Decoded (解密) Drama Introduction
August 01, 2016This was recently released and has finished airing. After reading the synopsis, i gave it a try and decided to continue on. I like how each 701 member has their own skills and how they work together for the missions. And of course, the main lead is also doing an excellent job so I want to finish the drama. (It's also a happy ending - I skipped forward to check out the ending).
If you like Republican-era series like Disguiser, then you should check this series out!
Synopsis:
The story revolves around autistic mathematical genius Rong Jinzhen and six others Zhai Li, Zhao Qirong, Han Bing, Meng Xiaoyun, Yan Shi, and Pan Shen, who are recruited into the top-secret Chinese agency 701 to decode the unbreakable "Purple Code". Initially unable to join the rest in continuing on to the main branch of 701, Rong gradually proves his ability and deciphers the code.
Cast:
Cheney Chen as Rong Jinzhen
After his mother passed away, he was taken under his uncle's care who is also the principal of the school. Rong is recruited into 701 to decipher the Purple Code but since he is autistic, he faces numerous obstacles before he successfully joins the others in 701.
I personally thinks the actor played the character exceptionally well especially when he is a singer turned actor. The character Rong can be annoying at times when he causes trouble but the actor is able to instigate sympathy by reminding us Rong is autistic so it becomes difficult for us to hate the character. The little actions that Rong does also provides comic relief especially during the training.
Ying Er as Zhai Li
Possessing a photographic memory, Zhai Li joins the team to contribute her special talent to something meaningful. Her other motive in joining 701 is to see her long-time crush 701 instructor An Neng.
I've seen her in Sealed with a Kiss with Hawick Lau and her acting was acceptable, nothing specular though. In this series, she plays a memory genius, which is an interesting character. She bullies Rong in the beginning but that is because she doesn't know he is autistic. She does end up with him in the end from the scenes shown in the opening theme.
Jing Chao as Zhao Qirong
He studies fitness in school and is Rong's only friend. Since he thought Zheng Dang was a job recruiter, he seeks him out and becomes recruited into 701 after realizing he is not a normal job recruiter but a secret agent.
He is also in Death Notify and he looks entirely different here. His character in here is a big change compared to his character in Death Notify as the dopey geek.
Zhang Zhehan as Han Bing
His father was an agent in 701 but unfortunately died on a mission. After Zheng Dang sees his top-notch shooting skills, he was recruited into 701 to avenge his father's death.
I've seen quite a few series with him in it and I like him in this series more than Demon Girl (which is airing at the same time) and Legend of Ban Shu.
Guo Jingfei as Zheng Dang
A crippled man who is a well-trusted official in 701. He recruited Rong, Zhao Qirong, and Han Bing into 701.
Same as Jing Chao, he is also in Death Notify but he plays a similar character --- the wise one.
Yin Xiaotian as An Neng
He is the main instructor of the new 701 members. Tasked with taking care of Rong by Zheng Dang, he treats Rong as if he is his younger brother.
I really love his character so far especially the bromance between him and Rong. (Spoiler: Too bad he dies!)
Bai Qinglin as Lei Ting
The female official in 701 who doesn't see Rong's talent and does everything to prevent him from joining the others moving on to the main branch of 701.
She is despicable but her actions are understandable since Rong does seem incapable of helping out with anything. So can't blame her.
Yu Heng as Meng Xiaoyun
He was a thief before being recruited into 701.
Yang Yi as Yan Shi
Like Rong, she is a mathematical genius, a female equivalent of Rong.
Wang Yanyang as Pan Shen
He is another member of 701 recruited for his smarts.
Ady An as Chen Yu
She hasn't appeared yet in the episodes I've watched up to so can't say much.
My Thoughts:
1. I do like Republican era series, particularly those that revolves around spies and mysteries, such as Agent X, Disguiser, and Detective Tanglang.
2. I haven't seen a series where the main lead is autistic so concept is new for me. The actor plays the character very well so it is another draw for this series.
3. The bromance --- how Zhao Qirong and An Neng would look out for Rong.
4. I like plot that stresses teamwork and each character contributes a special ability to a plan like in Strange Heroes Yi Zhi Mei.
5. My favorite parts so far - when Rong was being trained and he went in circles during one part of the fitness training, when Rong doesn't wash his red stinky undies and Zhao Qirong gets angry, when everyone was doing a physical test and had to look for Rong but he was actually taking a nap, when the whole team was "captured" and had to work together to save themselves. As you may noticed, most of the parts I remembered had Rong in them - I definitely like his character a lot.
Music:
Opening Theme: Light Hope(?) (微芒) by Cao Yang
2 comments
Am totally in love with the singer of the theme song of Decoded... please advise if any sites to see who singer is?
ReplyDeleteSorry for the super late response! But here is a link to the theme song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYlpHfbeq7s
DeleteThe singer's name is Cao Yang and name of the song is Decoded (same as the title) :)