This review may contain spoilers
Finally some good fucking food
There's a part of me that escapes 'good tv.' Every day, I'm tired from working my five jobs, my many other obligations, and all I want to do is veg out and fry my brain with stupid tv. It's why I end up plowing through so many silly romance transmigration xianxias with .5 substance. But the legendary Legend of Zhen Huan director, Zheng Xiaolong coming out with a revenge political intrigue drama starring Xiao Zhan? Say less.
I had forgotten how good nutritious food tastes. I had forgotten that a complete meal includes a protein, fiber and carb. I'd been gorging myself on candy for so long, I had actually forgotten that food that is good for you... just tastes good!!!! Wow when something is well shot, well written and well acted it's good??? The restraint, the absolute trust and belief they have in the intelligence in their audience, respect towards the material, the emotional depth... amazing! Even just something like NOT putting every character’s name and title next to them when they appear for the first time, letting the audience learn who that person is by telling a STORY makes a massive difference. Or like, not forcing a song with lyrics into the sad scenes, and letting them sit in silence instead. Zang Hai honest to god tricked ME multiple times making me think he was showing his honest emotions (jail cell scene w Houye immediately comes to mind) but of course it was another plot! Not overcrowding the audience with information like, see?? This is what xyz means and what Zang Hai is ACTUALLY doing, and instead just naturally showing it so you can figure it out yourself. Good tv is just good tv. I knew I could trust Zheng Xiaolong, but the entire production team and cast really knocked it out of the park! There are just some scenes that are going to live rent free in my mind forever purely because of how well the story is told, such as Zang Hai emerging from the tomb, Houye saving Zang Hai in the fire, the entire failed coup and Houye vs ZZX, Shi Quan's betrayal, that shot of Antu running to Zang Hai emerging from the cave smiling and the feeling of release, freedom, gratitude!! I could go on and on, but it is seriously just so well done.
I don't even know where to begin. There are definitely some flaws in the plot and some of the characters are a bit disappointing, but if I could describe this drama simply?? 精彩。 太精彩了！It's exciting, always keeps you on the edge, interesting, complex, emotional, it really has it all. The plot builds really wonderfully, I'd honestly say the first 20 episodes are an absolute 10/10, no notes, chef's kiss. Seeing Zang Hai get himself into and out of sticky situations, improvising and thinking on his feet are extremely enjoyable. The parts that are fast paced are exciting, the parts that are slow feel meaningful with great pay off. The emotional beats were so strong and didn’t feel overly manipulative of the audience, but just genuinely human. I cried absolute buckets when Zang Hai dreamed of his family and when Gao Ming died. Like heaving sobs. Honestly I have so little words because it was just well done. The final 20 episodes are still great plot wise, but certain things are rushed like the trip to Dongxia, and there are parts where you kind of have to suspend disbelief based on how people are acting. For ex. Zang Hai just taking the Dongxia queen's word that she was besties w his dad and not requiring further proof.
There's something special about Zang Hai as a ML in a revenge drama, something that makes him far more similar to Zhen Xiaolong's Empress Zhen Huan than other famous man-centric revenge drama MLs. Zang Hai has no martial skill, but he also has no initial power outside of the masked man (to which he is just a pawn). Nirvana in Fire's Mei Changsu spent years building information networks of loyal spies and harnessed great power in the martial world before entering the court. Zang Hai is not a fallen general seeking revenge, or a forgotten prince, or the son of a grand noble family. Zang Hai doesn't move through the ranks and eventually win because he had power or martial skills, but rather through his brain and his words alone. His survival is entirely dependent on Pingjin Hou's favor, he understands that man inside and out and knows exactly how to appeal to him. Zang Hai created a persona tailor made to appeal to Houye’s ego- an extremely loyal, useful tool who kneels half the time and demeans himself with every word. I rarely see this in a man-centric political intrigue show, the concept of ‘saving face’ wouldn’t allow it, but I frequently see these moves from concubines in the harem. Zang Hai is smart, but he's also stupid and thoughtless at times, he miscalculates, he's extremely reckless, and impulsive in a way that reminds me of YXGL's Wei Yingluo, he trusts the wrong people, he gambles with his own life constantly, and sometimes, he doesn't even have a back up plan. He doesn't feel like an omniscient all powerful 10 steps ahead kind of mc. He's scrappy, claws to the top and is flawed in a way that makes him human and this is sooooo refreshing. It makes the tension so much more palpable, the show is so exciting because there are real stakes!! Despite that protagonist halo, sometimes, you just don't know if he's going to make it!! And even if he does make it there are heavy losses!! It's also just so fun to see him put on a different mask with Pingjin Hou, with Zhuang Zhixing, Antu, the emperor, etc. etc. Major props to Xiao Zhan for pulling it off. I feel safe saying that he’s officially made his mark as an actor known for his craft, rather than just his looks!
I enjoy his character arc a lot too, and am so thankful that despite getting to a really dark place, thinking of himself as already dead and wanting to die, he ultimately appreciated the love that he had around him and chose to live for himself. Retiring and getting to live out the rest of his life in peace and freedom is an ending I wanted but could never receive from Zhen Huan and Nirvana in Fire. It's a true testament to the themes of this show and something I deeply appreciate about it. We began with a corrupt system and ended with that very same system, just new players. The emperor was a pathetic, reluctant, foolish tyrant, and the new one continues to display the same tyrannical, and selfish traits, albeit more determined. The corrupt cabinet and ministers are still profiting while the common people suffer. And Zang Hai was like, fuck that, I'm not gonna change this, I'm getting out of here and living for myself LMAOOO. I love that although Zang Hai is just and does whatever is within his capabilities to help people, he recognizes that there is a boundary to what he can do to change the corrupt system. 'How do you know that the emperors after you will never use the Guixi?' There is no way to fix the system! Something that I can really trust Director Zheng with! Something that Nirvana in Fire naively and almost irresponsibly showed was possible (replacing bad guys with good guys is truly so simplistic it boggles my mind that this show has the reputation it does sometimes), with a ML with grander, nobler ambitions than pure revenge, who literally then died to restore his former masculinity and nationalistic pride. While Zang Hai found the only true liberation from the system- leaving it. His only goal was revenge, the methods didn't matter, and he didn't need to personally do the killing either, as long as it was done, he could leave everything behind, no matter any appeals to his morality. It's an ending that is far more realistic and refreshing, and also kind to its ML- who deserves a break! I'm also thankful for the anti- imperialist message, with Zhao Bingwen wanting to make an army out of Dongxia laborers a clear colonial project. A lot of shows I've watched recently have an uncomfortable... uhhh One China vibe that are all like, let's take over all these other lands and live in harmony together and share the wealth!!! Which is straight up just imperialist propaganda lmao. All in all, the themes of the show are very much appreciated.
The other characters are all generally quite complex and multifaceted. I loved Pingjin Hou and found him a perfect villain. An absolutely corrupt patriarch whose love is entirely conditional upon how much use that person is to him. But he had reason and depth, an incredible presence that made him someone I couldn't help but like and empathize with despite being an irredeemably bad person. Zhuang Zhixing is so well written too, and the weird whatever is going on between between him-Houye-Zang Hai triangle is sooooooo fascinating. ZZX wanting love and acknowledgment from his father whom he hates... ZZX simultaneously admiring Zang Hai and wanting his care to be real and resenting him ..... ZZX being jealous of both Houye and Zang Hai for their relationship to each other..... Zang Hai playing the role of a strict teacher-father with ZZX and a deferential loyal dog closer than any son to Houye…. ZZX turning around and asking that Zang Hai serve him the way he served his dad then hitting a tree when Zang Hai rejects him LMAOOO. Honestly chefs kiss for this complex relationship. The resentment tied so tightly with love and admiration!!! ZZX’s childlike petulance and dented masculinity because he can’t measure up to his father!!! The inferiority complex!!!!! This is my shit!!!!! I love this shit!!!!!! The entire Zhuang family kind of just does it for me, like I truly love a despicable conniving noblewoman like Jiang Xiang, and simple idiot Zhuang Zhifu. They got exactly as they deserved for playing a part in a corrupt feudal patrilineal system- but they were still compelling characters worthy of sympathy. I even teared up at how Houye cast them aside once they were not only of no use to him, but ruined the image of the Zhuang family. In the end, I’m still a harem drama girly at my roots, so naturally I enjoyed the family arc a lot.
The greatest weaknesses character wise for me were Xiang Antu and Zhao Bingwen :( Antu was really great for the first twenty episodes, and it isn’t like she doesn’t have depth or complexity, but she absolutely becomes sidelined in the last quarter as just Zang Hai’s gf and bodyguard. It’s kind of wild when she was Boss Xiang not too long ago with a whole network of spies and people working for her, and somehow none of this is useful when Zang Hai is fighting ZBW? Zang Hai died and she was just hanging around while Gao Ming drugged him?? She started out the show as a powerful player and ends up just supporting her man which is a disappointment. In most man-centric shows this is how it goes for the FL but I would’ve really liked to see them break the mold. The other disappointment was ZBW… like…. Wow, honestly what a let down?? All this build up for the 3rd enemy and it’s this guy with negative charisma, not nearly enough development or backstory or insight into his reasoning? Just a power hungry psycho who wants to genocide everybody because the world is bad??? If there were even just… three more episodes for him I might’ve felt more satisfied, or maybe if the actor playing him was different?? I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong, I’d love to be proven wrong. If someone can give me a reason why Zhao Bingwen is a great villain, I’m happy to listen. Like am I missing something??? At the end of the day, Pingjin Hou is the villain that holds the most weight, has the most impact on the story and the emotional beats, and is the most human. His relationship with Zang Hai is also the most interesting and multi-faceted. The amount of care and attention both Zang Hai and the narrative put into him compared to the other villains is also really clear. So something feels off when he dies two thirds of the way into the show and we’re left with uhhh everyone else.
All in all, it’s been a very, very long time since I’ve given a show a near perfect score. Zang Hai Zhuan comes pretty damn close. The flaws are a bit annoying, but don’t have much impact on the overall effect of the show for me- powerful, refreshing, unforgettable!! Xiao Zhan the KING!!! Zheng Xiaolong the GOAT!!! Thank you for feeding me delicious protein. I finally have the strength and inspiration to go on.
I had forgotten how good nutritious food tastes. I had forgotten that a complete meal includes a protein, fiber and carb. I'd been gorging myself on candy for so long, I had actually forgotten that food that is good for you... just tastes good!!!! Wow when something is well shot, well written and well acted it's good??? The restraint, the absolute trust and belief they have in the intelligence in their audience, respect towards the material, the emotional depth... amazing! Even just something like NOT putting every character’s name and title next to them when they appear for the first time, letting the audience learn who that person is by telling a STORY makes a massive difference. Or like, not forcing a song with lyrics into the sad scenes, and letting them sit in silence instead. Zang Hai honest to god tricked ME multiple times making me think he was showing his honest emotions (jail cell scene w Houye immediately comes to mind) but of course it was another plot! Not overcrowding the audience with information like, see?? This is what xyz means and what Zang Hai is ACTUALLY doing, and instead just naturally showing it so you can figure it out yourself. Good tv is just good tv. I knew I could trust Zheng Xiaolong, but the entire production team and cast really knocked it out of the park! There are just some scenes that are going to live rent free in my mind forever purely because of how well the story is told, such as Zang Hai emerging from the tomb, Houye saving Zang Hai in the fire, the entire failed coup and Houye vs ZZX, Shi Quan's betrayal, that shot of Antu running to Zang Hai emerging from the cave smiling and the feeling of release, freedom, gratitude!! I could go on and on, but it is seriously just so well done.
I don't even know where to begin. There are definitely some flaws in the plot and some of the characters are a bit disappointing, but if I could describe this drama simply?? 精彩。 太精彩了！It's exciting, always keeps you on the edge, interesting, complex, emotional, it really has it all. The plot builds really wonderfully, I'd honestly say the first 20 episodes are an absolute 10/10, no notes, chef's kiss. Seeing Zang Hai get himself into and out of sticky situations, improvising and thinking on his feet are extremely enjoyable. The parts that are fast paced are exciting, the parts that are slow feel meaningful with great pay off. The emotional beats were so strong and didn’t feel overly manipulative of the audience, but just genuinely human. I cried absolute buckets when Zang Hai dreamed of his family and when Gao Ming died. Like heaving sobs. Honestly I have so little words because it was just well done. The final 20 episodes are still great plot wise, but certain things are rushed like the trip to Dongxia, and there are parts where you kind of have to suspend disbelief based on how people are acting. For ex. Zang Hai just taking the Dongxia queen's word that she was besties w his dad and not requiring further proof.
There's something special about Zang Hai as a ML in a revenge drama, something that makes him far more similar to Zhen Xiaolong's Empress Zhen Huan than other famous man-centric revenge drama MLs. Zang Hai has no martial skill, but he also has no initial power outside of the masked man (to which he is just a pawn). Nirvana in Fire's Mei Changsu spent years building information networks of loyal spies and harnessed great power in the martial world before entering the court. Zang Hai is not a fallen general seeking revenge, or a forgotten prince, or the son of a grand noble family. Zang Hai doesn't move through the ranks and eventually win because he had power or martial skills, but rather through his brain and his words alone. His survival is entirely dependent on Pingjin Hou's favor, he understands that man inside and out and knows exactly how to appeal to him. Zang Hai created a persona tailor made to appeal to Houye’s ego- an extremely loyal, useful tool who kneels half the time and demeans himself with every word. I rarely see this in a man-centric political intrigue show, the concept of ‘saving face’ wouldn’t allow it, but I frequently see these moves from concubines in the harem. Zang Hai is smart, but he's also stupid and thoughtless at times, he miscalculates, he's extremely reckless, and impulsive in a way that reminds me of YXGL's Wei Yingluo, he trusts the wrong people, he gambles with his own life constantly, and sometimes, he doesn't even have a back up plan. He doesn't feel like an omniscient all powerful 10 steps ahead kind of mc. He's scrappy, claws to the top and is flawed in a way that makes him human and this is sooooo refreshing. It makes the tension so much more palpable, the show is so exciting because there are real stakes!! Despite that protagonist halo, sometimes, you just don't know if he's going to make it!! And even if he does make it there are heavy losses!! It's also just so fun to see him put on a different mask with Pingjin Hou, with Zhuang Zhixing, Antu, the emperor, etc. etc. Major props to Xiao Zhan for pulling it off. I feel safe saying that he’s officially made his mark as an actor known for his craft, rather than just his looks!
I enjoy his character arc a lot too, and am so thankful that despite getting to a really dark place, thinking of himself as already dead and wanting to die, he ultimately appreciated the love that he had around him and chose to live for himself. Retiring and getting to live out the rest of his life in peace and freedom is an ending I wanted but could never receive from Zhen Huan and Nirvana in Fire. It's a true testament to the themes of this show and something I deeply appreciate about it. We began with a corrupt system and ended with that very same system, just new players. The emperor was a pathetic, reluctant, foolish tyrant, and the new one continues to display the same tyrannical, and selfish traits, albeit more determined. The corrupt cabinet and ministers are still profiting while the common people suffer. And Zang Hai was like, fuck that, I'm not gonna change this, I'm getting out of here and living for myself LMAOOO. I love that although Zang Hai is just and does whatever is within his capabilities to help people, he recognizes that there is a boundary to what he can do to change the corrupt system. 'How do you know that the emperors after you will never use the Guixi?' There is no way to fix the system! Something that I can really trust Director Zheng with! Something that Nirvana in Fire naively and almost irresponsibly showed was possible (replacing bad guys with good guys is truly so simplistic it boggles my mind that this show has the reputation it does sometimes), with a ML with grander, nobler ambitions than pure revenge, who literally then died to restore his former masculinity and nationalistic pride. While Zang Hai found the only true liberation from the system- leaving it. His only goal was revenge, the methods didn't matter, and he didn't need to personally do the killing either, as long as it was done, he could leave everything behind, no matter any appeals to his morality. It's an ending that is far more realistic and refreshing, and also kind to its ML- who deserves a break! I'm also thankful for the anti- imperialist message, with Zhao Bingwen wanting to make an army out of Dongxia laborers a clear colonial project. A lot of shows I've watched recently have an uncomfortable... uhhh One China vibe that are all like, let's take over all these other lands and live in harmony together and share the wealth!!! Which is straight up just imperialist propaganda lmao. All in all, the themes of the show are very much appreciated.
The other characters are all generally quite complex and multifaceted. I loved Pingjin Hou and found him a perfect villain. An absolutely corrupt patriarch whose love is entirely conditional upon how much use that person is to him. But he had reason and depth, an incredible presence that made him someone I couldn't help but like and empathize with despite being an irredeemably bad person. Zhuang Zhixing is so well written too, and the weird whatever is going on between between him-Houye-Zang Hai triangle is sooooooo fascinating. ZZX wanting love and acknowledgment from his father whom he hates... ZZX simultaneously admiring Zang Hai and wanting his care to be real and resenting him ..... ZZX being jealous of both Houye and Zang Hai for their relationship to each other..... Zang Hai playing the role of a strict teacher-father with ZZX and a deferential loyal dog closer than any son to Houye…. ZZX turning around and asking that Zang Hai serve him the way he served his dad then hitting a tree when Zang Hai rejects him LMAOOO. Honestly chefs kiss for this complex relationship. The resentment tied so tightly with love and admiration!!! ZZX’s childlike petulance and dented masculinity because he can’t measure up to his father!!! The inferiority complex!!!!! This is my shit!!!!! I love this shit!!!!!! The entire Zhuang family kind of just does it for me, like I truly love a despicable conniving noblewoman like Jiang Xiang, and simple idiot Zhuang Zhifu. They got exactly as they deserved for playing a part in a corrupt feudal patrilineal system- but they were still compelling characters worthy of sympathy. I even teared up at how Houye cast them aside once they were not only of no use to him, but ruined the image of the Zhuang family. In the end, I’m still a harem drama girly at my roots, so naturally I enjoyed the family arc a lot.
The greatest weaknesses character wise for me were Xiang Antu and Zhao Bingwen :( Antu was really great for the first twenty episodes, and it isn’t like she doesn’t have depth or complexity, but she absolutely becomes sidelined in the last quarter as just Zang Hai’s gf and bodyguard. It’s kind of wild when she was Boss Xiang not too long ago with a whole network of spies and people working for her, and somehow none of this is useful when Zang Hai is fighting ZBW? Zang Hai died and she was just hanging around while Gao Ming drugged him?? She started out the show as a powerful player and ends up just supporting her man which is a disappointment. In most man-centric shows this is how it goes for the FL but I would’ve really liked to see them break the mold. The other disappointment was ZBW… like…. Wow, honestly what a let down?? All this build up for the 3rd enemy and it’s this guy with negative charisma, not nearly enough development or backstory or insight into his reasoning? Just a power hungry psycho who wants to genocide everybody because the world is bad??? If there were even just… three more episodes for him I might’ve felt more satisfied, or maybe if the actor playing him was different?? I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong, I’d love to be proven wrong. If someone can give me a reason why Zhao Bingwen is a great villain, I’m happy to listen. Like am I missing something??? At the end of the day, Pingjin Hou is the villain that holds the most weight, has the most impact on the story and the emotional beats, and is the most human. His relationship with Zang Hai is also the most interesting and multi-faceted. The amount of care and attention both Zang Hai and the narrative put into him compared to the other villains is also really clear. So something feels off when he dies two thirds of the way into the show and we’re left with uhhh everyone else.
All in all, it’s been a very, very long time since I’ve given a show a near perfect score. Zang Hai Zhuan comes pretty damn close. The flaws are a bit annoying, but don’t have much impact on the overall effect of the show for me- powerful, refreshing, unforgettable!! Xiao Zhan the KING!!! Zheng Xiaolong the GOAT!!! Thank you for feeding me delicious protein. I finally have the strength and inspiration to go on.
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