A Guide to Bu Bu Jing Xin

Why do I want to write about this drama?
Because I just finished watching it and I am currently having a withdrawal syndrome from it.

The Story:
Synopsis: Through a car accident, Zhang Xiao traveled back in time into a body of one of her previous reincarnations, a 16 year old aristocratic Manchu girl, Maertai Ruoxi, living in the Qing Dynasty. Although she knows she should not get involved in palace intrigues over the succession to the throne, she inadvertently becomes a pawn in the struggle, because she could not help but love someone and others came to love her. It is based on the novel Bu Bu Jing Xin (步步惊心) by Tong Hua 桐华

True! It is a time-travel themed story, and there have been many recent time-travel dramas, both good and bad. This drama is one of the good ones.

You will love how this time-travel theme influences the story and character development beautifully.


Characters:
Let me introduce you to the characters which can be a great journey through the drama.

○RuoXi/Zhang Xiao

As can be known from the synopsis, Ruo Xi is, in fact, Zhang Xiao from the 21st Century who travels back in time to Qing Dynasty due to an accident.

She is a strong female lead - smart, clever, and free-spirited. The story will guide you through her 20-year time in Qing Dynasty, her relationships with the princes, her involuntary involvement in political struggles, and her experience of love and pain.



You will love how she survives in the palace using her wits and clever manners. You will love her intense romance with 4th Prince and innocent romance with 8th Prince.

Liu Shi Shi, whom I’ve noticed since Legend of Condor Heroes 2008, plays the role. She immediately becomes my favorite actress after BBJX. For me, it is her breakthrough drama.


○4th Prince

He is cold outside but warm inside. He, who will become Emperor Yong Zheng, is ambitious and secretive. He only opens his heart to his love, Ruo Xi, and his best friend/close brother, 13th Prince. That shows how much he loves her. He would do anything to have her, to protect her, to love her...



I love their romance. They didn’t really have many ‘happy’ moments together due to all the political turbulence and problems they faced. I love their flamed moments, their playful teasing moments, their intense stares (how their eyes speak for their minds), how they understand each other, and how they can really be themselves when together.

I love Nicky Wu and Liu Shi Shi’s acting. And I don’t know what other people think, but I think their age gap of 17 years was nothing important for their amazing on-screen chemistry.


○8th Prince

He is gentle and caring, even known as “the virtuous 8th Prince” who values people but still he is just another prince, aiming for the throne. He becomes her first love, falling for his care and warmth. But will their love last? Will she, who knows his fate, love him regardless? Will he give up his goal to love her?

From the beginning, I didn’t feel his sincerity towards her (Don’t hate me if you ship these two together). I feel like he is just substituting her in the place of her sister, Ruo Lan. However, all in all, he cares for her and has done so many things for her.


○14th Prince



He is straightforward and clear-minded. He might be aiming at the throne, but he will never scheme against anyone. He is in love with her but decides to be just her friend. He is beside her until the end.

I love how he cares for Ruo Xi. He seems to be the only one who treats her and cares for her with sincerity except 13th Prince (not saying that 4th and 8th princes are not sincere toward her, it’s just that they have too much to worry – their status, ambition…). Every time, he would speak with anger just because he worries about her. He never declares his love towards her, but you can feel his sincerity. I think he has even more screen time with Ruo Xi than the 4th or 8th prince. I would ship her with 14th Prince if she didn’t love 4th Prince wholeheartedly.


○13th Prince



He, who equally loves freedom (he never wanted the throne) and has the same ideology as her, becomes her best friend and drinking buddy.

I love how he is beside her and supports her all the time. No matter what she does, he trusts her. What a best friend to have.

There are more to the princes mentioned – 10th Prince, who is her childhood friend when there was no worries and troubles and 9th Prince, who distrusts her intentions.

The Cinematography:
I LOVE the scenes – snow scenes, flowery scenes, rain scenes and so on. Every moment in the drama is amazingly directed. The costumes were stunning.

The Music:
The OSTs from this drama fit so well into the drama. They are like speaking for Ruo Xi’s mind and feelings throughout the drama. To give you a taste:


Why should you watch it?
I saw someone saying that BBJX is like a historical Meteor Garden/BOF/HYD somewhere (Forgive my forgetfulness). I would say it is more than that.

Firstly, if you like a female lead with many male leads (of course, it doesn’t necessarily means that she will involve in a romantic relationship with all of them) and you can survive watching historical drama (with scheming plots and tragedies), it is a perfect drama for you.

Secondly, if you like a strong female lead, again it is a perfect drama. Throughout the drama, you will be amazed by how smart and clever she is, facing all the difficulties and problems with her wits. I think it is a plus point for BBJX.

Thirdly, if you are just looking for a heart melting romance drama, you will find this drama really beautiful. You will find yourself crying at the tearful moments, laughing at the happy/teasing moments, smiling at the romantic scenes and so on.

Favorite quote from BBJX:

In Ruo Xi's heart, there is no Emperor, but only 4th Prince, the person who took my soul away.

--Ruo Xi (in a letter she wrote to 4th Prince)