But the original duo novels for Mystic Nine was very weak and also short…. Hence why I’m super surprised. I actually read it within these few days out of curiousity… and I was kinda shocked at how bad it was. LOL. I think it’s probably one of the first few novels he wrote…. Also if I remember correctly, there is no ending. It came to a halt? Something like that.
The reason I brought up the screenwriting thing is because the current TV adaptation is probably 80% written by the screenwriting team.
Well for me it wasn’t so much Wu Lao Gou, maybe because I feel Joseph Zeng always plays these kinda roles. Or more of his expressions are always quite similar. To me actually it’s the chemistry of the whole cast. I think the only new cast is Jeremy Tsui, but he is very seasoned actually and he does have Er Ye’s demeanour… I actually am quite impressed with the new Yin Xin Yue they casted… Also very similar to the novel and she basically is like a mini Zhao LiYing… like the acting feels very organic, it’s usually difficult for this kinda modern fantasy Cdramas.
I couldn't move forward with Nanyang Mystery after the first few episodes so can't exactly compare. But Mystic…
Same, I hated Nanyang as well and I realised it’s because they stripped most of why Daomu Biji novels were so popular, because of the ‘realistic’ fantasy element…. IT’s basically just an action drama? More like Indiana Jones.
You are going to have a hard time with the weird colour grading and pretty bad CGI…. lol. But I’m glad I watched the first one like 2-3 yrs back. I mean I kinda had to force myself a little, but I’m a Daomu Biji fan…
Now that I think about it, only Reunion is at a similar level to this but that has a super high budget.
Honestly was a bit surprised with the level of execution of this one, and also the details of the expanded plot versus the novel… Usually the plot is where it becomes a bit weird or like the flow becomes a little odd. It’s likely because most of the cast already has experience with the Daomu Biji universe so their chemistry is very natural now. Ah yes, defo the production sets and CGI quality has tremendously improved… William Chan’s acting has defo improved…
He tried many different ways prior, like either he is the sole screenwriter, or like he hands the entire thing to the screenwriter, or he just acts as a consultant/advisor. But for this one he is the head of a screenwriting team and Youku provided two experienced screenwriters to write the base script, and he edited it and polished it,
Because this was a Mystic Nine story, I really thought it would be one of the lower end productions especially because the original novel itself is quite weak in terms of storyline, also to be fair, both were very short novels. I mean the precedent Mystic Nine adaptation wasn’t great in terms of script and production quality, it was mostly carried by William Chan and Lay Zhang’s acting/fandom…
NPSS has finally found a good way to adapt his novels.,. This is probably one of the most coherent plots and natural flow versus all of his other TV adaptations…. Well to be fair, the improved production quality and CGI also helps… this deserves at least a 8.5…
To those here who were confused about A Mao 😂😂😂you are not alone, even the characters in the drama are…
I finally figured out why!! lol. Because he is a collection of all the thoughts, habits and personalities of everyone close to him… lol. His ambition is influenced by WuYi + his so-called father, so it becomes a mixed bag, and then his actions and thoughts are influenced by his sister + Yao Yao…… which are two super different kinda people….
he basically doesn’t have his own personality, neither does he have anything which he really wants… maybe the only one thing which has been consistent throughout the drama and it stems from his own desire is his sister, to protect her and to be bonded to her due to childhood and upbringing.
Consort An, a biological mother of Li Mao, was his lover. She was executed with her clan. Beside, those two were…
Ahhhh… right, sorry. Never knew she was called Consort An, I missed that part… ok ok, now I get the personal grudge… I mean the second reason yes… but that feels more like an “official” work kinda reason… but the way he obsesseses over the case is definitely personal… ok, thanks!
part of me me thinking the same thing but li mao is really unpredictable. i agree whatever yaoyao said abt him…
I think he did see something in him, like basically a rough diamond… but I believe otherwise….. Because he is super easily influenced and brainwashed… It’d be disastrous if he becomes the Emperor…. I think the final 4 episodes will reveal if he is truly a confused child or an unpolished diamond that just needs more life experiences….
part of me me thinking the same thing but li mao is really unpredictable. i agree whatever yaoyao said abt him…
But do you remember in one of the earlier episodes? Like YaoYao was commenting on his personality and character…. And she realised he actually doesn’t really have his own personality…. Or anything that he really wants… she said he basically just likes whatever she likes….
I just realised that he is the type that is super easily influenced by whoever is brainwashing him… lol. Like he will just give in to YaoYao, then his sister, then his so-called father…. Regardless of whether he thinks they are right or wrong…..
I’ve always wanted to ask, why is Xie Huai Gui obsessed with the An-Lu case? These two clans/families aren’t related to him no? But he totally did a 180deg the moment this old case was reversed… I mean it’s like this is his true objective…. But I never understood why though….
part of me me thinking the same thing but li mao is really unpredictable. i agree whatever yaoyao said abt him…
I think the part where she hit the nail is that historically, a lot of Emperors are like that…. But the thing about Li Mao which makes me doubt him isn’t his contradicting personality….. it’s more of I don’t think he has a clear vision of a leader, like he is just all over the place…. I don’t think he actually even really wants to be an Emperor…..
Li Mao's final chance of redemption just evaporated. I now look forward to his death ☠️. Loved when Xie Jiayu…
Really? Then what about the strange request at the start of episode 24? I don’t know….. lol, I actually think there might be a twist coming up…. I mean don’t get me wrong, I still think Li Mao is such a confusing character…. lol. I keep wondering why the screenwriter wrote him this way, but then again I’ve met people like that in real life….
What was that look with Limao's eunuch? And before putting the sword to his neck, Wuyi seems to signal something.…
Haha, I noticed it too.. But it isn’t the first time that the camera keeps focusing on his strange expressions. It has been on-going for quite a few episodes…. I actually think that there should be a twist coming, related to this…. I don’t know. Maybe it’s the Empress Dowager who is still alive? I mean, it could be anything….
1 
24 
The reason I brought up the screenwriting thing is because the current TV adaptation is probably 80% written by the screenwriting team.
Well for me it wasn’t so much Wu Lao Gou, maybe because I feel Joseph Zeng always plays these kinda roles. Or more of his expressions are always quite similar. To me actually it’s the chemistry of the whole cast. I think the only new cast is Jeremy Tsui, but he is very seasoned actually and he does have Er Ye’s demeanour… I actually am quite impressed with the new Yin Xin Yue they casted… Also very similar to the novel and she basically is like a mini Zhao LiYing… like the acting feels very organic, it’s usually difficult for this kinda modern fantasy Cdramas.
Honestly was a bit surprised with the level of execution of this one, and also the details of the expanded plot versus the novel… Usually the plot is where it becomes a bit weird or like the flow becomes a little odd. It’s likely because most of the cast already has experience with the Daomu Biji universe so their chemistry is very natural now. Ah yes, defo the production sets and CGI quality has tremendously improved… William Chan’s acting has defo improved…
He tried many different ways prior, like either he is the sole screenwriter, or like he hands the entire thing to the screenwriter, or he just acts as a consultant/advisor. But for this one he is the head of a screenwriting team and Youku provided two experienced screenwriters to write the base script, and he edited it and polished it,
Because this was a Mystic Nine story, I really thought it would be one of the lower end productions especially because the original novel itself is quite weak in terms of storyline, also to be fair, both were very short novels. I mean the precedent Mystic Nine adaptation wasn’t great in terms of script and production quality, it was mostly carried by William Chan and Lay Zhang’s acting/fandom…
he basically doesn’t have his own personality, neither does he have anything which he really wants… maybe the only one thing which has been consistent throughout the drama and it stems from his own desire is his sister, to protect her and to be bonded to her due to childhood and upbringing.
I just realised that he is the type that is super easily influenced by whoever is brainwashing him… lol. Like he will just give in to YaoYao, then his sister, then his so-called father…. Regardless of whether he thinks they are right or wrong…..