*Note: This review is based on the first two episodes of the series
Should you follow the series? Yes.
Score: 3.0/5
Number of episodes: 35
Episode length: ~40 minutes
“Go Princess Go (太子妃升职记)” is a Chinese comedy-drama about a modern day playboy who is transported 1,000 years in the past into the body of a crown princess, Zhang Peng Peng. He/she quickly makes use of a male mind in a female body to get away with numerous hijinks. It stars Crystal Zhang (Zhang Peng Peng), Peter Sheng (Qi Sheng), Alan Yu (Ninth Prince), Jiang Qi Lin (Zhao Wang), Fiction Guo (Yang Yan), Karina Hai (Lu Li), An Yong Chang (Jiang Ying Yue), Peng Yu Chang (Jiang Gong Gong), and Chen Shi (Empress Dowager).
“Go Princess Go (太子妃升职记)” is unlike many, if any, Chinese productions out there. It understands its own strengths (the boundaries crossed) and weaknesses (odd props and sets), and uses them to its fullest effect. It has its own quirky brand of comedy which might be unfamiliar, but grows on you quickly. But most amazing of all are the envelopes it pushes, exploring issues that are sometimes taboo even in today’s context.
Highlights
Gender jokes
With a man’s mind in the body of Zhang Peng Peng (Crystal Zhang), misunderstandings of the male and female variety are bound to happen. While the rest of the characters are bewildered by Zhang Peng Peng’s occasionally strange actions, as the audience we understand that it’s due to the machinations of the lecherous male mind that’s inside the crown princess’ body. Her discovery of the requirements of the female body are also played for laughs, especially when she has to make do with the methods of a period (in every sense of the word) setting.
Incongruous elements played for laughs
There are so many anachronisms in the show, from the way the characters speak and behave (did the ancient Chinese really have cheerleaders when princes had drinking competitions?) to the strangely contemporary costumes that, at times, almost seem like modern shirts and blouses. Then there are the special effects, like the wind machine that has only one setting, which is the hurricane mode. But these oddities are all used to humourous effect, giving a refreshing take on Chinese comedy.
And what’s up with the giant black ear stud in Qi Sheng’s (Peter Sheng) ear? It’s comically huge and ornate, and never fails to draw a laugh whenever there is a close-up.
Karina Hai steals the show as Lu Li
Zhang Peng Peng’s enthusiastic and energetic maid is a delight to watch, as she leaps into every task with gusto. She doesn’t overplay the cutesy angle, and proves to be resourceful and fairly… liberal. Her bubbliness as a real woman (as opposed to a man’s mind in a woman’s body) adds a feminine touch to the drama.
Letdowns
Too many fart and poop jokes
By the second episode, the fart and poop jokes have worn thin. This is partly the result of gender comedy, where Zhang Peng Peng’s mishaps with the toilet find her repeatedly in the loo with various characters. But it’s not just Zhang Peng Peng’s misaligned expectations that result in poop jokes, as there’s often a character farting every half hour.
Peter Sheng is too stiff
Perhaps it’s due to the uppity, hyper serious character he plays, but it seems like his face is perpetually stuck in a deadpan mode. Even fantasy scenes which would require him to go over the top see him giving only the barest of expressions. It’d be interesting to see how he handles the more emotional scenes later in the series.
“Go Princess Go (太子妃升职记)” is a modern comedy that promises to get wackier as the series unfolds.
“Go Princess Go (太子妃升职记)” premieres on 16 May, 2016 (Monday) at 10pm, on cHK (Singtel Channel 510). It will air every Monday at 10pm thereafter.
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