lilmeow

I was ready to skip this show because I heard it’s dark and stressful, but then I read the reviews that it’s a very female-centric drama and I just couldn’t resist.

So, it is both of those things. The cases are pretty heavy. But more than that, I’d say they’re nuanced. Rather than murders out of selfishness or greed, for example, we have more murders for love or justified resentment, blurring the line between victim and perpetrator. And the cases do focus a lot on women, who are often portrayed in a sympathetic light.

This show also has a theme that the case is solved but justice is not achieved (eg everything gets covered up). Sometimes I was glad for this, because justice would have punished characters I sympathized with. But in general, this show has a lot of things to feel upset or depressed about.

The saving grace to it all is that the princess (FL) is right there with you, frustrated and dissatisfied. So coping with these issues become part of what the show is about, adding a thoughtful and philosophical tone which I really like. After each case, she talks it out with her partner, and we get some closure that way too.

And I do really like this FL. She’s on the cold side, but it’s not too exaggerated or overdone, so I found her very believable. Straightforward and unpretentious, kind of socially awkward but not completely maladjusted- I actually found her really relatable. I felt her emotions with her. Her level of authority is something of a plot hole, but at least she recognizes her privilege and wants to use it to help others.

The ML, on the other hand, is more the quietly thoughtful type. The FL has such a strong personality, he makes a good match. Their relationship grows throughout the show, via supportive conversations and quiet acts of care. Occasional misunderstandings arise between them, just enough to add a little tension and interest before being snuffed out by fearless communication. I actually really like their relationship and how it builds in a sweet, not-sappy way.

There are some side characters that are very likeable, though I wouldn’t have minded more development for them. I found the emperor particularly interesting. In some ways he’s a benevolent ruler and he treats the protagonists well, but also in doing what emperors do- playing politics, romping around his rear palace, etc- he can casually ruin lives with no accountability. Personally I think his role contributes to the thoughtfulness of the show, as I both blamed him and didn’t, and of course nobody in the show can.

Plot-wise, the show covers 7 cases, with the princess’s overarching case about her family developed throughout. Most of the show is about how the leads solve the cases, so until closer to the end, the developments of their characters and relationship are secondary. The cases are heavy but there are still moments of lightness, and the overall mood is not as dark as you might expect.

That said, the casework in this show is really loosey-goosey. It relies heavily on things like “deductions” out of nowhere, casual superskills (eg the FL’s super-nose, or the ML’s genius mental calculations), perfect coincidences, and so on. And if you take a step back, you might also realize that the cases themselves are riddled with logic holes and nonsense, overuse the same plot devices (suicide, anyone?), and seem contrived to make you cry as much as possible. At some point things got so tragic that I popped right out of immersion, and it got harder and harder to take things seriously again afterwards.

Plus the editing seems choppy, like they cut too many things. I was left confused about some events, reasonings, and significances. Also, important-seeming characters show up and then disappear willy nilly, like their character arcs were cut.

I don’t know if the show gets worse towards the end or my patience just expired, but I thought it was extra bad in the last few episodes. I was also not satisfied by the answer to the overarching mystery, which was not as interesting as it was built up to be.

Acting-wise, I thought Bai Lu does an excellent job here. I love her portrayal of the princess, my favorite is her look where you’re not sure if she’s about to cry. Wang Xingyue does a decent job, but some of the side characters seemed a bit stiff or overacted.

The fight choreography is not the best I’ve seen, but decent. Nobody’s technique is that impressive (except maybe old man with spear?), some hyperextension and stiffness, but I can definitely see it was physically exerting, as Bai Lu told her fans. The costumes and settings are pretty good. I like the princess’s work outfits and high ponytail style. Background music set the mood well, and I also really like the songs. But I think the songs are underused; I would not have minded more.

Overall, this show does have a lot of problems. The relationship and characters are good but secondary to the cases, yet the case-solving is shoddy and the cases themselves have problems. Bad editing makes it all make even less sense. ...this isn't making it sound like a good show, but I actually still really liked most of it. Although I sometimes had to exert active effort to suspend disbelief, I generally followed the cases with great interest, and I found them moving. Yet nothing is too sappy, for which I was extremely thankful. And I especially like the FL’s mix of straightforward business and unpretentious compassion as she solves cases, and the thoughtful, reflective tone that follows as she copes with reality.

ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS





This show has a happy ending. The princess gets both her revenge and her relationship, and satisfyingly, straight up accuses the emperor of all the things nobody dares to say. There are no last-minute deaths of likable characters.

There is about half an episode of wrap up, including- a pleasant surprise- flashes of side characters as well as some characters from the cases. What actually happens to everyone is unclear. The FL and ML ride off into scenery, but a poorly conceived post-credit scene hints at a sequel.

That said, I was actually quite dissatisfied by the ending. I felt the show lost its thoughtfulness a bit. Maybe the final villain and his motivation were too weak, or maybe it was the way it all played out, but I just didn’t feel many emotions about her finally achieving revenge.

Also, the two leads have a huge falling out before the final case, only to kind of implicitly get back together in the last episode without much fanfare. Their fight was one of the better in Cdramaland; I felt it was justified on both sides with intense and valid emotions, and it had angsty repercussions. That much angst deserves proper reconciliation. I would have preferred they address the issues directly and apologize.