Chinese Paladin 5 Episode 2 Recap

"If a person becomes neither human nor ghost, should it keep on living?", ponders Tang Yu Rou (Gu Li Na Zha) following a thoughtful conversation about an evil that turns humans into monsters.

She takes out her flute and plays an emotion filled melody that evokes Jiang Yun Fan's (Elvis Han) memories of his mother. Just as he did as a child, Yun Fan promises that he will stay by her side and that there is hope in everything. Surprised at the sudden words of comfort, Yu Rou denies feeling sad and stresses that she is simply playing music.

On the way home, Yun Fan and Yu Rou become increasingly anxious that they are being followed, which is true enough as a ginormous gorilla appears in their midst.

Yu Rou orders Yun Fan to grab her hand, earning a silly smile from him at the thought of warranted intimacy. She uses her powers to fly themselves to safety and a fight ensues until Yu Rou stuffs a magical herb down the gorilla's throat to reveal nothing but an unassuming man. 

Yu Rou attempts to tend Yun Fan's wounds only to realize that it has already healed. Yun Fan admits to having a unique ability and boasts that he has never been sick, saving his godfather loads of medical bills.

Back at camp, Yun Fan pulls a classic Yun Fan by exaggerating his role in the fight, much to everyone's excitement except for Cai Wei who remains skeptical.

While Yun Fan is out hunting, a shadow attacks and it turns out to be the gorilla man from before. Fortunately, Long You (Joe Cheng) arrives in time to defeat him and his eyes flash with a hint of recognition upon seeing the gorilla man in possession of a certain glowing stone.

Yun Fan is impressed by his savior's fighting skills and they exchange niceties that consist mostly of Long You's stoic glares and one liners. When asked what he would like as a thank you, Long You utters, "water." 

They walk to a nearby stream where Long You gulps down water like it's the best thing in the world. And of course, no scene is complete without the quintessential bath scene.

Cai Wei is still perturbed over Yu Rou's identity so she drags Yun Fan to sneak a peek. However, they're both in for a shock when something comes bursting through Yu Rou's door and neither of them notice that it is none other than a blown up version of Yu Rou.

Apparently, her transformation from petite to gigantic is her best kept secret and also the reason why her father captured eight men as sacrificial lambs to rid Yu Rou of her affliction.

Given that Cai Wei fell unconscious after seeing the thing come out of Yu Rou's chambers, the bandits begin to suspect Yu Rou.

Comments: Aww, the episode is cute if you don't take it too seriously. Though I gotta say, what message is it trying to send? Yu Rou doesn't look like a monster at all, bigger yes, but at the end of the day, it's still her. It's a pun on Shrek and Fiona, I suppose.

Chinese Paladin 5 Episode 1

First Look: Chinese Paladin 5

Chinese Paladin 5 Yun Zhi Fan (CP5) 雲之凡 comes back with a tried and tested formula that is familiar yet uniquely Paladin, rehashing the archetypical diamond in the rough, the ravishing female heroine and the quintessential cool guy to match the plucky second lead.

The series is led by Elvis Han, Gu Li Na Zha, Joe Cheng, Gina Jin and Xiao Cai Qi, a beautiful cast as usual and I expected as much from the Chinese Paladin franchise.

Episode 1 begins with a voiceover introducing the events 20 years ago when Jiang Shi Li allegedly colludes with the You Min Tribe, immortals expelled by the Goddess Nu Wa, to take over the human race. 

In the name of good, the Four Great Houses and the Seven Saints of Mountain Zu launch an attack to destroy the alliance. Jiang Shi Li is defeated and captured in a pool of red blob but not before he sends his pregnant wife to safety (so many against one, it's hardly a fair fight).

In the present, Jiang Yun Fan (Elvis Han) is a foolhardy lad under the care of the big bandit, his protective godfather, who wishes for Yun Fan to live a happy and carefree life just as his birth mother entrusted.

After a job that goes off without a hitch, the gang is astonished to discover that the treasures they lugged back to camp are merely eight men bound men kept in a box. Determined to find the real treasure, Yun Fan takes it upon himself to interrogate the head eunuch only to be knocked unconscious by a hooded figure.

Up in the air, a blue shadow soars at full speed towards the Mountain of Zu. Sensing the presence of a demonic aura, the Seven Saints of Zu Mountain rush to secure the blood jade which has engulfed Jiang Shi Li for the past 20 years. 

Long You (Joe Cheng) succeeds in breaking the stone but soon notices that it regenerates with surprising ease. Since the Seven Saints are at his trail, Long You retreats while expressing amusement at his current predicament. 

Long You is the 2nd Prince of the You Min Tribe and he learns that only a half man half human can wield the Fu Xi Sword that is powerful enough to shatter the blood jade once and for all. 

This person is none other than Jiang Yun Fan, Jiang Shi Li's long lost son who wakes to realize that he lost all the captives during his watch. Ashamed, he writes his godfather a letter saying that he is leaving to hunt down the missing hostages. 

Along the way, Yun Fan meets Tang Yu Rou (Gu Li Na Zha) as she is caught in a skirmish with a band of demon monkeys. Always the courageous man, Yun Fan runs to save the damsel in spite of Yu Rou being more than capable of handling her own as she helps him in the background.

Yun Fan takes Yu Rou back to camp where she is welcomed with open arms except for Cai Wei, the lone woman who finds something fishy behind Yu Rou's seemingly innocent persona. Upon discovering her medical skills, the men line up with their respective ailments and in order to find herbs, Yun Fan and Yu Rou head up to the mountains.

First Impressions: Despite being a fan of Elvis Han in Monster Killer, I find him oddly out of place in ancient garb. Apparently, so do netizens who pick on his auburn hair and the fact that he isn't Hu Ge. However, I refuse to stay fixated on appearances because that aside, Elvis Han has been decent as the unpolished hero of CP5.

While CP5 does not pack the same punch as CP1, in its defense, the original had the advantage of a fresh concept, enamoring viewers with iconic characters made more memorable thanks to a spectacular soundtrack. CP5 on the hand has enormous expectations to live up to, and for the most part, it manages to entertain.

Besides, talk about contrasting opinions because Joe Cheng and his blue mane is a clear winner. As an actor who got his break in Taiwanese rom-coms, he is killing it in his first foray into Chinese martial arts dramas by becoming the living and breathing incarnate of a prince from the underworld. Is he evil or is he not? I have to know (fangirls)! Continue to episode 2 recap.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 c-drama recommendations.

Source: Ent163

Upcoming Period Dramas May to July 2016

The Flower in Prison (April 29 MBC)

A drama about a female lawyer born in the prisons of the Joseon Dynasty and her resolve to fight for human rights. Starring Go Soo and Jin Se Yeon (eng subs on Viki).

Mirror of the Witch (May 13 JTBC)
A princess is abandoned for being born with a frozen heart until she meets a man named Heo Jun, the famed physician from the Joseon era who is revered till this day (eng subs on Viki).

Chinese Paladin 5 Yun Zhi Fan (May 23 Hunan TV)

The much-anticipated sequel to the Chinese Paladin franchise starring Han Dong Jun and Gu Li Na Zha. The series premieres right after The Classic of Mountains and Seas (eng subs on Viki).

Lucky Tianbao (Jun 6 QQ)
Two brothers fight over love and life in a historical comedy that's also a drama? Starring Kim Ki Bum, Zhu Zi Xiao and Zhao Li Ying.

Legend of Liu Shan Men (Jun 20 QQ)

Liu Shan Men is will revolve around investigative bureau in the Ming Dynasty. Starring Raymond Lan and Dilraba Dilmurat.

Decoded (Jun 20)

A pitting of intelligence not unlike the acclaimed spy drama Disguiser (eng subs on Viki).

Chang Ge Xing (Jun 23) (Jul 26) 
Liu Xiu and his friends are youthful passionate individuals during a tumultuous period and as time passes, they each end up playing significant roles during the Han Dynasty. Starring Ruby Lin and Yuan Hong

The bad news is Chang Ge Xing is delayed again but on the bright side, Ruby Lin and Yuan Hong have some exciting news of their own (eng subs on Viki).

Demon Girl (Jun 30)
A half demon falls in love with an earnest man from a wealthy family in a fantasy romance drama by Yu Zheng. Starring Zhang Zhe Han.

Old Nine Gates (Jul 4)

Set for a simultaneous web and TV broadcast, Old Nine Gates is the prequel to The Lost Tomb. Starring William Chan and Zhao Li Ying.

Legend of Chusen (Jul 17)

Another much-anticipated fantasy xianxia of swords and magic in a never-ending fight between good and evil. Starring Li Yi Feng, Yang Zi and Zhao Li Ying.

Border Town Prodigal (Jul 18)
Gu Long's classic wuxia will be remade with a fresh twist starring Zhu Yi Long and Viann Zhang Xinyu.

Novoland: The Castle in the Sky (Jul 20)
After City of Devastating Love comes another fantasy c-drama set in Novoland about the battle between the humans and the Yu Clan. Starring Zhang Ruo Yun, Guan Xiao Tong and SNH48 Ju JIng Yi.

Ice Fantasy (Jul 24)

The big-budget Chinese production about about the Ice and Fire tribes in a land of fantasy and magic. Starring Feng Shao Feng, Victoria Song and Ma Tianyu (eng subs on Viki).

Above dates are estimates only, the actual air date might vary. Dates that have been crossed out means that the premiere is delayed.

Crystal Liu and Yang Mi face off in Three Lives Three Worlds

Based on a novel by Tang Qi Gong Zi 唐七公子 (writer of Hua Xu Yin), Three Lives Three Worlds Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms 三生三世十里桃花 tells the tale of a romance spanning three lifetimes and Crystal Liu and Yang Mi will star as the lead in a movie and drama adaptation, respectively.

Undisputedly two of the most beautiful actresses in Chinese entertainment, Crystal Liu (born 1987) and Yang Mi (born 1986) are often typecast into the same roles especially if said role requires someone who looks like an ethereal goddess.

Is it any wonder that they have been acting in similar characters as early as 2005? Crystal Liu Yi Fei got her big break playing Ling Er in Chinese Paladin 1 and four years down the road, Yang Mi clinches the role of Xue Jian in Chinese Paladin 3, also opposite Hu Ge.

Yet the similarities don't end there. Back in 2004, Yang Mi portrayed the titular role of Xiao Qian in the drama version of A Chinese Ghost Story while Crystal Liu Yi Fei headlined the 2011 movie version of the same. 

They're not always pitted against each other though as I distinctly remember seeing them together in one of my favorite wuxia series titled The Return of the Condor Heroes with Crystal Liu as Little Dragon Lady (Xiao Long Nu) and Yang Mi as little Guo Xiang. 

A guide for wuxia newbies

Allow me to start with how I fell into the depths of period drama addiction. Growing up, my dad would relive his younger days of reading wuxia novels by marathoning adaptations of HK serials. As his trusty sidekick, I was amazed by this fascinating world of swordplay and martial arts and my childhood heroes easily became the iconic characters created from Jin Yong's imagination.

Back then, wuxia series were far from mainstream, yet my guilty pleasure grew far and wide, amassing a sizable collection of dramas that have become too many to count. Period dramas can be broadly classified into three categories even though most people usually lump everything historical under wuxia, myself included. 

Wuxia 武俠 is translated literally to martial hero with works of renowned authors Jin Yong and Gu Long almost synonymous to the genre, thereby sprouting an endless continuum of remakes and adaptations.

The genre is particularly appealing to me because it is not as far-fetched as xianxia but rather its characters are often well-versed in the art of fighting because of their practice of 'chi', a word that will surely ring a bell if you like Asian-infused action flicks. 'Chi' or 'qi' means air but it essentially signifies the life force that allows practitioners to perform all sorts of incredible feats, albeit amplified to an exaggerated extent. As a result, it is not uncommon to see kung fu manuals, fighting stances and then some inner energy transfer to save a life.

Chivalry is alive and kicking where people choose to live and die in the name of honor but I notice that this thinking is not restricted to wuxia but rather spans across most period dramas because apparently, people from the olden days are better versions of ourselves.

For my first pick, I recommend Lang Ling Wang (2013) 蘭陵王 starring Feng Shao Feng (Ice Fantasy), Ariel Lin, Daniel Chan, George Hu and many more. Lan Ling Wang is a beautifully-packaged romance drama with noticeable modern influences that also incorporates the charms of an wuxia.

Edited Mar. 2, 2016
I know that Lan Ling Wang is not exactly an wuxia in the truest sense and the comments against it are not unfounded, so I'm still in search for a newer better wuxia that could really serve as a nice introduction for anyone attempting the genre.

But for now, it doesn't hurt that the Lan Ling Wang cast is made up of popular c-drama actors and actresses and the story highly addictive so I wasn't surprised that it was widely-exported after its initial release. I apologize in advance though as Lan Ling Wang is not without its hair-pulling moments especially towards the middle of the series. Nevertheless, it makes for a very enjoyable watch and I hope you like it.

Xianxia 仙俠 is translated literally to immortal hero. It is a newer sub-genre that has been getting a lot of love mainly from younger fans. Since that's where you make the big bucks, production companies tend to make more and more such dramas that are also star-studded to boot.

Xianxia can encompass anything supernatural with the latest trend being adaptations of role-playing video games and the sky's the limit in terms of subject matter that can include monsters, demons, fairies, magical realms, elixirs and what not. If the characters appear to fly in an wuxia, they literally fly in a xianxia.

For my second pick, I recommend Chinese Paladin 1 (2005) 仙劍奇俠傳 starring Hu Ge, Crystal Liu, Ady An and Eddie Peng. It might be a bit older but it is the first of its kind and the best one in my opinion catapulting the up-and-coming newbies from yonder years to international fame. 

Until now, xianxia is not my preferred genre and I can't get over silly pet peeves like the characters being able to video chat via magical portals in a historical drama. However, I understand the innate appeal of an idol-cast so I continue to be hook, line and sinker'ed nonetheless, eagerly awaiting Chinese Paladin 5 like everyone else. 

Last but not the least is a made-up category that is just a catch-all for anything else. Off the top of my head are palace dramas, historical biopics and melodramas to name a few so for my third and final pick, I recommend Nirvana in Fire (2015) 瑯琊榜 starring Hu Ge and Liu Tao. 

I was torn between Scarlet Heart versus Nirvana in Fire despite the two being so different that they shouldn't even be compared. What holds true is that both are extremely successful dramas and even though the former is more mainstream, I ultimately decided to go with Nirvana in Fire because it is too good to miss out.

Nirvana in Fire is a massive 54-episode revenge drama that is a masterpiece of epic proportions so brilliantly written and thought-provoking. Lest I run out of adjectives, I will let the drama speak for itself so please, please check it out. 

It might seem like I'm going off on a tangent but many years ago, my dad decided to buy DVDs to the 2007 k-drama called Story of the First King's Four Gods aka Legend starring Bae Yong Joon and Lee Ji Ah. I won't go needlessly wordy on this but it's safe to say that like a happy kid who found a neighboring candy store, I started venturing into Korean period dramas aka sageuk 史劇 and never looked back. 

Also see 10 signs you're a wuxia fan.

Chinese Paladin 5

Chinese Paladin 5 Yun Zhi Fan 雲之凡 is the highly-anticipated third installment of the popular Chinese Paladin franchise. This is the first time that Hu Ge will not be appearing in the series, which is a relief considering his character Li Xiao Yao would have aged considerably since Chinese Paladin 1. 

Yun Zhi Fan's main leads are rising stars Elvis Han (Monster Killer), Gu Li Na Zha (Legend of Nine Tails Fox) and Taiwanese actor Joe Cheng (It Started With a Kiss). Elvis Han caught my eye as the man without a heart in Monster Killer but didn't leave much of an impression as one of Guo Jing's two disciples in the Romance of the Condor Heroes. Maybe short hair just suits him better because something also felt amiss in his Chinese Paladin 5 attire. On the contrary, Joe Cheng is sizzling with charisma. I never imagined that the anti-social genius in It Started With a Kiss would look like that in what I think may be his first period drama.

Much like its predecessors, Chinese Paladin 5 is about be the age old story of a man's journey to become a legendary hero, yet this time around, the protagonist Jiang Yun Fan's bright and positive persona is layered with the stigma from being the son of a murderous villain. 

On a sidenote, I was browsing through articles and apparently, Jiang Jin Fu (Legend of Qin) and Victoria Song (Ice Fantasy) were initially in talks for the lead. I follow k-pop group Fx and their leader Vic umma is drop-dead gorgeous but from the stills alone, the casting change was definitely a good thing. 

For more 2016 c-drama recommendations, click here. Release date: May 2016 (avaliable on viki).

Sources: Bizhi4493, JieMian