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Okay so...I’ve never been able to sit through a Chinese drama without jumping ahead or fast-forwarding. Honestly, same with K-dramas. I can barely make it through five minutes. But very rarely, a drama or movie comes along that makes me savor every single moment. It makes me want to go back and rewatch episodes or replay certain scenes over and over because they give you that warm, fuzzy feeling, like actual butterflies in your stomach. That’s exactly what Pursuit of Jade has been delivering since day one. Pure butterflies 🦋

I have such a big crush on both the male and female leads. Usually I get more into the second couple, but not this time. Their love story was so toxic it was actually scary. It worried me how many people (looking at those IG memes) were genuinely turned on by it. Yikes 😬 Still, it stung a little at the end when the villain finally tried to put her above his own ego and waved the white flag.

The only parts that disappointed me were whenever they brought up his uncle and that 17 years ago betrayal. Those sections felt dampening and slow, but they weren’t a huge portion of the show so I won’t complain too much.

Could this series have been finished in 32 episodes? Yes. Was there some dragging in the middle? Definitely. But despite that, it’s still my second favorite Chinese drama after The Untamed!

It’s everything. All the female characters, Changyu, the second lead girl, the princess, even the side villain’s girl, they were all so BADASS 💪 And the OST ❤️❤️❤️ It would start... and I would just be glued to my TV like... AAAAAHHHHHH this is so romantic.

This was truly Changyu’s show. The male lead, no matter what title he held, was basically playing the supportive role that female characters usually get in action shows and movies. And I loved it ❤️

Okay...but I'm a girl so... let's talk about the Marquis of Wu'an 🤭🥰
Zhang Linghe played such a beautiful character, inside and out. He’s done a lot of period dramas, but none of them stood out like this. It’s not just his face (though that man is stunning and the wig was perfect). His acting felt so controlled and natural, the love, the pain, the dilemma, it all came through so effortlessly. The director did an amazing job with the timing and those close-up shots OMG!!! Like what do you mean he is sitting in a pig shed with light hitting his face at that perfect angle making his eyes look all pretty and his face all angelic like... damn! No wonder she went to war for you. 🤭

The script made him sooo understanding and never insecure about his wife being so awesome that she might outshine him. It would melt any girl's heart. He’s stronger overall, but it was funny how he kept getting injured every time and she would just rise to the occasion. He’d get hurt saving them, recover, and do it again. The way he treated his sister-in-law like his own daughter, how he wasn’t weird or jealous about her pig slaughter squad. He was so respectful of her autonomy without being boring. All of it together was pure magic ✨ And that's why I just love his character now and I'm gonna ask you guys to recommend another awesome show of his pleaseeee.

Something I can't sit through again was the ending. The ending felt a bit rushed though. What? No final fight with the villain? Just jumping off the building covered in blood and the other guy fainting? And the emperor, what a joke. But I can ignore all that because 80% of this show gave me nonstop butterflies and made me so proud of Changyu 🥹

I love this drama ❤️ that's it! :)