Story,
Such a good and refreshing story. I loveeeeee the story so much. I never knew that pig butcher profesion could be this atractive. Even if the premise were common, the fallen noble man saved by countryside female. But I love how the writer and production team executed this premise so beautiful and engaging. You can find a lot of promising premises of story. Like hidden identity, twisted fate of royal bloodline, politic-caused-by-love intrigue, noble-common-people love story, dominating-forced love story. And thankfully the writer and the production team can capture and connect them all perfectly. I learned a lot along the story unfold. How come love story could make me reflect so much about life? The last time I feel like this is when I watched Whisper of Fate.
The thing is in the few last episodes, the story feel a bit rushed because of cdrama rule (I actually hate that). But thankfully the conflicts end in quite satisfying ending. I plan to read the novel to get a better understanding for the story and the character.
But I should say this, this is my number one drama that have such a breathtakingly beautiful visual.
Acting and Cast,
First, I decided to watched this because of Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei together are very beautiful. You know most of people, including me, are visual oriented person. So yeah I atracted to any beautiful person. And this drama forced me to change my habit from binge watching finished drama to grit my teeth to watch on going drama.
Zhang Linghe, I'm glad you can get this role. I could say this is your peak iconic visual in your career so far. You are doing a really good job potraying Xie-Yan-Jiuheng-Zheng. I didn't expect you can further develop your acting skill like this.
Sweety Tian Xiwei, you are doing a great job too. Pig butchering girl are so bad ass even after you become great general. You got incomparable chemistry with Zhang Linghe. You don't how much I kicked my blanket, bite my shark doll, and even screaming in silence when watching your love story.
For my surprised, I captivated by Sui brothers or Sui-Qi brothers. Deng Kai and Li Moran really got perfect score from me as well executed villain of the story. They proved 'they' are human and show that feeling are the most unreliable thing to trust in this world.
Wei Yan, my Yan Yi Kun, such a beautifully potrayed grey character. You served!
Actually each character really do a great job for their role. Even Ning Niang and Bao'er have good prospect in acting.
But the one who is hard to read her emotion are Yu Qianqian. She is good but sometimes I failed to identified what kind of emotion she shows. She is so human yet so man-made.
Music,
Thank you music director and team, because you made me mezmerised every time the bgm appear. This is the most perfect match between story, visual, and music I ever had. Such a beautiful work of art.
Overall,
Maybe it's just me, but I'm a bit emotional because this drama actually give me not only how fluffy cute and warm love story is, but also show me how fate play the unexpected turn in our life. How the reality hits hard and how we accept the fate. It is a good sign that proved the production team got really good job to deliver this work as it got impact to me.
Rewatch Value,
Actually I quite love this drama. That is why I decided to watched it even it's still on going (I bought express package only to watch this, I usually don't do this stuff). I also want to rewatch it to catch some details that I may missed.
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Long rant about the last 10 eps but still the most solid, addicting drama I've seen in a while!
The ONLY reason I didn't give this a solid 10/10 was because of the last 10ish eps. Although we got some of the best passionate scenes between our main CP in those eps, the flow of the story just derailed for me. Starting with the female protagonist's halo... I started to get frustrated with Chang Yu once she arrived at Xie Zheng's military camp. She made a lot of reckless decisions and got away with it because this silly military is led by the biggest lovesick marquis. Her fight scenes were amazing and she took down two big bad guys but I still felt like it all went too easy for her from there. Even when she decided to knock Commander Li out and remove him from the battlefield, I was disappointed in her. He was mad she took his choice away from him but he turns around and forgives her so easily. And then he becomes nothing but a background guy for the rest of the show.It also felt like they rushed a lot of important information in the last 2 eps. We never met the last emperor so bringing him in right at the end just made him into more of a fall guy than a true villain. Him being the catalyst for everyone's ill fates just seemed too deus ex machina. It felt like the only purpose for this plot twist was to absolve Wei Yan.
The ending was enjoyable until the alternate/next life scene came. Qian Qian's and Qi Min's toxic relationship was romanticized a little too much for me in this drama .I was satisfied with him falling off the wall and his story just ending there. But the way they rushed his takeover scene and then brought him back for two more scenes just to highlight his relationship with QQ didn't do anything for me. It would've been way more interesting if they had given a whole ep with him after he took the throne because his succession storyline was more interesting than his toxic romance for me.
The alternate ending seemed to center around him and QQ as well so I wish I would've stopped watching before seeing that. That whole scene just pulled the carpet out from under the intense journey we all just experienced. They had 40eps to work with. I can forgive the dumping of all this crucial information in the last ep if they had used the rest of the last ep to show us something better. I would've liked to see more time in Lin'an with our CP settled, Ning Niang, The Zhaos, Pig Squad and townspeople. It would've been nice to see QQ and Bao'er back in Lin'an before he was pushed into the palace as well. The reunion scene was beautiful but I would've liked to see more of our CP's married life and children. It would've been nice to see Gongsun Yin and Qi Shu settling into married life too with them reading, playing chess etc...
Those ending gripes aside...I still adored this drama and most of the characters. Everyone was so well written and the chemistry between the leads was intoxicating! The beginning of the story in Lin'an was my favorite part of the show. Watching the mighty Marquis of Wu An slowly become completely consumed by his love for this cheerful, wholesome, and beautiful butcher girl was enchanting. Resisting was a hopeless cause for him and this love actually saved his life both physically and psychologically. She didn't just bring him back from the brink of death. She gave him a new purpose outside of war and revenge. She showed him the joys of love and family which gave him a reason to appreciate living. Although it seems like he helps her a lot more throughout the drama, he needed her more than she needed him from the start. And what a beautiful start is was! When he first lifts his eyes and looks at her for the first time you can see he is instantly attracted to her striking beauty. You could cut the tension with a knife between them! I was hooked on them from that moment on. But he was still cold on the outside and hollow on the inside at first. She slowly breathed warmth into him which made him gradually more affectionate. It wasn't until he got to know her that he completely fell for her because he saw how big her heart was and how unique she was.
LEADS: Putting my frustrations with her towards the end aside, Chang Yu is the perfect heroine in this story. She is humble, strong and emotionally grounded. She is completely transparent and generous with her love and has a naturally forgiving nature. But when Yan Zheng crosses the line or upsets her, she doesn't let him get away with it just because he's handsome and she loves him. She puts him in his place both times he hurt her. I love that about her the most. And Yan Zheng is impossible not to like, even with his flaws. It's understandable that he faulters with his words and actions in the beginning of their relationship. This man didn't have a tender bone in his body before meeting her. He was in love for the first time and all these new and intense emotions were clearly driving him crazy. But once he learned to look at things from her perspective he stopped coming on too strong and became the perfect husband. And he reserves his soft side only for her for the whole drama (well and Ning Niang and Bao'er lol ).
Supporting characters: I found the Sui brothers were both very interesting and intriguing in different ways. But I'd say the most fascinating villain was Wei Yan because my feelings kept shifting back and forth about him from the beginning to the end. I loved the pig squad (still not over Man Di's death!), the Zhaos, Old Tutor Tao, Gongsun Yin, Princess Qi Shu, Ning Niang and Bao'er the most. QianQian I liked independently, but again, I didn't care her scary romance with Qi Min to be so front and center. The two had chemistry for sure but it just felt like they tried to get us to root for them as a CP and I didn't like that.
Overall everything was close to perfect in this show. The cinematography, casting, acting, writing, and OST were all *chef's kiss*!
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Beautifully done
It was beautiful.Casting was so well done, everyone was absolutely stunningggg. Tian Xi Wei looked divine in Moonlit Reunion and even better here. . I have no words to explain her besides that she looks like an angel and her acting range is insane, can only think of one or two actresses that could pull it off. Nothing felt stiff, from fighting to kissing, everything flowed very naturally and nothing looked toooo absurd. Yes, she killed a general with two strikes but also has anyone complaining about this ever seen an actual PIG? They are huge. If a girl can carry a damn pig like nothing, then she can kill a man with two strikes, it makes sense, you know? Linghe also never, ever looked better and he could do both things he does best: brood and cry, and he did not disappoint. He does yearning very well, he does psycho very well and was able to masterfully navigate between the extremes of hot and cold. Honorable mention that hot scenes were hotting (god bless).
Aside from that, most characters had names, stories and personal motivations. Side stories were not boring, second couple did AMAZING, to the point of being as important to plot as the main couple. It did not have the usual (and useless) sidekicks around leads, with no boring plots or filler episodes, everything had a purpose.
Cinematography was a work of art. Lightning, camera work, angles, composition, and the color graaaaaaading!! There is a video the studio released about the color grading work, it is stunning. Costumes, wigs, scenarios, make up, soundtrack was not groundbreaking, but also very well done. The director has definitely add one more line to his already great record of very well executed projects.
And all of this allowed what I have rarely seen around: beautiful story telling. It allowed feelings to be expressed in actions/images, and avoided overexposure of information to explain events or actions, which is what often creates the sense of disbelief in us as consumers of the final product. This is why we often can’t tolerate some costume dramas: it looks staged, it feels fake. If I can’t connect with the story, characters, scenarios or world, I will lose interest in it, and this was not the case here. We got so many beautiful, unique, well done shots and angles. It was creative sometimes, poetic in others, and even cheesy at some point, but it was so so so pleasing to watch, we were weeeeell served.
Now, I do not ignore that the plot had some issues, but as anyone who knows a bit about how media control works in China, it is nothing new. The limitation of episodes, duration, removal of actors involved in scandal and other cultural requirements often lead to this outcome in this type of media (unfortunately). I also disagree with comments that talk about lack of creativity or absurdity of plot, and I can only presume those watchers have not been around for long, because denying the quality of work and content is absolute blindness or lack of experience.
Of course there is room for improvement, for example, further deepening of the ML feelings would have been great to the overall plot. The strength of the feelings that drove the Sui princes to madness is what made them so magnetic (besides being hot as well). The complex of the relationship between the second couple was soooo well done, it made the conflicts of the main couple seen a bit plain. It was hard to connect to that bone deep solitude that made the Marquis the cold and distant man he is at the begining of the story. We could watch and understand Changyu’s sorrows, but we saw very little of what made Xie Zheng who he was. This is a second strike for Linghe, because his role in Our Generation had the same exact issue. Do better handsome!
Personally, I would also have loved to see more ML fighting scenes. Seeing the FL rock it was great, she is main character after all, but I expected more from the Marquis. It was funny that the only scene he actually fought he was using a mask, which made me wonder if it was a skill issue…however, he did have fighting scenes in other productions, so I prefer to believe it was a very conscious choice. His aura was 1000/10 tho, no comments.
Regarding timeline and pacing, which are also very important for world building, both were great during the first 23 eps, the development of the relationships and plots felt real and solid. Rhythm got a bit wonky after that, but nothing that is not seen in every other production out there. And well, it affected the ending, which felt rushed and shallow when compared to everything else. I must say I would have preferred a single solid ending over the fan service they chose to do, with the random scenes from the alternate ending. But it is a HE and this girl likes a HE, so I will take my win.
Finally, well, I looooved it as the love story it is. It is not a heavy political, vengeance drama. It is not a comedy nor a parody. It is a love story, very sweet and very emotional/highstake, with lots of yearning (and kisses 🙏🏽). It has definitely earned a place within my all time favorites list and I think anyone who likes romance and costume/historial drama should give it a try, I am sure you won’t be disappointed.
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Qi Min, the villain yearner my heart aches for
All the Qi Min yearners gather here with me, let our emotional turmoils peak together. One of the biggest reasons I could keep up with so many episodes was because of this second love arc which enticed me beautifully. And I appreciate the makers of adaptation for giving us this beautifully, painfully captivating arc that keeps gnawing at some ( unstable ones like me) of our hearts. *Spoilers Ahead* While the pacing for our main cp slowed down or sometimes got boring, I had this delicious, unhinged villain’s schemes, obsession with his woman, and love tribulations to look forward to. Oh my man YEARNS. The yearning he yearned, made me yearn for a villain’s happily ever after too. Now I know that this man is the ultimate villain, BAD BAD. A sinister schemer, merciless kil!er, a villain without redemption. But perhaps, perhaps, not so much irredeemable in love; Perhaps. And this made me so desperately want a real alternate ending for him and QianQian. Where he gets to move her heart, where he is ready to give up everything for her, if it means he can earn the littlest love and space in her heart. And by the ending point? That possibility may not have been so far fetched either. My tears shed with him during the last scene, as he lay there in her lap, and as he listened to her voice in his final breaths. My heart HURT.Even if in a universe he still remains unhinged, I know my girl QianQian could keep him in check. Even then, I wished for his happy ever after with a new beginning.
Before anyone comes at me with how unokay I am, I know, I KNOW 😭 A girl can be weak for Qi Min, okay?
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If I could give Pursuit of Jade more than 10 I gladly would.
Although the ending was rather disappointing, it doesn't affect how good this drama was! From the very beginning it captured me. I hadn't been this hooked by a Chinese drama since long last year. But POJ had all the ingredients to capture more from the beginning. Stunning visuals, a good color scale, beautiful costumes and locations. Intense battle scenes, great character development and characters. A riveting story, class A+ acting and handsome leads. But I think what pulled me more into the world of PoJ was its Female lead. Fan Changyu has to be the best female character I've seen in a drama for a long shot. Her journey was a pleasure to watch, and I have to say that she's been the only FL that's never disappointed me. I love her growth, her strength, her spunkiness, her fire. She was just amazing from the get-go. And was masterfully played by TXW. It wouldn't surprise me if she has all the directors lined up already fighting or her.Xie Zheng was also an amazing ML. He was threatening, caring, intimidating, sweet to CY, protective, supporting, lost his head when those he loved were in danger. He was the kind of man all of women want. Have to say Marquis was some of ZLH's finest work ever.
Even the smallest of characters in this show were so well written, none of them felt like filler and added so much to the story. I loved all the characters. Yes, even the villains, or loved to hate them so to speak, the characters were masterfully crafted by the writers.
Now onto the magic between Zhang Ling He and Tian Xi Wei. Those two were an atomic bomb together, they had so much sexual tension that sometimes I had to look away. That's how intense their chemistry was, and one of the major reasons I was heavily drawn in. For me, if the leads don't have chemistry, it doesn't matter how good the story is, I won't watch. Pursuit of Jade really was a recipe in all the elements I love in a drama. I really hope ZLH and TXW work together again. It will be such a shame to waste chemistry like theirs.
I loved Changyu and Zhang's love story. Love how hard they fought to be together, despite the things that threatened to separate them. Adore how they were always a team even when they were at odds with each other, they were a team. They are definitely in my favorite love stories list. I'm going to miss them so much.
Now the question comes.... what do I do after Pursuit of Jade is over? I don't know but I'll surely be watching this over and over again. It really was a Jade among Chinese dramas. 100/100. I rarely found fault with it at all.
I highly recommend this to anyone who hasn't watched it yet. You'll have a great time watching!
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❤️ My internal clock woke me up at 4:00 a.m. to watch this for a week.
StoryThe story was surprisingly accurate. When I did a comparison between plot lines in the novel versus the drama I was surprised to see that the drama stayed very loyal to the book. And I say surprised, because it felt, especially towards ep 26-30, that the drama was falling behind. That said, it’s because it was missing a lot of context that was left in the novel.
I completely understand the choice to cut out some of plot lines and missions (ex: the bear, interrogating/breaking out prisoners, the multiple battles in the capital…) for time. But where they cut, they also included a lot of scenes for other characters. For instance, QM and YQQ barely had any of their own pov in the novel, while the drama devoted almost 1/3 of its time to them (and I do appreciate the toxic love story). But the screenwriter decided to incorporate the side stories into the main story, thereby taking away time from the main story.
So we missed a lot of plots surrounding our main characters in exchange for other characters. But for what they kept, they stayed really faithful. Almost word for word.
The story stayed very faithful the characters in a lot of ways, but also deviated from them somewhat. For instance, for XZ/YZ, we barely get any context about his mother’s suicide and how it affected him beyond nightmares and hints about self loathing. In the book, it’s deeply tied to his reluctance to fall in love, how he doesn’t want to end up like his mother falling in love with someone that when they die it kills them. He blames himself more than anyone, and when he finds out that his mother killed herself to save him from his uncle, it completely floors him. It was a huge moment in the book where he went to confront WY at his parent’s graves. Or when they realize that her father was WX and he actually leaves her and throws himself into the war to try to get her out of his head, injuring himself repeatedly, then going to his family and asking to be whipped 108 times because he committed a grave sin by falling in love with her and deciding he cannot let her go. I mean, the angst!! Dial it up by x20 in the novel.
And I can excuse those changes for needing to cut time. I think the change I disliked the most was ep 26/27 when after he’s drugged, he doesn’t kill the opposing side General like he does in the book. That was one change I was genuinely confused why they would do that. It just prolonged that plot point for that guy to come back for 2 seconds and be killed in a 1 second. That was, I think, the only change that actually annoyed me. Because in the book, after he wakes up, he goes to fight in the battle before seeking out CY, having confidence that she could take care of herself and that if she couldn’t his people would take care of her, even though he was worried.
Generally the show did an amazing job. If I didn’t read the novel, I would think this still an amazing watch for its plot. Still 10/10.
And I do love some the changes they made in the show. XZ/YZ is infinitely nicer and less of a dick to people. And while some people may complain that he’s not showing the power of being the feared marquis, I appreciated the change. We still see the depth of his power because he can mobilize people to do what he wants and his reputation is as feared general and he has so much arrogance from his achievements that he doesn’t even kneel for the emperor. I like that we see him be nice to Changning and to Bao’er, especially in the village.
I like that the mains relationship had a lot more consent in it. I think the mains relationship was so beautifully written and perfectly performed (I’ll get to that later).
Despite the fact that it cut into the main story line, I love that they included the side stories and added the complexity to the other characters (WY, QM, SY…)
My general review for the story as a whole was that it’s a good story. Having read the novel, of course I’m disappointed that parts I consider pivotal weren’t included, but I’m not that mad about it because of how the drama came together as a whole.
I definitely think my understanding of the drama is probably affected by the translation. I saw online someone say that the translations lost a lot of the formality and context. So hopefully I can either learn mandarin or someone can do an in depth translation with guides on the jokes or important verbiage that are lost on those who don’t speak the language.
I think overall, too much time in the village, that could have been cut down and devoted to more background in their families and backstory. I don’t know if it helped that I read the novel so I knew what was happening, or if it hurt because I knew what should have been happening.
Acting/Cast
When I say that the best part of this drama was the actors, I am not lying. The actors understood the f*cking assignment, and I applaud them heartily.
Our leads ZLH and TXW had peak chemistry. I have watched their other works before and I do not know if I’ve ever been this obsessed with them. They’ve never looked better, they’ve never acted better.
I swear to god TXW eyes did more acting in this drama than some veteran actors in their entire careers. And ZLH’s microexpressions and his jaw. HIS JAW!! Did so much acting!
Now, yes they are both very pretty people and do benefit from the pretty privilege where you can ignore bad acting. But I genuinely think they did act very well in this series. This is a director who knew what he wanted and got it from his cast.
I also watched the behind the scenes footage and was surprised by how much say the actor’s had in what they wanted to do considering how intentional this director is with his choices in the drama.
Besides our leads, our side characters were also outstanding. DK and SK’s chemistry was on fire. While toxic obsession stories are not my cup of tea I give them all the props for their chemistry and flawless acting. They played incredibly nuanced characters. LQ and YZL also gave an amazing performance of their pure love story. And LMR is a new young break out actor I hope to see more of.
Special mention to the young actors playing CN and YB. They did amazing.
Music / Cinematography
I have nothing but love for this director and his way of capturing the story and the characters. He is so deliberate about his choices, the coloring, the focus, the details are just so layered and intentional.
The music and composition was beautiful.
Rewatch Value
10/10
Would rewatch, would reread, have been rewatching, and rereading.
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Magic happens under this director Zeng Qing Jie
Even though the leads are both really good-looking, most of their past dramas were kind of meh for me. A few were decent enough to finish, but none really made me go “WOW” until this one. I never been impressed by the 傻白甜 roles that Tian Xi Wei always takes on, so thanks to this drama, she can show off her true potential. From wire works, to horseback riding to carrying ML on her back, she definitely lives up to the role.Honestly, I think director Zeng Qing Jie is the single biggest reason to the drama's success. Everything from the styling and lighting to the storytelling just clicks, and the camera really knows how to capture the leads at their best. Talk about maximizing face cards from leads to the supporting leads!
The opening visuals and music give off a similar vibe to Blossom. The chemistry is very good esp by ep 7, but I wouldn’t say it’s as explosive as Blossom because it's double the episodes so build up needs to be way slower. Its such a fun and enjoyable watch with everything going for it! This is really how I think idol period drama should be made.
Enjoyable characters all around even the evil psycho ones are shippable!
Best memorable scenes outside of ML/FL which I'll be rewatching:
Li Wen Kai saves FL ep 9
FL takes psycho bro hostage ep 18 followed by FL killer fire scene
Li Wen Kai, FL reunion scene ep 23
Yu Qian Qian/Psycho Qi Min ep 21
FL fight scene with pig slaughter comparison ep 30
Qi Ming/SuYuanQing Final scene ep 33
Qi Ming/Yu Qian Qian Final scene ep 40
Too bad there's only 1 Zeng Qing Jie. For sure this is drama of the year for me that I shall be rewatching.
Now that it's over ... I feel a bit empty for weeks to come.
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Started strong, fell off 2/3 of the way through and found itself again at the end
This drama hooked me from episode 1. The chemistry between the leads and the story were so well done. It definitely felt like the production team spent a lot of time developing all the relationships, especially the leads, in the first 25ish episodes. It was obvious the female lead wore the pants in the relationship in the first half of the drama since ML married into her family so I was very much okay with that. But there really needed to have been more scenes showcasing the male lead's strength when his true identity was revealed in the second half of the drama. I do feel like we were robbed of fight scenes from ML.The drama started to fall off for me around episode 26 because it started focusing more on the politics and developing the story between the Wei and Li counselors. It really came down to pacing here. They should have woven the politics into the beginning scenes more instead of giving us 6-10 episodes of almost all politics. It was hard to stomach since we were already conditioned to see the FL and ML onscreen 95% of the time for the first 26 episodes. It just felt like they were trying to redirect our attention to learning something new more than halfway through the drama and it felt so disjointed.
Maybe one of the reasons why it was extra annoying to have so much FL and ML time but then all of a sudden have that drop off into politics is because despite this shift, the second leads' story was always so well developed. It just felt like they got it all. the scenes, the emotion, the build-up, the angst and of course the SK and DK was absolutely excellent in their acting and portrayal of their roles. It really left me feeling well, if the second leads can get that, why cant the first leads also get that?
The drama picked up for me again around episode 36 because well, surprise surprise, more primary lead time onscreen. Thats really what I needed. Thats not to say the drama was as good as its beginning episodes because it wasnt. The issue was the storytelling at the beginning was acted out, it was shown to the audience. But in the latter episodes in order to clear up all the politics/backstory/misunderstandings, characters had to actually spell it out while reminiscing. Listening to a monologue and trying to understand all the intricacies is very different and less entertaining than seeing it acted out.
Something that made this story really shine was allll the side characters. The ruffians turned brothers were so endearing. Mr and Mrs Zhao caring for FL and her sister really grounded the drama from the start and gave it warmth. Even ML's trusted guard was fantastic. Not to mention the comedy that all these characters gave to the story. Every single one of them was such a joy to watch. Usually when I see an express package come out, fans are quick to speed through the drama because they want to know what happens. But I think for the first time, I'm seeing fans say, I'm going to wait because I dont want it to end. I believe its this sense of safety and nostalgia from the beginning episodes that really left a mark for the audience.
Definitely one of my fave dramas of all time because I'll never forget the obsession of waiting to watch the next episode at the beginning. It simply started out so strong. Perhaps one way around episodes 27-35 being disappointing for me, would have been to wait and binge this drama. It was unfortunate that during that time, only one episode was coming out a day. So we were waiting a whole 24h for a subpar 40-50 min, which really added to the resentment. But had I been able to watch some less desirable episodes quickly and then make my way to the better episodes ahead, I probably wouldn't have felt the sting as much.
Thankful for for this drama and I feel fortunate to have been able to watch this.
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Be a pig in this life, and a good person in the next.
My favorite scene was several, but the one that stuck with me was the bathtub scene. I'd never seen anything like it before, and since 2011 I've been watching dramas, I found it sensual, warm, and romantic.It became my favorite drama. The main actors and the villains were incredible in their roles. The fight scenes and the hate speeches from the "brothers" were great. The romance was beautiful; I can't imagine a better way to portray it. The color palette, the production, and the camera work were excellent. I loved this actress; I intend to watch more dramas with her. Zhang Li is a great fit for historical dramas.
The only thing that fell short was the ending. I wanted it to show them with children and getting married again, not the post-credits scene if the battle hadn't happened 17 years ago.
I'm going to miss the feeling of anticipation and happiness with each episode release. Seriously, it changed my days in March; they became better!
The songs are beautiful, they've been added to my playlist. When I listen to them, I get emotional remembering the scenes.
After it's over, I feel so empty! I loved it, I'll feel so healthy :(
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Lyrics that reminds me of this drama is “Uh oh, I'm falling in love” from Taylor Swift's song
This is my first C-drama, and that too a historical fantasy, and it’s definitely one of the dramas I plan to rewatch. The entire cast has done a fabulous job.POJ begins with a beautiful scene in a rural village. The story opens in Lin'an, a small town near Chongzhou.
We meet our heroine, Fan Chang Yu, a pig butcher extraordinaire. She is unlike any heroine I’ve seen before. She is gorgeous, strong, and not someone who can be easily pushed around. Chang Yu is formidable despite everything she has been through. A skilled pig butcher, she rescues a seemingly dead stranger.
The man calls himself Yan Zheng, but he is actually the Marquis of Wu’an, Xie Zheng. Presumed dead, he decides to hide at the pig butcher’s house until his injuries heal. The next 12 episodes revolve around the obstacles in their lives and how they face them together.
The town is beautiful, and as the plot thickens, so does the bond between our leads—their love grows stronger. It’s just beautiful. Throughout these episodes, war constantly simmers in the background. We see glimpses of Yan Zheng’s bloody battlefield, soldiers forcibly conscripting refugees, and families rushing to secure marriages and heirs. Lin'an feels peaceful, but it’s a fragile kind of peace.
Soon, the Marquis has to leave and return to his duties, but our female lead is one hell of a girl. When he returns, we see her gaining recognition and standing up against injustice.
We are introduced to the main villains, Sui Yuanqing and his brother Qi Min (Sui Yuan Hai). Sui Yuan Hai, along with his obsessive and unhinged relationship with Yu Qianqian, makes for characters you both root for and despise. The story uses various tropes but flows smoothly without major hiccups, and you naturally end up rooting for the good guys.
As we approach around 30 episodes, the writing does get a little choppy. From what I’ve gathered, the story may have been condensed to retain its essence. However, the palace politics become clearer, and we begin to see the wheels of destiny in motion.
The highlight of the show is the Marquis of Wu’an and his unwavering, all-encompassing love for his girl. Every episode is a testament to that. There are beautiful kisses and some intense moments as well.
The drama has everything tbh humour, friendship, love, and a beautiful cast. There’s so much more I could discuss, but then this review wouldn’t remain spoiler-free.
P.S Satisfying End
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This review may contain spoilers
Pursuit of Jade is a drama that excels in aesthetics but falls short in storytelling.
As someone whose preference for Chinese costume/historical dramas leans toward a well-structured storyline, strong character development, and meaningful relationship growth — especially with themes of yearning and some angst between the leads — Pursuit of Jade didn’t quite land emotionally for me. So I’m probably in the minority here, but imagine the level of disappointment I felt.Of course, reviews are subjective. We all look for different things in a drama. I personally had very high hopes for this one. Cinematography-wise, it’s stunning. The casting is great, the main couple and side characters are undeniably beautiful.
However, the messy political plot really ruined it for me. I found myself losing focus on the main leads’ romance. I remember feeling giddy during some of their early moments, but as the story progressed, the confusion in the political storyline overshadowed the emotional core.
Pursuit of Jade definitely had all the ingredients for something unforgettable, but it didn’t fully cook the emotional side for me.
On the romance side, there were several moments I hoped would be more impactful.
Key moments (for me) below had the potential to be impactful but screenwriters' went for the anticlimactic route:
- Chang Yu discovered the Marquis’ identity. I’ve seen people appreciate that the drama didn’t drag this reveal, but I personally think giving it more weight would have deepened their relationship.
- Another missed opportunity was when the truth about Chang Yu’s father being the “traitor” came out. That could have created meaningful conflict and shown how they would overcome it together.
I also read that in the novel, they actually broke up and had a clearer separation. While the drama showed physical distance, it lacked that emotional break and longing. I was hoping for more yearning between the leads, which would have made their reunion and development more impactful.
Overall, it’s visually stunning and has a lot going for it, and I understand why many people love it. It just didn’t fully work for me. The potential was there, but emotionally, it didn’t land the way I hoped.
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A Masterpiece of Heart and Heritage: Why Chasing Jade is the Year’s Most Essential Watch
Chasing Jade (also known as Zhu Yu or Pursuit of Jade) is a masterclass in the historical romance genre, proving that when high-stakes political intrigue meets a soul-stirring "slow burn," the result is pure cinematic gold.If you haven't started this yet, here is why it is an absolute must-watch that deserves a spot at the top of your watchlist:
1. The Powerhouse Leads
The chemistry between the leads is electric, but it’s their individual character arcs that truly shine. The female lead is refreshing—she isn't a "damsel in distress" but a brilliant, resilient force who uses her wits to navigate a treacherous world. Watching her match wits with a male lead who is equally complex, protective, and layered creates a dynamic that is both intellectually and emotionally satisfying.
2. A Visual and Auditory Feast
The production value is top-tier. From the intricate embroidery on the traditional Hanfu to the sweeping cinematography of the ancient landscapes, every frame looks like a painting. The OST (Original Soundtrack) is equally haunting, perfectly capturing the bittersweet longing and the triumphant moments of the story.
3. Plotting with Purpose
Unlike many dramas that suffer from "mid-series drag," Chasing Jade keeps the tension high. The political maneuvers are genuinely clever, and the stakes feel real. It balances heart-pounding action with quiet, intimate character beats that make you feel every ounce of their joy and heartbreak.
4. Why You’ll Love It
The "Slow Burn" Done Right: The romance isn't rushed; it's earned. Every look and every gesture carries weight.
Strong Side Characters: The supporting cast feels like real people with their own motivations, not just plot devices.
Unforgettable Tropes: It takes classic historical tropes and executes them with such polish and sincerity that they feel fresh again.
"Chasing Jade isn't just a drama; it's an emotional journey. It’s a rare gem that balances grand-scale storytelling with deeply personal stakes, leaving you breathless until the very last episode."
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