APrincessofMars
Ontario
A True Unpolished Gem
This review addresses both the original and fan re-edited versions of this drama. As I'm sitting through my second pass of The Legends, I started an account because of how compelled I am to write a review now. If you had gripes with the ending, hear me out. There is more to it than what you might know.
The Legends, a.k.a Zhao Yao, is a beautifully touching story about how actions, not your birth status, determine true character. This is most prevalent when comparing Zhao Yao (the female lead) with Luo Ming Xuan (the male antagonist) but it's a recurring trait throughout almost all the characters found in The Legends.
There is no shortage of vast character growth, either. Many of the mains, such as Mo Qing, Zhao Yao, Luo Ming Xuan, Su Ruo, Zhi Yan and Cang Ling go through so much growth/change they are simply not the same people as who they start out as. This is good, because decent stories want you to witness progression. As a viewer, you are on this journey as much as they are and it's rewarding to perceive the slow changes. For other side characters, if they didn't completely change, many still underwent trials that grew them in little ways, such as the vigorous Shi Qi, Pavilion Master, Qin Qian Xian, wandering demon Jiang Wu and even Tower Master Shen Qian.
However, if you thought this drama's biggest strong point was character growth alone, you would be wrong. It's actually the chemistry. Hot dang!
The two leads and eventual lovers Zhao Yao and Mo Qing (Li Chen Lan) played by Bai Lu and Xu Kai pull off such a believable magnetism that it will draw you in, completely. Maybe it's two characters written as such perfect opposites they match like puzzle pieces, or maybe it's the natural and effortless chemistry the actors carry with each-other? Either way, Zhao Yao and Mo Qing are ever-endearing and lovable as heck. Which makes the drama's eventual ending so tragic. The more invested you are, the more that ending is going to hurt.
This brings me to my next point. If you read about or saw the last few episodes yourself then you might think everything concluded all happily. But you might also have been left scratching your head. Here's the deal.
The script was worked on by the same author as the web novel, Jiu Lu Fei Xiang. She originally envisioned a shorter drama, with a happy ending, not unlike the book. When asked for more episodes, she changed a bit of the plot for extension. This is why a lot of the filler, even though it was filler never felt out of place. But this new script was written, directed and acted with the aim for an ambiguously tragic ending instead. Then somewhere near the end the decision was made to switch it back to happy, but so late in production meant it would have to be at the expense of Episode 51-55 (or 56, depending), the climactic episodes, making any sense. These episodes were chopped up and re-arranged out of order to fabricate a "happy" ending. The result was more confusing then satisfying and at worst, now anti-climatic.
What do you do with such a drama? Well I was not willing to let that stand, especially when the episodes contained most of the needed events to uncover the true conclusion, they just needed to be put back in order.
So that is what I did, and after two weeks, I discovered that the original intended ending is far more touching and more beautiful than what actually aired. It turns out the author stated fact. It's indeed, 'ambiguously tragic' but that means it is left up to the audience to interpret the very last scene, and for all 'intensive porpoises" it's actually ambiguously hopeful, we just don't get to witness the aftermath.
I liked what I saw (after editing) a lot better. It was fulfilling and dare I say, a perfect fit for the tone of the drama. This is one of the few times I agree with the direction it planned on taking. I want a happy ending as much as the next shipper but I would never request it at the expense of the climax, nor simple comprehension for that matter.
Now that is out of the way, the whole ending fiasco should be a big indicator as to what this drama suffered from the most. It's the editing. It's actually more of a tragedy then the episode finale. It's such a shame because so much about The Legends knocked it out of the park.
Costumes were elegant and double-meaning. Music was impacting and emphasized key moments. Cinematography; gorgeous! Sets were very unique, especially Wan Lu Sect. As stated earlier, characters are likeable, well written, with plenty of growth and the chemistry between Xu Kai and Bai Lu was just exceptional. Props to the actors who brought them to life because it wouldn't have been this good without their skill.
And yet, oh that editing. Why?
Earlier on you'll notice small oddities, such as audio spikes. Then, each episode starts a pattern of teaser sequences; scenes taken out of the timeline and played before the intro. Most times, you'll never see that scene again so you have watch, even if it's a spoiler but you'll probably won't immediately guess where it fits either. You might also be perceptive of scenes where the night filter was forgotten. Like when Zhao Yao appears during the day despite only having the ability to appear at night. Music will also sometimes overlap and play over transitioning tracks and often fade out clumsily, with episodes themselves ending very awkwardly in the middle of conversations. On top of all that, there is multiple cuts of The Legends and depending on what version you watch, some will even have cut content. Episode 37.....
All in all, the editing could have been handled a lot better. This drama did not deserve it, but if you can forgive it that, then you might walk away having a experienced a truly, albeit unpolished, gem of a Chinese Drama.
I will confess, I loved it more then Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. That might make me lose any credibility as a reviewer but it has to due with the important requirements I look for in every story I read or watch. Those three things being;
-a compelling story
-main characters I care about
-banging hot chemistry between the leading couple
Peach Blossoms is all three for most, but I found I loved the secondary couple of Dong Hua and Feng Jiu more then the main couple of Bai Qian and Ye Hua. That is why The Legends, funnily enough, became a bigger favorite. Though it has caused me a lot of grief to even reach that conclusion. Bai Lu and Xu Kai are a lot of what makes this drama work, and it seems they are some-what newbies to the acting business too. You can look forward to them again in Arsenal Military Academy!
If you are interested in the fan-edit cuts I made to episode 50-55 for The Legends, visit this drama's topic at Soompi forums and go to page 56.
The Legends, a.k.a Zhao Yao, is a beautifully touching story about how actions, not your birth status, determine true character. This is most prevalent when comparing Zhao Yao (the female lead) with Luo Ming Xuan (the male antagonist) but it's a recurring trait throughout almost all the characters found in The Legends.
There is no shortage of vast character growth, either. Many of the mains, such as Mo Qing, Zhao Yao, Luo Ming Xuan, Su Ruo, Zhi Yan and Cang Ling go through so much growth/change they are simply not the same people as who they start out as. This is good, because decent stories want you to witness progression. As a viewer, you are on this journey as much as they are and it's rewarding to perceive the slow changes. For other side characters, if they didn't completely change, many still underwent trials that grew them in little ways, such as the vigorous Shi Qi, Pavilion Master, Qin Qian Xian, wandering demon Jiang Wu and even Tower Master Shen Qian.
However, if you thought this drama's biggest strong point was character growth alone, you would be wrong. It's actually the chemistry. Hot dang!
The two leads and eventual lovers Zhao Yao and Mo Qing (Li Chen Lan) played by Bai Lu and Xu Kai pull off such a believable magnetism that it will draw you in, completely. Maybe it's two characters written as such perfect opposites they match like puzzle pieces, or maybe it's the natural and effortless chemistry the actors carry with each-other? Either way, Zhao Yao and Mo Qing are ever-endearing and lovable as heck. Which makes the drama's eventual ending so tragic. The more invested you are, the more that ending is going to hurt.
This brings me to my next point. If you read about or saw the last few episodes yourself then you might think everything concluded all happily. But you might also have been left scratching your head. Here's the deal.
The script was worked on by the same author as the web novel, Jiu Lu Fei Xiang. She originally envisioned a shorter drama, with a happy ending, not unlike the book. When asked for more episodes, she changed a bit of the plot for extension. This is why a lot of the filler, even though it was filler never felt out of place. But this new script was written, directed and acted with the aim for an ambiguously tragic ending instead. Then somewhere near the end the decision was made to switch it back to happy, but so late in production meant it would have to be at the expense of Episode 51-55 (or 56, depending), the climactic episodes, making any sense. These episodes were chopped up and re-arranged out of order to fabricate a "happy" ending. The result was more confusing then satisfying and at worst, now anti-climatic.
What do you do with such a drama? Well I was not willing to let that stand, especially when the episodes contained most of the needed events to uncover the true conclusion, they just needed to be put back in order.
So that is what I did, and after two weeks, I discovered that the original intended ending is far more touching and more beautiful than what actually aired. It turns out the author stated fact. It's indeed, 'ambiguously tragic' but that means it is left up to the audience to interpret the very last scene, and for all 'intensive porpoises" it's actually ambiguously hopeful, we just don't get to witness the aftermath.
I liked what I saw (after editing) a lot better. It was fulfilling and dare I say, a perfect fit for the tone of the drama. This is one of the few times I agree with the direction it planned on taking. I want a happy ending as much as the next shipper but I would never request it at the expense of the climax, nor simple comprehension for that matter.
Now that is out of the way, the whole ending fiasco should be a big indicator as to what this drama suffered from the most. It's the editing. It's actually more of a tragedy then the episode finale. It's such a shame because so much about The Legends knocked it out of the park.
Costumes were elegant and double-meaning. Music was impacting and emphasized key moments. Cinematography; gorgeous! Sets were very unique, especially Wan Lu Sect. As stated earlier, characters are likeable, well written, with plenty of growth and the chemistry between Xu Kai and Bai Lu was just exceptional. Props to the actors who brought them to life because it wouldn't have been this good without their skill.
And yet, oh that editing. Why?
Earlier on you'll notice small oddities, such as audio spikes. Then, each episode starts a pattern of teaser sequences; scenes taken out of the timeline and played before the intro. Most times, you'll never see that scene again so you have watch, even if it's a spoiler but you'll probably won't immediately guess where it fits either. You might also be perceptive of scenes where the night filter was forgotten. Like when Zhao Yao appears during the day despite only having the ability to appear at night. Music will also sometimes overlap and play over transitioning tracks and often fade out clumsily, with episodes themselves ending very awkwardly in the middle of conversations. On top of all that, there is multiple cuts of The Legends and depending on what version you watch, some will even have cut content. Episode 37.....
All in all, the editing could have been handled a lot better. This drama did not deserve it, but if you can forgive it that, then you might walk away having a experienced a truly, albeit unpolished, gem of a Chinese Drama.
I will confess, I loved it more then Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. That might make me lose any credibility as a reviewer but it has to due with the important requirements I look for in every story I read or watch. Those three things being;
-a compelling story
-main characters I care about
-banging hot chemistry between the leading couple
Peach Blossoms is all three for most, but I found I loved the secondary couple of Dong Hua and Feng Jiu more then the main couple of Bai Qian and Ye Hua. That is why The Legends, funnily enough, became a bigger favorite. Though it has caused me a lot of grief to even reach that conclusion. Bai Lu and Xu Kai are a lot of what makes this drama work, and it seems they are some-what newbies to the acting business too. You can look forward to them again in Arsenal Military Academy!
If you are interested in the fan-edit cuts I made to episode 50-55 for The Legends, visit this drama's topic at Soompi forums and go to page 56.
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