‘The Story of Pearl Girl’ Netflix Series Review - Ships and Sharks

The Story of Pearl Girl (aka, Zhu Lian Yu Mu) will work for you if you have an appetite for soapy dramas. This is the kind of show where someone mentions that he has a pearl that has been treasured for three generations, and the people in the background start whispering the same information to each other. When Lady Eight (Tu Ling) forces Duanwu (Lusi Zhao) to get on a boat, the scene is stretched for so long that it becomes unintentionally humorous. The characters waste so much time crying, and Duanwu requests Lady Eight to come with her for what feels like an eternity. On top of all this, sentimental shots are used to make the moment melodramatic. In the end, you only think that Lady Eight should have just accepted Duanwu's offer to save herself and us from torture. In another scene, Duanwu impresses the spectators at the pearl auction through her performance. At first, she fumbles. Then she notices a musical instrument, remembers a past incident, and starts dancing like a professional. I chuckled because of the creative license the show flaunts through this moment. In some future episode, Duanwu could say, come across a physical obstacle, remember a past incident, and then do a somersault to cross the barrier. Anything is possible.

The Story of Pearl Girl isn't unified by a tone or a vision. It simply jumps from one event to another. As soon as a scene ends, it feels insignificant. Its emotions aren't carried over to the next, or some other, moment. This removes a sense of urgency from the show. Nothing feels consequential. The pitch is so loud that everything looks exaggerated. The scene where the value of a pearl is raised through wild fabrications isn't funny or tense enough. It seems loose - there is no rhythm. The five episodes, currently available on Netflix, fail to render the story intriguing, and interesting. There is nothing worth spending time on. The bad guys are all cartoons, while the good characters act like martyrs. Liu Yuning, as Master Yang, isn't allowed to have much fun with his role. The Story of Pearl Girl makes him dull with all those refined gestures. Yuning is still bearable; Tang Xiao Tian, as Mr. Zhang, is a bore to watch. He suffers more due to his refined gestures, which come across as artificial. All those cartoon villains look better than this bland poet.

The actors in The Story of Pearl Girl pose in their costumes. You are always aware that you are watching people in outfits regurgitating lines from the script's pages. Even after a fight or manual labor, the characters show no signs of sweat or dirt. Master Yang, we are told, prefers cleanliness, and the series adheres to his standards. Every frame is spit-and-polished, which also means there is no real texture. The Story of Pearl Girl is designed for viewers who enjoy looking at pretty scenes without needing to engage their minds too much. Additionally, there is a character named Loud, whose voice is barely audible. Do you enjoy such jokes? If so, then this series is for you.

Final Score- [3/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times