Half Detective Mystery, Half Throne Power Struggle – A Promising Drama That Falters at the Finish
This drama is a thrilling mix of a detective story and a high-stakes power struggle for the throne.
Chu Chu, an aspiring coroner, travels to the capital, Chang-An, to take the coroner examination. If she succeeds, she would be the first female coroner in the city. It’s there that she crosses paths with Prince An-Jun, who masterminds the coroner exam. Impressed by her sharp skills, he recruits her as his sidekick, and together they solve complex crimes involving high-ranking officials. As they uncover hidden secrets, their journey takes them from Chang-An to Qian-Zhou, where they investigate the mystery of Prince An-Jun’s missing father and the illegal minting of coins that is discovered in the capital.
The drama keeps you intrigued for most of its run, blending mystery with historical intrigue. But as the story nears its climax, the narrative starts to unravel, leaving a sour taste in the end. It feels as though the screenwriter—or perhaps the director—changed midway through, and the once tightly woven plot becomes a bit of a stretch.
The grand conspiracy behind the story centres around a rumored revolt, and the long-lost Duke Chang, who is supposedly the rightful heir to the throne, planning to take back what he believes is his. Turns out, Duke Chang has been hiding in plain sight in the capital as the Minister of War. His plan is to overthrow the current emperor, his grand-uncle, and claim the throne for himself.
Here’s where things take a strange turn. Instead of using his position as Minister of War to command the army and secure the throne, Duke Chang goes to the extreme of faking his death, abandoning his identity, and returning as the Duke with a private army. This move feels unnecessary and, frankly, a bit foolish. He already has control over the Tang army—why fake his death and go through all the trouble? Plus, he leaves behind just enough clues for Prince An-Jun to piece together his true identity.
Then there’s the odd pseudo-science of the ball that Xu Ru-Gui shallows, which is supposed to be a lethal weapon against Chu Chu and Prince An-Jun. The drama never adequately explains how it was meant to work. Sure, it’s fantasy, but even fantasy needs a little bit of logic.
The casting of Duke Chang is another misstep. He comes across as too kind and gentle to convincingly portray a manipulative mastermind. When he finally reveals his true identity, it’s hard to believe that this mild-mannered character could have masterminded such a devious plot.
Lastly, the finale required Chu Chu, a small and delicate character, to somehow pretend to be the emperor and act as a hostage. The whole situation felt forced and unconvincing, taking away from the drama's realism.
What could have been a fantastic, well-executed series ultimately falters in the last few episodes. A solid detective story and a captivating political drama were overshadowed by questionable choices in the end. It's a shame, because the potential was there for a much stronger finish.
Chu Chu, an aspiring coroner, travels to the capital, Chang-An, to take the coroner examination. If she succeeds, she would be the first female coroner in the city. It’s there that she crosses paths with Prince An-Jun, who masterminds the coroner exam. Impressed by her sharp skills, he recruits her as his sidekick, and together they solve complex crimes involving high-ranking officials. As they uncover hidden secrets, their journey takes them from Chang-An to Qian-Zhou, where they investigate the mystery of Prince An-Jun’s missing father and the illegal minting of coins that is discovered in the capital.
The drama keeps you intrigued for most of its run, blending mystery with historical intrigue. But as the story nears its climax, the narrative starts to unravel, leaving a sour taste in the end. It feels as though the screenwriter—or perhaps the director—changed midway through, and the once tightly woven plot becomes a bit of a stretch.
The grand conspiracy behind the story centres around a rumored revolt, and the long-lost Duke Chang, who is supposedly the rightful heir to the throne, planning to take back what he believes is his. Turns out, Duke Chang has been hiding in plain sight in the capital as the Minister of War. His plan is to overthrow the current emperor, his grand-uncle, and claim the throne for himself.
Here’s where things take a strange turn. Instead of using his position as Minister of War to command the army and secure the throne, Duke Chang goes to the extreme of faking his death, abandoning his identity, and returning as the Duke with a private army. This move feels unnecessary and, frankly, a bit foolish. He already has control over the Tang army—why fake his death and go through all the trouble? Plus, he leaves behind just enough clues for Prince An-Jun to piece together his true identity.
Then there’s the odd pseudo-science of the ball that Xu Ru-Gui shallows, which is supposed to be a lethal weapon against Chu Chu and Prince An-Jun. The drama never adequately explains how it was meant to work. Sure, it’s fantasy, but even fantasy needs a little bit of logic.
The casting of Duke Chang is another misstep. He comes across as too kind and gentle to convincingly portray a manipulative mastermind. When he finally reveals his true identity, it’s hard to believe that this mild-mannered character could have masterminded such a devious plot.
Lastly, the finale required Chu Chu, a small and delicate character, to somehow pretend to be the emperor and act as a hostage. The whole situation felt forced and unconvincing, taking away from the drama's realism.
What could have been a fantastic, well-executed series ultimately falters in the last few episodes. A solid detective story and a captivating political drama were overshadowed by questionable choices in the end. It's a shame, because the potential was there for a much stronger finish.
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