There Went My One Point - and Yet I’d Watch It Again
It’s delightful. No other word fits. °~ ( / ^ ~ ^ \ ) ~°I loved it; but not quite a 10/10. Here’s why. It’s an adaptation of a novel (which I’m just starting), and I wanted to get my thoughts down first. I almost always prefer the original material, so I didn’t want that bias creeping into this review.
Story & Screenplay
A freakishly strong yet petite girl stumbles upon a stranger on the brink of death and saves him. To repay the debt, he marries her in her hour of need. Little does she know, the “commoner” she’s wed is actually the most formidable warlord in the realm. War and decades-old mysteries pull them out of their quiet life, revealing that their pasts are strangely intertwined. Secrets unravel, the kingdom is saved, and they earn their HEA.
It’s a solid plot - if not the most original. The mystery does pull you in, and early on, the screenplay has a firm grip on the narrative. Somewhere in the middle and toward the end, though, that grip loosens. Plot holes get conveniently brushed aside, and characters occasionally act out of character. The ending isn’t rushed, but it feels heavy-handed - almost overly determined to tie up every loose end. And there went my half a point.
Characters
Xie Zheng, the Marquis of Wu’an, is our ML: formidable, ruthless, and not to be crossed, yet completely gone for his butcher wife. We’re told repeatedly how terrifying he is: the realm’s greatest warrior, capable of wiping out an entire town for vengeance. We do get glimpses like ordering the mutilation of bandits who nearly killed his wife, slicing off a eunuch’s ear, openly threatening the emperor, but it never quite feels like enough. I wanted more moments that showed this brutality. His arc also feels underdeveloped: he begins as a near-perfect lord and ends much the same. He learns to love, yes, but beyond that, there’s little growth.
In contrast, Changyu (FL) gets plenty of moments that showcase her strength - sometimes to the point of implausibility. Still, it doesn’t hurt her character. Her journey is compelling, even if it’s rushed: from an impulsive, bluntly honest woman who’s secure in herself and unfazed by criticism, to a strategic, formidable general. Her development is thoughtfully fleshed out. But the changes are a bit abrupt, which detracts another half a point.
The supporting characters, including the antagonists, are equally rich. Qi Min, in particular, is fascinating -a chilling mix of cruelty and vulnerability, twisted into what he calls love. You pity him, even as you condemn him. Most villains here are products of someone else’s wrongdoing - not an excuse, but enough to make them human. Not so for the late Emperor and Prince Changxin, though. They can have a special place in hell. And Mrs. Song. ( ͡° ʖ̯ ͡°)
Performances
Every single actor delivers. Truly. But two stand out - like the feathers on the Marquis’ headgear (which, by the way, made him look a bit like a ram… unintentionally funny, perhaps?).
Zhang Ling He is once again excellent. I know what to expect from his dramas, and he hasn’t let me down yet. He understands his character deeply and always adds something extra. Here, he brings Xie Zheng to life with nuance. The script may not give him equal footing (it feels more 60/40 in favor of Tian Xi Wei), but he still shines. His portrayal of PTSD, vulnerability, and restrained cruelty is effortless.
Tian Xi Wei matches him beat for beat. Changyu is a delightful blend of strength, honesty, innocence, and street smarts, and she embodies it all perfectly. Her fight scenes are fun (even when logic protests), and her bluntness brings natural humor. She never overplays it. Just gets it right.
The rest of the cast - from the Zhaos to Yu Qianqian, gossiping Mrs. Kang, and pompous Song Yan - are all excellent. Special mention to Deng Kai as Qi Min: chillingly precise. He captures the obsession, cunning, and eerie possessiveness so well that, despite the striking looks and that gorgeous grey-white hair, you’d still want him locked up.
Production
Superb - and it shows. The budget is clearly there. Cinematography is gorgeous, with lighting used cleverly: a lethal edge for Xie Zheng, openness for Changyu, and an unsettling aura for Qi Min. Dialogues land well even in translation, and the OST is melodious - even when you don’t fully understand the lyrics.
But one question: why do C-dramas skimp on extras? Epic battles look like 20 people clashing - maybe 30 for a political coup. How exactly are you overthrowing an emperor with that? It always ends up unintentionally funny.
And also, how come nobody dies in the first attempt, even when they fall off of the sheer cliff with arrows sticking out of their chests? Except maids and servants, everybody has at least nine lives - cat people. (¬⤙¬ )
Overall
It could have been a perfect 10, but somewhere along the way, that one point slipped. Even so, what it does right, it does exceptionally well. The characters stay with you, the performances elevate everything, and despite a few stumbles, it never loses its charm. It’s a shining example of what happens when a team knows exactly what they’re doing - and does it well. Definitely worth the watch
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This is my first ever C-Drama and, honestly? it set the bar really high for whatever might come next.I think the story is great, with the growth of both Changyu and Xie Zheng flawlessly combining with the court affairs and multiple battles. The setpieces are incredible, with great action and superb prop design. Everything, from the flow of the capes to the look of the armor is amazing, especially when the stellar soundtrack is blessing your ears.
I would give it a 9/10, but the last two episodes do drag it down a bit for me: the main antagonist for most of the story, Qi Min, is defeated rather quickly and the spotlight he had is given to Zheng's uncle Wei Yan, the evolution of his story being in my opinion a bit cliche. Basically Wei Yan is somewhat excused of what he's done, framing him as a victim of the previous emperor. Honestly, the last two episodes pretty much shift the blame to the previous Emperor himself, making everyone seem like a lesser evil that originated from his deeds.
While I did not enjoy the ending, the story overall is amazing and the drama is great.
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The Quiet Beauty of a Poetic and Soulful Drama
Pursuit of Jade is not just a drama — it is an emotional storm that quietly breaks your heart piece by piece. From the very first episode, the story pulls you into a world filled with longing, pain, sacrifice, and a love. The drama balances romance and heartbreak so naturally that every episode leaves a lasting impression.What stood out the most was the chemistry between the leads. The storytelling is slow but meaningful, allowing viewers to truly connect with the characters and their struggles.
The cinematography and soundtrack added even more beauty to the experience, creating scenes that felt poetic and emotional at the same time. If you enjoy dramas that are heartfelt, emotional, and deeply character-driven, Pursuit of Jade is definitely worth watching.
A touching drama that stays with you long after the final episode.
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An Elegant Tale of Hidden Identities!
Pursuit of Jade is an pretty engaging historical romance that successfully blends political intrigue, hidden identities, family loyalties, and emotional character development into a highly enjoyable drama. While it doesn't reach a masterpiece status due to some of the problems in the Drama, it remains one of the more memorable costume dramas of the year. The rating for this Drama is higher than it should be , in my opinion!One of the drama's greatest strengths is its two main leads. Both deliver convincing and heartfelt performances, creating a relationship that feels natural and emotionally rewarding. However, the true standout is the female lead. She brings intelligence, resilience, warmth, and vulnerability to her character, making her incredibly easy to root for from beginning to end. Rather than being a passive heroine, she actively drives the story forward and consistently proves herself capable in difficult situations. Her growth throughout the series is one of the highlights of the drama.
The male lead complements her perfectly. His performance balances strength, mystery, and emotional depth, and the chemistry between the two leads develops naturally over the course of the story. Their interactions provide many of the drama's most memorable moments.
The storyline revolving around false identities, hidden pasts, and political secrets keeps viewers invested for much of the series. The gradual unraveling of the truth is handled well, creating suspense while allowing the characters to develop organically. The drama avoids relying solely on romance, instead weaving together family conflicts, court politics, and personal struggles into a compelling narrative.
Visually, Pursuit of Jade is elegantly pleasing. The costumes are elegant and detailed, capturing the atmosphere of the period. From the richly designed robes to the carefully crafted hairstyles and sets, the production values help immerse viewers in the world of the drama.
The supporting cast also deserves praise. Many side characters are given meaningful storylines and distinct personalities rather than existing simply to support the main couple. Characters such as Qi Min and Sui Yuanhuai add depth to the overall narrative, while several secondary relationships and family dynamics enrich the viewing experience.
Unfortunately, the drama loses a lot of it's momentum during the middle section and the final five episodes. After spending so much time carefully building its mysteries and character arcs, the conclusion feels somewhat rushed. Several emotional moments do not land with the impact they should have, and some story threads are wrapped up too quickly. The ending itself is satisfying on a basic level, but the final scenes lack the emotional weight and payoff that the series had been building toward. With stronger execution in its closing chapters, the drama could easily have reached a higher rating.
Despite these shortcomings, Pursuit of Jade remains a highly enjoyable watch thanks to its strong lead performances, fascinating identity-driven storyline, gorgeous costumes, and memorable supporting cast. It is a drama that keeps viewers invested for most of its run and offers enough emotional and narrative rewards to make it well worth watching.
Final Rating: 8.5/10
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It's a great show about women.
It’s a very interesting story, mainly because it blends drama with a strong political backdrop set in a specific historical period. In some ways, it reminds me of Who Rules the World, but at its core, it’s really a story about women — especially mothers — and how deeply they sacrifice themselves to protect their children.Throughout the plot, we see several families, and one striking aspect is how few female characters remain alive at a certain point. Because of that, the ones who do stand out even more: they are resilient, determined, and incredibly strong. They do everything for their families and assert themselves in a world dominated by men, where decisions are made by men and women are, in theory, just ornamental.
Even so, female protagonism is very significant. This is reflected through several key figures, such as the Empress Dowager, the main female lead, and the mothers of the main characters. At its heart, the story is about these women.
The main couple is also a highlight. I fell in love with the female lead in the first episode, and with the male lead around episode four. Together, they have a very compelling dynamic — they are strong as a couple, but also very human. They argue, hurt each other at times (sometimes intentionally), and make mistakes, but it never feels forced or overly dramatic. It’s not based on ridiculous misunderstandings; you can clearly see they care about each other, even as they struggle and try to protect one another.
The villain is another standout: incredibly well-written. At times, you even feel sympathy for him, but he remains a terrible person. This duality is portrayed very effectively.
The children are adorable, and the story also emphasizes the importance of community. From the beginning, we are introduced to this collective environment, where people are not purely good or bad. Of course, there are clearly good and clearly bad characters, but most exist in shades of gray, which makes the story more realistic and engaging.
It’s a story I consumed very quickly — in about three days — which says a lot about how gripping it is. It has 40 episodes, each around 50 to 60 minutes long, so it’s quite extensive, but very well constructed.
The cinematography is beautiful, and the storytelling is tightly woven: there are no loose ends or forgotten characters. Even minor characters have their outcomes addressed.
Overall, it’s a story that moved me a lot. I laughed quite a bit — there are genuinely funny scenes. It didn’t make me particularly tense, probably because I’m already familiar with this type of narrative and could anticipate some developments, but it still brings a fresh and well-executed perspective.
It’s definitely a great story.
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Amazing overall —but confusing politics
Finally caved in and started watching this to understand what's the hype is all about. These are what stood out to me the most overall.In the beginning of the drama, it was a good introduction to Changyu's background and her personality as a 19 year old girl, surviving based off butchering pigs for herself and her sister Changning.
The first half of the drama has my heart. It was so wholesome and intriguing which made me curious to see more of the FL and ML. As Yan Zheng and Changyu became closer, emotions and love began to blossom without them realising.
Then the angst era came. When Yan Zheng has to leave, still hiding his identity, he could not deny his feelings for her. And honestly, props to Changyu for slapping him after that uninvited kiss. At this point, while I understand Yan Zheng's reasons, Changyu's feelings and reactions are valid too. He was leaving yet he kissed her. One thing I liked about this drama was that Yan Zheng later apologised for the kiss later on in the story.
Changyu's decision to enter the army to find him showed how strong her feelings was for Yan Zheng, even if she had not explicitly said it. The angst hit again when Changyu found out his identity.
I have to admit, the angst was really well written and executed in the drama. It did not felt draggy to the point as an audience you feel frustrated. In this drama, the angst was necessary for character and relationship development between each other.
This brings me to the pacing of the story. I had never once felt that it was too rushed or draggy. It was paced perfectly. As the romance and story unfolds, the romance part was perfect. The actions, OST and the acting of both ML and FL was amazing.
The only thing that I wished could've been better was when the drama began to introduce the political issues. It was confusing as I could not identify the main problem or what and why are the different villains acting in such manner. I could not differentiate which characters are from which clan in the beginning.
As the story continues to unfold, I could only then started to have an 'Aha!' moment, finally figuring out piece by piece.
Cinematography wise, everything was so beautifully filmed. The fight scenes was executed perfectly, and it was really cool to see Changyu in action as someon who loves a strong FL.
The ending was good, but has some loopholes. It highlights the possibility of Qian Qian being a time traveller, and was she the reason that everyone who had died in Lin'an to be alive again? Did she went back in time to prevent the massacre from happening?
The end credits was a nice touch. It was wholesome to see how things would've turned out in another life.
Overall, I enjoyed this drama. The plot, action and romance was well done. However, the political side and the explanation of the ending could've been better. I'd recommend watching this drama!
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Beautiful show with interesting characters - if only it was more balanced!
Very interesting plot, nice acting, excellent cinematography, nice soundtrack, great recommendation for people who enjoy action scenes, female leads with strong personalities, and power couples. The dubbing quality is excellent and the child actors were adorable! Yet, a lot of the show's potential was left unfinished and some plot choices were questionable.Changyu is a great protagonist and a lovable character. Although I had my doubts about the actress, not due to her acting abilities but due to the baby face, her appearance fits Changyu's lively spirit, playful and a bit naive personality. She looked her best during battle. Zheng is an ideal male lead - handsome, smart, compassionate, capable, and together they made an excellent power couple. Qianqian's character was intriguing and I would have loved to see more about her background and personality outside of her forced reality alongside Qi Min. Qi Shu and Yin Gongsun were adorable together, the background characters were interesting but a bit underdeveloped, and Wei Yan made a very good antagonist. The friendship between Changyu and Qianqian was one of the best dynamics of the show, combined with an overall strong female presence in the whole plot. The sociopolitical commentary was decent and the final results for certain characters were worthy of their actions, minus Qi Min who deserved worst.
The editing is superb in many scenes, the song choices are very good, and the alternative ending was a smart inclusion (although the original ages of the main leads do not add up, but I pretended they were both 27-ish anyway)
On the negative side, the political aspect of the plot was underutilized in favor of the romance, which is truly a shame. The show starts great, but slugs during the middle part exactly because one can not rely on the chemistry of the main characters alone in order to push the narrative - the show gains momentum once again when both Changyu and Zheng enter the Capital and the scenario starts moving. The makeup artists really did not hold back (not everyone has to look beautiful all the damn time) and the show had multiple unrealistic moments, like people surviving from injuries that would have normally end up in disability or death, and Zheng coughing blood multiple times without it harming him at all. Qi Min was unworthy of redemption, although I don't blame Qianqian for having confused emotions due to her apparent supernatural origins (?) and her traumatic life. Gongsun and Shu deserved more screen time, and we got no proper showcase of Beijue as a foreign power. The occasional fatphobic stereotypes were not absent.
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An epic which has lots of goods and a few misses.
Just completed watching Pursuit of Jade for the very first time in 4 days already. This drama had incredible start , like the first 16 to 18 episodes were superior. Then 19 to 32 were great but not excellent. Then the last 7 to 8 episodes led somewhere between good and average.The post credit scene in the finale was totally unnecessary.
Overall a good show. I already liked Zhang Ling He from The Best Thing and Tian Xi Wei from the Genius Girlfriend, but now I am more in love with both of them.
The most stupid and annoying character arc was of QianQian. The best story/romance for me was between Princess and Military Advisor.
This was my first Chinese Historic (Fiction/Non-Fiction) Drama. Maybe I will give chance to other historic dramas like Love in the Galaxy, The Double, Blossom and many more, These were in my watchlist for so long, perhaps now I can consider these after watching Pursuit of Jade.
Excellent story, screenplay was not great but was not bad either, music was good and acting was top notch.
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Second lead couple total Fire and passion
I did try to like this one but the story was lacking. Let me start with the good:1. Amazing, simply smashingly amazing love story between the second lead couple
2. Love the villain and his acting, and again the whole second lead story. The chemistry was through the roof, acting was top notch, it was worth watching only for them ( similar situation to My Journey to you, Fated hearts), where the second leads stole the show and the first lead was so boring
3. Ok, even if I want to talk again about the acting and second leads I will leave it here and say a few words about the first lead female - she was so so good and convincing in her fighting skills that I was like, finally a woman that has great fighting, acting and belivable aura as a general/fighter
4. Well, the first male lead was very boring, could not see him as smart or an amazing fighter or anything extraordinary. I know people mentioned that the novel was not like that and they did him dirty ( i have not read the novel) but I am willign to beleive they altered his characer badly. It is not the actor's fault for sure as he has seen him in the Story of Cunning Palace and how amazing he was there but I guess he could not show his potential. Also, by watching Cunning Palace I believed the rumours about dating Bai Lu because their chemistry was insane
5. High budget, good OST
6 And amazing second lead villain. Yes, I had to say it again :D
Now the bad:
I will not get into details but the story was lacking . This had to potentila to be at least 80 episodes. 40 was not enough
The othing about first male lead I already mentioned above so no point mentioning it again
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A very good series,
in which all the characters had their own past, logic, character, and they were all very well used. I also liked the last episode, which offered several different options. Overall, it is well thought out, funny, and at the same time rough and cruel. The series has a really beautiful visual aspect, costumes, and environment. In places, it looks like something out of a fairy tale. There is the right amount of humor, action, and tension and sparks between the characters. Of course, they take their time, but that doesn't matter. Although I sometimes enjoyed the relationships of the secondary couples more than the main one. Especially during the period of various campaigns. But overall, it is an eye-pleasing and undemanding spectacle that I really enjoyed.Was this review helpful to you?
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Pleasing to the eye while warming your heart
I'd say, a warm, action packed, straight forward drama. Pursuit of Jade is one of those dramas that gives you comfort from knowing it's going to be a happy ending while growing on you before you know. From the story to the cast to the music - sweet, heartwarming.The story nor the characters are complicated. As someone who hasn't read the novel, I think they did fine with the pacing, except for some problems here and there, notably the ending. I honestly worried it would be a mess hearing all the comments of how it spent too much time on the village arc and all. But it didn't feel like a problem to me. I felt fine about it. I did worry of the ending though. The pace they were going, I felt 2 more episodes would have been better. Action scenes were undoubtedly fabulous. Especially, ones of the Marquis. Just plain looks and slow motion, but they were so close to perfection! I kept rewinding and rewatching the beauty, bless my eyes 😍
Main plot problems I felt were - one, when Sui Yuanhuai was introduced, they completely shifted from Changyu and Zheng to the other couple, almost as if, we were done with those two. I got reminded of Thai BLs were there are multiple couples. I really wanted to know what the leads were up to, because there wasn't enough screen time for them. Thankfully, that didn't happen with the counselor-princess pair's storyline. Second, after a certain bit, Wei Yan and the other court officials were completely missing for a good, long time. Like, they were supposed to be the bad guys right? Then why all of a sudden, there aren't any updates of them? Especially where we leave them, I actually expected a new chaos to rise, but these people disappeared altogether, forget planning a trap. Third I'd say, Sui Yuanqing; they should have just ended the guy's role earlier. The entire getting caught, escaping/releasing then getting caught again, nah. That went on for too long. The ending of that character was good though brutal. That was done well. Then yes, obviously, the ending battle. Not satisfying at all. The ending definitely could have been better, especially the fight scenes. It could have at least lasted an entire episode but they just wrapped it up quickly. Other than that, all that mystery solving too, it was just pinned on one person and that's it. It felt like they wanted to give each character a story of their own to justify the character. But there wasn't a weight to that; it was hollow. Characters were well written but they could have been a bit more complex. Don't know if it's the same in the novel or just the drama. Finally, arrangement of scenes could have been better. At times, it cut the flow.
But two emotional scenes were there that really touched me. One was when Changyu realises her father is Wei Qilin. That really made my heart feel heavy. It was done really well. I could feel the fear, the refusal to accept and the helplessness. And second, the ending of Wei Yan. Woah! I honestly always had a soft spot for that character 🫠 I kept believing he wasn't entirely a bad guy, you know, the typical villain. So finally, when I was proven right, it just added. The nostalgia and him imagining a last meal with Zheng, yah, it brought tears to my eyes. He did truly love his nephew.
Cast was DEFINITELY amazing! The main leads - Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, just make sense. The fact that Fan Changyu is just 19 and the actress actually looks youthful, really thankful for that. Had it been someone who obviously doesn't look like a 19 year old, it would have been real pathetic.
Tian Xiwei! God! I LOVED HER! She's got this adorable smile and pretty face yet she's no where near being fragile. Fan Changyu is one of the best female characters I've come across. True fem power! Xiwei's acting is awesome. She really warms your heart. I could find myself swooning over her every now and then, smiling and being whipped for her 😭 Then OBVIOUSLY! The talk of the town, the one who flooded my fyp page the moment the drama dropped. THE Marquis of Wu'an (Wu'an Hou 🥹) ! Bless whoever decided him for the role! Because GOSHHHH!!! IS HE NOT PERFECTION??? My LORD THE VISUALS! Broo, this is honestly the closest to heaven we can get! He's just a walking General of this era! Not just beauty, his acting skills are applaudable too. He's a beauty with talent. The role of Xie Zheng (who for the most part is Yan Zheng) is another green flag. Loved the fact that he never once doubted on the fact that he loved her.
The chemistry between the two is REALLY good. The characters were also written that way I think. That no matter what, they were the same people with similar interests, so ultimately, they couldn't be on opposite teams for long. And that was well portrayed by the actor and actress. Loved this power couple!
Side characters were also very good. Really attached to the villagers. The counselor (played by Li Qing) and the grand tutor Tao (played by Li Jianyi) 😂 Fun characters! Favorites of mine. As for Qianqian and Yuanhuai (Qi Min) - as someone who doesn't like toxic relationships in general, it wouldn't be my favorite pair anyway, but even then, the story wasn't good enough to stand a chance too. If the story and characters had more depth, it would have been better. I personally didn't like their side of the story. But the acting? REALLY GOOD! Deng Kai and Kong Xueer did it really well! Especially Deng Kai. Then of course, the pig butcher squad. Very sad Mandi couldn't make it 😭 He was such an adorable character. I really value the genuinley good characters around the leads and they were honestly surrounded by such healthy people on a whole. Mr. And Mrs. Zhao too. Yan Yikuan as Wei Yan was one of my other favourites. And special mentions to the child actors - Cao Yanning and Wu Jiajun. Fantastic!
Music was another big leverage of this drama. My favorite is 'I Searched For Him A Thousand Times in the Crowd'. This was the first drama where I loved and learnt the OST before watching the show 😂 The background audio effects gave a punch whenever and wherever necessary, adding to the drama.
Rewatch wise, yes. I would rewatch this. Not only to understand a bit more, but also because, it grew on me before I knew. And now, I need to visit this friend every once in a while. Another watch without skips is guaranteed.
Overall, I really want to thank the director Zeng Qingjie for bringing this story to life. It would seriously be sad if this drama didn't exist, at the very least for the eye. So visually pleasing, truly! The set, the shots and the cast (ㅠㅡㅠ)
Love you Zhu Yu and I hope I can read the novel someday!
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Very easy watch
I love these kind of drama's. Beautiful people, striking landscapes, exciting fight scenes. Yes please!This drama has all that, paired with a slow-burn brimming with chemistry romance of an out-of-the-ordinary couple.
I loved everything about it. Until the marquis' identity is revealed to Changyu. Up until then we have been watching a quirky, female empowering story. But suddenly we are in a standard historical cdrama. Court shenanigans, poisonings, marriage stuff. It's still good, but the edge and grit are gone.
The story has to rely on far-fetched coincidences, shock value and comic relief to stay on track. Bummer!
The fact that for reasons of censorship the face of the actor playing Song Yan has been replaced and we have an actor credited for 'body only' and 'face only' is a damn shame. Shame! Ziyu deserves so much better. And we as viewers deserve better.
The first half of the drama is a solid 10. The rest is just above average.
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