Legend of Zang Hai (2025) Final Thoughts
Some minor spoilers… Some general comments about the final mastermind.
Within the Zang Hai universe there are a series of puzzles that get solved. Further to that, no puzzle regardless of how intricate is more important than the identity of the so-called third man — the third member of the Gui seal conspiracy. Third not in terms of importance but sequence. Red herrings are strewn about before the big reveal which are part of his larger strategy. By that time the list of suspects narrow considerably and the viewer’s suspicions are already aroused. The immediate reaction when his identity is finally confirmed is to think his identity less important than his agenda but that’s actually not the case. In fact I would say that his identity is crucial to understanding everything because he is a man who has hidden himself under old school respectability in plain sight. His obsession with power not only runs deep but has a long history. It begins early but patience is a virtue that guides him through many setbacks. So much makes more sense when the pass-the-parcel game with the Gui seal comes into play.
Without revealing too much about the Big Bad third man’s identity, it should be said that he turns out to be a self-styled messianic figure. One suspects that he has to frame himself as a saviour type figure in order to justify or mask his power hungry impulses from those closest to him. True he has a history of saving people but it turns out that his true (devious) agenda is to make them indebted to him so that they do his bidding in unquestioning fashion. Though diabolically intelligent, the third man is diminished by the fact that his victimhood status is in large part what drives him to deceive and manipulate.
Like Tolkien’s One Ring, the Gui seal is an unwieldy source of power. Buyer’s remorse afflicts all concerned with it which is why there’s a history of people hiding it and dying to ensure no bad actors get their hands on it. The people of Dongxia thought they had found the magic wand (so to speak) to turn things in their favour during decisive battle. Instead they unleashed pandora’s box and activated a doomsday device. It never ends well for anyone including the one with the keys. In Lord of the Rings, there are those who think that possessing the ring means that they can do good with it except that they invariably become corrupted by it.
Weak leadership seems to be a breeding ground for these types of unsavoury characters to run amok. In a real enough way the emperor isn’t the right man for the job. He suffers from not having strong political backing. He didn’t really want the job either. He would have rather spent his days quietly in his workshop carving our deers and miniatures than dealing with corrupt and ambitious bureaucrats.
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that just as The Prisoner of Beauty is about forgiveness, the Legend of Zang Hai is about fathers or as it is the case of our titular lead, fatherlessness. Perhaps all of Zang Hai’s issues stem from losing his father before reaching adulthood. One of my favourite aspects of this show is watching flashbacks of young Zhinu with his dad, Kuai Duo during teachable moments. (A genuine pleasure seeing the charismatic Wallace Chung after so long) Whether it’s about astronomy, feng shui, plant life, woodworking or just being a responsible human being, his busy father was actively involved in his education. Even with all the temptations offered to him to stray from the straight and narrow, Zang Hai never stops being Kuai Duo’s son. Nor does he forget his mission to seek vengeance. Often one feels the presence of Kuai Duo as Zhinu journeys through his own schemes and battles the machinations of others. In a sense he does living in the memories of his son. Kuai Duo is the moral compass that keeps the lad on task and on track despite the dubious influence of others. Children whose fathers are absent are open to all kinds of influences and there would be those scrambling to take advantage of their loss. It’s not just Zhinu but Zhuang Luyin who lost his father’s affection long before he lost his mother.
The final Dongxia arc I could have done without except it is obviously the means of reuniting Zang Hai with Zhuang Zhixing, I imagine. The narrative aims to go full circle — to the place where it all began although the resolution does feel anticlimactic I’m of two minds about the final arc except that it does reinforce the thesis about fathers and sons. Zhuang Zhixing achieves his promise to his father to revive the family’s reputation but is Zang Hai’s later intervention in his life enough to keep him honest from here on in? That’s a question for another season perhaps.
The biggest surprise to my mind is Xiang Antu. From having doubts about how she’s written as a love interest to appreciating what she becomes to Zang Hai. Better than just someone for him to love, she’s his confidante during his lowest. Responding to his assurance that she’s now family, she more than lives up to his commitment to her. After a rocky start and middle, what emerges is a trust forged by fire. Loss and grief are great equalizers especially between a commoner and a former princess. Zhang Jiying is a bright competent young performer. I’m eager to see how she does in Reborn.
At a time where we’re tech reliant and AI is gaining plenty of traction as the new big thing, it’s a breath of fresh air to see such a strong emphasis on age old traditions of handmade/ handcrafted objects. Even the emperor spends his time whittling away blocks of wood in his free time. The idea of passing down time-honoured artisanal skills certainly has appeal in an age of social media and mass production. It isn’t just nostalgia. There is something sublimely invigorating about using one’s own hands to make something… regardless of the result.
Xiao Zhan makes the role his own giving a multifaceted performance. His Zang Hai feels fresh, youthful and occasionally sagacious. In unguarded moments his vulnerability shines through. When his defences are up, he is affable and yet stoic. From time to time Xiao Zhan reminds us that he is a young man barely out of boyhood carrying the weight of world on his weary shoulders. While Zang Hai is a a better than average psychologist, and have witnessed the worst in men, he’s still a wide eyed child in some respects. There’s a sweetness that can’t be manufactured and it’s what Xiao Zhan brings to the table.
Given the quality of C dramas that I’ve been privy to lately, there’s little doubt that though not perfect, the Legend of Zang Hai will be one of the year’s best C dramas. If not the best simply because it does a lot right at the script level in terms of plotting. Most C dramas pretty much fall down at the most fundamental level eventually. (Although what ends up on the cutting room floor is always worth thinking about) Where this show really excels is in the world building. There are plenty of fascinating details as evidenced by the consistent way technical information is presented throughout the narrative. It seldom feelings like padding but rather adds to the believability and urgency of Zang Hai’s trek towards the truth.
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