Pursuit of Jade

Not perfect, but definitely worth watching

My opinion and feedback are totally subjective, and considering the huge fan following Pursuit of Jade has amassed, I hope I don’t offend the hardcore fans of the show. The 9.1 rating on My Drama List became one of the deciding factors to watch Pursuit of Jade, besides the cast. I had not watched any of Zhang Linghe’s shows before Pursuit, so I had no idea about his acting skills, but the actress is a known one (watched and loved her a lot in New Life Begins).

The story is not very unique. It has all the elements that a period drama is expected to have: a hero/heroine in distress, seeking revenge, a royal house planning and plotting, and a dark past that clearly affects many lives in the present. Nevertheless, it’s the screenplay that determines how the story unfolds and characters progress. Pursuit of Jade does a really good job in this area. Characters evolve and grow (at least most of them do). The subplots and the supporting cast have done a great job as well. The music is not exceptionally great, but worth remembering. Besides the romantic numbers, there are a few exhilarating pieces that blend well with the storyline.

The actors: Pursuit of Jade is full of great-looking actors. The whole Zhang Linghe beauty admiration doesn’t look like hype at all. He surely is a gorgeous-looking man, and not to mention, he looks utterly gorgeous in the traditional Chinese period drama costumes. The wigs have enhanced his looks 10 times; even in that bee sting headgear which he has worn twice during his grand entrance, suits him. The actress is a beauty herself and shines in all the scenes. Even the bad guys of the show are great-looking men. The romantic scenes are shot beautifully, tastefully, and in a truly aesthetic manner. I am glad that Chinese dramas have progressed in that department, where the kissing scenes look real and passionate. Keep up the good work!

Now, a few things that I didn’t like and honestly don't understand. In my opinion, Pursuit of Jade could have been summed up in 32-33 episodes, max 35. There was no need to make it a 40-episode-long show. There were a few dragging subplots and scenes that dragged a bit too long. The part where the FL is separated from her little sister and the ML, is dragged somewhat too long. The scenes consisting of violence and gore were too many. The ML was healing and getting wounded at the same time. The FL was tending to his wounds and nursing him back to health after every 2nd or 3rd episode. It was mentioned in the beginning that the young sister of the FL was ill, and they even tried to show that in one of the scenes where she breathes heavily. That’s all! That was the only time when she was shown to be a bit unwell. The character of the FL’s former fiancée, who later became the intern scholar, was not used to its capacity. There were more possibilities for his character, but in the end, he turns out to be a failed and dejected man who drowns himself in drinking.

No period drama is complete without political conspiracy, and Pursuit of Jade is no exception. I understood very little of why there was so much mess in the royal court, and why the emperor was acting all juvenile and dimwitted. However, I liked the romantic angle between the Grand Princess and Gongsun Yin. There were many other challenges that I came across in keeping up with the plots aside from the Main Lead’s romance (that was definitely easier to get along with and understand).

I may revisit the show sometime and then may understand the parts that I totally missed and didn’t try to understand, as I was more invested in the lead pair’s story.

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Ambitious, heartfelt, beautifully acted — even if the final arc loses the sharpness it promised

Pursuit of Jade is one of the most confidently mounted dramas of the year. The budget shows in every frame: from sweeping battlefields to intimate, character‑driven sets, and even the green‑screened dam destruction later in the story feels like an ambitious swing rather than a shortcut. My great friends Rita, Jennifer and Beez adored it from start to finish, and for most of the run, I was right there with them.

The central OTP between Fan Changyun, the pig‑butcher‑turned‑army commander then general, played with terrific grit and warmth, and the bedevilled Marquis, a man who only ever had eyes for her, is magnetic. Their romance is so strong it demands attention in every episode they are in. One of the show’s emotional anchors is Changyun’s relationship with her little sister Chiming, played by a luminous young actress whose future looks bright. Their bond is tender, protective and beautifully acted.

The second OTP is tragic and brutal, with the heartbreak rooted in the female character being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is a madman. It’s a thread that lingers long after the scenes end. The fourth OTP is equally tragic: both characters are villains, though one ultimately finds redemption. Their arc is messy, compelling and surprisingly emotional, especially in their final moments together. In contrast, the third OTP: the Grand Princess and the Headmaster/army strategist, is a delight, full of wit, ambiguity due to the differences in status but there was a delightful tenderness there.

The Pig Slaughter Squad deserves its own applause. They’re a loyal, chaotic, charming bunch of gangster deadbeats who adore their Flower General, and every scene with them adds humour and heart. The villains across the drama are brutal, sometimes maniacal, and the show handles that darkness with clarity and confidence. My favourite senior actor appears here as the master, the retired Grand Tutor to both leads, and as always, he elevates every frame he’s in.

Where the show falters for me is in the final five or six episodes. What should have been a political tour de force softens into something closer to a limp lettuce, and the wimpy emperor never quite earns the narrative weight the story required. The Chancellor and the current Grand Tutor also undermined the political intrigue the story had developed so strongly in the beginning. Even so, Pursuit of Jade remains one of the better dramas of the year. I’m only flapping my wings a little because the ending didn’t land for me. The journey there is rich, emotional and absolutely worth watching.

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Great budget

The cinematography was amazing. The graphics were super nice. The outfits were super nice and there were some entertaining parts I enjoyed. Everyone really looked their best and was so good looking. I didn’t enjoy the main leads romance as much it was just okay compared to the villain and the side characters love story. There were some really iconic scenes and it was very artistic. I enjoyed the beginning story and all the back stories but the politics got confusing. I liked that they added an alternative ending but it could have been a tad better. The sui brothers really drove the show. Overall a good watch but def not something I’ll think back constantly on.

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I finally sobered up enough to write how much I loved this show

I started watching the show but felt the first episode a bit dragging so I stopped. Came back a few days later and COULD NOT STOP watching. The story, the cast, the music - ALL of it had me in a vicious chokehold the past few days, and I have finally sobered up enough to try to write down my thoughts.

This is only my third c-drama and overall I've yet to familiarise myself with all the wonderful actors, but DAMN the acting here was honestly great. I have to give a special round of applause to the cinematographer and costume designers because it really was a beautiful watch

It's been a while since I liked the FL this much. Wonderful actress, and her story and character were so much fun. I loved how strong and independent she was, and her story at the beginning is just a tip of the iceberg. There is so much to learn for us girls from her - how to stand up for yourself, how to not let a man (whom you love) do whatever he pleases with you, how to earn respect, and lots more.
The ML (or more like the actor) kept me awake at night. I couldn't stop swooning every time he was in his marquis role - how serious and strict he was with everyone, how much he commanded the room. But with the FL he was just a boy hopelessly in love with the FL and only she could slap him and tame him and he would thank her. LOVED their dynamic.

The last episodes I wasn't as engaged as I was 99% of the time, but I have to say I really appreciated the alternative version ending. It gave me a closure to otherwise some sad side-stories. Big shoutout to Ms Yu and Qi Min. It was all very toxic, but I would have loved to explore his character a little more. He was a huge villain and it was a surprise how easy it was to get him in the end. I expected a little more complexity behind getting him to surrender but no complaints!

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Strong cast! ❤️??

Loved the female cast! Not a lot of dramas do strong female characters well and even if they're strong, they always need the male lead to save them. But all female characters had their own thoughts and solved their own problems.
Fan Changyu stayed true to her character and was strong and had her own thoughts, following through with what she wanted. I also loved how Xie Zheng respected her decisions and supported her in what she wanted.
Yu Qian Qian was a very interesting character who did not let others look down on her or mistreat her. I loved her toxic love story, in contrast to the main couple, even if her male co-star was VERY toxic 😂. I was into his look but not his character.
I didn't know how to feel about the grand princess in the beginning, but I came to love her character. She did her best to step out of the constraints that restricted her in order to follow her heart and help with the nation.

For the male cast, what more do I need to say besides 🥵🥵🥵. I was surprised even the uncle was that handsome 😂 Surprisingly, I really liked Sui Yuan Qing. His chemistry with Fan Changyu REALLY stood out to me too. I want them in a drama together 😂

The kids were PHENOMENOL. They acted out their roles so well and I loved their characters very much! I also want another drama about their characters lol.

Negatives:
What made me dock points was due to the ending. The build up was very good but I felt as if the final fight was very meh. Rebellion was very short and the fight was also short with all of them fighting each other at the same time. I also had a big pet peeve, FAN CHANGYU READ THE LETTER IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. Like... that made no sense 😭 She can't even read properly no matter who teaches her. There's no way she learned how to read properly with what little time they had even if the Xie Cheng taught her. That scene really took me out of the story.
Also, what's with the final part of the last episode? They could've just made a special episode out of those scenes instead of cutting the ending short. It felt rushed. I liked it a lot, but it should've been a special episode. I didn't feel satisfied with the ending.
The ending of a drama can make or break a drama for me, no matter how good it is. Sadly, this ending didn't satisfy me. However, I did enjoy the overall plot, guessing who was good or bad, and who was on the Marquis's side.

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The cinematography here is stunning* and one of best I've seen. I understand now why this director is so praised- he makes every shot beautiful to look at...from the snowy village of Linan to the war scenes to the indoor palaces...every scene was a visual treat. Even the falcon flying over landscapes made the world of Pursuit of Jade look big and epic. And it was pretty epic.

Fan Changyu is an extremely likable heroine. She's strong, brave and a survivor. At the same time, she's also the kind of person you'd want as a friend and as an ally. I think my favorite trait of hers is her kindness. The way she hired the Pig Butcher squad even if they tried to trash her restaurant (absolutely loved the camaraderie of this group); the way she forgave the old lady who, in the beginning, would not stop saying mean things to her and about her. I also love how she takes care of Ning and the friendships she develops with the other characters. Her caring for QianQian, her conversations with the Grand Princess, even the discipleship she had with Grand Tutor Tao...all very heartwarming. The romance here is relatively minimal, but it will satisfy those who crave a yearning male lead. Marquis Wu'An starts out as cold and reserved in the beginning, but he later becomes the type who would fight for his relationship even if his lady love is a bit reluctant at first.

Every actor/actress here did a good job, even the falcon was good. The best acting probably came from the actor playing Qi Min. His scenes were pretty powerful and disturbing. If this actor has any aspirations of playing a good* male lead, hopefully he lands a role where he can perform just as well...his performance as the twisted prince is so convincing, hopefully he doesn't get stereotyped in this kind of role.

One of the other things I liked about this drama is that it shows the war from the perspective of small village folk, not just from the perspective of nobles/royals. It was heartbreaking to see the destruction of Linan and the impact was made greater because we got to see so many happy scenes among them before that.

I wanted to give Pursuit of Jade a higher rating, but there were a couple of things that prevented me from doing it.

The depiction of the female lead's brute strength was unbelievable to me. I'm not against the idea of a woman or a physically small person defeating a bigger person in hand to hand combat, but I would have preferred that it be a result of his/her skill or smarts. In Changyu's first battle, she basically defeats the biggest and baddest warrior there and you literally have her pressing down on him where he struggles against her. When he smashes his hammer at her, she winces and holds her arm, but is hardly fazed..and yet when she slashes him, it's the exact opposite. I'm not against female empowerment (one of my favorite arcs is how she eventually becomes a general) but I would have preferred a bit of realism. POJ is not a fantasy/xianxia. It's set in the real world where the characters don't have any powers. This is the reason why I prefer her duel with Prince Changxin, where she actually uses techniques and even her small size (ex: running on top of his battle spear, etc) to defeat him. In as much as I like Changyu, I simply couldn't believe it when other characters would point out how strong she was. The actress playing her was literally one of the smallest (aside from the kids) there, but she was able to carry buckets of rocks that people more than half her size couldn't?

POJ does a good job at depicting female empowerment (not just through Changyu but also through QianQian, the princess, even Ning...) but it isn't perfect. It still has this double standard when it comes to beauty. Even in Asian dramas, where the male leads are slender...one can still tell that when it comes to women, people still prefer to see all the strength but none* of the muscle that logically comes with it. Tian Xiwei fits the beauty standard I've seen in many a drama or romance novel. She's petite and doll-like. I have nothing against this and she did a great job with her role, but given that the film makers chose a person of much* smaller build, it would not have been a big deal if they changed a few things. Perhaps presenting her as a skilled fighter who relies on speed and skill (like IP man) would have been more logical than insisting on unrealistic depictions of Herculean strength. The character was already special, she didn't need that to be even more so.

If the whole point of this was to make physically small people feel empowered, I think their approach was actually counterproductive because it doesn't show how a person of smaller build could gain the upper hand in a real world scenario.

There were other unbelievable things. Three characters here (Sui Yuanqing, Changyu and Qi Min) fall from a great height- I'm talking apex like mountains here...but still manage to survive. Prince Qi Min was supposed to be horribly burned, but how does he come back with a completely different face? They didn't exactly have top notch plastic surgery at that time?

Zhang Linghe does a good job as the noble Marquis Wu An (it doesn't hurt that he's incredibly good looking and a pleasure to look at), but his character doesn't feel as layered or developed. I have no problem with how he has all the qualities of an ideal male lead (good looking, good at combat, etc)...this is fine, since other male leads also have them, but Wu'An's story feels brushed aside. Even perfect characters or perfectly good characters have struggles which are shown...but practically everything about him is just mentioned via exposition.

When he says that the "happiest times in his life were with Changyu in Linan", we don't see how these experiences affect him or how they help thaw him or make him fall in love. When he says he feels the agony of being used by his uncle as a "blade to protect the realm", we don't see how difficult this must have been either, because the entire war story is from Changyu's point of view, not his. One of the few times we see him during the war is when he frantically leaves camp to go to Linan when he thinks she's in danger. He later has a duel with Sui Yuanqing, but they only show its beginning and not how it ends. We are allowed to cheer for Changyu when she defeats her opponents, but not him when he does the same.

We first see him buried alive from an assassination attempt where he is forced to lie low since he has many enemies...but we don't really get a feel of how precarious the situation was for him in the beginning. When he is later attacked by thugs, it turns out that they weren't even after him, but after Changyu and her sister.

There are dramas like The Judge from Hell where the male lead is clearly in a supporting role. There are dramas like Eternal Love where both the male and female lead are mains...but it's made clear from the start that the girl has a bigger role since the guy literally comes into the picture a good 13 episodes after her. I was a bit confused by POJ...yes, it was about female empowerment, but was it meant to be female centric in a way that the male lead was basically a supporting character? I got the impression that he was also supposed to have a big role?

But when Marquis Wu An was there...he didn't feel at all present.

The only time I saw his point of view was during his flashbacks where he dreamt of his mother. I didn't get a feel of how the war or being a warrior shaped him. I wasn't even sure at what point he fell in love with Changyu. The last few episodes could have focused on him more, since they were about the nobles and the unveiling of the past, but they were more about his uncle.

The last 6 episodes were also all about palace intrigue. The whole "what happened 17 years ago to frame so and so etc and put so and so in power etc" is something I've seen time and again. I would say it's presented better here than in other dramas (I think the best depiction of palace intrigue is still Nirvana in Fire), but overall, I felt neutral about it.

The whole hidden identity is also a repeated trope I'm not sure about. The main thing that annoyed me about it here is that it takes more than half the drama for Changyu to find out who Xie Zheng (Wu An) really is. He has good reasons to hide his identity, but we are talking about a good 40 episodes here and I was not a fan of how she was one of the last people to know about him.

Also, the amount of romance here might disappoint some people.

I don't think it really matters if a drama has a slow burn relationship or a love/attraction at first sight...or if love is depicted in a way that is subtle or if there is a grand declaration of it. The only thing that matters to me is how well written it is and if the way it is expressed fits the characters personalities...but the problem in POJ is that it is not really a romance...it's mostly a war story and a story about survival, evolution and other things...the romance is meant* to be minimal...but the marketing for this (even the poster*) can mislead people into thinking that it's more of a romance with a war story in the background but it's actually the opposite.

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"Plot whiplash" is the absolute perfect way to describe it. Can there be a part two?

It's like the production team was handed a pair of safety scissors and told to trim a sprawling epic into a neat little box with five minutes left on the clock. There is nothing more frustrating than falling head over heels for a drama's pacing, cinematography, and characters in the first half, only to feel like you're riding a runaway train by the finale.

Because that "chopped down" feeling is incredibly common in C-dramas right now. Due to recent broadcasting regulations limiting episode counts, so many sweeping historical dramas are forced to violently edit down their back halves. It leaves us viewers with massive plot whiplash, wondering how we got from point A to point Z in the blink of an eye.

If I had the magical power to override those broadcasting regulations and restore the deleted footage, the very first thing I would flesh out is the political downfall of the rival faction and Marquis Wu'an's subsequent tactical retaliation.

In the actual finale, the grand, high-stakes chess match we spent 30 episodes building up to was suddenly resolved in what felt like a two-minute montage. Blink and you missed the mastermind getting outsmarted.

Here is how that extra breathing room should have looked:

1. The Tactical Chess Match

Instead of a rushed betrayal, we needed at least two full episodes dedicated to the intellectual warfare. I wanted to see Zhang Linghe’s character actually laying the traps, outmaneuvering the court corruptists step-by-step, and using that brilliant, calculating mind of his. Let us see the genius behind the Marquis, not just the aftermath of it.

2. Emotional Fallout & Healing

With the plot rushing to the finish line, we completely lost the quiet, lingering moments between our leads. After a mountain of unspoken trauma, you can't just fix everything with a quick smile before the credits roll!

The Aftermath: We deserved a slow-burn resolution where Tian Xi wei’s character helps him dismantle that emotional armor.

The Contrast: Her vibrant, grounded energy balancing out his heavy, stoic grief—giving them a few peaceful scenes in a place that looked like Xigu Alley would have been the ultimate catharsis for the audience.

3. A Properly Paced Farewell

A historical epic deserves an ending that breathes. By restoring those episodes, the final sequence wouldn't feel like a sprint; it would feel like a sunset. We’d get to see the empire stabilize, the side characters get their proper closures, and Marquis Wu'an finally shedding the weight of the world from his shoulders.

That said, I have appreciation for the aesthetics and the cast is spot on:

The Visuals: The production team really created magic. Even if we can't book a flight to the real Xigu Alley, the way they captured the rivers and mountains gave the whole show a breathtaking, poetic atmosphere. It felt like a living painting.

Tian Xi wei: She is an absolute treasure. Her natural comedic timing is so refreshing—she has this effortless ability to keep a heavy historical plot from feeling too bogged down.

Zhang Linghe: He absolutely commanded the screen as Marquis Wu'an. His micro-expressions do so much heavy lifting, especially when the script is rushed and he has to convey a mountain of unspoken trauma with just a shift in his eyes.

And honestly, my take on his weight is a pretty popular sentiment among fans! He is incredibly tall, and while that lean, sharp look definitely gives him that ethereal, tortured-statesman vibe, a little more weight would give him a broader, more imposing presence for those heavy armor scenes.

It really is bittersweet because the raw ingredients—the breathtaking cinematography, the effortless chemistry, and the sheer talent of the cast—were all right there.

Since we are rewriting history here, how did you feel about the secondary characters' endings? Was there a specific side-plot or dynamic that you felt got unfairly chopped completely out of the script?

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A Beautiful Story with Great Chemistry but Some Frustrating Choices

Edit: i used ai,i need to tell that first. my English is not good so i repolished with ai

⚠️ Contains moderate spoilers.

I went into Pursuit of Jade because of Zhang Linghe, but I ended up staying because of both the story and the incredible chemistry between the two leads. The drama combines romance, action, family, and personal growth in a way that kept me emotionally invested almost every episode. It isn't perfect, but it is definitely one of the better historical romances I've watched.

Fan Changyu is one of the strongest female leads I've seen in a long time. Instead of being rescued all the time, she earns her place through hard work and determination. I loved watching her transform from a butcher's daughter into someone capable of standing beside Xie Zheng on the battlefield. Her growth never felt unrealistic because every achievement came after sacrifice and difficult decisions.

Zhang Linghe was outstanding as Xie Zheng. At first, he appears cold, distant, and burdened by his past as a disgraced noble. However, as the story progresses, he slowly opens his heart to Changyu. The small moments where he quietly protects her or looks at her with affection were some of my favourite scenes. His emotional performance was subtle but incredibly effective.

One of the biggest turning points for me was when their arranged marriage slowly turned into genuine love. At first, they were simply trying to survive together, but the trust they built made every romantic scene much more meaningful. Their relationship felt mature because it wasn't based only on attraction—it was built through shared hardships.

The battle sequences were also much better than I expected. Instead of making Changyu a helpless bystander, the drama allows her to contribute in meaningful ways. Watching the couple fight side by side showed how much they respected each other as equals, which made their romance even stronger.

However, the drama does have some weaknesses. The middle portion became repetitive with misunderstandings and political schemes that sometimes dragged on longer than necessary. There were moments when simple honesty could have prevented several episodes of conflict. Some villains also felt one-dimensional and existed mainly to create obstacles rather than being truly interesting characters.

A few supporting characters had strong introductions but gradually disappeared into the background. I was hoping for more satisfying conclusions to some of their storylines because they had so much potential.

Even with those flaws, the emotional scenes were incredibly powerful. The moments where Changyu chooses to stand beside Xie Zheng despite knowing the danger, and when Xie Zheng finally realises that she has become the most important person in his life, were beautifully acted. Their relationship constantly evolved, making every emotional reunion and heartfelt confession feel earned rather than forced.

The production quality was another highlight. The costumes were elegant, the cinematography was gorgeous, and the soundtrack enhanced both the romantic and tragic moments without overpowering them. Every battle scene looked impressive, and the historical setting felt immersive.

Overall, Pursuit of Jade is a drama that succeeds because of its excellent lead performances, believable romance, and emotionally satisfying character growth. While the pacing slows in the middle and some political storylines become repetitive, the chemistry between Zhang Linghe and the actress playing Fan Changyu makes the entire journey worthwhile. I laughed, felt frustrated, cried during several emotional moments, and smiled at the ending. It isn't a flawless historical romance, but it's one I'll happily recommend to anyone who enjoys slow-burn love stories, capable female leads, and couples who grow stronger together through hardship.

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Fame but not commensurate with facts

Besides the visuals and popularity, honestly the most annoying thing is the male lead. Viral and popular because he's handsome. But the supporting actors 2 and 3 have better acting. Here, even the female lead is more badass even though the male lead is nicknamed the god of death and the supreme general of war. But he can't fight and is too weak. Then, from the plot in the drama and novel, the drama is extremely bad. It's only saved by the huge promotion from the higher-ups and the male lead's visuals. The rest of the drama is carried by the female lead, making it worth watching.

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