1
1
This review may contain spoilers
Typical Drama but entertaining at some level!
The story follows the love and conflicts among the three main characters: Xiao Wu Xia, Jiang Ci and Pei Yan. Xiao Wu Xia, a lord of Yuelou, has infiltrated the Liang royal court under the name Wei Zhao. His purpose is to uncover the truth behind his clan’s downfall. Pei Yan, the marquis in Liang Kingdom, carries the mission to revive his family’s former glory. Finally, Jiang Ci, a kind-hearted and freedom loving girl, whose fate changes forever after she encounters Wei Zhao and Pei Yan. In the end, for the greater good, the trio set aside their differences and join hands in the battlefield.Although the show is adapted from a novel, the plot is not particularly well written. One can argue that the author approved of the changes. However, it does not justify the unnatural flow of the story. Many viewers can clearly see the efforts to put the male lead on a pedestal. It is understandable that the male lead, Xiao Wu Xia/Wei Zhao, is described as dashing, smart and caring. After all, he is our handsome and wise hero! But to highlight these qualities, the plot writers sacrifice the second male lead, Pei Yan. The marquis Pei Yan is reduced to the fool, who is hopeless in investigating anything related to Wei Zhao. Unfortunately, outsmarting a fool does not make a person look smart! Furthermore, there is almost no justification for Pei Yan’s obsession with Jiang Ci. Is it a quick way to increase Pei Yan’s screen time? And we should not forget our heroine, Jiang Ci, who at the beginning of the series is shivering every time she is near Wei Zhao. But somehow in her inner dialogue, she sounds as if she is fond of him! Although one can attribute this fault to dubbing and translation, it is still something the production team should have anticipated. Overall, the show carries certain entertainment value; but with logical flaws and plot holes, the story is proven to be that typical idol drama many of us once enjoyed!
In terms of acting, supporting actors and actresses have done a good job! But my focus is the three main leads! Jeremy Tsui has acted as the second male lead in many shows. By now, he has mastered the arts of being the villain, who is nonsensically obsessed with the female lead! In many scenes in Love of Nirvana, he is able to express his feelings and emotion entirely with his eyes, which is not an easy task! Generally, his performance is satisfying! As for Allen Ren, who is undeniably the biggest star in the series, it is another story! Earlier in his career, he was crowned “the prince of tears” for his emotional characters. Unfortunately, in recent years, his performance has not been up to bar. I applaud his effort to step out of his comfort zone, using his own voice in Burning Flame or trying out a multidimensional character in Love of Nirvana. Perhaps he will follow Yang Mi’s footsteps and will consider attending an acting class in the future! Finally, the least impressive person to me is Li Landi. She can totally be the cute, young and naïve girl. But she is not able to deliver the “freedom loving” aspect of Jiang Ci. This quality is essential to the female lead character. It helps to explain why Jiang Ci will never fall for Pei Yan. Her love for Xiao Wu Xia also presents her love for independence and freedom. However, Li Landi shows her potential and hopefully she will shine in her next project.
In the end, if you are a fan of those actors and the actress, by all means, please watch the show to support them! Repeat if necessary. But if you are someone who looks for a good script or who is a fan of the novel, you may find your time more beneficial somewhere else!
Was this review helpful to you?
Pleasantly Surprised!
The Unusual Prosecutor is a modern, legal drama inspired by Legend of Justice Bao Zheng (包拯). The story follows Pau Hey-Yan, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, who suffers from Mirror Touch Synesthesia. Because of his condition, he deeply feels the pain and sorrow crime victims have to bear. By understanding victims’ suffering, he vows not only to seek one hundred percent of the truth but also to shield victims from further distress of court appearance. He faces many challenges and obstacles to uphold justice but receives great support from his assistant, Kung Suen Pak and inspector, Chin Hung Fei.The show writers deserve “a pat on the back” for a job well done. To stay close to the original legend, the series writers modernize symbolic cases such as The Case of the Black Basin and Civet Cat for the Crown Prince. Furthermore, this is one of very few shows that attempts to explain why the protagonist is so righteous. Pau Hey Yan, who has to shoulder victims’misery, can risk losing everything including his own freedom to ensure the truth is revealed. Writers also set the tone of the show very early on: there will not be many courtroom scenes as court appearances place a great burden on victims. Due to my personal experience, I greatly appreciate this aspect of the series. It also shows how humane and kind the protagonist is.
Having said that, the Unusual Prosecutor shows multiple flaws in its plot. While some cases are unnecessarily dragging, the final showdown lacks development and seems rushed. I believe these issues are due to budget constraints and promotion intentions. Since TVB is grooming young actors and actresses, their screen time is longer than needed. While it is understandable, it causes imbalance in the story.
In terms of acting, my score is purely for Joe Ma and his ability to carry the team. Joe Ma delivers a better than expected Pau Hey Yan, who is kind and righteous but lonely and hurt. Pau Hey Yan seems stressed and unhappy often. I do not know if Joe Ma intended to act that way or he was actually under pressure at the time of filming. But his distress look fits perfectly to the story. Pau Hey Yan is the man who understands the feeling of the world, but is struggling to recognize his own. Joe Ma does not show his teary eyes, which seems to be the preferred acting method at the moment, too often. However, his microexpression is enough for sympathy! Besides Joe Ma, Alice Chan is an experienced actress, she is her usual-self, unfortunately providing no “icing on the cake”. As for the younger actors and actresses, there is still so much to learn, thankfully they have been given chances to polish their skills.
I had not ever paid attention to Joe Ma until The Unusual Prosecutor. With this newfound interest, I probably will rewatch the show for him. However, like all crime drama series, mysteries and surprises disappear after the first watch. I do not think there is any rewatch value for the show.
On another note, Joe Ma personally refuted the rumor that he was retiring. Having said that, I believe he may be entering his semi- retiring phase, where he accepts minor supporting roles to satisfy his passion for acting. He may fill his time with other hobbies and spend time with his family. Too bad, I am too late to this party. I do not think I can catch him being the first male lead anymore!
Was this review helpful to you?
