Light on Series: Moses on the Plain (2023)

While I'm not surprised by MDL's negative reaction to this show, I can't help but wish there was at least some love shown to this series here. But, considering this is essentially an indie film stretched into more than six hours of drama, I can't complain much, given the tastes of MDL users.

The extended shots and continuous takes evoke strong vibes reminiscent of Edward Yang and Hou Hsiao-hsien, which might make some viewers find the material a bit monotonous. But if you're a fan of Edward Yang or Hou Hsiao-hsien's films, this is a treat. I would even go so far as to say this is the best thing I've seen from iQIYI and Chinese contemporary film/television in a long time.

The direction, production, and the actors' performances (there are some seriously impressive performances here) are genuinely excellent and ensure there's always something captivating happening within the frame.

The atmosphere and mood of the show stayed with me long after the credits rolled in the final episode. If nothing else, the final half-hour or so will linger in your memory long after the screen goes dark.

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Atmospheric and immersive 东北 noir that is worth pairing with "漫长的季节?" released in the same year for watching. Both are shows illustrating the long-term effects of trauma and manufacturing recession in Northern China and fractured familial dynamics. I love that both shows have movie length episodes, a rarity in this age of Douyin/TikTok shorts.

IMO, the mystery itself and characters are not what you come to for this show. Instead, it's the setting, which the production design does a killer job to immerse you in, taking you authentically to multiple time periods of 东北 in Chinese history. The characters are rather impenetrable, icy, and alien. There's no fun interaction between characters. But, the lack of connection and attachment is also a point of the show in demonstrating the effect of trauma, Chinese history, and economic recession in impeding communication, empathy, warmth, and close ties. The show is bleak, nihilist, and oh so noir.

I loved that the show had movie length episodes, which were necessary for maintaining the captivating atmosphere. I hope mysteries with variable episode lengths can survive amidst the industry- and market-driven pressure to produce Douyin-oriented shorts.

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