Under the Microscope (2023) - Synopsis

Drama info:

Title:  Under the Microscope 

Chinese title:  显微镜下的大明 / 顯微鏡下的大明 (Eng translation: "The Ming dynasty under the Microscope") 

Episodes: 14

Genre: Historical, mystery, thriller 

Original network: iQiyi

Release date:      9 Feb 2023

Airing schedule:  9 Feb -  19 Feb 2023    

Synopsis:

When mathematical savant Shuai Jia Mo stumbles across a county-wide discrepancy in Ren Hua county's land titles, he decides to investigate. 

He duly discovers that some devious shenanigans are afoot: For the past 100 years, Ren Hua county has been overpaying a mysterious "silk poll tax"(人丁丝绢) of 3,350 taels per year because it has been footing the bill for the surrounding 7 counties as well.  The number 3,350 is also a significant numerical signpost in Shuai Jia Mo's murky memories of the past...

While trying to prove the silk poll tax discrepancy, Shuai Jia Mo encounters many obstacles as those who want to keep the status quo try to prevent him from succeeding by any means necessary.  

Main cast/characters

Zhang Ruo Yun (张若昀) as Shuai Jia Mo 帅家默

Wang Yang (王阳) as Cheng Ren Qing 程仁清

Fei Qi Ming (费启鸣) as Feng Bao Yu 丰宝玉

Qi Wei (戚薇) as Feng Bi Yu 丰碧玉

Wu Gang (吴刚) as Fan Yuan 范渊

Trailer:

First thoughts:

🐼: Zhang Ruo Yun is back with a historical drama!  It's a reunion of sorts for Joy of Life (2019), as Zhang Ruo Yun, Wang Yang, and Wu Gang grace our screens in Under the Microscope (2023). 

Six episodes in, I am hooked by the refreshingly different storyline and the acting (you can't go wrong with Zhang Ruo Yun).  

See my final review 👉here 😊