Pursuit of Jade

Gave it a try

I like historical k dramas but I have noticed I like more modern story cdramas. I watch a lot of slow vibes one. Right before this now at her THE BEST THING, and liked it. This one I wanted intensity but it never really delivered with romance or political intrigue. The story line was fine for first half, then things got dragged out for not much reason then at the end just loosely tied. The thing that really started annoying me was there are plenty of villains but they didn’t put them one by one but dragged out the younger brother as villain eventhough he should have died. They basically then massacred the town of Linan to give the FL a revenge plot but the revenge plot never really closed off, she got distracted. It was like everything was picked up but it all fizzled, even the romance. The romance was strong but the ML had not much lines and it was so not like this character of a general. I’m not sure if it was written thoughtfully because the casting was good with what we got. The female lead also has unusually high heroine story line, and also she basically could have died once but ofcourse she didn’t. She was also sworn enemy of many but they never came after her full force. The same villains didn’t like ML MARQUIS for his position and strength but they stopped going after him, because politics takes over the last third then he has to insert himself on the court side. I think it’s ok to make the main characters have weakness and not too perfect and that’s what was so not right in second half as FL basically becomes a military hero and overshadows the ML MARQUIS and the writer just gives up on the ML. The last episode was so bad and annoying. We got random thought about oh what if that one big incident which this story is about never happened. Don’t really care because it did happen and what they Iive with good and bad now is what’s more interesting . This is probably one of the hyped dramas that didn’t do it for me and I was usually super lax about that. I will say I am not even sure the controversies about “pretty general” is the problem with this show. I think ZLH was same for me here and the best thing because the characters were similar, ad I haven’t watched him in anything else.

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Promising start but disappointing final arc

Story: I did not find the premise too intriguing or special, but it was mostly well-executed. I can definitely tell this was meant to be an idol drama as they had lovely production sets and the drama was very aesthetic, which can take the focus out for a viewer because who would believe that a general would put on makeup and still look relatively unscathed after going through a war... The synopsis did draw me in enough for me to watch this, but I felt that the story fell flat on its second half. As much as I love a female lead being strong and independent, it should be done in a cohesive manner but it seemed like she just got a power/strength boost and managed to take down enemies with way more experience than her despite not having been through a war before...? Make it make sense. It's also a bummer that so much of the novel was cut out from the drama like what I have heard other people say about it, because as someone who has not read the novel before, the story was truly a little hard to follow. New characters were introduced without any background, scenes that would have explained how character A and B met was either not shown or shown in a flashback, which ruined the watch for me.

Acting/Cast: Tian Xiwei, Zhang Linghe, Snow Kong, and Deng Kai definitely served in this drama. I was taken aback by their beauty, and it was so feel-good to watch them on big screens. Point about them looking too perfect as stated above still stands though, because it ruined the immersion for me. I did think the casting was great, as everyone suited the role they were trying to portray, and TXW's acting has always been great. You could really feel her emotions and there were times where DK would make me sympathize with his character. I knew him from a different drama where he was a minor supporting character so I was blown away by how good his acting really was. Snow Kong, despite not being from an acting background, managed to stand her ground against the other actors which I'm quite surprised by.

Music: Not much to say here, I am not a fan of the OST. Reminds me of songs my parents would listen to, and we have very different tastes in music, needless to say.

Rewatch Value: Does not compel me too much for me to re-watch it.

Overall: Thought the acting was great, lovely production sets and the drama was very aesthetic. Overall, I did not find the premise special but it was mostly well-executed, with the regular splash of plot holes and lack of cohesiveness. That aside, everything else was great and I enjoyed the drama as something lighthearted and fun.

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A beautiful shell, but empty inside.

I know it’s not easy to create a perfect drama. Some dramas have strong stories but weak production, while others have high production quality but only average storytelling. Pursuit of Jade (POJ) excels in production quality, but its story falls short. This is the first time I’ve felt this disappointed in a drama. I really liked it at the beginning (up to around episode 15), and I agree that those episodes (the Lin'An arc) deserve a perfect 10. But the arcs that follow all the way to the end just can’t deliver on that early promise. In the end, it becomes very generic and predictable, repeating familiar tropes. The gem simply loses its shine.

If we set aside the Lin’An arc, POJ has several fundamental flaws that, to me, feel very painful: genre, themes, plot development, and character development. Let's do the surgery.

1# Genre. POJ is a messy mix of genres. It leans heavily into romance (giving every character a pairing), while the inciting incident and the core issue lie in the political arena. The story’s intended goal isn’t achieved as it should be. How would you resolve the country’s political problems with romance? It really should strike a better balance between romance and politics, as we’ve seen in dramas such as Fated Hearts (2025), where the broader stakes and personal relationships are handled more evenly.

In POJ, the political intrigues lack sufficient background and reasonable explanation, so we don't know where the story might head. Is it to avenge certain individuals or to serve justice and to restore peace to the society devastated by war? At first, the drama seems to have a grand, noble goal—standing up for the oppressed. But in the end, our characters deal only with what happened to their parents and resolve their personal suffering. The plot involving political intrigue is also highly confusing. Too many conflicting parties, yet no clear reason behind them. Why do Grand Tutor Li and Prime Minister Wei oppose each other? Why is Prince Changxin at odds with the ruling monarch and launches a rebellion? Why does Grand Tutor Li side with Qi Min? What does Qi Min promise him? And, as more characters are introduced, the show starts to resemble a parade of good-looking young men in positions of power, wreaking havoc and causing civilian casualties. Meanwhile, the root of the political conflict remains unaddressed—until so much later, when it’s already too late.

Indeed, POJ prioritizes romance. However, the romance is not its strongest point, either. I see a lack of emotional maturity between the ML (Yan Zheng/Xie Zheng) and the FL (Fan Chengyu), which prevents the love story from feeling truly meaningful. Their interactions are mostly overly restrained, almost timid, despite being already married. They behave like inexperienced teenagers and lack a sense of natural desire. The story insists on a “fake marriage” trope, even though the narrative already provides sufficient, grounded reasons for a genuine union. Unfortunately, their relationship is overshadowed by SML (Qi Min) and SFL (Yu Qianqian)’s toxic dynamic, which feels more compelling simply because it dares to show raw emotion and intimacy. These choices do not strengthen the romance; they weaken it.

2# Themes. POJ doesn't deliver consistent themes and values throughout the episodes. I don't mind if POJ tends to serve as a "woman's story" promoting modern ideas of female emancipation and empowerment. To have an FL with double stigma ( a butcher and an orphan) and have to rely on herself to support her family is truly refreshing. In the Lin’An arc, POJ introduces rich socio-cultural themes: the social position of orphans, neighborhood dynamics, matrilocal marriage, women in male-dominated professions (with a female butcher as the lead), and war as a man-made disaster. It is such a strong and unique story material to follow. These ideas could’ve been the foundation for the entire story—a lens for reflecting on society, even today. Sadly, all of those are abandoned after the Lin’An arc. In the subsequent arcs, the story just falls into generic tropes we’ve seen many times: a legend of a female general, a powerful and handsome young general, cheap power struggles and rebellion, and "love conquers all." This change creates a sense of discontinuity and detachment. After the Lin’An arc, POJ has nothing more to say. It becomes only about love, kissing, caressing, lovemaking, and boring declarations of “I love you.” Many people enjoy watching romantic scenes, but whether they realize it or not, this makes POJ feel cheapened.

3# Plot development. A good story has a clear inciting incident, a goal, rising conflict, a climax, and a resolution. What surprises me a lot: POJ doesn’t have a clear climax. There is no real “explosive” moment or a clearly powerful peak, either in the romance or in the political storyline. The cause is that the internal and external conflicts faced by the main characters are not built up to their full intensity. At the same time, the resolutions to the problems come too quickly and too easily. The emotional consequences of the choices made are too weak, and there is no moment of drastic change in the story's direction.

In my view, the storywriter should have been able to make better use of three key moments: the revelation of the ML’s true identity after he has already married and built a family with the FL, the revelation of the FL's family secret that is connected to the FL’s family massacre, and the exposure of political conspiracies in the capital. The problem is that the writer of POJ tends to turn high-stakes moments that should be tense and heart-wrenching into comedy. The writer seems unwilling to “break the relationship,” so the characters can rediscover and redefine their bond as their roles change. This issue is evident, for example, when the FL, through her recklessness, drugs the ML and causes him to miss a crucial battle. That should have been a defining turning point. Instead of turning it into comedic scenes, the story should have allowed ML to assert his authority as a military general. He needed to make his position unmistakably clear—confront her, show the weight of responsibility he carries, and force her to understand the gravity of her actions. A mistake of that scale demands consequences, yet he is too forgiving because of love. Another example, the final fight against the biggest enemies in the capital. This should’ve been high-stakes, with both leads working together. Instead, the stakes feel low because "they literally found the solution to their problems through dreams after having sex for the first time." How convenient, absurd, and ridiculous is that!

4# Character development. POJ is overly character-driven, with most of its focus placed on the FL. I don't mind that. But why does it have to turn her into yet another “female general”? Once the story moves in that direction—around episode 20—it begins to fall apart. It stops being a story about an inspiring, kind, loyal, and devoted wife, which was arguably the drama’s strongest foundation. Instead, the female lead embarks on an implausible military trajectory that raises more questions than it answers. Is it really that easy to become a general—with limited literacy, no formal education, minimum real battle experience, and only a small number of achievements? She rises to prominence almost overnight. The drama pushes too hard in its attempt to portray a “strong female character,” to the point where it becomes forced rather than convincing. It gives the impression that the story is trying to deliver a message of modern women’s empowerment, but in doing so, it imposes contemporary values too bluntly onto a historical setting, breaking the sense of authenticity.

Another sad thing: the heavy focus on the FL ends up wasting the ML. This is, frankly, the most frustrating part. He is introduced as the story's greatest military general, yet that aura fades after he meets, marries, and falls in love with the FL. His edge is dulled. The fierceness that once defined him fades, replaced by a character who feels passive, overly softened, and, at times, even ineffectual. He is repeatedly overshadowed by the FL. If this is meant to show that he becomes “a better man” through love, then the transformation is also poorly grounded. We are never shown a truly flawed version of him to begin with, so the supposed growth lacks meaning. Meanwhile, the imbalance in the action sequence and fighting is glaring. The FL is given continuous opportunities to prove herself on the battlefield, while the ML—despite his reputation—rarely takes center stage in combat. He seldom engages directly, and when he does, it lacks impact. This raises an uncomfortable question: is he still a central character, or merely reduced to a symbolic presence, there for handsome appearance rather than substance? His character loses credibility gradually for the sake of the FL's unearned promotion. There were so many opportunities for him to take stronger, more active roles: leading battles even while injured (which would’ve made him truly charismatic and heroic), or personally killing his greatest enemy (which would’ve served as emotional closure for his 17-year trauma). And then there’s the whipping—108 lashes—to prove his love. It makes no sense. He should be dead or at least crippled for weeks.

POJ is a very good example of the failure to maintain story quality, internal logic, and narrative realism. The imbalance of genres, the weak political conflict, the negative direction of character development, and the lack of a truly impactful climax all cause the narrative to lose direction and intensity. With its powerful and beautiful beginning, the weakness of the second half of the series makes viewers' disappointment even greater. It is a waste of the cast and the audience’s time. Even rewatching it feels unappealing, as it would only repeat the same feeling of disappointment. For viewers who avoid cheap romance and look for maturity, this drama is very, very unsatisfying. I give it a fairly good score only because I deeply appreciate the Lin’An arc.

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try pursuit of my happiness

It’s been a minute since I’ve watched a Chinese historical series, and I can’t say that I miss them, though I have missed out on a few things, such as the humor, amazing cinematography, fun action, and good camera angles. If I were scrolling through Netflix, Pursuit of Jade would have never caught my attention, but it was on my aunt’s top 5 list, and it was her no. 1, so I gave it a try despite our usual different tastes in shows. Spoiler alert: I haven’t seen the final episode and won’t watch it because I guess they’re going to spend a lot of it on the Marquis and Changyu’s wedding, and I’m not a huge fan of wedding scenes in finales.

I’ll start with the pros, then move on to the cons:
- The acting was great from both main and supporting characters. It’s obvious that sometimes the child actors are just reciting their lines, but they’re kids for crying out loud, so no hate there. Just found it cute at times. For the most part, the characters and actors have good chemistry. I actually enjoyed Fan Changyu and Sui Yuanqing moments, despite him being mostly creepy. I found it interesting that more people weren’t hitting on Changyu. The villains in here were villainizing, so it was nice. The whole cast is also good-looking so it was a bit refreshing?
- Music was top-notch and amazing! I did wish they had used a different song for Yan Zheng’s return as the Marquis, but otherwise, the music and sound effects were phenomenal
- Funny moments were sprinkled throughout the show and were actually funny. The King is a coward, but boy, he cracked me up. The Pig Butcher Squad was also very fun and lightened up the mood.
- The village: every moment inside and within the village was fun. Although I knew they would eventually leave the scene behind, I sort of wished they had shot more of it. Kind of a bummer that we didn’t get to see them protect and rebuild it.
- Cinematography was amazing. The sets were amazing. Probably some of the better ones I’ve seen in a while.

Cons (in no particular order):
- You cannot perform CPR on someone with a pulse or heartbeat. They did CPR at least three times throughout the show, and the people weren’t flatlined.
- Let’s talk about Yan Zheng’s free-floating bangs. His bangs were always blowing around, even when there was no evidence of wind or a draft coming through. It’s like they’ve set a fan in front of Zhang Ling He’s face and just had it blowing all the time. I don’t know if he was hot or something and they were trying to avoid him sweating, or if it’s for aesthetics, but it started to annoy me after a while. If they’re going to blow his bangs, they might as well blow Changyu’s too. I mean, I guess they did when they put a fan in front of them after their bed scenes towards the end. Why was it so windy in their room???
- Changyu slayed two main villains just like that? A man whose strength equals 10,000 men was defeated just like that..? The other man, who’s had over 20 years of fighting experience, was killed, just like that? Uh okay, thanks for their anticlimactic deaths.
- The force kissing. All of a sudden, well-mannered and patient Yan Zheng can’t control himself and has to keep forcing himself on Changyu? Yan Zheng’s jealousy, which led to a forced first kiss, was also uncalled for. Still annoyed, he never cleared that up with Changyu. Gotta admit, I skipped all their kiss scenes because why tf would I watch them?
- The lengths Zheng and his men went to hide his Marquis identity from Fan Changyu were both interesting and extreme. Although it created funny moments here and there, most of the time, it was just annoying that he wouldn’t tell her the truth.
- Gongsun Yin and the Grand Princess’ relationship was weird as heck. Grand Princess went from admiring and daydreaming about Gongsun to suddenly constantly being mad and acting proper/pompously towards him. Also sad that we didn’t get to see more of their Go moments later.
- It was always snowing, but there was no buildup of snow…how are they not knee-deep in snow? Especially after a snowstorm?
- Why was the whole village always gathering around Changyu for anything and everything??? On more than four occasions, people would flock to any Changyu activities and leave the whole village/town empty from a far distance (the director should have clocked it multiple times). I get that she’s the main character, but it throws off the naturalness of everything. Her life can’t be that interesting for everyone in her town to pause for her.
- Have I mentioned not liking Yan Zheng and Fan Changyu towards the end? Yeah, they became unlikable really quickly and were always pointing fingers at everyone and the past. It got annoying fast. They had great communication in the village, but outside of it, it’s like they had to learn to talk again.
- Why tf is Yan Zheng fighting his uncle in the biggest battle against Qi Min??? Especially after his uncle was mocked for having almost no soldiers? Yeah, I stopped there, wasn’t interested in whose bigger and better.
- Is the white bird fake...? Not that it matters, but just curious.
- Some revelations were outright boring and flat. Examples would be how Changyu found out that Zheng is the Marquis. Grabbing her from the battlefield isn't it... The master finding out that Zheng and Changyu (his student) are the married couple, was drier than the Sahara desert. Mandi's death was poorly executed. Obviously, he was going to be killed off after their portrayal of him in slow motion, then the show did a plot twist where he actually didn't die. Then we get another plot twist where he does die, and at that point it was "...okay? Who cares?".
- I enjoyed a lot of the action bits, but there wasn't a lot of it. I'm actually surprised that, as the Marquis, Zheng had very few action scenes, probably even fewer than Changyu. His war strategies were also NOT new and were very shortsighted.
- All in all, I believe the actors did well for their roles, but the character design wasn’t the best. A lot of characters did a 180 out of nowhere. Wen Kan was also an oddball. Song Yan was also weird, talking about taking Changyu in as a concubine, and not having mentioned anything about the village or his mother after she was slaughtered was also strange. He started as a genuine guy who was known to help the villagers due to his intellect and had good feelings for Changyu, but suddenly, he’s this petty and ambitious guy who doesn’t even recognize Changning’s voice.

The series is a decent watch the first time around, but unless you really love Zheng and Changyu or other characters together, you’ll probably have a hard time finishing it, too.

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Snowflakes Overload Can't Hide Fatal Flaws Of this Drama

From my perspective, this drama simply didn’t work. I was hoping for depth, but the dialogue, plot, pacing, and even the romance between the ML and FL felt flat to me. They spend so much time building the relationship, yet when it finally materializes, it comes across like a child’s version of romance.

The visuals made it even harder for me to connect with the story. At times, it felt like watching Alice in Wonderland or a fairy‑tale movie meant for kids. The overly bright colors, the endless snowflakes, the glowing scenery, and the dreamy roads made everything look too whimsical and unrealistic for my taste.

I genuinely wanted to enjoy this drama — I really liked both the ML and FL — but the overall presentation felt staged and theatrical, and I just couldn’t take it seriously. It had funny and entertaining moments, but overall it ended up being a major letdown. No amount of snowflakes or pretty scenery could distract me from how boring and nonsensical the story felt.

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script needed more work.... basically a weaker version of Fated Hearts

I don't even know where to begin w this.... the first 29 episodes were EXCELLENT and Fan Changyu skyrocketed to the top of my fave FL list after just a few episodes....... and then the writing just nosedived off a cliff in the last 10 episodes to the point where I was *B E G G I N G* for the show to be over and quite literally pulling out chunks of my hair bc how frustrated I was with literally every decision being made.

As I've seen quite a few other reviews mention, the first third showing Changyu's life in Lin'an is 100% the best part of the show. I adored watching Changyu and Xie Zheng start to trust each other and protect each other and I totally understood how they would fall in love given everything they went through. I had practically no complaints about the first act, but as soon as the show tries to expand beyond Lin'an, it collapses under the weight of trying to balance too many disjointed storylines — the political machinations of the Wei family vs the Li family and their attempts to manipulate the puppet Emperor; Qi Min's obsession with Qianqian and holding her captive; the slow pace of trying to interweave Changyu and Xie Zheng's storylines after they were separated in ep 17; etc etc. There was just too much that the show was trying to juggle after the jarring (but imo expertly done) tonal shift with the brutal Lin'an massacre in episode 18.

The main reason my brain likened Pursuit of Jade to Fated Hearts was honestly the political aspect. Xie Zheng nearly dies in a battle due to people in his kingdom working with the enemy kingdom against him. There's a bit more going on in this iteration of this story than in Fated Hearts — in Pursuit of Jade, the Emperor is inept and has no idea what he is doing and the Wei family and Li family are constantly fighting each other trying to gain control of him. And honestly I'm not fully sure how Xie Zheng fits into this as a Marquis (but pls no one explain it to me, at this point I do not care), but, y'know, that's an official title so he clearly has quite a bit of power. While the politics in Fated Hearts always had me fascinated and on the edge of my seat, it's so peripheral for the first ~half of Pursuit of Jade that I just found it impossible to care about any of the people involved, but then it starts taking up so much space that you literally can't ignore all these annoying power hungry and traitorous people and it's honestly agonizing how much screentime they suck up.

Also, a lot of people are probably going to disagree with me here, but the romance left a lot to be desired for me. Changyu and Xie Zheng were so sweet and cute at the start and I was convinced they were skyrocketing to the top of my CDrama pairings ranking, but then their argument in episode 17 happened........ I understand that Xie Zheng is trying to *show* Changyu how he feels by kissing her, but she pushed him off of her and then he kissed her again??? That's assault! I didn't abandon ship over this bc I do understand the desperation and where they both were emotionally, but it's certainly a moment that made me wary and then as the show continues there are just more moments where he ignores her boundaries: Changyu learns Xie Zheng's real identity given he had been using a fake name in Lin'an and she's like "our relationship can't continue bc our differences in status" and he repeatedly pushes back against that and won't accept that things are over; when she pulls away after learning The Secret™️about her father, he again pushes for them to resume their relationship; there's even a scene in one of the final episodes where Xie Zheng has been drugged (I guess by an aphrodisiac given his behavior???????) and he keeps repeatedly trying to initiate physical intimacy with Changyu and I just had to fast forward the scene bc it honestly was making me sick to my stomach how she kept trying to push him off and repeatedly asked him to stop and he wouldn't. There's also multiple scenes where Changyu gets drunk and Xie Zheng stops her from drinking more alcohol and I know it's *supposed* to show his care and concern for her but given how abrasive he is about, it honestly comes off more as him being controlling. idk... by the end I was just incredibly uninterested in their dynamic.

Where do I even start with the Qi Min and Qianqian storyline....... it started really menacing with Qi Min being fixated on Qianqian upon "meeting" her in Lin'an and then it is confirmed by one of his subordinates that she is the woman that he thought she was. Qianqian has flashbacks of a scarred man and she very clearly has a trauma response and panics when she thinks about him. A few episodes later a maid meets Qianqian's son and reports back to Qi Min that "he looks like you when you were a child." so......... the implication is (pretty clearly imo) that Qi Min raped her. he then spends multiple episodes trying to get Qianqian back into his clutches and manages to do so when she attempts to flee Lin'an the day before the massacre. Qianqian and her son are then being held hostage and Qianqian tries to be as amicable as possible to protect her son. Once she facilitates her son's escape, she no longer cares to play into Qi Min's fantasy and starts to fight back in small ways, leading to him chaining her up in a shed. He saves her when she nearly drowns, then tries to track down their son and threatens to kill him again before Qianqian finally manages to escape. But no of course this plot can't end there, and after only like 5 episodes of freedom, she gets kidnapped AGAIN and Qi Min AGAIN threatens to kill their son and the only reason he doesn't go through with it is that Qianqian threatens to kill herself if he harms her son. Qianqian is back to fulfilling his fantasy as she looks for an opening to steal Qi Min's tiger tally and send it to Changyu but then it turns out he let her steal it as a trojan horse...... so she's back to fighting him which, of course, makes him clamp down on his control even harder. Then, in the final episode (or penultimate episode maybe? I already forget even tho I just finished the show a handful of hours ago) Qi Min has the audacity to say that he fell for Qianqian bc she was the only person who wasn't scared of him upon seeing his scarred face......... So the show is really saying "you saved my life and didn't view me as a monster bc my facial deformity, so I raped you".............. WHAT ARE WE F*CKING DOING?????????????????? And as an abuse survivor, I know that emotions towards your abuser can be complicated, but the last two episodes give a vibe that Qianqian is sad to see Qi Min die / touched that he was willing to die for her and..... it just does not sit well with me, it feels more like abuse apologia than a thoughtful exploration of Qianqian's trauma. (And don't get me started on the finale post credits AU nonsense with these two.)

The last 10 episodes literally made me feel like I was being pranked — the sudden slapstick-y and downright cartoonish humor becomes really prominent (and the majority of said humor does not land), characters are making decisions that make no sense with the way they'd been written until this point, a reveal out of nowhere that one of my fave characters was working with Qi Min...... It was MADDENING. Like okay for inconsistent characterization: Changyu is asked to join the military after killing a formidable enemy general and Changyu is insistent that she wants nothing to do with war after the horrors of the Lin'an massacre and that she can't bear to lose anyone else, but then 5 minutes later she's thinking about something that her mentor figure told her and she's donning the armor she was given. In the battle that she joins immediately after this decision, one of Changyu's close friends dies and she feels like it's her fault bc she wasn't fast enough to stop the enemy, but FOR 10 EPISODES the show completely ignores the gravity of that loss and the fact that he's no longer present is never acknowledged until like the final 20 minutes of the finale?????????? Like so many ridiculous things happen I can't even recall all of the batshit insane developments. One character who had spent half the show fixating on his desire to kill Changyu is fatally stabbed by another enemy of his — someone he didn't even view as an enemy until the prior episode, at that! — and one of his allies finds him before he succumbs to his wound and he holds out an item and tells his ally to give it to Changyu bc it will "help her" and then she's like "why would Changyu trust anything I say" and then he's like "you'll also give her this to show your sincerity" AND THEN F*CKING DECAPITATES HIMSELF. What are we doing??????????????? WHAT ARE WE F*CKING DOING??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

anyway I'm losing my train of thought and I have rambled enough. Changyu I love you I wish your show was better bc you are iconic 💗

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The Pursuit of What Exactly?

Pursuit of Jade is one of those dramas that become so popular it is deemed to be the best thing since sliced bread, leaving me to question my own sanity and preference because I think the complete opposite.

I have to admit, it starts out strong. The Lin'An slice of life story arc draws you in with its quaint little town, lovable characters, the simplicity and charm of a small town butcher girl, and the intrigue of the mysterious man she found at the brink of death in the snow. All of this make up a promising premise. You find yourself wondering about the true identity of this man and why he was found buried in the snow, and you grow attached to his relationship with the girl and the people around her. If only they were able to maintain the quality of the writing and perhaps take liberties with the original novel. Unfortunately, things start to go south writing-wise the moment Yan Zheng/Xie Zheng leaves and Fan Changyu is left without a choice but to go after him.

Enter the military camp and Wonder Woman arc, perhaps the worst part in the whole drama imho. The charismatic, polite, and down to earth Fan Changyu transforms into an obnoxious, arrogant, and insufferable super-powered woman that even Captain Marvel would envy. Never in my years of watching C-dramas did I think a character like the Mary Sues that Hollywood has made a standard for writing “strong female leads” would exist in C-dramaland. A woman so perfect, so strong, so complete that she doesn't need a man, and in fact, is better than a man. From a humble small town girl, Fan Changyu becomes the most celebrated general who can defeat seasoned warriors twice her size and armed with far deadlier weapons, with just two strikes of her short butcher blades. Amazing! Her skills become more and more ridiculous as the story progresses. Yes, yes, I know this is not real life, it's just fiction. But it's a historical drama grounded in reality where pigs are pigs and don't fly. Even fantasy stories follow the rules set in the world building. People just don't acquire powers for no reason. Changyu's super human strength just doesn't make sense and it's even more farfetched to make her such a natural fighter that she needs little to no training to be great at it.

And don't even get me started on the Marquis in distress who is almost always injured and needs to be saved. Zhang Linghe is nothing more than a pretty face with a feathered headdress. He barely has anything to do. For someone who is widely feared and revered as the greatest general of his generation, he has very few action scenes that reflect his true skill as a fighter. Xie Zheng exists to be an eye-candy. That's all.

But my greatest beef with this drama is the poor writing of the political intrigue. For the first time since I started watching C-dramas, I struggled to grasp the royal court politics and the players involved because the drama is heavily focused on the romance and Changyu's transformation into a girl boss that they lost the plot. The whole thing started because of the conspiracy that transpired 17 years ago, which led to Xie Zheng becoming gravely injured in his pursuit of the truth and Changyu rescuing him. That weird alternative ending proves the importance of that political disaster because if that hadn't happened, then Changyu would've been born a Wei and betrothed to Xie Zheng since birth. The rightful heir wouldn't have died and Qi Min wouldn't have turned out to be such a psychopath. But the writer seemed to have forgotten that part of the plot and just remembered it in the final few episodes, resulting in a rushed ending that didn't make much sense.

I am more pissed that they wasted an interesting premise and a great cast of actors, though. This could've been a truly remarkable drama if they hadn't botched the second half. To be honest, I mainly watched this for the villains and anti-heroes. They are the reason I decided not to drop this drama even when I was tearing my hair out in frustration. lol Deng Kai as Qi Min delivered an incredibly nuanced performance that despite my disgust for his disturbing actions, I found myself sympathizing with him a little. Yan YiKuan as Wei Yan was equally compelling. He's perhaps the most tragic character of all. I couldn't bring myself to hate him. So for the strong start, convincing acting, cinematography, and costume and set design, I give it a generous 6.5.

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It Started at a 10… and Ended at a 10

I’ve never experienced anything like this drama.

Being part of a phenomenon like The Pursuit of Jade felt different. For three straight weeks, this show completely consumed my life. I couldn’t even start another drama because everything I tried to watch, I ended up comparing to this, and nothing measured up.

This drama isn’t just good. It’s unforgettable.

From everything I’ve seen across social media, a lot of people felt the same way I did. Far more people loved this drama than disliked it, even though there were many who tried their best to undermine it. It broke records, achieving a 52% market share and becoming the first C-drama to enter Netflix’s Top 10 non-English list. It made many of its cast international stars overnight. It dominated conversations and timelines on Weibo, X (Twitter), TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. When a show takes over like that, you know it’s doing something right.

PRODUCTION & STORYTELLING:

The writing was excellent. The direction was stellar. The cinematography was absolutely stunning, easily one of the most beautifully shot dramas I have ever seen. Every frame felt intentional, like a work of art.

The pacing was strong overall. Yes, after the major reveal, things slowed down a bit, but that was necessary. You cannot sustain high-intensity storytelling for 40 episodes straight. The drama slowed down exactly when it needed to, giving viewers time to breathe.

Even in those quieter moments, the story never lost momentum. It was still engaging, still meaningful, and always gave me something to look forward to each day.

PERFORMANCES:

Zhang Linghe as Jiu Heng (Marquis of Wu’an) delivers what I can only describe as a career-defining performance. I liked him before, but after this, I am a full-on fan. He commands the screen effortlessly. Every shot of him is cinematic. The emotional depth, the presence, the control, it is a tour de force.

Tian Xiwei as Fan Changyu, where do I even begin?

I first noticed her in "New Life Begins" and "Wrong Carriage, Right Groom." Even then, she showed serious promise. But here, she elevates everything.

She is not your typical drama actress. She brings weight to her performances. Her expressions carry meaning, her presence is strong, and she holds her own no matter who she is paired with. She is captivating, powerful, and emotionally grounded.

I genuinely believe she is on track to become one of the defining actresses of her generation. Girl, you made it to my top five list of favorite C-drama actresses. Welcome.

CHEMISTRY:

The chemistry between Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei is next level.

It is natural, emotional, and completely convincing. The tenderness in their scenes, the way he looks at her, and those kisses, it does not feel acted. It feels real.

I know there has been chatter about their off-screen dynamic, but I do not care about the gossip. All I know is that on screen, this pairing is gold. In my opinion, you cannot create that level of chemistry without mutual respect and probably more. Something real translated onto that screen, and it showed in every interaction.

CAST AND SUPPORTING STORIES:

This is one of the rare dramas where every storyline mattered.

I did not skip a single episode. Not one.

In fact, I often rewatched episodes because there was so much detail and nuance. I knew I missed something the first time around, and yes, I was late for work every morning because of this drama.

The subplots were not filler. They enriched the main narrative. Every couple and every character arc felt intentional and meaningful.

Whoever handled casting absolutely earned their paycheck. Every actor fit their role perfectly.

There were so many standout performances, but one of the biggest for me was Deng Kai as the tortured Prince Sui Min. He has been one of my favorite short drama actors, and I am so glad more people get to experience his craft. You know an actor is good when they can play a bent, evil character and still make the audience feel a love-hate connection.

Kong Xue Er as Qian Qian also held her own and proved she is more than just a pretty face.

The scholar couple, Li Qing (Gongsun Yin) and Yu Zhong Li (Qi Shu), were also a joy to watch.

Li Muran, I hated you as the psychotic Sui Yuan Qing, but I loved your acting. You were very believable.

A special shout out to her comrades, the Pig Butcher Squad. They had their sister’s back. Li Dian Zun as Jin Yuan Bao, Sun Kai as Man Cang, Wu Yi Jia as Man Wu, and rest in peace to Man Di, Nine Kornchid Boonsathitpakdee.

The children in this drama, Cao Yan Ning as Fan Changning and Wu Jia Jun as Yu Bao Er, were absolute standouts. They did not feel like background additions. They felt like fully present characters. They carried themselves like little professionals, and I truly look forward to seeing what they do next.

MUSIC, EFFECTS, CINEMATOGRAPHY, OVERALL EXPERIENCE:

The OST was beautiful. That moment in Episode 40 when Changyu returned to Li’an and Jiu Heng welcomed her down from the horse and opened his arms to her, and “Among Thousands, I Seek Him” by Zhang Bichen began to play, brought tears to my eyes. It was such a full circle moment. They were finally home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR2SNfJjXZE

The special effects were impressive. Winter is not my favorite season, but the snow-covered village of Li’an felt so warm and inviting that I wanted to move there.

The battle scenes were engaging and well-executed. The actors went through tremendous training for these roles, including weight loss and physical preparation, and it paid off. Even though I am not usually a fan of battle scenes, I still watched them here.

The cinematography is exquisite. I cannot say enough about it. This drama is art. The visuals have set a new standard.

The costumes deserve special praise. The Marquis of Wu’an’s return to the capital in full armor with the pheasant feathers was unforgettable. And the Flower General’s entrance in her red battle armor and flower crown was just as powerful.

To the director, Zeng Qing Jie, you deserve your flowers. Everything from top to bottom was crafted with care. This drama had all the right ingredients: a great director, excellent writing, and a phenomenal cast. The trifecta.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I only write full reviews like this when a drama hits me hard in my feelings.

This is not just a drama you watch.

This is a drama you experience.

Forty episodes were not enough. If any drama deserved sixty episodes to fully tell its story, it was this one. I would love a director’s cut in the future with additional episodes. I also loved the alternate universe ending. It felt like a thank you from the director to the audience.

I honestly believe this drama is a game changer. It raises the bar and shifts expectations for what this genre can be.

And yes, I have recommended it to everyone: family, coworkers, and friends. If someone wants to get into C-dramas, this is the one I will point them to.

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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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FROM AN UNBIASED POV

《逐玉》 Zhu Yu

What captivated me the most about this drama has to be the screenplay and cinematography. I firmly believe that an engaging screenplay can carry a story even through slower mid-sections and here, the story itself was compelling as well. The director is absolutely talented.Aside from one scene, I was satisfied with every sequence of the drama.

I also have to credit the comedy, which consistently managed to make me laugh. The director’s talent was evident not only in the storytelling but also in the visuals.Somehow, even already handsome and beautiful actors looked even more good looking on screen , which I didn’t think was possible.

When enjoying a drama, we can’t just like the leads while ignoring the supporting cast. A story only works if the entire ensemble is engaging, not just the romance. I found myself invested in the supporting characters too. Even some antagonists had arcs we could follow. There were no irritating negative characters forced into the story without purpose.


THE PARALLELS :

I appreciated how the author highlighted the parallels between the protagonist and the antagonist.Xie Zheng and Qimin share eerily similar pasts: both lost their fathers, witnessed their mothers’ ultimate sacrifices, endured childhoods marked by hardship, were rescued by women and eventually fell in love with their saviors. Their paths mirror each other closely, yet the outcomes are shaped by fate and the choices they make.

In a way, it could be said:
Don’t save just any man. If you’re lucky, you get a Xie Zheng, if unlucky, a Qimin.

Or consider it another way: don’t fall for your savior. Love may be returned, giving you a Changyu. If not, even your death won’t earn you a single tear.


MAJOR CHARACTERS:

《Changyu》
was a refreshing character in the beginning. She was neither cold nor emotionally distant nor did she adopt the overly boyish aura often imposed on strong female leads.

There is a recurring tendency in storytelling to equate strength with the loss of softness, as though a woman must become hardened to be taken seriously. This feels like praising a man’s qualities under the guise of celebrating a woman.

Another aspect worth noting is her love for the male lead. Unlike many modern romances where emotional effort feels one sided, Changyu’s affection was consistently visible, expressed through her care and attentiveness, making their relationship feel mutual


《Xie Zheng》
I initially began this drama because of Zhang Linghe and his portrayal of Xie Zheng was consistently pleasing to watch. From the very beginning to the end, his character maintained a sense of steadiness and composure that made him easy to admire. He was presented as an exceptionally capable general and later an equally dependable husband, embodying an almost ideal figure.

While this made him likable, I couldn’t help but feel that retaining some of his imperfections from the novel would have made him more layered and ultimately more memorable. Even so, I genuinely enjoyed his character and he was the only character consistently likable throughout.


《Qianqian》
can easily be perceived as a weak woman. However, I never saw her that way. Physical strength is not the only form of strength worth admiring, and her true resilience lay in her intellect and independence. Despite being completely alone in the world, coming from a poor background and showing strong hints of being transmigrated, she managed to survive through wit rather than force.

But she became the only major character who did not receive a happy ending in my opinion. What she valued most was her freedom. She did not hate Qimin himself, but the way he kept her captive.

While even the Princess Royal, who was raised under strict noble expectations, used to run away from home, Qianqian, who was far more free-spirited, ended up confined within the palace walls. Author was too cruel to her, denying her both a return home and a life of companionship, leaving her in a quiet and permanent isolation.


《Qimin 》
stood out as one of the most tragic and conflicted figures in the drama. While a handsome actor playing a tragic antagonist can naturally heighten audience sympathy, it was ultimately the performance itself that made him so compelling. Despite the recent trend of attractive actors portraying villains, I had rarely felt this conflicted or sympathetic toward one before.

He lived under an immense burden from a young age, with the desire for revenge constantly instilled in him by those around him. Everyone—his subordinates, servants, and even his nanny—either feared him, revered him or expected something from him.

Hints from both the drama and the novel suggest a traumatic upbringing: he was used, forced into fathering a child and later discarded.
The people who raised him were loyal to the bloodline rather than to him as a person. Baoer was born without Qimin’s consent and it’s understandable that he would feel a deep sense of resentment.

The timeline makes it even more disturbing. The fire happened 17 years ago when Qimin was four, so he’s about 21 now. Since Baoer is seven, that means Qimin was only around 14 when he was drugged.

His jump into the river felt less like an accident and more like surrender. Despite knowing how to swim, he made no attempt to save himself. In that darkness, Qianqian became a rare ray of light,someone who did not immediately despise him, yet he ultimately drove that light away himself.

Qimin was undeniably a tragic figure but he also became the source of further tragedy for others. He was hateable yet deeply pitiful.







I sympathize with Qimin for his past but I also sympathize with Qianqian. I love watching a story where a man changes for a woman, rather than a woman changing a man.

That might be why I got into this ship. The author never showed that it was Qianqian’s responsibility to change a man.They were doomed from the start, a tragedy I loved watching unfold, yet never wished to end happily in this life.

The visual storytelling mirrored this dynamic beautifully: Qimin’s grey hair and black mink shawl contrasted with Qianqian’s red ribbon, making them resemble a wolf and a rabbit,evoking a clear hunter and prey dynamic.
On top of that, the actors had top-notch chemistry, which made every scene between them feel emotionally heightened


WEAK POINTS:

The last ten episodes were where the drama began to lose its grip on me. The female lead’s character seemed to lack a fully authentic development during this phase.

Sure, some of it could be blamed on limited screen time but during her growth phase, I felt oddly detached from the main couple. If that part had been given more space, I’m not sure whether I would have felt more connected or more frustrated.

The female lead’s development began to feel unintentionally comical. It was already unrealistic to see a petite woman taking down a man of such a large build but the drama justified it by claiming she possessed unusual strength, so I accepted it as fictional exaggeration. In fact, it was satisfying to see a woman win in a fight, even if it stretched realism.

I totally feel it was wrong of them to keep main couple apart during the phase where so many changes were happening to her character. I understand that both characters were meant to be independent, the writers should have used the limited runtime more wisely. When the reunion kiss I had waited so long for failed to move me, I knew something was wrong.

Even if things got slightly better between them later. I can’t exactly pinpoint what changed but I miss the vibes they had in Lian and even in the war camp.

Again, the last ten episodes felt both rushed yet dragging. The editing was choppy and some scenes ended up looking lame. I was set on giving this drama a 10/10 before these episodes.




At the end of the day, it all depends on how you view the story. At first, it felt like a full blown romcom to me. I only cared about the main leads and was wary of new characters appearing.

But when the political and war elements unfolded, I realized that in this world, few rise to power or win wars without innocent blood being spilled. Take, for instance, the scene where Xie Zheng opens the dam, flooding Baxia and killing thousands of soldiers and civilians alike.

From a political standpoint, it’s far easier to influence a young emperor and his inexperienced mother with no background than to control a bloodthirsty and unstable ruler. So I get it



Yet, if I frame it as the love story of a general and a butcher rising to power, it becomes a happy ending in the larger sense. Both in this life and in every imagined life that could follow.

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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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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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