dengyideng
Repay harm with justice, repay virtue with virtue
In a system that is inherently inequal and unjust, is justice possible? Or is there only revenge?
Finally I've watched a cdrama that can easily be listed alongside international prestige dramas. Ripe town has it all - a compelling, well-paced and intelligent plot, highest quality production values - both visual and sound! - and a fabulous ensemble cast.
As the plot unfolds, we learn more about each of the main characters' (and victims') backstories - slowly giving us clues to what happened 20 years ago when a fire destroyed the Lu family residence and everyone in it but a few servants. What connection does the fire have to the recent gruesome murders? And why does the killer keep quoting the Analects?
Injustice is a central theme, but not merely in the sense of criminals being brought to justice, but also the injustice and inequality in Ming society - poor girls being sold to brothels, bastard children being bullied, superiors bullying their subordinates...it's everywhere. What happens when one of the lowliest members of society decides he doesn't want to take it anymore? (spoiler: lots of people die, both terrible humans who may in fact deserve their fate, and some innocent victims.)
Each character is well-rounded and believable, even those with little screen time. By the end, everyone's motivations are understandable even if you can't sympathize with them. It was easy to sympathize with our bailiff and his friends as they try to solve the mystery and "repay harm with justice." And Judge Song. Oh, kids. I generally do not cry during dramas, but I did shed more than a few tears when they read his poem in ep 12.
The pacing is excellent, I could hardly wait for the next episode to be subbed. The visuals are outstanding - it's dark and gritty but not unreadable - and it lends a sense of dread and foreboding to even beautiful seeming innocent scenes. The use of framing, of light and shadow is so good. And for the most part it is not dubbed. The silence! THE SILENCE between two characters has so much impact.
I can't recommend this drama enough, even to my friends who don't watch cdramas.
Finally I've watched a cdrama that can easily be listed alongside international prestige dramas. Ripe town has it all - a compelling, well-paced and intelligent plot, highest quality production values - both visual and sound! - and a fabulous ensemble cast.
As the plot unfolds, we learn more about each of the main characters' (and victims') backstories - slowly giving us clues to what happened 20 years ago when a fire destroyed the Lu family residence and everyone in it but a few servants. What connection does the fire have to the recent gruesome murders? And why does the killer keep quoting the Analects?
Injustice is a central theme, but not merely in the sense of criminals being brought to justice, but also the injustice and inequality in Ming society - poor girls being sold to brothels, bastard children being bullied, superiors bullying their subordinates...it's everywhere. What happens when one of the lowliest members of society decides he doesn't want to take it anymore? (spoiler: lots of people die, both terrible humans who may in fact deserve their fate, and some innocent victims.)
Each character is well-rounded and believable, even those with little screen time. By the end, everyone's motivations are understandable even if you can't sympathize with them. It was easy to sympathize with our bailiff and his friends as they try to solve the mystery and "repay harm with justice." And Judge Song. Oh, kids. I generally do not cry during dramas, but I did shed more than a few tears when they read his poem in ep 12.
The pacing is excellent, I could hardly wait for the next episode to be subbed. The visuals are outstanding - it's dark and gritty but not unreadable - and it lends a sense of dread and foreboding to even beautiful seeming innocent scenes. The use of framing, of light and shadow is so good. And for the most part it is not dubbed. The silence! THE SILENCE between two characters has so much impact.
I can't recommend this drama enough, even to my friends who don't watch cdramas.
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