{year}=2025{episode}=EP.04{type}=TV{ongoing}
Review
Virtuous Husband
In this clever comedy, a modern businessman finds himself in ancient China, where he is Ning Yi, who soon becomes the zhui xu / son-in-law or husband-in-law of Su Tan'er, the heir to a wealthy clothing merchant. Using modern business methods, he hilariously wins Tan'er's heart and mind as they take on internal and external rivals together, and he proves his worth beyond being a useless person.
The contrasting villainous roles as Ning Yi and Tan'er navigate their marriage had my shoulders shaking with laughter, especially the creepy male Virtuous Academy. I loved the way Ning Yi was written in this story - he is cunning, sympathetic, creative, ruthless and far from a virtuous husband, he is the most subversive element of the school. Guo Qilin and Song Yi shine together, seamlessly alternating between great comedic moments and heart-stopping action and moving emotional moments. The colorful cast of characters, friends and foes are equally as vibrant and well-written and acted. The humble Guard Geng with a big heart and big dreams is my favorite supporting character.
I enjoyed the first half of this series, easily a 9.0+. The second half loses a lot of its mojo, and at best, a 7.5/8.0. The decision to support both Tan'er and Guard Geng would have been fine if there were comparable new characters to fill the void. Unfortunately, while Xigua started out as a powerful and interesting character, she became a pitiful one. It doesn't help that while she's cute and endearing, actress Jiang Yiyi is miscast here, lacking in humor and having little chemistry with Ning Yi/Guo Qilin. Ditto for his shifu and Lou Shuwan, who are terrible; I really don't see the point of either character. This is repeated when Guard Geng and Tan'er reappear and our power couple is reunited. This makes it clear that despite Guo Qilin’s undeniable talent, he can’t pull off these awkward moments when he’s not lined up with the right team.
Similarly, the antagonists in the first arc are very funny, but in Thieves, most of the villains try too hard to be comical. The attempts at comedy also often clash with the increasingly political and complex plot lines, leaving little room for Ning Yi, the demon lord, to save the day. The story also starts to get darker and more violent, and although Guo Qilin is awe-inspiring with his abilities, making me feel like I’m losing weight and crying with him, the story ends in a way that doesn’t leave me thirsty for a highly recommended second season.
