You’re welcome! If you like wuxia, I’d really recommend trying The Blood of Youth. If you enjoy it, then watch Dark River afterward since it’s set in the same universe and focuses on the past of two characters who were already older in The Blood of Youth. I’d also recommend Joy of Life. It has a lot of twists and a strong political side to the story, but it’s still incredibly entertaining. Even if political plots aren’t usually your thing, I’d still really encourage you to give it a try :) I have more if you’d like 🙃
If you’re looking for a really good wuxia, I’d strongly recommend Joy of Life, it leans more political, but it’s still super engaging, full of twists, and keeps you on edge. If you prefer something with more fantasy elements, The Blood of Youth is a great choice. And once you finish it, you can watch Blood River since it’s set in the same universe and focuses on two characters when they were younger, before the events of The Blood of Youth. Both shows are amazing in their own way, but honestly, I think Joy of Life is one of the best wuxia out there.
The poem recited at the end, as Su Changhe and Su Muyu ride off into the sunset, goes: 极地地狱 可见光明 云雾皆散 得见明月
“Even in the polar hell, there is a light that still shines. When the clouds and mist disperse, the bright moon reveals itself.”
It is the same poem Su Changhe and Su Muyu recite to each other before Su Muyu kills Su Changhe — a beautiful yet deeply sorrowful reference, a tragically beautiful homage to their bond. In The Blood of Youth, it connects powerfully to their ending in BR. In BR, the poem carried a sense of hope and freedom; but in TBOY, it becomes a farewell — a haunting echo of their past as sworn brothers.
It strikes painfully in the heart to imagine what it must have felt like for Su Muyu to kill his brother, and for Su Changhe to realize, too late, the weight of his betrayal — that he had wronged the person he once called brother. He never made it to “the other side of the shore,” where they dreamed of walking freely in the light, no longer as tools of others, but as men of their own will, away from the manipulation of the Seventh Prince Xiao Yu.
Their story is truly tragic — Su Muyu delivering the final blow himself, not out of hatred, but as a final farewell to what they once shared.
What episodes do Su Muyu and Su Changhe appear in TBOY?
The Dark River first appears in Episode 15, where we’re introduced to Su Muyu, Su Changhe, and the other members. Su Changhe has more screen time in the earlier episodes, while Su Muyu becomes more prominent from Episodes 30 to 36. Their final meeting takes place in Episode 36.
BTW, Dashing Youth, The Blood of Youth, and the ongoing series Blood River are all set in the same universe. If you want the full story and don’t want to get confused by the characters’ names or their importance to the plot, it’s best to watch all three.
Personally, my favorite is The Blood of Youth since it was the first one released. Even though Dashing Youth is technically a prequel, I still recommend watching The Blood of Youth first, followed by Dashing Youth, and then Blood River. Some people prefer to start with Dashing Youth because it’s the prequel, but since it was directed by someone else, I find the storytelling a bit messy compared to TBOY. It might even make new viewers less interested in continuing with TBOY and Blood River.
Omg yes! I thought I was the only one who noticed the similarities between those two! And it has the same vibe…
Oh yeah, I know it’s set in the same universe as TBOY 😄 I just brought it up because Dashing Youth was kind of a letdown for me — maybe because it had a different director. BR being directed by Yin Tao (same as TBOY) totally explains why it gives off that familiar vibe!
I’m a huge fan of Zhou Mu Nan’s work and the whole world he’s built — love how it stays true to both the donghua and the novel. And hey, the fact that you’re a Bleach fan automatically means you’ve got great taste 😎 (we Bleach fans just get drawn to those deep quotes before someone dies lol).
The wuxia and shōnen genres share so many things I love — epic fights, philosophy mid-battle, and characters leveling up through pain and purpose. Definitely my favorite stuff to watch. (And btw, Joy of Life is such a gem too!)
He looks like The8 (Minghao) from Seventeen in that picture. I honestly thought it WAS him for a moment.
I’m a big fan of GOT7 too, and BamBam is my fave! Love him!!! And same, his little crush on Yetao is hilarious—bro literally fell in love the second he saw him, but hey, can’t blame him, Yetao is majestic lol. Meanwhile, Minghao was judging him so hard. As a fan of both, I was so excited when I heard they’d be hosting together, and they did not disappoint!
If you prefer something with more fantasy elements, The Blood of Youth is a great choice. And once you finish it, you can watch Blood River since it’s set in the same universe and focuses on two characters when they were younger, before the events of The Blood of Youth. Both shows are amazing in their own way, but honestly, I think Joy of Life is one of the best wuxia out there.
极地地狱
可见光明
云雾皆散
得见明月
“Even in the polar hell, there is a light that still shines.
When the clouds and mist disperse, the bright moon reveals itself.”
It is the same poem Su Changhe and Su Muyu recite to each other before Su Muyu kills Su Changhe — a beautiful yet deeply sorrowful reference, a tragically beautiful homage to their bond. In The Blood of Youth, it connects powerfully to their ending in BR. In BR, the poem carried a sense of hope and freedom; but in TBOY, it becomes a farewell — a haunting echo of their past as sworn brothers.
It strikes painfully in the heart to imagine what it must have felt like for Su Muyu to kill his brother, and for Su Changhe to realize, too late, the weight of his betrayal — that he had wronged the person he once called brother. He never made it to “the other side of the shore,” where they dreamed of walking freely in the light, no longer as tools of others, but as men of their own will, away from the manipulation of the Seventh Prince Xiao Yu.
Their story is truly tragic — Su Muyu delivering the final blow himself, not out of hatred, but as a final farewell to what they once shared.
Personally, my favorite is The Blood of Youth since it was the first one released. Even though Dashing Youth is technically a prequel, I still recommend watching The Blood of Youth first, followed by Dashing Youth, and then Blood River. Some people prefer to start with Dashing Youth because it’s the prequel, but since it was directed by someone else, I find the storytelling a bit messy compared to TBOY. It might even make new viewers less interested in continuing with TBOY and Blood River.
I’m a huge fan of Zhou Mu Nan’s work and the whole world he’s built — love how it stays true to both the donghua and the novel. And hey, the fact that you’re a Bleach fan automatically means you’ve got great taste 😎 (we Bleach fans just get drawn to those deep quotes before someone dies lol).
The wuxia and shōnen genres share so many things I love — epic fights, philosophy mid-battle, and characters leveling up through pain and purpose. Definitely my favorite stuff to watch. (And btw, Joy of Life is such a gem too!)