Drama Rec: Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty

[rheasilvia]

Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty is a historical detective/action drama that revolves around three very different government officials. Together (mostly), they investigate a series of crimes and mysteries, and happen upon a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire.

Our three heroes meet when investigating the strange murder of a Marquis’ son – a case that is inexplicably connected to the disappearance of the Crown Prince’s best friend. They go on to bicker, eat lots of delicious food, build a lovely found family with an excellent batch of secondary characters, and try very hard (and with varying success) to stay on the emperor’s good side.



All three main characters are interesting and competent in their own way, and they complement each other well. The show is at its best when they all work together and spark off each other.



Tang Fan is a magistrate of the sixth rank, a brilliant and eccentric detective who sometimes lacks the pragmatism required to survive in the real world. He’s a foodie and glutton, and writes erotic novels to supplement his income. Sadly, we don’t find out much about his novels, but Wang Zhi claims to be a fan. ;-)



Sui Zhou is an officer in the imperial guard, a highly skilled martial arts expert who struggles with PTSD thanks to his time as a soldier. He’s driven, honorable and principled without being stupid, which is a far less common thing in dramas than it should be, IMO. He’s also an excellent cook.



Wang Zhi is the Commander of the Western Depot, an intelligence and enforcement agency that basically makes him the second most powerful man in the empire. Brilliant, ruthless, terrifyingly competent and a complete scene stealer. He starts out as something of a cypher, and appears more than a bit threatening; he then steadily becomes a more and more complex and awesome character as the series progresses. He’s a palace eunuch, and a master of court politics who constantly has to dodge the lethal intrigues of power-hungry and/or corrupt and scared officials.

Wang Zhi is the only main character based on a historical figure. The real Wang Zhi has gone down in history as one of the “four evil eunuchs” of imperial China (although it was actually a good deal more complicated than that epithet would suggest).



Sleuth is based on a m/m novel, like so many recent dramas, but in this case, I don’t think it’s worth watching for the book pairing. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou build a strong and interesting friendship in the series, but I don’t particularly ship them as a romantic couple; the chemistry just isn’t there for me. However. Add Wang Zhi to the mix and it’s a different story. This may be the first drama that gives me OT3 vibes.



Would I recommend it?

Absolutely! I must warn you that this drama does have a number of annoyance factors, including Tang Fan’s occasional over-the-top childishness (apparently intended to be funny?) and several very grating plot points. But even so, I find it entertaining, pretty, and a lot of fun – and it has Wang Zhi. ;-) It also does interesting and interestingly nuanced things with Chinese history, if that’s your kind of thing. So I would absolutely recommend you check it out.

Where can you find it?

The first four eps are subbed on YouTube. The entire series is available here, and also on Viki.

I found this drama thanks to maggie33 and just want to say: thank you, it's lovely! :-)

Comments

[riventhorn]

I'm about 7 eps into this (also thanks to maggie_33) and enjoying it very much. Looking forward to OT3 vibes and more Wang Zhi! Also digging the age difference relationship with the emperor and his consort.

[rheasilvia]

Maggie33 has done us a great favor, I would say. :-)

Yes! The emperor and consort are also among my favorite characters. We see relatively little of their relationship, but it still manages to be so rich and fascinating and multi-layered. Each of their relationships with Wang Zhi, too. Great stuff.

[riventhorn]

That's also very interesting that Wang Zhi is based on a real historical figure. I would like to learn more about eunuchs in Chinese history in general. The gender/sexuality stuff must he fascinating. I'm not sure if the derision some characters express toward him in the show related to his perceived lack of masculinity is more a reflection of modern attitudes or if it equates with how he would have been perceived in the Ming Dynasty. Certainly the idea of "the four evil eunuchs" reminds me strongly of female rulers who were typified as "evil".

[rheasilvia]

Unsurprisingly, I have been researching the topic of eunuchs in Chinese history a lot in the last few weeks... ;-)

It really is a fascinating and complex topic, complicated further by much of the information being conveyed through the lens of Western culture, and so of course irredeemably distorted. But as far as I have been able to glean so far, eunuchs did have to contend with some prejudices - though not necessarily the ones we'd expect today.

Certainly the idea of "the four evil eunuchs" reminds me strongly of female rulers who were typified as "evil".

That might have played into it to some extent... and there also seems to be a basic revulsion against the idea of anyone having more power than the emperor, or power *over* the emperor - which some eunuchs did have, at several points in Chinese history. And when something bad happened in such a time, it was of course because of the evil despicable eunuch, when - if there had been no eunuchs involved - it might have just been bad luck, or an unfortunate/short-sighted/whatever decision by a (non-evil) emperor. And in some times, as a result, the idea of any eunuch holding a lot of power ever seems to have become something alarming and somewhat revolting.

It's really fascinating. The historical Wang Zhi is, too. As is that entire period of history in general, really! Sleuth has brought me to learn a lot of Chinese history. :-)

[riventhorn]

Would you have any book recommendations on the subject? (Or the Ming Dynasty in general).

[rheasilvia]

Not so far, although I've been looking at several. I'll keep you posted! :-)

[riventhorn]

Thank you! I found a book called Eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty thst looks good, but unfortunately it's like $40 used. I miss having access to a university library, sigh.