rated
10 / 10
genre
Historical
directed by
Huang Jianzhong & Yan Yi
starring
Hou Yong, Wang Zhifei, Gao Yuanyuan, Du Yulu, Lü Zhong, Sun Feihu, Xu Huanshan, and You Yong
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It must be fate. If I recall correctly, this was the first drama I’d ever watched in my life, so it makes sense that this is the first drama I review in my challenge. Now, many people feel repulsed by historical shows, especially when they’re mostly based on true history, like this one. They find it boring, like a textbook that seems to drone on forever. I must agree; if not presented correctly, history can turn into a dull collection of facts that nobody cares about and nobody asked to hear.
But this drama is different. It combines history perfectly with story, adding imagined details and characters to the scenes but not ruining the overall authenticity of the historical information. As I watched, I almost forgot that it was so distant, so long ago. I was completely immersed in the story of how the mighty Qin Empire came to rise; it became the eventual ruler of China. Unfortunately, it presents a slightly biased point of view, glorifying the politician Shang Yang, the person accredited with changing the government of the Qin and thus allowing it to rise. But nonetheless, it has left a deep impact on me. After all, I now can’t stop thinking of Shang Yang as Wei Yang, a name he has for a large part of the drama. But that is trivial. Huang and Yan give more depth to Shang’s character, adding a romantic interest and even a love triangle to make it more interesting for those that are so tired by plain history. They also highlight the importance of the ruler. Without him, Shang Yang would never had been able to change the law system of the Qin, and the kingdom would likely have perished rapidly.
I recall the times I had when I first watched this, under the guide of my Chinese teacher (a brilliant idea to lead us in watching dramas and explaining the history behind it, by the way). Every Tuesday and Thursday, if I remember correctly, I’d plop on the couch with barely constrained excitement for the next episode. That was back in fourth grade. It’s been three years, but I still remember each scene, each character, as if I’d just watched it yesterday. But at the same time, it’s more than just a thrilling tale of war. It also forced me to truly consider things that I’d never even thought about before. As I watched, I felt more and more connected to my heritage. Who could think of anything better? One can learn so much about the Qin and how modern China came to be while experiencing an exhilarating story filled with emotion and action just like any other drama. Although I didn’t watch the later few dramas in this series, I wonder if they could have made it as great as this one. What a masterpiece.
As I write this, I am listening to the OST of the show. If you know me, you’ll understand that I am a big fan of music as well, so I have to mention these. These songs bring back so many memories. Some of them are mournful and slow. Some exciting and rapid. Some vigorous and hopeful, even in the face of such dreary circumstances. All of them put together only adds to the beauty and strength of this drama.
Don’t judge this drama by how old it is, or how boring it seems to be on the surface. If you watch it, you’ll learn and gain so much, even if it’s isn’t 100% accurate. Get lost in the story. Enjoy.
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