Bu Bu Jing Xin - gorgeousness and nuance

[dangermousie]

I have a confession - I wasn't particularly interested in BBJX, the other 'woman time-travels to Qing to witness the fight for succession among Kang Xi's sons' drama. I love Liu Shi Shi, who plays the protagonist, but the trailers didn't grab me in any way, and Nicky Wu, the Fourth Prince and one of two male leads, is simply not my cup of tea in Qing get-up (now, if we are doing modern, we are talking!)

And yet when it recently started airing, every single person on my flist who watches cdramas, started raving about it. So, with some curiousity, I decided to watch the first episode. And the result was I fell in love, irrevocably so, within the first two minutes. It's gorgeous (one of the most gorgeously filmed dramas I've ever seen), well-acted, well-written, with a wistful tone throughout. And it's smart! It's a tragedy that doesn't forget the brain.

The story revolves around a modern woman who suffers an accident and wakes up as Ruoxi, a Manchu noblewoman in the later part of Kang Xi's reign. Throughout the story, she ends up getting involved with the (in)famous nine princes and, trying to prevent the bloody succession fight, might inadvertently bring it closer. I believe she interacts with most of the princes, but the two main ones for the story are the Fourth Prince and future emperor (Nicky Wu) and the Eighth Prince (Kevin Cheng. Where has this man been all my life? GORGEOUS).

Before I get on to anything else, I want to address the big elephant in the room - Jade Palace Lock Heart. For those who have watched Jade Palace Lock Heart, the set-up is startlingly familiar (though here her OTP is Four). A lot of people I've seen who love BBJX are people who really disliked JPLH. I am here to assure my fellow JPLH lovers that it is possible to love both. Because I do. The thing is, despite the similar plot, the story itself is very different. JPLH made me think of a cracky, shippy, giddy shoujo manga. BBJX is an introspective period piece. Each has a place in my heart. Both have strong heroines, gorgeous men (though as a Feng Shao Feng fangirl, even all the princes in BBJX put together do not trump him for me :P). If you want a more traditional love story, JPLH is the better bet (BBJX gets very messy and appropriately period-complicated). But BBJX is so very smart and subtle and nuanced and gorgeous. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Oh, and a word on Nicky Wu. While I still think that Qing style does him no favors, I am kind of adoring his Four whenever he is on screen. He and LSS have amazing chemistry and his on-screen presence is compensating for the looks. Even if I am still Team Eight. Because Kevin Cheng - oh my God. Oh my God. I think I need to watch Ghetto Justice asap.

Have the song from closing credits. It serves as a good preview of the drama, to see if it's your thing:

I have just watched the first ep and need more like a crack addict needs more.

Comments

[mookiehyun.livejournal.com]

O Mousie Mousie, prince8/Kevin slays me 9 ways to Sunday and have me twisting and turning in my sheets in a few eps, so if u r already falling, u need to complete all ur lifely duties in the next wk b4 u hit play fr ep3 on. Fr an addict to an addict

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOL. The sole limitation on my becoming an insane marathonner is the fact that only one ep is subbed so far.

So obsessed.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Just one question: where can I find it?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

So far, only viki has it. First ep is subbed.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Damn, I hate streaming. Well, I have other stuff to watch. Hopefully Viki softsubs later. I won't even know where to find RAWs.

Drive-by!

[hollyxu.livejournal.com]

Streaming raws are here, though the site's Chinese and they're on this weird time schedule that probably has to do with mainland copyright chokeholds.

[(Anonymous)]

Have you seen the extended trailer (30 min!!!) with subs? I just finished, and it's AMAZING. I was one of those who didn't really like Gong, but I can definitely see myself obsessing about this drama.

If you haven't seen the trailer, Koala's playground has it!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I am saving it for when I am in a bad withdrawal in-between subs.

[hollyxu.livejournal.com]

I need a new drama like I need a subdural haematoma, but thanks for the rec! I will get around to it when school isn't lighting a fire under my butt.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Heeeee. Good luck with school! At least you are not stuck in 18th century with no antibiotics and a bunch of homicidal royal maniacs wooing you.

[hanjae.livejournal.com]

OMG KEVIN <3. I think I'll just have to satisfy my Kevin love with a rewatch of Forensic Heroes II or try to finish Home Troopers, because knowing how badly it all ends for them is putting me off. I'll just keep reading your posts. :P

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Hey, at least he'll be pretty before he dies gruesomely!

[hanjae.livejournal.com]

That statement applies to 90% of Chinese period drama heroes, LOL. I swear cdrama producers invented the melodrama/tragedy genre.

Good thing about being a Kevin fan is that he's been in a million series. Beyond the Realm of Conscience recced below is a good start - Fighting Fansubs is doing it, but I'm pretty sure there are other completed subs out there too. It's basically TVB's giant rip-off of Dae Jang Geum.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I already have my list mapped out :)

I am very thorou in my obsessions.

Did you hear that the Three Kingsoms people are making a drama about Xiang Yu and Liu Bang, this time with proper pairings, historical context, gargantuan budget and Ming Dao-less??? In your face, YZ! (Peter Ho is playing XY which is way of an improvement over Ming Dao in so many ways I cannot even say. Chen Dao Ming is Liu Bang. I've heard Ruby was rumored for either LZ or Concubine Yu).

[hanjae.livejournal.com]

I hope you have Mystery in the Palace included in that Kevin Cheng to-watch list, because I'm excited about it already. China seems to be stuck on making dramas/movies either about the Kangxi era or Liu Bang/Xiang Yu lately.

YESSSS I heard about that! Something like 170mil budget, wasn't it? It's going to be amazing. I only wish I could be somewhere around YZ when his MD version is shafted by the awesomeness of Director Gao Xixi combined with Peter Ho, LOL. Though frankly, it's not that hard to beat a Xiang Yu that looks like this.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

That is majorly on my list! When is it coming out? KC actually manages to rock the Qing braid which I would have thought was impossible for anyone who is not FSF.

I know! I want them to make a drama about the An Lushan rebellion or something. Not that I don't love the Qing or XY but come on, guys!

That picture! I cannot unsee!!!! By this point, it's almost like a deliberate parody.

I am so excited for that Gao Xixi drama, it's sick. It's supposed to be most expensive drama ever or something. I have no basis for it at all, but I'd love Ady An to play Consort Yu. Because I adore her and want her in everything :P Ruby did the drama where she played Daji, so I think she could do Lu Zhi perfectly.

Speaking of Xiang Yu - have you seen the stills from White Vengeance? FSF and LYF look to die for!

[hanjae.livejournal.com]

Sometime in 2012, I think? Honours year is going to burn my ass; where am I going to find time to watch this?! Will have to work on those multi-tasking skills. :P The production pics look seriously GORGEOUS, but surprisingly women-centric - total opposite of JPLH or BBJX. So many of my favourite HK actresses there (Michelle Yim, Bernice Liu, Anita Yuen). At least for a change Kevin isn't playing Kangxi/Yongzheng/8th Prince - this time he romances an illegitimate daughter of Kangxi? LOL oh Kevin, why is your on-screen love life so messed up.

I don't really mind who plays Consort Yu as long as it's not going to be Yang Mi; as much as I love her, she is literally in everything lately (like Ru Yi with Hawick Lau) and Peter Ho would totally dwarf her physically.

Re: White Vengeance, yes I have seen!! I am frankly AMAZED that FSF manages to look so good despite the beard and emo wuxia man!hair. I strongly dislike facial hair on Asian men in general, but he actually looks good. I swear he can pull off anything. LYF is just stunning 24/7. And Leon Lai! ♥ The only one who looks ridiculous is Jordan Chan. He should probably stick to modern comedies.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Isn't Yang Mi playing her in a movie? I doubt she'd do double duty.

And yes, FSF is making me think he can pull off anything.

[hanjae.livejournal.com]

I think she dropped out because of her schedule? Makes sense; that girl is taking multi-tasking to a whole new level.

[kainee.livejournal.com]

If you have fallen in love with Kevin Cheng then I think a period piece you'll like is Beyond the Realm of Conscience. It actually is also very woman-centric and such but Kevin Cheng looks hot in his Song dynasty get up. He plays a scholar who's a master of both the game of weiqi and a master swordsman.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Are there subs? because I am all over it if there are.

[kainee.livejournal.com]

Yes, there are English subs out although at the time, I viewed it with Chinese subs. It was a pretty big and expensive series produced by TVB. The FSF series Hou Gong with Ady An is essentially the Mainland knockoff of the TVB series so that's how big it was.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me. Thanks, will try to find it. (I want to watch the remake too because I adore Ady beyond words).

[fishncake.livejournal.com]

You have to hold your logic and suspense on a big chunk of BTROC storyline and dialogue though.

But definitely a guaranteed feast in terms of costumes, headpieces and beautiful people.

[timescout.livejournal.com]

I WAS wondering if you were watching this. :) I decided to check out the 1st ep raw and ended up gobbling the 2nd one too even if didn't understand a word and had no idea who all these people were. XD Loved it so I'm now waiting for a few more episodes to get subbed so I can sorta binge. It looks so gorgeous, the coulours are amazing and even with the language barrier the story just felt real and intelligent. This might turn into an obsession...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

First four are subbed on viki. Yes, I am obsessed with this one.

[timescout.livejournal.com]

Oh, goody.... *rubs hands in glee*

[karened.livejournal.com]

GAHHHHH

I was going to post about this, but since you've done it already, pls allow me to just link to your post, alrightie? =P

YOu took the words out of me. Was it with you that I discussed about how odd Nicky looked in that hairdo? And how the trailers...didn't thrill me. How I love love love love JPLH and hence have not much interest in a similar plot?

Well, I still think the Qing do isn't flattering on Nicky. But I love love love love love BBJX as much as I do JPLH. Fan of both!

I'm also on Team Eight, Oh, that 8th Prince!! Thoughtful, slightly scheming (in an ok way)...Maybe from here I can forgive Kevin for raping Burning Flames 3 a few years back. I can see how he fell for Ruo Xi, because her bright character is so much like his ideal lady (the same person he fell for at first sight when he was much younger, a person blossoming from true love). He's romantic, but he is also realistic in understanding that as a prince, marrying someone who can aid in his fight for power is important; hence he married his first (in terms of status) wife. I appreciate that he respects her, although his heart is mostly with Ruo Xi/Ruo Lan? Finally! A drama male who doesn't let his heart rule over his head! Respect for woman, even if you don'y love her that much anymore! Trying to make a marriage work although it wasn't what he had expected!

Every single prince in BBJX is lovely (other than the Crown Prince), and I can really understand what Ruo Xi meant when she lamented about their future fate. I don't want them to end up like they did in history! T.T

Have you watched the scene of the 10th Prince during the Mid-Autumn Festival? Shan't spoil it for you, but gosh, he blew me away with his acting!!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I know! I thought it would be so boring but I adore it. It is such a smart drama with such genuinely smart characters.

I just know I am going to bawl throughout.

步步惊心

[pingback-bot.livejournal.com]

User karened referenced to your post from 步步惊心 (http://karened.livejournal.com/160133.html) saying: [...] done it at her lj, mirroring my thoughts exactly the way I feel, so I'll just link to her post [...]