Delightful and Captivating
Once in a while, a fresh and unknown cast captures one's attention because of an excellent plot and superb acting.Found the storyline refreshing (a young, female coroner) and ended up binge watching and finished the 36 episodes over 2 days.
Plot intriguing and appropriately paced. Like the illustrations as FL (played by Su Xiao Tong) looked into the cause of death in each case.
Love the character of Prince An (played by Wang Zi Qi) - impressed by the character's logic and ability in solving the cases.
Fabulous chemistry between ML and FL. - no overdose of kissing scenes.
Good performance by supporting cast, especially the outstanding acting by Mu Huai Hu as the villian Grand Eunuch.
Gladly recommend to watch this drama
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Great Story & Cast
This drama was really well written and all of the actors did a great job. I watched every episode, eagerly awaiting where the story would go.The romance was well done, with no need for a love triangle to keep the viewers interest.
I loved how the intro changed at the beginning of new episodes drawing you into the story as it evolved.
I will definitely watch this again, I am sure I missed a lot.
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Worth the time to watch!
I really love series with substance, like not just about love story or plainly because the ML is handsome or cool. Also, aside from rom-com, I really love and enjoy watching suspense-thriller, mystery and action. This drama is more on the mystery and coolness side, what's with Chu Chu as your unconventional female Coroner. I really love her character as well as Prince An and the support characters, they really did a very good job with acting. Even the chief Eunuch is good with his role that you wanted to slay him personally. Anyway, the phasing of the story is fast phase, so you'll not notice, you're almost finished.Was this review helpful to you?
An entertaining detective story, no major complaints but didn’t fully captivate
Chu Chu, the imperial coroner of titular fame, is a bit annoying at the beginning of the show. She comes across as young and wide-eyed, but my major issue with her is that she kept fangirling the ML. She kept gushing and I was so embarrassed for her. It could be either the delivery or the character. I almost stopped watching, but then I read some reviews which validated my annoyance and assured me it would get better, which it did. The fangirling sort of fades away.The story actually seems to be more about the ML, Xiao Jinyu, who is one of those super-smart MLs who’s constantly outsmarting everyone. He’s also a stern prince, which is a bit tropey, but he’s sickly, which at least is not tropey. Chu Chu has her expertise and presents the evidence; it’s Jinyu who does the deductions and solves the mysteries. He’s also the one who wants them solved and directs their operations… she’s just his very capable coroner. It’s not quite a story about her as the title might imply.
The merry band of friends has other loveable characters (Jing Yi, Leng Yue, and others), each with their own personalities and backstories, though nothing too multidimensional or complicated. The main four are neatly split into two couples with no (or minor) silly love dramas, which is a plus.
The love story between the ML and FL is actually not bad. I did find it weird to watch a child be in a relationship, and found it helpful to try to forget about some of her earlier behaviors. And I liked that the show didn’t focus too heavily on their romance. Many of the conversations between them are just business, nothing too mushy. This left me focusing on the mysteries, which is always fun (and I thought done fairly well in this show), and the political backstory, which required some untangling.
This show is set in the Tang dynasty. Somebody else’s review explained some of the history of the emperors, and I had to keep referring to it as I was watching to avoid total confusion (thank you, fellow drama watchers). This show does use real life historical figures, which is a bold move. I think the story is fairly correct about the overall climate with the eunuchs and power struggles, as well as of course the actual tangled mess succession of emperors, but it makes up things around it.
I did google briefly, but I wasn’t inspired to research to the same extent as for e.g. The Long Ballad. It might be because the historical figures didn’t factor as prominently, or I found them to be less interesting (like srsly, bunch of people killing each other), or maybe just the show was less beautifully done so it didn’t quite set off my imagination. It has a bit of a darker palette, which is not inherently bad but not my preference. And it is, after all, not really a high budget production.
The show doesn’t have a low budget feel per se, though I did notice things like the emperor always being in one room. I think they did well with what they had. The actors and actresses are also less well known, but I think they did fine. A lot of them went to film school, can’t be too bad.
This was a show I enjoyed, with decent humor and fun sprinkled throughout, but the story and characters didn’t fully captivate me. I was entertained but not obsessed. Only as it was nearing its end did I realize how much the characters had grown on me, and that I had enjoyed this show maybe more than I realized.
ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS
It’s probably not even a spoiler to say that they solve everything and defeat the enemy, and everything works out. I guess the show was not that suspenseful because I don’t remember ever doubting that they would triumph. But if I recall correctly, the ending was even fluffier than I anticipated, with minimal sacrifice. You don’t even feel bad for the enemy, like there was a whiff of that and they snuffed it out. And Chu Chu even gets to keep her job (which was in doubt for a minute). You know what, I don’t mind, sometimes I just want to feel good.
I wasn’t too concerned by lack of resolutions because I was convinced that there was a second season. I wouldn’t have thought this show needed a sequel, but S2 has a page on MDL. Only after I finished and went to look for it, did I realize that it doesn’t exist yet. As of Q1 2025, there are still fans regularly hyping up S2 on MDL… but I’ll believe it when I see it.
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Expected more.....
This series was ok - expected more with the high douban rating as well as mdl rating of 8.5.The story didn't draw me in that much and I was not anxiously waiting to see the next episode. Also no slow burn romance as there was no chemistry between the couples.
The head eunoch serving the emperor was really annoying and didn't come across as a villain - maybe he wasn't supposed to be seen as a villain? Historically eunochs did usurp power and believed themselves to have as much power as the emperor but this character did not portray that - more of a delusional crazy person if anything.
Everything else was just so so. Finished the series just for the sake of seeing how everything would unfold. The Coroner findings and how it was reached was interesting though.
Rewatch value 0
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A hidden must watch GEM!
I'm trying to keep it shortThe thing I really love :
1) Of course the healthy and matured relationship of Xiao Jinyu and Chu Chu <3
2) The brotherhood and sisterhood relationship were so strong and I love it sm, wishing for more!
3) How they make full use of all characters as they complete each other. Jinyu with his high IQ, Chu chu with her exceptional coroner skills, Jing Yi with his exceptional abilities to read facial expressions and light kungfu, Leng Yue with her martial arts and medical knowledge and our General Xiao Jinli as everyone bodyguard.
4) The plot was fast paced, every mysteries connect the dots and lastly the villians got turn over.
5) A non skip drama because every scene was important!
6) They don't just put the soldiers/armies as a standing still or dumb characters. This is really rare!!
7) I end up hating no one lmao that's really rare because the villians plot twist was kinda funny
Something you might want to know :
1) The romance is not the main focus
2) The ending was abrupt (SXT said they act cut A LOT of AFTER WEDDING SCENE because of 36 eps limits) ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
3) You'll know who's the villians pretty fast
4) yess there's some misunderstanding but solve by our lead face-to-face with matured talk!
5) A lot of palace ranks involved, might stress out by the characters name
THERE'S HOPE FOR SEASON TWO HEHE.
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An Excellent Gem
There are so many good things to say about this drama! It may not have the highest budget but it has a lot of brains and heart which more than make up for it.Plot: it's been a while (or ever) since I've seen a drama with such good pacing. The plot never slows down and keeps going right until the end. No time is wasted on silly, unnecessary drama. I blink and the episode is over. One mystery leads right into another. All the clues fit together and even link back up to previous ones and more importantly, it all make logical sense (aside from a coupleee of nit picky things). While the answer often require some deep deduction, the rationale is sound.
Characters: I really appreciate the fact that everyone in our main crew of 4 (technically 6?) has their strengths and weaknesses and they all have to work together, each with their own chance to shine. I also appreciate that despite the fast pace, each character gets to have his or her own personality and they more or less act like normal people. I like how while the main male lead is smart and clearly the brains of the group, he does not overshadow everyone.
And finally, a drama writer that knows the difference between being naïve and stupid. I feel like a lot of drama writers tend to struggle with this distinction, which is why many of these naive/sweet/innocent female leads in drama tend to come across as dumb. No such problem here! Our main female lead, despite being a little unworldly and cute as a button, is an expert in her field and stays that way until the very end of the show. What she knows and does not know aligns very well with her character setting.
The romance and chemistry between our main leads was so sweet. I loved the trust and open communication. Their chemistry was so sweet and the group chemistry as a whole was amazing. I also really appreciated the camaraderie between the two female leads. While deep friendships between females do exist, oftentimes "the best friend" is a side character whose purpose if to be the FL's best friend. Or, especially in historical dramas, she is a servant or someone under the female lead's care. It was nice to see a friendship between two females on equal grounds where both have their own development.
Acting: The actors are all pretty new but they did a very good job and displayed the emotions they needed to display. I will admit the the FL tended to carry a deer-in-headlights look a few times more than needed, but unsure if this was her or what she was instructed to do.
Music: added to the watching experience nicely. I really liked the how they recapped the previous episode and kept changing the intros. Not a big fan of the second intro though.
Rewatch: While this is rewatchable, because it is a mystery drama, it just will not carry the same punch.
Overall: tldr, this drama shines with a well-paced mystery story where the clues fit together and sequence of events (for the most part) make sense, great characters with quality teamwork, multiple intelligent female (and male) leads and cute romances.
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Half Detective Mystery, Half Throne Power Struggle – A Promising Drama That Falters at the Finish
This drama is a thrilling mix of a detective story and a high-stakes power struggle for the throne.Chu Chu, an aspiring coroner, travels to the capital, Chang-An, to take the coroner examination. If she succeeds, she would be the first female coroner in the city. It’s there that she crosses paths with Prince An-Jun, who masterminds the coroner exam. Impressed by her sharp skills, he recruits her as his sidekick, and together they solve complex crimes involving high-ranking officials. As they uncover hidden secrets, their journey takes them from Chang-An to Qian-Zhou, where they investigate the mystery of Prince An-Jun’s missing father and the illegal minting of coins that is discovered in the capital.
The drama keeps you intrigued for most of its run, blending mystery with historical intrigue. But as the story nears its climax, the narrative starts to unravel, leaving a sour taste in the end. It feels as though the screenwriter—or perhaps the director—changed midway through, and the once tightly woven plot becomes a bit of a stretch.
The grand conspiracy behind the story centres around a rumored revolt, and the long-lost Duke Chang, who is supposedly the rightful heir to the throne, planning to take back what he believes is his. Turns out, Duke Chang has been hiding in plain sight in the capital as the Minister of War. His plan is to overthrow the current emperor, his grand-uncle, and claim the throne for himself.
Here’s where things take a strange turn. Instead of using his position as Minister of War to command the army and secure the throne, Duke Chang goes to the extreme of faking his death, abandoning his identity, and returning as the Duke with a private army. This move feels unnecessary and, frankly, a bit foolish. He already has control over the Tang army—why fake his death and go through all the trouble? Plus, he leaves behind just enough clues for Prince An-Jun to piece together his true identity.
Then there’s the odd pseudo-science of the ball that Xu Ru-Gui shallows, which is supposed to be a lethal weapon against Chu Chu and Prince An-Jun. The drama never adequately explains how it was meant to work. Sure, it’s fantasy, but even fantasy needs a little bit of logic.
The casting of Duke Chang is another misstep. He comes across as too kind and gentle to convincingly portray a manipulative mastermind. When he finally reveals his true identity, it’s hard to believe that this mild-mannered character could have masterminded such a devious plot.
Lastly, the finale required Chu Chu, a small and delicate character, to somehow pretend to be the emperor and act as a hostage. The whole situation felt forced and unconvincing, taking away from the drama's realism.
What could have been a fantastic, well-executed series ultimately falters in the last few episodes. A solid detective story and a captivating political drama were overshadowed by questionable choices in the end. It's a shame, because the potential was there for a much stronger finish.
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This review may contain spoilers
Best crime drama
This was a good drama. It was fresh different and engaging. I loved the focus on crime solving, the cast were great and kept you engaged. the story did not deviate or have some long draggy scenes everything was tightly connected and had purpose. I loved the bad guys as much as the good guys. .Great friendships and bromance with no ridiculous triangles smart characters who were developed meticulously. It was beautifully done. This is one of those gems that made 36 episodes look easy to watch.What didn’t like was the rushed ending i thought they could have tied up the other characters romance and stories a bit more. the lack of chemistry between the main leads although i liked them i didn’t buy the romance part of it , the fact there was no real kiss in 36 episodes i hardly think an almost kiss and mouth to mouth is a kiss. all in all it was a great watch, would I rewatch probably not.
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What an odd little goldfish in a bowl of tropey rom-coms
It is rare to watch a Chinese period drama that paid so much attention to details and the coherence of the script.Unlike many dramas that have a weak plot or poor script and relied heavily on star power or tropey sugar romance to carry the show, this one really went out of its way to put the story front and centre. The fact that the production value was good and the acting in general was superior were just icing on the cake.
While having a detective or a doctor as the central character is not new but this drama took it to a different level. It started with a fairly forensic look at the job of a coroner in ancient China (probably fanciful to be honest) but it also added scientific law enforcement into the mix. The script writer then built up a very complex overarching plot that spanned a generation just so that the M/FL can work as a team and unravel the mystery together (and fire up the romance).
If this was the only positive aspect, the show is already doing well but on top of that, most of the support characters were also quite intelligent and at worse, competent in their roles. There were no tropey love triangles or crazy subplots just to stir things up. Everyone had a job to do and they did it to their utmost abilities. It was refreshing to have storylines that were just "normal" and people were treated as professionals regardless of their birth or gender. Bravo, writers and director!
The plot was a real cat and mouse game. The villains were setting clever traps and playing the long game while our young guns were using their brains and skills to work through the leads, solving cases and laying down their own counter traps.
This is great if you like a good detective story and the whole logical deduction process. If you came in thinking that this is another cute period rom-com then you might be disappointed. Not that there wasn't romance. The CP's were quite cute together and there were swoon worthy moments. There was a little bit of skinship but very tame. There were some action but a lot of talking and expositions on the complicated plot. Your mileage will differ.
Another aspect I appreciate was the production values. The sets were of good quality and formed a coherent backdrop. I really liked their lighting design. They used a lot of natural lights during the day and candles were used extensively at night . Most of the time, the artificial light mimicked the natural light sources. Flickered and glowed as appropriate. I find it disconcerting when some period sets were lit up brightly and uniformly or have spotlights from the ceiling.
The acting of the ML was great. He started like Mr Spock but as the show progressed, he became more human and showed all the emotions. He had some very emotional scenes later on in the show which he did very well. The 2ML was quite a fun and lively character by comparison, there was a nice bromance between them as well. On the other hand, the FL felt a little out of her depth. She started well enough in the coroner role but around the mid to late show she was over shadowed by the ML and the villains so her acting seemed muted and a little wooden. Other support casts all made good contributions. Good dynamics between them.
OST was nice and easy listening. Rewatch value is hard to gauge because it would be like rereading a detective novel. It is up to the individual.
P.S. I deliberately kept this review spoiler free as any spoiler will give the plot away and I don't want to tell you up front that the maid did it. (oh damn!)
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I loved it and rewatched it thrice!
I’ve always been more of a fan of Korean dramas, but decided to try this drama out after hearing good things about it. It’s definitely worth a watch and got me hooked on Chinese dramas.The plot is amazing and compelling. Super well written with no plot holes. When rewatched the drama, I realized how beautifully the story has been written.
I love the drama characters, not just the main leads but the supporting characters as well, such as Jing Yi and Jin Li. They made the story so much richer. I really liked how there weren’t any toxic people in the drama (other than the bad guy). Everyone else was so loving, supportive and smart. Worth a watch!
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This review may contain spoilers
Best Costume Drama So Far in 2021
This show kept me going week after week. The story built up was just nice. Great ending, fun to watch. The Xiao Jinyu was good at acting out his stiff neck character but it just a little weird when he was trying to be cute and adorable with Chu Chu.I do love how Leng Yue was with Jin Yi. Overall, loved the show. The romance was well incorporated. Given that it was about a coroner and serious investigations, it would have been too much if they did too much romance. So, I am glad it was not overdone.
The Eunuchs rebellious lot were a good plot. I did feel the Chief Eunuch should have gotten a more severe punishment. Felt it was not enough punch on this point. Especially since he did so many evil deeds.
The discovery of Jinyu's real profile was kept a secret from the King up to the end....which is really cool. Usually, secrets always get revealed. I'm surprised the romance between Leng Yue with Jinyi didn't get further. I was hoping the two would be together. Oh well...too bad! Maybe a spin-off drama of the two....who knows.
Will definitely watch this again. I already watched the initial episodes twice....will re-watch the whole series again soon.
Happy watching to those who haven't seen this series yet! :)
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