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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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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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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A Great Show with Solid Story
I found this drama unexpectedly while browsing YouTube. Even though I do not like the female lead actress at first, the storyline attracts me so I watch it. I wish for a better actress for female lead, but I found the actress likeable as I continue watching the drama. There is no annoying characters, no jealous love triangle, and no stupid misunderstanding between the main leads. It is not just only the main couple solving all the cases, outsmarting everyone else. All the characters have their own story, their own strength, and their own personality. The love story is not cheesy, and the whole drama is not sluggish. It is well written, well built, and well paced. Costumes are the only thing that shows this drama is a low budget one; the plot, the cast and the acting are no low quality. All in all, it is a drama well worthy of praises.Was this review helpful to you?
chicken soup for the soul
Have you seen this story before? Yes. The secret identity? The missing person? The plot to overthrow the kingdom? It's all there. And yet where another drama might have faltered or been cliche, this drama not only rises above its peers but stands solely on its own. Honestly, the last time I felt so nourished and so emotionally attached to a story was probably when I watched 上错花轿嫁对郎 or 还珠格格. Yeah, it's that good.Let's start with all the reasons why you should watch this drama. It's perfectly cast, for one. Wang Ziqi might not be your traditional eye-candy-boy, but trust me, he and his character Xiao Jinyu will haunt you long after the drama is over. I love "newcomer" actors who don't rely on their stardom to attract viewers (something that unfortunately happens all too often in cdrama land) but more than that, I love when a newcomer can act. And holy hell can Wang Ziqi act. Su Xiaotong is also perfect for her role as Chu Chu, and the chemistry between the FL and ML is perfect. Just perfect. So is the chemistry between the main couple and all of the other side characters. Nothing is overdone. Everything is organic and refreshing and just so wholesome.
Next is the script. This is how every script in cdrama land should be executed. The dialogue is fitting for the times, yet also accessible. The characters feel real, and none of the dilemmas are trite or overwrought. Best of all is the lack of angst for the sake of angst or miscommunication for the sake of fulfilling some fan popular trope. When something tropey or comical does occur, it's perfectly executed. The script writers have an excellent grasp of 度, and more than that, they clearly put a lot of care and thought into the script (perhaps to compensate for the lower production values, but more on that later).
Finally is the execution of the scenes and small detective/coroner details. Again, a lot of care went into these moments and I love how they not only fleshed out the world and time period but also furthered character interactions, intentions, and memorability.
I've seen some reviews talk about the lower production quality and honestly it wasn't a problem for me. The cinematography, color corrections, and costumes all appeared cohesive. My only "negative" note is that at times, there was a lack of stakes. The villains didn't really feel threatening. The overall plot wasn't really urgent. But I put negative in quotes because HAD the villains been more powerful and the plot more tense, the drama probably would have lost some of its emotional charm. As is, the viewing experience feels like drinking a warm bowl of chicken soup and I'd trade that feeling for nothing.
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Went in with low expectations but thoroughly surprised
This was one of my best historical investigation drama finds by far. With a strong plot and great cast, The Imperial Coroner took me by surprise as I went in with low expectations. Although this drama did not have a high budget, it was impressive how the crew still managed to produce such great work.Firstly, the plot was well thought out, with many objects or topics (伏笔) that were planted in early parts of the drama, only to be brought up again after the audience had forgotten about them almost completely. The plot also flowed smoothly, explaining how the characters meet realistically (no cliche romance trope), with each character having a strong background whether it was relating to friends, family, or colleagues.
Next, I really need to emphasise on the visuals — literally. The sketches, illustrations, and cute cartoon characters shown when explaining complicated concepts were very appreciated!! The team really considered their audience with insertions of these illustrations, making all those complicated concepts much easier to understand and also interesting to watch. Other than that, the realism of each scene was also great (e.g. night looked like night, getting stuck in fire & in the cave, etc.).
Lastly, one of my favourites was how every character had brains and could think and work independently or as a team. We could witness the growth of trust between XJY & CC , and how the team (XJY, JY, CC, LY, XJL) worked better with each other after understanding each other better. Each of them took the lead for what they were good at and did not try to act smart when it came to areas not to their expertise. It made the whole plot seem more realistic, similar to how people actually work in real life.
0.5 deducted just because the last 1-2 eps started getting slightly draggy trying to stop the antagonist.
This was a great drama that I immensely enjoyed. It's a well-paced story with (almost) no overly ridiculous romance and draggy scenes, along with complicated concepts that were made dummy-proof.
All in all, I loved it and shall pray for the day another drama like this comes along.
See you next time, peach
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Refreshingly Entertaining
After having seen so many series that follow the recipe of non-stop betrayals, it was quite refreshing to see a solid comradery play out. It was also just as refreshing to see subtle human touches being added to relationships between the mains and the supports. The pacing of the plot was nice and steady, without any overly dramatized cliffhangers or extremely long periods of nothingness. Although there's obvious non-realistic aspects to the autopsies which is one of the main highlights to the theme, it was done well enough to not deter. The other positive is although there was some romance, it wasn't overdone.The only two qualms I had was that the role of the female coroner was lackluster. I haven't seen the actress enough to know if it's her acting or if it was just how the role was intended. And while the overall actors did a great job, there isn't much character development throughout the series. However, everyone stayed true to character and it was an enjoyable series with an ending that felt both slightly abrupt yet fitting. I look forward to how they plan to expand the story in the sequel.
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The Story is Well Written and Flowing Really Well !
The story is well written. Worth my time a lot! Really love how they casted actor and actress. Everyone suit their role. The story is flowing. Scene to scene, every incident relate to one another. There's no hurry. It's just flowing well. No forced flow or scene. I'm just skipped the opening and closing music so I don't know how to score the music. But in the drama, the music is okay and good at building the vibes. I was captivated by the story and the scene. I'm not this person that love to rewatch a drama. But if you guys love to rewatch, I think this is worth! Just see how the story planned well really make me happy. The cast also make me happy. I laugh, I cry, thrilled. I think it's near perfect!There is one thing. I NEED MORE EPISODES TO SAW JIN YU, CHUCHU, LENG YUE AND JING YI. COME ON! I can't believe it's already finish. :'
That's all from me who loves crime, forensic and imperial drama.
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Exciting Plot! Chemistry between leads!
This drama came highly recommended by a dear friend and so, I had to ‘add to list’. I’m so glad that I did. Her recommendation is a good one and I’d like to share this exciting drama with others!This drama is fairly under the radar and I’d like it very much if more people get to know about this drama and watch this drama.
Watch because:
- acting is great
- no big name stars but the actors and actresses do a fabulous job of bringing the story and their characters to life
- the leads aren’t the most gorgeous looking ones out there but they have great chemistry and look pleasant enough
- the leads are sincere to each other and are truly in love with each other — I’m a sucker for such pure affections
- the story is exciting, riveting, intriguing — I had to watch one episode after another
- music is good enough
- story isn’t gory and gruesome despite it being a ‘coroner’ show — I’m easily squeamish and yet, I found this drama sensitive enough for ‘delicate viewers’ like myself
- ending is as happy as possible
I’d say: Watch!! Watch!! It’s excellent!!
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