheng Yi and Cai WenJing are very good although I sometimes annoyed with Ye Xin character. Maybe that's how the screenwriter wants to design her character. The supporting roles caught me. I really like how they portrayed them. Sister Fei, Xu Tian, Sister Wang, Su Su , Xiao Wei, this is the first time I watched them and I really like all the relationship between all the roles. Also, the supporting cast that appear maybe only for two episodes or less. They did really well.
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Worthy Watching Law, Family, Relationship, Emotional Drama
The Plot:I've never expected a chinese law drama to be awesome like this. I started watching it because of the casts but the storyline attracted me so much. All the law cases in this drama are very similar to our real environment. Also the plot's never boring to me because one case only lasts for 2 to 4 episodes generally.
The Casts:
I have no enough words to praise the acting skills of the main casts Jing Dong, Cheng Yi and Cai Wen Jing. They are really amazing. And the other supporting casts really fit to their roles and make me forget they are acting (very natural). Also the guest role actors for each cases are also veteran actors and make the story like real. I especilly like the relationships of the teacher and pupils (Jing Dong and Cheng Yi) (Jing Dong and his teacher). They are very warming, protective and cute in anyway. Originally I am a fan of Cheng Yi from his xianxia dramas but now he potrays the role of Zhou Yi An as a very lively, cheeky, smart and thoughtful judge. I also become a fan of Jing Dong bcoz of this drama.
For conclusion,
I usually watches dramas by fast forward 🙃 especilly most of chinese modern dramas that make me a little bored.
But I guarantee one thing that if you start watching this drama, you won't have to skip or fast forward each scene. Even their dialogues are thoughtful and give us good lessons. If you start watching, this drama will attract to the end and you will feel 40 episodes is not enough 😊.
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This review may contain spoilers
Get to know China's system better
I watched this series not only because of the great cast BUT i wanted to get to know China's judiciary better. After watching, its good for knowledge and to be honest, am amazed with their Mediation system. I never knew China prioritise Mediation so much. The stories are all very relatable so it makes the series very realistic. Jin Dong & his wife's relationship is a good reflect of matrimonial issues between couples with kid. Cheng Yi's role as a young judge is realistic. As a young judge, he struggled a lot to play the role and wanted to give up BUT eventually he learned to handle stress and his role. Good to watch and good to learn.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The Messiness of Life & That of Differing Perspectives
For me, an 8/10 means that a drama is pretty excellent and so, you can tell that I find Draw the Line quite a great watch. I recommend it!What I liked:
- Jin Dong. I am quite a fan of his. He acted very well in the show and brought out Fang Yuan very well. I liked how he was so grounded, level-headed and wise. He was a good role model and leader/ mentor as Fang Yuan.
- There were many different cases. Most of the cases were intriguing and they made me want to find out what the final verdict would be based on all the evidence that would surface along the way.
- The acting was top-notch for this drama and all the characters did a fabulous job. I really liked how realistic and slice of life things were outside the courtrooms. Another character that I liked was Wang Xiu Fang. She appeared very real and her struggles as a working mother were relatable.
- I liked seeing the growth of the characters as the show progressed. EG: Ye Xin became more aware of things around her and was less obstinate and "up there". Fang Yuan got his promotion. I think all these "little things" made the drama a good watch with a decent enough "happy ending".
What I didn't like:
- Zhou Yi An was a complete "mumbler". How can a judge mumble his way through? Hmm. I had to turn up the volume whenever it came to his parts because I could not hear what he was talking about.
- Fang Yuan's wife could be all sorts of "cray" and was unreasonable at times. EG: I could not understand why she would take the gift card from her boss and risk sacrificing her husband's job and reputation. As his wife, she should understand the nature of his challenging job. Yes, her job is important too, I don't discount that. Her role as mother to the child who does most of the parenting is exceedingly hard. But, she should not sabotage her husband. Her behaviour and her thoughts were strange and to me, unreasonable.
- Ye Xin's mother was another odd character. Drama tried to provide explanation as to why she behaved as such towards Ye Xin in Ep 39 or 40 but it seemed rushed and unfulfilling.
In essence, episodes 1 to 25 were excellent and then, things watered down from there. Drama became less exciting and less riveting. However, I still recommend this drama as it is well-made and with an excellent cast.
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A different, refreshing role for Cheng Yi and a fascinating look at life in China.
Admittedly, I chose to watch Draw the Line because of Cheng Yi, an actor I noticed since watching probably my favourite wuxia of the 2020s, Mysterious Lotus Casebook.I just wanted to see him in something different; something without long hair and hanfus. And he is pretty good in Draw the Line.
The good:
- The performances of the cast is great, especially veteran actors like Jin Dong and Chen Kang, who plays Fang Yan's mentor.
- Believe it or not, the nationalistic moments are sometimes endearing. I think I'm so used to the cynical depictions of politicians and civil servants in dramas that it is refreshing to see the government regarded positively. But this is not always so. The public has some strong words about judges and their decisions, and some even react violently.
- The show has been lauded for its accuracy in depicting the Chinese legal system and profession. As we learned from the Yang Yang drama, Fireworks of My Heart, this doesn't always happen, so it's nice to see something closer to reality.
- I find it so cute that Fang Yuan and Zhou Yi's mum tried almost immediately to matchmake him with his arch nemesis Ye Xin, and his utter horror at this development. Makes for so many comedic moments in the show!
- I enjoyed Cheng Yi's character because it was so different from his usual angsty, blood-spitting wuxia roles. Here he is sassy and gossipy. Definitely a political animal, but with a heart!
The bad:
- The subtitles can be ... dire.
- There are jingoistic moments that can rub some people the wrong way. But let's remember that movies or dramas from any country can be jingoistic in its own way. China isn't unique in this.
- Some cases can be boring, and towards the end of the show, it seems to loose steam somewhat as we get more involved with the personal lives of our judges. Maybe it comes down to my taste but I'm not really interested in people's romantic lives lol.
I know the subs are not great, but if you are up to the challenge, I encourage you to watch it case by case. Each case has about three to four episodes. Just have Pleco and Lensa at your side when you watch it lol.
I find the cases fascinating, even more so that they're based on real cases!
If you're curious about how the Chinese legal system works, how the legal profession is and society in China, this drama could be worth a watch for you.
You can watch the drama on Youtube.
As usual, this post is an edited version of my full-length review: https://dramatea88.wordpress.com/2024/03/12/draw-the-line-review/
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