One of the things I enjoyed most in this is when the main character goes into disguise and does chivalrous hero stuff. Theres usually lots of hilarious content when he does that though it only happened about twice if I remember correctly. This is your basic regular-martial-artist-turned-super strong/strongest-after-journeying-the-wuxia-world-and-learning-skills-from-some-master(s) type of story. So if you're a fan for that kind of stuff (or Jin Youngs novel adaptations) you should definitely give this a go. It has all that ridiculous martial arts with people flying all over the place (aka wire-fu) and explosions happening lol (like actual explosions and not a lot of the crappy cg effects you see in Chinese drama these days due to budget restraints or whatever).
Overrall production was very well done. The characters immersed with expertly/appropriately designed costumes (got to respect actresses as nuns with actual shaved heads, or at least wearing props that make them look bald), so many awesomely choreographed martial arts fights, lots of non-cg explosions, so many epic moments and the build ups that lead to them, and a really good love story that pondered some challenging questions; The love of a man from a righteous sect and a woman from an evil sect and what it meant to be considered righteous/evil in such a time. Oh and theres bloody conspiracies.
Major flaw with this series is that there are parts of the story that seem out of place or missing. It could have you confused like you missed an episode even though you didn't. An example would be when the next episode does not continue from the cliffhanger of the previous episode (Unfortunately this happens quite a bit during the first few episodes and then once/twice in the later eps). I think they might have shot too much footage and had a hard time deciding what should be included in the final cuts. And thus parts of the story might have been cut off. This was my only major gripe with the drama even though it still ends up being my fav wuxia series. Also watch out for episodes being mismatched on streaming sites e.g. a video would read ep 39 but it’ll be listed under episode 38 in most sites (this exact problem is present in most sites except youre streaming on maybe dramafever, which probably has better subs as well)
Still the overall experience definitely makes this a must watch. So if you can ignore the major flaw I mentioned and make it past a few eps, you just might find yourself an enjoyable wuxia adventure with a love story you’d be happily shipping.
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Unforgettable wuxia drama
Laughing in the Wind is one of my top wuxia drama and Jin Yong adaptations. Whereas there are shows that are forgotten as quickly as you’ve finished watching them, this one still haunts me. I have flashbacks of scenes in which friends play music in the misty mountains or a hero mourns the death of his enemy as petals rain upon him.I loved pretty much everything about this adaptation. I found the main cast members to all be spot on. The plot is beautifully rendered: it is dynamic and vivid, full of quidproquos and mysteries, yet also poetic and evocative, soulful and contemplative. The characters’ arcs and inner life are fascinating. The landscapes are gorgeous. The fight scenes showcase the beauty and skill of martial arts. To me, this show is the twilight of a golden era, before the excess of CGI and before a time when actors are idols who can’t fight so close-ups and slow-motions have to be used to hide their lack of skill.
The drama has its flaws. I found the latter part to be messy and rushed. The viewer has to fill in some of the blanks to link different episodes together.
Overall however, I rank this adaptation as one of my very favourites among the Jin Yong’s works and among wuxia dramas in general!
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On the differences between the novel and the drama, I don't have a strong feeling on that because I understand that you need to take creative liberties with adaptations. It's not so realistic to have Ren Yingying appear as late as she did in the novel and it helps to cultivate the relationship between Linghu Chong and Ren Yingying by reimagining their first encounter. Other than this particular change, I don't believe there was anything too different from the source material.
The plot is actually very typical Jin Yong and even pretty typical wuxia. You can see parallels of the discussion of good and evil in Cha's subsequent novels like Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre, as well as other wuxia master's novels like Liang Yusheng's books. The story is essentially about the pursuit of wulin dominance and the things people resort to to achieve their aims. This is one of Louis Cha's most famous books so most C-drama watchers should be familiar with the story.
I actually like Li Yapeng as Linghu Chong. I don't think he's a bad actor. I watched the 1996 TVB version as well and I agree with most that Lv had the right vibes for the role, but Li was also good technically. He might not necessarily fit visually or disposition wise but his portrayal was alright. I do have gripes about his gestures because he was not relaxed enough but otherwise I found him pretty good. Xu Qing was the big surprise for everyone back then and I can see why. She was excellent. A top actor who showed that age really is just a number. She is widely agreed to be the best Ren Yingying and I concur. She was a highlight and a huuuuuuuge positive. To be honest, I don't think there is any particular misses when it came to the actors. Most of them were fantastic. I believe I commended Li Jie for a later adaptation of Legend of the Condor Heroes and he was equally good as Lin Pingzhi here.
I have also mentioned in multiple reviews that I prefer grand sets. Mainland productions have an inherent advantage because of their budget and the scenery that they can use. This drama is a great showcase of exceptional artistry and production value. "Realism" is huge and the sets and props actually look aged. That shows effort. My only complaint will be the hairstyles of the male characters, but it seems to be a recurring Zhang Ji Zhong production issue.
Unfortunately, C-dramas have fallen (perhaps due to restrictions which are consequences of environment protection) since the late 00s and recent productions use green screens extensively in place of natural sets. I'm still optimistic that they get better though, and I'm looking forward to more wuxia productions of similar or better quality in the future.
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An awesome, memorable, and enjoyable wuxia show!
Favorite Quote: "I made them spread the word so that you cannot leave me and stay with me forever!" - Ren YingYingPure nostalgia!!! What more can I say? Years ago when I was a little kid (6 years old to be exact) I remember watching a few episodes of this amazing show with my parents despite not knowing its title or the plot. But after so many years, I have finally found the show! While watching this wuxia in its entirety, I enjoyed it from start to finish. So what makes this show so interesting and amazing? Let take a look!
Story/Plot: This is a story about the adventures of a young martial arts hero named Ling Hu Chong who is part of a righteous hell bent on distinguishing between "good" and "evil". His story begins as Ling Hu Chong is purposefully framed, cast aside, and left to travel the treacherous martial universe alone. This drama does an excellent job in detailing the pain he feels as a result of the betrayal. While watching, viewers are left with a certain impression in mind and will begin questioning whether or not these righteous groups are good or evil. You are left wanting to find out more about what happens next as your curiosity develops into excitement for the next episode.
One might be asking, "Hey XDSon if this is the bulk of the story in Laughing In The Wind, wouldn't this be too generic or boring for a wuxia drama?" My answer to this would be no. As the story progresses, it is precisely this betrayal that directly leads Ling Hu Chong to develop into an highly skilled sword fighter. The story uses this and does an excellent job is tying in how he meets individuals who would play a major role in shaping his outlook on "good" and "evil". As Ling Hu Chong attempts to make sense of his new reality, he runs into many different characters and martial arts groups.
It should be noted that the overall mood and feeling one may get from watching show is that it is very dark. The scenery and colors of the drama also look more "darker" than modern wuxias especially after 2012. It's is not bright, but serves its purpose in making the show feel more serious and to help illustrate how dangerous the martial universe is. There's is also barely any "happy" moments and if it is, its very short lived. Now I will be discussing the characters in the next portion of my review.
Characters: Laughing In The Wind has some of the most complex and interesting characters in the wuxia genre. I'll first start by talking about two very essential characters, Ling Hu Chong and Ren Yingying. Both are portrayed by very versatile actors which definitely helped carry the weight of the story. I'll also keep it spoiler free for you guys. In the story and plot section, I have already mentioned a bit about Ling Hu Chong. One can quickly describe him as a being a very talented, kind-hearted, and loyal. Ling Hu Chong is pretty much kind and loyal to a fault. He is always shown thinking about others and prioritizing his masters wishes or wellbeing while he was still part of the sect. His loyalty comes into play when he protects those he considers friends and loves. Perhaps the most interesting part about his character is his growth in maturity while wandering alone in the martial universe. He eventually meets Ren Yingying who indirectly helps him TRULY distinguish between "good" and "evil."
The second most important character would have to be Ren Yingying (who also happens to be my favorite). I'll get this point out of the way first. Ren Yingying is a skilled fighter. Viewers immediately get the impression that she is one of the best swordsman in the martial universe in the first few episodes. With that point, I'll go on by detailing some her personalities and how I found her very interesting. Like a few other characters in this drama, Yingying's character development comes in two phases. The first phase is "Old Yingying" and the other is "New Yingying." Old Yingying can be best described as stubborn, "self-centered", vengeful, and at times cruel. So much so that she's regularly referred to as infamous "Holy Lady." She even masquerades as someone much older to get what she wants. By now you might have a few questions after reading this review. Will Yingying stay evil? How does she change? Aren't these negative qualities, qualities that may discourage viewers from continuing? All very valid concerns and questions, but hear me out. It is precisely her interactions with Ling Hu Chong that transform her "New Yingying." New Yingying is fiercely loyal to those she considers family, friendly, but also very determined and focused. The change is gradual, but very believable.
The villains in Laughing In the Wind are also worth noting. They are not your "cut and dry" typical villain. In many wuxia and xianxia dramas the villains can be easily identified. In my opinion, no matter how good a show is, a boring villain can make the show somewhat less interesting. These villains also go through many different phases. Some phases much more subtle than others. Their lust for power in the martial universe as well as their fixation on revenge leads them to become very memorable villains. Other characters get pulled into the struggle for better or worse. The villains in this show help propel the story's plot and helps flesh out many characters.
There's also not much to tell about the minor characters who appear in this show. That's not to say that they didn't impact the story what so ever. Each character, no matter how small their role is, plays a major role in the story. For example, the nun character. Her character is amazing helps bring up the "good" versus "evil" plot that this story focuses heavily on.
Alright what about romance? Is this show a romance heavy wuxia? Nowadays, most wuxias are very romance driven or the entire plot revolves around the romance between certain characters. This show does an excellent job in balancing the two. Both the action and romance does not get in the way of each other, but rather counterbalances perfectly. The romance is also very neutral. What I mean by "neutral" is that it doesn't give that "warm and fuzzy" feeling people get when they watch a pure romance drama/show. In fact, the romance in this show can either "make" or "break" certain characters. You will see what I mean if you do decide to watch this drama.
Soundtrack: The soundtrack for this wuxia is definitely on point. It sets the mood and plays during scenes where many things are happening. It provides this particular sort feeling as if we are apart of the show. Personally, the best soundtrack in this show, is the Laughing In the Wind song. The lyrics pretty much detail some of the feelings certain characters have throughout the show. The opening and the ending OST is also very nostalgic.
Final Thoughts: What an epic drama all around! For being 40 episodes, there's too many things to discuss. This wuxia drama also does a fantastic job in raising many questions that are often brought up in other wuxias. What is loyalty? What separates those who are "good" and "evil?" It also raises other things to think about when watching other wuxias or xianxias. Things such as destiny can bring two seemingly polar opposites together in the form of true love, the martial universe spares nobody be it family, friends, lovers, or enemies, and that you will only know precious someone is once they are finally gone.
Overall, this wuxia has the recipes for a being a perfect or near perfect drama. It provides numerous blueprints for future wuxias if they decide to go with the dark and gritty martial universe plotline. Laughing In the Wind has the story, the intense and interesting plot, fully fleshed out characters, balanced romance, action, and memorable soundtrack. Personally, this show is and will remain at the top of the food chain when ranking Chinese wuxia dramas. A solid 10/10!
I wholeheartedly recommend this show for those who love the wuxia/xianxia genre and isn't too big on romance.
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