At the beginning of the new year, the high-profile "Tang Di Gong Case" has come to a successful conclusion. Although this work incorporates many subversive and innovative elements in presenting the image of Di Gong, and the overall performance is still satisfactory, it is a pity that its rating has not been as high as expected. If you look closely, it's not hard to see that there are still many regrets. Although the plot of this work has ups and downs, the handling of some of the plot seems a little stiff, making it difficult to fully immerse oneself in it. In addition, the shaping of the characters has not completely stood up, making it difficult for the audience to resonate with the characters in the process of chasing the drama.
In terms of casting, this version of Di Gong is different from the past, bringing together four leading actors, instead of the traditional two or three. However, such a configuration led to the fact that in addition to Di Gong, the roles of the other three were slightly scattered, and the roles of the heroine Cao An were almost the same as those of Ma Rong and Qiao Tai, which failed to fully highlight her leading role. Reducing these three characters to two would not only add more roles to the main characters, but also make the line between the main and supporting roles clearer.
In terms of plot arrangement, this 32-episode TV series covers 9 cases, and each case occupies about 3 episodes. At 40 minutes per episode, each case is equivalent to a movie of about 150 minutes. However, as a TV series, this time allocation makes each case seem rushed, lacking enough foreshadowing, and brings a sense of abruptness to the audience. While modern viewers prefer fast-paced content, there are also those who prefer slow-burning TV shows that are immersive.
Specific to the content of the plot, the first to bear the brunt is the Fengyin case. The case was unconvincing from the start. After all, as the only female emperor in Chinese history, Wu Zetian's wisdom and skill are extraordinary. How could she be caught up in a simple case of blame? What's more, would the head of the guards beside her be someone who opposes her? Such a plot setting is really contrary to the authenticity of Wu Zetian's historical image.
In addition, the plot of the whole show is mainly run through by the dark line of Black Flame. However, after the lark chirps, this connection is broken, causing the final Chaoyun Bookstore plot to appear abrupt. There are more cases in the follow-up in the original book, but the TV series is hastily closed here, only hinting that there is a follow-up through easter eggs. This can't help but make people look forward to whether the story of Chaoyun Bookstore can be better displayed in the second part, so as to connect the entire story structure more completely. If so, the TV series may be able to present more exciting content in 30 episodes.
This version of the image of Di Gong can be described as both civil and military, which is very different from the previous image of pure literati, and is undoubtedly a subversive innovation. However, in the performance of its fight scenes, it seems slightly flawed. At first glance, the fighting style has always maintained a solemnity and seriousness, but when it comes to the empty gourd case, the painting style has changed abruptly and become witty and humorous, which makes people laugh. This stylistic shift before and after is like a dissonant note in a symphony, which is unique but slightly abrupt, making the overall look slightly incongruous.
Finally, let's talk about the actor, although Zhou Yiwei's acting skills can't be said to be bad, it always gives people a slightly greasy feeling, as if his image is shrouded in a greasy film, making it difficult to fully immerse himself in his performance. And his deeply rooted image of "having to add money" is like a double-edged sword, which not only left a deep impression on him in the hearts of the audience, but also limited his acting path to a certain extent. Whenever he shows that familiar smile in front of the camera and says that familiar line, people will always involuntarily think of the money-hungry villain, as if his image is bound by this character and is difficult to get rid of.
The Case of Di Gong of the Tang Dynasty is a work that has no shortage of novel and unique ideas. However, there are parts of the work that fail to fully meet the reader's expectations. But there are still great expectations for its future, and I believe that as the story progresses, it will show an even more compelling chapter. At the same time, I also hope that the costume detective drama can let Di Gong go, after all, its original screen image is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and later works will inevitably be compared, and it is still difficult to surpass the classic image.