Half-time check in--plus final assessment
Having now watched all episodes of PURSUIT OF JADE, I have to agree that–although in places this story is unbelievable, and certainly brutal--it’s one of the most entertaining and original Chinese dramas of the year.
What I like:
1. There are certain cliches that pop up in Asian dramas again and again. This series has fewer of those than almost any drama I’ve seen up to this point. The slight, skinny FL is no helpless victim. If anything, she’s almost unbelievably strong and assertive. I said “almost” because, well, I questioned a couple of her physical feats. But I suspended my disbelief for the sake of the overall narrative, which never flags.
2. Speaking of the plot, it’s unusual for me to be so engrossed in the action that I have a problem turning off the TV when my own life is calling. That’s how this drama affected me–it’s utterly absorbing.
3. The originality of the plot, the physical details of the house and yard, plus other visuals frame the story in a way that adds authenticity. For example, the uneven and ramshackle fences that encircle the Fan house looked altogether real (I looked them up–and, yes, rural fences do sometimes look like that).
4. The way the impoverished villagers help each other out, the malicious gossip, even the slaughtering of the pigs–all contributed to the overall credibility. The main characters, and many of the minor ones, are appealing and likeable. The plot is succinct. If there’s any filler in the first 23 episodes, I couldn’t find it.
5. Some of the visuals are clever–others are downright stunning–for example the scene where the camera follows the white hawk as it soars through the clouds. (AI generated, of course.) Still, it’s breathtaking.
6. Delightful little touches like the ML sneezing when his wife and teacher each sing his praises without either realizing that they’re talking about the same dude. (In East Asian cultures, many believe that sneezing indicates that someone is talking about you behind your back.)
A few difficulties--
1. Suffice it to say that this story is brutal in places. You probably shouldn’t watch it with young children. There are a few graphic sequences where a pig is slaughtered, or at least seems to go unconscious before its killed–although we’re told that “no animals were harmed in this episode.” In another scene, a young child is psychologically tormented.
2. The political machinations were too convoluted, and culture specific, for me to follow. Luckily viewers don’t need to understand the details to understand who the villains are–and who’s trying to off whom.
3. I counted four times in the first 23 episodes that the ML was out of commission because of injuries sustained in a fight–and I might have missed a few. Too repetitious for a drama that mostly avoids this kind of overkill.
4. It’s usually a good idea not to confuse the actor with the character he plays. Linghe Zhang has been criticized--I’d say unfairly--as being a bit subdued and tepid in his role as the ML. That’s how the character is written, folks. Zheng Xie is supposed to be a serious man with heavy responsibilities.
If you want to see the same actor’s wild, zany side, watch his performance as Changheng in LOVE BETWEEN FAIRY AND DEVIL, especially the sequence where he’s been reincarnated as a fun-loving mortal.
LATER–I’ve now seen all episodes. We spend much of the second half of this drama in the company of people who are basically trying to shiv one another. Also, the English subtitles were sometimes a bit muddled and incoherent.
If I were a foot soldier putting my life on the line for the Marquis of Wu'an, I might be a tad annoyed that he spends so much energy on the vicissitudes of his love life--instead of figuring out how he’s going to defeat the bad guys. At one point, he even recruits his underlings to create a performance to trick the FL...
Villains in C-dramas seldom get their due. So I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the magnetic, sultry presence of Deng Kai who plays the role of Qi Min, in a way that makes the character both compelling and horrific.
NOTE to those still watching PURSUIT OF JADE–or are about to begin it:
If you want to promote quality cinema in China please boycott pirated versions. The people responsible for this fine production deserve to profit from it. Each decision, each costume, the ost, and everything about this drama shows the care and artistry that were poured into it. Any discerning viewer can see it. Please make sure you’re viewing it through legitimate outlets, so that the original director and producers can recoup their considerable investment. (Just to be clear--I have no connection with the company who made PURSUIT OF JADE.)
What I like:
1. There are certain cliches that pop up in Asian dramas again and again. This series has fewer of those than almost any drama I’ve seen up to this point. The slight, skinny FL is no helpless victim. If anything, she’s almost unbelievably strong and assertive. I said “almost” because, well, I questioned a couple of her physical feats. But I suspended my disbelief for the sake of the overall narrative, which never flags.
2. Speaking of the plot, it’s unusual for me to be so engrossed in the action that I have a problem turning off the TV when my own life is calling. That’s how this drama affected me–it’s utterly absorbing.
3. The originality of the plot, the physical details of the house and yard, plus other visuals frame the story in a way that adds authenticity. For example, the uneven and ramshackle fences that encircle the Fan house looked altogether real (I looked them up–and, yes, rural fences do sometimes look like that).
4. The way the impoverished villagers help each other out, the malicious gossip, even the slaughtering of the pigs–all contributed to the overall credibility. The main characters, and many of the minor ones, are appealing and likeable. The plot is succinct. If there’s any filler in the first 23 episodes, I couldn’t find it.
5. Some of the visuals are clever–others are downright stunning–for example the scene where the camera follows the white hawk as it soars through the clouds. (AI generated, of course.) Still, it’s breathtaking.
6. Delightful little touches like the ML sneezing when his wife and teacher each sing his praises without either realizing that they’re talking about the same dude. (In East Asian cultures, many believe that sneezing indicates that someone is talking about you behind your back.)
A few difficulties--
1. Suffice it to say that this story is brutal in places. You probably shouldn’t watch it with young children. There are a few graphic sequences where a pig is slaughtered, or at least seems to go unconscious before its killed–although we’re told that “no animals were harmed in this episode.” In another scene, a young child is psychologically tormented.
2. The political machinations were too convoluted, and culture specific, for me to follow. Luckily viewers don’t need to understand the details to understand who the villains are–and who’s trying to off whom.
3. I counted four times in the first 23 episodes that the ML was out of commission because of injuries sustained in a fight–and I might have missed a few. Too repetitious for a drama that mostly avoids this kind of overkill.
4. It’s usually a good idea not to confuse the actor with the character he plays. Linghe Zhang has been criticized--I’d say unfairly--as being a bit subdued and tepid in his role as the ML. That’s how the character is written, folks. Zheng Xie is supposed to be a serious man with heavy responsibilities.
If you want to see the same actor’s wild, zany side, watch his performance as Changheng in LOVE BETWEEN FAIRY AND DEVIL, especially the sequence where he’s been reincarnated as a fun-loving mortal.
LATER–I’ve now seen all episodes. We spend much of the second half of this drama in the company of people who are basically trying to shiv one another. Also, the English subtitles were sometimes a bit muddled and incoherent.
If I were a foot soldier putting my life on the line for the Marquis of Wu'an, I might be a tad annoyed that he spends so much energy on the vicissitudes of his love life--instead of figuring out how he’s going to defeat the bad guys. At one point, he even recruits his underlings to create a performance to trick the FL...
Villains in C-dramas seldom get their due. So I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the magnetic, sultry presence of Deng Kai who plays the role of Qi Min, in a way that makes the character both compelling and horrific.
NOTE to those still watching PURSUIT OF JADE–or are about to begin it:
If you want to promote quality cinema in China please boycott pirated versions. The people responsible for this fine production deserve to profit from it. Each decision, each costume, the ost, and everything about this drama shows the care and artistry that were poured into it. Any discerning viewer can see it. Please make sure you’re viewing it through legitimate outlets, so that the original director and producers can recoup their considerable investment. (Just to be clear--I have no connection with the company who made PURSUIT OF JADE.)
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