The Holy Pearl (eps 1-8)
The Holy Pearl is a "fantasy-mythology" series that is loosely based on the Japanese manga/anime Inuyasha. I say loosely, because aside from the basic plot and a few similar characters, it really is a new story. (Though, I do think the creator of Inuyasha would have a good case if she decided to sue.)
The story starts off the way most of these types of dramas do, and honestly it didn't grab me until episode three or four. So far, what I really like about the series is the witty dialogue and most of the characters. I think the overall plot - girl from 2011 gets sent back in time and most recover lost pearls - is fairly standard in these types of time traveling stories. (See: Inuyasha and even Fushigi Yûgi - though she was looking for people there)
Dramawiki has the show summary as this: Jealous of her sister's popularity with the human they protect and the love she receives from the king, Mo Yin, the human form of Goddess Tengshe, colluded with the Demon Lord Shi You Ming to kill her sister Xian Yue. The act upset the balance between the God/ Human/ Demon worlds giving demons an upper hand. Xian Yue reincarnated as Ding Yao and returned to restore order. With the help of Wen Tian, a human-dragon hybrid, she set on a mission to re-forge the anti-demon vase using the holy pearls that Goddess Nuwa left behind from creating the human world. But, that's really just the first three episodes. Things get much more interesting and fun after that.
Xian Yue - I don't know why, but I find her to be rather boring. Maybe its just Gillian Chung?
Ding Yao - A heroine after my own heart! She thinks about stealing things to take back to her time. She's not fazed by the little things, but she does get fazed with creepy Kings and Demons. Love her!
Wen Tian - He's cute. He can beat people up. And, he's much more mature than his manga/anime counterpart. That makes him a winner in my book.
King - Creepy, obsessed, and a terrible ruler. (Did ancient China after any good rulers? Time traveling shows tell me that answer is no.) I find him to be way too creepy - keeping a dead body in a garden for twenty years - just so he can look at it? Creepy! Wanting to marry a look-alike of the dead woman? Weird! Ignoring your country to cry over a dead woman or to stalk her look-alike? Terrible and creepy!
Mu Lian - She kills Demons so easily! I really like her so far, but I'm worried her feelings for Wu Dao may lead her to trouble later on. Still, I'm glad she's become a friend to Yao Yao and Wen Tian.
Wu Dao - I like him. He's Wen Tian's half-brother. I love that he has saved both Mu Lian and Yu Die, just because he felt like it. I think that already gives him some hidden depth.
Yu Die - A runaway princess that pretends to be a man and that can't stop trying to save people, despite having no fighting skills? Yup, that's her. And, I like her a lot. She's cheerful and sweet. I'm glad she's sticking with Wu Dao for a while, even if I think it will end tragically.
Wei Liao - A great general and a brother to the Crazy!King. He plans on overthrowing the King and he's allied himself with the Demon Emperor. But, you know. . .I can't really blame him. He's intelligent enough to know that the current King is surely going to led the country to ruin. I have a feeling we aren't meant to be on his side, but I can see part of his point. (The only being he really wants some demon-loving from the female demon.)
Mo Yin - She's in love with Crazy!King and that is making it hard for her to see what's really happening. Still, she seems smarter than half the people we've meet, so. . .yeah. With holding judgement.
Ting Qin - Mo Yin's student. Faithful and loyal. I have no opinion on her at this point.
Hu Ji - Sexy demon lady whose seducing Wei Liao to her side. Interestingly, she seems ready to betray her Demon King, because he's not really doing what he should. But, I got to wonder - does she like WL or is she using him for her own gain? Time will tell.
Eight episodes in, and I'm really enjoying the drama. The characters are more or less likeable, the dialogue is good, and the plot is fast moving. I'll keep it. (Also, what's interesting is that Yao Yao's Dad said she could have gone to one of nine different places/time periods. Anyone else feeling hints of an actual or semi-sequel with that one? Too bad Mainland China has decided to stop all time traveling dramas/films/novels/comics after 2011.)
The story starts off the way most of these types of dramas do, and honestly it didn't grab me until episode three or four. So far, what I really like about the series is the witty dialogue and most of the characters. I think the overall plot - girl from 2011 gets sent back in time and most recover lost pearls - is fairly standard in these types of time traveling stories. (See: Inuyasha and even Fushigi Yûgi - though she was looking for people there)
Dramawiki has the show summary as this: Jealous of her sister's popularity with the human they protect and the love she receives from the king, Mo Yin, the human form of Goddess Tengshe, colluded with the Demon Lord Shi You Ming to kill her sister Xian Yue. The act upset the balance between the God/ Human/ Demon worlds giving demons an upper hand. Xian Yue reincarnated as Ding Yao and returned to restore order. With the help of Wen Tian, a human-dragon hybrid, she set on a mission to re-forge the anti-demon vase using the holy pearls that Goddess Nuwa left behind from creating the human world. But, that's really just the first three episodes. Things get much more interesting and fun after that.
Xian Yue - I don't know why, but I find her to be rather boring. Maybe its just Gillian Chung?
Ding Yao - A heroine after my own heart! She thinks about stealing things to take back to her time. She's not fazed by the little things, but she does get fazed with creepy Kings and Demons. Love her!
Wen Tian - He's cute. He can beat people up. And, he's much more mature than his manga/anime counterpart. That makes him a winner in my book.
King - Creepy, obsessed, and a terrible ruler. (Did ancient China after any good rulers? Time traveling shows tell me that answer is no.) I find him to be way too creepy - keeping a dead body in a garden for twenty years - just so he can look at it? Creepy! Wanting to marry a look-alike of the dead woman? Weird! Ignoring your country to cry over a dead woman or to stalk her look-alike? Terrible and creepy!
Mu Lian - She kills Demons so easily! I really like her so far, but I'm worried her feelings for Wu Dao may lead her to trouble later on. Still, I'm glad she's become a friend to Yao Yao and Wen Tian.
Wu Dao - I like him. He's Wen Tian's half-brother. I love that he has saved both Mu Lian and Yu Die, just because he felt like it. I think that already gives him some hidden depth.
Yu Die - A runaway princess that pretends to be a man and that can't stop trying to save people, despite having no fighting skills? Yup, that's her. And, I like her a lot. She's cheerful and sweet. I'm glad she's sticking with Wu Dao for a while, even if I think it will end tragically.
Wei Liao - A great general and a brother to the Crazy!King. He plans on overthrowing the King and he's allied himself with the Demon Emperor. But, you know. . .I can't really blame him. He's intelligent enough to know that the current King is surely going to led the country to ruin. I have a feeling we aren't meant to be on his side, but I can see part of his point. (The only being he really wants some demon-loving from the female demon.)
Mo Yin - She's in love with Crazy!King and that is making it hard for her to see what's really happening. Still, she seems smarter than half the people we've meet, so. . .yeah. With holding judgement.
Ting Qin - Mo Yin's student. Faithful and loyal. I have no opinion on her at this point.
Hu Ji - Sexy demon lady whose seducing Wei Liao to her side. Interestingly, she seems ready to betray her Demon King, because he's not really doing what he should. But, I got to wonder - does she like WL or is she using him for her own gain? Time will tell.
Eight episodes in, and I'm really enjoying the drama. The characters are more or less likeable, the dialogue is good, and the plot is fast moving. I'll keep it. (Also, what's interesting is that Yao Yao's Dad said she could have gone to one of nine different places/time periods. Anyone else feeling hints of an actual or semi-sequel with that one? Too bad Mainland China has decided to stop all time traveling dramas/films/novels/comics after 2011.)