The Ending: Classic of Mountains and Seas

Classic of Mountains and Seas 山海经之赤影传说 seem like a wholesome affair about a quest to gather seven warriors in a race to summon a deity, that is until jealousy rears its ugly head and everyone starts dropping like flies [spoiler alert].

The final episode begins with a one-on-one battle between Su Mo (Gu Li Na Zha) and Fu Er (Lan Ying Ying) and for the umpteenth time, Su Mo is defeated. Granted that Fu Er possesses black magic and a newfound ability for mind control; yet Su Mo's lack of improvement throughout the 46-episode run is equally frustrating.

Meanwhile, Chi Yu (Zhang Han) and his alter ego Xin Yue Hu (Zhang Han) are trapped inside an illusion. Desperate to escape, Chi Yu decides to sacrifice himself saying that he owes Xin Yue Hu who has remained in the shadows for most of their lives.

Nevertheless, Xin Yue Hu surprises with a sudden bout of altruism and instead, transfers every ounce of his energy until he disintegrates in a swift but heartfelt farewell among the unlikely brothers.

Baili Han (Li Chao) has obtained the Green Dragon's power and he has come to gloat in front of his old-time frenemy Bin Yi (Gao Weiguang). 

Scoffing at Bin Yi's unyielding love for Fu Er that stems from her resemblance to his wife, Baili Han reveals that Bin Yi's wife was his lover first, implying Bin Yi's marriage a sham. However, the joke is on Baili Han because Bin Yi knew the truth all along.

Realizing that the woman he loved had stopped loving him long ago, an enraged Baili Han deals a fatal blow to Bin Yi, leaving Fu Er devastated while he exclaims, "how come, when he was alive you didn't care, now that he is dead did he's important?"

To add insult to injury, Baili Han comes clean that the day Fu Er turned on Su Mo was a result of his scheming. 

While I feel for Fu Er, I do think that she takes the cake for most hated character so her comeuppance is welcome, more so because Baili Han is right in rubbing it in that her path to evilness would not have been so had she not been such a willing participant.

More deaths as Shangguan Jin (Kenny Kwan) and Ah Su (Liu Chang De) also die in the hands of Baili Han. Chi Yu might have too if not for Su Mo who makes a wish that finally destroys Baili Han.

Then comes the clean slate wherein everybody survives. 

Lasting Impressions: From the first casualty to the second to the third, it becomes painfully obvious where the drama is headed. Baili Han is the catch all, the ultimate source of conflict and the person to move the plot forward as seen by the number of issues he resolved in the last episode.

I honestly find the drama subpar but I enjoyed it regardless probably due to the fact that it is strikingly similar to an anime called Fushigi Yuugi.

Plagiarism or not, Classic of Mountains and Seas has a good concept and at the heart of the adventure are the characters. I could watch Team Phoenix just for their tireless banter and their back stories while tragic make for good TV. 

Mind you, I was throwing chairs when Chi Yu died and was replaced by Xin Yue Hu since real-life couple Gu Li Na Zha and Zhang Han had such sweet moments together, yet I grew accustomed to the ludicrous change made easier by a mellowed down Xin Yue Hu.

As for Su Mo's wish for world peace, it negates the events of the entire series, which is a reality that I neither loved nor hated though I suppose it's better that everyone is alive and serendipitous, putting a bittersweet end to the saga where only Su Mo and Chi Yu retain their memories. 

But what of Bin Yi, the scroll lady, her loyal wolf boy and even the face-stealing prick?

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

First Look: Classic of Mountain and Seas

Classic of Mountains and Seas is filled with sword fights and neon lights with its indiscriminate use of CGI. It's a fantasy fest that doesn't shy from its premise and after being introduced to the Red Phoenix and the Green Dragon warriors, I am neither dissuaded nor captivated.

Episode 1 begins with a brief narration of the celestial beings that roamed the realms, stating that only the heavenly maidens can awaken their power.

Back to the present, a swordsman name Chi Yu (Zhang Han) is desperately searching for a magical herb called Ghost Grass, which was almost within his grasps until Su Mo (Gulnezer Bextiyar) beats him to the punch, bringing the two together as they argue about who gets their keep. 

Chi Yu attempts to grab the Ghost Grass from Su Mo only to pull away after realizing that Su Mo is in fact a girl. It was a delayed realization for me too because I completely forgot that Chi Yu couldn't possibly know Su Mo's gender once she donned a man's clothing. Su Mo escapes but not before leaving Chi Yu the herb, which he needed to save his friend.

Su Mo is from the Peach Blossom Village, a sacred community said to possess the blood of the Heavenly Maiden. However, she is not allowed to participate in the annual ritual because she is merely an outsider that was adopted as a baby.

Su Mo sneaks in with her sister Fu Er (Lan Ying Ying) anyway but the ceremony ends in utter chaos resulting in several missing women. Su Mo and Fu Er barely escape thanks to the help of Chi Yu, Shang Guan Jin (Kenny Kwan) and Su Mo's ingenuity but she ends up derided by the irrational villagers for being the bringer of bad luck.  

First Impressions: Gulnezer Bextiyar is still strikingly beautiful. I first saw her in Rift of the Sky where she really didn't leave much of an impression other than being a pretty face. This time around, she manages to give more depth to the character by bringing out a lively and feistier heroine. Do I absolutely love her? Well, not really but it's definitely better than the first time.

Zhang Han is being Zhang Han and emoting the same way Zhang Han does, though admittedly he can pull off cool with his brooding swordsman poses. I can't say much from the first episode alone because everything about his character is still a mystery. 

What I can share is that the second episode is much better, providing a glimpse of what could potentially encompass a fight for the throne and an escalating conflict amongst the countries with our leads caught in the middle, whether they want to or not. 

Besides, I want to at least watch until I see Wu Lei. 

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

Dating News: New Loves and Old Flames in C-Entertainment

Love is in the air because who isn't dating or married?! Let's play a round of connect the stars.

Netizens still reeling from news of the Feng Shao Feng (born 1978) and Ni Ni (born 1988) breakup last year can rest assured since they each have found a significant other in the past month (bet they coordinated the release of the news).

Feng Shao Feng is one of China's eligible bachelors, a fuerdai 富二代 aka second-generation rich, good looking and successful in his own right while Ni Ni is supposedly pretty amazing herself. I say supposedly because I haven't actually seen her in anything except for Wonderful Friends (a celebrity reality show taking place in a zoo). Nevertheless, the couple of 3 years seemed like a match made in heaven so their separation was much to fans dismay.

Anyone speculating that the relationship turned south due to the 10-year age gap would have to renege on those words because here's a shocker with 37-year-old Feng Shao Feng (Ice Fantasy) currently dating 19-year-old Jelly Lin Yun (born 1996). The whopping 18-year difference doesn't strike me as weird, the fact that she's a teenager does.

Not to fret as Ni Ni (born 1988) subsequently announced her relationship with Jing Boran (born 1989) and both were coincidentally(?) bridesmaid and groomsmen in 2015's wedding of the year wherein high-profile couple Huang Xiao Ming and Angelababy finally tied the knot.

Jing Boran was in Love Weaves Through a Millennium opposite Zheng Shuang (born 1991) who used to date Zhang Han. She has since moved on to better things, becoming a face to be reckoned with because she's practically everywhere - dramas, movies, you name it.

Zhang Han (born 1984) didn't sit idly either, dating co-star Gu Li Na Zha (born 1992) from their collaboration on The Classic of Mountain and Seas. Gu Li Na Zha is the Uighur girl that literally went from unknown to starring role in Rift of the Sky, which also starred Liu Shi Shi. 

Having been a fan of Liu Shi Shi (born 1987), I am super happy to share her wedding shoot with real-life sweetheart Nicky Wu (born 1970). Yes, shippers' wildest dreams do come true even though it's technically Nicky Wu's second marriage after divorcing co-star Ma Yashu from his Xiao Shi Yi Lang days.

Nicky Wu and Liu Shi Shi officially wed last year, the photos came out this month and the ceremony is said to be held March 20 at Ayana Resort in beautiful Bali. Her 'sister' Annie Liu from Scarlet Heart will be the bridesmaid and the motif will take inspiration from the magnolia flower (wink wink). They definitely look adorkably blissful (more pics below).

Nicky Wu was recently with Zhao Li Ying (born 1987) in Legend of Zu and rumors say that she is dating a non-showbiz boyfriend. Am I hearing hundreds of broken hearts?  

Zhao Li Ying was almost always linked to Chen Xiao after the pair rose to fame because of Female Prime Minister Lu Zhen and their OTP so popular that it warranted a cameo for Zhao Li Ying as Yang Kang's wife in Romance of the Condor Heroes ROCH. 

Their onscreen chemistry might be sizzling yet in reality, I am quite happy for Chen Xiao (born 1987) and Michelle Chen (born 1983), both of which played the leads in ROCH. They have been dating since ROCH in 2015 and netizens are anticipating wedding bells by the end of the year, Jul 2016 to be exact.

Are you still following? Yang Rong has a supporting role in too many dramas (ROCH, Lu Zhen included) and I'm glad that she is breaking out of the mold to play the lead. Expect to see her in Legend of Flying Daggers opposite Hawick Lau and the love line continues since Hawick Lau (born 1974) is basically Yang Mi's (born 1986) hubby. 

Yang Mi is cast opposite Mark Zhao (born 1984) in upcoming c-drama Three Lives Three Worlds and doh, of course he's married too, to gorgeous Gao Yuan Yuan (born 1979) nonetheless.

There's no way to connect the dots with a non-showbiz person joining the fray as Zhang Tian Ai's rich boyfriend but my creative juices are flowing so here goes. Zhang Tian Ai's co-star Yu Meng Long, the 9th prince in Go Princess Go, is also going to be in Three Lives, so whaddayaknow, we've come full circle.

Source: GB.Cri.cn, YCWB, QQ, Tuxi, Baidu

The Classic of Mountain and Seas

The Classic of Mountain and Seas 山海经之赤影传说 or Shan Hai Jing for short, is a 42-episode Chinese fantasy wuxia starring Zhang Han (Braveness of the Ming) and Gu Li Na Zha (Legend of Nine Tails Fox) and it is also rumored to be the drama that brought the real-life couple together.

The plot bears a striking resemblance to Korean drama Legend but the story will focus on two of the four spiritual objects instead. In hindsight, both likely took inspiration from Shan Hai Jing, a collection of Chinese ancient texts that has been preserved since the warring states period.

It tells the tale of two friends who are destined to become the heavenly maiden of opposing tribes since only they have the ability to awaken the Green Dragon and Red Phoenix.

Zhang Han 张翰 is listed as playing two characters Chi Yu and Xin Yue Hu respectively, though I can't be sure if they are twins or one man with two personas, which is not that far-fetched in fantasy wuxia series. 

Gu Li Na Zha 古力娜扎 as Su Mo will play the guardian of the Red Phoenix and Wu Lei, the adorable little bodyguard in Nirvana in Fire will be part of team Phoenix. 

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

Source: Bizhi, Duitang, StyleTV

Braveness of the Ming

We see not only another novel-turned-drama adaptation but also another Korean-Chinese drama crossover in the upcoming c-drama called Braveness of the Ming 锦衣夜行. 

It stars k-actress Park Min Young and c-actor Zhang Han in a 30-episode Chinese period drama. Coincidentally, Suzy from Miss A was initially offered the role but declined due to scheduling conflicts. Am I the only one making a connection to Lee Min Ho?

Zhang Han's character in the drama is a commoner who becomes a Jin Yi Wei 錦衣衛, often recognized in pop culture as blade-wielding secret assassins that take orders from the king. Hold up, it's deja vu though because wasn't Zhang Han also an imperial detective just the other day. Park Min Young will play his lover and future wife and is looking stunningly awesome in ancient Chinese garb.

For synopsis, cast and other info, check out my 2016 Chinese wuxia recommendations.

Source: Shangc.net, BZ55, Yesky