Finished it, from start to end a wonderful 80s (and partly 70s) homage - it has all the retro vibes, all the cars, all the humor, a portion of action, and some making out. I'm a bit confused at some comments/reviews, if you've seen any 80s lighthearted action, you know what the drama is about and what genre it plays with.
It was really fun, it was absolutely doing what it was aiming at, it had some short gutwrenching moments, but an overall lighthearted yet interesting plot. I fell in love with Joong's acting style along the way, but loved the vibe of everyone and their relationships with each other.
Biggest pet-peeve and a good laugh was the evil mastermind's inability to carry a weapon, but honestly so on point for the homage, who doesn't remember the supervillain giving their lengthy speech and getting kicked in the butt by their own plan? LOL.
If you like retro, if you know what a lighthearted series is about, you will enjoy it. It has some with heart written plot (just like the works it tributes to an overall very foreseeable one), and ofc if you aren't used to this kinda theme in a lighthearted way, it might confuse you a bit how it still keeps being lighthearted. If so, ask you parents for a good and funny action movie from the 70s or 80s, and you'll get it. A classic is for example Beverly Hills Cop, but there are TONS of movies with a lot of shooting and even more jokes. It's a fun and silly genre!
Also I loved all the references throughout the movie, the Titanic one is my personal winner. Though the last episode is gonna make me rewatch The Count of Monte Christo now, after I prepared enough tissues.
Did anyone understand the ending where Xiazi wrote an email to Wu Xie? Also will there be a movie about them going…
The ending is the beginning of what is most known as Flowery Night, a HeiHua book and prequel to the current DMBJ book (post Restart/Reunion). As far as I know it was planned to continue with the HeiHua cast of the movie for the drama, the movie being kinda a warmup and appetizer so to say. Since then, silence. We don't know what's going on with DMBJ and censorship rn, with Tibetan Sea Flower now finally airing after being finished and ready for two years, but under a different name and the current movie trilogy is also still missing the third part. My guess it they keep it low and silent to not wake the wrong people who might've laid eyes on the franchise. Tattoos becoming also a new censorship thing and all.
Flowery Night starts in Russia in the chapell they go to in the end of this movie, it later plays in Japan. It is a really good and creepy book which I'd really love to see as a drama or even just as a movie. The adaption they planned is on here under https://kisskh.at/755419-hua-ye-qian-xing. If you're curious for it until its release, merebear has also translated the book, imo absolutely worth the read.
Oh I really hope they cast the guys from Ultimate Note for this. I'd love to see a side story with both of them.…
As far as I know, the cast from the movie Mystery in the Abyss (Ji Chen and Ji Xiao Bing) was chosen for it, at least they also attended a dinner with NPSS (author of the books) after the movie and there were news I remember of them becoming the cast. Ji Chen plays a great Xiazi though (he also played in Tomb of the Sea) and as the rest of the fandom I absolutely adored Ji Xiao Bing as Xiao Hua in that movie. Personally as much as I loved the duo in Ultimate Note, I prefer the later stuff with more mature actors due to the decades between it and the characters being roughened up. The book was reeeeally good and really creepy, I'm on the edge of my seat for the drama, and since their performance in MotA was excellent, I'm sure it will be a pleasure to watch. That is to say, IF it's not swallowed by censorship. I'm a bit worried for that too, since I also have no clue how they want to present the opening scene, which was 100% supernatural stuff with NPSS simply writing his ass out with "this is just how it's rumored to have happened, it was not supernatural irl" and he was done LOL.
Oh also it's not really a side story, it's intertwined with the main plot where the book is currently at (post-Restart/Reunion) with references to the bigger things going on (also regarding the Mystic Nine) and the Xiazi/Hua-sided prequel of the current book so to say, foreshadowing some of the current elements. Ofc it's not super necessary to read, but I loved the insight it gave me.
I love the aesthetics so much already! And it sticks so close to the book, at least now in the beginning, wow. My biggest worry, Edward Zhang looking too old as Wu Xie, was solved with a good chunk of (well-placed) make up, lol. It works. And I just LOVE that they casted two entirely different actors for younger Wu Xie & Pang Zi, such an effort that pays really off imo. Excited to see the known cast, too! And now I finally have hope for Flowery Night to be released someday, which is such a great book 🥺
Technically you can start with each Daomu Biji drama. I think for this one it might be a bit similar to starting…
Haha yes, but you can take it slow and I promise, it'll be worth it. Once you've became mesmerized, you impatiently wait for any next drop of new stuff, as you can see at the reactions from everyone here FINALLY getting this drama with lack of any new promo. But watching one or two casually is also totally fine 😊
Technically you can start with each Daomu Biji drama. I think for this one it might be a bit similar to starting…
It is an entire universe, chronologically the following dramas exist: 0. The Mystic Nine (The whole pre-story for the "main storyline", plays in the 1930s) 1. The Lost Tomb 2. The Lost Tomb 2 3. The Lost Tomb 2 - Explore with a Note 4. Ultimate Note 5. Tibetan Sea Flower (This one here) 6. Tomb of the Sea 7. Reunion The Sound of Providence 1+2 Additionally there is the "Time Raiders" movie, which is a standalone about the whole book series, but it is more of a silly steampunk adaption (which I loved, but not for anyone ig). Also an anime and iirc another satire movie.
Plus side movies for all these "main" dramas, the latest are (all of them more or less standalone, all really good): "Mystery in the Abyss" [focussing on two other main characters], "Conjuring Curse" and "Misty Creed".
The book series is still ongoing and growing, the dramas are not always sticking to the books (for various reasons, sometimes because of the author lol) and have almost all a different cast for the same characters. A bit of Dr. Who-vibes there, just a heads up.
Fan favorites are Ultimate Note and Reunion (and Tomb of the Sea, but that one's not the best to start with in terms of lore, but it's so good fr) so they're the often recommended ones to start with. UN is more lighthearted and much brighter, Reunion is more mature and horror. Personally I started with TLT1 and 2 before then jumping wildly between all of them (Ultimate Note has hands down the best and most fight scenes, I couldn't resist haha) and I became a HUGE fan and have inhaled almost all books by now. So I think there's no "wrong" way, just make sure you have fun!
Also, if you're into reading and/or curious for the books: Merebear translates all of them and is our beloved book dealer lol. Check out her blog, she put a lot of effort into sorting the whole universe. Personally I find the newer books have gotten even better, but the "main series" (book 1-8) are very good as well.
I hope that was not too much and I really hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did when I was just looking at it for a friend :D I never expected to become a hotblooded fan, but it is just reaaally good.
is this stand alone series or is there a series before this one I need to watch?
Technically you can start with each Daomu Biji drama. I think for this one it might be a bit similar to starting with Tomb of the Sea - one of the main characters is not present, so it might be a bit difficult to build a relationship with him. Especially for this one, since it will be a lot about his (Zhang Qiling/Xiaoge) life and you'll get to know him likely only through flashbacks. If you want to know more about why they're so close, the dramas covering the previous books (Ultimate Note being the most popular one) could indeed be better for a start.
tl;dr it isn't standalone, but for some it works nonetheless. Some became fans from jumping right in somewhere in the middle, others prefered it chronologically. One main character is absent and will only be there through flashbacks.
I hope that this movie will be just as good as the first one, Conjuring Curse. Because the first one was a real…
Restart was orienting on the novel there, where Xiaoge was indeed away for most of the time. The only difference is that they didn't explicitly mention that Xiaoge was searching for a cure in that time. Actually, they sneaked in some parts together that originally didn't exist (and not to mention they have to go through censorship and can't be too obvious)
It's the introduction of "Moving Forward Through the Flowery Night", a HeiHua book set before Restart 3+4/Queen…
Oh yes, I can indeed imagine it on-screen super well! The best part was also "the structure of the building was to complicate to describe...just use your imagination" NPSS WTF xD With the chemistry of the leads in this movie I think Flowery Night could become the best adaption so far, so I really hope they consider the two for it if they plan an adaption.
It's the introduction of "Moving Forward Through the Flowery Night", a HeiHua book set before Restart 3+4/Queen of the West’s Ghost Banquet and their introduction to that arc. It starts in Russia in that chapel. The arc around the Banquet is the newest one and I think NPSS is finishing it rn. I can absolutely recommend Flowery Night (and the rest as well), as it's really focused on how their relationship has developed and is also refreshing with a more urban setting.
I'm a bit confused at some comments/reviews, if you've seen any 80s lighthearted action, you know what the drama is about and what genre it plays with.
It was really fun, it was absolutely doing what it was aiming at, it had some short gutwrenching moments, but an overall lighthearted yet interesting plot. I fell in love with Joong's acting style along the way, but loved the vibe of everyone and their relationships with each other.
Biggest pet-peeve and a good laugh was the evil mastermind's inability to carry a weapon, but honestly so on point for the homage, who doesn't remember the supervillain giving their lengthy speech and getting kicked in the butt by their own plan? LOL.
If you like retro, if you know what a lighthearted series is about, you will enjoy it. It has some with heart written plot (just like the works it tributes to an overall very foreseeable one), and ofc if you aren't used to this kinda theme in a lighthearted way, it might confuse you a bit how it still keeps being lighthearted. If so, ask you parents for a good and funny action movie from the 70s or 80s, and you'll get it. A classic is for example Beverly Hills Cop, but there are TONS of movies with a lot of shooting and even more jokes. It's a fun and silly genre!
Also I loved all the references throughout the movie, the Titanic one is my personal winner. Though the last episode is gonna make me rewatch The Count of Monte Christo now, after I prepared enough tissues.
My guess it they keep it low and silent to not wake the wrong people who might've laid eyes on the franchise. Tattoos becoming also a new censorship thing and all.
Flowery Night starts in Russia in the chapell they go to in the end of this movie, it later plays in Japan. It is a really good and creepy book which I'd really love to see as a drama or even just as a movie. The adaption they planned is on here under https://kisskh.at/755419-hua-ye-qian-xing.
If you're curious for it until its release, merebear has also translated the book, imo absolutely worth the read.
Personally as much as I loved the duo in Ultimate Note, I prefer the later stuff with more mature actors due to the decades between it and the characters being roughened up. The book was reeeeally good and really creepy, I'm on the edge of my seat for the drama, and since their performance in MotA was excellent, I'm sure it will be a pleasure to watch. That is to say, IF it's not swallowed by censorship.
I'm a bit worried for that too, since I also have no clue how they want to present the opening scene, which was 100% supernatural stuff with NPSS simply writing his ass out with "this is just how it's rumored to have happened, it was not supernatural irl" and he was done LOL.
Oh also it's not really a side story, it's intertwined with the main plot where the book is currently at (post-Restart/Reunion) with references to the bigger things going on (also regarding the Mystic Nine) and the Xiazi/Hua-sided prequel of the current book so to say, foreshadowing some of the current elements. Ofc it's not super necessary to read, but I loved the insight it gave me.
My biggest worry, Edward Zhang looking too old as Wu Xie, was solved with a good chunk of (well-placed) make up, lol. It works. And I just LOVE that they casted two entirely different actors for younger Wu Xie & Pang Zi, such an effort that pays really off imo. Excited to see the known cast, too! And now I finally have hope for Flowery Night to be released someday, which is such a great book 🥺
But watching one or two casually is also totally fine 😊
0. The Mystic Nine (The whole pre-story for the "main storyline", plays in the 1930s)
1. The Lost Tomb
2. The Lost Tomb 2
3. The Lost Tomb 2 - Explore with a Note
4. Ultimate Note
5. Tibetan Sea Flower (This one here)
6. Tomb of the Sea
7. Reunion The Sound of Providence 1+2
Additionally there is the "Time Raiders" movie, which is a standalone about the whole book series, but it is more of a silly steampunk adaption (which I loved, but not for anyone ig). Also an anime and iirc another satire movie.
Plus side movies for all these "main" dramas, the latest are (all of them more or less standalone, all really good): "Mystery in the Abyss" [focussing on two other main characters], "Conjuring Curse" and "Misty Creed".
The book series is still ongoing and growing, the dramas are not always sticking to the books (for various reasons, sometimes because of the author lol) and have almost all a different cast for the same characters. A bit of Dr. Who-vibes there, just a heads up.
Fan favorites are Ultimate Note and Reunion (and Tomb of the Sea, but that one's not the best to start with in terms of lore, but it's so good fr) so they're the often recommended ones to start with. UN is more lighthearted and much brighter, Reunion is more mature and horror.
Personally I started with TLT1 and 2 before then jumping wildly between all of them (Ultimate Note has hands down the best and most fight scenes, I couldn't resist haha) and I became a HUGE fan and have inhaled almost all books by now. So I think there's no "wrong" way, just make sure you have fun!
Also, if you're into reading and/or curious for the books: Merebear translates all of them and is our beloved book dealer lol. Check out her blog, she put a lot of effort into sorting the whole universe.
Personally I find the newer books have gotten even better, but the "main series" (book 1-8) are very good as well.
I hope that was not too much and I really hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did when I was just looking at it for a friend :D I never expected to become a hotblooded fan, but it is just reaaally good.
tl;dr it isn't standalone, but for some it works nonetheless. Some became fans from jumping right in somewhere in the middle, others prefered it chronologically. One main character is absent and will only be there through flashbacks.