Judge Dee's Mystery

Robert Van Gulik first translated historical records about a righteous magistrate in T'ang China, surname Dee, then wrote more than a dozen excellent fictional mysteries featuring Dee Ren Jie, that were set specifically in the time of notorious Empress Wu Tzu Tian. As someone who studied Chinese History, the stories were wonderfully detailed about daily life, government administration and common superstitions of the time. And the mysteries were unique. (Dee is often described in the West as China's Sherlock Holmes. Deduction plays a big part of Dee's method, too.)

This current iteration of Judge or Detective Dee for TV has excellent storylines from these novels, outstanding production value, and stars one of the best actors in China today imo, Zhou Yi Wei. His performance is simply mesmerizing. He is quiet, watchful and still, but when roused, he explodes with frustration at the failures of government to fulfill its obligations to provide justice. There is wushu fighting and some flying to rooftops but for the most part the action is reality based.

Unlike the novels, Dee's loyal retainers are a former soldier and a reformed female thief. Their abilities and friends in low places assist Dee investigate murders in spite of local official corruption. And the thief is an abrasive presence to add zest.

Another recent set of movies about Detective Dee star Andy Lau and are fun to watch despite a lot of so-so CGI. But for me, Zhou Yi Wei is Judge Dee.

The answer is obvious Mandarin speakers Chinese young and old The actual novels of ROBERT VAN GULIK de not shy away from the sexual element contained in gis mysteries.

I enjoyed the drawings usually a half dozen ncluded in his books. Beautiful nude women. In distress, and in danger too.

I don't remember one of his assistants being a woman, nor do i remembet any wearing a soldier's uniform.

And CAO AN. Sorry i don't remember her character though the Judge met many women most with a past.

I certainly was surprised it took four episodes for the Judge to take and pass his examination as a classicist, thus securing a humble existence far from the Capital.

I am grateful the mysteries of a real life character - Judge Dee in this case - have been adapted to the small. Van Gulik wete he aluve would have nderstand these efforts might noy be an approximation, but hevwould be pleasd.

The forst case derives from HE LACQUER SCREEN and the second The CHINESE GOLD MYSTERIES,

Thanks for reading (best you seek our the actual novels) Simon in Victoria BC.

Have to say, this addition to netflix was very unexpected surprise. Instead of so many shows which Netflix produce and total screw up, this one series is having great storytelling; amazing introduction to old china without crazy american or evropean changes aimed to please stupid teenage audiance.

What is a great pity is that only subtitless are available and in some places (many) at least I had to slow down playback or rewind to catch what is actually said, as conversations are very fast and subtitless require quite a speed reading if you like also to see what is happening at screen.

To series: It is not for sure a low budget production.

It has amazing story with great twists and lot of mindblowing thoughts / points how to investigate same mystery.

So far I finished 5 parts, which cover the main starting mystery and each of one hour long part I was binded to screen, amazed by new information and twists in storyline.

It is very rare I am giving something like 9/10 or 10/10 stars, but this show for sure at least the part I saw is worth it.

Overal 9/10 is only to cover my lazyness which is reading so much subtitless in so short time and rewind some parts to catch up with all things.

THIS IS what Netflix should focus on - quality not quantity.

Just before this I saw garbage like House of Ninjas; and this show make me again believer in good storytelling, production values and focus on inteligent series instead of teenage half brain idiots which understand only farts jokes and dumed down content.

Judge Dee mysteries is based on a a set of books by Robert Van Gulik and as the title suggests he is a magistrate who solves strange cases in the Chinese Tang court. He is played by Zhou Yi Wei and is appointed by Empress Wu Zetian to bring law to border regions where he has to contend with bandits and people who have lost faith in justice. The cases are interesting and they are the focus of the thirty two episodes of the first series, I would have liked more background on the side characters and not just the main character Di Ren Jie. It is entertaining though and the sets and production values are incredible. Great acting from all the cast and well worth a watch.

Oh my god, what a good detective series it was. Like many - I got interested in Chinese detective stories from Robert van Gulik's books. And so, when this movie came out - I watched it right away. It's not at all like the book, but all the more wonderful - as if some talented writer had continued the stories. The main actor, Zhou Yi Wei, is one of my favorites anyway, from "The Great Chaolin" and "Longest Day in Chang'an". And the whole group of actors is absolutely great. The fact that Ma Rong was a woman - great. A nice little fierce girl. And in the whole movie there was not a single crying beauty with a squeaky mouse voice that caused misunderstanding. None of the men had overly made-up faces or overly styled hairstyles. And none of them resembled the famous Chinese male concubines (which is always a mandatory beauty canon in so-called wuxia and xianxia films). So this series was exciting, interesting, well-made, beautiful and had many other good qualities. Oh well - Wang Li Kun, who played Cao An, was simply gorgeous. And yet - while I usually watch TV series while doing my needlework, or in the evening when I'm a little sleepy before going to bed, and often fast forward out of boredom, I watched this movie with interest. Both the story and the great artistic work... I'm looking forward to the sequel with great interest. And good luck to the makers.