TaraVerde

Yeah, I.thought that too.

He died. He was carried back dead.

The moment he appeared on screen, I knew Yu Hou wouldn´t survive. It was written all over him lol - in fact, knowing Xu Bing in this kind of story and wuxias old style in general, casualties were as expected :)

Definitely, Xu Bing is my favourite director. I´ve already watched 4 of his dramas - he's the only one that managed to reach this achievement - , and loved all of them. Also, I´ve missed this kind of wuxia and the desert setting spoke directly to my soul; a breeze of fresh air, as expected from Xu Bing.
Besides production, writing, direction, overall storytelling and acting from the whole cast, Chen Kun was fantastic in his complex and conflicted character, my favourite.

There´s a spoiler tag for something. Please use it if you´re gonna give details of the drama. Really an annoying habit of not consider others.

The scrip and the director

90s and then around 2010/2020 (don't know exactly the span period)

Yu Hou character and Chen Kun performance are lit!

I'm a bit behind but...EP 7 🤌🤌🤌🔥🔥🔥

Your descriptions are spot on! I really liked that trait Xu Bing gave Zhang Luyao, the ability to read everyone's soul. She couldn't decide whether Yu Hou was good or bad... because he was indeed struggling inside. Of course, the moment the general is gone and he tossed that bell, his conflicts were gone too. (I'm about to start EP 7, so please don't spoil it for me lol)

Thank you!

Yeap, I get it. Xu Bing directed the second chapter, no MZY in there (the actress right?)..

I checked Baidu, and Xu Bing is listed as both writer and director, but then, in the technical credits, two more directors are listed after him: Zhang Shengfu and Xu Tian. Perhaps they were in charge of different parts of the production, such as fight sequences or filming in specific locations? And it also says they filmed on real locations, so I'm even more inclined to think Xu Bing is working with or putting together a new team, which could explain why some things feel different in the final product.

As the saying goes: Everyone is brave until a flying cockroach appears. Valid around the world lol

Xu Bing is known for taking quite some liberties in his adaptations. In fact, I liked his interpretation of Eastern Heretics and Western Venom origins in that installment; it was the only one I enjoyed - dropped the rest and didn't even try first one. In that regard,.he kinda did what Wong Kar Wai did in Ashes of Time. I'm sure Xu Bing likes WKW too, as I can see some influenced in general).

Chen Kun has being doing some movies.

I was filmed in real locations, that's a given. But it isn't clear how much is in the final result. I've been trying to research a bit but without success for more detailed info, so I hope you have more luck!. It could also be a technical thing (digital cameras, color grading and light exposure decisions) due to purpose intentions on the final result, a change of team or lack of proper time for post production. Who knows.

Already on EP 6. Enjoying it a lot with each passing episode.I'm having fun with all the characters so far. I definetely like Xu Bing...and Chen Kun.

Two episodes in, not crazy about it, but I like it and I'm curious. Very Xu Bing in the sense that there are quite a few things happening, but at the same time, the overall feeling is slow-paced. But I'm coming from a bunch of movies in that line, so it feels like home.

Although the settings aren't what I expected (they don't feel like real locations), it doesn't matter to me this time. Perhaps because there's a conscious pursuit of a mythical tale? I don't know, just theorizing. I'm more drawn to the atmosphere, the overall dynamic on screen, and the three main characters so far, with Chen Kun's character being the most interesting. There's still one more to appear, Gao Weiguang's, so let's see.

Surprisingly, I like Fang Yin's performance this time, and Xin Zhilei has always been my weakness when it comes to actresses, so nothing to add here... perhaps, once more, "what a stunning, magnetic woman."

Director: that decision in EP 7 was totally unnecessary 🙄

Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf9KRc4e5Jo&list=PLDZ-iGewGR8Qgao4zDNOIPwehCGAdKxw5