This review may contain spoilers
REST IN PEACE SHRIMPIE TT
This drama is everything. The cinematography, plot, acting, cast, costumes—everything deserves a full 10/10. Even though the OST isn't particularly memorable, it's still good enough and doesn't take away from the experience.The plot is the biggest highlight. Every episode has its own purpose and never feels empty. There isn't a single boring episode. The story constantly surprises you, making it almost impossible to predict what will happen next. About half of the episodes are absolute tearjerkers.
I love everything about this drama—the relationships between the characters, the character development, and the emotional depth of every single one of them. There honestly isn't much to criticize because it's just that good.
The only thing that gave me the ick was the CGI used for the monsters. They looked a little too cartoonish and unrealistic. Thankfully, the incredible storyline completely makes up for it.
Now, let's talk about Ding Yuxi (Shrimpie).
His acting was phenomenal. One moment he's Zhang Haixia with the softest, most innocent baby face, and the next he's a terrifying, dark, and completely unhinged psycho. The switch between personalities was so convincing. I honestly felt the most sympathy for Zhang Haixia because living with a split personality is such a heartbreaking fate.
Zhang Hailou was such a fun character. He brought a lot of humour to the drama, but at the same time, I felt sorry for him because he was always kept in the dark. Zhang Haiqi, his mentor, and Zhang Haixia never told him the truth about the bigger secrets. Everyone saw him as carefree and careless, so they assumed he didn't need to know, which made his character surprisingly tragic.
Zhang Haiqi is another heartbreaking character. She carried every responsibility on her shoulders and kept all her pain bottled up inside. As the mother figure to her two children, I can understand why she chose to bear everything alone, but it was still painful to watch.
Last but not least, rest in peace, Zhang Haixia.
You were my favourite character from beginning to end. Even after becoming the villain halfway through the story, I couldn't bring myself to hate you. You deserved so much better.
Overall Rating: 10/10
One of the best Chinese dramas I have watched this year, and definitely one that I'll never forget. 🤍
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This review may contain spoilers
THIS CONTENT MAJOR SPOILER, BUT YOU CAN READ IT SO WE CAN HAVE THE OPINIONS TOGETHER :)
RatingsCinematography – 10/10
Absolutely magnificent. Every scene was beautifully shot and visually captivating.
OST – 9/10
The soundtrack fits the drama perfectly and enhances the emotional impact of each scene. While I may not listen to it every day, it definitely complements the story well.
Plot – 9/10
The storyline was engaging, and the ending was one of the best I’ve seen. The writers were even kind enough to provide an alternative ending, giving justice to the characters and satisfying viewers who had invested in their journeys. However, the middle portion felt a little draggy due to the lengthy war arc.
Overall Composition
* 85% War & Politics
* 5% Family
* 5% Comedy
* 5% Romance
One thing I really appreciated about the main couple was the lack of unnecessary misunderstandings and miscommunication. Their relationship felt mature, with the only major issue revolving around hidden identities.
I also loved the female lead’s strong and bold personality. However, towards the later episodes, both the male and female leads started to feel somewhat plain to me. I can’t quite explain why, but from around Episode 30 onwards, even though their relationship was developing, it somehow lost some of its spark and excitement.
Episode Highlights
Episode 15 onwards
The story becomes heavily focused on war and political conflicts.
Episode 30
This is where things become emotionally difficult as the drama begins revealing major truths and reaches its climax.
Episode 35
Everything starts to feel more satisfying because many of the hidden truths have finally been revealed.
Episode 36
One of my favourite episodes. Seeing Fan Chang Yu finally embrace and wield the power of Marquis Wu’An was incredibly satisfying.
Episode 40
Without a doubt, the best episode of the entire drama. It might even be one of the best final episodes I’ve ever watched. Instead of being a filler ending, every minute served a purpose. It revisited important truths, memories, and character arcs while providing an excellent alternative ending. Most importantly, every character received the justice they deserved, allowing them to find peace and happiness instead of remaining trapped in endless conflict.
Does This Drama Set the Standard?
Personally, not really.
It’s a very good drama, but not good enough for me to consider it the benchmark for all future period dramas. I’ve seen many netizens saying that *Pursuit of Jade* has ruined other dramas for them because nothing can compare. My reaction was simply: *“You must have only started watching period dramas recently.”* There are still many historical dramas that, in my opinion, surpass this one in terms of storytelling and emotional impact.
That said, if there were an award for Best Final Episode, *Pursuit of Jade* would easily win it.
Final Rating: 9.3/10
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This review may contain spoilers
MAJOR SPOILER BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST WRITTEN PERIOD DRAMA
OST: 8/10Very pleasant to listen to and fits the mood of the drama well.
Cinematography: 7/10
Nothing particularly outstanding. Some of the editing felt a little dated and occasionally resembled a soap opera, which took me out of certain scenes.
Storyline: 10/10
This is where the drama truly shines. The story is well-written, well-paced, and carefully structured. Every plot point unfolds naturally without feeling overwhelming or unnecessarily complicated. The progression feels smooth and easy to follow.
Romance: 60%
Comedy: 10%
Friendship: 10%
Family Feud & Revenge: 20%
If I loved Pursuit of Jade because of Fan Changyu's bold and strong personality, then I loved Qiao Manman even more. She doesn't need to step onto the battlefield to protect her family and husband. Instead, her strength lies in her intelligence, wit, sharp tongue, and strategic thinking. She possesses a kind of soft power that allows her to win people over, especially her family.
While Fan Changyu's boldness eventually became somewhat repetitive in the later part of Pursuit of Jade, Qiao Manman remained consistently engaging throughout the entire drama. Her character development felt stable and well-maintained from beginning to end.
One thing I particularly appreciated was how balanced the episodes were. Even the final episode didn't feel like a filler, which is something many dramas struggle with. However, I do wish the ending had provided more closure and given the main couple a little more screen time.
I was also left wondering about the fate of the other regions, especially Yanzhou. The story focused heavily on Wei State, but by the end, it never clearly explained who eventually ruled Yanzhou. It felt like an unanswered question that was simply left open.
What I loved most about this drama was the romance development. The relationship progressed naturally and convincingly, while the comedic moments helped lighten the mood and prevent the story from becoming too heavy. Although there were war elements, the war arc never dragged on for too long, which I appreciated. Excessive war-focused storylines often become repetitive and slow down the overall narrative.
Another highlight was the canal development project, which served as the central plot throughout the drama. It was introduced and developed consistently across the episodes, making it feel important rather than just a background element. The story was well-arranged and coherent, although I would say it was a fairly straightforward drama without any major plot twists.
My biggest criticism would be the editing. The production could have done a much better job in certain scenes. Some effects felt overly dramatic and gave off a soap-opera vibe. There were also moments where the stunt doubles were noticeably visible. While they looked similar to the actors, it was still obvious enough to break the immersion.
Overall: 9.5/10
Despite a few production flaws, the excellent storytelling, strong character writing, balanced pacing, and satisfying romance made this one of the most enjoyable dramas I have watched this year.
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