This review may contain spoilers
I LOVE YAN ZHENG. I LOVE XIE ZHENG. I LOVE ZHANG LING HE.
Well, this drama is definitely a 10/10 for me. Well, if I can, I'll happily rate it as 11/10 on this site. I love it this much.
What I Loved:
- The ML, but of course. He was the absolute star of the drama. He looked so suave and dashing and behaved so charmingly. It was such a joy seeing him light up my TV screen. Every scene with him in it was breathtaking and some scenes were even more so. For example, the scenes of him protecting Chang Yu's home while she was away. He told the villains to "shi shi" (try) and it made me swoon. The way he looked tenderly at Chang Yu each time made me melt. I loved how he stared down at Song Yan and showed how powerful he was. I love the pent up emotions he displayed and how he longed for and even lusted for Chang Yu. He made me swoon and melt like ice cream in heat.
- The plot was absolutely intriguing and exciting to me. I also liked how the ending was properly done and it even gave us viewers an alternate ending which was very sweet too. Well, Chang Yu and Xie Zheng were fated to be together no matter what.
- I liked the fight scenes and how Chang Yu showed how she had a good heart and very strong physique. She used her strength to help others.
- The side characters, like the villains turned good, Gongsun Yin, the old teacher, Chang Ning, Mr and Mrs Zhao, were also brilliant and made the show even better. Having watched Mr Zhao as an awful villain in other dramas, I was delighted that he was a good fellow through and through in this drama. I liked how he was so nice throughout. Gongsun Yin turned out to be really funny too. Chang Ning was adorable throughout the show.
- The OST was extremely suitable for the show other than the song by JJ Lin because I'm not a fan of his vocals. "Jing Jing Ru Wo" was one of the nicest songs. Many others were excellent too.
- The costumes and setting were very nice too.
Now, I want to go into the Main Reason why I love this drama. This drama is written for women by a female writer who knows exactly what women want in a man and she delivered our dream male lover. As I watched the drama, I thought to myself, "This drama is written for the female gaze." I went to look things up and viola! Yes, the author of the novel is a female. I also believe that she is heterosexual. LOL :o)
** "Pursuit of Jade" is written for the female gaze/ the female viewer. **
First, women want a man who loves us and a man who protects us. The fact that the ML is two people in one person gives this to us women. Yan Zheng loves Chang Yu. This side of him is the one who loves her and even marries into her family. He is not a chauvinist. He does not have male ego. He gives in to her and marries into her family and promises to listen to his wife as she is the head of the family and not him. In this patriarchal society where countless women are put down and where countless women have unreasonable demands placed on them, this is a relief. Women want to be loved by lovers who have no frustrating male ego that we women have to stroke. Yan Zheng had no unreasonable male ego. He yielded to Chang Yu and agreed to her terms and her words. He often said "hao" (good) to her. He hardly argued. To her, everything went her way. She led and he willingly followed. Women want this. Please do not question us women. We do know what we want and we want support and loving treatment. Additionally, the ML remains manly and suave. He is clearly a fully grown and handsome man through and through. He is not a sad wimp. This is also what women want. We want a true manly man without the inflated male ego. We want a true man who loves his woman dearly and truly. Moving forward, I will talk about the ML being a man who protects his woman at all costs. He loves deeply and he loves hard. For instance, the ML, despite being injured, goes all out to protect Chang Yu from corrupt officials. Moreover, throughout the drama, he saves her many times and he protects her throughout. He loves her so much that he wants her safe and sound. We women want this. We want a man who loves and cares only for us. We want a man, who will sacrifice for us, without airs and ego. We want a protector. We want to be able to fully rely on our man and to know that he has got our back no matter what. Xie Zheng gives this to us. He is completely able to protect his woman and we feel safe with such a man.
Second, women want a very handsome man. I mean, who does not want a good-looking lover? A good-looking lover who only has eyes for his one and only... this is a complete win as many good-looking men are players. It is, indisputable, that the ML is exceedingly good-looking. Mirrors love him and so do I.
Third, women want a very strong man. Women want a man who is physically very strong. Seeing all the muscles in the right places and seeing the armour on that fit and taut body makes us swoon. After all, women are looking for the best possible father for our potential offspring and the best person to protect us. Being very physically fit is something that women desire in our ideal man. The ML is 190 cm tall and so toned that we cannot help but swoon and fall in love with this very fine specimen of a man. He is a very manly man indeed.
Fourth, women also desire a very capable man. Women want a man who is highly competent and who can take good care of us with his capabilities. The ML is a high-ranking official and he is an extremely good fighter. Women go head over heels for such a man. Xie Zheng is the character which gives this to us. He is a fighter and so good at it. He is powerful and he uses his powers.
Fifth, women want a man who listens to us. We want a man to be tough on the world but soft with us. The ML does just this. He is very harsh and tough to everyone else. He fears no one and everyone seems to fear him. However, when it comes to his lady love, he is soft and acquiesces to her words and her demands. Yan Zheng is this side of the character of the ML. He is soft and gentle with Chang Yu and he supports her and helps her without making her feel that she has lost her pride and dignity. What is important to Chang Yu is important to Yan Zheng. We women want a man who will support us through thick and thin and even through our nonsense. We want someone who listens properly to us and the ML does this well.
Sixth, women want a man who is loyal and who looks only at us with such loving gazes each time. The ML is a faithful lover. He stays true to Chang Yu and loves only her. He gazes at her with such deep love and tenderness. We women want a man who does just this. We want to be viewed in a glowing and positive light. We want to be the FL in our man's life. Chang Yu is Yan Zheng's/ Xie Zheng's one and only lady and this is what we want as women. We want a handsome, capable and fit man who loves us fully.
Seventh and last, women want a man with a healthy desire for his woman. It is clear that while the ML loves Chang Yu, he also lusts after her. However, he is a gentleman until everything is all serious in their relationship and until she gives her approval to move further along the bases. We women want an "interested in us" man but we want to be respected and valued. Women are not just objects to satisfy male lust. Women desire to be loved right and to be treated right.
All in all, "Pursuit of Jade" works so well because women are given our fantasy lover/ man/ husband in the very delicious and good-looking form of ZLH. He is the epitome of Yan Zheng/ Xie Zheng and I will love him forever as Wu An Hou in Zhu Yu.
<3 <3 <3
What I Loved:
- The ML, but of course. He was the absolute star of the drama. He looked so suave and dashing and behaved so charmingly. It was such a joy seeing him light up my TV screen. Every scene with him in it was breathtaking and some scenes were even more so. For example, the scenes of him protecting Chang Yu's home while she was away. He told the villains to "shi shi" (try) and it made me swoon. The way he looked tenderly at Chang Yu each time made me melt. I loved how he stared down at Song Yan and showed how powerful he was. I love the pent up emotions he displayed and how he longed for and even lusted for Chang Yu. He made me swoon and melt like ice cream in heat.
- The plot was absolutely intriguing and exciting to me. I also liked how the ending was properly done and it even gave us viewers an alternate ending which was very sweet too. Well, Chang Yu and Xie Zheng were fated to be together no matter what.
- I liked the fight scenes and how Chang Yu showed how she had a good heart and very strong physique. She used her strength to help others.
- The side characters, like the villains turned good, Gongsun Yin, the old teacher, Chang Ning, Mr and Mrs Zhao, were also brilliant and made the show even better. Having watched Mr Zhao as an awful villain in other dramas, I was delighted that he was a good fellow through and through in this drama. I liked how he was so nice throughout. Gongsun Yin turned out to be really funny too. Chang Ning was adorable throughout the show.
- The OST was extremely suitable for the show other than the song by JJ Lin because I'm not a fan of his vocals. "Jing Jing Ru Wo" was one of the nicest songs. Many others were excellent too.
- The costumes and setting were very nice too.
Now, I want to go into the Main Reason why I love this drama. This drama is written for women by a female writer who knows exactly what women want in a man and she delivered our dream male lover. As I watched the drama, I thought to myself, "This drama is written for the female gaze." I went to look things up and viola! Yes, the author of the novel is a female. I also believe that she is heterosexual. LOL :o)
** "Pursuit of Jade" is written for the female gaze/ the female viewer. **
First, women want a man who loves us and a man who protects us. The fact that the ML is two people in one person gives this to us women. Yan Zheng loves Chang Yu. This side of him is the one who loves her and even marries into her family. He is not a chauvinist. He does not have male ego. He gives in to her and marries into her family and promises to listen to his wife as she is the head of the family and not him. In this patriarchal society where countless women are put down and where countless women have unreasonable demands placed on them, this is a relief. Women want to be loved by lovers who have no frustrating male ego that we women have to stroke. Yan Zheng had no unreasonable male ego. He yielded to Chang Yu and agreed to her terms and her words. He often said "hao" (good) to her. He hardly argued. To her, everything went her way. She led and he willingly followed. Women want this. Please do not question us women. We do know what we want and we want support and loving treatment. Additionally, the ML remains manly and suave. He is clearly a fully grown and handsome man through and through. He is not a sad wimp. This is also what women want. We want a true manly man without the inflated male ego. We want a true man who loves his woman dearly and truly. Moving forward, I will talk about the ML being a man who protects his woman at all costs. He loves deeply and he loves hard. For instance, the ML, despite being injured, goes all out to protect Chang Yu from corrupt officials. Moreover, throughout the drama, he saves her many times and he protects her throughout. He loves her so much that he wants her safe and sound. We women want this. We want a man who loves and cares only for us. We want a man, who will sacrifice for us, without airs and ego. We want a protector. We want to be able to fully rely on our man and to know that he has got our back no matter what. Xie Zheng gives this to us. He is completely able to protect his woman and we feel safe with such a man.
Second, women want a very handsome man. I mean, who does not want a good-looking lover? A good-looking lover who only has eyes for his one and only... this is a complete win as many good-looking men are players. It is, indisputable, that the ML is exceedingly good-looking. Mirrors love him and so do I.
Third, women want a very strong man. Women want a man who is physically very strong. Seeing all the muscles in the right places and seeing the armour on that fit and taut body makes us swoon. After all, women are looking for the best possible father for our potential offspring and the best person to protect us. Being very physically fit is something that women desire in our ideal man. The ML is 190 cm tall and so toned that we cannot help but swoon and fall in love with this very fine specimen of a man. He is a very manly man indeed.
Fourth, women also desire a very capable man. Women want a man who is highly competent and who can take good care of us with his capabilities. The ML is a high-ranking official and he is an extremely good fighter. Women go head over heels for such a man. Xie Zheng is the character which gives this to us. He is a fighter and so good at it. He is powerful and he uses his powers.
Fifth, women want a man who listens to us. We want a man to be tough on the world but soft with us. The ML does just this. He is very harsh and tough to everyone else. He fears no one and everyone seems to fear him. However, when it comes to his lady love, he is soft and acquiesces to her words and her demands. Yan Zheng is this side of the character of the ML. He is soft and gentle with Chang Yu and he supports her and helps her without making her feel that she has lost her pride and dignity. What is important to Chang Yu is important to Yan Zheng. We women want a man who will support us through thick and thin and even through our nonsense. We want someone who listens properly to us and the ML does this well.
Sixth, women want a man who is loyal and who looks only at us with such loving gazes each time. The ML is a faithful lover. He stays true to Chang Yu and loves only her. He gazes at her with such deep love and tenderness. We women want a man who does just this. We want to be viewed in a glowing and positive light. We want to be the FL in our man's life. Chang Yu is Yan Zheng's/ Xie Zheng's one and only lady and this is what we want as women. We want a handsome, capable and fit man who loves us fully.
Seventh and last, women want a man with a healthy desire for his woman. It is clear that while the ML loves Chang Yu, he also lusts after her. However, he is a gentleman until everything is all serious in their relationship and until she gives her approval to move further along the bases. We women want an "interested in us" man but we want to be respected and valued. Women are not just objects to satisfy male lust. Women desire to be loved right and to be treated right.
All in all, "Pursuit of Jade" works so well because women are given our fantasy lover/ man/ husband in the very delicious and good-looking form of ZLH. He is the epitome of Yan Zheng/ Xie Zheng and I will love him forever as Wu An Hou in Zhu Yu.
<3 <3 <3
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