Sakan

I think this drama has a unique storyline that you don't often see these days. It's a crime-solving drama entangled with two timelines, so you might feel confused at first trying to connect the characters in the present and the past. Rather than being character-focused, this drama tells you more about a society that appears prosperous on the surface, yet whose morality is increasingly in decline. That's why Qu San Geng who is supposed to be the main character, doesn't really feel like one; instead, he comes across more as a tool to help viewers discover the plot, because the story isn't really about him.

Song Chen is the best character, while young Lu Zhi (the adult Lu Zhi almost has nothing to do with the young one, just to keep the suspense) is the most interesting one. It's funny how young Lu Zhi is only listed as the 7th character in this drama, considering how important he is to the plot.

The director is definitely talented, and the production quality is top-notch. The cinematography is also outstanding. It truly captures the feel of the ancient Ming Dynasty, which was one of the most prosperous periods in Chinese history but also the one of the most autocratic of all Chinese dynasties, emphasizing Neo-Confucian values, rigid social controls, and female chastity. The lighting in this drama is used brightly, portraying both the prosperity and the suffocating atmosphere of that era.