Shi Jiu Ling (2022)

Fairy Tales and Ghost Stories

Order of the Sommelier feels like a string of fairy tales/ghost stories, which are connected through the two main characters: Fu Yu, who is a demon hunter and Bai Qi, who is a dragon. The audience meets them first at the demon tavern Bai Qi owns, a place that shifts between modern times and the ancient past. Different guests enter the tavern, bringing along their stories. Then, by the magic of the served drinks, the two main characters get involved in those stories, which take place in an ancient rural setting. The relationship between Fu Yu and Bai Qui starts out with a little hostility, but during their adventures together, they slowly learn more about each other and their tone changes.

The stories are simple, yet engaging, the plot keeps moving, but is never rushed, the actors bring the characters and their emotions to life, the music is nice and fits the scenes, its overall an entertaining and pleasant watch, if you don't expect spectacular sets and costumes or a dreamy romance.

the five story arcs (as you can find them on KUKAN youtube channel atm):

1. The Fox Repaying Kindness (about a friendship between a fox demon and a human)

2. The Imperishable Flower (about the love of a mother and separation)

3. The Distant Dandelion: (about different kinds of love and forced marriage)

4. The Parasitic Cure (about a miracle remedy and having low self-esteem)

5. The Promise of Double Ninth Festival (about a friendship between a spirit and a poor scholar)

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Little Gem

I watched this series on Viki, in the edited 12-episode-format.

Some people have mentioned that it's obviously low-budget -- but I think if the story and the story-telling is good, things like this don't matter much. And the story-telling is excellent!

First, the series is set both in our present and in the past (or maybe dreams) -- and they are beautifully interwoven. I loved how smoothly the transitions between both worlds are done.

There are five sub-plots (or rather short stories) about friendship, familial love, romantic love -- about loss, letting go, sacrifice, and healing. These are cleverly tied together by the "Demon Bar", a place where demons meet, and destiny brings customers to ... well, to what? To dream? To tell their story? To relive past lives?
What is real, what is a dream -- this is never quite clear; and in the moment when the sommelier (the demon hunter?) maybe grasps an important part of the truth -- the series is over.

I wouldn't even be sad if there's never going to be a second season, this ending is kind of perfect.

Throughout all of these sub-stories, we also follow the friendship (and it can't be more, it's from China) of the demon hunter and the dragon. The former gets some backstory and also some character development; the latter unfortunately not. Maybe he is supposed to remain shrouded in mystery.

On a personal note: I laughed a lot -- but I also cried at the end of every sub-story, especially the first two had me bawling my eyes out.

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