Zhu Lian Yu Mu (2024)

Women’s Empowerment Takes Center Stage in The Story of Pearl Girl

The Story of Pearl Girl is a captivating drama that takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster through themes of resilience, ambition, and redemption. The narrative follows Duan Wu, a pearl diver who escapes the brutalities of a pearl farm only to be swept into the glittering yet treacherous world of jewel trading.

The drama excels in portraying Duan Wu’s transformation into Su Mu Zhe—a powerful and inspiring journey of survival, self-discovery, and empowerment. The character's determination to rise above betrayal and loss resonates deeply, making her one of the most compelling protagonists in recent dramas.

Yan Zi Jing, with his intricate web of revenge and inner torment, adds layers of complexity to the story. His gradual transformation from a vengeful merchant to someone who finds peace and partnership with Su Mu Zhe is beautifully handled. Zhang Jin Ran provides a grounding presence as a noble and supportive ally, perfectly complementing Su Mu Zhe's journey.

Visually, the drama is stunning, with breathtaking scenes of the pearl-diving life, vibrant marketplaces, and the grandeur of the Northwest trade routes. The Jewel Exhibition serves as a powerful culmination of Su Mu Zhe’s growth, leaving viewers inspired by her courage and determination to inspire other women to reclaim their destinies.

In conclusion, The Story of Pearl Girl is a gem of a drama, offering a rich tapestry of emotions, memorable characters, and an empowering message. It’s a must-watch for those who love stories of triumph over adversity and reclaiming one’s fate.

Leia Mais

Jewellery business politics + subplot romance

This drama is about the female lead's story of being a pearl diver slave to becoming a successful jewellery merchant. Alongside her journey, we also follow the male lead, a ruthless businessman out for revenge after the tragic death of his family.

POSITIVE:
- Strong-willed, badass and street-smart female lead.
- Morally grey male lead.
- Business politics focused, with romance as a subplot.
- Fantastic storytelling: this truly felt like “her” story, as we follow her journey from a slave with nothing to a powerful merchant.
- Feminism vibes. Women supporting women and showing they can be powerful leaders.
- Beautiful kiss scenes.
- Lovely OST.
- Nice fight scenes. Not a lot but what we do see is really good.
- Beautiful jewellery and costumes, especially Zhao Lusi’s styling was top notch.
- Emotional and baby angst vibes. It has that realism feel to it, with a mix of revenge and scheming around the business side.
- Zhao Lusi: phenomenal acting performance. From her raw underwater scenes, to her angsty slave scenes, to her transformative portrayal of a powerful business woman. This role feels like her best yet, and she truly brought the character to life.

NEGATIVE:
- The second half felt repetitive at times: the antagonists constantly tried to sabotage the female lead’s business. Different scenarios, yes but it was the same thing over and over, which made parts of the drama feel draggy.
- Basic plot: honestly the plot was not that deep, just straightforward business politics with basic villains. Having said that, the drama was still very enjoyable.
- Annoying second female lead: I literally couldn’t stand the character even though the actress was so beautiful. I hated everything she did and everything she said and I was not satisfied at all with how her ending was written.
- Ending: I was not fully satisfied as the writers decided to do a powerful scene off screen, which made it less emotionally impactful.

OVERALL:
This drama isn’t about romance, although there is romance. It’s not about angst, betrayal with dazzling action scenes, even though those elements are there. This drama promised a story about a pearl diver slave, who faces many hardships and rises to become a powerful jewellery merchant - and it absolutely delivered exactly that. For me, this is Zhao Lusi’s best role to date. If you want to see a drama with the strong message “Women can conquer the world,” watch this one.

FAVOURITE QUOTE:
“One tear of a mermaid, so rare and bright, is brought with the blood of countless divers."

Leia Mais

Zhao Lusi is wonderful

The drama was truly outstanding, an unforgettable experience from start to finish. It combined a gripping story with exceptional performances that brought each character to life in a way that felt raw and real. The cinematography was breathtaking, with stunning visuals that drew you into each scene, making every moment feel immersive and vivid. The soundtrack was equally impressive, perfectly matched to the emotions of each scene, heightening the drama and adding depth to the storytelling. Overall, the film was masterfully crafted, leaving a lasting impact and reminding viewers of the power of great cinema. It’s the kind of movie that resonates with you long after the credits lol.

Leia Mais

Give It a Try Without Prejudice

If you're hesitating to start this drama because of comments, let me tell you—watch it for yourself! Everyone has different tastes, and the only way to know if it suits you is by giving it a chance. Speaking from personal experience, I used to rely heavily on comments before starting a drama. When Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow was released in 2022, I saw mixed opinions—some said it wasn’t as good as Season 1, others critiqued the female lead’s acting. Because of that, I delayed watching it and deeply regretted it once I finally gave it a try. It turned out to be a drama I loved!

So, here’s my advice: watch at least three episodes of any drama before deciding if it’s for you. Now, let’s talk about this drama—"The Story of Pearl Girl."

Why You Should Watch This Drama
Strong Performances:
The acting in this drama is top-notch. Every actor brings depth to their role, and as the title suggests, this is a journey of perseverance and self-discovery. The story follows Duan Wu, a pearl diver who escapes a harsh past and transforms into Su Mu Zhe, a successful businesswoman. Her growth and resilience are inspiring.

Engaging Storyline:
The narrative is filled with twists—betrayals, secrets, and an intricate web of revenge. Su Mu Zhe’s determination to uncover her past and achieve justice makes for a compelling watch.

Chemistry Between Leads:
If you’re a fan of Zhao Lu Si, you’ll be delighted to see how her acting continues to improve with each project. She shines in her role here. This is her second time acting with the male lead after their roles as second leads in The Long Ballad. Their chemistry in this drama is captivating and brings their characters to life.

A Strong Second Lead:
Tang Xiao Tian plays the second male lead, and this is his first time pairing with Zhao Lu Si. After watching his drama My Little Happiness, I was excited to see his pairing with Lu Si in this drama. He delivers a heartfelt performance, and his character adds depth to the story. If you love their pairing and want to see more, don’t worry—they are teaming up again in Love's Ambition, a drama that hasn’t been released yet but will likely be available next year.

Empowerment and Inspiration:
Beyond the romance and drama, The Story of Pearl Girl celebrates women’s strength and resilience. Watching Su Mu Zhe rise above her circumstances and create her own destiny is empowering and motivational.

Final Thoughts:
This drama has a lot to offer—strong characters, engaging plotlines, and stellar performances. Don’t let online opinions sway your decision. Watch it with an open mind, and by the end of three episodes, you’ll know if it resonates with you. For me, it was worth the watch, and I’m sure many of you will feel the same. Happy watching!

Leia Mais

A MERMAID'S TEARS

Bold, compelling, intriguing... The Story of Pearl Girl is weaving a tale that you certainly do NOT want to miss!

2024 hasn't been donating the best Cdramas so far with few exceptions.. but I'm glad this came along. A pretty decent watch!

Everyone sees the beauty of pearl. They view it with admiration of it's beautiful and excellence but no one seems to know what people go through to get it. Even setting their lives on the line for it. The motto thus being: Dive or die. And so Duanwu emerges from the many pearl divers of this land with the mantra "I want to change my fate" taking on the brave role of working towards it.

A Captivating journey is woven, our female lead steps forward, taking every STEP POSSIBLE to obtain that freedom, even if it's to put her life on the line for that freedom.

The Plot is RAW, A POWERFUL AND EMOTIONAL narrative of a slave girl on a quest for true freedom and redemption. Sailing on a journey of the ups and down on the harsh business world dominated by cunning Men. It's an interesting adventure that draws you in an intimate attachment to our female character, Duanwu. The flow of the plot is Smooth. It's just right for what Is needed. Her development so far is natural, raw yet appealingly driving. It's a powerful plot focussed on our female lead's journey in a quest for redemption where she walks up the ladder of the business world and capturing the power at the top. And Fights to keep it.

Duanwu isn't ONLY a smart Witty girl who works with her brain to scheme and conquer. She IS PHYSICALLY FIT! our girl can fight! She can beat up scumbag men, she can kick ass YASS now that's something you don't see always for such female lead set-up. She isn't afraid of physical actions, she takes risks and slays at it!

The characters in the show are truly compelling. Not all though but the mains are truly something to look forward to. Zhao Lusi has my damn jaws on the floor with the execution of her character. Honestly she did better than expected. She engrossed herself into the role and perfectly embodied the character so well that you could See DUANWU in her. It's no wonder she Fought for this drama and role (since 2022 or so) ( she said she loved the character so much) and I can see how she's perfectly bringing the role to life. I'm honestly impressed.
Our male lead is a complex character worth of study alongside another drama I find interesting, The tomboy. She is certainly a grey interesting character that's always worth being on the lookout for.
Our tomboy ( forget her name haha) is a lady on a quest to make her stand in a toxic male dominated business world. And she is gonna do Anything for that.
The characters here are complex and interesting. Well... Except the 2nd lead who is ..well predictable goodie boy lol ( all righteous) I sorta find his character... dull. But let's see if he gets better I guess.

But Amidst his full character I think the two male leads add value to the female leads journey. Our male lead teaching her on the harsh realities of the business world and harshly training her for it. While the 2nd leads takes her on a morally correct ethics of life. A perfect blend.

Cinematograohy wise, This drama is decent for the genre. It isn't flashy as for a fantasy but for a historical drama of Such category, it's pretty nice. And the UNDERWATER SCENES WERE CHEF KISS. I can't believe it was filmed in a real life water! Excellent! No wonder it was so realistically done. Beautiful.

The Ost of this drama is suiting for the concept of the drama. not by best lineup of Ost but it's actually decent. Especially the Opening theme.

If you're contemplating if you should watch this drama, I'd recommend you check out the first two episodes. Ep1 captivated me at the go! So I believe these two episodes are enough for you to judge. Although I'm confident it'll hook you. You should check clips and see if the genres are something that you'll like, if so then I think you'll love this. It's gripping indeed and overall worth the time.

Leia Mais

OSCAR WORTHY

This is not your typical C-drama. It has more of a Hollywood style of storytelling.
The grounded, realistic approach in The Story of Pearl Girl is what makes it stand out. The characters don’t have a fairy-tale experience, and their growth is earned through real struggles and hard choices. There’s no idealized hero who swoops in to save the day, which makes their journeys feel more authentic and relatable.
The drama also stands out for the way its characters are brought to life, with the cast delivering powerful performances that bring depth and authenticity to every scene. Each actor brings a unique layer to their character, creating a dynamic and believable world where every action and emotion feels earned. The relationships between the characters are rich and nuanced, adding further depth to the already compelling plot.
This drama stands as a testament to the power of storytelling—one that doesn’t shy away from the hard truths of life but instead uses them to create an emotionally resonant and profoundly moving experience. The Story of Pearl Girl is more than just entertainment; it’s an exploration of resilience, justice, and the grey areas that define the human condition. It’s a timeless work that will continue to echo in your mind long after you’ve finished watching.

Leia Mais

Not your average CDrama

First off, the cinematography is off the chain. The story stays true to its intention, to highlight the jewelry business and silk road trade during the Tang Dynasty. The story could have gone the safe route but no, they've shown how cruel the world can be at times. The journey from slave to business owner was gradual and believable with occasional pitfalls along the way. This shows that there is opportunity for growth and success as long as you continue to strive for it. Although there is romance (chemistry is fire), there is also a focus on friendship and family. TSOPG is not your usual drama but worth the watch. See for yourself & start an amazing journey with Duan Wu, Yan Zi Jing & the rest of the cast.

Leia Mais

It's A Long, Long Journey, So Stay By My Side

The Story of Pearl Girl is exactly that--the journey of a young girl, Duan Wu, from slave girl at a pearl farm to a renowned jeweler and businesswoman. It is a remarkable journey, full of all the spice of life--pain, joy, greed, revenge, tragedy--and in the center of it was Duan Wu, who later reshaped herself into Su Ma Zhe.

The first half of the drama moved at a good click. Our heroine suffered horribly as a slave and managed to escape. Her dream, as she told Zhang JinRan, the 2ML, was freedom and we see this theme throughout the entire drama.

Duan Wu's quest for freedom landed her on a ship, first as an indentured servant of sorts to the male lead, Yan ZiJing, and later as his friend, partner and lover. But that was only the first half of the journey. She had much to learn about life and freedom.

Yan ZiJing was a hard taskmaster because of his background. He, too, had been an imprisoned child and knew how difficult it was to survive alone. Thus, his treatment of Duan Wu was very harsh in the beginning but we, the audience, see and understand the reason behind this in later episodes. YZJ wanted to teach Duan Wu how to survive and not fall prey to all the evil schemes in the world.

On the other hand, the 2ML, Zhang JinRan was the total opposite--a by-the-book official, one who saw life in black and white, who was intelligent but somewhat naive, calculating enough to see through people, yet was also unwilling to bend the law a little, even to achieve justice.

Both these men loved Duan Wu in their own capacity and supported her as much as they could. Of the two, YZJ understood Duan Wu's yearning for freedom far better than JinRan precisely because he had lived at the edge of danger and death most of his life while the latter was a young rich nobleman who had been insulated from the harsh reality of how slaves actually lived. However, Duan Wu would learn much from both these men as she slowly become the new her.

Right in the middle of the drama, the Big Change happened. Like the proverbial tale of a phoenix rising from the ashes, so too must Duan Wu face the flames of transformation. A huge, devastating tragedy happened and her entire new life she thought she had gained disappeared overnight.

The second half of the story started with Duan Wu going at it alone, making her way from desert to snow to city, transforming into Su Mu Zhe. The journey was a tough one but the price of freedom for her here was
1) independence (and so she must do this alone)
2) individualism (and so she must be more proactive to assert how she wanted her life)
3) innovation (and so she must always strive to be better than her competitor)

What made Duan Wu such a great character to watch was her resilience and ability to move on in the face of suffering. She did not dwell on bitterness or self-pity (not for long, anyway). She climbed every mountain in her way like they were mole hills, learning to adapt to be a smooth and knowledgeable city woman.

Standing in contrast was Cui SiJiu, the antagonist of the drama. Cui SiJiu was perhaps the most interesting character of this story--a tomboy turned concubine, a woman who wanted to run a business like a man, trying to please her father over and over even though he just saw her as a useless daughter. SiJiu was hateful, seeing those below her family's status as ants to be trampled on. We were never meant to like her but her journey was nonetheless an interesting one.

CSJ yearned for freedom too. But her choices toward her goal were rash and cruel. Over and over she was given the opportunity to change and over and over she made the same mistake, blindly blaming everyone but her actions for her losses. The price of freedom, when she finally gained it, was very high too. I myself didn't pity her lot at the end (although many other viewers bawled their eyes out). She had so many opportunities to be redeemed and yet, all she showed was spite and cruelty.

If we looked at CSJ as the other side of the coin to Duan Wu, we see how both women, alone and clever, dealt with what life gave them in entirely different ways. Both yearned to be "free" and their opposing paths (and choices) gave insight on how one could miss out on many positive things of life just because of hate and revenge.

Speaking of revenge, YZJ lived for revenge. And through revenge would he, too, find his freedom.

The journey of our main character, as I said in the beginning, was a long one. Duan Wu fought her way through it. The first half was her fight for basic survival and the second half was her fight for societal survival. Because once you crawl out of the shell in the ocean of misery, you must polish yourself to shine in the river of life. And shine she did.

Cinematography -- The underwater scene in Episode One was worth watching on a big TV screen.

Acting -- Zhao LuSi proved here she could handle any role. She had always excelled in comedy. In Pearl Girl, she also tackled a serious role who went through multiple tragedies. She was mesmerizing with her fleeting changes of expression. Liu Yu Ning gave a strong performance as YZJ, although now the joke among his fans is that LYN's main roles have only 80 percent chance of survival LOL. Special praise also goes to Chloe Xie as Cui SiJiu--she made a hateful character somewhat relatable and in the end, gained redemption. And who could forget the great Wing Man of the drama, Kang Ju?!

Editing -- There were some choppy scenes, especially in the last two episodes. This 40-episode rule in C-Drama really hurts story lines that need a little bit more expansion. The ending could have been smoother with an extra one or two episodes, maybe covering the poison, the two love birds' final days, even the ending where it was just a summary. It would have been nice to see Zhang JinRan, the 2ML be by her side. The current edit resulted in no emotional payoff for the invested viewer at all. It was just lazy storytelling.

There were also parts in the middle that could have been shortened. I heard many of 2ML's scenes were cut. That was unfortunate because it would have made for a smoother finale. As for the foreshadowing--there was plenty of it, so I was NOT surprised at the ending at all. A little bit underwhelming, actually, because why must ALL feminist-focused stories have to have the FL end up alone? That's not the end-game of female empowerment, folks. It's stupid, writers. Feminists need lovers, friends and family too, you know. And if you wanted to foreshadow that heavily, WHERE WAS THE FREAKING PAYOFF? Be brave. Give us the payoff since you dared to crush our hearts.

I rate this drama a strong 8,8

Leia Mais