This review may contain spoilers
CLASSIC. I LOVE IT.
It's classic and I love it. Jin Yong is my favorite author, read his novels many times and never get tired. Reminded me watching 80th movies where realism is the standard of good cinematography. There isn't neat, beauty, jewelries dangling from women's hair or iron-press robes. What it is mud, messy hair, wrinkle clothing, and growling of painful thrown. This 8 episodes is only 1 part of 4 sets. There're 5 great masters; They are: Ouyang Feng (Western Venom), Hong Qigong (Northern Beggar), Huang Yaoshi (Eastern Heretic), Yideng (Southern Emperor), and Wang Chongyang (Central Divine). The tittle of this drama is 'Duel in Mount Hua' so they all should have met and fight to determine who's the most powerful and greatest martial master will own the Nine Yin Manual which everybody come fight to have it.This time is the beginning young life of Huang Yao Shi and Ouyang Feng as they first knowing each other. They both are talented in martial arts. His friendship with Huang Yao Shi is surprising, I mean I used to know they both aren't friendly to each other, a rival. In this drama apparently they sworn in brother rather kill each other.
Ep 6 is the best scene when Ouyang Feng (Guo Wei Guang) fight in mud. When he's in the mud, he slides and thrown into, mud caked into his face and hair - hard to win the fight for sure. I love Mr. Chai, he's cute and funny, I think Mr. Chai gives boost to the story, whoever the actor is giving fun entertainment. Guo Wei Guan is great as Ouyang Feng, as he's supposedly a Westerner his face is undeniably Caucasian. This Ouyang Feng first discover world, although very talented and powerful he isn't that masterful as older-him. He still get kicks and poison, lost his attendants and money too, still naive and straight forward. Kindness is still in his DNA (not when he's older though) and wants to learn the craft. His older-self though he'll become a crazy and venomous character, his nephew is actually his illegitimate son (he fathered a son from his affair with sister-in- law) whose name Ouyang Ke. Uncle & nephew (or father & son) has the same malicious character as going after Huang YaoShi's the Nine Yin Manual and Huang Rong for marriage (in Legend of Heroes: Hot Blooded), his famous stance is Toad (frog) Skill which will rip bloody heart out or aiming to the victim's head.
Huang Yao Shi most significant is inner strength and also gifted intellectually as well as arts & medicine, he's a melancholy whom lucky to find love in Feng Heng (Chen Du Ling) which she's also super intelligent and has photographic memory. Just too bad Feng Heng is bodily weak, she loves her husband and understand him too much. Judging by the book, she doesn't live very long, she'll die in early childbirth to Huang Rong. Sad knowing that because she's a lovely lady & well read. His meeting with Feng Heng is accidental, with his life circumstances I understand why he hesitant to take her in and also he doesn't understand feeling. Because of his slow acceptance of Feng Heng into his life, he put Feng Heng in danger forever sickness from poison. He'll live in regret for the rest of his life after her death, go down into depression and anger. He injured all of his students and banished, he live in seclusion with only his new born daughter, after many years he's out about the world again looking for his missing daughter . He'll be infamously known as heretic or eccentric - don't give 'f..k' about anything or anybody. No moral compass will bound him. Zhao Yi Wei seems to know Huang Yao Shi character, he spokes softly and mannerly, concern eyes for his sadness to Feng Heng, in the novel he's slander and mind his own business type of man.
I say the director and cameramen doing awesome job, very nice deliberation. Chen Du Ling as a young (& pretty new) hold up her acting in surrounded more senior actors, her presence soften the male dominant scenes. So good job to all who involve with this drama. I would say guys watch this drama first and continue to watch Nine Yin True Sutra which about Huang Yao Shi's students. The Northern Beggar & Southern Emperor, The Five Then end it with Legend of Heroes: Hot Blooded (2024) 4 of them combine appearance for their young generation and new heroes. All related but ofcourse there's next novel to continue on.
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8 Episodes of Brilliance
Beautifully written and powerfully acted. I was hooked from the very first episode. The storytelling is tight and focused, with no filler or wasted scenes. The pacing is just right, every moment carries weight, and the emotional build-up is both natural and impactful.The script is a standout: poetic yet grounded, respectful of classic wuxia traditions while feeling fresh and original. The directing is elegant and precise, allowing each character’s journey to unfold with depth and nuance. The lead performances are outstanding, charismatic, layered, and deeply human.
What I especially loved was the combination of intelligent, thoughtful dialogue and unexpectedly great humour. The conversations are sharp, philosophical, and emotionally charged—yet balanced with moments of dry wit and playful banter that bring warmth and humanity to even the most stoic characters. It’s rare to see writing that captures both depth and charm so effortlessly.
At just eight episodes, I only wish there was more—but I also appreciate how meaningful and intense the story was. It proves that you don’t need 40 episodes to deliver a satisfying, refreshing, and memorable drama. A must-watch for anyone craving great writing, direction, acting—and that perfect blend of soulful depth and clever humour—in one perfectly paced package.
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Amazing wuxia through and through
This 8- episode drama is part of the recent Duel on Mount Hua saga — a prequel that dives into the backstories of iconic characters from Jin Yong’s wuxia classic Legend of the Condor Heroes — and, in my opinion, it’s the bestt chapter from beginning to end.First, a clarification: each drama in this saga has different scriptwriters, directors, and cast members, although some of them cross paths in the final one. This means the vibe, pacing, storytelling, acting, and even the production aren’t aligned or cohesive. From the start, I decided to approach them as independent projects — you can do the same or go for the whole saga.
So, for this review, I’m talking only about Eastern Heretic and Western Venom, written and directed by Xu Bing.I’m highlighting him because people often overlook the importance of these two factors when watching dramas or films, focusing only on the actors — and I think this saga is a perfect example that really shows it.
The pacing here is fantastic. In each episode, not only you discover more about each character, but you see them evolve logically as events progress. The story unfolds smoothly, mixing awesome fights, bits of humor, and dramatic moments that gradually build in intensity, leading to a powerful climax near the end. You’ll find loyalty, friendship, lessons learned the hard way, misunderstandings, martial artists with distinctive techniques, tragedy, love, betrayal, cunning villains, morally grey characters… and so on.
One of its biggest strengths is the old-school martial arts action: close-quarters combat with fists, swords, and other down-to-earth weapons. They´re well chorewell-choreographed and filmed, have momentum, and slow-motion is used sparingly. The actors are also believable as fighters – you could even recognize some faces! People get dirty here (literally), and they die.
Direction is outstanding, and so is the script. The whole show has a raw, rough vibe that matches the story without losing emotional impact. There’s no forced poetic touch, no visuals pushed over content, and no music trying to force epicness. Yet, the soundtrack is amazing — from scene music to the ending credits. Sequences are exquisitely filmed, pleasing to the eyes without visual overstimulation, heavy filters, or forced aesthetics.
The casting is chef’s kiss. Not only are there seasoned actors, but also a director who knows how to get the best out of everyone, including the supporting cast. Zhou Yiwei steals the show, but Vengo Gao Weiguang is also charismatic, and the chemistry among the main cast is great.
So, if you’re looking for a wuxia with an old-school vibe, a compelling story, and entertaining, well-choreographed fights, this is without a doubt the drama you need to watch.
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1This review may contain spoilers
Duel on Mount Hua: Eastern Vegans and Western Roidheads
‒Review‒If you are not familiar with the Legend of Condor Heroes series, you might enjoy this. After all, this has some real actors, 'real fighting', and is arguably better than the 偶侠 idolxia flicks clogging up the Hengdian toilets. But if you are, just throw yourself off the nearest cliff right now. Because you'll probably survive the fall, but not this show. This is the kind of the show where the writers claw their long Mei Chaofeng nails into your meridians until snake poison oozes out of your orifices.
I tried to like this show, I really did. I ignored Vengo Gao's Northesternish modern accent, even though he's supposed to be from Northwest China‒Western Venom and all‒1000 years ago. And while derping over basic geography might be a proud American tradition, I wasn't as keen to partake in the other American tradition of derping over crazy bitches. Right off the bat, we get some crazy chick going after Ouyang Feng. She's supposed to be some judge/magistrate, decent at fighting, rich family, yada yada. Except our smart girl struggles to count to three, turned an interrogation of OYF into some get-to-know-your-hopes-and-dreams first date, and also unveiled her domestic violence aspirations by trying to duel OYF for no reason. Luckily it's only aspirational, as she sucks at fighting.
On the other side, we have Feng Heng, Huang Yaoshi's eventual wife. At this point, she's not perpetually slow-deathing next to HYS yet. But it's undeniably her, because she's already thrown herself off a cliff for reasons I don't care about. And of course she's alive but with some perfect excuse for being paralyze and slowly, very slowly, way-too-slowly dying. This may sound cruel, but there's some cosmic level passive-aggressive energy about her.
While the writers have bastardized everything about the Jin Yong classic, they still managed to pay a small homage to the concept of 以毒攻毒 poison vs. poison. It's the concept of using one poison to neutralize another poison. So clearly the writers are trying to neutralize the poisonous love-interest of OYF with that of HYS, and neutralize the cesspit of Nine Yin Sutra with the dumpster fire of this show. And looking at OYF and HYS, it was even starting to make sense. How did these two normal, cheerful (OYF) dudes end up so cranky and psychotic in later years? You glance over at their women, and it all made sense! At least the two have their brotherhood and bromance to sustain them, a refuge from their depressing love life. Ah this was the much needed progressive feminism script of 2025.
But it only took me an episode to change my mind as I realized that the two dudes are also retards. Ouyang Feng is a lousy gambling addict that derped away his savings and horse in one night. And Huang Yaoshi is even more passive aggressive than his future wife as he qigong-glides back and forth between saving her and and letting her get killed. And rather than making the world a better place, his passivity merely lets the wicked endure, and set up compromising situations that coerces him into bigger sacrifices. So the men are just as crazy and they all deserve each other. Ouyang Feng and his girl is like the roided couple that just does impulsive things like gamble and fight. And HYS and his girl are like the most vegan couple that can't even muster the energy to do some real shit and eat some real food.
Is my interpretation completely accurate? No. Did I probably miss some part of the script and whatever finer points in the rest of the episodes? Probably. But the script writers clearly missed a lot more of the plot, and a lot of grey matter in the brain. I had coughed up too much blood after 3 episodes to continue.
--Category Ratings--
- Overall - 5.5 (if you pretend it's not LoCH)
- Plot - 5
- Theme / Concept / Impact - 6
- Acting - 8
- Visuals - 8
- Audio / Music - 8
- Rewatch - 4
- Cultural/Topical Accessibility - 7
- Subtitle quality - 8?
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