{year}=2025{episode}=EP.06{type}=TV{ongoing}
Review
Strange Tales of the Tang Dynasty is a must-see for 2022 wuxia mysteries. Inspired by zhiguai xiaoshuo 志怪小每, this is a collection of slightly supernatural mysteries set in the Tang Dynasty. This form of folk literature was very popular during the time and is not limited to ghost stories, but also includes strange or unusual phenomena. Fifteen centuries later, these fantastic tales continue to inspire imagination and are a genre that is well explored in contemporary media. Well before Tsui Hark’s successful and gripping film from 2010, Detective Dee was already the most popular protagonist of the genre.
The Tang Code was a great achievement of the Tang Dynasty and a model for all future dynasties’ legal codes in China and East Asia. Di Renjie was a Tang judge who was renowned for his fair and impartial judgments and was a hero of ancient China. He rose to the rank of chancellor twice during the reign of Wu Tzetian. The popularity of zhiguai xiaoshuo and the rich historical background made this period fertile ground for the great Di Renjie to inspire this classic detective story. This is set during the second reign of Wu Tzetian’s son Ruizong. Ruizong was a useless emperor, and his sister, Princess Taiping, was the real power behind the throne. Ambitious to become another Wu Tzetian, Princess Taiping became involved in a power struggle with Prince Li Longji (Xuanzong). In terms of the later Tang, this story takes place after Luoyang and before The Longest Day at Changan and The Imperial Coroner. The play is well-researched, largely respectful of history, and true to the social norms, institutions, and laws of the time.
The sheriff of the capital city of Chang’an is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Su Wuming, a respected student of Di Renjie, is hastily summoned to Changan to take up the position. His paths cross with Lu Lingfeng, a proud and ambitious young general of the jinyiwei, or imperial guard. Their relationship begins as adversarial, as Lu Lingfeng is clearly resentful that Di Renjie once rejected him as a student, while not being his match in rank, resources, or martial arts. The resourceful Su Wuming races around Lu Lingfeng and recruits him (and his resources) to assist in his investigation. As they race to solve their intertwined cases, they encounter witchcraft, shapeshifting, and combat enemies with unearthly powers. Inevitably, mutual respect and friendship develop between the men. While Su Wuming is clearly a brilliant investigator, Lu Lingfeng is also intelligent and has great instincts, but is hampered by his hasty judgment and lack of experience. This is not another dull and static brain versus a combination of brilliant detectives, where the brains (Holmes, Poirot) are raised by their stupidity and stupidity (Watson, Hastings). This is as much Lu Lingfeng’s story as it is Su Wuming’s. Under Su Wuming’s wise teachings and almost unbelievable funny tricks, we see the creation of a Di teaching tool out of Lu Lingfeng.
Lu Lingfeng’s pride and arrogance would have come out if it weren’t for the charming Yang Xuwen’s self-awareness and irony. Although the Tang rulers made the imperial examination a prerequisite, noble families like Lu Lingfeng were able to obtain the desired positions and advance on the fast track as a result of their patronage. This explains why at such a young age, he was the fourth general in the elite guard. I think most people were not happy with Lu Lingfeng accepting a subordinate position to a district official like Su Wuming. He rolls with the punches and learns from his mistakes to explore more achievements, earning his way back to the top. After a long absence, it’s good to see Yang Xuwen return with a multi-faceted, well-interpreted character who is arrogant and quick-witted on the outside, but efficient and even on the inside. He has a great rapport with veteran actor Yang Zhigang, who plays a seasoned detective with a survival instinct and a bit of a sense of humor.
While Su Wuming is the maestro who pulls all the strings together, the case is solved by a motley crew of talented and engaging characters they recruit along the way. Master Fei Ji is a brilliant doctor who sells his soul for a chicken a day, Pei Xijun has more than her precious eye for detail, while Xue Huan and Ying Tao assemble a formidable martial arts team. They’re all lost souls who become a family who find and find meaning in their work together. It’s rare to see such good character development in a genre that tends to have heavier plots. The team's energy and ingenuity are one of the most enjoyable aspects of this story. There are two unwelcome romances.
