The Advisors Alliance takes viewers to the ever-popular Three Kingdoms era, and this time the entire story will be told from Sima Yi’s (Wu Xiubo) perspective. Liu Tao (Ode to Joy 2) plays his fierce wife Zhang Chunhua while Janine Chang (Midnight Diner) plays Bai Lingyun, a spy from the Cao faction and Sima Yi’s concubine. Xiao Shunyao and Tan Jianci from M.I.C. costar as sons Sima Shi and Sima Zhao.
On the other side we have the Cao household, led by Yu Hewei (I Am Not Madame Bovary) as warlord Cao Cao and Li Chen (variety show Keep Running) as Cao Pi. Tang Yixin (Psychologist) and Zhang Zhixi (Three Heroes and Five Gallants) star as the latter’s consorts.
It’s hard to find good period dramas that offer a nice balance between political machinations and romance, so I’m hoping this one lives up to expectations. Part 1 (42 episodes) will begin broadcasting tonight. There is no concrete news regarding the schedule for Part 2.
Teasers: Liu Tao, Yu Hewei, Li Chen | Behind-the-scenes
· Cao ·
Watched up to ep. 3, it’s actually really good! Episode 3 is better than 1 &2, but even from the opening scene of ep. 1 you can tell the director and editor put a lot of effort into it. Music, costumes, cinematography, sets, are all pretty decent, but the script and pace is much better than any other recent drama.
Episode 1+2 sets up the Sima and the Cao families a bit, and episode 3 focuses on the Sima family trying to save their father. It’s pretty fast-paced, but manages to squeeze some cute Cao Pi-Guo Nvwang moments as well as some family love. I love the ending of ep. 3 where you can tell the current antagonist (Zhai Tianlin), who is portrayed as ruthless so far, is frightened by what he has done.
Also, this makes me look forward to the other Three Kingdom drama by the same scriptwriter a lot. Cao Pi is my favorite character in that book, and a bit like Yang Xiu here, ruthless and ambitious, but still a rather naive tween taking his baby steps toward world domination. (I’m guessing he won’t be a tween in the drama since Jianci is 20+).
Thank you! Despite my zero Mandarin command, I’ve watched it up to ep 3. Your description help me a little bit with the story line. Can you help us non-speakers with the characters’ names next to their pictures. So far I’ve only recognized a few :)
In order of the posters, it’s Sima Yi, Cao Pi, Cao Cao, Zhang Chunhua, Guo Zhao/Guo Nvwang, Bai Lingyun (yet to appear), Sima Shi, Sima Zhao (both are children atm), Xun Yu and Guo Jia (Cao Cao’s advisor).
Thank you!
I’m hoping that this is even half as classy as the cast and promotional pieces because that would be amazing! (Please let it be wonderful, pretty please!) And from what I’ve seen of Liu Tao’s role, she is either using her fighting skills picked up in this one during her Ode to Joy 2 workout sessions with Big Bad Bao, or vice-versa – depending on which filmed first!
did you see Nirvana in Fire? Liu Tao was a fighting warrior princess who saved the day in one of the intense battle scenes.