TaraVerde

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.