The Chinese historical romance drama Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) has become a global hit since its March 6 premiere on Netflix, iQIYI, and Tencent Video. While viewers are loving the chemistry between stars Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, sharp-eyed fans have discovered something else entirely—a collection of production slip-ups that are now going viral across social media.
From a cameraman hiding in the background to a modern gas stove appearing in ancient times, these blunders have turned the serious period drama into a treasure hunt for mistakes. Instead of ruining the show, these moments have given fans something extra to laugh about while they follow the story of a butcher’s daughter and a fallen noble caught in a marriage of convenience.
Cameraman Spotted in Episode 8 Scene
Episode eight features a quiet conversation between Fan Changyu (Tian Xiwei) and her neighbor Mrs. Zhao (Liu Lin) outside Changyu’s home. The scene is meant to feel intimate, lit only by candles. But viewers noticed something odd in the background.
Sitting inside the house, clearly visible through the doorway, is a man wearing glasses. His face is brightly lit by what appears to be a camera monitor. Fans quickly identified him as a crew member—likely the director or a cameraman—who somehow made it into the final cut.
Social media users had plenty to say about the unexpected appearance. One viewer joked, “Why is his face so bright?” Another asked, “Did he time travel to the set?” A third simply wondered, “How is it that no one noticed him?”
The mistake became so talked about that streaming platforms handled it differently. Netflix still shows the cameraman in the episode as of March 2026. But on iQIYI, the crew member has been digitally removed from the same scene.
Modern Gas Stove Appears in Ancient Setting
If a cameraman in a period drama was not enough, episode ten delivered another head-scratching moment. Changyu sets up a braised pork stall outside an inn run by her friend Yu Qianqian (Snow Kong). Behind the counter, under a steaming pot, sits a modern gas stove with visible blue flames.
This is not a one-time mistake. The same gas stove shows up again in episode twelve. Yan Zheng (Zhang Linghe) helps at the stall while women fight to get his attention, and there it is again—a modern appliance in ancient China.
Fans found the error hilarious. One commenter on Weibo joked that the character must have “invented” the gas stove centuries early. Others shared screenshots across platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, where the images quickly spread.
Paparazzi and CGI Water Failures
Episode eighteen brought more unexpected surprises. Xie Zheng (now using his real name) searches for Changyu after hearing her town was attacked. In one scene, as Xie Zheng and his men arrive at the bottom of a cliff, a man in a white T-shirt appears at the top of the cliff in the background. He is holding a camera and seems to be hiding.
Fans recognized him as a “dai pai”—a paparazzi member known for sneaking onto drama sets to photograph celebrities during filming. Somehow, this unauthorized photographer ended up visible in the final episode.
Then came episode twenty-three. The scene shows Xie Zheng’s team breaking a dam to flood an enemy’s manor. Water crashes into the property in what is clearly CGI. But one servant in the scene runs straight toward the rushing water instead of away from it. Viewers questioned why anyone would run into a flood.
Awkward Extra Moments Add to the Fun
Beyond production errors, fans have also spotted extras doing strange things on screen. In episode eighteen, a villager playing a dead body keeps his eyes open and looks directly at the camera. Only when the focus moves to another fallen villager does he finally close his eyes.
Episode twenty-two gave viewers another funny extra moment. During a meal scene with characters Changyu befriended earlier, an extra sits holding a bun. He repeatedly brings it to his mouth but never actually takes a bite. He pretends to eat over and over while the main action happens around him.
Fans shared these moments widely, turning them into memes and joke posts. One fan wrote, “This man deserves an award for acting like he’s eating when he’s clearly not.”
Show Still Dominates Despite Bloopers
All these slip-ups have not hurt Pursuit of Jade’s popularity. The show reached viewers in 191 countries and regions within its first week. It topped Google Trends for Chinese dramas in 15 markets including Thailand, the US, Canada, Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore.
On iQIYI International, the series ranked No. 1 on the “TOP 10 Chinese Language Dramas Weekly Chart” in its debut week. On MyDramaList, it opened with a 9.0 rating and climbed to 9.1—the highest debut score for a Chinese drama on the platform in two years.
Viewership numbers are strong across all platforms. Reports show the drama achieved a total weekly viewership of 750 million views across all platforms in China. On Netflix, the series has stayed among the top five shows in Singapore since March 8.
Cast Chemistry Keeps Viewers Watching
While the production errors have given fans something to laugh about, the main reason people keep watching is the cast. Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei have received praise for their on-screen connection. Their characters’ slow-burn romance from a fake marriage to real feelings has hooked audiences.
The second lead couple, played by Deng Kai and Snow Kong, has also gained attention. Their intense and painful love story as Qi Min and Yu Qianqian has become a fan favorite. International viewers in Southeast Asia and Latin America have responded strongly to their emotional scenes.
At an offline event on March 11, Deng Kai and Snow Kong recreated one of their dramatic scenes. Once cameras stopped, both actors appeared shy—Deng Kai held his chest with a flushed face while Snow Kong looked down smiling. Fans loved the contrast between their intense acting and their real-life shyness. Videos of the moment spread quickly on TikTok and other platforms.
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Streaming Details for Global Audiences
Pursuit of Jade is currently streaming on multiple platforms worldwide. Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India can watch the series on Netflix with 14 subtitle language options and five dubbing choices. The show is also available on iQIYI International and Tencent Video (WeTV) across most regions.
New episodes continue to release according to each platform’s schedule. The series has 40 episodes total, with the finale expected in early April 2026.
The production team has not publicly commented on the bloopers that have gone viral. But some platforms have already started making fixes. As fans noticed, the cameraman scene was edited out on iQIYI while remaining on Netflix. Whether other errors will be corrected in future edits remains unclear.
For now, viewers are enjoying the show on two levels—following the romantic story while keeping their eyes open for the next mistake.
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