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This review may contain spoilers
I get the hype!
Pursuit of Jade is by no means a perfect show.
There are loopholes and nonsensical shortcuts. The ending is rushed, as is often the case in C-dramas. I would have liked for the pacing of the overarching plot to be more even.
That being said, it’s a viral show I really don’t regret watching. Overall it’s quick and fun. The plot moves quickly and doesn’t waste time on too many filler moments.
The main leads have great chemistry and are beautiful to look at separately as well as together. The main draws of the show are Zhang Linghe and the romance, and both deliver. I don’t think I’ve ever watched another C-Drama and commented as many times upon ZLH’s sheer handsomeness.
- I loved that Changyu had her own arc, including a very mundane one in the early part of the show (getting to keep her house, setting up her small business!). She is a Mary Sue-esque character, but for the most part, she remains lovable throughout the show. I liked how grounded, practical, and also warm and cheerful they made her.
- Likewise, I loved that Xie Zheng is portrayed as kind, caring, reliable, and supportive. He is always finding ways to help FCY and not stifle her. He never seems to be threatened by her, and I enjoyed how he learnt to let his defences down and depend upon her.
- The other characters are fun. I especially liked the relationship and banter between Xie Zheng and Gongsun Yin.
Plot arcs and pacing
- I really liked the first arc in Lin’an town. It establishes the characters, the broader intrigue, and it makes you care about the romance and about the nice, laidback village life (in spite of the gossip and social hierarchy. It’s something to look back to with nostalgia during the show. Like Fan Changyu, it makes you long for home and for the old Yan Zheng.
- I enjoyed the middle part when Changyu discovers Xie Zheng’s identity. This is where there is the sweetest hurt/comfort, and where both characters are the most emotionally honest with each other.
- The last 10 episodes were the weakest for me. It would have been better if there had been an extra 5 episodes to develop the backstory of the older generation better, so we don’t get an exposition dump at the end.
Other points:
- I liked that the drama addressed issues like social class differences (especially at the beginning between Yan Zheng and Changyu).
- I loved the soundtrack, and the use of instruments like the suona.
- The costumes have been praised. I totally agree that they looked great.
- I thought the drama was a nice showcase of different aspects of Chinese culture. For instance, the Spring Festival episode was heartfelt and so well-shot.
- I thought the drama’s attitude to sex was frank and refreshing.
- The parallels between the healthy, egalitarian relationship of FCY/XZ vs the toxic, twisted one between Qi Min/Yu Qianqian was interesting.
Overall, a 红 drama which deserves the hype!
There are loopholes and nonsensical shortcuts. The ending is rushed, as is often the case in C-dramas. I would have liked for the pacing of the overarching plot to be more even.
That being said, it’s a viral show I really don’t regret watching. Overall it’s quick and fun. The plot moves quickly and doesn’t waste time on too many filler moments.
The main leads have great chemistry and are beautiful to look at separately as well as together. The main draws of the show are Zhang Linghe and the romance, and both deliver. I don’t think I’ve ever watched another C-Drama and commented as many times upon ZLH’s sheer handsomeness.
- I loved that Changyu had her own arc, including a very mundane one in the early part of the show (getting to keep her house, setting up her small business!). She is a Mary Sue-esque character, but for the most part, she remains lovable throughout the show. I liked how grounded, practical, and also warm and cheerful they made her.
- Likewise, I loved that Xie Zheng is portrayed as kind, caring, reliable, and supportive. He is always finding ways to help FCY and not stifle her. He never seems to be threatened by her, and I enjoyed how he learnt to let his defences down and depend upon her.
- The other characters are fun. I especially liked the relationship and banter between Xie Zheng and Gongsun Yin.
Plot arcs and pacing
- I really liked the first arc in Lin’an town. It establishes the characters, the broader intrigue, and it makes you care about the romance and about the nice, laidback village life (in spite of the gossip and social hierarchy. It’s something to look back to with nostalgia during the show. Like Fan Changyu, it makes you long for home and for the old Yan Zheng.
- I enjoyed the middle part when Changyu discovers Xie Zheng’s identity. This is where there is the sweetest hurt/comfort, and where both characters are the most emotionally honest with each other.
- The last 10 episodes were the weakest for me. It would have been better if there had been an extra 5 episodes to develop the backstory of the older generation better, so we don’t get an exposition dump at the end.
Other points:
- I liked that the drama addressed issues like social class differences (especially at the beginning between Yan Zheng and Changyu).
- I loved the soundtrack, and the use of instruments like the suona.
- The costumes have been praised. I totally agree that they looked great.
- I thought the drama was a nice showcase of different aspects of Chinese culture. For instance, the Spring Festival episode was heartfelt and so well-shot.
- I thought the drama’s attitude to sex was frank and refreshing.
- The parallels between the healthy, egalitarian relationship of FCY/XZ vs the toxic, twisted one between Qi Min/Yu Qianqian was interesting.
Overall, a 红 drama which deserves the hype!
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