Shang Yang Fu

Ziyi Zhang's performance was extraordinarily fine, the best I have ever seen by any actress in any film, movie, or series of any kind in my lifetime of 77 years... The Chinese dramatic television series, "Shang Yang Fu" (The Rebel Princess), encompasses 68 distinctive episodes of 45 minutes each... Ziyi Zhang's performance throughout this spectacular series was truly exceptional in every way, a genuine priceless work of art, a gracious gift to anyone who's ever wished to see such nuanced artistry performed at the highest levels imaginable, most memorable and destined to become cherished, forever...

A+... 10 Stars x 10 Stars to the exponential power of 10, ad infinitum...

This one is Ziyi's first TV drama. Amazing acting as always! Lightning, shooting, background settings, costumes and art design are as excellent as best class movies. The art director for this drama is Yim Kam Tim who won Oscar for art design in film Crunching Tiger and Hidden Dragon. Cinematographer is Phillippe Le Sourd who was nominated for Oscar. Must try if you are interested in Chinese culture.

Despite a script that is overly convenient in places, the series is thoroughly enjoyable, thanks to a great cast. In particular, the romance between Zhang Ziyi (Shang Yang Princess) and Zhou Yiwei (Lord Yuzhang) was very charming. Zhou Yiwei is not the flawlessly handsome male idol type, but he has a real stage presence and he has breathed life into a role that could feel formulaic. Watching him shape the role throughout the 68 episodes was a real pleasure. The role was regularly at risk of being idealised but Zhou gave it a refreshing authenticity without losing a touch of magical make-believe. For me it was not a love at first sight, but his interpretation grew on me and before I knew it I was completely converted. Zhang and Zhou looked as if they had great fun performing together - their interaction was detailed as well as spontaneous, full of little unexpected touches that gave their onscreen romance a unique charm. I could see that being the result of some artfully managed improvisation during the filming process. Only after I started watching, I realized that Zhang Ziyi was openly in awe of Zhou Yiwei as an actor and had said as much on national TV, and after watching them act together, it is fair to say that these two have an unparalleled chemistry together, and Zhou is truly wonderful. It is a heartwarming tale in itself to know that Zhang did want to give Zhou, a dedicated yet overlooked actor in China the recognization she felt he deserved, and did just that by landing him a role that let him shine.

The cast overall was solid - Shang Yang Princess (Zhang)'s father gave an commanding performance in particular. Young actress Hai Ling who played Lord Yuzhang's 3rd/4th general in command was outstanding. Set, design, costumes are beyond amazing, impeccable in every detail, transporting the audience to a dreamlike ancient Chinese world. Music was hauntingly beautiful but needed to be greatly extended, as there was just not enough for a 68-episode drama series.

First off, Yiwei Zhou was the roof that kept this contained, Zhang Ziyi was the foundation and the other actors were blocks that built life into this incredible story. ZY's performance was transcendental. Geezus, the man is gorgeous. I don't even know what to say but I can tell you that this series will blow your mind.

Shout out to the cast, crew and members of the production team, especially the casting director.

Lastly, the MUSIC!! Goodness, my heart melted every time I heard the intro score.

Don't let Zhang Ziyi's age problem deter you from watching the show. The 68-episode drama was filmed in 2018 when Zhang Ziyi was 38 years old. In the first 7 episodes, she plays a 15-year-old pampered countess, the prime minister's daughter and the emperor's niece. However, our heroine grows up fast, and by the 8th episode, everything looks normal. Yeah, it's a stretch, but if you can tolerate Emily living and working in Paris without speaking French, we can overlook this aspect of the drama :). It's about 1/10 of the total length anyway. If you'd like to see capable, good-looking actors wearing gorgeous clothes, moving around in beautiful locations, riding horses in breath-taking sceneries, then check it out. Remember to watch it with headphones on or with good external speakers, the soundtrack is amazing! The show is shot in the "Emily in Paris" mold and more.