I am not entirely sure how I stumbled upon Who Rules The World (WRTW) except Netflix kept pushing this up on my recommendations list. Additionally, the male lead is extremely good looking (honestly have you seen how symmetrical Yang Yang’s face is?!). Since I’ve never watched a Chinese drama before and costume period fantasy is a favorite genre of mine, I decided to give it a try.

So, what’s it about?

The curtain opens on the fictional DaDong empire, made of six kingdoms tenuously united under the rule of the emperor. This unity is symbolized by the Imperial Token, a significant artifact that has suddenly disappeared, throwing the empire into chaos and uncertainty.

In this tinderbox of squabbling lords. marital art heroes roam the world looking for adventure and helping people. Our protagonists are Hai and Bai Fengxi, partial namesakes who with equal skills and different personalities are pulled into conflict for different reasons. WRTW follows the intertwined destinies of these two martial artists as the struggle for the throne escalates in the aftermath of the stolen seal.

Over the span on forty episodes, we follow the political mayhem in the empire. Alliances are forged and shattered, elder kings pass away, and young, ambitious heirs step into their positions. The current emperor is deemed unfit to rule, leaving two main contenders vying for the throne.

Will it be Prince Langxi, the ingenuous but sickly, unflavored second prince of Yangzhoux? What secrets is he hiding? Or will it be the patient, cold, calculating Huang Cho of Jizhou who is biding his time? And what about the women of the autocratic families, do they just stand by and watch man squabble for power?

The Power Couple

The partnership between Hei & Bai Fengxi is the heart of the show. Raised from childhood in the marital world, they have known each other forever. Hai Fengxi is the black fox, he is known to be wiley, cunning, and untrustworthy. He does no favors and any help comes at a price. He likes the good things in life. Bai Fengxi is charming, empathetic, and free. She roams the wilderness with her martial arts sect, lives a simple life, and is always willing to help the needy.

Despite their different personalities, they deeply care and respect each other and it’s inevitable they will fall in love. What keeps them apart is their ambition. Hei Fengix’s alter ego is Prince Lanxi and he has his eyes on the throne. He is willing to practice all stratagems to make that choice. Bai Fengxi does not like politics and wants to continue to live a free quiet life. The show traverses different aspects of their relationships, from frenemies to lovers, from friends to political partners, from roaming adventurers to responsible leaders. I personally enjoyed this story of equals, a healthy feminist take on what supportive relationships look like.

Zhou Lusi is Bai Fengxi personified. She brings a feminist mix of charm, wit, and ambition to her character, lifting every scene she is in. Yang Yang delivers as the stoic, clever, arrogant young prince; though there are scenes where I fear is more worried about his appearance than acting. Considering he can’t look ugly, he should experiment more with emotions.

Politics & Governance

It took me a while to remember the names of the six kingdoms, respective heirs, and power equations. But as the title indicates, WRTW really is about the final grab for the throne. Through its characters and their choices, it asks important questions of what it means to be a ruler. What it means to maintain peace, and when does the cost of war become to high to justify itself? The series also explores whether there are morally questionable methods to attain power and whether one can choose not to intervene when surrounded by a climate of war.

The show philosophy remains firmly in the autocratic camp and effectiveness of the ruler is judged by good governess with absolute rule.

WRTW genuinely gets better with each episode. The first dozen episodes are hard to get by and even Zhou Lusi’s charm can’t help make sense of the meandering plotlines. Eventually, if you stick through the threads come together and we not only have the main leads to focus on but a whole host of interesting individual characters with distinct motivations and stakes in the power struggle in Dadong Empire.

Langxi’s older brother, Feng Chang, who is in line with the throne, struggles with ambition, jealousy, and a growing realization that he is not meant to lead. The ambitious Princess Hua Chunran knows that she must marry carefully into power because her less capable brothers will never give her the same rights in her kingdom.

Each leader has to repeatedly choose between power, justice, and mercy In case, you are looking for extreme Games of Thrones hijinks, this is not even close, though there is a conniving Cersei Lannister-like queen here.

What Doesn’t Work

Upon its release, WRTW faced criticism for alleged plagiarism from an older show, as well as the perceived lack of chemistry between the leads and unrealistic fight sequences. However, as someone who approached the show without any prior context, I must admit that I was far from disappointed.

The complex political landscape and a slow start make the first twelve episodes quite challenging to navigate. The abundance of characters named Fengxi, mistaken identities, and double identities further contribute to the confusion. The establishment of the power couple dynamic is not quite solidified, and it’s likely that many viewers may consider dropping the show at this point. However, as the plot progresses and tightens around the middle, which takes about twenty episodes, it becomes easier to stay engaged.

One major drawback lies in the performances, which tend to be uneven and mediocre outside the leading cast. Zhou Lusi is brilliant as Bai Fengxi, outshining everyone else on the screen with her acting prowess. While this highlights her talent, it ultimately puts the show at a disadvantage.

As a first-time viewer of Chinese dramas, I lack a reference point, making it difficult for me to recommend WRTW as a must-watch. However, the production quality, fight sequences, and strong feminist characters appealed to me. Ultimately, it was the power couple dynamic between Yang Yang and Zhou Lusi that brought me joy while watching the show.

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