OK, I'll say this once and for all before I even proceed with this review: THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST WUXIA DRAMAS EVER MADE! In fact, I would argue it's in the top three.
Now, it's time to talk about the stunning cast and costumes. First, I must be the millionth person to say that Li Hongyi is a triple threat: brilliant actor, strong with combat choreography, and prime eye candy. But let's not discount the fact that the ENTIRE main cast are exceptionally strong actors. Ao Rui Peng, Liu Xue Yi, and Li Xin Ze made my day whenever they were on screen, as did He Zhong Hua as the Xueyue Spear Deity and Dong Li Wu You as the Wushuang City Lord.
In fact, Wu Shuang became one of the more interesting side characters for me simply based on his hubris and tenacity, especially after taking the city lord position by force (threatening the council with violence). Seeing him slowly master the Wushuang Sword Box and run around getting into fights just to increase his strength-an attribute very similar to Lei Wu Jie's fiery, pure spirit-I was genuinely curious about where his story would lead. I would definitely be interested in watching a side arc showing his character development.
Back to the cast: it is rare to see so many strong actors together in one series. Even the supporting cast was top tier. From Du Jun Ze as the Jade Deity to Cao Yu Chen as the Tao Sword Deity of Mount Wangcheng, I was more and more delighted with the introduction of each and every character in the show. And let's not forget Deng Kai as Prince Chi. Not only did he do a wonderful job portraying this role, but I daresay he rivaled many of the main cast costume-wise and was strikingly handsome too (despite his character being the most ungrateful, petty, vindictive, and scheming person on the planet).
Regarding Li Hongyi as the ML: I love how Xiao Se/Xiao Chu He was both the star and the underdog in this series, having to work his way back to his optimal form. Despite his weakened state, his attitude was enough to make it clear that he isn't just anybody. I found it refreshing to see him slowly warm up to Lei Wu Jie, and I could tell that he saw his former self in Lei Wu Jie-a time when he was full of vigor and still unscathed by the disappointments and tragedies of the world. I loved their interaction, and it was a joy to watch the main cast grow together to form real bonds that transcend even life and death.
Now let's talk about the jaw-dropping combat choreography, the intricate naming system for the swords, and stunning CGI imagery. I'll sum these up with one word: SUBLIME!
This show allows the viewer to witness and savor the power structure established by the old leaders while cheering on the limitless potential of the upcoming youth of the martial arts world. The plot is solid and the ending gives us closure. After watching it for the second time, I still can't express enough how much I enjoyed this series.
If I could give it 20 stars, I would. Highly recommended!
