STICKY: Legend of Condor Heroes (2008) watch-along
NOTE: I will sticky this entry in a day or two so it will be on the top of my LJ.
I thought it would be fun to do another drama watchalong. And I really would love for more of my flist to be familiar with the awesome world of wuxia. So how about the 2008 version of Legend of Condor Heroes? I think LOCH2008 is the best choice because it is most easily accessible - both in terms of finding on-line and in terms of story with its shades of grey, strong women, and awesome production values.
The set-up of LOCH is fairly simple. Both the male protagonists of LOCH, Guo Jing and Yang Kang, are sons of dead Song heroes killed by Jin treachery who were supposed to become sworn brothers, avenge their parents, and redeem the Song. But Guo Jing has been brought up a bit too simple-minded on the steppes of Mongolia while Yang Kang has no idea of his parentage and his been brought up by the very Jin prince he is supposed to kill. The quest for vengeance and freedom is not going to go smoothly. And then there is Huang Rong, arguably the most awesome wuxia heroine ever created - trouble-making, unscrupulous, and whip-smart, Huang Rong is won over by Guo Jing's kindness and joins his quest. And gives him her heart.
If you are not sure if this is your thing (it is!!!!), I made quick little character profiles with pics of all the main characters.
Guo Jing (Hu Ge)
The protagonist of the story. Guo Jing has been brought from childhood hearing how he has to avenge his dead father and find and protect his younger 'brother' Yang Kang. Because Guo Jing is as capable and honorable as he is straightforward and simple, he will carry these instructions to the letter or die trying. Throughout the story, Guo Jing grows up, matures, and learns not just amazing martial arts (becoming the best there is) but also a certain understanding of complexity. But he remains pure good at heart. Guo Jing is never the sharpest knife in the drawer but his refusal to give up, good heart, and the pure steel of his character make that deficiency immaterial. Especially when he has Huang Rong by his side.
Yang Kang (Yuan Hong)
Guo Jing's dark mirror of sorts. Yang Kang is a son of a Song hero but has been brought up as a spoiled and petted Little Prince of the Jin. The man he believes to be his father is the Jin Prince who has killed his family. As you can see, his road to heroism and revenge is a lot more complicated from the start. Unlike the straightforward idealist Guo Jing, Yang Kang is cynical, smart, and pragmatic. He has an inferiority complex and a persecution complex (the latter is justified - it's wuxia), and eventually goes very dark indeed, but the one constant in his life is his unwavering love for his OTP Mu Nianci. He is, perhaps, the most interesting character in the story. His Anakin-like descent is certainly one of the most compelling arcs. I started out liking him, then loving him more than any other character, then feeling desperately sorry for him, then loathing him and wanting to stab him in the eye with a poisoned fork, and then pitying and loving him again.
Huang Rong (Ariel Lin)
The most awesome wuxia heroine ever (I will fight you if you say otherwise :P), Huang Rong is a smart unscrupulous trouble-maker. She is the only child of Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi who dotes on her, spoils her, and taught her martial arts. But she has never been taught caring or a moral center. When she meets Guo Jing she is drawn by his uncompromising goodness and throws her lot in with him, becoming half of a wonderful OTP. She gives him brains but he gives her a soul (even if she remains pretty uninterested in humanity in general). Oh, did I mention smart? Our heroes would never get anywhere without Huang Rong's smarts - she is the cleverest character in the story.
Mu Nianci (Liu Shi Shi)
Nianci is Papa Yang's adopted daughter. It is never explained as to how Papa Yang picked her up, but pick her up he did. Because he is as good an adoptive father as he is a biological one (sorry, my Papa Yang issues are showing), Nianci has spent her life being dragged from one corner of China to another, training and performing martial arts as Papa Yang searches for Mama Guo and Guo Jing (looking for his own family? Naaaaaah). Nianci is extremely skilled, very righteous, hates all Jin, and sees the world in black-and-white. She also has a penchant for attracting bad boys with Daddy issues (yes, "boys" - as in plural). She and Yang Kang are my favorite OTP of the drama because I love sexy trainwrecks.
So, what are you waiting for? There are battles! True Love! Bromance! Hurt/comfort! And other good things!
LOCH is 50 episodes, but each episode is only 40 minutes each. So I was thinking if we do 4 eps a week, that is eminently reasonable. I will sticky this post and we can just come here and discuss the drama (or if someone wants to discuss later eps, they can do so if they label their reply).
You can find LOCH at :
For purchase: At YesAsia
For download: On livejournal (have to join the comm)
For streaming: MySoju.
Schedule :
Eps 1-4 Week starting August 16
Eps 5-8 Week starting August 23
Eps 9-12 Week starting August 30
Eps 13-16 Week starting September 6
Eps 17-20 Week starting September 13
Eps 21-24 Week starting September 20
Eps 25-28 Week starting September 27
Eps 29-32 Week starting October 4
Eps 33-36 Week starting October 11
Eps 37-40 Week starting October 18
Eps 41-44 Week starting October 25
Eps 45-48 Week starting November 1
Eps 49-50 + wrap-up Week starting November 8
NOTE: I find the first 3 eps of LOCH a bit of a tough going - they are solidly backstory and I find backstories are usually the drama's weak points. So I rec skipping the first three eps (maybe skimming them) and starting with ep 4. All you need to know about the first three eps is this - Papa Guo and Papa Yang are BFFs and great Song heroes, and are thus thorns in the Jin side. Their wives are pregnant and the families decide that if the two are boys, they shall be sworn brothers and are to be named Yang Kang and Guo Jing. But Jin forces attack the Guo and Yang families before the kids are born. Papa Guo is killed and Papa Yang runs off to see Mama Guo is OK. He can't find her (though she managed to escape) and meanwhile, his own wife, Mama Yang, is taken by the Jin Prince leading the attack - one of Jin Prince's reasons for attack was his love for Mama Yang. Mama Guo ends up in Mongolia and gives birth to Guo Jing who grows on the steppes being BFFs with the kids of the ruler. He is very sweet but rather simple. When he comes of age, he sets out back to China, sworn to avenge his father and find his sworn brother Yang Kang. Meanwhile, Mama Yang married the Jin Prince and Yang Kang has been brought up to believe Jin Prince is his real father and that he is a Jin himself...
I thought it would be fun to do another drama watchalong. And I really would love for more of my flist to be familiar with the awesome world of wuxia. So how about the 2008 version of Legend of Condor Heroes? I think LOCH2008 is the best choice because it is most easily accessible - both in terms of finding on-line and in terms of story with its shades of grey, strong women, and awesome production values.
The set-up of LOCH is fairly simple. Both the male protagonists of LOCH, Guo Jing and Yang Kang, are sons of dead Song heroes killed by Jin treachery who were supposed to become sworn brothers, avenge their parents, and redeem the Song. But Guo Jing has been brought up a bit too simple-minded on the steppes of Mongolia while Yang Kang has no idea of his parentage and his been brought up by the very Jin prince he is supposed to kill. The quest for vengeance and freedom is not going to go smoothly. And then there is Huang Rong, arguably the most awesome wuxia heroine ever created - trouble-making, unscrupulous, and whip-smart, Huang Rong is won over by Guo Jing's kindness and joins his quest. And gives him her heart.
If you are not sure if this is your thing (it is!!!!), I made quick little character profiles with pics of all the main characters.
Guo Jing (Hu Ge)
The protagonist of the story. Guo Jing has been brought from childhood hearing how he has to avenge his dead father and find and protect his younger 'brother' Yang Kang. Because Guo Jing is as capable and honorable as he is straightforward and simple, he will carry these instructions to the letter or die trying. Throughout the story, Guo Jing grows up, matures, and learns not just amazing martial arts (becoming the best there is) but also a certain understanding of complexity. But he remains pure good at heart. Guo Jing is never the sharpest knife in the drawer but his refusal to give up, good heart, and the pure steel of his character make that deficiency immaterial. Especially when he has Huang Rong by his side.
Yang Kang (Yuan Hong)
Guo Jing's dark mirror of sorts. Yang Kang is a son of a Song hero but has been brought up as a spoiled and petted Little Prince of the Jin. The man he believes to be his father is the Jin Prince who has killed his family. As you can see, his road to heroism and revenge is a lot more complicated from the start. Unlike the straightforward idealist Guo Jing, Yang Kang is cynical, smart, and pragmatic. He has an inferiority complex and a persecution complex (the latter is justified - it's wuxia), and eventually goes very dark indeed, but the one constant in his life is his unwavering love for his OTP Mu Nianci. He is, perhaps, the most interesting character in the story. His Anakin-like descent is certainly one of the most compelling arcs. I started out liking him, then loving him more than any other character, then feeling desperately sorry for him, then loathing him and wanting to stab him in the eye with a poisoned fork, and then pitying and loving him again.
Huang Rong (Ariel Lin)
The most awesome wuxia heroine ever (I will fight you if you say otherwise :P), Huang Rong is a smart unscrupulous trouble-maker. She is the only child of Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi who dotes on her, spoils her, and taught her martial arts. But she has never been taught caring or a moral center. When she meets Guo Jing she is drawn by his uncompromising goodness and throws her lot in with him, becoming half of a wonderful OTP. She gives him brains but he gives her a soul (even if she remains pretty uninterested in humanity in general). Oh, did I mention smart? Our heroes would never get anywhere without Huang Rong's smarts - she is the cleverest character in the story.
Mu Nianci (Liu Shi Shi)
Nianci is Papa Yang's adopted daughter. It is never explained as to how Papa Yang picked her up, but pick her up he did. Because he is as good an adoptive father as he is a biological one (sorry, my Papa Yang issues are showing), Nianci has spent her life being dragged from one corner of China to another, training and performing martial arts as Papa Yang searches for Mama Guo and Guo Jing (looking for his own family? Naaaaaah). Nianci is extremely skilled, very righteous, hates all Jin, and sees the world in black-and-white. She also has a penchant for attracting bad boys with Daddy issues (yes, "boys" - as in plural). She and Yang Kang are my favorite OTP of the drama because I love sexy trainwrecks.
So, what are you waiting for? There are battles! True Love! Bromance! Hurt/comfort! And other good things!
LOCH is 50 episodes, but each episode is only 40 minutes each. So I was thinking if we do 4 eps a week, that is eminently reasonable. I will sticky this post and we can just come here and discuss the drama (or if someone wants to discuss later eps, they can do so if they label their reply).
You can find LOCH at :
For purchase: At YesAsia
For download: On livejournal (have to join the comm)
For streaming: MySoju.
Schedule :
Eps 1-4 Week starting August 16
Eps 5-8 Week starting August 23
Eps 9-12 Week starting August 30
Eps 13-16 Week starting September 6
Eps 17-20 Week starting September 13
Eps 21-24 Week starting September 20
Eps 25-28 Week starting September 27
Eps 29-32 Week starting October 4
Eps 33-36 Week starting October 11
Eps 37-40 Week starting October 18
Eps 41-44 Week starting October 25
Eps 45-48 Week starting November 1
Eps 49-50 + wrap-up Week starting November 8
NOTE: I find the first 3 eps of LOCH a bit of a tough going - they are solidly backstory and I find backstories are usually the drama's weak points. So I rec skipping the first three eps (maybe skimming them) and starting with ep 4. All you need to know about the first three eps is this - Papa Guo and Papa Yang are BFFs and great Song heroes, and are thus thorns in the Jin side. Their wives are pregnant and the families decide that if the two are boys, they shall be sworn brothers and are to be named Yang Kang and Guo Jing. But Jin forces attack the Guo and Yang families before the kids are born. Papa Guo is killed and Papa Yang runs off to see Mama Guo is OK. He can't find her (though she managed to escape) and meanwhile, his own wife, Mama Yang, is taken by the Jin Prince leading the attack - one of Jin Prince's reasons for attack was his love for Mama Yang. Mama Guo ends up in Mongolia and gives birth to Guo Jing who grows on the steppes being BFFs with the kids of the ruler. He is very sweet but rather simple. When he comes of age, he sets out back to China, sworn to avenge his father and find his sworn brother Yang Kang. Meanwhile, Mama Yang married the Jin Prince and Yang Kang has been brought up to believe Jin Prince is his real father and that he is a Jin himself...