Moving away from the righteous heroes of the Wuxia sagas or the Xianxia tales, which blend a fantastical world of valor, power struggle, and even romance, we find a unique Chinese drama “Faithful.” An adaptation of Li Bo Jian’s novel, “Faithful” tells the story of Lady Meng Wan (Wu Qian), who waits seven long years to plot her revenge on those who had led her friend Lin Ru Lan (Hu Yi Xuan) to take her own life. The man in question is the well-respected master Wu Lian (Qiao Zhen Yu) of the prestigious finishing school academy attended by young maidens. Wu Lian is not what he seems—he sweet-talks and often takes advantage of the very girls who look up to him. But when Ru Lan accuses him of violating her, it is she who is shamed and victimized and takes the drastic step.
Meng Wan takes it upon herself to not only avenge her friend but to also bring justice to the many who have been coerced and abused. Her plan includes gathering nine people who can help her in her pursuit to exact retribution for all the women who have been abused and shamed. Here are three reasons why “Faithful” deserves to be on your watch list.
Warning: Mentions of sexual assault
A stirring and poignant narrative
Over the past few years as the “Me Too” movement gathered momentum, it also brought to the fore how sexual harassment, victim shaming, and gaslighting find their roots in the social-cultural fabric of many societies. “Faithful” is a period drama that moves away from folklore, fantasy, palace intrigue, and rebellion as well romance. Often these types of stories range from fantastical tales and love stories between royalty and commoners as well as between humans and supernatural beings.
But “Faithful” marks a departure from the usual. It is about a power play between genders, how in medieval societies women were meant be seen but not heard. Sexual harassment, abuse, and coercion existed, but the voices of the victims were often silenced. The fear of being shamed and bringing dishonor to their families and societies lead the women to either bear the assault or take drastic steps to end their suffering.
The perpetrator is usually a person known, and in this case, it’s Wu Lian, the man who runs the prestigious Yanyu Tower, a classy embroidery academy. It is a sort of a finishing school to prepare women for their life ahead, in this case marriage into wealthy families. Well aware that he is idolized by the many young girls, he takes advantage of anyone who catches his fancy. He forces himself and sexually assaults them, while they silently go through the torment that’s being inflicted on them. When Ru Lan accuses Wu Lian of coercion and assault, a smear campaign is launched against her—not only by the school, but the constabulary and courts as well. Helpless and lost, she takes the tragic step to end her life. Meng Wan, who had also been a victim of Wu Lian’s lust, finds out it is not just her but several girls in school as well who have been inflicted by his abuse. She awaits seven years, a concubine and then second wife to a widower, and positions herself strategically in high society. Her sole agenda is to bring down the man who raped her friend. The many who come to help her are those who either have a grudge against him or have been complicit in the same.
“Faithful” makes a powerful statement on how sexual harassment, force, gaslighting, and the persecution of women only lead to them being vilified by society, not only in the past but the present as well. The drama can be triggering in its raw portrayal of the atrocities inflicted and how women are dissuaded to stand up for themselves.
A strong female lead
Meng Wan exemplifies the face of courage as she decides to bring down the powerful Wu Lian through carefully plotted revenge. “Seven years in seclusion, aspiration never forgotten” is Meng Wan’s oath to avenge Ru Lan’s death and bring justice to all those who have suffered. Meng Wan transforms from a naive and gullible young girl to a calculating and hardened woman who is consumed by revenge. She showcases courage under fire, well aware that the path she is walking on is strewn with challenges and hurdles. Meng Wan is conscious that she lives in a time where women are subjugated and exploited, and the voices of the meek and poor are drowned by the force and power of the rich and influential.
In her pursuit to break down and slam the patriarchy, she also questions how women are conditioned to take whatever comes their way. She also chides her gender for not standing up for each other. “Faithful” is a testament to the ongoing fight that women in the present day continue to battle, and Wu Qian gets the tone of her character right and gives an awesome performance.
“Speak your truth”
Women empowering women is something that’s constantly stressed, but very often it’s your own gender that disempowers you. As Ru Lan is told to keep quiet about the atrocities committed on her, she is also slut-shamed, and her moral character is dissected by not the men but the girls in school with her.
It often stems from conditioning as well as jealousy and power play to appease those in power. The matron of the school is a lady who is complicit in Wu Lian’s misdeeds. Though well aware of what happens behind closed doors, she chooses to turn the other way. Meng Wan, who herself has been abused by Wu Lian, thinks nothing of it, mistaking it for interest and attention, until she sees another friend being coerced by him. It is Ru Lan’s death which becomes a catalyst as Meng Wan, wracked by guilt, becomes determined to speak the truth. She also tries to tell the women that if they don’t stand up for each other, no one will. “Faithful,” though set in medieval times, highlights a serious topic, and through Meng Wan, it motivates women to stand for their truth and for each other.
Start watching “Faithful”:
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Those in Southeast Asia can watch here!
Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yang Yang and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.
Currently watching: “Twinkling Watermelon.”
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