I am officially pre-shipping the heroine Linghu Chong with the villain Dong Fang Bu Bai in the upcoming wuxia C-drama The Swordsman. This is my conclusion after watching the 9-minute long trailer just released (linked below) and finally wrapping my mind around the changes producer Yu Zheng did to the original novel The Smiling Proud Wanderer by Louis Cha. It’s ridiculous, yet somehow strangely palatable? I think Yu Zheng spliced Ren Ying Ying’s character in half and gave some of her interactions with Linghu Chong to Dong Fang Bu Bai, and then turned her into a full-blow woman from the get go. No weird gender complications there. Then he added her to different situations Linghu Chong encountered on his own in the novel, such as his strange fate with Feng Qing Yang, thereby strengthening their interactions. What rather intrigues me is this proposition – what if Dong Fang Bu Bai, being a girl and able to learn the most powerful martial arts in the land, has to pretend to be a man in order to be the leader of the Sun Moon Sect. So instead of a man who castrated himself to be the most powerful (as per the novel), she’s a woman who is just as power hungry but must hide her real gender in order to rule in a male-dominated society. Dude, if that is indeed her backstory in this drama, I’d totally root for her to destroy all those douchey men around her. We all know Ren Wo Xing is as power hungry as they come, he’s only rather more palatable because he doesn’t hide his goal and because he’s Ren Ying Ying’s dad.
Sadly Yu Zheng appears to have her turn into a lovesick female the moment she meets Linghu Chong. Which isn’t that much of a stretch since that is what happens to Ren Ying Ying, formerly all cold and bitchy Holy Maiden, then super schmoopy sacrificial side kick after she runs into loverboy. I actually really liked the 9-minute trailer, it was over-the-top and silly at times, but it gave me a better sense of what’s to come and some changes look fantastic. I think Chen Qiao En is going to steal the show, and she is pretty much the leading lady in this drama as the biggest name actress. Not to mention she looks phenomenal with the best hairstyle and costumes. I also think Chen Xiao is going to give Wallace Huo a run for his money in the male lead department. I normally can’t stand Lin Ping Zi, but Chen Xiao is rocking the transformation into the vengeance consumed version of the character. Based on the long trailer, I’m further convinced Wallace and Chen Qiao En have all the chemistry and he has none with Yuan Shan Shan who plays Ren Ying Ying. Zero, nadda, zip. Wallace even has chemistry with Yang Rong playing Yue Ling Shan (which is always a prerequisite since his character spends the better part of the novel in love with her), so at least all these cross love lines ought to be interesting to see this version’s take on it. The drama premieres on February 5th and I’m back to being curious and cautiously optimistic.
9-minute long trailer for The Swordsman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYZVOFJ9uFs
I need to watch the trailer but I’m totally shipping CQE and wallace ala the movie. Hehehe
Can’t wait to see it!
Wuxia is not my fave genre but will check it out because of CQE. She always steals the show from her male co stars in my opinion. Great actress and pretty too!
Wow. It looks awesome, literally.
Is Chen Xiao the one who kisses her? I like him already.
Wallace Huo is just gorgeous, though.
Chen Qiao En is fine with either.
One day, when nice subbers are done, I will watch it.
(I really should NOT read these posts since they make me green with envy of you guys who can watch and understand.)
Hear hear! Hopefully I can wait until it’s all subbed before I give it a go but I doubt it. Lol
Since your last post, I actually became really interested in this drama, to the point of looking for translations of the book (only the first half has been translated, unfortunately) and starting to watch the 2001 adaptation. And it’s exactly the “powerhungry female villain” aspect which intrigues me – it’s rare to see a character like that and have her presented sympathetically. From the trailers, I’m kind of rooting for her to succeed and destroy the men around her too. I just hope she doesn’t totally lose her world-conquering ambitions after falling in love (hearing that RYY turns into a “shmoopy sacrifical sidekick” makes me feel less disappointed about not being able to read the second half of the book). But even if she does, at least we should get some scenes of her being awesome before that? Anyway, I’m anticipating the drama and hoping it gets subbed.
Riveting!
By the way, there’s a subbed version of the 9 min trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=339zy7FwCzY
Heehee. I don’t know why but i don’t like the way Chen Qiao En acts. However she looks pretty good in this drama. Though, there’s nothing appealing enough for me to watch this.
can’t wait…different role for QE, her character is portrayed as evil of the tyrant, very devastating, she’s not a good person,s , she is a crook, she’s very selfish.
interview with QE
Chen Qiao En, is not afraid of the reaction of fans? Joe Chen said with a smile no pressure, “We still have respect, with a new perspective, I think it’s fun, and yet tried before in the drama series. For” subversion “, Chen Qiao En is very enjoyable,” In fact, I really want to play, I can play with wild animals in the wild can kill very interesting. ‘
I think this is premieres on Feb 6, and yes QE looks so entranced
I’m so excited to see her first wuxia drama as biggest villain role with high martial arts.
Ugh. I wish DFBB could end up with LHC. I can’t stand RYY (mainly because it’s YSS)
i already finished watch this movie. and i totally can say that chen qiao en and wallace is the main leader in this movie. i love the remake eventhough i still like richie ren. cqe definately give different side of dong fu bu bai. worth to watch
I finished the series and I have to say CQE and Wallace Huo are awesome together. And DFBB was an awesome character; in depth but with so many facets. I find myself rooting for her the whole time, even when she’s kicking ass and murdering the good guys. CQE is seriously one of the most phenomenal actresses I’ve seen. She portrays all the different sides of DFBB so well; Yuan Shan Shan was so pathetic. She was a weak Ren Ying Ying the whole time with a sick jealous side, and she use all of one expression throughout the series.
currently in the midst of watching the series and am rooting for DFBB and LHC eventhough i pretty much know the ending… Their on screen chemistry sizzles all the time… No doubt LHC supposed to be with RYY but unfortunately there’s no chemistry at all between the two of them… RYY looks rather annoying with her expression. Considering the fact that the writer made some monumental changes with the script, it would’ve been better for LHC to end up with DFBB…. It looks more believable.
I like this drama…
YES you are right Chen Xiao En stole the show, her character is so strong there. It will make you remember her for a long time. Too bad the ending isn’t something I look forward to T__T
DFBB should be with LHC in the end. They together and laughing… It will be a perfect ending..
i agree DFBB shd end up with LHC..date wd be perfect!!