Pursuit of Jade

Who's that girl

Ok, first of all, can we just appreciate how even though Fan Chang Yu is a total bada$$, she's also totally a girl. She's always beautiful in whatever she has on, but I'm talking more emotionally. Once she finally discovers who Xie Zheng really is, she's all "I'm not good enough for him" and then when he finds a solution to try to make her feel better about the situation, she's all "well, if he doesn't love me for who I am". I actually laughed out loud at that scene because she reminded us of what it is to be a woman and the ridiculousness we put men through. I both loved and hated the slow burn. The just missing each other everywhere they went for 10 episodes was driving me crazy. I also have a big heart for Qi Min. I know the man is pure evil, but I think he was forced to be that way and I think if you watch to the VERY end, you will agree. My heart broke for him knowing he really did love Yu Qian Qian and she was in fact the only person he had ever been able to love. This series had me laughing and crying through all 40 episodes.

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Tears flow as i write this...

WHAT A DRAMA! I mean, WHAAAT A DRAAAMAAA!!!
It's been so long since I've felt so overwhelmed & happy & satisfied after watching a drama series. But it was so very totally totally TOTALLY worth it! T.T
As for context, I've never been a fan of Chinese historical dramas, so I was quite unsure about whether or not I should give it a go. Of course, good reviews led me there & now I just don't wanna let it go! It's the type of drama that lingers in your heart & your mind for a long, long time because of the astonishing charm it leaves on you. Everything else feels sour because you just finished watching one of the greatest dramas out there! T.T
To leave a review for this, I don't actually know how to express my feelings about it verbally, but I can at least try! For the story, the fact that plot makers portrayed a woman as a brave hero of that ancient time- truly so freaking amazing! The chemistry among the characters- *chef's kiss*! About the cast- OMGEEEEEEEEE, I WANNA EAT THE MALE LEAD SO BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How can a person be SO FUCKING HOT & HANDSOME & BEAUTIFULLY IN CHARACTER at the same time?! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 The female lead is so cute as well, even the second and third lead couples- *chef's kiss*! It can be said without a doubt that this drama has one of the few BESTEST c-drama casts so far. For the music, so soothing, so heart-touching!!! *immediately changes ringtone to "I tread carefully with fate" T.T*
At this moment, idk how long it will take me to get over the lingering feeling this drama left on me, but I wanna keep going back again & again & again T.T T.T T.T !!! THANKS to everyone who made this drama possible. Forever grateful to you guys for this! T.T 💘

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Legacy!!

I have been watching C dramas for 5 years now. Started with Nirvana in fire which obviously is the OG drama. I have never done a review before. But for POJ I had to.
The characters and cast as so beautiful written and chosen. The chemistry is so flawless. Every micro expression is so beautiful shot. I do not think there will be another drama like POJ again.
Although the drama was hyped because of ZL, but I think this drama is Tian Xiwei's drama. She was absolutely phenomenal. Her casting for Changyus was just perfect. I do not think anyone else would have done a better role than her. Like it already has, this drama is going to do wonders to her career.
What can I say about ZL other than he looks flawless. That face card is insane. The pheasant feather scene crushes all the entrances in Cdrama history.
Although the ending and the politics seemed a little rushed, but can't help but rate the drama the GOAT because of the sheer butterflies you feel when Changyus and Xie Zheng interact. Best thing is Changyu doesn't need any help, she is her own boss. Not like other drama where they show a helpless FL.
All in all I think, I will probably never go through the brilliance I have seen in POJ again. It would take something out of this world to match POJ

PS. Ofcourse this is my personal opinion.

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AHHHHHHHHHHH

I literally have no words to explain how amazing this show is and how much I love it. I usually take so much time to finish 12 ep series, let alone a 40 ep but I could not stop binging this one.

I'm a sucker for such unique characters falling in love in such unusual environments. We have an orphaned pig butcher Changyu who saves a man who turns out to be the Marquis of the nation. Both of them end up in a marriage of convivence and slowly fall for each other and then we are torn apart by war and fight for the people and for each other....how can I not be hooked on this?!?!?

Changyu is such an amazing character. Her strength and resilience, her kindness and willingness to learn were all were so amazing. Truly an amazing female lead. Her rise to the army general was a great plot, her witness of the violence of the war yet learning new lessons and deciding to fight for her people were such well done plot lines.
Xie Zheng, our male lead was also a well done character. He was a silent guy (compared to most mmcs I have seen) yet we could feel his affection and care for Changyu and everyone around.

What I loved the most about their relationship was how they both let each other grow and flourish. They did not hold each other back at any point and knew that they had to take their own paths. Both of were protective and possessive but they never stopped each other from their own missions, they never felt embarrassed or troubled by the power the other had. It was so refreshing to see that kind of love.

The side couples were also nice. We have a cute, green-flag couple and a toxic couple(?) Both of their stories were done well. The princess and Gongsun's meeting, the chess game, both of them driving each other jealous, THE PROPOSAL....all were so cute. The parallels between Gongsun and Xie Zheng with the way they loved their women was such a good detail.
Qian Qian and Qi Min....it would a disservice to call them a couple. He was a toxic and abusive monster but I don't exactly understand what Qian Qian thinks/and feels about him at certain points. She definitely hates him but it seems like she sympathizes with him at some points. This is mostly due to how much we know about Qi Min vs how little we know about Qian Qian.

Qian Qian is definitely an interesting character and I have a love-hate relationship with how much they showed to us about her. She is a transmigrator and that is very much obvious with the way she runs her life and the things she teaches. I was so confused when she first mentioned cavities. They had cleverly added all the hints about her not being from this era with stuff like pepper spray, cpr, rock-paper-scissors, her marketing ways etc. I wanted to know how, why and when she time travelled and a whole lot about her journey. Also about her conceiving Bao'Er, was she forced or did she actually like Qi Min at some point??
But at the same time I like the air of mystery around her and her story. It makes her an enigma of some sorts.

The villans here were so complex. Qi Min, Yuan Qing and prime minster Yan were all characters who were kind of forced to be the villains but they chose to stay on the wrong path that they reached a point of no return. The show showed them (and the war) with as much nuance as possible.

The whole plot of 'what happened 17 years' ago and Changyu's family's actual identity was built up and stretched for so long and the climax didn't pay off well. We don't really investigate and find out, we just have a bunch of characters narrate stuff and have a lukewarm fight to end things off. My one complaint is how much they underutilized Changyu in the final fights. It felt like Changyu and her relationships were sidelined in the last few episodes.

Another thing I feel like cdramas do well is creating a community for our main characters that feel real. The Lin’an town and its people felt so real. The pig butcher gang were such a wholesome addition to Changyu's family. Their massacre was such a heartbreaking segment.

The whole Lin’an arc was nice, the characters and their romance were developed nicely. This was many ppl's fave arc but my favourite arc was their time in the war before the whole past drama. Changyu finding her way in the army, Xie Zheng missing her and trying to protect her from far, the whole army trying to hide that he was the Marquis and her eventually finding out and the angst that follows....top tier. I feel like I will be rewatching those.

I'm so sad that this has ended, I wish they had more episodes and more of the Marquis and Marchioness. I would have been seated for more of the princess and Gongsun or even a spin off of Chang Ning and Bao Er.

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peak after peak!

"In this life, the next life, for all lifetimes, we'll always be connected."

One of the best parts about this drama is the characters and how they felt deeply human. I actually sympathized with everyone, even the supposed villains, due to how compelling and deep their characters are. I really love the sense of realism here. From beginning to end, I was completely hooked and never a dull moment when watching it.

The only flaw of this drama is how short it was— 40 episodes wasn't enough. It may sound too long and can be quite intimidating, but once you actually watch it, you'll definitely ask for more. Most especially, the fact that there's a novel of this which shows there's more to unpack. (to be fair tho, there's still a restriction on episodes at the time this was being filmed)

Despite the drama lacking in more context and scenes, it was still excellently executed with its pacing. Therefore, the experience in watching this drama is still something not to miss. I really love everything about this drama and it gave me interest to read the novel!

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Pursuit of Jade Had Me Hooked From Episode One

Historical dramas are not usually my first choice, but Pursuit of Jade completely pulled me in from episode one. Even with 40 episodes, it kept me interested and emotionally invested the whole way through.

Zhang Linghe and Tian Xi Wei were the highlights for me. Their chemistry and character balance made them so enjoyable to watch. The female lead brought strength, courage, and determination, while the male lead brought intelligence and strength. Together, they balanced each other in a way that made their partnership feel natural and engaging.

The supporting cast also deserves praise. Snow Kong, Deng Kai, Li Qing, Yu Zhong Li, Ren Hao, Lin Mu Ran, and the rest of the supporting characters all added something important to the story. Even the children stood out and brought some of the sweetest moments in the drama.

I also want to give credit to the director and writer, because this drama was strong enough to pull me into a genre I do not usually prefer. My only disappointment was the ending, which left me wanting more. I am hoping that means there is more to come.

Reading other reviews is great, but watching it for yourself is even better.

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I'm a C- Drama convert

It is true that I haven't seen a full fledged Chinese historical wuxia romance drama until I sat down and devoured 40 episodes of this series. I loved the storyline, the chance meeting between a fallen noble and an unlikely butcher's daughter warrior in a heroic, sweeping romance filled with traditional, not fantasy martial arts staged in a sea of political intrigue and mystery. What began with a fake - marriage - turned - true love then united together in the battlefields served with gritty realism for revenge and retribution makes great viewing and entertainment, more than that, it makes me appreciate the cinematography, snow cladded fields, frozen landscapes with the contrast of the warm and earthy Xigu Alley, its neighbors and shops.... to the cold, calculating scheming within the palace walls. I just love the chemistry between Zhang Linghe who portrayed the cold-hearted Marquis of Wu'an, Xie Zheng and the strong female protagonist, Fan Chang Yu, played by the effervescent Tian Xi Wei. Great acting along with prolific writing and direction has made this become one of the highest rated series so far, breaking records in viewership, helped along by the streaming giant Netflix. It will take an extraordinary effort to eclipse this series, for me.

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"In this life, the next life, for all lifetimes, the two of us will always be entwined."

Honestly, I wasn’t even planning to watch this drama when I started it—I had another one lined up—but the hype was everywhere, and I just couldn’t resist. And yeah… the hype is 100% deserved. I already had a feeling I was going to like it, but it completely exceeded my expectations. The acting, the stunning cinematography, the OST, the chemistry between the characters—everything was so well done. I barely have any complaints, to be honest.

I absolutely love seeing my man Zhang Ling He finally getting the recognition he deserves. I’ve been following him for years, back when he wasn’t as popular, so seeing him blow up now makes me so happy. (ﾉ^^)ﾉ He never disappoints with his acting—he’s improved so much and really proved he’s way more than just a pretty face.

Also, I just added a new actress to my favorites list because Tian Xi Wei completely surprised me. I don’t remember seeing her in anything before (or maybe I did and just forgot), but she totally won me over in this drama. I’m definitely planning to check out more of her work.

Zhang Linghe and Tian Xi Wei together were just so cute together—I mean, their chemistry was incredible and so fun to watch. They balanced each other perfectly, making their relationship feel natural, engaging, and like a true, powerful couple. And if there’s one thing I absolutely love, it’s a man who yearns and is completely gone for the woman he loves—and our marquis was exactly that. >//< I loved the way he looked at her, how he took care of her, and how much he longed to be close to her. He definitely raised my standards even more. (/ω＼)

The villains were so good too—I loved them because I hated them, which just proves how amazing their acting was. I really hope to see them, and the rest of the cast, in more projects.

Overall, this drama delivered everything it promised and more. Now I’m dying to read the novel because we all know adaptations always change or leave things out, so my expectations for the original story are even higher. This drama is honestly a gem. 10/10. ✨

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Amazing chemistry and characters! Very satisfied w/ tempered expectations about the political plot.

Oh. My. God. I absolutely loved this story, but more specifically, I loved the characters. It's very much a character driven story to me, and the actors all do a great job of making you feel for them, whether they're a main lead, villain, or side character. Usually, C-dramas don't spend much time on the "village life" arc of the main leads. However, the time spent on the bond between the main leads and side characters is what made the rest of the story compelling, even when the climax was not as big as what the rest of the story built it up to be. It serves as the foundation for the FL's down-to-earth personality, the ML's humanization, and it makes you utterly invested in the world they and their friends live in. There were multiple scenes that I watched multiple times because the camera angles, the dialogue, and the actors pulled them off so well. So many surprise reveals pulled of *so* well. I can already tell I will be rewatching this drama for years to come. Only regret is that I won't get to experience it for the first time again.

I loved that the strong female lead archetype is refreshed with the element of being a butcher, and I love that ML largely lets her fix her own problems rather than using his strong, influential male lead magic to make things easier for her. She earns everything truly by her own merit. I love the comedy that comes from their differing social positions, and their chemistry is off the charts! Zhang Linghe does an amazing job balancing ML's two sides, one that is utterly devoted and a simp for his wife and the unrelenting, ruthless Marquise. It never feels forced or like whiplash. I saw Tian Xiwei in "New Life Begins," and I knew she would absolutely nail the part of FL. Every trope is served in a way that makes sense for the story and doesn't feel like it's stuffed into the story just because (except for the excessive FL tend to ML's wounds to create forced tension, especially at the beginning). I also must say I am a sucker for whenever the ML falls first and *hard* for FL.

This drama, as other people have pointed out, does suffer some discrepancies due to the 40 episode limit. There are scenes where you just know there was meant to be more. However, this drama never feels awfully disjointed. My expectations for the court life and political scheming was already tempered; I had heard from many people who had read the web novel that not nearly enough time was spent unraveling the very complex events of 17-years-ago. I have never read the web novel, but after watching the drama, I view it as a story much more devoted to our female lead's development and the main couple's devotion to each other. There's a large dose of political intrigue, and I feel given the restrictions, the ending was still relatively well-paced to me. I am very willing to make that exchange for the time we spent on their time in the village and on other battle fields. I think you'll be very satisfied going in knowing that the political plot is not as elaborate as the novel, but the story still does an amazing job of making us fall in love with its characters.

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