1The mountains are high and the emperor is far away 山高皇帝远.
Under the Microscope takes a detailed look at some of the ancient financial shenanigans that eventually collapsed a dynasty. It is an adaptation of a documentary written by Ma Boyong based on rare ancient folk archives from the Ming dynasty. The Ming dynasty's demise was in large part due to the inability of the government to properly manage its finances, particularly with respect to tax revenue collection. The mountains are high and the emperor is far away 山高皇帝远/shān gāo huángdì yuǎn; thus local fief lords and officials in remote locations were able to do as they please. Social unrest frequently erupted as a result of local officials' failure to carry out central government directives due to both incompetence and corruption. That is the backdrop against which this ancient tax puzzle cum murder mystery unfolds.Shuai Jiamo is an orphaned peasant and a math savant. He is known in Renhua county as a simpleton and is probably either Aspergic or mildly autistic. He makes a simple living providing field measurement services. In his spare time, he counts cards for his only friend Feng Baoyu, playboy and scion of the prosperous Feng's Ham Shop. He is obsessed with accuracy and when he discovers discrepancies in land records, he tries to track it down. In the process, he stumbles across a misallocated tax that awakens long-dormant memories of the day his whole life changed. Without considering broader consequences, he obstinately decides it must be made right and single-mindedly sets out to rectify these errors. All sorts of vested interests from fief lords to various county officials are affected and conspire to frustrate him. First they turn Chen Renqing, a wily lawyer whose justice and honour can be bought by the highest bidder, loose on him. They also inflame peasants across all eight counties of Jin'an Prefecture, ensuring that chaos, murder and mayhem ensues.
Zhang Ruoyun steps out of his comfort zone in this role of a character that is not always in the moment and relates to others in a different way. Although he seems to over-act in places, the brilliance in his overall interpretation is how insidiously he plants the seeds of doubt. Is the over-acting deliberate and in character? Is the real Shuai Jiamo the one who chastises Feng Baoyu for not paying more heed to his sums and observes that he will soon have a brother-in-law? Or are the glimpses of cunning, empathy, even wit and humour just inconsistent characterisations? Is Shuai Jiamo really that simple and traumatised or does he have complex hidden motives? His nemesis the shrewd and cynical Chen Renqing certainly believes the latter. Leaving these questions largely unanswered makes this yet another fascinating and memorable characterisation by Zhang Ruoyun. His incredible chemistry with Wang Yang thrills and delights in new ways as their roles here force them to connect across entirely different wavelengths. Wang Yang is always at his best in morally ambiguous roles and delivers a wicked and empathetic performance as this lawyer on a white horse. It is also nice to see the limelight shared by Fei Qiming (Feng Baoyu) and Qi Wei (Feng Biyu), who also deliver hilariously engaging portrayals.
This is a beautifully shot production with a detailed eye that captures the humble, tattered and vivid humanity of the common people and the contrasting texture of their venal overlords. The devil is always in the detail with these kinds of accounting and mathematical puzzles that do not lend themselves well to screen adaptation. But this production creatively and humorously dresses up the inherently dry subject matter and does its best to avoid too much exposition. The plot is well paced and the conspiracy builds to a climax that shook me and left me speechless with my heart in my mouth. The villains are well foreshadowed but the reveal still satisfyingly ties up loose ends. Some bad guys got off too lightly but this is realistic and somewhat dictated by historical fact. This is a superbly well-written and entertaining ancient grassroots story that will appeal to anyone on the lookout for fresh themes and stories. 8.5/10.0.
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A Dry Story Based on Actual Event
Under the Microscope is a story adapted from the Silk Case, one of the six cases under Ma Boyong’s historical textbook. The author has also written numerous well-loved novels, among others, Secret of Three Kingdoms, Luoyang, and The Wind Blows from Longxi. Like the other dramas, the mood of this drama is serious albeit with subtle humor. It is a departure from the usual stories of royalty, noblemen and aristocrats, and instead looks microscopically into the issues faced by the commoners during the Ming Dynasty.The tax and financial system during the Ming era was a very complicated subject, and the story revolves around a tax called the “ren ding sijuan” (silk by head count). Shuai Jiamo (Zhang Ruoyun) accidentally discovers a silk tax entry on the county’s account book with a questionable amount. He deems it erroneous and requests the county official to rectify the error but is told he needs to appeal to higher up. While attempting to do so, he meets all kinds of obstacles, including attempts on his life; someone is trying to prevent him from appealing and digging deeper. Together with his only friend, Feng Baoyu (Fei Qiming), they are determined to get to the bottom of it despite putting themselves in great danger.
Shuai Jiamo is a young mathematical genius with signs of autism. To him, math always tells the truth and he doesn’t allow a speck of inaccuracy in it. Because of his obsession, most people regard him as an idiot, except Feng Baoyu who thinks Shuai Jiamo very special and would do anything for him. Zhang Ruoyun is an incredible actor. As the autistic Shuai Jiamo, he is genuine and very believable.
To readjust the tax amount on the account book, Shuai Jiamo is told to bring his appeal to court. While in court, he meets Cheng Renqing (Wang Yang), a talented but morally and ethically questionable lawyer working for a shadowy character to try to throw Shuai Jiamo’s case out. He has been successful, but Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu do not give up easily despite getting thrown into prison and their life being threatened. Wang Yang is a veteran actor, and has a charismatic aura. With a smirk on his face and a sharp tongue, his performance is on script and has no holes to poke.
All the other actors give a wonderful and believable performance. I particularly love the Magistrate Fang character (Hou Yansong). Seemingly lazy and useless, he turns out to be the hero of the people and the actor Hou Yansong has performed with full marks. I also like the Feng Baoyu character who loves gambling and is a real friend worth having for anyone. Fei Qiming’s portrayal is outstanding, bringing out the essence of the character convincingly.
My Verdict
This is a true story based on a historical event but not a drama for everyone. Some of the characters such as Shuai Jiamo and Cheng Renqing (written differently but with same homophones) were real historical figures. Shuai Jiamo’s obsession in math and in going to court to correct the tax errors can bore many viewers unless one is very interested in the complicated and confusing Chinese bureaucratic and financial system during Ming Dynasty. To add fireworks to a dry story to make it more palatable for entertainment consumption, some ninjas and wuxia sword fights are added. The scene when Cheng Renqing comes to the rescue of Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu in the nick of time on the beheading tables by throwing out two knives is simply hilarious and unreal.
Though at the end of the drama, it seems everyone receives their justifiable rewards or punishments, it doesn’t feel right to me. Despite all the heinous acts by the villains, the ultimate culprit’s punishments seem like just a slap on the wrist compared to what Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu receive for pointing out the problem -- some of the culprit's wealth is confiscated while the good guys are beaten and imprisoned -- this is probably quite realistic.
In the real event, Shuai Jiamo’s and Cheng Renqing’s fates were not as rosy as shown here; they were both sent away in exile for stirring up "trouble". In other words, the best way to deal with any problems at the local level was to punish those who pointed out the problems. As always, the drama depicts the aristocrats are the ones suppressing and stealing from the people, and the government the enhancer and the gestapo police -- a satire of wealth inequality, the world is never fair nor just.
Overall, this is a dry drama based on a real story full of ironies and paradoxes. The acting is very good and the script writing is tight and logical but too bad, as much as I have enjoyed it, the drama doesn’t make a compelling story for most casual viewers.
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"This is not the place for you to seek the truth!"
Under the Microscope was an interesting title/translation for this drama focusing on a math obsessed male lead who used zero microscopes. Why not “You Can Count on Me!” or “Who Is Plotting Something Evil?” lol I may not have understood a “fraction” of the math involved but the story was “greater than” the “average” drama.“Arithmetic is the most honest thing in the world”
Jia Mo and his buddy Bao Yu make extra cash at gambling dens by utilizing Jia Mo’s savant-like math skills. They run afoul of new casino boss Lu with Bao Yu’s sister Bi Yu coming to their rescue. Having helped with surveying property, Jia Mo can’t figure out how his calculations for property lines aren’t adding up. He has Bao Yu gain him entrance to the official archives to check the records. While he’s researching the books he finds the number 3530 that his deceased father had told him to remember. He discovers it’s in conjunction with a Silk Poll Tax that appears to be in error. When the friends bring this up to the local authorities, instead of being pleased that their tax bill should be shared with 7 other counties reducing the amount the people pay, the 8 county magistrates close ranks casting aspersions on them. “If someone is diligent for no reason, he must be up to no good.” Jail and floggings can’t deter them. Jia Mo and Bao Yu move forward to try and find someone to hear their case.
“The silk is only a cover. The thing wrapped inside is the most valuable.”
The government bureaucracy was the least of Jia Mo and Bao Yu’s “problems”. When the “count(y)” magistrates were “irrational” and refused to listen to “empirical” evidence, it was a “sine” that the 3530 taels of silver held less “value” than what they were hiding. The “algebros” were often in “real” danger from the enemies who grew “exponentially.” Every time Jia Mo was on the “cusp” of success, the people in “power” would try to “point” out flaws in his equations. They were “mean” and seemed to “derive” great pleasure from the “inequality” they had created in their “operations.” Jia Mo also had flashbacks of his parents that he wasn’t sure were “real” or “imaginary”. Bao Yu was a “positive” and “constant” companion on their journey though he had a tendency to fall into “trap-azoids.” As the two “squared” off with their “calculating” enemies,
other players with their own “angles” joined to help “solve” their “prime” issues. Though the “probability” of success was a low “percentage”, the new allies stayed strong in the face of greedy men on a “tangent.”
“If the numbers are wrong, they should be corrected”
Under the Microscope was engaging and though the math wasn’t as easy as “pi,” the “sum” “total” of its parts “added up” to a drama that wasn’t “perfect” but “finite” entertainment with characters you could “root” for. The “common denominators” being strong performances, realistic “sets”, and a story “integral” to the real world where “negative” and “obtuse” people think money “equals” righteousness and honor. Fortunately, every once in a while, “ordinary”, but “significant” people step up and “point” out “solutions” to “problems” that will help society to “function” better.
18 September 2024
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A David and Goliath Story
Who doesn’t love an underdog triumph over the odds story? I don’t know how this gem almost eluded me but a show that features men with beards squabbling over the technicalities of the legal code is likely not to be everybody’s cup of tea. For me however this 14 episode series is a rare combination of smart, heartwarming, hilarious and just plain fun. It has me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Moreover the courtroom drama (and there are a few) in the final two episodes of this is an exemplar of entertaining theatre.Set during the waning days of the Ming dynasty, Zhang Ruoyun is the neurodivergent Shuai Jiamo who has a knack for figures. His obsession with the accuracy of his calculations especially in the distribution of land leads him and his best friend Feng Baoyu (Fei Qiming) down a rabbit hole of bureaucratic mismanagement and corruption. The Central Plains is a large place. The country’s capital located some distance away relies heavily on diligent and even honest officials to ensure that the people are flourishing and everyone’s paying their fair share of taxes so that the world can go on spinning. All this assumes that officials picked from the country’s intelligentsia are worth their salt and are content to humbly “serve the country”. However when the cat’s not looking, the mice get up to mischief. There’s never enough money so they collude with the gentry to defraud the uneducated peasants and increase their pieces of the pie over time hiding behind layer upon layer of red tape with all kinds of mutually beneficial trade-offs.
Ultimately the war on corruption is not fought with weapons of steel. There are plenty of weapons showcased (including a large leg of ham) but the biggest one is likely to be red tape itself. It may be used as an impediment to truth. But in the right hands it is also the salvation of the show’s protagonists. Wielded by a knowledgeable soul with conscience, it can be a tool that holds back the forces of evil to great effect.
The tragedy though is that truth and justice is the last thing that matters to most in this fray. There are fascinating modern parallels here. No one really cares that 1+1=2. In fact 1+1=2 can become 1+1=3 at the whim of a corrupt educated class determined to push forward their own agendas on an unsuspecting populace. It’s akin to Winston Smith at the end of Orwell’s 1984. If the powers that be can make you state a lie as truth, it can make you do anything.
Shuai Jiamo is the outsider in a world of competing agendas. He’s suffering trauma from an event 20 years earlier that saw him orphaned. He is the age old oak tree that stands in the midst of the storm. Immoveable. Incorruptible. A challenge to the status quo. His role in the story is to bring to light all the man-made complexities caused by a web of self-interest. His simplicity is a bulwark against the complexity. Nonetheless he can’t do it alone. He needs his friend Feng Baoyu and frenemy lawyer Cheng Renqing (Wang Yang) to help him address a wrong that has implications beyond 1+1. It is a telling indictment not just of that world but ours that the truth matters very little but boils down to how one is able to prosecute one’s arguments in such a way as to negotiate trade-offs and mutual benefits.
Without saying, Zhang Ruoyun is terrific in this and he can be relied on to pick intelligent scripts. He also has a penchant for playing quirky characters. The presence of Wang Yang is usually also a guarantee of a quality production. The other faces in this are rock solid even the youngish Fei Qiming (not exactly his first outing) really comes into his own in those last two episodes. Others will recognize Wu Gang who also co-starred with Zhang Ruoyun in Joy of Life and Zhang Fan who seems to be in every other project that I watch.
The production values are great apart from the usual obvious editing misdemeanours. It's a testament to the quality of the direction that a show that's based on palace politics and bureaucratic red tape can be as enjoyable as this.
[This review is based on one on my blog.]
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Lots of politics but must watch if you are a Zhang Ruo Yun fan
If you are a Zhang Ruo Yun fan this is a must watch and the fact that Wang Yang (the lawyer) is also a main character makes it that much better. They were my favorite pair in Joy of Life.The story is unique but you can't get away from the politics so if you can't stand political dramas then this may be hard to watch. In addition the dialogue is quite complicated so hopefully translation can fully capture the meaning.
Loved:
1. Casting. Stellar cast and interesting characters
Shuai Jia Mo - Mathematical genius played perfectly by Zhang Ruo Yun
Cheng Ren Qing - sharp tongue lawyer that will help anyone for money.
Feng Bi Yu - Out spoken female character
2. Supporting cast. I love that many were not written as one dimensional good or bad characters
3. Few twists but not overwhelming
4. Overall story with a gratifying ending
There were no romances or side character's story lines so 14 episode felt pretty short. I wish the story could've been longer as I think many of the characters are interesting.
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JUSTICE DONE RiGHT
1. Not a big fan of any characters that has mental disorder. Whatever it is, hard enough for people who has mental disorder and for us to mimic them. They're genius in their own right, but also challenging as personality, socially awkwardness, unacceptably by social standard, misunderstood, entirely different than anyone of us. So, acting as one of them is hard and ZRY eyes was into Nystagmus wild and scary intense than innocent glances. I don't think ZRY portrayed it appropriately.2. Four Counties overpaid 'Silk Poll' taxes since way back 100 year ago. The argument of 4 Magistrates were justified; none of them born yet, all 4 Magistrates worked hard for their district and seeing people's poor life condition in their counties, avoiding riots and anger from public, the intention of Shuai JiaMo to open up ancient case, no one knew how to resolve it. The solution came out brutally, 4 counties has to remeasure all lands, bigger land had bigger taxes. The riches and nobles had more land but paid small taxes as they manipulated the land measurement in order to pay less taxes, the common people outraged and rioting. Shuai JiaMo was a math genius, he's the best for advisor but not as a plaintiff. Because people would question his qualification, mental stability and articulation, the integrity of his intention. If I can change the story, that's what I am going for but since this one was based on true story during Ming Dynasty.
3. Setting was rustic and old (considering newly c-drama modern ancient setting) very traditional and preserved the cultural heritage of the buildings/interiors/set-up. All actors has no make up which's their natural beauty shone, costumes were simple and appropriate. ZRY joint again with Wang Yang and Wu Gang (JOL), they're great team together. The story were ended with great justice for all, done it right even for the modern perspective. Lucky Shuai JiaMo had a greatest best friend who's not lost hope and trust in him, defended him in any price even gambling it with his life. All was only 14 episodes, good numbers for good drama.
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Who Knew Taxes Could be So Entertaining?
This is such a neatly made little historical drama, based on an actual case from the Ming dynasty, that you could absolutely binge-watch it in a day or two (just 14 eps). What starts as a simple math problem, a discrepancy in numbers between the actual field measurements and what is written in the registry reports, later blooms into a huge case of corruption on different levels of the government system in 8 different counties along with tax evasion, murders, false witnesses, and whatnot.Chinese bureaucratic system of that period seems like a real nightmare, even more so, when someone is trying to investigate a case (and, in many ways, things really haven't changed that much in modern times). The story revolves around Shuai Jia Mo, a math genius who lacks social skills and is probably mildly autistic. His parents die in a fire under mysterious circumstances. All he's left with are a few memories and the number 3530, which turns out to be the exact number of taxes his whole county is paying out of thin air. No one knows where the tax came from and why people have to pay it, so he starts the investigation with the help of his friend. Naturally, all the powers involved try to silence them as soon as possible.
I really had no idea a show about ancient Chinese taxes could be so captivating - mostly thanks to a well-written plot and superb acting, as well as interesting, shrewd, and excessively scheming characters. I guess this is a story more about human nature, that's why it's so relatable today, and the quest for justice, because for each bad and greedy person out there in the world, there is one with a pure heart and soul who wants to do good. And sometimes, that person could actually win (well, at least in a cdrama :)
We see quite a few charismatic faces here. Wang Yang (Teng Zijing in JOL) seems to be very compatible with Zhang Ruoyun. Here he starts as an antagonist, Cheng Renqing, a lawyer who defends anyone who pays him more (in this case, the bad guys). For a good half of the show, he's just an increasingly annoying lil' shit with a broad smile and a sharp tongue, but then things change, we get to know his story, and he turns to our boy's side eventually. Wu Gang (Chen PingPing from JOL) is a welcome treat no matter what role he takes. He's so good at playing skin-crawling bad guys, it's just remarkable. I also fell in love with Feng Biyu, a feisty lady-owner of a meat shop, who can beat the hell out of quite a few bullies who go after her little bro and the ML.
Needless to say, Zhang Ruoyun's performance was top-notch. I can't imagine how hard it is to depict such a character - but I totally believed him! Both his math genius side and the slightly autistic side. It actually leads to some pretty funny scenes because of how straightforward he is, not understanding the intricacies of human behavior (and the lies and the games between people).
I was not-really-surprised to hear Liu Yuning's voice at the ending OST of the series (the guy is literally everywhere:) but ah, he's just such a good singer and the song really got me hooked from the first notes. I also want to say that style-wise the show is quite beautifully made, too. It's a true-to-life historical depiction of the Ming period, but the shots, the light, the colors - everything was just very pretty!
The show is a kind of detective case story about tax evasion, but the characters make it very alive and entertaining to watch. There's some drama sprinkled with a bit of comedy, some math, 0,1% romance, but everything comes together so nicely that you really don't have any complaints in the end. The show is exactly what it promises to be, not overlapping with other genres. I, personally, was in the mood for it and it's definitely a 10/10 for me.
P.S. also, there's a cat)))
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Must-see show for hardcore history lovers
I read many reviews about Under the Microscope, which write that the plot of the show is very dry. THIS IS PRECISELY WHY I LOVED IT AND WHY YOU SHOULD TOO!!!I have a PhD in medieval European history, and always find Western medieval shows to be entertaining but wildly inaccurate and off the mark about the real issues and mentality of medieval people.
Under the Microscope is the very opposite. It is centered around an extremely important issue that was omnipresent in the life of people: taxes and land. Behind these issues lie broader concerns about governance, class, power, managing an agricultural society… You can tell that it is based from archival research by author Ma Boyong.
I know a show about taxes and land sounds less sexy than a xianxia romance, but if anyone is Interested in the nitty gritty of history, this show is one of the best and most unique ones I’ve watched. It shows you how the Ming administration worked, how different levels of government could be levelled against one another depending on their jurisdiction, how a seemingly small matter had life-or-death consequences for ordinary peasants, how corruption was widespread, how social inequalities created by land and wealth concentration within the hands of a small aristocratic elite could bring disaster to a whole region… It might seem abstract, but the plot and production make it very engaging, and embody these problems within the scenario and the characters.
On top of these qualities:
- The acting is great, especially the acting from the veteran actors.
- The production value is high. The costumes, cinematography, sets are all great.
- It’s only 14 episodes, unlike the slow-moving, unncessary 50-episode shows which don’t respect viewers’ time. The pace is good. The plot moves forward every episode.
- There are great character arcs that will make you scream YESSSS!
- It is appropriately cheesy and heroic like normal Chinese dramas. There’s some action thrown in here and there to spice things up. There’s moving moments that made me cry at the end!
I hope many Chinese history fans will give this show a chance!
Spoilers below
- I loved how most characters are given credible motives and context. For instance, Magistrate Mao is depicted as a bad guy, but he is given a great scene in which he explains he’s not from a noble or scholarly family, so yes, he is corrupt and is in Master Fan’s pocket, but he’s got nothing to lose. Similarly, I loved how Magistrate Deng explains to Shuai Jiamo that he may agree with him about the hard math, but because of politics, his hands are tied.
- The show was very smart in explaining how the small matter of the silk poll tax could impact both the average people, and be an entry point for officials to curry favor with the imperial court by tying it to the meta-issue of land measurement.
- My favourite character arc was Magistrate Fang’s, who evolves from his mediocre, do-nothing attitude to a heroic stance. There was something very believable in his initial flailing, then his move towards being indignant of his colleagues’ treatment towards him, and finally his redemption arc as a righteous magistrate.
- Many characters are endearing as hell. Feng Biyu and Feng Baoyu were adorable, and Cheng Renqing was a compelling figure.
- There are some plotholes (why didn’t the bad guys kill Cheng Renqing, the lawyer, being the biggest one), but overall, the plot holds.
- The depiction of Shuai Jiamo is problematic, and it was clearly used as a narrative device to contrast Jiamo’s purity with the world’s corruption.
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You cannot miss this brilliant drama featuring a math genius.
This drama is truly exceptional and I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a good TV show to watch. It was a perfect blend of great casting, superb acting, top-notch direction, incredible soundtrack, and impressive artistic vision. The way the characters were brought to life felt authentic and genuine, and the seamless transition of each scene into the next made the storytelling even more compelling.I was particularly impressed with the portrayal of the autistic mathematics genius character, played by Zhang Ruo Yun. The way he brought the character to life was simply incredible, and I found myself truly invested in his story. His performance was nothing short of remarkable, and it was a delight to watch him on screen.
Another standout actor was Wang Yang, who played the wicked lawyer in the show. He was able to convey the character's evil persona with ease and made the audience root for his downfall. WuGang also did an amazing job portraying the villain, and his performance was both menacing and captivating. 3 of my favorite actors (Joy of Life). Shoutout to actress Qi Wei.
Overall, I would highly recommend this drama to anyone who's looking for a well-crafted and engaging TV show. It's a true masterpiece that has everything from great acting to impressive direction, and it's definitely worth your time.
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A Singular Pursuit (in all interpretations of 'singular')
I wanted to watch something on iQiYi because I had paid for the subscription and then, I found this drama.Having just watched "Ordinary Greatness" before this drama, I thought it would not be too bad to watch another show starring Zhang Ruo Yun. While I am not his fan, I recognise that he is an excellent actor. I am mighty glad that I decided to go ahead with this drama.
What I Liked Quite a Bit:
- The acting was good -- very solid acting.
- The plot while fixated on the issue of Silk Road Tax / $3530, moved along quite fast. I found myself wanting to know how this issue, which had been unearthed after being buried for so long, would eventually be resolved. While I knew that Shuai Jia Mo would be fine as the ML, it was interesting to see how he faced the various challenges and powerful figures who tried so hard to ensure that he kept mum and that secrets which were buried, stayed forever buried.
- Shuai Jia Mo's BFF, Feng Bao Yu, as well as his BFF's sister, turned out to be such loveable gems who recognised SJM for who he was and just let him be.
- The characters were shown to be complex which I liked. I liked seeing how the magistrate of Tongyang County did Math with SJM and recognised that while SJM was most probably right, he had other considerations to take note of and that he would still refute what SJM claimed. I liked seeing how complex and human the characters were such as the assistant magistrate of Wancheng County who, layer by layer, showed that he knew the truth and that eventually, he decided to let the truth be told.
- I liked how tactful and calm the Grand Coordinator of Fengxing was as he peeled off layer by corrupt layer to reveal the truth of the matter. (Something to learn from. There is no need to be all mean and fierce and shouty to get one's way or to get to the truth of the matter.)
- The lawyer turned out to be a fairly good fellow and I liked the budding romance between him and Feng Bi Yu.
- Blessedly happy ending in that the baddies were punished and justice prevailed. It was also very pleasant to see that SJM was finally able to get some closure of sorts and that the past no longer tortured him. It seemed that he had helped his father to solve the case of $3530 and everything fell into fall in the last episode and he could finally move on.
What I Didn't Like That Much:
- Magistrate Mao was so very shouty. He kept on yelling and bellowing.
- Ma Wen Cai was such an ass. He was super hateful. He was so corrupt and heinous.
- Fan Yuan was manipulative and malicious. He wanted to harm the innocent just to keep himself safe. He was so corrupt and so hateful.
- Erm, the elderly men looked pretty much similar. (There were so many men, especially, older men, in this drama and so few ladies.)
Overall, while this show was very singular in its pursuit, it entertained me for 14 whole episodes!!
I'd say that this drama knew that it could not be stretched for too long and it wrapped up once the case was solved and closed.
I'd highly recommend this show as an "intelligent drama" (if this makes sense). <3
:o)
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Dry but Relatable
It's probably a flat boring story for some people, but I find it enjoyable ☺️ I prefer this kind of drama than those lovey-doey badly written ones (which I think most C-Drama these days were pretty much crap.. ? sorry) I found it amusing how a Ming dynasty problems were similar to how things worked today. That somethings never change after hundreds of years. How corrupted government officials are. How complicated it is to get through bureaucracy. How hard, if not impossible it is to have justice. How easy it is for influential/rich people to have things go their way on the cost of others sufferingWas this review helpful to you?
Really interesting to see how Shuai Jia Mo interacting with everybody else, especially Cheng Ren Qing (RQ) & Feng Bao Yu (BY). Also what really interesting is how in the end everything connected with each other, what we think unimportant & have no connection, in the end they prove us wrong...
RQ himself also very interesting being, that at first we don't know where is he stand for, bad side or good side. But upon time, we got the 'true self' of RQ & his difficulty. BY in the other hand also kinda interesting to see, we can see how until the end he actually still 'a coward' but how he build up his courage trough the drama is really something we must praise...
But actually until the end I'm not really understand why everything happen in the drama must happen & also why must at that time. Haha... Maybe if I can sum this in 1 sentence, it's gonna be... What ordinary 'stupid' people do to get justice & fairness from the rich person, in this case Fan Yuan.
Overall this diff mystery drama that maybe not everybody cup of tea. But still interesting enough for you to watch till the end. In my opinion, don't stop in the middle, because u'll gonna missed something in the end....
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