Warriors of the Yang Clan

Cast:
Yang Ye: Di Long
Shu Sai Hua: Angie Zhao Ya Zhi
Yang Se Lang: Alec Su You Peng
Pan Yu Yan: Chae Rim
Yang Qi Lang: Yan Kuan
Ming Qi: Hu Jun
Mao Xiao Ying: Rebecca Wang Yan

Ever since I came to know about the different dynasties of China, Song has been my all-time favorite. When I watched the "Heroic Legend of the Yang Family" and "The Great General" (ATV) back in 1996, this was enhanced further. That is why when I heard that there will be a new series about the Yangs, I told myself that this is a must-see, especially if the cast includes the awesome Alec and the lovely Chae Rim, not to mention the Snake Goddess Angie Zhao Ya Zhi and the ever-so-adorable Rebecca Wang Yan! However, after watching said series, my point of view had changed.

The Plot:

The plot is the honest-to-goodness story about the Yang family and their undying loyalty to the country and its useless and selfish emperor. As always, the father, General Yang, is blinded by his loyalty that he is way too strict and wooden with regards to his treatment towards his sons and the mother, Sai Hua, being the only one who stands up for her children. In this serial, the family has seven children, all male. Each son was given their role but the majority of the story revolved around the fourth son, Alec Su, who is the rebel type because he is the one being scolded the most as he has his own ideologies. The story goes on as the family faces the war and one by one, the members faltered. I don't think that I should tackle much regarding the storyline as I believe that those who have read the real story of the Yangs will have more story knowledge than I.

The Cast:

Yang Ye (Di Long)
Ooh I dislike this character quite much! He feels that he's the best General of all ages! He is so involved in his greatness that he forgot how to become a good father. Di Long also did not do a good job here as he bored me in every scene for all he ever does is mumble and get mad at his sons and talk about how they should be a good general and citizen for the sake of the country. He was just lucky that I was able to bear watching his scenes because of Shu Sai Hua! I also hated how he committed suicide thinking that that way, he will die in honour. How pathetic! I can't help but remember what a lousy emperor he was in "Huan Zhu GeGe 3" and how he didn't fit in like a great Yang general because I tend to compare him to the gorgeous Norman Tsui of "The Heroic legend of the Yangs", from 1995 ATV. I am a great fan of that, my apologies.

Shu Sai Hua (Zhao AY Zhi)
This woman is the ideal mother! She is not too soft yet not too harsh! I have to say that if not for her, the family will all be in turmoil! Angie also did a great job here! Although she did look older than in the "Legend of White Snake", I like her better here than as the powerful yet weak goddess.

Yang Se Lang (Alec Su)
Alec Alec Alec. One fabulous actor! I can't seem to figure out why he accepted such a lousy role as this one! All he ever did was to feel sour because of his father and sober over his forbidden love to Yu Yan! Boring boring boring! I would rather prefer that he be Liu Lang (the sixth son) even though he was the goody-too-cious! At least his scenes won't be as redundant as to have nothing better to do than to profess his mushy love to Yu Yan! It was not until the last few episodes that Alec's character was brought back to life when he was putting up a mask as to how he treats the Liao Princess! Now that's the real Alec! If not, this role would be a major step down for this major star!

Pan Yu Yan (Chae Rim)
Another disappointment! Her role is just a repetition of the character in "Agean Sea", even worse! At least in "Agean Sea", her scenes with Peter Ho were fun to watch. Yu Yan's character was the martyr-for-love role, which I am really not fond of! Very unrealistic! It was way too much! I expected much of Chae Rim because she proved to be a good actress in "All About Eve" and "Four Sisters"! She is too good to have just such a blank role!

Yang Qi Lang (Yan Kuan)
This character was one of the few reasons why I continued watching this serial. Although not as handsome (is it me or does he really have a resemblance with the Korean actor Jung Tae Wu of "Nonstop 3"?) Yan Kuan did a very good job as the baby of the Yangs. Naughty but sincere! I love his scenes with Yang Tsu Tsu and San Lang! Frankly, these were my favorite scenes in the entire show, anything that has Qi Lang, San Lang Tsu Tsu in! I hope to see more of him in the future!

Ming Qi (Hu Jun)
I thought that this character would be the most interesting but my mistake. She turned out to be stiff and unnatural! No acting talent! I can't seem to be moved by her performance! And I hated it when she fools herself thinking Se Lang will eventually love her because I hate her smile and her crying! It just gives me the goosebumps!

Mao Xiao Ying (Rebecca Wang Yan)
Although considered as just a cameo or a special appearance, she did a rather swell job in this one! Cute and funny, just as I expected! It was too bad she had too little screentime.

Other Characters:
Yang San Lang
I don't know the name of the actor who portrayed this character but I must admit that he was a good one! He fits his role well as the mega-good boy who, because of his goodness, started to become funny. Even with his crazy battle outfit, he looked hilarious! Among the Yangs, he was my favorite!

Yang Wu Lang
Irrelevant role! At first, he seemed to have been given an important role when he left the monk to be with his family again. But later, the spy Yi Yun stole the screen and left him at the corner with no importance.

Yang Liu Lang
This was one lucky fellow! He was the luckiest amongst the brothers because he was the one who suffered the least for he was able to return safely. Or in that case, the unluckiest one because the one being left behind suffers the most! His acting was average but he was lucky enough to be given a fair share of screen time when most of his brothers died.

Yang Ta Lang and Yang Er Lang
Extras just to have the complete family!

Yang Tsu Tsu
It was my first time seeing her but I must admit that she was a natural! Two thumbs up to this girl! I don't mind how her character ended because it happened with grace!

Pan Ren Mei and Pan Pao
I must say that I can feel for Pan Pao's character more than Pan Ren Mei's because there's still some goodness left with Pan Pao but not with Pan Ren Mei. Pan Pao truly loved his sister and Tsu Tsu, he was just too used to his evil ways that he caused Tsu Tsu's death!

Kuan Dao
The cool judge who reminded me of Roger Kwok, Cheng Shi Fei, in "World Heroes Finest"! Bravo to this cameo actor!

I Love:
-The triangle between Tsu Tsu, San Lang and Qi Lang. I love how Qi Lang tries to hide his feelings towards Tsu Tsu because Sang Lang likes her! I also love how Tsu Tsu was willing to sacrifice everything for Qi Lang! She has a way of doing it without pissing me off!
- San Lang and Xiao Ying's scenes, especially the wedding where Xiao Ying released San Lang because he is too rude and wooden but she cries while doing it!
-The death of the brothers especially Qi Lang and San Lang! They were like The Mighty wherein one became the eyes of the other one and the other became the body! Great scene!
-Shu Sai Hua's character!

I Hate:
-Mushy and repetitive romantic scenes of Se Lang ang Yu Yan
-All the boring conversations in the palace. I extremely hate the stupid emperor!
-The Liao Princess' character!

Overall, I would give this series a 3. If not for Qi Lang, San Lang, Tsu Tsu, Xiao Ying and Sai Hua, and Se Lang's new character, it would have been a 2! I didn't like the theme songs either. The music is too ordinary and it was played only a couple of times. Music adds a feel to a show. It should be good and it should be played more often especially during beautiful moments!

Additional Information:
It was said that there were 2 versions of this series. The first version was that Se Lang will die and the second version was that Se Lang lives. The one I watched was the second version. I believe it is more advisable to watch the first one as it is the complete version! I also realized during parts where there are flashbacks that they cut a number of scenes, and I was disappointed because numerous Tsu Tsu-Qi Lang-San Lang scenes were cut!