It’s coming. I feel this ominous gush of air headed towards me as Yu Zheng‘s upcoming The Swordsman gets an air date of February 5th on Hunan TV. While this drama filmed at the same time as Da Mo Yao, we haven’t seen any official stills or trailers from DMY because that drama still hasn’t passed SARFT review and gotten permission to air leaving me to make do with this bag-o-crazy to get my period C-drama fix for the time being. This is the umpteenth drama adaptation of famed wuxia writer Louis Cha‘s (Jing Yong) novel The Smiling Proud Wanderer which I’ve read too many times to count and still cling on to my dog-eared copy like its some sort of holy grail. Of all of Louis Cha’s novels, its my personal favorite and I think his most freewheeling work saying a lot without coming off as preaching. This latest adaptation supposedly got Louis Cha’s approval but I honestly think he’s stopped caring anymore otherwise it’s hard to imagine he’d be okay with how the story is getting reinvented here. Hero Linghu Chong has his requisite love lines with the three leading ladies of the novel, plus a very nebulous love line with the the main antagonist the gender confused Dong Fang Bu Bai. The movie version of The Swordsman II with Jet Li and Bridgette Lin did allude to the same possibility but it was done in a way that wasn’t squicky to me. Here I am totally squicked out, despite the fact that Chen Qiao En as Dong Fang Bu Bai is prettier than the three leading ladies playing actual female characters, not to mention her chemistry with Wallace Huo is off the charts. This will be interesting, in either an I-want-to-poke-my-eyes-out or an I-cant-stop-watching sort of way. The Chinese audiences are primed for wuxia dramas after the unexpected and inexplicable ratings success of The Magic Blade last Summer (the team from TMB is re-teaming with its leading man Wallace Chung and filming the drama adaptation of Louis Cha’s Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils right now) so my gut tells me this one will be a hit as well regardless of quality or artistic integrity. Despite all my misgivings, there is no way I’m not watching this the moment it drops.
9-minute long trailer for The Swordsman:
Opening theme song from The Swordsman (sung by Wallace Huo):
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I'm in....Thanks!
I feel the exact same way. I think sometimes my love for Wallace Huo knows no bounds. When I first saw the trailer, my mouth dropped open...in utter horror. But then it was like a train wreck waiting to happen and I couldn't look away. Bad or worse, I'm watching it too, lol.
This looks awkward and too forced. I also noticed that the costume Joe was wearing at around 4:11 looks exactly like what Zhang Ziyi wore in House of Flying Daggers.
I cant help it...i love wallace huo so im watching this even though it looks like it might be a poke my eyes out trainwreck. might i even say im super excited to see what its going to be like. :D
You should definitely watch it. I think you wouldn't get any regret: it is very touching, good story and great acting.
I also agree. Joe Chen looks really good! The weird part is Wallace has so much more chemistry with her than his leading female. It's kind of little creepy to see that the main guy has more chemistry with a suppose "guy" disguised as a woman than the real leading lady.
Linghu Chong and DFBB in deep love? ...
Does anyone else notice how awkwardly photoshopped the poster is?
I don't think that LC is in love with DFBB - just one sided crush from DFBB. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me. I don't think they would let LC to be so fickle as to fall in love with all 3 people. On a side note, I'm super excited for QE to play such a big role, and from the trailers, her acting improve tons. I'm disappointed that Wallace has such little chemistry with the leading lady, sigh.
Yes, LC loved DFBB.
Ummm...I liked the music...and the over-the-top fighting scenes... And even though my only exposure to TW-dramas has been 4 episodes of Fated to Love You and I didn't understand a word from that trailer, I'm super excited to see it! I hope it gets subbed...
I'm super excited! But sigh, the chemistry between Wallace Huo and the actress who plays Ren Ying Ying appears disappointing.
love this story although I might cough up blood over the Ling/DFBB love line.
On a side note, Wallace and Joe use to date a long time ago. Maybe that's where the chemistry is from!
Also, Joe Chen's Dong Fong Bu Bai's girly look actually looks like Anita Yuen's Ren Ying Ying from the 2002 version with Richie Ren. If only she was Ren instead.Sigh...
Holy hell... it's like watching an entirely new story with characters who happen to have the same name and backgrounds. lol.
I guess DFBB being a transgender makes that new romance line palatable... maybe? As for xiao mei mei getting all emo with her new love... Hahaha. For some reason, I have the horrible feeling the audience might eat that up.
Since I already know nothing will surpass the level of the book, I'll just watch this one with that in mind and see what cliff it leads me to.
DFBB is not technically transgender. He was just castrated which doesn't make him a women.