Riverside Code at Qingming Festival (2024)

There is something rotten in Kaifeng.

Riverside Code at Qingming Festival/清明上河图密码 is adapted from Ye Wenbiao's popular suspense novel of the same name. One of the highest rated popular novels on Douban, it draws inspiration from Zhang Zeduan's epic 11th century scroll painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival/清明上河图. This panoramic masterpiece meticulously depicts 814 figures, 60 animals, 122 houses, 28 ships, 15 vehicles, over 30 buildings and 8 sedan chairs going about their daily lives along the grand canal. It is an eerily vibrant, intricate and authentic snapshot of Kaifeng (then known as Bianjing) at the peak of its cultural and economic significance; not long before the city was invaded, captured and largely destroyed by the Jurchens in 1127. It is a miracle that this iconic and magnificent record of the city's urban infrastructure, military instalments, industry and commerce and citizens from all walks of life survived. This visually immersive drama virtually restores the sweeping grandeur and prosperity of Kaifeng when it was believed to be the largest city in the ancient world and brings it to life. The drama opens with the mysterious disappearance of the Mei ship sailing under the Rainbow Bridge, which is the centrepiece of the painting.

This narrative examines what lies beneath the glittering facade of prosperity and the elated bustle along the Bian River as the citizens of Kaifeng celebrate the Qingming Festival via the eyes of a common family of five. This ties in with the Confucian concept of the family as a microcosm of the state 家国一体; thus the wellbeing of the family is intricately linked with the success of the state. For fifteen years, Zhao Buyou languished as a lowly assistant scribe at Dàlǐsì, the Court of Judicial Review. Even though he doesn't have everything, he is content; happily married to Wen Yue, a filial son to his eccentric father Zhao Li and a good elder brother to his much younger siblings Mo'er and Ban'er. Wen Yue however thinks they need a bigger house so she makes umbrellas to supplement their income. Their world fractures when Buyou is unfairly dismissed from Dàlǐsì while Wen Yue is extorted and harassed by a corrupt official. Pushed into a corner, they discover each other’s hidden secrets and race to protect each other and their family. Soon the entire family uses their special talents to assist Gu Zhen and Wan Fu of the Kaifeng Court solve a series of mysterious cases beginning with the Mei ship case. As the cases unfold, it becomes obvious that something is rotten in Kaifeng, and his name is Zou Mian.

The design of the overarching plot is fresh and interesting; the main villain Zou Mian is so powerful he appears to be above the law and his identity is known from the get go. But the true antagonist hides in plain sight and uses ruthless means to expose Zou Mian's corruption and misdeeds, including threatening the Zhao family. All of the cases are linked to the overarching plot, which is well designed and ties everything together in a satisfying way. The cases are very dark and disturbing and some of the antagonists are unnecessarily depraved and cruel. A unifying theme is that good people can become radicalised and driven to do terrible, desperate and extreme things when they lose faith in a system that fails them repeatedly. While the cases start out well, possibly because of how daringly they push the boundaries in terms of justifying vigilante justice, the conclusions seem to suffer from heavy cuts that leave logic gaps and loose ends. There is some level of just too much going on with the Zhao family drama unfolding alongside the cases. While I enjoyed their family dynamics and learning their backstories, these scenes could have been tightened. In particular Wen Yue going solo was based on shaky logic and her mid-life crisis was not well articulated and detracted from the cases at hand. I always get excited to see c-dramas attempt dark comedy but in this case, while there were some really funny moments, half the time it just didn't land. Overall, for something adapted from such a highly regarded novel, the screenplay does not do justice to the high production values, the exquisite set and the stellar cast.

As for the cast, it is a veteran dream team. I couldn't ask for a better lineup of favorite actors who deliver commanding performances in supporting roles notably Li Naiwen's disingenuous Dilun, Zhang Xinyu's wicked Qiniang and Hai Yitian's slightly unhinged Xiao Yishui. As expected, Zhang Songwen delivers an empathetic and nuanced performance as a flawed, miserable and oppressed character who just sucks it up while his talent is ignored until his harmonious family is threatened. He is more of a coward than a hero and his motives are selfish but relatable. I thoroughly enjoyed his humorous banter with Gu Zhen and Wan Fu and but was shocked by how cynically and ruthlessly they navigate a system that is so broken from within to find their own brand of justice. While Bai Baihe delivers a few exceptional moments as Wen Yue, she doesn't consistently convey the complexity of the role and the inner conflicts that Wen Yue struggled with. The weakest link by far however is Zhang Yao's Mo'er. This is an important role that is meant to illustrate the poisoning of the well. Unfortunately this young actor who struck me as promising years ago in Love in Between, was not ready for this role. He failed to convincingly portray how Mo'er's sorrow, disillusionment and budding resentment made him susceptible to manipulation. This made his darkening from an idealistic young scholar who wanted to reform the system from within seem abrupt and out of character. After all the build-up, I was also surprised by what a lame, wimp Zou Mian turned out to be. There were many fantastic wild, wicked and intimidating villains in this drama but sadly, the "Big Boss" did not live up to his reputation.

Even though this drama ends satisfyingly shortly after the plot climaxes with the reveal of a well-acted and well-hidden mastermind, Zou Mian's take down was anti-climactic. After all the vigilante justice, it makes sense for rule of law and procedural justice to win the day. However, I would have better enjoyed a more exciting denouement and preferably one that does not bypass the question of whether the ends justify the means. As much as I appreciate the meticulous attention to historical detail and the high production values, this drama falters enough in the writing and execution that I can't rate it better than 8.5/10.0. It is still a riveting suspense drama that is entertaining and engaging enough that it deserves another season, hopefully with a better writing team.

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以恶制恶 Yǐ è zhì è (Fight Evil with Evil)

The Chinese drama Riverside Code at Qingming Festival weaves a captivating tale of mystery, murder, and resistance against corruption, resonating with audiences worldwide. Its theme of "fighting evil with evil" brings to mind real-world incidents, such as the recent controversial U.S. case where the murder of a CEO—a powerful yet allegedly corrupt figure—drew public support for the killer. Similar to the drama, this highlights a broader societal frustration with the unchecked power of elites, offering a powerful parallel to the struggles depicted in the show.

Historical Inspiration: Qingming Shanghe Tu
The drama is rooted in the famous Chinese painting Qingming Shanghe Tu (Along the River During the Qingming Festival) by Zhang Zeduan from the Northern Song period. This five-meter-long masterpiece is considered a national treasure for its vivid depiction of everyday life in Bianjing (modern-day Kaifeng). Unlike typical artworks of the era, which focused on aristocracy or nature, this painting showcases over 800 figures engaged in various crafts and daily activities.

The painting’s mysteries are as intriguing as its details. Scholars debate whether it symbolizes the kingdom's prosperity or foreshadows its decline. Even the title, “Qingming,” is ambiguous—does it reference the Qingming Festival, or does it literally mean "clear and bright"? This ambiguity adds layers of meaning, making it an ideal foundation for a fictional story.

The painting includes fascinating details: fortune tellers, flower sellers, barbers, teahouses, wine shops, bustling city gates, and even early equivalents of modern conveniences like food delivery. It paints a picture of a progressive society, alive with the vibrancy of urban life over 1,000 years ago. Against this rich backdrop, the drama reconstructs many of the painting’s scenes, breathing new life into its legacy.

Storyline
Riverside Code at Qingming Festival delivers a dark yet humor-infused tale of murder and justice. The plot revolves around the killings of corrupt officials and wealthy socialites despised by the common people. Drawing inspiration from The Da Vinci Code and its integration of historical art, the drama masterfully uses elements of Qingming Shanghe Tu to drive its suspenseful narrative.

What I Loved
֍ Historical Integration: The drama’s creative use of a historic painting brings the past alive. Iconic scenes, like the red bridge, are given intriguing backstories.
֍ Educational Value: Each episode ends with fascinating insights into Song dynasty inventions and culture, such as the construction of the red bridge (Hong Qiao) and the creation of moving horse lanterns (Zhou Ma Deng). These snippets enrich the viewer’s understanding of ancient Chinese ingenuity.
֍ Focus on Commoners: The absence of palace intrigue and the spotlight on everyday life is refreshing. The familial love and resilience of the characters shine without reliance on romantic subplots.

Areas for Improvement
֍ Acting: While the cast is commendable, Bai Baihe’s portrayal of the assassin could use more nuance. Her calm demeanor suits the role but lacks subtle emotional depth, which could have added realism, especially in private moments.
֍ Plot Holes: Key elements, such as how the vigilante obtained a diary containing a murdered official’s confession or his resources for elaborate schemes, are left unexplained. Filling these gaps would have made the story more cohesive.
֍ Ending: Though full of twists and turns, the final episode felt overly straightforward compared to the preceding suspense. A more layered conclusion could have been more satisfying.

Final Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed this drama’s unique premise, rich historical setting, and focus on commoners’ lives. It avoids overused tropes, offering an intellectually engaging narrative. Riverside Code at Qingming Festival not only entertained me but also inspired me to delve into the mysteries of Qingming Shanghe Tu. This series is a must-watch for anyone interested in history, art, and thrilling storytelling.

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Art Brought Back to Life

A painting from the Song dynasty has art imitating life. A time where justice was served more vigilante style than through the court system as that seemed broken. "Only evil can counter evil" but is that really true? Is there no light at the end of this dark, gritty treacherous tunnel? That's what drew me to this show. I liked the mystery solving, regular people predicaments with a slice of life comedy. Just about every show I watch of the historical costume variety has rich people or royalty dealing with betrayal. This one was of I guess you could call them the lower middle class with clothing everyone else wore. Didn't make them any less smarter or capable than their peers with large homes and a multitude of servants. The paintings brought art back to life.

Pros: The storytelling was wonderful. The five main ones created a patchwork family that took care of each other and loved each other. Each case tied back to their own histories and families as only two were related to each other. Ultimately there was one main villain that took an episode and a half to bring down but who caused oppression and tyranny with everyone he killed. And he wasn't brought down by any epic war or battlefield fight, but through the concentrated effort and meticulous evidence gathering of ZBY or ML. He connected the dots for himself and others better than most. Though not without flaws, his biggest was burning that diary and not letting the kids know who their real father was (letting someone take advantage and nearly cause a catastrophe). Which was then brought before the public and governor in a trial for all to see.

All five in this family held their own; WY, whose family save brother (he comes in at the end as a psychopath who was from the extreme opposite of the main antagonist so also no redeeming qualities as he used others as much as the villain for his revenge, while keeping himself safe; a total coward) were massacred and she became a pirate/assassin who quit instead of murdering innocents and found her life with ZBY and his father. Her intelligence and fighting skills came in handy. Then there were the two kids; ZB and ZM. ZB wanted to be a physician but was too strong and became an excellent coroner instead helping on many of the cases. ZM was as rigid as a ruler when it came to his belief in rules and regulations but was impulsive and naive in many situations. Lastly, the supposedly senile patriarch was really the 11th brother of the emperor and apparently the exact replica of him but he helped in putting a lot of small pieces together through the secrets he kept/knowledge he had.

On top of the actual family, their friends like GZ and WF at K-court were on hand with both the case solving and comedy. Silly YH the actual coroner who couldn't perform an autopsy without hurling to save his life. Lady Wang towards the end to help GZ. The painter came in just the right moments to help with his Eagle eye view as he's the reason these stories are known now. The neighbors and other East Capital residents who helped in a big way at the end and throughout. This was very realistic where great characters lost their lives due to injustice and you felt the pain of the main characters; like just as ZM made a friend, he lost him. I do think that ZM given today's parameters fits on the autism spectrum with his personality.

A lot of things we see in today's society we saw in this series, the lack of justice being one but also how good people are framed and whole families decimated because of that. We saw a regular family just trying to buy a house, fail over and over due to corruption. From the way the cases were done and murders happen (especially the human paint brush) made you think you were in Dante's Inferno.

Costumes, sets, and the makeup which made two actors as father and son even though in real life they were only 7 years apart in age was remarkable. Opening credits were very creative. That last scene made it seem like they were possibly thinking of a season 2; we knew SZ was alive after that jump off the bridge but who's that dude he was bowing to? So I guess we'll see though I think just this season was enough as justice was finally done though it took 20 years. Better late than never.

Cons: I don't remember any of the OSTs honestly. The bgm was also forgettable. I had some issues with WY as an assassin; her facial expression lacked the gravitas when she fought. You can be cold and collected but it wasn't even there. Only when she felt pain did her face move. Assassins are colder, less human, more fierce and that just didn't happen with her. The short storyline of ZM breaking from his rigidity to just get swayed by one conversation with SM to do something as extreme as blowing up a bridge when he's never done a single bad thing. Yes, one can argue he had his mind blown with what his biological father did though under duress and SM probably drugged him when he planted those ideas in his head, we had seen him be so controlled that it was completely out of character and than after the cry fest with WY where only pro was their acting their hearts out, how quickly he snapped back to his former self. It was a bit of a whiplash.

Why were there only 4 guys from K-court fighting that large group of big bad's guards in the last episode? On the boat all the other K-court were all "we're not afraid to die, let's go get him!" But when it really mattered, they were nowhere to be seen. Were they babysitting the bridge after the threat was neutralized? Like what? They all rushed in after the fight was over. It made zilch sense. And we never knew how ZBY pulled off the master plan that included the story teller, his neighbors, the butcher, and everyone else who helped. We were used to seeing little flashbacks but other than the one with his father we had no idea how that was organized. Little things here and there could have been more fleshed out.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! This was great storytelling and it felt more real than a lot of the costumes dramas with wealthy people. I only knew BBH, Gala Zhang and a few of the supporting from the cast prior to this; but boy did they do a great job. Definitely give this a go if you're looking for a high quality drama.

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The bright and dark sides of a thriving riverside city

This is a story of a thriving city. The bright side of this colorful city is its people who are busy with their daily activities and want a happy prosperous life with their families. Underneath this bright side, there is a dark side where the city is corrupted by a small group of people who have unchecked power.

The people are oppressed behind the façade of the prosperity of the city. They want justice. Can they really get justice?

Story and Characters: The main story revolves around Zhao family. Zhao BuYou (ML) started as a low-ranking clerk. But he has a knack for crime-solving. He prioritizes his family over anything. Wen Yue (FL) is an Umbrella shop owner in the city. She used to be an assassin/pirate before. But now she just wants to live a simple peaceful life with her husband’s family. Elder sibling Zhao Mo Er is a naive person who is sometimes very intelligent but sometimes behaves like a fool :D. Younger sibling Zhao Ban Er studied medicine before. But now she is more interested in dead bodies than living bodies :D. Then we have Kaifeng court inspector Gu Zhen who seems like a laid-back character but has a strong sense of justice and doesn’t hesitate to take justice by his hand. Besides these characters, there are many other characters. Every character is different and has their own goal and purpose in the story. The story is divided into different arcs. All the arcs start with a murder or a group of murders. All the things that happen somehow have a connection with our main characters. They solve the mystery behind the murders. While solving the murders they also solve their personal problems and family problems. This seems simple, but this was done very beautifully in the story.

Things I liked:
1. A story of common people: This is a story of common people. This is a refreshing take from the typical palace politics we see in other dramas. I really like this aspect of this story.
2. Family bond: We see a strong family bond in the Zhao family. Like thousands of other families in the city, they just want to live a simple life together. Both ML and FL prioritize their family over anything else.
3. Insight into the culture and inventions of the Song dynasty: Each episode ends with a small history lesson about the culture and inventions of the Song dynasty. This is something new in a drama and I really liked it very much.
4. Strong veteran casts: The cast selection was perfect. They selected veteran casts for the roles according to the demands of the characters. The acting was top-notch for almost all the characters.
5. Beautiful Aesthetics: The dresses, the scenery, the set: everything looked beautiful.
6. ML & FL: I like both Zhang Song Wen (ML) and Bai Bai He (FL). Some might have some complaints with Bai Bai He’s acting in this drama. But she looked wonderful.
7. Society Issues: The drama depicts the common societal issue very beautifully
8. Murder Mystery: I liked some of the murder mysteries.
9. Humor and comedic elements: Humor and comedic elements were well delivered. Some moments were genuinely funny.
10. Ending (spoilers): A happy and very beautiful ending.

Things could have been better:
1. Underwhelming last case: The last case was a bit underwhelming. The main villain was taken down easily. I expected a bit more there.
2. Simple cases: The drama started with a very good mysterious case. But in the later part, some of the cases were pretty simple.
3. Psycho Brother of FL: I really did not like this character.
4. FL character as ex-assassin:  FL character lacked as an ex-assassin. I don’t know, maybe the writer wanted to tell us that living a normal life for 20 years made the FL softer. There was a clear difference in the character portrayal of FL between the young actress and Bai Bai He.
5. Dark theme: Sometimes, some of the murders were too dark. Maybe they could tone down a bit.
6. Plot holes: Well, there were some plot holes. Some things were not explained properly.

My Ratings: 9/10
The drama had its good and bad. But I thoroughly enjoyed the drama and eagerly waited everyday for the next episodes. It is a beautiful and unique drama that is different from many other historical Chinese dramas we see. I absolutely recommend it.

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Good story & Production but lacks in emotional connection

Worth a watch but execution could've been better

My favorite parts:
1. End of every episode, there's a fact about actual history. If you enjoy tidbits, this is very enjoyable
2. Production Quality: From head to toe, the costume and accessories are incredible for the rich. Sets are fancy, especially that bridge.
3. Story, each of the mystery ties to the bigger mystery
4. Seasoned cast. Most (not all) were suitable for the character. Younger version of the FL did a wonderful job!
5. Some subtle humor: from the Dad & side kick investigator Wan Fu
6. Family dynamic

Where it didn't work for me:
1. FL (Bai Bai He). I liked her in other dramas, but I think for this role, it's a miss. The younger version and older version mismatch in energy level & personality. Bai Bai He gives off a sleepy vibe the entire drama her line delivery also felt kind of flat.
2. Lack of emotional connection for the victims. I think only Song Qi Yi case was executed properly. Characters must be built up for that emotional factor.
3. Main investigator Gu Zhen, didn't do much "investigation" and didn't have many lines.
4. Several females (including the FL) suffered over skin smoothing, so much so that you can't see any texture.

Still enjoyable story overall

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Frivolities at Qingming Festival

--Summary--
If you like costume CDramas, this may be a unique gem worth checking out, especially since it will deliver much better production and acting compared to idol costume dramas. If you are pretty frustrated with costume dramas already, this may not be the canary in the coalmine, but still worth checking out for at least a few episodes to make your mind.

‒Review‒
After so many highly anticipated costume drama disappointments and derivative offerings, I was really looking forward to this one to save the costume dramas in 2024. Alas, it's not the case. Maybe with the exception of Strange Tales 2, which I'm not that confident about since Strange Tales 1 was a drudgery, 2024 costume drama lineup may end up suffering total annihilation, 全军覆没. The Great Nobody is great, but that's really a modern workplace comedy. Heroes would be the other one, but that's late Qing, I mean, they have guns.

To be fair, this show is serviceable, hence the 7.0 rating. The sets, costumes, and production is gorgeous and meticulously shot. The veteran cast are so much better than the typical idols you see, even if some of the dialogs and lines can feel a little too modern. I'm liking it a bit more than Strange Tales, which produced more frustrations. Maybe I would have watched this to the end at the beginning of the year, when other terrific shows are not beckoning. But after 9 episodes, it's giving a clear signal on what level it's aiming for, and its target is just not ambitious, original, or engaging enough. There's no clearer indication than sprinkling some frivolities into the show for cheap laughs and entertainment. I'm sure quite a lot of people enjoy this, and that's why the writers keep doing it. But so much of the chore-like 家长里短 humor deliver neither insightful observations nor laughs. Had the setting been changed to modern day, I'm sure such boring and antiquated plots would be fervently lambasted. This is the Chinese version of Marvel movies humor / heart, that after seeing a few, you've basically seen it all. No matter what kind of new coloring, flavoring, or molding they use to sell it to you, it's still the same regurgitation that's been puked out many times over.

There's been too many dramas this year taking this route (furiously glaring at you Joy of Life 2) and this hasn't been a recent phenomenon (Advisors Alliance and GTRD). This race to the common denominator may get viewership, but is never going to produce outstanding, memorable works. Who knew CDramas would get me quoting Coco Chanel: elegance is refusal. Unless you refuse to serve slop, you are just telling me your max target is just above average quality, regardless of how good the production looks and how strong the cast lineup is. And as bad as I feel about giving it a 7 despite the expensive production, I'm still left wondering if 7 is too generous.

Most people should still check this out though, as a lot of the criticisms will not be relevant for international audiences. And I'm quite a harsh rater by MDL standards.

‒Category Ratings‒

- Overall - 7
- Plot - 7
- Theme / Concept / Impact - 7
- Acting - 8.5
- Visuals - 8.8
- Audio / Music - 8
- Rewatch - 6
- Cultural/Topical Accessibility - 7.5
- Subtitle quality - 8

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