Pursuit of Jade

A feast for eyes

This drama is filled with beautiful people, sceneries and breath taking visual shots.
The leads are already famous with their beauty and handsomeness but the bonus points which made this drama viral is even supporting actors who only had two or three scenes in the whole dramas are also handsome that they can be the lead actors themselves. That’s how this drama is packed with beautiful actors and actresses.
The cinematography is god tier level. All scenes (mainly the leads) can be made into a photo book or photo cards. It’s so amazing. I haven’t watch any drama which filled with beautiful visual scenes like this. All scenes are Wow. Kudos to the styling and makeup team because they did amazing job of beautifying actors and actresses.
But maybe because the director is too focused on visuals mainly, the plot felt flat from the middle to end. Because there’s no that highly anticipated climax scenes. No shocking plot twists much. The actors also couldn’t express their characters’ depths enough to audiences. ML couldn’t show his war skills and his coldness. FL couldn’t show her character development fully. Because drama is filled with their love scenes. That’s a little disappointing.
But the bonus point for novel fans is the script doesn’t change anything since the beginning to end. They even include extra chapters which is alternate version/universe at the end of the drama.
So if you are into visuals and do not mind about the plot much, you would love this.

Read More

Exploring Jade

From the very first episode this drama hooks you in, with stunning visuals, quaint setting and endearing characters who pull you in with every second that you watch. Each episode builds the love story between the main lead characters Fan Chang Yu (FL) and Xie Zheng / Yan Zheng (ML) in a stunning and exciting way. From the edge of death, to the marketplace, to the frontlines of the battlefield and the midst of palace drama and court intrigue our main leads fight through it all. The "Pursuit of Jade is aptly titled because this story follows their search for something fragile, true and impossible to replace. I highly recommend this drama if you like stunning visuals, strong lead females, moving story lines and fantastic actors.

The main con I have about this drama is that there weren't enough episodes. I think if there had been 5-10 more episodes some of the storylines regarding secondary and background characters that seemed a bit rushed might have come together with a bit more polish. Additionally while the SL couple is stunning in visuals and acting ability there came a point where their repeated scenes did more to detract from my enjoyment of the show than add to it so I believe their screen time could have been reduced and been shared along with the MLs or been given to help flush out the backstory of some of the court politics.

Overall I did thoroughly enjoy this drama and will be rewatching

Read More

DRAMA OWNED MY HEARTT

I just finished Pursuit of Jade, and I’m still sitting here in a puddle of happy tears, replaying every tender glance, every quiet promise, every heartbeat of this beautiful story. This drama didn’t just entertain me but it wrapped around my soul and refused to let go. From start to finish, it felt like coming home to the kind of love and justice we all secretly crave.
What I loved most is how real and layered the characters felt. Fan Changyu is everything: fierce, unapologetic, soft in the places that matter most. She carries her butcher’s knife like a crown, and watching her love without apology healed something in me. Then there’s Xie Zheng—oh, my heart!!!
That quiet storm of a man, carrying so much pain behind those restrained eyes, yet choosing gentleness every time it counted. Their chemistry is electric yet so tender; it’s the kind of slow-burn that makes you hold your breath, then explodes into moments so intimate and devoted that I genuinely clutched my chest. The way they look at each other—like the rest of the world simply ceases to exist—left me breathless over and over.
The side characters stole pieces of my heart too. The innocence and purity in Bao’er and Changning’s connection felt like a warm light in the middle of all the shadows. Their friendship blooms so naturally, so healingly, that it reminded me how powerful small acts of kindness can be. Even the more complicated relationships carried so much emotional weight; every glance, every unspoken regret added depth without ever feeling forced.
The storyline is masterful. It balances revenge, loyalty, war, and romance without ever losing its heart. There were moments of gut-wrenching tension, breathtaking action, and then these pockets of pure, aching sweetness that made everything worthwhile. Nothing felt rushed or cheap, instead every emotion was earned, every turn meaningful.
I never once felt bored, confused, or let down. The script respected its characters and its audience, and that trust made the payoff so much sweeter.
Visually, it’s stunning ofcourse! the snowy nights, the battlefield dust, the soft lantern glow during quiet confessions. The music wraps around every scene like an embrace. And the acting? Tian Xiwei and Zhang Linghe poured their souls into these roles. Their chemistry isn’t just good but it’s soul-deep, the kind that makes you believe in fate all over again.
This drama reminded me why I fell in love with stories like Love Like the Galaxy, The Legend of Anle, and The Long Ballad, etc. because when love fights through pain and comes out stronger, when justice finally arrives with open arms, it feels like the universe is right again.
Pursuit of Jade is now one of my forever favorites. It made me laugh, sob, scream in joy, and feel so deeply seen. My heart is so full, so content, so unwilling to let go. It’s going to take weeks or maybe months to move on from this one, and honestly? … I don’t want to.
Thank you to every single person who brought this world to life. You gave us something truly special.
If you haven’t watched it yet… what are you waiting for? Just know your heart might never be the same. 💖

Read More

A Sizzling Romance (w/ a political plot line that falls a bit short)

NOTE: Unlike MyDramaList I also have a category for Romance (because I exclusively watch romances lol) so while some categories get less than a 10, I did give the romance an 11/10 (YES 11). So the show ends up a 10/10 for me.

Pursuit of Jade has all the classic aspects of a historical romance but still feels new and creative. For me, the best things about the show were:

- Xie Zheng & Fan Chang Yu’s romance. This is a core element that makes this show so good. You have a perfect burn romance with leads whose chemistry rivals that of oil and fire. Everything about their romance felt perfect for the plot. My main care is always the romance and this was easily an 11/10 for me
- The depth of most of the antagonists. While some had more screen time and better arcs than others, 99% of the antagonists had a depth to them many shows skip for the sake of having an “evil antagonist”. I loved that each character, good or bad, had a logistical reason for their choices and actions.
- Tian Xi Wei as Fan Chang Yu. Tian Xi Wei played her role to perfection. I liked Zhang Ling He before this show and he is a handsome actor, but between the two, she was amazing. I had more of a crush on her character. Fan Chang Yu was the dream balance of boss lady who takes no sh*t and sweetie pie that cares about the wellbeing of everyone.
- Gongsun Yin and Qi Shu’s romance. It was an excellent secondary romance with such a lovely softness to it that contrasted the “hardness” between the main couple who were navigating war and their fathers' deaths.
- Jin Yuan Bao and his crew. They go from hooligans to Fan Chang Yu’s entourage (aka the Butcher Crew). Jin Yuan Bao was super cute and loyal to her and I love that we see him have a tiny crush but he packs it up and recognizes she loves Xie Zheng rather than causing a “dramatic love triangle” drama. The crew was so cute, I was genuinely sad when one of them died.

The main issues I had with the show were:
- Some of the side main characters were handled a bit odd. Specifically Yu Qian Qian and Song Yan. (*This is a large reason why story is 9.2*)
- I know there was real life drama for the actor of Song Yan, but his role at the end and his AI face really made it hard to watch him at all. *(This is specifically why acting is a 9.8)*
- For Yu Qian Qian I don’t understand why they made her of a *mysterious background,* it literally adds/subtracts nothing from her story expect making you feel like you are missing something. The show is very much “realistic fiction” so why allude to her being an immortal or from the future or whatever ambiguous origins.
- Plus Qi Sheng as a push over Emperor, his character is so passive and to have him go crazy was disappointing to say the least.
- There are a lot of “antagonists” whether passive or active, this is both a plus and negative in that some “endings” for the antagonists fell a bit flatter than if there were fewer antagonists. For example, Sui Yuan Qing’s death felt so abrupt when there was so much pent up hatred both towards and from him.
- Kind of linking to the point above, I loved and hated that the "main, real antagonist" was the Late Emperor. It is a great way of giving all the antagonists on screen more depth, but it feels so unsatisfying that there’s nothing to be done that the “main evil” is already dead even though he has caused so much pain 17 years ago and now. (*This is the other main reason why story is 9.2*)
- Someone also made a good point that Fan Changyu easily defeated two seasoned generals without much effort while Xie Zheng is said to be the most powerful general but there was not a single proper battle for him. I think Fan Changyu makes sense because her father did raise her to be a fighter (and she was born extremely strong) but I do think it would have been nice to see a bit more fighting and dominance from Xie Zheng in war (but I don’t personally care toooo much about this so it’s more a nit for me than an actual flaw.)
- While I liked the “in another life” epilogue it was also unfulfilling for me. I would have preferred more about their current life to be honest.
- It sets it up as “another reality” but then everyone seems to have a deja vu of each other. Qi Min is alive but feels sick near Yu Qian Qian which again makes no sense if this is a world where the tragedy never happened. They should be able to have their HEA in this life (assuming he is decent and she falls in love back)
- Xie Zheng and Fan Chang Yu are “betrothed” at childhood which was cute but we don’t get any insight on how their relationship growing up is different which I feel should have been the focal of this flashback considering their romance is the focal point of the show

### Original Thoughts & Ideas
- Evil is a loop of cause and effect. Someone will always feel wronged for one reason or another. Ending the cycle starts with one’s self if we are to look at Qi Min and Wei Yan. Accountability and even just a bit more sympathy could have changed their fates drastically. Wei Yan was a great example of a gray character with all he did for the State of Yin, his lover, and his wife who he took in to protect as a pregnant widow contrasted with how he treated his nephew (Xie Zheng), how he manipulated the emperor, and scapegoated others.

Read More

Stellar historical cdrama to add to top 10

This show started so strong, and for the most part continued to follow through, however it did start to weary a little 2/3 in. Almost all dramas do this that go on for 40 episodes, its kinda hard to keep an engaging pace.

I did love all the cast, like most feel the villains were endearing in their own red flag way lol. Have loved all the fun clips of bts on socials, that have reminded us all they are just characters in a show, and adorable cuties in real life. 😆😆😆

The final episode was interesting, thats for sure and a few plot holes popped up as they did a lot of “past” scenes or date explanations that plain didn’t math the way the mains were aged, but who cares right? No one.

Wonderful show that is up there with some of the best historical dramas. I get annoyed when people who haven’t watched many call this the greatest ever. i hope they stick around the current trend of cdrama a little and discover all the great ones that have been made in the past. So many!

Read More

POJ is the best drama 2026

This is the first time I m watching very good drama with good quality. The cinematography top tier, the story good, the cast very good, supporting role very good. And the most important thing is Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei Chemistry is damn so good. Their acting skill also very insane. Specially Tian Xiwei as Fan Changyu she act with heart. I can feel everything from her acting. When she happy I m happy, when she sad I also sad and when she cries I also cries. And her action skill also very good. I hope Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei Will meet again in another project, this couple is very amazing.

Read More

A Tender Story of Love Blooming Amid War and Secrets

I didn’t start this drama because of the leads. Both actors are good, but I hadn’t really watched a highly rated drama from either of them that made me fully trust their projects. What actually pulled me in was the director and screenwriter. They’ve delivered strong work individually before, so this easily made it onto my anticipated list.

And honestly, that trust paid off. Zeng Qing Jie once again proves why he stands out. His direction is easily one of the strongest aspects of this drama. The way he uses natural lighting, frames shots, and turns simple settings into visually stunning scenes is just impressive. Every frame feels intentional. There were moments where I had to rewind scenes because I got distracted just admiring how beautiful everything looked. It genuinely feels like watching a moving painting at times.

From the very beginning, the cinematography grabs your attention. The visuals are stunning, and the drama avoids a lot of the usual frustrating tropes. Both leads are capable, smart, and not pushovers. They don’t fall into the typical “self-sacrificing for no reason” trap, which was honestly refreshing. The female lead especially stands out as someone strong both physically and mentally, and I liked that she holds her ground.

The story blends romance with political conflict and personal struggles. It starts off with a strong foundation, slowly introducing an overarching mystery while building relationships naturally. The dynamic between the leads develops in a very organic way. What begins as something simple grows into mutual trust, protection, and eventually something deeper. Their chemistry carries a strong sense of yearning and tension, especially in the later parts.

The supporting cast deserves a lot of credit too. Characters actually feel relevant and well-placed within the story. Some of them, like Deng Kai’s character, are incredibly compelling. His portrayal of a morally complex antagonist adds depth, and you even find yourself understanding him at times despite his actions. Even smaller roles, including the younger characters, leave an impact.

The romance is definitely one of the highlights. It’s not rushed or overly dramatic. It builds slowly through shared experiences, quiet moments, and emotional growth. Their relationship feels equal and grounded, which made it satisfying to watch. There are no unnecessary love triangle complications either, which I appreciated.

That said, the drama isn’t without flaws. The first half is genuinely strong and almost perfect in terms of setup, pacing, and character building. The second half is still good, but it doesn’t fully live up to the potential set earlier. It becomes more politically heavy, and while the politics are interesting, they aren’t always handled with the same depth or clarity. At times, it feels like the script doesn’t do full justice to the characters.

There are so many well-written characters, but instead of showing their depth through interactions, the story sometimes relies too much on explanation. Some relationships and histories could have been explored better through actual scenes rather than dialogue. It feels like missed opportunities, especially when the cast has such strong chemistry.

Even with that, the drama remains engaging. The acting is solid across the board, the fight scenes are enjoyable, and the overall production quality is high. The soundtrack also deserves a mention because it enhances the emotional tone really well.

In the end, this is a drama that you enjoy both visually and emotionally. It has strong characters, beautiful cinematography, and a compelling romance. While the second half doesn’t fully match the brilliance of the first, it’s still a satisfying watch overall.

If you like slow-burn historical dramas with strong leads, good chemistry, and aesthetic storytelling, this is definitely worth trying.

Read More

what a way to ruin the whole message with the last 20 minutes

what a way to cheapen the whole show with that ending.
This drama started out good, I believe everyone's favourite part must be their village life days, they built something together that felt grounded and very sincere.
I also want to mention Qi Min and Qian Qian, their dynamic was disturbing (but also their chemistryy! so good), but still interesting to watch because of how tragic and psychologically messy it was.

But i have to talk about the ending!
The “what-if” sequence completely undermined everything that came before. By removing her background, her struggles, and the circumstances that shaped her, it should turn her into a fundamentally different person. And yet, the drama still insists they would end up together anyway. It quite literally ruined the whole 40 episodes I just spent watching.
That’s the problem.
It changes the message from a very specific connection, built on who they were, how they met, and what they meant to each other in that moment of their lives to something much more generic: that they would have fallen in love regardless of any of it. ahh pisses me off.

Read More

You can cast the boy out of a cinnamon role, but you can’t cast the cinnamon roll out of the boy.

The first twenty of so episodes of this drama are very good. It totally fulfils the “fit for purpose” specifications of a historical action romance. There’s a whack of very good chemistry, sweet romantic interactions, some deliciously dastardly baddies, a couple of kick arse women, lots of good supporting roles and a plot that meanders along with enough in it to keep you on your toes.

Admittedly there’s the obligatory total suspension of disbelief required in some areas, not least of which concerns our reputedly ruthless hero, Xie Zheng played by Zhang Ling He. Sorry, but however much he frowns and barks: looks like a cinnamon roll, is a cinnamon roll. I’m probably going to be pickled in brine and strung up to cure for this remark, but then again, I’m known for saying it like it is, so—I genuinely think he was miscast. He simply doesn’t have the hard edge of suppressed emotions to pull off tsundere, which is what this role required. But I have to admit he makes a perfect, sweet, romantic lead.

You know when someone has been working too hard with not enough sleep, because the plot gets infected by fevered dreams and all types of ridiculousness follows. Look, I’ve watched a lot of dramas and I’m prepared to accept a heap of wince-making unbelievable situations before I totally give up on something that I decided to review. But starting about half way through, the shenanigans around false identity and military procedure got way beyond the rolling eyes and LOL stage and had me banging on the pause button and going off to do anything other than endure any more of it. I did my best not to give up and it was an excruciatingly close call. Episode 26 was the low point and I did think if anything else happens, I’m out. If you’ve got a strong enough stomach to survive that episode on top of what comes before it, then the rest is plain sailing, if a little predictable.

Until the last couple of episodes that is, which were badly edited and try to solve too many plot lines at once in a disjointed hash of scenes that don’t have enough time to really impact properly. Some of the plot lines needed more support earlier to be tied in properly. The unfolding of mystery should be a procession of tempting tasting dishes that lead you to the finale and is not best served by starving everyone then slopping everything on a plate at the end in an as-much-as-you-can-eat buffet, followed by pie in the sky to finish it off.

The prize for the most romantic line, sweetly delivered in a love scene goes to Xie Zheng for “Every morning I woke up to the sound of you slaughtering pigs.” And the prize for the sexiest psychotic villain that I’ve seen in a long while goes to Deng Kai for his portrayal of Sui Yuan Hai. Irresistible…

So it’s a very compromised rating, the start is an 8, the middle is a 5 and the end is a 7 which I’ve balanced out to a 7 overall.

Edited to add: Oh, I've just discovered, to my great amusement, that I align with the official Chinese government line on Zhang Ling He's portrayal of Xie Zheng! There's always a first time...LOL.

Read More