Great characters but falls on its face towards the end
This show features an ensemble of friends solving mysteries. Band-of-friends adventures can be so much fun, and this show brings out the best of this kind of setup. Namely, it does a good job with characterization, character development, and relationships.
Xiao Beiming, the ML, leads the group. Aside from his starting arrogance and subsequent (predictable) fall from grace, his personality is one of the less developed- sort of a generic leader- but he’s likable enough, and it’s fun to watch him solve cases.
Zhong Xueman, as FL, is solidly middle of the pack for me. She is ok at both brains and brawn, but not the best. She has a hot temper- I know because they say so, though in terms of actions, it comes across more as a mildly unlikable personality. I do, however, like her no-nonsense clothing and styling.
The FL is not totally likable, but that’s okay- she’s actually not that important. It’s almost strange to see her listed as a lead. Everyone in the pack contributes, and they all have their own personality and skills (which, realistically, overlap). The attention to characterization pays off- they are imperfect but likable, and all feel very real. My favorite character is Zhuge Kongyun. He is such a multifaceted peacock, I love him.
Perhaps even more endearing are the solid friendships. Interactions are charming and consistent, but not too sappy. One of my favorite scenes is the argument between Tong Shuang and Xiao Beiming, because it’s so realistic. I could relate to both sides. It felt very human.
At the same time, the romance between the ML and FL is not too prominent, for which I’m glad. I didn’t feel it between them, and don’t think it would have gone well if they had played it up.
Plot-wise, this show has several cases that all fit under a big umbrella case. Some of the answers are really tricky, but luckily, the hero party’s abilities and deductions border on mythical. I usually couldn’t figure it out with them, but I didn’t mind just sitting back and waiting for the answer; the cases were interesting enough and I was always curious about what happened.
But while the plot starts out strong and sucked me in quickly, I found myself losing interest closer to the end. Around episode 30, this show took a nosedive for me.
Essentially, there is only one big overarching mystery, and it is outlined very close to the beginning. This means they spend the majority of the show building up suspense and hype around the actual specifics of what happened. When it’s finally revealed, I found the answer rather anticlimactic. It’s not a bad story- it would make any conspiracy theorist proud- it’s just not worthy of all the build-up. I don’t know why any one of those people along the way couldn’t have just told them.
Which brings me to my next complaint about this show, which is simply too much nonsense. Some nonsense is standard for Cdramas, but this show has too much.
In addition to the aforementioned mythical crime solving, we also get things like deus ex machina solutions (eg how did everyone just happen to be carrying salt when it was needed? Why would a transcript of some random conversation just happen to exist?), nonsensical explanations to mysteries (eg “stagnant lake”, mind control- I can believe in fantastical things, but not when they border on science), and inexplicable behavior (why didn’t Chief Fang just ask for an autopsy in that joint trial?)
And then more fundamentally, we get things like: the case against Xiao Beiming is so full of holes, how are so many people so thoroughly convinced he is the villain? With the FL at the beginning, I tried to overlook it as good idea but poor execution. If only they had made ML’s framed crime more believable, then I'd feel a lot more sympathetic to her behavior. But then, as the idea that the ML is Yesha gets repeated so often by so many “smart” people, I gradually lost patience.
The main conflict itself, when finally revealed, is also full of holes. For something so central to the show, I expected better.
Near the end, the plot took a direction I didn’t particularly like, and they just couldn’t sell me on it. Along with the mounting nonsense, lot of things playing out felt like a farce (the emperor’s behavior, for example). I had a hard time emotionally investing or taking it seriously.
To be clear, it’s not the worse ending. They’re solving mysteries to the end, and that bug guy is hilarious. I just expected the whole thing to be more deep and thoughtful.
Execution-wise, the acting is alright. Wang Xingyue is a pretty good actor, but he looks a little old (strange, as he is not). I think Julia could have more fire and personality. Nobody did badly, but it’s not the best acting I’ve seen. The fight scenes were also kind of sloppy.
This show has lots of sets, lots of props, lots of extras- it’s clearly got a decent budget. I like the style of flashing quick memories, mirroring how our minds work. And I like the music.
But ultimately, based on enjoyment, I can’t quite give it a rave review. I did solidly enjoy a good portion of it; but the show is focused so much on the main conflict/mystery, that when that fails to pack a solid punch, the entire thing falls flat.
ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS
This show has quite a happy ending. I had thought they might at least kill off some minor characters- you know, for the sake of realism, maybe- but nope. Final villain was not really out to kill.
There are only 10 minutes to show where everyone ends up, but it’s enough to see that all party members achieve personal and/or professional success. It’s actually a pretty good wrap-up.
MORE MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD
I wasn’t too pleased with Tong Shuang being Yesha. It felt like plot twist for the sake of plot twist. He was simply too convincing as the sincere and lovable younger brother, and all his interactions had seemed so genuine. I’m sure the signs were there if I had looked, but I still had a hard time believing- and also didn’t want to believe- that it was all fake.
So this is partly just a me problem, but they still could have sold it better. Especially given how much the show focused on the characters and their bonds, I thought they would at least flesh him out more and humanize him as a villain. There was a little of that, but mostly he just showed up again acting all nasty and mean, and our protagonists didn’t seem to think twice. I guess the show didn’t want us feeling too bad, so made him more clearly evil. There were only a few hints of something deeper.
The thing is, I also didn’t buy into his motivation. His origin story is sad for sure, but it made no sense that the saintly Chief Zhong would adopt one brother and send the other off without a second glance. And while I can’t personally attest, I feel like most people with a difficult past still wouldn’t try to take down an entire nation. That is totally out of scope.
I just wonder why none of these Haiya orphans ever considered that perhaps the most simple, easy, and just form of revenge is to just tell the world what happened. I still don’t understand why they all kept killing themselves rather than trying to spread the word and get people to investigate.
Xiao Beiming, the ML, leads the group. Aside from his starting arrogance and subsequent (predictable) fall from grace, his personality is one of the less developed- sort of a generic leader- but he’s likable enough, and it’s fun to watch him solve cases.
Zhong Xueman, as FL, is solidly middle of the pack for me. She is ok at both brains and brawn, but not the best. She has a hot temper- I know because they say so, though in terms of actions, it comes across more as a mildly unlikable personality. I do, however, like her no-nonsense clothing and styling.
The FL is not totally likable, but that’s okay- she’s actually not that important. It’s almost strange to see her listed as a lead. Everyone in the pack contributes, and they all have their own personality and skills (which, realistically, overlap). The attention to characterization pays off- they are imperfect but likable, and all feel very real. My favorite character is Zhuge Kongyun. He is such a multifaceted peacock, I love him.
Perhaps even more endearing are the solid friendships. Interactions are charming and consistent, but not too sappy. One of my favorite scenes is the argument between Tong Shuang and Xiao Beiming, because it’s so realistic. I could relate to both sides. It felt very human.
At the same time, the romance between the ML and FL is not too prominent, for which I’m glad. I didn’t feel it between them, and don’t think it would have gone well if they had played it up.
Plot-wise, this show has several cases that all fit under a big umbrella case. Some of the answers are really tricky, but luckily, the hero party’s abilities and deductions border on mythical. I usually couldn’t figure it out with them, but I didn’t mind just sitting back and waiting for the answer; the cases were interesting enough and I was always curious about what happened.
But while the plot starts out strong and sucked me in quickly, I found myself losing interest closer to the end. Around episode 30, this show took a nosedive for me.
Essentially, there is only one big overarching mystery, and it is outlined very close to the beginning. This means they spend the majority of the show building up suspense and hype around the actual specifics of what happened. When it’s finally revealed, I found the answer rather anticlimactic. It’s not a bad story- it would make any conspiracy theorist proud- it’s just not worthy of all the build-up. I don’t know why any one of those people along the way couldn’t have just told them.
Which brings me to my next complaint about this show, which is simply too much nonsense. Some nonsense is standard for Cdramas, but this show has too much.
In addition to the aforementioned mythical crime solving, we also get things like deus ex machina solutions (eg how did everyone just happen to be carrying salt when it was needed? Why would a transcript of some random conversation just happen to exist?), nonsensical explanations to mysteries (eg “stagnant lake”, mind control- I can believe in fantastical things, but not when they border on science), and inexplicable behavior (why didn’t Chief Fang just ask for an autopsy in that joint trial?)
And then more fundamentally, we get things like: the case against Xiao Beiming is so full of holes, how are so many people so thoroughly convinced he is the villain? With the FL at the beginning, I tried to overlook it as good idea but poor execution. If only they had made ML’s framed crime more believable, then I'd feel a lot more sympathetic to her behavior. But then, as the idea that the ML is Yesha gets repeated so often by so many “smart” people, I gradually lost patience.
The main conflict itself, when finally revealed, is also full of holes. For something so central to the show, I expected better.
Near the end, the plot took a direction I didn’t particularly like, and they just couldn’t sell me on it. Along with the mounting nonsense, lot of things playing out felt like a farce (the emperor’s behavior, for example). I had a hard time emotionally investing or taking it seriously.
To be clear, it’s not the worse ending. They’re solving mysteries to the end, and that bug guy is hilarious. I just expected the whole thing to be more deep and thoughtful.
Execution-wise, the acting is alright. Wang Xingyue is a pretty good actor, but he looks a little old (strange, as he is not). I think Julia could have more fire and personality. Nobody did badly, but it’s not the best acting I’ve seen. The fight scenes were also kind of sloppy.
This show has lots of sets, lots of props, lots of extras- it’s clearly got a decent budget. I like the style of flashing quick memories, mirroring how our minds work. And I like the music.
But ultimately, based on enjoyment, I can’t quite give it a rave review. I did solidly enjoy a good portion of it; but the show is focused so much on the main conflict/mystery, that when that fails to pack a solid punch, the entire thing falls flat.
ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS
This show has quite a happy ending. I had thought they might at least kill off some minor characters- you know, for the sake of realism, maybe- but nope. Final villain was not really out to kill.
There are only 10 minutes to show where everyone ends up, but it’s enough to see that all party members achieve personal and/or professional success. It’s actually a pretty good wrap-up.
MORE MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD
I wasn’t too pleased with Tong Shuang being Yesha. It felt like plot twist for the sake of plot twist. He was simply too convincing as the sincere and lovable younger brother, and all his interactions had seemed so genuine. I’m sure the signs were there if I had looked, but I still had a hard time believing- and also didn’t want to believe- that it was all fake.
So this is partly just a me problem, but they still could have sold it better. Especially given how much the show focused on the characters and their bonds, I thought they would at least flesh him out more and humanize him as a villain. There was a little of that, but mostly he just showed up again acting all nasty and mean, and our protagonists didn’t seem to think twice. I guess the show didn’t want us feeling too bad, so made him more clearly evil. There were only a few hints of something deeper.
The thing is, I also didn’t buy into his motivation. His origin story is sad for sure, but it made no sense that the saintly Chief Zhong would adopt one brother and send the other off without a second glance. And while I can’t personally attest, I feel like most people with a difficult past still wouldn’t try to take down an entire nation. That is totally out of scope.
I just wonder why none of these Haiya orphans ever considered that perhaps the most simple, easy, and just form of revenge is to just tell the world what happened. I still don’t understand why they all kept killing themselves rather than trying to spread the word and get people to investigate.
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