New ship? ... I think I have a new ship

[cashew]

✅Tang Dynasty

✅Mystery

✅Military-Civil officials partnership

✅No romance

Although there's an age gap, because the co-leads are not written as a romantic couple they have a surprisingly equal relationship. A lot of bickering and grudging respect going on. And I am all for that. Thankfully, it seems the supernatural aspects of the mysteries are mostly caused by hallucinogens and not actual supernatural stuff. Meanwhile, a lot of criminal abuse of superstitions, which...well, given this is the 600-700s CE, so very appropriate.

Am only on episode 2 of the show but already sold on the partners. (I hear there's some kind of het romance that comes up later, but the main focus is the mystery, the romance just kinda dangles in the background.) Seeing as the show was popular enough that it got a second season, I'm super hopeful this is not going to disappoint. On top of everything else, the original novel was written in "faux encyclopedia" format, so the characters are all originally written for the show and so far I'm quite liking them. The language is a bit rough, the switch from archaic written grammar to modern vernacular is a bit jarring. But honestly, it's still making enough of an attempt to be "old" sounding that I'm willing to put up with it.

English subs of the first season is on YouTube.

Crossing fingers this does not disappoint! 🤞