Chinese version of Mr. & Mrs Smith. Decent Spy drama of a couple from different sides.
Mr. & Mrs. Chen is a spy drama set in the 1940s. Former lovers Zuo Shuang Tao and Chen Jia Ping unexpectedly reunite and rekindle their love in a sea of spies as they pursue the same goals.This is the Chinese version of American Mr. & Mrs Smith (played by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.)
It is not a bad drama with a lot of suspenseful moments. The acting is good from the lead actor and actress (Elvis Han and Guan Xiao Tong.)
I would rate it higher if it showed more romance between the lead actors. It is a good watch, and I enjoyed it. I give it a 7.5 rating.
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This review may contain spoilers
Catch me if you can
Plot OutlineThe story takes place during the 1940s Second Sino-Japanese war, when the Japanese had already captured several cities in China and the China Communist Party (CCP) had to wage a campaign of sabotage and guerrilla warfare to counteract the expansion of Japanese influence in its territory.
The lead protagonist Chen Jiaping (played by Elvis Han) is an undercover agent serving the CCP, who goes by the codename of "Mei Hua Si". Days before his marriage registration to his girlfriend Zuo Shuang Tao aka GuoGuo (played by Guan Xiao Tong), Jiaping abruptly leaves behind GuoGuo in Wuhan for Shanghai to embark on his first assignment mission from the CCP. He plants himself as a manager within the Tai He trading company, a fake shell company hiding the intelligence station of the Japanese Garrison Headquarters in Shanghai.
Years later, he accidentally reunites into his ex-fiance at a train station whilst on a mission to track a CCP traitor's whereabouts. Little does Jiaping does not know that GuoGuo is also a covert operative of the Kuomintang military intelligence with the code name "Red Heart Five" and that she was there to assassinate Mr Yamashita, a Japanese opium drug trafficker, after receiving intel about his train arrival time.
The real Mr Yamashita was shrewd enough to conceal himself and manages escapes the gun shots fired by GuoGuo and her team. As GuoGuo tries to later flee from the scene, she gets tailed by Zhao An, a pro-Japanese employee at the Tai He trading company, who suspects that she is an anti-Japanese spy hired to plan Mr Yamashita's assassination. Zhao An also summons Jiaping for interrogation, as he finds his sudden appearance around the train station at the time of the assassination attempt highly suspicious. Jiaping quickly makes up an excuse to say he was there to pick up GuoGuo, his long-distance girlfriend who was arriving from Wuhan and GuoGuo tacitly plays along with Jiaping's narrative.
The extensive interrogation efforts by Zhao An fail to uncover any inconsistencies between Jiaping and GuoGuo's testimonies, so they are discharged from further questioning. Zhao An remains highly skeptical about their identities and continues to stalk and scrutinise them closely behind the scenes.
To prevent their own agendas and real undercover mission from being exposed, Jiaping and Zuo Shuang Tao realise they have little choice but to continue their ruse as a romantic couple. The rest of the drama follows Jiaping and Zuo Shuang Tao's never-ending attempts to conceal their identities from others and hoodwink their detractors by keeping up a continuous act of couple pretense, whilst gathering intel against the Japanese army to secretly taking down mercenary traitors one by one without blowing their own cover.
The Romance
Viewers who expect some instant sizzle between the Leads in this drama should be prepared to be disappointed. The romance in this drama is a slow buildup, largely driven by the self-imposed restraints of the male and female protagonists, who stoically deny themselves of any romance, for the sake of pursuing the greater good. Just like a poker game, "Mei Hua 4" and "Hearts of 5" keep each other guessing as to whether their affections for each other are actually real or just a mutually agreed staged pact. But eventually, the shrewd and patient hunk manages to woo over his frosty strong-willed princess, rekindle her affections for him and align her ideologies to his side.
Summary
Several scenes of how our Spy couple managed to foil their enemies schemes and cover up their tracks were so ridiculous that it left me laughing in stitches. If you can get past the veiled politics behind the historical portrayal of the Japanese, this drama is an action-packed, hilarious, cat-and-mouse hunt to watch.
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Propaganda, Action, Killing, and NO Romance
I admit I followed the story to the end to see how the characters would end up. How the writer would tie up the loose ends and resolve the stories, and I suppose in a way, they did that - just not really so it made a compelling story that I enjoyed. The characters were played well by the actors - I hated the baddies, I was sorry for the goodies - and so many people were killed off, tortured, or manipulated. The villains didn't get nearly enough come-uppance for me.Let's talk about the absence of romance. I watch these dramas for the lead couple(s) and the romance factor. There was none of it here. Although I love Elvis Han, I didn't care much for this FL - and found very little chemistry between them. When the only kiss is not even between the ML & FL you must know how non-existent the romance is.
There was a lot of action, a lot of 'suspense', but not in a way that the story was satisfying to me. I was very disappointed. I don't recommend this drama and would not rewatch it.
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Had You in the First Half, Didn't I?
As a Republican Era Cdrama veteran (my all-time favorite is SPARROW (2016), similar spy and communist themes, but much darker and tragic) and someone who minors in Chinese Language and Ancient/Modern History, I will say that this series is not bad so far.I'm aware many people don't watch these shows because of "CCP propaganda," but this series is more romantic and nerve-racking than it is preachy. It holds a good level of seriousness and authenticity to the danger of their cause, the oppressiveness of Japanese occupation, as well as how some of the Communist spy cells used to operate, all while showing the chemistry between leads. And nonetheless, whatever your political and ideological stance, the terrors and political turmoil these people lived through at this time were no less real.
The leads are smart but not TOO smart that it makes you roll your eyes. There are mistakes they have to make up for here and there (the letters being snatched, the Hospital Morgue fiasco) that require them to realistically problem solve. I will say, I am a bit surprised by the anxiousness and apprehension to highly rate this drama in the comments and other areas. (ᵕ—ᴗ—) Maybe they are having a buffer to ward of disappointment, or they are fans of the leads (Elvis Han, Guan Xiaotong) and are cringing at the fear of seeing these two actors in a Republican Era drama, or maybe they are still sour at the Mr. and Mrs. Smith claimed remake. In any case, I must honestly say that my expectations were very low, but watching the first 4 episodes made me have to change that mindset.
Now, if this goes down the drain I'll be VERY mad. The side characters and even allies seem to be quite formidable and clever. They should not waste them.
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Hey. It's me again. I'm v e r y mad.
The once stunning and opportune Female Lead has been relegated numerous times to a damsel in distress, there are plot holes and inconsistencies with the ML ability to stay alive till this point, AND. . . the chemistry is dying... and they are dragging the "ignorant of the other party being on my side" situation. Now their marriage DOES look like a farce.
And before the non-romance people object, I understand your point. I also usually avoid roms in Cdramas, as I'm mostly a thriller, mystery, politics and bromance/sismance(?) watcher, BUT WHEN HAS A MATURE ROMANCE HURT ANYONE? And even when the romance is minimal in the aforementioned drama genres, atleast it's done well. But no, now we have to endure this dry pairing forced down our throat while the Communist espionage suffering persists.
WHY would anyone seek to recreate a Mr. and Mrs. Smith situation, when you have the leads cosplaying marriage and more so playing bother and sister? Well. Their acting is fine, but you know who I blame? The freaking screen director. As a Republican Era espionage story, the worldbuilding is too limited anyway, not to mention the plot is becoming predictable.
Peace out, all others. Maybe you will fare better than I did.
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