The Legend of Zu 《蜀山战纪之剑侠传奇》 - William Chan, Zhao Liying, Nicky Wu

[Du Zhuang]

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[Du Zhuang]

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[Du Zhuang]

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[Du Zhuang]

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[Du Zhuang]

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[Miaka FY]

When is airing I would watch it but the story isn't captivated me now hm. Li Ying act two characters in this serie? They really promote William a lot don't you think? I saw him in 3 series already and seem he got many other roles. The filming place isn't the same like Gu Jian Qi Tan and the CGI is also the same. I like the old Ding Da Ling hair style than the present one lol

[lenje]

Saw this picture of their presscon in Kaptain A's blog -- the chemistry is off the chart! There's a gif too where he was fixing her mic, and my heart just flutters . Can hardly wait!

Photo credit: A Virtual Voyage blog.

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The pic is a little too big. Any tip how to scale it down here? Anyway, like the third trailer, as the colors are not too highly saturated like the first one

[charbydis]

Andy Hui & Zanilia's song

[charbydis]

Nicky's Main Themesong MV



I actually dislike the loud background sound effects to this MV, which is louder than Nicky's voice.

[lenje]

Here's the video from the Happy Camp edition with the main cast, together with Jimmy Lin, Gao Yuan Yuan, and JJ Lin

[MrWErD]

Wasn't this TV series based on a book novel or did I get it mixed up with something else?

[NuDaFu]

Wasn't this TV series based on a book novel or did I get it mixed up with something else?

'Zu Mountain Swordsman Legend' is an unfinished fantasy Wuxia novel written by Chinese novelist Li Xian Ji (pen name Huai Zhu Lou Zhu). The novel includes a prequel, main, spin-off, and a sequel; consisting over 500 thousand characters. The writing time spanned from 1930 to 1948, and left unfinished.

Source: Translated important bits from https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%9C...BE%A0%E4%BC%A0

I would say it was first made popular in the media by Tsui Hark's screen adaptation in 1983, starring Brigitte Lin and Adam Cheng. There was some serious chemistry going on between Brigitte and Adam's characters, despite little screen time together. Enough to use their relationship as one of the driving points in a later sequel, starring Ekin Cheng and Cecilia Cheung.

Sammo Hung seems to perpetually play the 'Long Brow Daoist'. Even in the little known Taiwan adaptation starring Steven Ma and Vivien Chen.

I'm used to seeing Ding Yin paired with the Yao Chi leader. It's a rather odd little relationship. Ding Yin pairs with a member from the evil sect this time. I'm intrigued with this hinted double crossing played by ZLY's Yu Wu Xin, so I take the change as refreshing.

ZLY's smirky evil looks look pretty good. I imagine she is relishing not having to play the cutesy. A great choice in line up and timing (not that that was in ZLY's control), because it showcases her repertoire in performance skill.

Can't wait to see Nicky Wu as a bad guy. He has the charisma to play Lu Pao.

[lilyla19]

I think Nicky Wu really fit the looks of a evil guy. Love his looks, coolness and very manly!

[NuDaFu]

The series is already playing. What the? I thought it wasn't going to be broadcasted until 2016.

While it hasn't been uploaded to Youtube yet, Dailymotion already has some episodes. Seems legit.

[wuxiarocks]

The series is already playing. What the? I thought it wasn't going to be broadcasted until 2016.

While it hasn't been uploaded to Youtube yet, Dailymotion already has some episodes. Seems legit.

Actually, this aired online at iQiyi since September. Next year it'll be on TV. Episodes were up on Youtube a while back. I caught a few ep, thought it was underwhelming.

[charbydis]

The series is already playing. What the? I thought it wasn't going to be broadcasted until 2016.

While it hasn't been uploaded to Youtube yet, Dailymotion already has some episodes. Seems legit.

Iqiyi has paid for the rights to the premiere, so no other sites or TV are allowed to broadcast it unless it has finished. It will finished early next year and then I think ? Anhui will be broadcasting it. I have watched under 30 eps so far but I don't find it interesting. Nicky looks great but the story is kind of cliched and the costumes strange. And 60 eps is too much.

[NuDaFu]

I'm quite liking the series so far. If only for some really engaging emotional performances. I'm probably in the mood for angst, and this series really digs the angst.

For most Wuxia's there are 3 main subplots: the overall politics in the Wuxia world, the hero's personal journey,, and the hero's romance. Interestingly in Zu Mountain, there seems to be an unusual emphasis on family in order to explore the theme of loyalty.

The agency behind Wuxia politics is usually a mystery. While there is no overt and central mystery, there are major figures manipulating each other. It's obvious that Zhu Ge Zheng Wo is one of the players, but it's vague who all the players are. I appreciate that they try and tease people with explicit and implicit motives of all the major players. It's not done so well to keep me on the edge of my seat though. I think they fail to grab my attention because Zu Mountain just simply does not come off well as one of subtle intrigue. It comes across as weak and vague, rather than smartly strategic. They should've kept to a Wuxia mystery and/or central tragedy to be solved. I'm not too fussed though, because the drive of Zu Mountain, if it contains the character of Ding Yin, is about a man's struggle between good and evil.

There are times when I find William Chan as Ding Yin really boring. He doesn't stand out as Wuxia material. It's either that, or the pacing for his character is taking a slow burn approach. I get that he is an innocent soul, buffeted around by manipulating agendas, until he boils over into mad-evil Ding Yin. So far, I'm not entirely bought on his internal struggle. Then again, there are moments when he seems really still and strong. Able to be quite perceptive and think for himself, instead of surrendering his every choice to Zu Mountain elders who apparently knows what's best for everyone. I mean, he still does that at times, but he has the presence of mind to at least halt and question some things.

The romance between Ding Yin and Yu Wu Xin is quite engaging. Although on appearances, it is a star-crossed lovers set up, the undertones of their relationship seems to explore loyalty verses betrayal. I'm really enjoying Zhao Li Ying's performance as Yu Wu Xin (even more so as Hua Qian Gu). She's an unpredictable mix of angst, vulnerability, and misguided loyalty to her father. All wrapped up in a cold, haughty exterior that comes across as really quite cool. At this point, she articulates the love shared between the two most convincingly to me. This is quite the feat, considering how many times she deliberately lied and manipulated Din Yin. While I rationally know Yu Wu Xin doesn't deserve any trust or love from the poor man, Zhao Li Ying's performance still manages to get me to the core. William on the other hand, doesn't convince me so much as letting me know he is going through the motions of this pretty love story. However, he does pining very well. When he thinks about Yu Wu Xin while holding the jade whistle she leaves behind, I'm convinced that he is a man in love. So it's somewhat funny when

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Yu Wu Xin steals them back after he gets all jerky on her

Surprisingly, some of the best viewing for me comes from the dysfunctional Zhu Ge family. Nicky Wu is just awesome as Zhu Ge Zheng Wo. I can see how he could've come across as a 1D, arrogant, blood-thirsty Lu Pao, but Nicky adds a layer of intelligence and finesse to his performance that always draws your eye to him when he appears onscreen. The manipulative cruelty he displays to his daughter convinces me of his hateful character, as well as the lengths he will go to for the sake of his ambition. Yu Wu Xin goes through a journey of her own in the context of the father-daughter relationship. She willingly becomes a killing instrument, open to obvious manipulation, in order to gain her father's attention. It's really sad, because it seems like she is stuck in this abusive environment because she thinks it's better than being alone or an orphan. Especially so, because she is perceptive enough to be on to exactly how her father manipulates her. She always knows she is making her own choices - whether they are wrong or right - even when her father uses her. Although most of us as an audience would decry her poor decision at being so used, and misplacing her trust, I cannot say that it would be easy to denounce your own father and work against him. Yu Wu Xin legitimately tries, and in the end,

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grows up and leaves him.

I love how that was done as a journey and struggle.

Nicky and Zhao Li Ying engage as father and daughter really convincingly. Their surface relationship is master and sect member, but when they clash, it's an amazing father and daughter showdown. In one of the scenes when Yu Wu Xin is at the end of her tether,

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she goads her father to kill her.

It was an awesome clash of wills and pride. Amazingly performed by both Nicky and Zhao Li Ying. On that note, I don't know if the two co-ordinated their mannerisms, but Yu Wu Xin shows similar arrogance in her gestures as her father. It's a fabulous example of showing instead of telling me about the father-daughter connection.

Then there is mum.

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Who for some obscure and convoluted reason chooses to remain dead to the world. In remaining a passive parent in the dysfunctional family, I really think she is being as cruel as Zhu Ge Zheng Wo to Yu Wu Xin. I can't see how she can't say: "Stuff it! I'm taking my daughter with me." All Yu Wu Xin has ever wanted from the start is a loving parent to be with. I suspect even more than being with Ding Yin if it came down to it. Both mum and dad have that capacity to give that to their daughter, but both choose to get lost in their own little revenge and guilt neuroses. I can't say poor Yu Wu Xin, because she is simply too strong a character to be pitied. But yeah, you can see she got the very short end of the stick for parents. It has been interesting to watch her struggle with being a filial daughter and manage not to self destruct under the pressures of a dysfunctional family. In many ways, her journey as a character is more engaging than Ding Yin so far.

But I look forward to Ding Yin becoming 'evil'. Because it looks like sort of a reverse happens at this stage. When Ding Yin is shown in his demony red robes, Yu Wu Xin takes on white robes that styles her almost like an angel. Demon vs angel. Cool.

[lenje]

Woe, NuDaFu, you're the first one who is actually liking (or admits to like) the series so far. Eloquent explanation as well. I like your observation on Zhao Liying making similar gestures to Nicky's -- it shows that she's quite meticulous. Or the writing (or directing) is actually not bad. I might check it again - I was disappointed by the first 10 eps, and am now obsessed with Legend of Qin and Three Kingdoms 2010 (yes, I'm 5 years belated LOL).

[NuDaFu]

Lol...I do like some universally unliked series. Ala 1994 Heavenly Sword Dragon Sabre (Steven Ma, Cecilia Yip). And Nicky Wu as an antagonist, and Nicky/Zhao Li Ying father and daughter pair was a great drawcard.

Having skim-watched the whole series now (online Qiyi version), there are legitimately awful bits. Notably the crazy contrived ones. And the ending that is not an ending. I would have to say, this series is worth watching for Zhao Li Ying's performance, Nicky Wu and Zhao Li Ying as father and daughter. And strangely, a side story that had a family get together that was phenomenally touching.

It has been noted by those comparing the online and TV versions, that the TV version has almost all kissing scenes cut out so far. There will also be different endings between the two versions. Considering the online version's ending was so bad that some Chinese viewers threatened to storm the scripwriter's office, I think that would be a relief. I have a feeling the bad ending was intended, so that online viewers would be enticed to at least watch the TV ending. Nicky the Producer would've been looking at series ruination if the TV ending was any less than satisfactory.

There were some kissing scenes that did drive the plot along significantly, so I don't think they should cut it all out. I can understand how it could be censored. Quite witty of Nicky to use a online avenue to get around this. And I get why William joked: "What action scenes [for Zhao Li Ying]? Oh, you mean the kissing action. She's great at those". Oh you cheeky William you. He actually isn't too far from the truth. I'm usually not moved by kissing in Chinese dramas, because they're done rather awkwardly, or distastefully. Or done for the sake of fan service. But geeze, the kiss that Yu Wu Xin gives Ding Yin when he is a demon was scorching. And I have never used that description with any period drama kiss.

[Mido-Ban]

I like the series so far up to ep 11. I like the girl with two swords who always help ding Yin in zu mt. BTW anyone have the ost?