Song of Phoenix (Si Mei Ren)

Song of Phoenix 思美人 is a Chinese period drama set in the Warring States period about the historical figure Qu Yuan. It will be told in a modernesque fashion focusing on the love story between Qu Yuan and Mo Chou Nu.

Filming began January 2016 so expect to wait 1 year? 2 years? Then again, Ma Ke who played Sha Qian Mo in Journey of Flower is still riding high from the drama's success so it's possible that Song of Phoenix can secure an earlier release date to hasten his return to ancient garb especially because he just carries it all too well.

Ma Ke 马可 (Journey of Flower) as Qu Yuan is a talented scholar born to a prominent family in Chu.

Zhang Xinyu 张馨予 (Romance of the Condor Heroes) as Mo Chou Nu is his equally capable muse. Coincidentally, Zhang Xinyu's character is named Mo Chou again, which is basically her character in ROCH. Unfortunately for anyone who likes a happy ending, a name like that usually insinuates a tragic romance.

Qiao Zhenyu 乔振宇 (Sword of Legends) as Chu Huai Wang, the emperor of Chu.

TF Boys Yi Yang Qian Xi 易烊千玺 (Legend of Chusen) will play the younger version of Qu Yuan.

Source: Duitang

Journey of Flower

If Empress of China is the drama of all time ratings-wise, Journey of Flower 花千骨 is a close second, proving once again the intrinsic appeal of the fantasy wuxia genre.

Journey of Flower can be aptly classified under sadistic romance 虐恋, not a genre per se but a term that's been coined to mean exactly what it says, a gut-wrenching rollercoaster of a love story. These kind of dramas are a dime a dozen and they keep coming because people keep watching.

Adapted from fresh果果's popular novel of the same name, Journey of Flower finds its leads in Zhao Li Ying (Legend of Zu) and Wallace Huo (Imperial Doctress) as the ill-fated lovers Hua Qian Gu and Bai Zi Hua. Hua Qian Gu is destined to be the death of Bai Zi Hua but he takes her in as his disciple anyway.

Given that the series finished airing in 2015, it's safe to say that JoF pretty much won half the battle through casting. Aside from the fact that both leads are period drama regulars with plenty of experience under their belt, they already deserve an A++ in the looks department alone, embodying what I think the novel was trying to portray.

It's no secret that I didn't enjoy Journey of Flower as much as everyone and their mother but I'm now so tempted to watch the DVD uncut version to see if I can be a convert or forever be in the minority.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2015 c-drama recommendations.

Source: Duitang, Desk