Yan Yu Fu (2022)

Amor y libertad

Me gustó mucho esta historia de romance y misterios, empezó con enemies to lover y creo que en esta parte acertaron, ya que al principio los protagonistas no se soportaban, pero después de irse conociendo y conviviendo, empezaron a desarrollar sentimientos y a querer protegerse el uno al otro.

Me encantaba que Qiu Yan a pesar de vivir en una época y cultura regida por el machismo, fuera una mujer tan decididida y tenaz, que siempre se esmeraba por cumplir sus metas y no se dejaba pisotear de nadie... Aunque a veces me desesperaba que fuera tan imprudente e impulsiva porque se metía a ella y a otros en problemas por no pensar antes de actuar; con Liang Yi me paso lo contrario, al principio me fastidiaba porque me parecía un hombre frío y odioso, pero después entendí que eso solo era una máscara, que el vivir en medio de la corte y para sobrevivir a ella y a todos los enemigos que pudieran surgir tenía que ser cauteloso y analítico; él ayudaba a las personas, pero con prudencia y creando planes que no generarán muchos problemas; y estaba tan enamorado de Qiu Yan qué sin importar las veces que ella arruinara esos planes, él siempre buscaba una solución; creo que era un gran ejemplo de amor real, porque siempre la protegía y la apoyaba, pero aún así respetaba su libertad y jamás quiso tenerla amarrada y cortar sus alas; también me encantaba lo bien que se complementaban a la hora de resolver casos, eran la pareja perfecta, aunque les pusieran mil obstáculos, ellos lograban resolver todos los problemas y misterios que se les atravesaba.

La mayoría de casos eran interesantes, aunque a veces habían unos que desesperaban un poco al tener tantas complicaciones. En cuanto a personajes secundarios los más destacados fueron Qin Xuan, que era un hombre maravilloso, pero que me hubiera gustado que tuviera más autoestima y se alejara de la familia Qiu, que siempre lo hacían sufrir injustamente; y la hermana menor de Qiu Yan, Min, al principio me daba lastima por lo frágil que era, pero después de lo qué hizo para manipular y lastimar a Qin Xuan, le agarre mucho fastidio, se me hacía una niña insoportable, envidiosa y caprichosa, que aunque entiendo que sufrió mucho, los demás no tenían la culpa, especialmente Qin Xuan qué fue el más afectado por ambas hermanas, que solamente lo utilizaron y no lo valoraron.

También fue triste perder a varios otros personajes, pues a muchos de ellos se les podía tomar cariño, y creo que todos los personajes, incluyendo los protagonistas eran personajes grises que cometian muchos errores, pero todo era para poder sobrevivir al mundo cruel al que se enfrentaban, sin embrago, después de tantas pruebas pudieron evolucionar, por eso era fácil empatizar con ellos... Excepto con Yuan Lang, deteste con mi alma a ese tipo, era malo y manipulador, causó daño y fue el culpable de muchas muertes injustas y me enojo que al final no tuviera castigo 😤

El final se me hizo agridulce, pero me gustó; siento que demostró lo más importante de la relación de los protagonistas en cuánto a que si amor era tan grande, que no les importaba sufrir con tal de que su amado pudiera ser feliz y estar tranquilo, pero ese amor tiene su recompensa y estaban tan ligados qué su destino era reencontrarse y cumplir sus sueños juntos 🥰

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Fresh twists on old cliches.

At first glance, Autumn Ballad looks like just another light historical romance featuring a strong, independent heroine with 21st-century attitudes and aspirations. Yet with a chock full of fresh twists on old cliches, this manages to surprise and delight with an all too familiar tale of a lowly illegitimate daughter who finds love most unexpectedly on her quest for self-determination. This well-told story with an authentic voice is carried by Xu Zhengxi and Qiao Xin's heartfelt performances which make me invested in their characters before I even like them.

What I like most about Qiu Yan is that she is really not that nice or always that smart. Phew, what a welcome relief from the all too common suffocatingly flawless heroines. This is where notably Yu Zheng's recent, much higher budget projects fall way short by comparison despite big-name actresses. Trapped and exploited by her low birth status, Qiu Yan is the anti-Cinderella - her stepmother is her fairy godmother; she gives as good as she gets to her step-sisters and her mysterious prince leaves her a fan at the stroke of midnight. She tries for the best hand from the cards she is dealt and if she has to use a few people or step on toes along the way, so be it. She can be as harsh, selfish, and unforgiving as she is brave, capable, and loyal. She schemes, miscalculates, and makes mistakes with real consequences for herself and for others. I don't always like or agree with her but can understand her desperation and humanity.

Liang Yi is a pretty gray character which makes him my kind of male lead. Beneath his icy, civilized veneer he is a calculating, manipulative, ends-justify-the-means kind of guy with an agenda and he plays a long game. His path crosses with Qiu Yan repeatedly over the course of his investigations as head of the powerful Firewood Bureau. From the get-go, Liang Yi sees through Qiu Yan's machinations with contempt and tries to frustrate her designs on Qin Xuan. But he stops short of throwing her under the bus, perhaps in silent acknowledgment of his own utilitarian nature. When their interest align they agree to collaborate and are unflinchingly honest with each other about what's in it for them. In doing so, they also reveal the better sides of their nature and as they grow on each other, I fall for them. Qiu Yan is no damsel in distress in need of rescuing and Liang Yi can be as much cad as a knight in shining armor. They are kindred spirits and when they join forces, the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. It is inevitable that conflict and antagonism spark mutual awareness and passion. Their repartee is witty and the dialogue humorously highlights universal truths about human nature and the role of women in society. Is it too contemporary to be realistic? Probably but who cares?

This drama ought to be the gold standard for how realistic, believable relationships should be developed and portrayed. Xu Zhengxi really captures the essence of how Liang Yi's feelings for Qiu Yan evolve from dislike and distrust to grudging respect and consternation when it dawns upon him that he added to her burdens. His ironic, disbelieving expression as he comes to terms with his feelings for her kills me every time. This is by far the best-acted, anchor performance in the drama, elevated by the OTP's undeniable screen chemistry. While Qiao Xin stages a convincing, empathetic complimentary act, she falls short in her crying scenes.

The supporting characters are also mostly well-written and I particularly appreciate the balanced point of view with respect to the sibling rivalry between Qiu Min and Qiu Yan. Both Qiu Min and Qin Xuan are less thoughtfully written but despite their character flaws, they both get a pretty raw deal. The writers seem to know how to design layered and interesting characters but don't know how to finish their stories. Too many characters get outcomes (good and bad) that are underserved. There are so many gratuitous deaths I wonder whether they were running out of money.

Though far from a masterpiece of suspense and intrigue, the overarching conspiracy that loosely connects the cases moves at a fast pace and is quite well conceived and not just contrived to allow the couple to discover each other. It is a story that has enough momentum and characters with agency that the ending should write itself. Instead, with about 6 episodes to go, the writing inexplicably deviates into flashbacks, forced angst, melodrama, and excessive plot twists that culminate in a just barely satisfactory ending. If not for the sag towards the end, I would rate this production that shines in spite of its modest budget better than a very enjoyable 8/10.

This is not a fairytale but that is what makes it so much fun. It is well worth watching for the fascinating and hilarious relationship dynamics alone.

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