If I had known it was only 28 episodes, I would have watched it faster. How was it? Very intense yet satisfying. It lived up to its quality and surpassed expectations for me.
Main Cast:
- Cheng Yi (成毅) as Xie Huai An (謝淮安) aka Liu Zhi (劉知). A talented scholar who served in a small town yet was recommended by many to become a top advisor for the new king. He proved to be both brilliant and dangerous, depending on whose side he was on. Yet he wasn’t arrogant because he understood how strong and cunning his enemies were. Cheng Yi once again proved his acting in another role. One might think it was the same with the aloof exterior and the beyond calm state. Yet his willingness to blur the line made him more or less like his enemies. This was a very dark character and he showed that very well. He wasn’t the righteous hero who was willing to save everyone. Sure, he tried to reduce the casualties and he still wanted to defend his homeland yet he wasn’t so honest or innocent to the point of frustrating like a typical hero unwillingly to cave. He was willing to resort to any types of technique against his enemies. Even if he would lose his life in the end. That didn’t mean he was ruthless like others. Because he indeed cherished whatever left of friendship he had left. However, he wasn’t going to be swayed by the enemy’s pitiful cries. He learned a hard lesson with his family’s massacre, so he couldn’t allow himself to go easy on them. And this was one of those rare ancient series where Cheng Yi’s character didn’t know martial arts. Xie Huai An was a strategist through and through. Sure, if the situation called for it, he was willing to fight. But he wasn’t trained like Ye Zheng or Xiao Qing. That also have its advantages because the others underestimated him, thinking they could take him out easily, and then fail because they weren’t able to anticipate his moves.
- Liu Yi Jun (刘奕君) as Xiao Wu Yang (蕭武陽). The late emperor’s eldest son who overthrew Yan Feng Shan to take over the capital. He was very determined and brutal when the tides turned. He wasn’t going to let the enemies off easily. His actions with eliminating the various factions of Yan Feng Shan within the capital said it all. He was also cautious of his surroundings and chose who to use for his cause. He was confident about his strengths yet wasn’t arrogant either. It was one of the reasons why he survived for so long. He didn’t justify his actions because he thought it was natural that he stepped in to regain the empire and restored his family’s ruling. However, he wasn’t able to anticipate all moves. He did keep his words and tried to protect his people. So, that made him different within the chaos. What made him admirable was how he didn’t beg or downplay his cause later when he was captured. He wasn’t going to go down a coward, despite being betrayed by his brother and being taken away by Wu Zhong Heng. He was a powerful force that made the different power struggles intriguing to watch. The last time I watched him was in Guardians of the Dafeng and he proved his acting in both cases, making it different.
- Wang Jing Song (王劲松) as Wu Zhong Heng (吳仲衡). He was part of the Tiemo tribe who infiltrated into the neighboring country and planned a takeover when the time was right. It was revealed at one point (like the actual face to face meeting between the two characters) that he was Xie Huai An’s teacher once upon a time. He was indeed quite scheming and calculating with his moves. He was so patient and projected the innocence image so well that it was hard to believe how twisted his mind was. However, his recounts showed that he was very proud of his violent acts and it wasn’t just because of circumstances either. The suffering of his country was just part of the justification for his lust of power and the ability to bring suffering toward others.
- Zhou Qi (周奇) as Xiao Wen Jing (蕭文敬) and Zhang Mo (張默). Was this a compensation for Zhou Qi after the lack of screen time in The Legend of Zang Hai? Because he had more room for his acting skills with the duo role and the complicated storyline. He, obviously, delivered.
- As Xiao Wen Jing. As far as I was concerned, he was irredeemable after he killed Zhang Mo. Like Xie Huai An said, Zhang Mo was truly innocent. He shouldn’t be there but he wanted to show support in his own way. Yet he was killed by Xiao Wen Jing because of anger and resentment for things that did not have to do with him. So, after that scene, I just watched because of Zhou Qi’s portrayal, not wanting to care about the character of Xiao Wen Jing going forward. Or so I thought. Because his journey to maturity showed great promise and made it hard to completely written him off. What threw me off once again was how he thought he was helping his brother and he betrayed the man again, thinking he made the right move by allowing Wu Zhong Heng a victory of capturing the man. Was that part of the plan? I think I was too mad at that point to pay too much attention and only wanted to finish the series. But was that part of the grand plan? By sacrificing Xiao Wu Yang? It didn’t seem so. I could be wrong. Might go back to watch again. But it was too frustrating to see him falling right back to where he started at the beginning, still being manipulated by others. The only good thing that he did in the end was wanting to make Xie Huai An proud by rebuilding their homeland.
- As Zhang Mo. A very brief appearance for the character and such a tragic ending. His loyalty to his young master was very admirable. His kindness was also very touching. His care for his family was very heart warming. All the small traces of him were through flashbacks. Yet the scenes highlighted his character quite well. It was too bad that he couldn’t make it home.
- Bian Cheng (边程) as Xiao Wen Jing. A very brief appearance before he was replaced because the way the storyline was paved. The way they designed the two’s appearances, I thought it was suitable for the exchange. Sure, they weren’t supposed to look like each other because it would defeat the purpose in learning a new identity. But in the meanwhile, it made sense to have similar build and some similar habits or behaviors.
- Tong Meng Xi (佟梦实) as Ye Zheng (葉崢). Xie Huai An’s bodyguard and good friend who vowed to protect the latter at all cost. He had several close calls in here and I kept holding my breath (for real, not being dramatic) whenever he was carrying out some missions or just stepped away for a bit. It was hard not to be anxious. Because some of the major characters were killed so abruptly. I was so glad that he made it till the end. And off the tangent, but each time I see him in some role relating to swordsman, I just wanted to scream into the void. Reason? His The Return of the Condor Heroes version never got released. It’s still being held hostage, which is really sad because it showed great promise. Oh yeah, it was directed by the same director for this series as well. So, forgive me for being bitter. We could have seen something awesome.
- Xu Lu (徐璐) as Bai Wan (白莞) aka Liu Li (劉理). Xie Huai An’s younger sister. Her appearance was very brief although she was supposed to represent the leading lady. Yes, they listed her differently so it made sense she was just around for the relevancy of the story. Yet her death was so frustrating and heartbreaking. It was a way to break her brother completely, and in some ways, it worked. Going in without reading spoilers, I didn’t know what role she was going to play in the grand scheme. However, when her death scene came around, I knew Xie Huai An wasn’t going to survive. She was his only anchor to the world and a glint of hope for some sort of future–if they ever made it out alive. Her death secured his. Because he had danced with the devil and became equally despicable as them (as he and some others saw it), so she was his tie to the real world. Her innocence and kindness was not repaid and it was so frustrating to watch. Yet it also made it more realistic because the harsh environment around them. It was already a miracle some of them made it till the end.
Supporting:
- Wang Zi Xuan (王子璇) as Shen Xiao Qing (沈小青). Ye Zheng’s junior, Bai Wan’s good friend and the one in charge of Bai Wan’s safety while Bai Wan was in the capital. She was both stubborn and sweet, depending on the situation. Her martial arts techniques were quite good also. Yet her inexperience almost cost her life that one time. It was hard to blame her when the others couldn’t see it coming either. I was so scared for her. I thought she would be taken out of the game as well, considering how they didn’t even spare Bai Wan. Luckily, she made it.
- Ni Da Hong (倪大红) as Cen Wei Zong (岑偉宗). The former royal advisor. His real identity was a citizen of Tiemo. He donned a different identity to infiltrate the country and lay ground for the takeover in the later years. However, he switched sides when he realized how crazy Wu Zhong Heng was. He told Wu Zhong Heng the difference between them was he did it for their country yet Wu Zhong Heng was just doing it because of the latter’s twisted view of enjoying others’ suffering.
- Zhang Han Yu (张涵予) as Yan Feng Shan (言鳳山). The person responsible for the massacre of Xie Huai An’s family and turning the tides after the late emperor passed to rule over the kingdom. He was seriously cruel and ruthless. He was the definition of not judging the book by its cover and the actor did wonderfully portraying this role. He projected a very harmless and innocent image yet beneath that was a vicious mind. He was very intelligent yet that also became his downfall. Because he thought he could use Xie Haui An’s weakness to win all YET also taught Xie Huai An a lesson about how everyone had a weakness and Xie Huai An practically reverse uno him. The surprising part about the whole thing was how he ended up joining forces with Xie Huai An to go against Wu Zhong Heng later. Well, he had no choice and it was his best deal regarding the situation since he lost the upper hand. But it was indeed a great risk to take on Xie Huai An’s part. His appearance during the crucial moment indeed turned the tides and changed the outcome of Wu Zhong Heng’s plan. I guess what they said is true after all: the enemy of my enemy is my friend. They had to use it as a leverage to turn the situation around.
- Ye Zu Xin (叶祖新) as Gu Yu (顧玉). Marquis Zhenbei. He was a tough and brilliant general. He fought many battles and established a powerful reputation. He didn’t let his disability deter him. He used his strengths to the max and led with strict rules yet also a gentle hand. It was just the separation between knowing how to train his soldiers and when to mingle with this troops. He appreciated their efforts and even joked with them when time called for it. He truly treated them like his brothers in arms and that was what fused his anger even more when they were brutally massacred during the surprise attack that one night. He fought bravely throughout and always thought for the others first. He wouldn’t have left that one time if Xie Huai An didn’t tell one of his men to lie regarding their escape. His ending? It was truly surprising because I thought he already went through the worst after being kidnapped and almost died during Yan Feng Shan’s complete takeover. But it made sense with how everything went into chaos after Yan Feng Shan was presumed dead and Wu Zhong Heng rose again. He didn’t die in vain though because the others didn’t fail him.
- Song Jia Lun (宋佳伦) as Gao Yan (高衍). The prime minister under Xiao Wu Yang’s command. He was the one who recommended Xie Huai An to Xiao Wu Yang to go against Yan Feng Shan. He was brilliant yet wasn’t arrogant. He always acted with caution and thought of every move before taking action. This was also one of the reasons why he wasn’t all in with trusting Gu Yu. That was also the reason why Yan Feng Shan’s side didn’t see it coming that he would join forces with Gu Yu in helping the latter in the final move to gain some leverage in turning the tides. It was a very tricky situation, so it made sense he wanted to take a gamble. But that part highlighted his character. He wasn’t the type to just sit around and spout stuff. He was able to step up to the challenge as well. It was very brave of him but it didn’t make it any less tragic with his ending. He sacrificed himself for the bigger picture.
- Chen Tian Tian (陈天天) as Wu Mei (五媚). Gu Yu’s loyal bodyguard. Her martial arts were really good, obviously, to protect her general. She was also very brave, not fearing anything and would go through any danger to save him. I was actually glad to see that she made it through. They needed her.
- Liu Yong Xi (刘泳希) as Chen Zhi Ying (陳芝瑛). Yan Feng Shan’s loyal agent. She was the one who lured Bai Wan back to the capital, causing her death. So, she seriously had no ground to stand on when she threatened Xie Huai An and demanded he paid for her master’s death. It was already a miracle that she managed to escape his revenge plot. Because they had more crucial matters to take care of. She, of course, was in the dark regarding the final chess piece (aka Yan Feng Shan being their hidden weapon). However, the most redeemable part about her was how she pushed aside personal grudges and managed to pass words along regarding the other matter. I guessed she wasn’t too dumb to not know the situation and chose to drive out the other enemy first. Because if it failed into the others’ hands, she would be driven out too (if she wasn’t hunted like the rest of her fellow secret guards).
Others:
- Huang Jue (黄觉) as Liu Zi Wen (劉子溫). Xie Huai An and Bai Wan’s father. He appeared here and there, mostly in flashbacks and Xie Huai An’s hallucinations. Yet he lived up to the powerful leader role.
- Zhang Xiao Qian (张晓谦) as Zhang Hao Ran (張浩然). Xie Huai An’s good friend in Huai Nan.
- Wang Mao Lei (王茂蕾) as Zhou Mo (周墨). Xie Huai An’s superior and good friend in Huai Nan. He was actually part of the secret guards sent to look for and monitor Xie Huai An. It was indeed a surprise reveal. It was also shocking that Xie Huai An reacted without any hesitation, killing him. However, it was revealed that Xie Haui An had orchestrated the whole thing, helping him fake his death so he could escape and giving him an out. Because Xie Huai An knew that Yan Feng Shan’s man wouldn’t let him off easily.
- Li Guang Fu (李光复) as Yang Xuan (楊軒). Bai Wan’s master. He was actually part of Yan Feng Shan’s secret guards who was there to monitor Bai Wan in an attempt to look for traces of Xie Huai An. Yet when Xiao Wu Yang took over, he committed suicide because he couldn’t see any other way out.
- Cheng Tai Shen (成泰燊) as Zhu Zhi Long (燭之龍). Liu Zi Wen’s subordinate, Ye Zheng’s master. He was presented as a loyal servant within the Liu household and after the tragedies, trained Xie Huai An and got Ye Zheng to assist Xie Huai An as backups. However, it was revealed later that he was also part of the Tiemo people who were infiltrating the kingdom and wanted to take over Chang’an. He didn’t think much at first except to lie low and push things along, using Xie Haui An as a pawn to forgo their plans. However, he became torn after his disciples confronted him. He ended up committing suicide because of guilt. It was a surprise turn because how hard he was working to achieve the grand plan, using his children’s death as justifications for killing the citizens of this foreign kingdom to take over. It wasn’t too unreasonable with his death though because he did care for his disciples. It was just that his past was too tragic so it rose above everything else. When confronted, he realized his disciples were right. They were also his family. How could he continue with the schemes, knowing he betrayed them? It was a hard move because Wu Zhong Heng had forced his hands, wanting him to kill his disciples to prove loyalty. It seemed to be his only way out without betraying either side. It was indeed tragic.
- Calvin Li (李宗翰) as Qing Yi (青衣). One of the top enforcers of Yan Feng Shan’s secret agents. I thought he died after that surprise attack from the siblings. Yet he lived and was forced to hand over a key piece as access pass to the secret base. It was also surprising that he talked so big but was so scared of death. I guess those who appeared to be the biggest bullies are also easily scared is true? Because he indeed backed off so fast and even left to leave with his godmother while the chaos was taking place outside. It was a brief appearance but he delivered. This role seemed like a bigger challenge for him than one of the other ones I watched. So, it did showcase his acting in a sense.
- Ai Li Ya (艾丽娅) as Auntie Xin (心姨). The old woman who was in charge of watching the entrance of Hidden Valley. She only allowed entry when there was proper documentation and a special coin. She actually had a very tragic past and treated Qing Yi like her real son. So, that was her soft spot, hence lying for Xie Huai An in exchange for her son’s freedom. I thought she would have been killed by Wang Pu as well. Yet she actually was one of the lucky ones who escaped.
- Liu Xiao Hai (柳小海) as Liu Zi Yan (劉子言). Liu Zi Wen’s younger brother, Xia Huai An and Bai Wan’s uncle. He conspired with Yan Feng Shan and was partially the cause of the massacre years ago. It was only because he was envious of his brother and hated that he was disciplined for his selfish actions. He personally killed his brother after Xie Huai An and his father barely escape the mansion. He never regretted in his actions and wanted to get rid of the last bit of the troubles yet he couldn’t win. He was the type that was beyond despicable yet kept justifying his actions throughout.
- Sebrina Chen (陈瑶) as Zhao Lu (朝露). She wanted Ye Zheng to help avenge her mother’s death. After her wish was fulfilled, she left. I was almost scared for her, considering how Bai Wan left and was met with a tragedy. I was glad she was able to start over elsewhere.
- Wang Zu Yi (王祖一) as Wang Pu (王朴). Yan Feng Shan’s strategist. He was someone who would be considered “don’t judge the book by its cover” because he was the definition of scary. Perhaps, he learned very well from Yan Feng Shan and lived up to his name. Because he was introduced as someone who was a bit cunning with his tricks at the market. However, he seemed so harmless with his attempt to please Wu Zhong Han. Yet when the actual scene rolled around, he was so ruthless that made half of the key characters in here seemed tamed. Looks were indeed deceiving. It turned out that his parents were killed by Yan Feng Shan by accident due to paranoia. He was brought back and raised almost like Yan Feng Shan’s child. However, he still understood the nature of things and that he wasn’t immune to Yan Feng Shan’s rules. So, he chose to stay loyal to Yan Feng Shan, not caring to avenge his parents because he claimed he didn’t know them. On top of that, he chose to die to prove his loyalty. Either way, he couldn’t. So, he was just another pawn in the game. His downfall was thinking he could outwit Xie Huai An. The actor did really well in portraying his role. I was really creeped out by him when watching how fast he could change.
- Jiang Chao (姜超) as Pang Tou (胖頭). A soldier of Gu Yu’s army. He was so funny with his tale during that night watch. It was so sudden and sad to see him die like that.
- Tong Lei (佟磊) as Ah Shan (阿善). A solider of Gu Yu’s army. He was another soldier who died tragically that night during the ambush.
- He Mei Qi (贺美琦) as Zheng Yuan Er (鄭媛兒). She was sent by Wang Pu to take care of Gu Yu while he was imprisoned. She claimed to be exactly like Wu Mei and would to do anything he wanted. It was just an attempt to subdue him and keep him there for the time being. Yet he didn’t fall for her tricks and she paid heavily for it. Perhaps, she also underestimated him because of her overconfidence in being able to seduce him. And it also had a little to do with the fact that he was considered a “cripple” in the others’ eyes.
- Wang Hao Ge (王浩歌) as Di Lu (狄路). He was part of the secret guards in the Hidden Valley. He was suspicious of Xie Huai An at first yet ended up becoming friends later. Unfortunately, he was killed off because he discovered Xie Huai An’s wound. It was a tragedy all around.
- Liu Yi Tong (刘怡潼) as Li San Geng (李三更) aka Han Zi Ling (韓子凌). He was believed to be killed by Xiao Wu Yang when he entered the palace at the beginning. However, that was an imposter paid by Xie Huai An. He had a bet with Xie Huai An regarding if Xiao Wu Yang would kill him or not. Because he lost the bet, he had to go undercover in the Hidden Valley to help Xie Huai An. He was killed by Wang Pu when they almost succeeded with their plan. It was indeed frustrating.
- Han Tong Sheng (韩童生) as Yang Chu Hao (楊儲豪). He was known as the wealthiest man in Chang’an. He was one of Liu Zi Wen’s good friends in the old days but ended up betraying him. Xie Huai An forced him to help with some plans and ended up letting him go. However, he was killed by a loyal employee. I guess karma? Because he thought he could get away with it all or start over again, thinking he redeemed himself and deserved a peaceful life? Because he was also backstabbed the person he least expected. It was really surprising too. The reason why I didn’t expect him to die was because Qing Yi survived. I thought it was like that situation where he fulfilled his end of the bargain, so he was free to go, just like Qing Yi. Who knew?
- Guo Cheng (郭丞) as Su Chang Lin (蘇長林). Before he appeared, I thought Wang Pu was the scariest. He took the title from the other guy. He was the definition of evil all right. It seemed like he was on the same wavelength as Wu Zhong Heng. Because he seemed to not care about anything but his own benefits. It was later revealed he was one of the Tiemo people, so he helped by stirring chaos within the city. He was later killed by Xiao Wu Yang, which was a little surprising but made a lot of sense.
- Sun Zu Jun (孙祖君) as Wu Yin Chong (屋引翀). The prince of the Tiemo people. He knew Xiao Wen Jing and was willing to negotiate but was just buying time and waiting for Wu Zhong Heng to make a move. He was another person who underestimated Xie Huai An and paid heavily.
- Han Bo Yan (韩渤言) as Fang Geng Hui (房更輝). Wu Yin Chong’s bodyguard.
- Yin Zhu Sheng (尹铸胜) as Zhang Sheng (張升). Zhang Mo’s father. His appearance was somewhat unexpected yet wasn’t too unreasonable. It was about time Xiao Wen Jing had to face the old man. It was their closure. Yet the situation later on complicated the matter. However, I thought the old man made a lot of sense. It was very frustrating to watch someone he thought was redeeming himself and going on a good path and then turning out to treat his own brother in such a way. Yes, he didn’t understand all the pieces either but even I thought it was a very bad idea to trust other guy to keep his words. I was only glad that the old man made it out alive with the others.
- Cheng Xuan Chen (成炫忱) as Lu Xiao Bing (陸小丙). A loan shark. He seemed very fierce yet cared deeply for his family. He also was a man of his word and helped Zhang Sheng safely evacuate the secret base.
- Chen Shu Jun (陈姝君) as Yi Zhi Hu (佚之狐). A medic who helped Xie Huai An with some of the plans.
Likes:
- The mystery and the complicated conflicts surrounding various groups. The surprise was one of the strengths of the series. I’m always a fan of mystery, so that element drew my interest and kept it throughout. The everchanging points of the plot made it intriguing and you just don’t know where it would lead. I did know it was too soon when they overthrew Yan Feng Shan the second time. But I thought Wu Zhong Heng was his backup plan. I didn’t know that Yan Feng Shan was keeping Wu Zhong Heng there to subdue him. After Yan Feng Shan’s faction fell, it opened up an opportunity for Wu Zhong Heng. Because all resources were used to fight Yan Feng Shan and how they went all out with the sacrifices, they were weakened. It was indeed a good chance for Wu Zhong Heng to strike. Yet Wu Zhong Heng also underestimated Xie Huai An the same way Yan Feng Shan did. That was why they lost. Perhaps, being Xie Huai An’s teacher made him arrogant. He thought there was no way the student would surpass the master. Or he thought of Xie Huai An as those typical hero who were restricted within some rules. He was wrong. In other words, this story was heavily filled with mind games, so strategies often win over physical strength. Sure, having a powerful army would help in situations. But having a good plan secured their victory.
- Costumes, makeup, and hairstyles. It was really high quality but at the same time suited each character, not trying to do some outrageous look just for kicks. Good call all around regarding keeping it typical with palace dramas but not too fancy either. It suited the general mood of the drama and the chaos they were going through.
- The acting from the major characters. The reason why I say major characters because I didn’t pay as close attention to some of the minor characters. They did their part and everything came together quite well. No one was overshadowing the other just for screen time’s sake. All contributed to the plot with just the right touch to bring it all together.
Dislikes:
- The somewhat abrupt ending. I might have go to back and watch some stuff. But the wrap up was a bit abrupt and didn’t explain some things. Maybe they need like or two episodes for the cleanup. Or I was just greedy to see what actual happened after Xie Huai An died and how the others would move forward from there. Like a little more on-screen what was happening instead of just the narrative version.
Discussions:
- The similarities between this and The Legend of Zang Hai. I didn’t want to go there because I later learned how there was some sort of beef going on between fans of Cheng Yi and Xiao Zhan (whom I both like very much). So, doing that would fan the flames more. However, I swear this blog is pretty dead anyway and it’s mostly for me. Not to mention how both were produced by Youku, so it wasn’t too surprising that they had similar scripts going on at various points. The hero’s journey of how they approached it was different, obviously. But some of the key points remained. Having Huang Jue and Zhou Qi in both made it really hard not to compare, even if Huang Jue only appeared a little as a special guest. What were the similarities? Both didn’t know martial arts but were strategists. They were betrayed by the person who guided them through the revenge plans. There were several parties involved in their family’s massacre that revealed themselves at different points. The royal courts was a major point in both with different power struggles. Obviously, the setup was different but various threats were fighting among themselves and outer forces at the same time. Given that I pointed out how unnecessary the romance arc was for the other one, I prefer this one. But that also resulted in Xie Huai An’s death. I guess it’s sort of a double-edged sword because there could never be a series where we could get behind 100%, so I had to pick between the two. I’m very used to watching Cheng Yi die in different series already so yeah. Both acted well though, there was no doubt about it. But because of the approach to the ending, I choose this one. Even if I did complain about it being abrupt above.
Recommended? Definitely for quality and if you’re a fan of the main cast.
