Feng Yu Nong, Yan Zhi Luan (2023)

My dear, I don't give a damn.

Gone with the Rain is one of the few Chinese dramas out there that has a very apt English title. It is also set in a time of civil war and the design of the four main characters are unmistakably inspired by Margaret Mitchell's epic classic novel Gone with the Wind. It is very much a character drama that is at surface a romance, but the true love story is the one between two women who are almost diametric opposites of one another.

This story takes place in a fictional Jing state but the costumes and background suggests this loosely is late Tang dynasty when the powerful local military governors rebelled. Vast swarths of the country was thrown into civil war during which the central government had little knowledge or control over what was happening. The drama's greatest failing is that it is very sloppy in terms of clearly explain who the different factions and what their agendas are. Events unfold conveniently and not always logically simply to enable character conflict and development.

The story is told largely from seventeen year old Tang Moxi's perspective. She breaks the fourth wall in the beginning and continues to share her thoughts via very vivid, at times funny and at times silly daydreams. Moxi is illegtimate and orphaned at an early age, she grows up on sufference in the household of her uncle Bai Wentao a scheming mid-level official. Her first cousin Bai Fengyao its the only one that cares for her. The drama opens with the country on the verge of civil unrest. The cousins are colluding to evade their family's efforts to marry them off for advancement. Moxi rescues a dashing wounded soldier Wan Jiagui and falls for him. She also encounters an infuriating general Chen Wende. Through a series of misunderstandings, some self inflicted Moxi finds herself caught between both men while Wan Jiagui finds himself engaged to both women. A tortuous romantic quadrangle between the four plays out as the country slides into chaos. The romances are secondary to how the relationship between the women navigates civil war and a messy love rivalry.

Despite their different personalities and perspectives, Moxi and Fengyao share a touching and unbreakable bond. Moxi is fiesty, selfish, cynical, manipulative and tough as nails beneath her lovely exterior. She is above all a survivor; she has to be as there is only the rather helpless Fengyao in her corner. Fengyao is pretty much everything Moxi is not - selfless, well educated, gentle, sentimental, idealistic,and impractical; in other words quite useless. Their strengths and weaknesess complement and together, they are able to acutally fend quite well for each other. Unfortunately they both fall for the gallant, noble hero in heroes clothing Wan Jiagui who when tested is actually a weak character. Moxi spends most of the drama fighting her devastating attraction to Chen Wende, a rough, uncouth warrior who is more than what he appears to be. He is the only character that remains charismatic and likable throughout the drama. After awhile, it is quite obvious where these four main character blueprints are from.

The first half of the drama is quite enjoyable as Moxi and Fengyao find their strengths and struggle with their flaws in trying times. However, Moxi's wilful blindness and her obstinate pinning for her first love went on for so long it became tedious. I wanted to hurl my remote at her and yell "My dear, I don't give a damn!" Even though all the portrayals are well done and the characters are multi-dimensional, this drama spends too much time rehashing character flaws without a well fleshed out plot to keep things engaging. The conflict and attraction between Chen Wende and Moxi is the only highlight of the second half of the drama which made it less of a struggle. I also enjoyed the casting of an actress in the role of Wu Yin. The second relationship however is not sufficiently developed because all of the men can only have eyes for Moxi. The final arc is rushed and Moxi's ability to transform herself is not well explained and frankly impossible. The story does come to a satisfying ending with the final episodes making up for the sag in the latter half. This is different enough from the usual run-of-the-mill historical Chinese drama that I enjoyed many aspects of it. It is quite well acted and had it been shorter and more tightly written, I'd probably rate it better than 7/10.

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A Mixed Bag of Everything

"Gone With the Rain" presents a diverse mix of elements right from the start. It combines comedy, wars, romance, sisterly love, murders, forced marriages, conspiracy, sacrifice, unfulfilled love, war games, strategies, suspense and thrillers. It's like experiencing a buffet of genres in one story. However, the romance aspect of the story leaves a somewhat unpleasant taste. Brazen atrocities are committed with impunity, and the suspense and mystery elements resemble an Agatha Christie whodunit set in a schoolhouse. At times, the logic of the plot feels a bit childish, as the storyline takes unexpected twists and turns to fit the writer's desired ending.

Based on the romance novel "Storm and Rouge" (Feng Yu Nong, Yan Zhi Luan) by Ni Luo, the drama revolves around the lives of Tang Moxi (played by Zhang Nan) and her first cousin, Bai Fengyao (played by Wang Yuwen). Having grown up together in Bai Fengyao’s home after Moxi loses both her parents, they navigate through a turbulent era of wars, scarcity, losses, forced marriages, hardships, betrayals, and nearly every challenge imaginable. Their bond is defined by their unwavering love and devotion to each other, overshadowing the traditional romance aspect that serves more as a subplot.

Tang Moxi defies the conventions of a typical heroine. She doesn't fit the mold of a delicate flower waiting to be saved or a Cinderella longing for a prince. In fact, she lacks education, refinement, and even exhibits selfish and greedy traits in her pursuit of goals. Nevertheless, she demonstrates a care for love and morality, alongside her fearless and untamed nature. She fearlessly shelters a wounded young officer rumored to be a spy, intimidates creditors with a kitchen chopping knife to protect Bai Fengyao, and skillfully negotiates with unsavory characters. Moxi's strong-willed and passionate character is akin to a torrential rain that is difficult to ignore.

Moxi, portrayed by Zhang Nan, appears as a young girl, around 15 years old, reflected in her clothing style, with shorter skirts paired with long pants. Initially, this may seem odd if viewers are unaware of Moxi's young age, possibly due to the actor's tall stature. However, as the story progresses and Moxi reaches marriageable age at 17, she looks stunning in her adult costumes. Despite her constant sour expression, her smile radiates warmth, which Zhang Nan portrays wonderfully.

Bai Fengyao, played by Wang Yuwen, contrasts Moxi's character. She embodies gentleness and strength, occasionally displaying stubbornness and possessing extensive knowledge from wide reading. Wang Yuwen convincingly brings the character to life, with Bai Fengyao appearing younger than Moxi due to the actor's youthful-looking face. The heartfelt sisterly relationship between Moxi and Bai Fengyao is portrayed with heartbreaking sacrifices and unconditional love.

Moxi falls in love at first sight with Wan Jiagui (portrayed by Zhao Yingbo), a young and handsome officer who initially hesitates to commit due to his unwavering dedication to the country. However, he eventually falls for Moxi, captivated by her courage, intelligence, and selflessness as she saves him without expecting anything in return. A big applause to Zhao Yingbo's portrayal of the Wan Jiagui character.

Early in the story, Moxi encounters Chen Wende (Sun Yizhou aka Sean Sun), who is significantly older, around 13 to 14 years her senior. Contrary to others' fear of him due to his unflattering reputation, Moxi boldly insults and chides him, leading to continuous banter between the two characters throughout the drama. Moxi's forthrightness and unpretentiousness intrigue and amuse Chen Wende to the extent that he falls in love with her. Sean Sun's excellent portrayal of the character adds believability to their evolving relationship.

The entire cast delivers commendable performances, although some actors may have slightly overacted, making it difficult to discern if it was intentional for humor or a result of their acting abilities.

My Verdict

The series comprises two narrative layers. One layer delves into the emotional entanglement between Mo Xi and Chen Wende, Feng Yao and Wan Jiagui, while the other layer explores the story of four individuals protecting each other and serving their homeland. These two narrative layers intertwine, merging personal emotions with feelings of family and country.

The story beautifully captures the essence of self-preservation, mutual support, and understanding within the two main female characters. Although the sisterly relationship takes precedence, unfulfilled love becomes a central theme, amplifying the committed relationship between the two cousin sisters. The pain and torment experienced when the two lovers are forcibly separated by fate and events create a bittersweet romance. However, romance enthusiasts may be disappointed when the direction of the romance changes by the end of the story.

It may take some time to adapt to the storytelling format of the drama, as Moxi's wild imagination often takes the form of playful and silly scenarios on screen. This is understandable, considering Moxi's young age and her tendency to engage in immature thinking.

The entire story is built around a conspiracy to overthrow the throne, with wars, deaths, separated lovers, and a hero unjustly accused. However, all these events seem somewhat futile, as Moxi effortlessly exposes the conspiracy's flaws in the end. The climax of the story disappoints and is hardly worth mentioning. Plot holes and logic conflicts are prevalent, but viewers are advised not to take them too seriously.

Although left to be desired, the overall plot is quite intriguing, the acting is commendable, and the attention to costume and props is evident throughout.

A rather fun watch! Recommended!

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