When Jinyong dramas are done right
Click to viewI just gotta post this recommendation right now although I've only watched 8 eps so far. I think I've watched enough to give it my thumbs up! I'm so happy I didn't give up on wuxia readaptions, because when done right, I really can sit and watch this story all over again. Who cares if this is probably the 3rd time I watched LOCH. That can't be said about almost every other wuxia novel remake done in the last 8-9 years that I tried but couldn't finish. It almost makes me cry with nostalgia the sentiments this one remake was able to bring out in me. I felt like I had time-traveled back to the great TVB wuxia dramas that I grew up watching. All the faces are fresh, the pace and scriptwriting is wonderful. Somebody obviously knew what they were doing! The music is from the beloved 83 version, and must I say, it makes my blood pump with excitement somehow. Don't know why since I never watched that version. I wasn't even born yet. The CGI is minimal and the sceneries are beautiful. Last but not least, Li Yitong is just about the most perfect Huang Rong I could hope for. She's cute and pretty and full of life! Yang Xuwen, I really loved him inside Noble Aspirations and at first glance, I couldn't even recognize him thanks to whoever gave hime this hairstyle. That hairstyle reminds me of Hu Ge haha. I'm finding it so amazing how the cast is all relatively fresh faces and it's like a much-needed breath of fresh air.
There are a few peeves to this remake though, but they're heavily outweighed by the pure awesomeness it packs anyways. I really don't mind. Mu Nianci looks stunning in her red dress, but as my dad points out and my previous impressions of this character, she's supposed to be a low-key girl that's rather docile. Meng Ziyi's makeup is a little overboard which makes her character a little too feisty looking. I'll argue that she has her feisty side though, this remake just brought it out to the surface. A low-key, docile girl does not get attracted to someone like Yang Kang, so she's obviously got a stubborn and rebellious soul inside that cover. There are some other minor peeves which are purely the costume designer's choices, but they don't bother me as much compared to the wardrobe/hair/makeup fails of other remakes. Guo Jing has brownish hair and Huang Yaoshi has blond hair. The actor for Yang Kang is not dashingly handsome, but he will grow on you. The Yang Kang of the previous 08 version has mischevious written all over his face, but that's because the actor just has that look. Chen Xingxu on the other hand, brings another take on Yang Kang's appearence and overall feel. He looks a little too mature for his age, but he's really convincing as the 衣冠禽兽 (wolf in sheeps clothes?) that I feel is the 08 version lacks simply because the actor looks like a baddie. To each their own! Yang Xuwen I'm really happy he landed this role because he's doing a good job as Guo Jing, but I wish the costume director would've roughened his look up a little while he was in Mongolia since he didn't exactly grow u a prince like Yang Kang did. Just for a comparision you know? Then again he's supposed to be a teenager so unless they make him grow some facial hair, I don't know how that is possible. Facial hair is usually reserved for later in the drama when they need to age these guys five years in a matter of seconds.
This dramas was done by 华策影视 and 完美影视. I looked into their previous works and while I can't figure out why their work is not consistent, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt in the future. Of course the director and sciptwriters' names are important things to note too.