2
This review may contain spoilers
An eternal, unwavering love first blossomed & later bloomed deep within the vast Red Sorghum field.
"You're a man. Even if the sky falls, you have to hold it up." - Dai Jiu Lian
Before anything else, let me just clarify and reiterate that this drama is titled Red Sorghum primarily because that's where they performed the 'deed' and where the tragic ending occurred, and not entirely because of the essence of winemaking. 🤣
I don't think I can start this review any other way than to express my indifference and contemplation on how I should feel about this drama. I am torn trying to decide whether to start a rant about how revolting the narrative was—completely brushing aside the fact that it is closely referenced on real life events—or give this production a staggering round of applause for its impeccable depiction of the excruciating, harrowing, and impoverished quality of life during the Minguo period. I am in distress!
From the very start, I was welcomed with multiple layers of explicit, disturbing, and violent content on top of one another, which on the surface may have seemed like a friendly reminder but in reality was a blatant warning that the journey ahead will be an utterly appalling, despicable experience—one that's heavily centered around scornful, contemptuous, and revolting events. Therefore, anyone planning to watch it better brace themselves and proceed only after taking extreme precautions by setting up proper expectations, performing thoughtful deliberation, and adopting a more receptive, broader perspective of the writer's intentions, as it is a piece that will undeniably induce growing animosity the more you watch it.
If there's a collective characteristic I truly disdain and feel disgusted by in this drama, it would be the legion of vile and nasty elements (abuse, cruelty, violence, murder, abduction, infidelity, rape, to mention a few) that were brazenly woven together and later meticulously wrapped in profound devastation, injustice, and suffering to create a seamless facade that masks the underlying inherent grim nature of this story. I was literally speechless after watching the first quarter of the drama because I never expected the theme to be this heavy and messy, that if someone were to ask me if I liked it or enjoyed it, I would answer, "Yes, with still reluctance and misgivings." Because despite my unquestionable irritation and frustration towards the narrative's brutal and unvarnished abhorrent depictions, there still are several aspects that made me stay seated and stick to watching the show. However, I don't think I can ever deny the reality that I was completely horrified, disturbed, and revolted multiple times due to the extremities of the story's premise—this is despite the fact that I grew up watching soap operas heavily induced with such content, yet I still struggle to sit through the show without flinching, especially since it's mostly women who are subjected to those atrocious and unjustifiable acts.
Conversely, I want to commend this production for effectively executing its core concept by masterfully embodying the turbulent, chaotic, and messy plot devices. It allows the story to retain its raw, bold, passionate, and unadulterated depiction of the scenes without holding back, serving us an exceptionally poignant and realistic presentation that enabled viewers to remain deeply invested in the narrative despite the inherent dark and sadistic nature of the writing.
Looking back at the time I spent watching this show, I must say that this is truly an interesting, bewildering, and evocative story that relentlessly went against and defied my expectations. It kept me guessing and had my anticipations high because nothing ever went the way I anticipated. The sheer unpredictability of the plot left me at my wit's end countless times for how uniquely unconventional they moved the story forward and how vastly unexpected and different the direction they took in each plot point compared to the majority of the dramas out there. I even reached a point when I started questioning my own comprehension as I struggled to determine if I was simply getting lost in translation or the story was just too eccentric and audacious that I ended up feeling led astray and lost multiple times. It was a writing style that never ceased to render me in shock for how frustrating and annoying it was, but at the same time, satisfyingly entertaining the entire time.
This is a drama that left me dumbfounded, seething out of frustration countless times because of the multiple scenes that never failed to make me go "Huh? This doesn't seem right...?" yet never failed to entertain me with their unconventional, audacious takes. It's one of the rare dramas I completely enjoyed despite its unusual storytelling. A production that left me in utter awe and made me realize how Minguo rural dramas are truly done differently—raw, dull, and almost bleak yet simultaneously full of hope because of the invigorating will, resilience, and enthusiasm of people to simply survive and live a better life.
The part of the story that left me completely speechless, out of sheer disappointment, was seeing a solid, promising climax wasted by an anticlimactic ending. Up until this point, I still cannot comprehend how we ended up with such a tragic, open-ended story when it could have easily been a satisfying, closed-ended one, especially considering its staggering 60 episodes. Like, what was their intention in leaving us hanging after killing almost everyone? Even the FL was not spared! They could have easily utilized her death as fuel to ignite the fire and retaliate even harder—but they did not. Seriously, where is their commitment? Geez! I was genuinely waiting for more, as I somehow thought it had 65 episodes given how much was left to uncover, so I was utterly baffled when they just ended it right there and then. This is a total disrespect I never foresaw and will never forgive. Ever!
That said, let me list down some of the scenes that stood out to me in a negative way for how ridiculously questionable and infuriating they are:
• The relentless and blatant drive to persecute the male lead, Yu Zhan Ao. They cornered him so hard that it eventually forced him to become a fugitive—or, as Jiu Hao San claims, a bandit. He was pushed beyond his limit, leaving him at a point of no return. It's absurd how he was always blamed for the inadvertent deaths of the people around him when it's technically not his fault, making it feel heavily contrived after the third instance. Those people died due to their own misactions and incompetence, yet he still ended up being blamed anyway. It's like the heavens were playing games with him, forcing him down a corrupted path when all this time he had been working hard to live a simple, earnest life.
• The countless times Jiu Hao San committed such immoral and wicked deeds. I've lost count and totally forgotten the many instances where he crafted such vicious and vile plans, so I have decided to simply provide a couple of examples of his heinous acts. Among them were how his insecurity and doubtful views of Yu Zhan Ao inevitably forced him to become a fugitive, and how he opted to use Jiu Er and Yu Zhan Ao's children as hostages. Absolutely despicable!
• The plot in which Jiu Er was forcing her son, Dou Guan, to address Shu Xian as Mother—that entire sequence was so exasperating that I was left with nothing but pure rage toward Jiu Er the whole time. I can't imagine how horrified and traumatized Dou Guan must have been! One of the most incredibly loathsome plots in the story.
• Jiu Er's uncalled-for remorse after her plan succeeded as retaliation for Shu Xian's failed abduction scheme. I commend Shu Xian for keeping an unapologetic stance—acting as if she had not orchestrated such a malevolent act—as it proves her unwavering commitment and dedication to her goal. What I can't stomach though, was her audacity to act victimized over her ruined reputation right after the success of Jiu Er's payback scheme, when she was literally being shamelessly unapologetic about her own actions just one episode prior! What a hypocritical crybully! However, believe it or not, what pissed me off the most was how Jiu Er immediately felt remorseful and tried to appease and console Shu Xian. I understand Jiu Er's actions given how kind-hearted she is, but she should remember how Shu Xian ordered the bandits to have her abducted and killed, whereas she only planned to ruin her reputation. If Shu Xian cannot accept such retaliation, then why act so vilely in the first place? She deserved it! If she wished to take her own life after that, then that was her choice. She brought it upon herself as a direct consequence of her own atrocity!
• Luo Han's double standard in blaming Jiu Er for Shu Xian's demise. He was a total hypocrite. I will never fathom how he could blame Jiu Er for Shu Xian's demise, considering it was simply the aftermath of her own actions. I was so mad when he directed all the blame toward Jiu Er, especially since all this time he had been standing right in front of Shu Xian—defending her, shielding her, and justifying her wrongdoings. So he should be held responsible instead! I appreciate his initiative to save Jiu Er and how he kept his morals and logic intact most of the time, but I can never overlook how he always undermined and passed off Shu Xian's obsession, greed, and misdeeds as a mere byproduct of her long years of suffering, endurance, and hard work serving the Shan family, expecting people to just move on after damage had been inflicted, trust broken, and respect lost. Grrr! I am so infuriated. The only redeeming factor of his character was his devotion to his passion and to the women of the Shan family—even though it's as clear as day that he is biased toward Shu Xian.
• Jiu Er blaming Yu Zhan Ao for Luo Han's death. It was one of the scenes that made me go, "Whuttt?" Yes, Yu Zhan Ao failed to save him, but it was never his fault that Luo Han's unyielding morals and principles inevitably led him to his own death. I would even argue that Luo Han was insensitive and selfish for not thinking about his wife before taking that action, which eventually resulted in her choosing to die with him.
If I were to mention a remarkable scene that will forever be etched in my mind whenever I think of this drama, it would be Jiu Er's childbirth scene. It was hands down my favorite scene in the story. From the schemes, the build-up, the panic, the tension, and the emotional payoff right after, everything came together and created an unforgettable experience that went above and beyond! It was absolute perfection in every way, which also proves that kindness always pays off.
What stood out the most though was Zhou Xun's portrayal. What a stellar actress! She's the backbone of the story, and this drama would be nowhere near as phenomenal without her. I specifically loved all of her juicy reproaching scenes where she typically uses reverse-logic remarks to leave the people she's targeting in utter shock and deep reflection. Those scenes were satisfyingly delicious. I consumed them very well.
In retrospect, I think this show's greatest underlying message has always been: In turbulent times, all you need is a woman—one who lightens your gloomy day, pulls you up when you are down, puts logic into your life, and guides you back to the right path. One who will stay and always choose you at all times—over and over again, no matter how dangerous and tough life gets. This passage ironically explains the ending, because after Jiu Er died, the whole show ended. Hahaha!
In conclusion, this story is packed with unconventionally frustrating plot points that left me feeling helpless and dumbfounded by how insanely unreasonable they were. What made it even worse, aside from the ending, were the tactless and thick-faced characters who shamelessly lectured everyone on righteousness while their own actions contradicted their every word. It pissed me off endlessly, yet I just couldn’t bring myself to walk away.
P.S. I just want to dedicate this final section of my review to our Female Lead, Dai Jiu Lian/Jiu Er. She is Audacious, Bold, Courageous, Decisive, and Resolute. She is in a league of her own, a force to be reckoned with, and the very definition of "Who runs the world? GIRLS!"
Story - 8.0, Trust me, I so wanted to rate this higher, but the ending just spoiled everything for me. I had already ignored and exhausted every ounce of rationality within me just to look at the logical side of the narrative—no matter how harrowing and heinous it had become. So, giving us such a disappointing ending in return after all that tolerance was just too much for me to forgive.
Acting/Cast - 9.5, Truth be told, this show got an overall impressive ensemble. I will never be able to stress enough how satisfied I am with this lineup. Aside from the dubbing on Zhu Yawen—which was such a pity—the only performance I found lacking among the main cast was Wang Zijia as Xiao Yan. My top high praises still go to both Yu Rongguang and Qin Hailu, while my highest praise goes to none other than Zhou Xun. She's the very epitome of calm and collected to me, and I just love her unbreakable composure amidst all unprecedented calamities. She is the reason why I can't hate Jiu Er, no matter how annoying she is sometimes. Her face etches the very word kindness—one where, no matter what, you know she will do you no harm. Truly an immaculate portrayal.
Music - 8.0, The only song that left a lasting impression on me was the poignant opening theme. It is the only song I can recall from this drama, aside from the woeful, melancholic tunes played during the heartbreaking scenes.
Rewatch Value - 7.0, The sole reason you can have me watch it again, given its daunting episode count, is for Zhou Xun and her alone. Although I can grasp the logic behind the scenes—only after undergoing rigorous reflection—even those upsetting and seemingly illogical ones, it was still completely disappointing for a lengthy drama to have a tragic ending, given that they could have used the overwhelming 60 episodes to produce a much more reasonable and worthy conclusion. What a letdown.
Overall - 8.5, Watching this was never an easy journey, given its heavy and dark theme, but despite that, I still found myself binge-watching the entire show without even a tiny skip within 8 days, which says a lot since I can typically finish a drama of 30 to 40 episodes within 6–7 days. One thing is for sure: this show got me utterly hooked and greatly entertained, despite all its negative aspects.
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
Before anything else, let me just clarify and reiterate that this drama is titled Red Sorghum primarily because that's where they performed the 'deed' and where the tragic ending occurred, and not entirely because of the essence of winemaking. 🤣
I don't think I can start this review any other way than to express my indifference and contemplation on how I should feel about this drama. I am torn trying to decide whether to start a rant about how revolting the narrative was—completely brushing aside the fact that it is closely referenced on real life events—or give this production a staggering round of applause for its impeccable depiction of the excruciating, harrowing, and impoverished quality of life during the Minguo period. I am in distress!
From the very start, I was welcomed with multiple layers of explicit, disturbing, and violent content on top of one another, which on the surface may have seemed like a friendly reminder but in reality was a blatant warning that the journey ahead will be an utterly appalling, despicable experience—one that's heavily centered around scornful, contemptuous, and revolting events. Therefore, anyone planning to watch it better brace themselves and proceed only after taking extreme precautions by setting up proper expectations, performing thoughtful deliberation, and adopting a more receptive, broader perspective of the writer's intentions, as it is a piece that will undeniably induce growing animosity the more you watch it.
If there's a collective characteristic I truly disdain and feel disgusted by in this drama, it would be the legion of vile and nasty elements (abuse, cruelty, violence, murder, abduction, infidelity, rape, to mention a few) that were brazenly woven together and later meticulously wrapped in profound devastation, injustice, and suffering to create a seamless facade that masks the underlying inherent grim nature of this story. I was literally speechless after watching the first quarter of the drama because I never expected the theme to be this heavy and messy, that if someone were to ask me if I liked it or enjoyed it, I would answer, "Yes, with still reluctance and misgivings." Because despite my unquestionable irritation and frustration towards the narrative's brutal and unvarnished abhorrent depictions, there still are several aspects that made me stay seated and stick to watching the show. However, I don't think I can ever deny the reality that I was completely horrified, disturbed, and revolted multiple times due to the extremities of the story's premise—this is despite the fact that I grew up watching soap operas heavily induced with such content, yet I still struggle to sit through the show without flinching, especially since it's mostly women who are subjected to those atrocious and unjustifiable acts.
Conversely, I want to commend this production for effectively executing its core concept by masterfully embodying the turbulent, chaotic, and messy plot devices. It allows the story to retain its raw, bold, passionate, and unadulterated depiction of the scenes without holding back, serving us an exceptionally poignant and realistic presentation that enabled viewers to remain deeply invested in the narrative despite the inherent dark and sadistic nature of the writing.
Looking back at the time I spent watching this show, I must say that this is truly an interesting, bewildering, and evocative story that relentlessly went against and defied my expectations. It kept me guessing and had my anticipations high because nothing ever went the way I anticipated. The sheer unpredictability of the plot left me at my wit's end countless times for how uniquely unconventional they moved the story forward and how vastly unexpected and different the direction they took in each plot point compared to the majority of the dramas out there. I even reached a point when I started questioning my own comprehension as I struggled to determine if I was simply getting lost in translation or the story was just too eccentric and audacious that I ended up feeling led astray and lost multiple times. It was a writing style that never ceased to render me in shock for how frustrating and annoying it was, but at the same time, satisfyingly entertaining the entire time.
This is a drama that left me dumbfounded, seething out of frustration countless times because of the multiple scenes that never failed to make me go "Huh? This doesn't seem right...?" yet never failed to entertain me with their unconventional, audacious takes. It's one of the rare dramas I completely enjoyed despite its unusual storytelling. A production that left me in utter awe and made me realize how Minguo rural dramas are truly done differently—raw, dull, and almost bleak yet simultaneously full of hope because of the invigorating will, resilience, and enthusiasm of people to simply survive and live a better life.
The part of the story that left me completely speechless, out of sheer disappointment, was seeing a solid, promising climax wasted by an anticlimactic ending. Up until this point, I still cannot comprehend how we ended up with such a tragic, open-ended story when it could have easily been a satisfying, closed-ended one, especially considering its staggering 60 episodes. Like, what was their intention in leaving us hanging after killing almost everyone? Even the FL was not spared! They could have easily utilized her death as fuel to ignite the fire and retaliate even harder—but they did not. Seriously, where is their commitment? Geez! I was genuinely waiting for more, as I somehow thought it had 65 episodes given how much was left to uncover, so I was utterly baffled when they just ended it right there and then. This is a total disrespect I never foresaw and will never forgive. Ever!
That said, let me list down some of the scenes that stood out to me in a negative way for how ridiculously questionable and infuriating they are:
• The relentless and blatant drive to persecute the male lead, Yu Zhan Ao. They cornered him so hard that it eventually forced him to become a fugitive—or, as Jiu Hao San claims, a bandit. He was pushed beyond his limit, leaving him at a point of no return. It's absurd how he was always blamed for the inadvertent deaths of the people around him when it's technically not his fault, making it feel heavily contrived after the third instance. Those people died due to their own misactions and incompetence, yet he still ended up being blamed anyway. It's like the heavens were playing games with him, forcing him down a corrupted path when all this time he had been working hard to live a simple, earnest life.
• The countless times Jiu Hao San committed such immoral and wicked deeds. I've lost count and totally forgotten the many instances where he crafted such vicious and vile plans, so I have decided to simply provide a couple of examples of his heinous acts. Among them were how his insecurity and doubtful views of Yu Zhan Ao inevitably forced him to become a fugitive, and how he opted to use Jiu Er and Yu Zhan Ao's children as hostages. Absolutely despicable!
• The plot in which Jiu Er was forcing her son, Dou Guan, to address Shu Xian as Mother—that entire sequence was so exasperating that I was left with nothing but pure rage toward Jiu Er the whole time. I can't imagine how horrified and traumatized Dou Guan must have been! One of the most incredibly loathsome plots in the story.
• Jiu Er's uncalled-for remorse after her plan succeeded as retaliation for Shu Xian's failed abduction scheme. I commend Shu Xian for keeping an unapologetic stance—acting as if she had not orchestrated such a malevolent act—as it proves her unwavering commitment and dedication to her goal. What I can't stomach though, was her audacity to act victimized over her ruined reputation right after the success of Jiu Er's payback scheme, when she was literally being shamelessly unapologetic about her own actions just one episode prior! What a hypocritical crybully! However, believe it or not, what pissed me off the most was how Jiu Er immediately felt remorseful and tried to appease and console Shu Xian. I understand Jiu Er's actions given how kind-hearted she is, but she should remember how Shu Xian ordered the bandits to have her abducted and killed, whereas she only planned to ruin her reputation. If Shu Xian cannot accept such retaliation, then why act so vilely in the first place? She deserved it! If she wished to take her own life after that, then that was her choice. She brought it upon herself as a direct consequence of her own atrocity!
• Luo Han's double standard in blaming Jiu Er for Shu Xian's demise. He was a total hypocrite. I will never fathom how he could blame Jiu Er for Shu Xian's demise, considering it was simply the aftermath of her own actions. I was so mad when he directed all the blame toward Jiu Er, especially since all this time he had been standing right in front of Shu Xian—defending her, shielding her, and justifying her wrongdoings. So he should be held responsible instead! I appreciate his initiative to save Jiu Er and how he kept his morals and logic intact most of the time, but I can never overlook how he always undermined and passed off Shu Xian's obsession, greed, and misdeeds as a mere byproduct of her long years of suffering, endurance, and hard work serving the Shan family, expecting people to just move on after damage had been inflicted, trust broken, and respect lost. Grrr! I am so infuriated. The only redeeming factor of his character was his devotion to his passion and to the women of the Shan family—even though it's as clear as day that he is biased toward Shu Xian.
• Jiu Er blaming Yu Zhan Ao for Luo Han's death. It was one of the scenes that made me go, "Whuttt?" Yes, Yu Zhan Ao failed to save him, but it was never his fault that Luo Han's unyielding morals and principles inevitably led him to his own death. I would even argue that Luo Han was insensitive and selfish for not thinking about his wife before taking that action, which eventually resulted in her choosing to die with him.
If I were to mention a remarkable scene that will forever be etched in my mind whenever I think of this drama, it would be Jiu Er's childbirth scene. It was hands down my favorite scene in the story. From the schemes, the build-up, the panic, the tension, and the emotional payoff right after, everything came together and created an unforgettable experience that went above and beyond! It was absolute perfection in every way, which also proves that kindness always pays off.
What stood out the most though was Zhou Xun's portrayal. What a stellar actress! She's the backbone of the story, and this drama would be nowhere near as phenomenal without her. I specifically loved all of her juicy reproaching scenes where she typically uses reverse-logic remarks to leave the people she's targeting in utter shock and deep reflection. Those scenes were satisfyingly delicious. I consumed them very well.
In retrospect, I think this show's greatest underlying message has always been: In turbulent times, all you need is a woman—one who lightens your gloomy day, pulls you up when you are down, puts logic into your life, and guides you back to the right path. One who will stay and always choose you at all times—over and over again, no matter how dangerous and tough life gets. This passage ironically explains the ending, because after Jiu Er died, the whole show ended. Hahaha!
In conclusion, this story is packed with unconventionally frustrating plot points that left me feeling helpless and dumbfounded by how insanely unreasonable they were. What made it even worse, aside from the ending, were the tactless and thick-faced characters who shamelessly lectured everyone on righteousness while their own actions contradicted their every word. It pissed me off endlessly, yet I just couldn’t bring myself to walk away.
P.S. I just want to dedicate this final section of my review to our Female Lead, Dai Jiu Lian/Jiu Er. She is Audacious, Bold, Courageous, Decisive, and Resolute. She is in a league of her own, a force to be reckoned with, and the very definition of "Who runs the world? GIRLS!"
Story - 8.0, Trust me, I so wanted to rate this higher, but the ending just spoiled everything for me. I had already ignored and exhausted every ounce of rationality within me just to look at the logical side of the narrative—no matter how harrowing and heinous it had become. So, giving us such a disappointing ending in return after all that tolerance was just too much for me to forgive.
Acting/Cast - 9.5, Truth be told, this show got an overall impressive ensemble. I will never be able to stress enough how satisfied I am with this lineup. Aside from the dubbing on Zhu Yawen—which was such a pity—the only performance I found lacking among the main cast was Wang Zijia as Xiao Yan. My top high praises still go to both Yu Rongguang and Qin Hailu, while my highest praise goes to none other than Zhou Xun. She's the very epitome of calm and collected to me, and I just love her unbreakable composure amidst all unprecedented calamities. She is the reason why I can't hate Jiu Er, no matter how annoying she is sometimes. Her face etches the very word kindness—one where, no matter what, you know she will do you no harm. Truly an immaculate portrayal.
Music - 8.0, The only song that left a lasting impression on me was the poignant opening theme. It is the only song I can recall from this drama, aside from the woeful, melancholic tunes played during the heartbreaking scenes.
Rewatch Value - 7.0, The sole reason you can have me watch it again, given its daunting episode count, is for Zhou Xun and her alone. Although I can grasp the logic behind the scenes—only after undergoing rigorous reflection—even those upsetting and seemingly illogical ones, it was still completely disappointing for a lengthy drama to have a tragic ending, given that they could have used the overwhelming 60 episodes to produce a much more reasonable and worthy conclusion. What a letdown.
Overall - 8.5, Watching this was never an easy journey, given its heavy and dark theme, but despite that, I still found myself binge-watching the entire show without even a tiny skip within 8 days, which says a lot since I can typically finish a drama of 30 to 40 episodes within 6–7 days. One thing is for sure: this show got me utterly hooked and greatly entertained, despite all its negative aspects.
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
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