Nepeta 22

Based on what I have seen so far, I think it's set mainly in 1996. Nothing high tech so far, as far as I can see. Only drama I have seen that seems modern is Spy Game. If you haven't seen that I recommend it.

I think you misunderstood my reply to a poster claiming Maggie Jiang would be regarded more a lead.

Not because she is younger than the FL who is Gulnazer Bextiyar, but the opposite, she is older. Older actors often have quite strategic roles and in this drama, it's quite clear Maggie Jiang's character here is just that.

She was the pillar throughout the drama unfolding. This does not take away the fact that Gulnazer is the FL here. Just, inside the drama with the dynamics, Maggie Jiang's role is pivotal and her links with many other characters throughout are critical to the storyline.

Of course, it's not in all dramas, but often it is seen in dramas that have complex plots like palace intrigue or spy dramas, the older support casts do a lot of the leg-work whilst the younger leads play more straight forward idealistic roles.

In this drama it is more balanced. Gulnazer played a complex FL and had many layers to her and I think her performance here should gain her more recognition to move on with more complex roles.

No probs. I know what you mean. You do need a rest after this drama 😉.

Going well so far. Quite fast paced. Too early to judge as the early parts are focusing on training/tutoring the next generation of spies or those that support the national security. It's trying to give a feel of retro films, but at times it doesn't, so let's see. Give it a try! ☺️

Yes, I remember. That was Xiao Xian in the hood. She was shooting what she believed to be No 76 member Su Men, but of course, Su Men's real identity is a Communist party member. She was at that stage not exposed. Chen Kailai was at that stage just a photographer and not aware of her undercover status. It had not been revealed at that stage what her status was and her real relationship with the FL.

Except, I think he may be a baddie this time. He's coming into China, the over way round...Could be wrong. But let's see.

I think in a way, she is. But, in China, they tend to keep younger idealistic heroes as leads, but the ones that pulls the strings or keeps everything ticking along tend to be characters like hers. Soon as I saw her name on the cast list, I knew she would be playing a seminal role and it turns out so.

If you are new then it is understandable, it is quite messy at that time in history. The problem is in a city like Shanghai, they were a host of many countries and there were areas where French police managed parts of the areas to add to the mix.

I wouldn't recommend double speed on this drama 😉. I had to do the opposite, I kept pausing. If I had missed even one sentence in a conversation it could be detrimental! Su Men was a complex character and one of the best characters, hence why they chose a really established actress such as Maggie Jiang to play the role. She is the anchor to all the plots really.

The fact that you did not notice her real identity shows how she played her part so well.

As Stef1007 stated, Su Men is working undercover for the Communist party. Remains that way throughout. Her ideologies would be the same as Chen Kailai, Shen Kexin & Zhao Qian.

It is also available on WeTv now.

Most of these types of dramas don't really require outdoor lighting since they are easily created using artificial lights and post production touch ups. Remember it's a fantasy world. They also work more swiftly with less health and safety issues. This includes keeping fans and photographers away. They are not silly, they leak what they want. But the key scenes would be shot indoors.

Just ignore. I think they are a Gulinazha fan. I remember seeing this poster bombing down Blossoms Shanghai page a few years back lambasting the casting of Xin Zhilei over Gulinazha, due to her dancing background 😉

Add to that, Vietnam 😉

Thanks for your in depth post on the music. Yes, I recognised his voice on the ending song. And the classic Alan Tam Friends song too.

I'm sure Huang Jingyu is a humble person. Here, he came across like a gentle giant that is also quite upright, maybe because of his father's disciplining from an early age. There were a lot of strong actors in this drama, but I think he brought wider interest into this drama. I notice this on his other dramas too. You've made your case for him, and those that cast him know something I clearly don't😉.

Thank you for that detailed response. You are right about the situation with Judge Mei. I think they wanted to make Xia Yingjie seem too soft in that instance. Instead of doing the right thing of properly documenting what actually happened at the time, she was made to be all gallant by taking it all upon herself almost like a martyr by absorbing all the blame.

This could be a scriptwriting flaw where they wanted to make sure we the audience sympathized with her more, but at the expense of true accountability and proper reporting to her superiors.

It's not perfect I guess, and it shows human flaws all along the way. I suppose in life it can be quite realistic.

What can I say about Qin Zhi Gao, except his wild characterisation. I have a soft spot for Cheng Tai Shen. He acted so brilliantly in Lost in Shadows, a role I cannot forget. His performance made the whole drama feel like the Chinese version of Twin Peaks.

The end felt a little rushed, but I also felt the final 10 episodes dragged on with the arc involving Xia Yingjie's releasing of the villager because she felt it was cruel which unleashed a trail of events that made up the arc. It would have been better to close up some of the points you posted about and also Yu Gaoyuan's future after XYJ's death. I suspect they wanted us to believe he moved on with the convenience of his wife returning home.

Johnny Huang brings in the crowds, I have been told. Perhaps, decisions to have him play this role helps. My views must be the very minority. I don't understand the appeal. But good to see that I am not alone 😎.

Good analysis of the drama. I also preferred Zhang Lihui's character over Xia Yingjie. I wondered what she wrote in a letter that was never given to Xia Yingjie and Yu Gaoyuan. I thought I would hear something of that much later in the drama, but unless I missed it, I don't think it was ever brought up again.

Whilst I am here, speaking of loose ends, I want to pick your brains if you remember it. There was a scene where Chen Yizhong visits Zhang Lihui at her prison out-post job, and he recognises on a video recording of what he thinks was his former music teacher performing. Unless I got that bit wrong. But was that the drama's way of closure for ML's haunted ghost of his past mistake?

But since he had been convicted on a similar offence in another city. I thought the old case would be brought up again, but I don't think it was ever mentioned again. Did I mis-watch this arc?

Anyway, it was a good drama, but I thought Johnny Huang's performance was underwhelming. I understand, he had to be the serious, measured and cautious soul with idealistic passion, but it felt like that same expression, body language and dialogue could have been a police officer rather than a student or young intern.

Have you started watching this yet? Your post sounds like it's been heavily influenced by what other social media post says. Most importantly, what do you think? Does it feel heavily edited? For me, it doesn't feel like that.

But, if watchers don't follow a lot of republican spy based dramas, it can seem choppy and all over the place. But reality is, they tend to end up feeling like that due to all the factions, the in-fighting and fight for survival tactics of the time. Gulinazha is doing perfectly for her role so far.

Thanks for the info on the groups involved. Makes sense on why it felt a little documentary-like near the end.

As a drama, it did well in general with the group of students moving forward, but I think towards the end, it was marred by a sudden death, which made it really hard for me to concentrate on the rest of the arc. I personally think that was not good for the drama, because the final episodes felt dragged out and I couldn't concentrate because it affected the feel and story in a big way.

I also felt the closeness of the university lecturers with the ML due to his father's connections at times difficult to watch as it did feel at times, the ML was given preferential treatment. I know it was part of the story with their past misunderstandings, but it sort of made the other students feel like they're in the background. Just my view. It made me less sympathetic towards the ML's progress.

If you are interested in the legal system and how it changed in China, then this is a good drama for that. I found at times, particularly towards the last quarter it was more like a documentary rather than a drama. The early grassroots level was more interesting. I think maybe more so for international viewers. For someone like myself completely against death penalty, it's a bit of a hard watch.