Binged 7 episodes today. Diving into the first episode, I happily thought I was in HK of the 90s. Gritty, neon club vibes or harsh street lights, and what an introduction in the first ten minutes!
Without fast-forwarding anything, the pacing and plot of this drama is enjoyable for me, while the clash and mesh of the characters from the get-go in episode 1 give me a map of relationships easily remembered. Director Zhuang Xuanwei also being in charge of the script carefully threaded an important fundamental that reminds of my favourite investigative dramas: The characters are treated with compassion. They have their flaws, and they can change.
Criminals are not whitewashed. Their motives are allowed to unfold in the clues pursued by our investigative team. And in pursuit, our leads learn lessons about humanity that they never expected. Director is old-school in the best ways possible, utilising camerawork that allows your mind to mentally build upon what is presented, hence heightening creepiness and atmosphere. There is no meaningless gore or violence or flashiness, grounding this drama so we can focus on many details without being unnecessarily distracted.
All the different medicines and drugs being utilised in multiple ways is very interesting, and I found myself nodding in approval at the details and usages of those medicines I am familiar with. The first two episodes were the easiest for me.
As to the spider-related case, it is a well-chosen contrast after the first case. Adore the psychology being explored. But every time Han Feng or Qi Sizhe peel away from the team and dash off by themselves into a dark or abandoned- It was funny to catch myself going "OHNODON'TDOTHATPLEASE-" XD
Jiang Qi Lin as Han Feng is killing it with micro-expressions, and so is Liu Ya-se. Wolf-weary jaded tension between Qi Sizhe and Han Feng can only be created by two actors who understand their characters and bring their portrayals of two very-different personalities to the fore. Luo Yunxi easily conveys dark undercurrents of a past he intends to rectify, in a combination of subtleties that has me a bit impatient to know about his past.
At this point, my biggest complaint is wanting to see Luo Yunxi, Jiang Qi Lin and Liu Ya-se interact more as a trio. These three have me wondering about their individual characters and what makes each of them tick, and I want to see that!
I think they did an amazing job of pulling off a problematic story idea. I mean, how do you build any suspense…
It's emotionally lighter than Reset, and does well for its focus of investigative suspense mixed with action and entertainment. Mobius and Reset have different aims in terms of entertainment, despite being classified together in the same genre. Always great to see a squad work together so well too!
I watched it when it aired, and engaged in a lot of guesswork with another viewer, as we discussed theories and suspects. It was fun for me to get at least 80% of my guesswork correct XD
Hi Xiang! Always love to read your sharing, lots of valuable info. 🤩. I enjoyed the tea culture clip notes…
Here's where the ML gets to really outdo them for shamelessness (Directors know that's a strength of the ML), and then when he regains his memory... I expect him to also be another level of shamelessness when he and Rong Shanbao are finally officially together XD
What I also want to see is the FL being shameless and still as cunning plus strong as she was sold to us since episode 1. Right now she's the tactical careful ice queen (icy on the surface), and she'll melt as she goes along. That is going to be interesting.
I prefer Bai Xin Zan as VA for Gulinazha over the VA for Yang Mi in "Eternal Love: Ten Miles of Peace Blossoms". BXZ adds a lot of colour and character with her enunciation, by turns subtle and charming and insinuates menace or helplessness very easily.
Such a brilliant introduction to this intriguing drama and all the creative talent involved. Thank you for this.…
This team definitely knows what they are doing, because they also know how to camouflage weaknesses as best as possible while maximising strengths. Those from the short dramas will be maximally utilised, while tension and conflict is built up between the leads in a manner that feels natural. With all sorts of shamelessness from different suitors including ML being demonstrated, of course XD
Hi Xiang! Always love to read your sharing, lots of valuable info. 🤩. I enjoyed the tea culture clip notes…
Right now, just be distracted by all the yummy suitors fighting for our FL using all sorts of shameless tactics, since the least-entertaining ones have been kicked out :p
We have a stellar powerhouse of a creative team here, and viewers who have never watched Winter Begonia, Story of Yanxi Palace and certain short dramas wouldn't be aware of how talented they are. I'm certain many viewers on this page wouldn't know this.
They are the primary drivers of this drama's success for knowing how to maximise scenes and roles, while always advancing the main plotline and making it look effortless. Zhao Yi Qin and Richard Li Fei are powerhouses in their own right. All this isn't a fluke. It's very technical and micro-managing, not easily visible to someone who does not have at least 20 years of C-Ent experience while able to speak mandarin.
Whoever has watched "Story of Yanxi Palace" can identify all the consorts in the various suitors. If this…
There are many leading actors and actresses from short dramas here. Richard Li Fei and Zhao Yi Qin are among the most prominent, and they are well-cast.
Just as I guessed Bai Xin Zan is the VA for Gulinazha as Rong Shanbao upon first hearing her voice (Bai Xin Zan voiced Chen Yao as Xifang Tao for "Whispers of Fate"), I know Zhao Yi Qin will command the scenes so naturally that viewers new to his acting don't realise, and he always delivers. He is a powerhouse in his own right. If you rewatch the final few minutes of episode 4, you'll see what I mean.
The character I find most intriguing is Zhao Yi Qin as Yan Bai Luo. His costume design and the lines given to…
Whoever has watched "Story of Yanxi Palace" can identify all the consorts in the various suitors. If this was an official harem, Yan Bailuo is the virtuous consort who would deal the final blow to the emperor when least expected. His portrayal is too perfect. I'll be surprised if the screenwriters don't add a twist to him in such a manner. But then again, I am prepared to be surprised because of the secondary screenwriter and another director, all not listed on MDL.
Zhao Yi Qin is a natural magnet in short dramas, He will create chemistry with anyone. He's clearly in his element here.
Hi Xiang! Always love to read your sharing, lots of valuable info. 🤩. I enjoyed the tea culture clip notes…
That is a beautiful song!
You always have the best music taste.
If we are four scholars, you would wield the flute and feelings of encouragement and details. I would utilise the guqin and play chess. Megumi is the poet who decides calligraphy. And Pytheos is the painter who finds all sorts of inks (and visual media to make us crack up)~
I reckon ML will be given two opportunities to showcase shameless cunning: During amnesia and when he is in full possession of himself. Otherwise how will they maximise Gulinazha giving the same in return? XD
This is unofficially Yanxi Palace Season 2 in a completely different setting. If you close your eyes, you can envision which suitor is which consort fighting for the FL Emperor's favour.
The Directors know the short drama actors can carry the scenes and help make these first four episodes maximally engaging. If you watch Blood River, you can see that the leads had the least amount of time in the first two episodes while other cast members stepped to the fore.
The leads for this drama will be saved as the best for last, and the tension plus chemistry for these leads will be built over at least 20 episodes. The ML will be given time to showcase his ability to be shamelessly helpless and cunning, while the FL dominates. I am curious how they will have the FL in first half of drama versus second half of drama.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 💯 agreed! This production team and director has known past works that were good. Hence…
They have the biggest pressure to deliver everything as a solid notable package because of their reputations, and the biggest pressure will come from their efforts for the leads. So far they have me guessing about the leads, but there's definitely tantalising teasers of the push-pull happening in certain scenes :D
I have confidence the team can do it, given how picky and seasoned viewers can be for "Winter Begonia", "Story of Yanxi Palace" and certain short dramas.
Which drama was filmed first? Glory or The Unclouded Soul?I cannot as in literally mentally cannot like 2 FLs…
If you like a veteran creative team with individual skills responsible for successful longform dramas such as 'Story of Yanxi Palace" and short dramas such as "Dominion and Devotion" and "Fortune Writer", this is the drama to watch. There's gender reversal tropes, killer dialogue, and a supporting cast of talented leading actors and actresses from short dramas to bolster our FL and ML. Tension is slow-build, but sparks of chemistry is already apparent.
I'm going to quote from an earlier post below.
[ With them at the helm, storyboarding and editing of the first four episodes have been fun, compacted with precision, and well-paced. Zhang Zhi Wei's dramas include themes of female empowerment, so he's right at home here. Guo Hao is capable with micro-details (such as when Shang Xi Rui in Winter Begonia charms certain women with his demonstration of understanding certain gestures). The dialogue is never wasted, and killer lines are unforgettable. Relationships and events allowing for individual characters to unfold are nicely-structured and help develop the main plot line, always advancing.
Between the matriarchal tycoon family and suitors ahoy for our Rong Shanbao, the social commentary and humour is also delicately barbed. Refreshing to see how men can be as scheming and political as women, when it comes to social status attainments in role reversals. There are multiple different types of power imbalance systems being indirectly revealed here. Choreography for the physical fights has been highly-engaging. ]
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1 
1 
Without fast-forwarding anything, the pacing and plot of this drama is enjoyable for me, while the clash and mesh of the characters from the get-go in episode 1 give me a map of relationships easily remembered. Director Zhuang Xuanwei also being in charge of the script carefully threaded an important fundamental that reminds of my favourite investigative dramas: The characters are treated with compassion. They have their flaws, and they can change.
Criminals are not whitewashed. Their motives are allowed to unfold in the clues pursued by our investigative team. And in pursuit, our leads learn lessons about humanity that they never expected. Director is old-school in the best ways possible, utilising camerawork that allows your mind to mentally build upon what is presented, hence heightening creepiness and atmosphere. There is no meaningless gore or violence or flashiness, grounding this drama so we can focus on many details without being unnecessarily distracted.
All the different medicines and drugs being utilised in multiple ways is very interesting, and I found myself nodding in approval at the details and usages of those medicines I am familiar with. The first two episodes were the easiest for me.
As to the spider-related case, it is a well-chosen contrast after the first case. Adore the psychology being explored. But every time Han Feng or Qi Sizhe peel away from the team and dash off by themselves into a dark or abandoned- It was funny to catch myself going "OHNODON'TDOTHATPLEASE-" XD
Jiang Qi Lin as Han Feng is killing it with micro-expressions, and so is Liu Ya-se. Wolf-weary jaded tension between Qi Sizhe and Han Feng can only be created by two actors who understand their characters and bring their portrayals of two very-different personalities to the fore. Luo Yunxi easily conveys dark undercurrents of a past he intends to rectify, in a combination of subtleties that has me a bit impatient to know about his past.
At this point, my biggest complaint is wanting to see Luo Yunxi, Jiang Qi Lin and Liu Ya-se interact more as a trio. These three have me wondering about their individual characters and what makes each of them tick, and I want to see that!
I watched it when it aired, and engaged in a lot of guesswork with another viewer, as we discussed theories and suspects. It was fun for me to get at least 80% of my guesswork correct XD
What are you watching now?
What I also want to see is the FL being shameless and still as cunning plus strong as she was sold to us since episode 1. Right now she's the tactical careful ice queen (icy on the surface), and she'll melt as she goes along. That is going to be interesting.
I prefer Bai Xin Zan as VA for Gulinazha over the VA for Yang Mi in "Eternal Love: Ten Miles of Peace Blossoms". BXZ adds a lot of colour and character with her enunciation, by turns subtle and charming and insinuates menace or helplessness very easily.
https://mydramalist.com/772283-ming-men-shi-jia#comment-24642016
They are the primary drivers of this drama's success for knowing how to maximise scenes and roles, while always advancing the main plotline and making it look effortless. Zhao Yi Qin and Richard Li Fei are powerhouses in their own right. All this isn't a fluke. It's very technical and micro-managing, not easily visible to someone who does not have at least 20 years of C-Ent experience while able to speak mandarin.
This earlier post of mine about cast and crew might help you, if you haven't seen it: https://mydramalist.com/772283-ming-men-shi-jia#comment-24642016
Happy New Year! May 2026 be a blessed abundant year for you :)
Just as I guessed Bai Xin Zan is the VA for Gulinazha as Rong Shanbao upon first hearing her voice (Bai Xin Zan voiced Chen Yao as Xifang Tao for "Whispers of Fate"), I know Zhao Yi Qin will command the scenes so naturally that viewers new to his acting don't realise, and he always delivers. He is a powerhouse in his own right. If you rewatch the final few minutes of episode 4, you'll see what I mean.
The creative team is a stellar powerhouse, and they have delivered as I expected, in storylines and more: https://mydramalist.com/772283-ming-men-shi-jia#comment-24642016
Happy New Year! May you have an abundant and blessed 2026!
I'm glad to say this to you <33
🌷♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧🌷♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧🌷♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧🌷♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧🌷
Zhao Yi Qin is a natural magnet in short dramas, He will create chemistry with anyone. He's clearly in his element here.
𖦹 ´ ᯅ ` 𖦹
(˶ˆᗜˆ˵)
ദ്ദി(｡•̀ ᗜ^)
૮ • ﻌ - ა
૮ ˶´ ᵕˋ ˶ა
ʚ(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )ɞ
ˆ𐃷ˆ
⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡
૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა
`⎚⩊⎚´
₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎
₍^ >ヮ<^₎ .ᐟ.ᐟ
ପ(๑•ᴗ•๑)ଓ ♡
໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১
૮ ˙Ⱉ˙ ა
(っ- ‸ - ς)
(ෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ)
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭
(╥﹏╥)
´っω=`)
₍ᐢ× ༝ ×ᐢ₎
₍ᐡ-᷅ ·̫ -᷄ᐡ₎
₍^⸝⸝> ·̫ <⸝⸝ ^₎
(´,,>ω<,,`)♡
ฅ՞•ﻌ•՞ฅ
₍ᐢ> ̫<ᐢ₎
(´･ω･`):
( ;´꒳`;)
₍ᐡඉ ̫ඉᐡ₎
ᐡ⸝⸝> ̫ <⸝⸝ᐡ
₍ᐡ-᷅ ·̫ -᷄ᐡ₎
⸜(*ˊᗜˋ*)⸝
٩̋(ˊ•͈ ꇴ •͈ˋ)و
(ヾﾉ･ω･`)
(๑´`๑)♡
˃̣̣̥᷄ ᴖ ˂̣̣̥᷅
ᐡ ᐧ ﻌ ᐧ ᐡ
(⸝⸝º ^ º⸝⸝ )
( ˊᵕˋ ; )
( ᴗ ̫ ᴗ )
(๑♡⌓♡๑)
⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝
₍ᐢ˶• ˔ กᐢ₎
૮₍ ˃̵͈᷄ . ˂̵͈᷅ ₎ა
₍ᐢ•ﻌ•ᐢ₎
ᑦ(੭・㉨・)ᐣ
( ´͈ ᗨ `͈ )
๑´ ³`)ﾉ
ଘ( ິ•ᆺ• )ິଓ
꒰˘꒳˘๑꒱
໒(＾ᴥ＾)७
ᘏ▸◂ᘏ
◟꒰◍ ´꒳` ◍꒱◞
˘ ᵜ ˘
( •ω•ฅ)
ʕ·ᴥ·ʔ
(๑´ㅂ`๑)
(๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)
ต( ິᵒ̴̶̷̤ ﻌ ᵒ̴̶̷̤ )ິ
ฅ՞•ﻌ•՞ฅ
(´๑•_•๑)
Ꮚ˘ ꈊ ˘ Ꮚ
₍˄·͈༝·͈˄₎◞ ̑̑
(ㅅ´ ˘ `)
(˃ ⌑ ˂ഃ )
(❁ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)
₍⑅ᐢ..ᐢ₎
૮₍•᷄ ࡇ •᷅₎ა
(づ ᴗ _ᴗ)づ♡
( ˶°ㅁ°) !!
ᯣ_ᯣ
໒꒰ྀི⸝⸝- -⸝⸝꒱ྀི১
(๑ᵔ⤙ᵔ๑)
( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝)
(·•᷄ࡇ•᷅ )
٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و
Here is 仙剑奇侠传《水龙吟·余情幽梦》: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a3PjMmWlOM
You always have the best music taste.
If we are four scholars, you would wield the flute and feelings of encouragement and details. I would utilise the guqin and play chess. Megumi is the poet who decides calligraphy. And Pytheos is the painter who finds all sorts of inks (and visual media to make us crack up)~
The Directors know the short drama actors can carry the scenes and help make these first four episodes maximally engaging. If you watch Blood River, you can see that the leads had the least amount of time in the first two episodes while other cast members stepped to the fore.
The leads for this drama will be saved as the best for last, and the tension plus chemistry for these leads will be built over at least 20 episodes. The ML will be given time to showcase his ability to be shamelessly helpless and cunning, while the FL dominates. I am curious how they will have the FL in first half of drama versus second half of drama.
I have confidence the team can do it, given how picky and seasoned viewers can be for "Winter Begonia", "Story of Yanxi Palace" and certain short dramas.
I'm going to quote from an earlier post below.
[ With them at the helm, storyboarding and editing of the first four episodes have been fun, compacted with precision, and well-paced. Zhang Zhi Wei's dramas include themes of female empowerment, so he's right at home here. Guo Hao is capable with micro-details (such as when Shang Xi Rui in Winter Begonia charms certain women with his demonstration of understanding certain gestures). The dialogue is never wasted, and killer lines are unforgettable. Relationships and events allowing for individual characters to unfold are nicely-structured and help develop the main plot line, always advancing.
Between the matriarchal tycoon family and suitors ahoy for our Rong Shanbao, the social commentary and humour is also delicately barbed. Refreshing to see how men can be as scheming and political as women, when it comes to social status attainments in role reversals. There are multiple different types of power imbalance systems being indirectly revealed here. Choreography for the physical fights has been highly-engaging. ]
https://mydramalist.com/772283-ming-men-shi-jia#comment-24642016
The title of this drama is very meaningful, as shared by nolatoo here: https://mydramalist.com/772283-ming-men-shi-jia#comment-24643630