Zui Jia (2025)

Obiettivi troppo alti rispetto ai mezzi a disposizione. Idea di base e protagonisti interessanti.

Zui Jia (Sinful marriage) è uno short drama cinese che punta a un obiettivo di tutto rispetto salvo non accorgersi di avere di fatto degli importanti limiti per raggiungerlo, nonostante la buona volontà.
Mi è piaciuta l'idea del finto matrimonio - non lo definirei nemmeno di convenienza, più uno strumento di vendetta - così come la fitta rete di intrighi e un rapporto di fiducia tra i due coniugi che si instaura a fatica e a piccoli passi laddove regna ampiamente il sospetto. Mi è piaciuta la caratterizzazione della protagonista femminile: sveglia, di buon animo ma - all'occorrenza - abile doppiogiochista senza troppi rimorsi. Molto interessante, dal punto di vista estetico, il protagonista maschile. Per entrambi, inoltre, un livello di recitazione sopra la media per quelli che sono gli standard degli short drama.
Di contro, la struttura troppo complessa della trama poco si sposa con i tempi ristretti della mini-serie: gli eventi sono esageratamente concentrati, si susseguono a ritmo serrato minando spesso la coerenza e creando una confusione tra un passaggio e l'altro che di certo non aiuta i nessi logici. Non solo, la stratificazione delle alleanze/tradimenti portata in scena sarebbe impegnativa anche anche per un drama classico di normale durata, figuriamoci in una serie dove gli episodi durano non più di dieci minuti l'uno: il meccanismo del doppio gioco si rivela poi un triplo gioco, quindi un quadruplo e anche oltre. Davvero difficile capire quando i due protagonisti si trovano dalla stessa parte, c'è sempre l'impressione che uno dei due stia complottando alle spalle dell'altro, salvo spesso poi risultare in una strategia voluta pianificata insieme in antecedenza...Ma prontamente messa di nuovo in discussione da quello potrebbe essere un ennesimo tradimento escogitato a monte.
Un po "too much", insomma, così come il numero di avversari che via via entrano in scena: la matrigna, l'ex fidanzato, il fratello, la rediviva. Si poteva decisamente snellire il contenuto senza snaturare per questo l'idea alla base della serie.
Se da una parte è stata messa quindi troppa carne al fuoco, dall'altra è mancata un po' di sana autocritica rispetto ai propri limiti: non mi riferisco solo al tempo ridotto ma alla qualità generale tipica di molti short drama, che non vantano budget importanti e non eccellono in termini di regia e sceneggiatura, pur riconoscendo - come dicevo - una recitazione delle figure principali inaspettatamente sopra la media. Lo prendo un po' come un test di prova, al quale potrebbe ispirarsi un vero e proprio drama fatto come si deve.

La valutazione complessiva, restando nella scala di valutazione degli short drama, è comunque positiva nella misura in cui propone un'idea interessante e porta all'attenzione due attori - soprattutto quello maschile - spendibili quali protagonisti anche in un drama più importante e strutturato. Quanto al risultato in sè, invece, non la si può certo definire una visione completa, curata e appagante.

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An Absolutely Wild Ride!

I went in with ZERO expectations after YouTube randomly recommended me the first episode, and let me tell you, the leads are both absolutely unhinged!

While I love the ML, the FL stole the show for me! This lady is no damsel in distress. If anything, she’s the one causing others’ distress half the time lol and is capable of saving herself and the ML too. They are logical to an extent and think like normal human beings, which I really appreciate.

FOR ONCE, we have an ML with a functioning brain, who does not welcome the supposed dead lover back with open arms and actually asks the FL for cooperation to check if this randomly resurrected chick is sus or not. Them acting like a couple in love absolutely cracked me up. From the looks of it, the ML probably enjoyed it a little too much and has no qualms choosing the FL over the random gege-ily-back-from-the-dead chick.

The ML and FL team up quite often to break open conspiracies, and it’s so nice to see the FL being the one with the loose screws. And the ML absolutely knows that, which makes their banter absolute GOLD! (especially when they’re offing people who offend them)

The chemistry is through the roof sans the usual violence in the name of affection. There's consent asked and given once they move past the murder-y phase. Not to mention, it’s an enemy-to-lovers done right where the ML was ready to off the FL in the beginning for supposedly causing his GF to die. But once he figures out something is fishy, he not only helps the FL find the truth about her cheating BF but also helps her punish her stepmom. All the while he’s still doubting her lmao

And they both don’t give two shits about the yappers around them. The nosey sister, the domineering grandmom, the slimy brother, the spoiled child princess, everyone is background noise for them to use at their convenience and dispose of as required.

But there's character development and I actually ended up feeling sorry for the 2FL. The whole diary thing was kinda random tho but okay. The SIL became FL's follower and the grandmom sorta just accepted the situation and gave up. Yay for that honestly!

I do have an issue with them letting people go rather than dealing with them, but they all do get what they deserve, and most of it happens in things seemingly unrelated to the leads, but totally within their purview, which makes for an interesting watch. Because they know how to borrow others’ blades to deal with others, and not directly get involved and tarnish their own reputation.

The ending 3-4 episodes were kinda weird tho. It was almost like the writers forgot they had a bunch of episodes left and ran out of ideas once the 2FL's identity was exposed. The push and pull didn't feel authentic since the ML was very much making heart-eyes at the FL but suddenly had an identity crises after the diary was discovered. Again, kinda weird, since it would've made sense for the ML to be confused about his feelings during the early episodes since he was supposed to love his kinda-dead GF but suddenly felt drawn to this girl who spoke and acted in a familiar manner. But once the FL had the epiphany that she liked this guy, she was very much committed to making them a thing. Gotta respect the hustle.

The swapped person plot was very reminiscent of the coroners diary and kinda felt being thrown in for shits and giggles to pass time. Maybe they were a 20 episode drama and had to extend last min. Never-the-less, the ending was decent so I'll let it pass.

Was quite worried the FL would probably sacrifice herself with all the assertions of loving herself the most (coupled with the ML's love of letting the antagonistic brother just go) but I'm very glad they proved me wrong. She really does have foresight and is well prepared for all the shit that might go down so props to her.

I’ve previously seen the FL and my god, she’s improved by leaps and bounds. Haven’t seen much of the ML’s work, but he’s definitely on my radar now.

All in all, it’s an amazing watch, especially for a mini-drama, and if you’re looking for something with minimal dog-blood plots with sensible leads who have more than one brain-cell between them and actually TALK to each other instead of making wild assumptions from thin air, you should definitely check this one out! Kinda surprised it hasn’t blown up much, but I guess limited availability could be a reason too. Hopefully, we get better subs in the future :/

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