The Story of Pearl Girl

A crying shame.

The Story of Pearl Girl is the story of an intrepid pearl diver's harrowing journey from the despair of a slave farm to the heights of the prosperous Yangzhou jewelry guild. Aided by an erudite nobleman Zhang Jinran and a ruthless and calculating merchant Yan Zijing, Duanwu escapes from the exploitative clutches of the Cui clan. She throws her lot with Yan Zijing, choosing to make her own way in the world as a merchant galley serf over the more certain future of a nobleman's harem. After multiple betrayals and double crosses in the dog-eat-dog culture aboard Zijing's ship, she emerges clear eyed and better equipped to survive a ruthless, avaricious business world. She learns that underneath his merciless facade, Zijing is saving her by teaching her to save herself; that they have a shared past that she has barely scratched the surface of understanding.

Set in a cruel world fraught with treachery, avarice and oppression that belies the ostentatious luxury of the jewelry trade, the narrative is laden with an air of heaviness from start to finish. It is a character story about how one resilient woman fights her way to the top of the jewelry business during feudal China. The characters are well designed with Duanwu and Cui Shijiu as two women who have to fight for their place in a man's world; one who starts with nothing and the other with everything, to lose. Likewise the cynical and realistic Yan Zijing went to the school-of-hard-knocks while the righteous and idealistic Zhang Yiran clearly had an ivory tower education. Both Yan Zijing and Cui Shijiu are consumed by revenge and on opposite sides of a blood feud not of their own making but one's cause is just while the other's is not. I enjoyed watching how these characters, with at times common and at other times with opposing world views interact and react to the situations they are thrown into. Plot wise, the logic holes are evident from the start but for character driven stories, I am very forgiving for as long as the characters stay largely consistent and relatable. But once the characters start to unravel, the issues with the plot are amplified and the entire narrative becomes a mess.

I genuinely enjoyed and was engaged by the first arc of this drama. It is both fascinating and difficult to watch the stunning backdrop of the swashbuckling high seas and the exotic and dangerous Silk Road marred by the unmitigated oppression and cruelty of the ancient world, especially towards women and children. Zhao Lusi's Duanwu is spirited, tenacious and undaunted as she fails again and again until she succeeds. I could understand why Yan Zijing resonated better with her but could also see that she lacked the maturity to appreciate how Zhang Yiran's wisdom and knowledge of the law would aid her later on. These three main characters richly complement each other in their strengths and flaws to make a formidable team when they work together. I didn't mind the romance but I didn't need it and it went a bit abruptly from red flag master-servant to lovers. Nonetheless I was looking forward to it growing and had hoped to see them right past wrongs together. I did not expect it to take a wrong turn down the path of the worst noble idiot trope in recent memory, nor for it to last pretty much until the end of the drama. That is when The Story of Pearl Girl, turns into yet another period drama that starts strong and then inexplicably nosedives at the mid-point and never manages to recover.

After the convoy arc, a traumatized Duanwu re-emerges as Su Muzhe, a detached, gently sad and bland character who Disney princess cries almost every other episode. Lusi's vapid and weepy interpretation of the role lost me as much as her Duanwu engaged me. Duanwu would have gotten angry and demanded an explanation from Zijing or plotted revenge. I was baffled by the Su Muzhe who manages to coldly co-exists with him in the same city, moves on and focuses on business, vowing to live a good life nonetheless. This is so out of character it is almost impossible to reconcile Su Muzhe with Duanwu. I rooted for the feisty Duanwu of the first half who dares to love and dares to hate. The passive aggressive Su Muzhe who only dares to cry turns what could have been a terrific story into a crying shame. The narrative meanders into maudlin sub-plots about boring and poorly acted tragic side characters. Gratuitous crying scenes have diminishing impact, no matter how good the actor is at them. Long before the drama ended, I was bored by Su Muzhe's endless pity parties and stopped caring for her. Su Muzhe is not the kind of role that plays to Lusi's innate strengths and charisma. I hope she avoids taking on such characterisations in the future.

The other narrative mistake was to separate the three anchor characters at the same time so many of the early supporting roles are transitioned into new ones, forcing the audience reinvest in new characters all over again. Yue Yunxiu is a boring, flighty character that has no chemistry with Su Muzhe and fails to shore her up in the same way Kang Ju lifts up Yan Zjijing. The entire business partnership between the women lacks flair and pizazz; I can't imagine any joy in shopping for jewelry at an establishment run by such a dolorous pair. The narrative makes a lame attempt at comedy too late in the game and it is largely left to actors that lack Lusi's fantastic comedic timing. Even when the three friends join hands again, their dynamic is not the same and Duanwu never reemerges.

As for the romance, it stagnates even after they reunite and never blossoms into a full blown relationship. I would have liked to see them seize the day and live in the moment in a way that gives us something really worth crying over. Instead all we do is watch them mourn what could have been. It is incredibly unfair to Muzhe because Zijing refuses to move forward but yet can't set her free either. I wish they both chose differently but since they did not, the way their romance ends is fitting. I respected Zijing's choices especially in the end but I think Su Muzhe's victories were all hollow and I hoped she would find Duanwu again within herself but she never does. I enjoyed how Liu Yuning portrayed Yan Zijing's darkness and complexity but after the best first arc, he is too quickly whitewashed and sidelined. Even though the final arc is all about his justice, he doesn't get to do that much as the hidden villain is too obvious to the audience early on and most of the antagonists are so dumb they pretty much outed themselves.

Zhang Yiran is the best of friends and that rare character that does the right thing even when its the wrong thing for himself. While Duanwu didn't fit in to his world, he may eventually have been able to console Su Muzhe and I wish they had left that door open just a crack. As for Cui Shijiu, this character caught and held my interest from start to finish as a result of Xie Keyin's bold screen presence and her husky and earthy vocals. Her character is flawed, not that smart or especially well written but Xie Keyin embraced her flaws in such a relatable way and conveyed the role so compellingly that I cared about her and did not drop this drama because I wanted to know how her story ends. She and Zijing are both characters that choose revenge over love but only one of them lives to regret it.

The biggest issue with the storytelling is that it tries to incorporate too many themes and archaic ideas of what an independent and empowered woman is supposed to be. The writers bend the plot and characters in ways that don't make sense or is out of character in order to force certain themes and outcomes. This is not a good way to tell a story. Both Duanwu and Zijing's characters are thrown under the bus just to prove that a woman can make it on her own in business during feudal China. We watch allegedly smart villains kill off characters with no motive other than for dramatic impact and shock value. But what makes me really mad is that it is another scratch on the surface empowerment story written by misogynists with a thinly veiled and insidious message about the fate of women who dare to try to make it in a man's world. A true empowered woman would seize second chances and live well in the true and full sense and meaning of the term rather than to wander aimlessly as a shadow of their former selves.

This was a heavy journey from start to finish that does not end in satisfactory way and the ending contains some really questionable messages. There is no payoff for all the suffering, no one gets a great ending and promises to live well were not kept. In the name of both Madame Eight and Shrimpy, I dare not rate this more than 7/10. It is not a drama I recommend unless you are a die hard fan of either of the lead actors and are able to enjoy anything they are in.

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The Story of Pearl Girl is Trully Masterpiece

The drama was truly outstanding, an unforgettable experience from start to finish. It combined a gripping story with exceptional performances that brought each character to life in a way that felt raw and real. The cinematography was breathtaking, with stunning visuals that drew you into each scene, making every moment feel immersive and vivid. The soundtrack was equally impressive, perfectly matched to the emotions of each scene, heightening the drama and adding depth to the storytelling. Overall, the film was masterfully crafted, leaving a lasting impact and reminding viewers of the power of great cinema. It’s the kind of movie that resonates with you long after the credits roll.

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ABOUT THE ROMANCE....

Touted as a female-centric drama, The Story of Pearl Girl tells the story of Duanwu's journey from slave girl to entrepreneur. It is a story of hope, perseverance, and resilience. Zhao Lusi's portrayal of the growth of her character from one whose actions came from desperation for freedom to one who uses her prosperity to help other women was captivating. Lusi as a versatile actress is well known. I am not part of any one fandom and have several other actresses I enjoy watching, but I have to say that I cannot imagine another actress in this role. She was outstanding!

One expert in the field of TV and communications noted that "the drama opens up a new direction for the transformation of female-oriented dramas... as there is an awakening of women's consciousness, shifting from a desire to watch love stories to that of watching business dramas. " Well, not me. As much as I enjoy an interesting business drama, I enjoy love stories more. For more details such as expert feedback, background, production, and all things The Story of Pearl Girl please see Frost-edelweiss' companion piece. Just copy and paste the following link or you can find it in discussions at the top of the TSOPG forum. https://kisskh.at/discussions/zhu-lian-yu-mu/131556-the-story-of-pearl-girl-companion-piece.


Romance....

I felt the tension between the leads long before they got together. Lusi and Liu Yuning's chemistry captivated me in such a way that I have never wanted so much for a happy ending. Their relationship did not start with love at first sight...even though I saw a l flicker of interest in Yan Zi Ying's eyes when he saw the beautiful Duanwu in her pearl dance. Their earlier relationship was not one of equality and YZJ was not the gentle hero. You might even find him cruel and unyielding at first but you will come to understand him. The relationship developed at a steady pace. Duanwu's quick mind allowed her to keep up with YZJ. It was obvious he found her fascinating and smart. And little by little he gave in to her wishes. But he also allowed her to learn and to grow on her own. I don't know at what point he realized he loved her, but watching this big tough man fall in love to the point her closeness unnerved him, was endearing in itself. I am unsure if it was character or actor, but the way YZJ held Duanwu's hands, smiled at her, and simply engulfed her in his protective arms melted my heart. And perhaps it wasn't just him, but the chemistry between Lusi and Liu Yuning that made it so special. Viewers have to see for themselves, but anyone who has watched Lusi before will not be surprised. This is my second drama with Liu Yuning as the ML and I find myself loving him the more I watch him. And yes, there are kiss scenes...special kiss scenes...special to their unique chemistry.

While TSOPG is said to NOT be romance centered, it was the love...the chemistry... between YZJ and Duanwu that held me captivated. To me, their relationship was the center. Meeting YZJ, set off a series of events that led to Duanwu's character growth. There were times he watched her fail, and times he helped her. Watch for those little quirks of his lips whenever she succeeds. You will see that he fell first. Duanwu was too busy trying to achieve freedom. I felt the romance every time the leads were together. There is a separation after episode 18, but it doesn't last long and even before the misunderstanding is cleared up, they still see each other. There was never a doubt that YZJ still cared for Duanwu. The lull in their relationship allowed for the FL to grow in her efforts following the ideals of female empowerment. Yes, the plot was interesting and it was gratifying to see Duanwu's resilience and intelligence result in her success as an entrepreneur. BUT it was the chemistry of this couple that had me so invested in this drama that I had ONE WISH! Both Duanwu and YZJ suffered many losses. I wanted them to be happy at the end.


The Ending (SPOILER)

I have no regrets watching The Story of Pearl Girl. It was a beautiful journey. And beautifully performed. Zhao Lusi and Liu Yuning went beyond expectations. While Duanwu and Yan Zi Ying were able to achieve goals and take fate into their own hands, there were some things they could not change. It was heartbreaking to see the dignity in their acceptance that YZJ was going to die. He decided to leave as he did not want her to see him die. He wanted so much to be with her, so it was heartbreaking to see his selflessness even as he cried. It was heartbreaking to see the composure that Duanwu held together for so long fall apart as she asked him not to leave her. But it was beautiful to see the way they were in their last scene. It was when they finally faced the truth together. YZJ didn't have to hide his health from Duanwu, and she no longer had to pretend she didn't know while doing everything she could to help him. Only then did they share their pain. I like to think perspectives changed once it was all in the open. Perhaps YZJ did not leave Duanwu behind. She wished to see the world with him and she told him. She might have convinced him to let her go with him. We don't know how much of an open ending we can see this to be, but knowing Duanwu, she had always been able to sway YZJ to see her way at some point. We do know at the end, that she declined the position as head of the guild so she could travel. Some might say the gradual build-up to finally facing the truth together, sharing the pain, and then shifting to Duanwu receiving recognition for her accomplishments was beautifully done.


But.... I detest sad endings. And I detest open endings. Good for those who feel the ending works for them. Even though I see how beautifully it was done and appreciate the performances of both Liu Yuning and Zhao Lusi I still need to ask, "Wèishéme?" Why? Why couldn't they have had their happy ending? Why must we watch 40 episodes of ups and downs, be dragged for almost 22 episodes hoping for the cure only to find it was hopeless? And why did they make this couple so loving that we feel invested in their outcome? They deserved their happiness. We deserve our happiness! His death was not necessary to show female empowerment or that Duanwu could do this on her own. She had already proven her resilience and capabilities. I gave TSOPG 10s for everything except rewatch value which I put as 9 at first. Then I changed it to a 10 after writing this review because I miss them. Needless to say, I have already rewatched the final episode several times looking for answers. My heart aches and it is hard to move on. They made me love them ....


Liu Yuning sings the OST "Only Wish." Visit Peachey Blossom's The Story of Pearl Girl Full OST video: https://youtu.be/oNvhO0pbO-4 to listen to Liu Yunings beautiful voice. The lyrics show life and death are two extremes of life's journey. We don't always get our wishes because some things are beyond our control. The following are some lyrics that stood out for me in terms of the drama.

Floating life is like a boat , ferrying the sorrows and joys of the world.
I hope this fateful entanglement is half regret and half hope
...the splendid memories will stain your eyes
...the bitterness of the world is still accompanied by dreams.
...I'll be moored on the other side of the river for the rest of your life, watching

The message here is in life there is good and bad. But may you always remember the good times. Even if there are sorrows, there are joys. The joyful memories will never go away. They are worth it. And this is what I have to say about watching this drama. Yes, it has a sad ending or an open ending as you might see it to be. Like the leads, I didn't get the ending I wanted but it doesn't negate the beauty in this drama or all that went into this amazing production. It is a 10 for me. And it is a beautiful journey you should see if only for once.

It is worth it.

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An Emotional Rollercoaster Worth Riding

This drama grabs you from the first scene and refuses to let go, keeping your heart racing long after the credits roll. It’s the kind of story that leaves fingerprints on your soul.

Duan Wu: She’s a force of nature. Fierce, street-smart, and unshaken by challenges—yet there’s a vulnerability in her innocence about life beyond the pearl farm. She’s the girl who punches first and figures out the rest later, and honestly, it works. Hardworking and fearless, but not invincible, her flaws make her real and relatable. Watching her grow into someone even stronger, someone more aware and mature, yet still kind at her core—it’s a transformation so raw and profound, it’s like witnessing a pearl form under pressure.

Yan Zi Jing: Oh, the layers. He’s sharp, complex, and burdened by a past that’s as heavy as it is painful. Living in the grey areas of morality, he’s ruthless when he has to be but still clings to shreds of humanity, refusing to lose himself completely. He’s the guy who looks ridiculously good while taking down enemies and even better while side-eyeing the FL’s stubbornness. A total tsundere, he pretends to be indifferent but sees her in ways that matter. His evolution? Breathless. Watching him rediscover his humanity and love is mesmerizing.

Zhang Jin Ran: The unsung hero. Kind, optimistic, and oh-so-easy to root for. He’s the guy who holds up the light in a dark world, even when it flickers. His hero complex might annoy some, but it’s laced with such genuine care that you can’t help but adore him. His journey from idealistic to grounded is realistic. Honestly? One of the best-written second leads.

Antagonists and Villains: Deliciously dark and grey. The kind that get under your skin, making you rage one second and admire their complexity the next. A perfectly woven balance of evil and intrigue. With a few wicked redemption arcs thrown in.

Acting: Zhao Lusi’s growth as an actress is evident; she’s more captivating than ever here. Her abilities are stronger, more powerful, and stable throughout the drama. She’s mesmerizing, with her emotions hitting you like tidal waves—raw, beautiful, and unrelenting. First time watching Liu Yuning, and he’s impressive—he brings believable subtle emotions and totally owns a tortured, morally grey character that is borderline red flag. His quiet intensity and tortured eyes carrying so much weight, you feel it in your chest. And Tang Xiaotian? Solid and nuanced, keeping his character compelling without overshadowing.

Plot: Fast-paced and brutally real. It’s a story that isn’t afraid to dive into the shadows—exploring slavery, resilience, and redemption with unflinching honesty. The imagery is vivid and unforgettable, lingering like a bittersweet echo. At its heart, it explores the unbreakable bonds of family—the ties that anchor us, but also the ones that weigh us down when love and revenge collide. It’s about a love so deep and unwavering it defies logic, carving through pain and misunderstandings to prove that sometimes, love is not just a feeling but also a choice. Betrayals cut like knives, their sting magnified by the trust that preceded them, and redemption feels hard-earned—messy, imperfect, and profoundly human. This isn’t just a tale of good versus evil; it’s a reflection of life’s grey areas, where the lines between right and wrong blur, and every choice carries a price.

Chemistry: Fire. Between the Duan Wu and Yan Zi Jing, it’s charged with simmering heat, the kind that makes you lean closer to the screen. And with the Zhang Jin Ran, it’s tender and heartwarming. Even the bromance between Yan Zi Jing and Zhang jin Ran was heartwarming. Lusi and Yuning’s connection, obvious and through the roof. Yuning's eyes are so expressive and matches Lusi's intensity. Their height difference? Dreamy. Their comfort with each other brings every romantic scene to life in a way that feels seamless and positively electric.

Cinematography & OST: A feast for the senses. Stunning visuals set the tone, and the music? Hauntingly beautiful, amplifying every emotion.

In short: This drama doesn’t just tell a story—it pulls you into its world, holds your heart hostage, and leaves you grateful for the experience. Watch it. Feel it. Love it.

PS:
The ending made every moment precious and worth it. A Walk to Remember left a lasting impression on me, but The Story of Pearl Girl takes it a step further, its finale is unforgettable. Duan Wu and Yan Zi Jing were dealt some of the harshest cards in life, yet they played them with fierce determination. They didn’t just survive, they lived and loved with all they had, defying every hardship thrown their way.

In the end, their dreams weren’t just fulfilled; they were brought to life in each other’s embrace. Their time together may have been fleeting, but it was luminous, filled with memories that eternity itself couldn’t erase. Their story showed something profound: life is brief, fragile, and unpredictable. But in the moments we do have, we can choose to love deeply, live boldly, and create something timeless. Duan Wu and Yan Zi Jing didn’t just exist - they made every second count.

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The show starts off strong but ultimately loses momentum as it progresses

On paper, this drama has everything I look for: a compelling story centered on character development, female relationships, and political intrigue rather than just romance. It starts off with great promise, drawing the viewer in with its strong foundation. However, as the story progresses, it becomes stalled by repetitive obstacles thrown in the protagonist's path, which ultimately saps the momentum from an otherwise intriguing narrative.

The first few episodes were absolutely thrilling and deeply moving—they even brought me to tears. The show tackled heavy themes like sexual violence with sensitivity, delivering a female-focused narrative that made me root for the main character with all my heart. The developing friendships and romances were equally compelling, filled with chemistry and emotional depth.
I’ve always loved stories about women overcoming adversity to build their own businesses, as seen in New Life Begins. However, in this case, the story begins to lose its spark in the second half. The intrigue fizzles out as repetitive obstacles are thrown at the protagonist, making the narrative feel stagnant. The show would have greatly benefited from fewer episodes and tighter storytelling in its latter part.
By the time the tragic ending unfolded, my emotional connection to the characters had waned due to the overly drawn-out plot. Finishing the show felt like a chore, as each new conflict added little to the overall progression of the story. While it had incredible potential, the lack of narrative focus in the second half sadly undermined its impact.

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too long & unsatisfactory

I'm starting to lose patience with these big, high production shows that prove to be nothing more than celebrity vehicles. So much so that I'll not bother with a detailed critique. If I have to sit through 40 episodes I'm going to have expectations. A long show calls for complexity and depth, and while Pearl Girl has the backdrop for these elements, the show itself basically doesn't rise much above this: a single arc of a love triangle, introduced early, following the 3 characters as they run into each other from town to town. The main couple discovers their briefly touched upon pasts are intertwined as they both get caught up in a whirlwind of revenge and the show then devolves into an endless bloodbath. By the half way point, I suddenly realize there's no real 2nd or 3rd F/M leads or arcs. The only significant secondary arc follows the embattled cross-dressing daugther of a competing merchant family, who is a villainous opponent but unfortunately not that smart. In the 2nd half of the show the ML who was so dominant in the beginning then takes a head-scratching back seat to the FL, until he literally fades away. Sloppy editing left loose ends as well.

I think Zhao Lusi's career has been so much on fire for the last 2 years, to the point where I feel she is now over exposed. Her acting skill is limited, as is Liu YuNing's, and it's not interesting to watch them try to fulfill the same roles, the same way, over and over.

In looking back overall, the show had some entertaining moments but I basically sat through to the finish only out of curiousity for the ending.

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Great first half but loses its steam (and my attention) in the second half.

1st half - 8.0
2nd half - 7.0

I already lowered my expectations for “The Story of Pearl Girl”, yet I am still somewhat disappointed. This is a well-produced drama with beautiful costumes, decent sets and cinematography. I don’t think objectively this is a bad drama, but I lost my connection to the leads in the middle of the drama, and was unable to regain my attention in the second half.

“The Story of Pearl Girl” has an exciting start. The story of our female lead’s struggle to leave the pearl farm might not be realistic, but at least it’s interesting. Time spent on the ship and Duan Wu’s climb from the bottom of the crew to being a partner-in-crime are well-paced and exciting. The first half is able to balance Duan Wu’s story and Yan Zi Jing’s revenge plot pretty well.

Although the chemistry between the leads is not sizzling, at least they have some interesting and fun scenes together in the first half. I also enjoy the friendships of the crew members and especially Duan Wu’s tight bond with young Xia Mi/Little Shrimp. The first half has a good balance of angst, suffering, adventure, and humor. There isn’t anyone too irritating in the drama and the leads are all quite smart.

Unfortunately, the heartbreaking mid-drama episodes came much earlier than expected. After that, everything goes downhill. The leads are separated for way too many episodes when they’re off to their own adventures. The little chemistry that they had, disappeared in the second half, and was never recovered. Well, at least I never felt their chemistry anymore. During this time, the focus shifted to Duan Wu’s business plot. The male lead becomes a wallflower or an unimportant supporting character. The drama loses the balance of revenge excitement and business shenanigans. Eventually, it also loses my attention all the way until the end. The downfall of the villains in the last couple episodes is very anti-climatic. I expected more, when revenge is such a big focus in this drama. The last episode should elicit a lot more emotions from me because of the lead couple, but I think I felt more for the secondary couple, Cui Shi Jiu and Zheng Zhi Heng.

The general acting of the cast isn’t too bad. I don’t think this is Zhao Lu Si’s best role. I still like her more in “Love Like the Galaxy”. But she’s good enough. The same could not be said for Liu Yu Ning. He lacks screen presence and charisma as a male lead. His acting also seems to have regressed from when I last saw him in “Heroes” (2024) where he acted alongside two very strong male leads. He’s still not very good with romantic scenes, and seems to be best when he’s with his band of brothers/bromance, such as in “A Journey to Love” or “Heroes”. The second male lead, Tang Xiao Tian, is a more experienced actor and it shows. There’s a scene when they’re side by side digging through the soil, and you could see the difference in their acting when displaying the same emotions. Fortunately, the rest of the supporting cast deliver solid acting.

I am not sure if I would fully recommend “The Story of Pearl Girl” to everyone. My criticisms are very personal due to me never recovering the interest after it’s lost in the middle of the drama. Normally, I would have rated a similar drama an 8.0. But if you are a fan of Zhao Lu Si, it’s worth checking it out. Her acting is still solid and she looks beautiful with different hair/makeup and costumes.




Completed: 12/19/2024 - Review #528

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Needed more CEO shooters

There are already over 100 reviews of this drama so I’m going to focus mostly on the class politics of The Story of Pearl Girl. It’s the fatal flaw of this drama and, oh boy, there’s a lot to chew on.

Before I get to that, a quick note on the gender politics. I hard agree with PeachBlossomGoddess who identifies bad gender politics as one of the key flaws at play. Indeed, I was incredibly worried when the ML strayed into Overbearing CEO* territory for a few episodes. Fortunately, the writers didn’t fully pursue that angle, but did ultimately undermine the FL’s fiery spirit in other ways (as PeachBlossomGoddess’s review describes in more detail).

What I think killed The Story of Pearl Girl was its frustratingly contradictory class politics. Now, I promise I’m not about to call the FL a class traitor like I did to Wei Lingyou in my review of Yanxi Palace**. However, what started as a strong underdog narrative for Duanwu in the first half of the drama, collapsed in the second half. Let’s consider the good part first, shall we?

For me, the highlight of the first 18 episodes is the condemnation of the Lawful Good character (don’t worry, we’ll get to ep 18 in a jiffy). This Lawful Good character is embodied by government official Zhang Jinran who believes that, if everyone simply followed the law, then all would be well. Of course, he fails to realise that it takes a high level of privilege – particularly class privilege – to act within the confines of the law.

Our ML, Yan Zijing, is quick to point out that while Zhang’s intentions may be good, his methods are crap: “Mr Zhang, you have a heart to save others but lack the power to do so.” Our FL, Duanwu, backs up this critique of the Lawful Good approach and tells Zhang, “You’re a man on top. You don’t understand how we [the bottom class] are.” This makes perfect sense. After all, even though Duanwu has escaped slavery as a pearl diver, she still struggles to survive. This clap-back at Zhang’s character is incredibly refreshing given the ‘Good Governance’ narrative*** tends to be heavily promoted in most Chinese costume dramas.

However, before the pivot point of ep 18, there were a couple of red flags that things were about to go astray. First, is Cui Shijiu. Shijiu is the daughter of the Cui family that owned the pearl farm on which Duanwu was enslaved. She starts out as a cruel Girl Boss but, after several twists and turns, ends up in a sticky situation. It’s at this point she likens herself to Duanwu. “How am I different from her?” Shijiu says, “Both of us struggling in this world, just trying to grasp our own fate.” Ummm gurl… one of you was a slave, and the other was the master. You cannot get more different than that. Unfortunately, her line of thinking crops up later in the drama (and I’ll get to that below).

The second red flag was Yan Zijing’s appraisal of Duanwu as she works her way up the (metaphorical) ladder on his trade ship. He remarks of her quick progression, “She wants to stand on her own…Many people in this world are stuck in misery, yet don’t want to lift a finger.” Other than the fact this sounds like the ‘dole bludger’ narrative that comes from the lips of conservative politicians, this assessment also misses many factors. One: Yan Zijing doesn’t acknowledge that Duanwu has a lot of natural talents that can be commercialised. i.e. you need more than effort alone. Two: pretty privilege. Big time.

And then finally comes episode 18. This is when the underdog narrative dies. It dies alongside a big handful of characters: all are Duanwu’s lower class friends. She also loses Shrimp, the only character left from her pearl farm days. By killing off all these characters in the Desert Ambush scene, the storyline also effectively severs Duanwu’s class roots. Henceforth, she joins the class of Small to Medium Enterprise owners (read: merchants) and realises her individualistic Girl Boss ambitions.

And…so what? Well, Duanwu enters the jewellery business. And she does so without blinking, which is surprising given she knows that pearls are the aquatic equivalent of blood diamonds. She is fully aware of the cruel supply chains on which she relies to create her jewellery. Yet, they are never mentioned. They are kept entirely off-screen. As far as we know, the pearl farm continues on the same, likely under different management after the fall of the Cui family. All the while – or at least after their brief separation – Yan Zijing pats her on the head and tells her what a good little Girl Boss she is.

I was still interested in seeing what would happen with Cui Shijiu after going through a whirlwind of ups and downs. Her story was a lot more interesting, embracing the complexities of a villain you can’t help but feel for. Near the end of the drama, Shijiu and Duanwu forge an unlikely alliance where Shijiu finally recognises Duanwu as her equal. Purely because she’s her commercial equal. A fellow Girl Boss. Duanwu even refers to Shijiu as her “confidante” and the chumminess between these two leaves a real bad taste in the mouth.

And that bad taste is what The Story of Pearl Girl ends on. Thank god Liu Yu Ning looks good in purple, cos that was the only redeeming feature of this drama.

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* I use the term “Overbearing CEO” the way Geng Song does in his fantastic article on Chinese workplace dramas, found here: https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/full/10.3366/mclc.2023.0031

**My Yanxi Palace review, ‘Wei Yinglou is a class traitor. Change my mind.’ https://kisskh.at/profile/TheUnhinged/review/305311

*** I talk about the ‘Good Governance’ narrative more in my review of The Double: https://kisskh.at/profile/TheUnhinged/review/392435

PeachBlossomGoddess’s review: https://kisskh.at/profile/PeachBlossomGoddess/review/408704

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The beginning was intriguing and exciting, but then it declined.

It was a promising series, a girl trying to get out of slavery etc. It was intriguing at the beginning but eventually took a decline as the series progresses. It went from being a female centric series then there were too many unnecessary scenes, & then I kinda lost it from there. Some scenes went from this then all of a sudden it was filled with bloodshed that could’ve avoided and saved some of the characters. I want to rant so much more… but it’s just my opinion so take it with a grain of salt. it felt like the story was everywhere moving forward episodes 16, 17-18 was my least favorite so far.

I was captivated at first and then eventually I slowly lost interest it was that boring, and sometimes cringey. :/ but acting wise both leads especially the ML did well.

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A MERMAID'S TEARS

Bold, compelling, intriguing... The Story of Pearl Girl is weaving a tale that you certainly do NOT want to miss!

2024 hasn't been donating the best Cdramas so far with few exceptions.. but I'm glad this came along. A pretty decent watch!

Everyone sees the beauty of pearl. They view it with admiration of it's beautiful and excellence but no one seems to know what people go through to get it. Even setting their lives on the line for it. The motto thus being: Dive or die. And so Duanwu emerges from the many pearl divers of this land with the mantra "I want to change my fate" taking on the brave role of working towards it.

A Captivating journey is woven, our female lead steps forward, taking every STEP POSSIBLE to obtain that freedom, even if it's to put her life on the line for that freedom.

The Plot is RAW, A POWERFUL AND EMOTIONAL narrative of a slave girl on a quest for true freedom and redemption. Sailing on a journey of the ups and down on the harsh business world dominated by cunning Men. It's an interesting adventure that draws you in an intimate attachment to our female character, Duanwu. The flow of the plot is Smooth. It's just right for what Is needed. Her development so far is natural, raw yet appealingly driving. It's a powerful plot focussed on our female lead's journey in a quest for redemption where she walks up the ladder of the business world and capturing the power at the top. And Fights to keep it.

Duanwu isn't ONLY a smart Witty girl who works with her brain to scheme and conquer. She IS PHYSICALLY FIT! our girl can fight! She can beat up scumbag men, she can kick ass YASS now that's something you don't see always for such female lead set-up. She isn't afraid of physical actions, she takes risks and slays at it!

The characters in the show are truly compelling. Not all though but the mains are truly something to look forward to. Zhao Lusi has my damn jaws on the floor with the execution of her character. Honestly she did better than expected. She engrossed herself into the role and perfectly embodied the character so well that you could See DUANWU in her. It's no wonder she Fought for this drama and role (since 2022 or so) ( she said she loved the character so much) and I can see how she's perfectly bringing the role to life. I'm honestly impressed.
Our male lead is a complex character worth of study alongside another drama I find interesting, The tomboy. She is certainly a grey interesting character that's always worth being on the lookout for.
Our tomboy ( forget her name haha) is a lady on a quest to make her stand in a toxic male dominated business world. And she is gonna do Anything for that.
The characters here are complex and interesting. Well... Except the 2nd lead who is ..well predictable goodie boy lol ( all righteous) I sorta find his character... dull. But let's see if he gets better I guess.

But Amidst his full character I think the two male leads add value to the female leads journey. Our male lead teaching her on the harsh realities of the business world and harshly training her for it. While the 2nd leads takes her on a morally correct ethics of life. A perfect blend.

Cinematograohy wise, This drama is decent for the genre. It isn't flashy as for a fantasy but for a historical drama of Such category, it's pretty nice. And the UNDERWATER SCENES WERE CHEF KISS. I can't believe it was filmed in a real life water! Excellent! No wonder it was so realistically done. Beautiful.

The Ost of this drama is suiting for the concept of the drama. not by best lineup of Ost but it's actually decent. Especially the Opening theme.

If you're contemplating if you should watch this drama, I'd recommend you check out the first two episodes. Ep1 captivated me at the go! So I believe these two episodes are enough for you to judge. Although I'm confident it'll hook you. You should check clips and see if the genres are something that you'll like, if so then I think you'll love this. It's gripping indeed and overall worth the time.

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