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Mandarin title : Su Dongpo/苏东坡 # Episode : 44 Genre : Historical, biographical Director : Wang Wenjie Release date : May 16, 2012 Broadcasting Compan y: Various Cast: Lu Yi as Su Shi/Su Dongpo, Lu Yi as Su Shi/Su Dongpo, Ruby Lin as Wang Fu, He Wei as Wang Anshi, Han Yuqin as Wang Runzhi, Niu Piao as Su Xun, Liu Wenzhi as Sima Guang, Song Haolin as Su Zhe, Shen Junyi as Fan Zhen, Wang Xiaochen as Wang Zhaoyun, Wang Shihuai as Ouyang Xiu

Middle Photo: Director Wang Wenjie giving feedback on Su Dongpo's old age makeup When I watch a biographical drama, I think it's fun to see how the main character ages over the course of his/her entire life. In most dramas, the time jump, if any, only spans two different time periods and usually involves no more than 10 years. So we usually get to see the styling of the character for only two different stages. Since Su Dongpo is a bio-epic, we'll get to see the gradual transformation of the character over a period of 40 years. The actor, Lu Yi, who plays Su Dongpo, was only 31 years old at the time of shooting (he's currently 36 years old), but his character will be 66 years old by the end of this drama.

When I first watched this trailer, I fell in love with the scene where Su Dongpo dreamt about his first wife, Wang Fu, and his subsequent recitation of the famous "Jiang Cheng Zi" poem which he composed in her memory (previously mentioned in an earlier post here ). I just love the instrumental piece that accompanies the poem recitation scene. The atmosphere, music, vibe, and feel of the entire scene is like it ought to be.

If I have to name a TV drama that I waited the longest time for its release,  the "honor" would undoubtedly go to this biographical adaptation of a famous Song Dynasty poet/statesman Su Dongpo (penname) or Su Shi (personal name). The historical series will trace 60 years of Su Shi's life, from a youthful lad traveling to the Song Dynasty's capital to take the civil service examination with his younger brother to his death. Lu Yi (Zhuge Liang in the new Three Kingdoms) will play Su Shi and Ruby Lin will star as his first wife, Wang Fu.