Ripe Town

There is no justice when seeking revenge.

Revenge will never give you a peace of mind, because it will always create victims that will hunt you till their last day. Never ending spiral of survival in the world that does not care.

It’s a drama that requires a lot of patience - 10 episodes in I still felt rather clueless about the past events and their impact on the current timeline. Maybe not completely blind, for sure not seeing the big picture thought. The writer takes their sweet time to explain the murders, their motive, connection between victims and the wanted outcome depending on the side. While the actual explanation is more or less spoon-fed to the audience, it does not feel like they tried to insult my lack of perception, but rather elaborate on the vague idea I already had in my head. It was delivered in a way that seemed appropriate taking into consideration the long and detailed set up.

I am not sure how much of a main character Qu San Geng was. For me I saw him more like a vessel for narration. While the story directly impacted him, somehow he seemed a little bit detached from it. Technically he was the force driving the investigation forward, so why does his presence feel so passive? I’m not mad about it, I think he served his purpose perfectly, but maybe I just expected to connect to his character a little bit more?

Ripe Town is a story about injustice - be it legal or social. About the power of status and money. About idealistic ideas that are crushed by reality. This is not a fun investigation, one could even say the ending feels unsatisfying. But that unsatisfying ending actually perfectly fits the story. I felt deeply frustrated more than once and even the more lighthearted moments left a bitter taste in my mouth.

That said, it was not all pain and suffering. Thanks to many interesting main and supporting characters, I can with full confidence say it was an enjoyable watch. Song Chen easily being the best of them all - not exactly good, but definitely not bad. Sticking to his convictions and morals. I also really like the “sidekick trio” Leng Gui Er, Gao Shi Cong and Feng Ke Zhui. Their dynamics were the ray of sunshine and fun that gave me a little bit of peace of mind.

One thing the drama did a phenomenal job with was making me switch my opinions about characters back and forth depending on the amount of information I had. It clearly shows the depth of the story and the characters’ actions. Nothing is quite as black and white as it may seem.

Performance wise, Yu Yao as Lu Zhi was probably my favorite along with Ning Li and Bai Yu Fan. Personally these 3 were the true main characters for me, and everyone kind of faded into background compared.

As for the production, I loved the color schemes used - the grays, blues and greens with hints of warm tones from lanterns created a somber and grim picture that accompanied the at times bleak reality of the characters.

Overall, I would for sure recommend it, but it is better as a binge watch. Be patient with how the story unfolds, you will get your conclusions at the right time.

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Ordinary in the most extraordinary way

A male lead that is ordinary in appearance but extraordinary in his analysis
A county that is ordinary on the surface but hides an extraordinary history
Officials which are ordinary but hides so much extraordinary pain and suffering

An intriguing drama that weaves a compelling tale of how nothing is as it seems as truth after truth is revealed. Leaving you with the ultimate question - who is the villain? People who are intelligent and helpful turn out to be murderers and not just one or two! Victim of circumstances? Fate?

Beautifully shot and told, it made you feel like you were transported back in time with its realistic costumes and props. Actors were all great and I was glad to have a male lead that was more ordinary looking than his 2 sidekicks!

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─ justice that comes too late is not justice .

Ripe Town is the most poetic noir drama I've ever seen, captivating me from the very first scene. It unfolds its story in a mesmerizing manner, blending compelling dialogues, cinematography, aesthetics, and the use of natural sounds ─ and elements such as water. Despite the focus on fire due to main case of the drama, the scenes featuring water made me think how they reflected the story's flow and pacing so perfectly.

The pacing of Ripe Town is notably unconventional ─ not slow per se, but each episode feels like a standalone movie, rich in mystery and depth. It's not the kind of drama you binge; it demands digestion between episodes, which, for me, enhanced the viewing experience. The final episode, in particular, left a lasting impression with its profound dialogue on justice, highlighting the drama's core theme. It's definitely one of my favourite episodes to watch.

The acting doesn't even need a comment, each actor delivers their role with precision. The gradual revelation of truths and the evolving perspectives on characters are beautifully shaped, deepening the narrative's complexity. The actors' voices also enrich the poetic dialogues, adding another layer of depth to them.

The OST is particularly memorable, it's such a hypnotizer. I couldn't skip it at the end of episodes.

Overall, I really enjoyed watching Ripe Town and I think I will return for a rewatch whenever I need something calm yet enigmatic.

Link to edit: https://youtu.be/8U2TTjxzcps

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A GREAT SHORT DRAMA

Only 12 episodes all together. A realistic set up, less make-up and none beautification (great!), great flowing story, good acting for every actors. Setting in the 37th year of the Wan Li Time of the Ming Administration, there were progressive homicides in the region seat of Jiangnan District. The personalities of the dead were unique and inconsequential to one another but they had similarity; intention, message left in the dead bodies, all pointing to the fire burning accident to Lu family 20 years earlier. As a apprentice Qu San Geng (Bai YuFan) of his dead teacher Captain Leng, he was a bailiff who try to decoding the murder mystery of his teacher and other unrelated victims. With the help of his friends Gao Shi Cong (Liu YiTong), Feng Ke Zhui (Zhang Hao Wei), Leng Gui Er (Julia Xiang) Captain Leng's only daughter. They uncovered (figuratively) worm-box of 20 years old secret; one clue and one witness at a time, victim's dark pasts, the connection of victims to each other. Song Chen (Ning Li) was an upright well-respected official who became Qu SanGeng mentor, He's the County Judge who appointed by the Emperor because of the error judgement when he was much younger, so much tortures for wrong conviction, experience injustices, he became disable - his mind though still as bright as his younger-self, he's now uphold justice for other people.

Background of the crime
The sad story about 3 teenager best friends, because of the greed and anger 20 years ago that cause destructive motivation. Unlikely best friend were young Lu Zhi, Xiao Bao, Lu Bu Yao came from different social status background; Lu Zhi was the servant of Lu family, Lu Bu Yao was his young master, Xiao Bao was attendant for a brothel. The Lu elder humiliated and punished Lu Zhi that drove him to seek revenge and gained some money with the encouragement from Mr. Zhong the steward, with the help of other 4 helpers they killed the whole Lu family with poison and burned down the house. Lu Zhi as adopted son Of Lu elder claimed the wealth of Lu family and divided between them. After stay away and low, they came back to town as rich merchants and respected by people in town. Recently, they've been murdered of those individuals connected with devastating fire. Captain Leng, murdered for involvement in cold-closed case. Lin Si Niang murdered for where was all started, Dr. Cheng murdered for fake prescription poison all Lu's, Wang Chen the gambler murdered for killing the mother Lu and Lu baby girl, other 3 victims related to the accident. Although Qu SanGeng knew the identity of the culprits, he made the choice to pick one of 2 devious killers to take on his revenge .

The setting was same location as 'Under Microscope' or 'Pledge of Allegiance' so for those who love those 2 dramas, we're getting the same vibes - same genre with different plots.

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A grim illustration of how corruption slowly destroys a civilisation

Once upon a time, they were young and innocent… but a corrupt world can ruin the sweetest souls…

At the start of the show, our three main characters give a toast and exclaim to each other: “It’s really difficult to be a decent man!”

This statement gets more true as the show progresses.

Ripe Town is set during the 37th year of the Wan Li Period of the Ming Dynasty. Emperor Wanli is said to be the cause of the dynasty’s downfall.

His neglect of government affairs caused corruption to fester in the kingdom and had a trickle down effect. Ripe Town is a great illustration of how this corruption affected the lives of the common people.

When Ripe Town dropped, there was barely any buzz about the show. There weren’t any high-traffic idol actors, and the story didn’t seem enticing. A historical serial killer drama? Hmm. I wasn’t in the mood for something that dark.

Then, I saw the trailer, and my jaw dropped at how athmospheric and moody it all was, so different from the day-glo plasticky beauty of so many cdramas these days, that I couldn’t help but watch it. I was further motivated by the fact that it was only 12 episodes long.

In the end, I binged through the entire series in two days and I have to say it was totally worth it!
What I liked about the drama:

1. The high production quality

What a pleasure it is to watch Ripe Town. There is no overuse of filters (actually none that I can see), no over-bright lighting, and the costumes are fitting for the time.

In fact, I really like that people’s outfits have literal patches of fabric used to repair the outfit, which often than naught, appeared worn out on our characters. Talk about determination to portray things authentically. The lower classes rarely have pretty robes to wear and often mend their clothes over and over again.

2. The acting

It is👌 I enjoyed the heck out of the acting. Loved the actors who played Lu Zhi and Judge Song.
The tight plot

Ripe Town is a rare drama, not just because of its high production quality but that it is succinct. It is a 12-episode drama in an entertainment landscape littered with 40-episode, bloated dramas. (To think that a drama could get up to 80+ episodes in the “old days” before the government decided that 40 episodes was the maximum number of episodes allowed.)

Every minute of Ripe Town demands your complete attention. You can’t fast forward to skip ahead because you’ll probably miss an essential clue in a dialogue or a scene.

3. The complex characters

Of all the characters in Ripe Town, it is the honorouble Judge Song that catches my attention. Not just because of the excellent actor who played him, but because he has a streak of nobility and goodness that seemed incongruous at a time when law officers “partner” with criminal gangs to maintain “peace”.

But in this world, is anyone free of the stain of immorality?

4, The authentic mood

Ripe Town is filmed in an ancient town where the walls were covered in moss or patched over or grey with dirt, as if symbolising the decay in the society. It magnifies the feeling of decay pervasive not only in the crumbling society, but in the justice system.

It is like watching a historical Chinese version of a moody, serial killer drama, and they make sure that everything, from the sets, the color palette and the lighting, reflect that.

5. What I didn’t like, and thoughts about the ending (slight spoilers)

Before I finally watched the ending, I was a tad worried about how the show will end because someone on Mydramalist complained how disappointed they were with the ending.

But after watching it, I thought it was really appropriate and fitting. All in all it was a very satisfying ending.

The thought that came to my head was: I was sad for everyone, including the bad guys. Because they were the product of their brutal environment, and one must do what one must to survive. In this upside-down world, being honourable and just is a foolish way to live; the smart ones use deceit and subterfuge to get ahead.

Ripe Town also kept me guessing till the very end. I could not guess the identity of the killer until the very end and did not expect that person to be the big bad at all! The actor who played the person was excellent too. Totally threw me off.

The only thing I wasn’t so pleased about was the twist at the end where (warning: spoilers!) the Big Bad turned out to be someone unexpected.

It would’ve been far, far, far more satisfying if the writers had not made the unexpected twist. In fact, I thought it was a rather cheap twist. It was a flaw in an otherwise almost perfect drama.

Still, I was SO worried that Ripe Town would go the open-ended route that is so trendy these days with so many CDramas that I didn’t mind that extra twist. I was like, phew, at least we get some kind of definite closure!

Ripe Town really highlights how corruption was the downfall of the Ming dynasty, and what enabled the Manchus to take over. With the rot infecting the justice system, the entire foundation of the empire was going to crumble sooner or later as good men are sacrificed on the altars of deceit and vengeance, to the detriment of the entire civilisation.

All in all, a very worthwhile investment of your time. The very high Douban rating of 8.6* seems to agree with me!

Also blogged here: https://dramatea88.wordpress.com/2023/11/01/ripe-town-review/

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well written + well acted = highly entertaining

If you're tired of the giant, mediocre celebrity machine, Ripe Town (or Under the Prosperous City) is a breath of fresh air. Qu Sangeng is a bailiff in the very early 1600's whose revered master is murdered as the start of a chain, leading him to re-investigate a 20 year old buried case of a mass murder of an entire wealthy family. With only a handful of trusted friends close to him, he battles not only gang leaders and hostile witnesses, but also hostile superiors and his own fellow bailiffs, in his discovery of shocking truths. The concept of justice gets blurred in a world of revenge, where very few have come by their successes honestly. Sangeng is smart and bold, but too naive to recognize what he's not able to control.

Comparisons to A League of Noblemen came to mind as I started watching, but Ripe Town is more down to earth. It's only 12 eps long so there's no wasted time. However, many characters were introduced quickly, and flashbacks often were presented without warning, so it was hard to connect people and events until much later in the show. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; it made me pay closer attention to keep pace, and by the end it all comes together. I'm not familiar with the classical reference, Analects of Confucius, which is a major focus of the hunt for the serial killer, so I won't comment on its role in the story. But, I am one for whom a music score greatly affects my engagement with a show, and this show had interesting drum rhythms similar to that of A League of Nobleman (which featured an intriguing drum solo for its entire opening theme). It perfectly complemented an exciting chase scene as the Hunter Squad takes down a monkey demon thief on the run.

The acting was very good and I was especially impressed with the performance of 16 year old Yu Yao. Yu's role is listed as a support role, but so much time is spent on his character's backstory that he should be considered the 2nd lead. He was able to portray someone of high intelligence, and cunning, with surprising maturity. All of the young teenage characters are subdued, which adds to the ominous atmosphere of the story. Yu is definitely one to watch for in the future.

The story is not a bromance, which seems to be the going popular theme, but is still very male-centric. There was even a poke at the trope of females disguising themselves as males by simply wearing male attire. While this inexplicably works in too many shows, it's flat out rejected in Ripe Town in an amusing scene.

I wish more shows would have this level of writing, that challenge your assumptions of who is good or bad, your expectations of a main character as hero, as well as your ability to predict what will happen next. The scenes were beautifully shot, no sloppy editing, and the 12 ep length made for a nice, tight story. Overall, it was one of the more entertaining shows I've seen this year.

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Dark suspense with great characters

There isn't much to add to the story that others haven't already extensively reviewed. Partially because with plots like this one, it's actually better to not read too much about it and just jump right into it like I did. The heavy suspense theme isn't usually my first choice of genres but I really enjoyed the pacing of this one. The highlight here is the complexity of the characters and the choices they make that derive from their own individual desires. The series does a great job zooming in on each relevant character and piecing their pasts to their present. This isn't one where there is a idealistic hero or villain but simply grey areas across the board under various circumstances, which is something I appreciate.

Although the overall theme is relatively dark and moody, they are able to counter it with the lighter moments of the past and the natural humor and warmth from interactions. The relationships between the cast are shown in subtle but meaningful ways and there isn't a need to be in your face about it, which I also appreciate. The underlying mystery of the killer and the past is also done really well because you'll find yourself continuously guessing.

My only complaint is that they made it a bit too over-complex at times and especially tried too hard at the end. They didn't highlight certain characters enough to be clear on who they were and what their role was such as Magistrate Wei's right-hand man. They also didn't conclude Qu Sangeng's role well in the end either. So while I wasn't a huge fan of how they ended it, the journey towards it was still quite enjoyable.

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One artsy series with high production and directing quality

I'm not so crazy about the story (to each's own), but some people might like it. I give it a 9 because this is one of the few martial arts series I've seen with a high-quality production value—especially the directing. The director is an artist. He did the slow motions perfectly, not over-abused and repetitious. The music is top-notch. Very fitting of the moods. The OS is excellent with a Blues undertone. The storytelling is a bit confusing., but due to the production value, you stick with it. This is not a typical roll-out martial arts series where the ending will spoil the entire series after you binge-watch and feel burnt out and disappointed. The length is just right. A build-up of surprising elements. As I mentioned, the director is someone to watch after. I am looking forward to his other works.

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I think this drama has a unique storyline that you don't often see these days. It's a crime-solving drama entangled with two timelines, so you might feel confused at first trying to connect the characters in the present and the past. Rather than being character-focused, this drama tells you more about a society that appears prosperous on the surface, yet whose morality is increasingly in decline. That's why Qu San Geng who is supposed to be the main character, doesn't really feel like one; instead, he comes across more as a tool to help viewers discover the plot, because the story isn't really about him.

Song Chen is the best character, while young Lu Zhi (the adult Lu Zhi almost has nothing to do with the young one, just to keep the suspense) is the most interesting one. It's funny how young Lu Zhi is only listed as the 7th character in this drama, considering how important he is to the plot.

The director is definitely talented, and the production quality is top-notch. The cinematography is also outstanding. It truly captures the feel of the ancient Ming Dynasty, which was one of the most prosperous periods in Chinese history but also the one of the most autocratic of all Chinese dynasties, emphasizing Neo-Confucian values, rigid social controls, and female chastity. The lighting in this drama is used brightly, portraying both the prosperity and the suffocating atmosphere of that era.

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An Atmospheric Story That Blends Mystery with a Poignant Exploration of Justice and Human Nature

Wow. When I first started, I wasn't expecting to be blown away. I just thought it would be nice to find a short costume drama since most are much longer, and I liked several of Bai Yufan's previous performances. He seems to gravitate toward serious projects with strong scripts and layered storytelling, so I figured my chances of finding something I'd enjoy were pretty high if he was cast. And I feel like that's exactly what I got.

This drama explores justice and injustice, obsession and fate, accountability, and how even good people can make misguided decisions. By the end, it didn't feel like anyone truly won, and coming to terms with that made for an incredibly poignant experience. It was a genuinely dynamic watch for me.

I especially loved how much attention the production team paid to every detail. From the way the scenery, lighting, and settings established the tone to the careful use of sound—whether it was the crunch of gravel beneath their feet or the gentle rush of the stream as they fished—I didn't just watch this drama, I experienced it. I also loved how the narrative played with different timelines, deepening the intrigue as it moved back and forth between the past and present, gradually revealing what had happened. It was a gripping story centered on ordinary people living ordinary lives, yet it left a profound and lasting impression.

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Reflection on the eyes that oversee human justice.

I considered Ripe Town one of the most difficult and complex dramas I have ever watched.
Unlike the usual revenge dramas, this one presents us with a tangled story of controversial characters, leading us to experience countless different emotions.

I was surprised throughout the development of the plot and, I confess, there were many moments when I found myself confused, with recurring doubts—even about which characters the scene was focusing on.

The historical period in which the story takes place transports us to a dark world full of nuances, whether in customs, the unscrupulous application of justice, or the ambiguous nature of most characters.

This is not a story about heroes, much less a drama that makes us sympathize with the wronged and, in turn, rally behind their vengeful cause. It is, above all, a story with raw characters—human in their essence, prone to mistakes, missteps, weaknesses, good feelings, or, in some cases, absolute cruelty.

In a story without heroes, at the very least, we must appreciate the expertise and creativity of the criminals. Every crime was meticulously crafted, and even though they occur in different time periods, they were seamlessly tied to the present moment of the avenger.

Ripe Town is a drama that captivated me with its persistence and the desire to unravel so many mysteries. The translation in the version I watched left much to be desired, perhaps due to the complexity of the period's dialogues, which, in fact, made it harder for me to fully appreciate the overall context.

Despite my difficulty in fully grasping the work as it deserves, I really enjoyed the production.

It is not a drama for everyone, but it will appeal to viewers who appreciate a good mystery and a deep reflection on the eyes that oversee human justice.

I loved it!

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