So many costume dramas being released this month! I just finished Fated Hearts so I don’t think I have the energy to watch anything right now. Heh. I know, wha-wha-wha what are you talking about Kappy?? Remember the good old days of watching 6 dramas at the same time in different languages? XD Good times. The toddler in my house steals all my energy, I tell ya.
Sword and Beloved (天地剑心) is the third part to the Fox Spirit Matchmaker series, all adapted from the manhua Hu Yao Xiao Hong Niang (狐妖小红娘) by Tuo Xiao Xin. Male lead is the son of Wang Quan Hong Ye (Zhang Yun Long’s character in Part 2) and Dongfang Huai Zhu (Liu Shi Shi’s character).
Synopsis per Qiyi: The drama series revolves around Wangquan Fugui, who is trained as the ultimate demon-slayer of the Yiqi Alliance since childhood, meeting Qing Tong, a spider demon who infiltrates Wangquan Manor as a spy. Qing Tong’s presence allows Fugui to broaden his horizon and change his view on demons. Yearning for freedom, Fugui’s fervor for attaining world peace is gradually ignited. After experiencing extreme agony, he leaves Wangquan Manor with Qing Tong, embarking on a journey of self-enlightenment.
You can read the manhua here, or watch the donghua here.
Airing 10/25~ (All these costume dramas airing in the last quarter of the year!)
Blood River (暗河传) is adapted from the novel written by Zhou Mu Nan. It shares the same universe as The Blood of Youth and Dashing Youth.
Synopsis Per Youku: Blood River is the realm’s most feared assassin guild, jointly run by the Su, Mu, and Xie clans. They can strike royals in court and crush great sects in the wild. When the patriarch is poisoned on a mission, the three clans vie for the top seat. Su Muyu leads the Spider-Shadow unit and shields the dying leader on the road to a cure. He clashes with elder Su Zhe and old friend Su Changhe, and meets master healer Bai Hehuai. After brutal power struggles, Su Changhe becomes new patriarch and Su Muyu heads the Su clan. They launch the “Other Shore Plan” to drag Blood River out of the shadow and forge a new destiny, free from being anyone’s blade.
The Vanishing Beauty (美人余) is adapted from the novel written by Yi Bei. It focuses on women’s awakening, beyond the struggles of marriage and family, and reflects on their tenacity and resilience in today’s society. At the center of the story is our female lead, a famous blogger, envied by others for being lucky in love and in life. However, her perfect life cracks on the day of her fifth wedding anniversary and she’s thrown into the arena of dangers. Looks like Qiao Zhen Yu will be playing her scheming husband and Chang Hua Sen will take on the divorce lawyer role.
Liao Zhai (聊斋) is adapted from the classical Chinese stories collection Liao Zhai Zhi Yi by Pu Song Ling. My version of Liao Zhai was from TVB’s Dark Tales 1 and 2 in the 1990s. Lol.
From TMDB, the synopsis: A mysterious beauty’s severed head appears in the bustling marketplace. A fox spirit, trapped in the treacherous depths of human desire, struggles to escape her fate. When the Judge of the Underworld descends to swap heads and hearts, chaos erupts. A paper doll awakens to life with the final stroke of a brush, a wooden puppet grows a beating heart, and a withered tree stirs with forbidden longing. In this world where the boundaries between flesh and fantasy blur, ancient magic and human folly collide—revealing that even the most lifeless things may hunger for a soul.
This version will adapt 6 stories from the collection.
As you might have noticed, a slew of dramas wrapped up filming last month, so the natural order of things are for more dramas to confirm and start with their productions!
Looks like we are starting the new year with some strong competition!
Moonlight Mystique (白月梵星) is adapted from the novel written by Xing Ling.
Per Qiyi: It tells the story of Bai Shuo, the youngest daughter of the General’s Mansion, who aspires to cultivate immortality in order to repay a favor. On her journey to seek immortality, she accidentally rescues the great Demon King Fan Yue. As the saying goes, healthy fights strengthen relationships, and they go from mutual manipulation to mutual affection as they fall in love with each other. Bai Shuo (played by Bai Lu), the youngest daughter of the General’s Mansion, aspires to cultivate immortality in order to repay a favor. On her journey to seek immortality, she accidentally rescues the great demon god Fan Yue. As the saying goes, healthy fights strengthen relationships, and they go from mutual manipulation to mutual affection as they fall in love with each other, navigating a love affair intertwined with sweetness and cruelty. Even though they face countless difficulties, their love is strong enough to overcome all limitations, allowing them to truly embrace each other.
Airing 1/7~
