Stuck at Home; Keeping myself sane

Autumn Cicada (Viki)

The year is 1941 and East Asia is being torn apart by war – on land, at sea, and in the air. Imperial Japanese forces have occupied Hong Kong and work with native collaborators in a bid to impose strict Japanese martial law. Into this lethal fray steps, a young man named Ye Chong a fierce patriot and a devoted communist. Recruited by Chinese communist forces, he agrees to go undercover as a double agent. His role will be to infiltrate the collaborators who are helping Japan tighten its grip on Hong Kong. The role involves becoming the “Autumn Cicada,” a spy who will relay information back to his communist comrades who are still plotting to throw off the Japanese yoke. The role is perilous and beset with danger at every turn. When Japanese intelligence officers learn that a mole has infiltrated the military ranks, a deadly hunt begins – in an effort to expose, capture, and torture the Autumn Cicada. Fortunately, a handful of sympathetic freedom fighters is ready to help Ye Chong complete his mission – including the beautiful He Ying.

This is a period spy drama set in worn torn Hong Kong, this type of wartime drama is a genre that the mainland China excels at. Asa period drama it’s well produced, great scenic set pieces, costume with a well written plotline that has plenty of action and suspense. My issue with this show is the fact that the CCP are over played, in reality they probably didn’t have a spy ring in Hong Kong, it’s more likely to have been Nationalists spies operating in the colony rather than CCP. Apart from that it’s an enjoyable spy drama. If you like spy dramas then I’d also recommend the Disguiser and Sparrow both set during WW2.

The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty (Viki)

The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty is a 2020 Chinese television series based on the novel of the same name by Xi Mengshi. The series was produced by Jackie Chan, it stars Darren Chen, Fu Mengpo and Liu Yaoyuan in the lead roles.   Set during the 14th year of Chenghua Emperor’s reign, Tang Fan, a sixth rank official and Sui Zhou, an imperial uniform guard, join hands to crush a conspiracy to maintain peace and order for the people.

After working together to solve the case involving the Marquis’ son, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou gain widespread fame and form a lasting friendship with each other. Although his reputation precedes him, Tang Fan remains honest and upright in his duty as a public servant and continues to rent a humble home. His landlord is found dead in her quarters presumably from suicide, but clues lead to suspicions of foul play. After the case is resolved, Tang Fan travels to Henan to investigate the sudden disappearances of people near the tomb site of the late Northern Song Emperor. When the culprit is revealed, it seems that he is but a pawn in a much grander conspiracy. As major cases continue to plague the capital and the local offices, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou work hard to unmask the mastermind who is pulling the strings in the background.

This is a great mystery drama, with plenty of twists and turns. The characters go through some interesting development as the series progresses. There are some really good fight sequences in this show, and plenty of action throughout. The villains aren’t one-dimensional caricatures like in so many shows. They have some depth and are actually really interesting individuals. If you like detective shows, then this is definitely one to watch.