The Holy Pearl (eps 1-8)

[walkwithheroes]

The Holy Pearl is a "fantasy-mythology" series that is loosely based on the Japanese manga/anime Inuyasha. I say loosely, because aside from the basic plot and a few similar characters, it really is a new story. (Though, I do think the creator of Inuyasha would have a good case if she decided to sue.)


The story starts off the way most of these types of dramas do, and honestly it didn't grab me until episode three or four. So far, what I really like about the series is the witty dialogue and most of the characters. I think the overall plot - girl from 2011 gets sent back in time and most recover lost pearls - is fairly standard in these types of time traveling stories. (See: Inuyasha and even Fushigi Yûgi - though she was looking for people there)


Dramawiki has the show summary as this: Jealous of her sister's popularity with the human they protect and the love she receives from the king, Mo Yin, the human form of Goddess Tengshe, colluded with the Demon Lord Shi You Ming to kill her sister Xian Yue. The act upset the balance between the God/ Human/ Demon worlds giving demons an upper hand. Xian Yue reincarnated as Ding Yao and returned to restore order. With the help of Wen Tian, a human-dragon hybrid, she set on a mission to re-forge the anti-demon vase using the holy pearls that Goddess Nuwa left behind from creating the human world. But, that's really just the first three episodes. Things get much more interesting and fun after that.





Xian Yue - I don't know why, but I find her to be rather boring. Maybe its just Gillian Chung?

Ding Yao - A heroine after my own heart! She thinks about stealing things to take back to her time. She's not fazed by the little things, but she does get fazed with creepy Kings and Demons. Love her!

Wen Tian - He's cute. He can beat people up. And, he's much more mature than his manga/anime counterpart. That makes him a winner in my book.

King - Creepy, obsessed, and a terrible ruler. (Did ancient China after any good rulers? Time traveling shows tell me that answer is no.) I find him to be way too creepy - keeping a dead body in a garden for twenty years - just so he can look at it? Creepy! Wanting to marry a look-alike of the dead woman? Weird! Ignoring your country to cry over a dead woman or to stalk her look-alike? Terrible and creepy!

Mu Lian - She kills Demons so easily! I really like her so far, but I'm worried her feelings for Wu Dao may lead her to trouble later on. Still, I'm glad she's become a friend to Yao Yao and Wen Tian.

Wu Dao - I like him. He's Wen Tian's half-brother. I love that he has saved both Mu Lian and Yu Die, just because he felt like it. I think that already gives him some hidden depth.

Yu Die - A runaway princess that pretends to be a man and that can't stop trying to save people, despite having no fighting skills? Yup, that's her. And, I like her a lot. She's cheerful and sweet. I'm glad she's sticking with Wu Dao for a while, even if I think it will end tragically.

Wei Liao - A great general and a brother to the Crazy!King. He plans on overthrowing the King and he's allied himself with the Demon Emperor. But, you know. . .I can't really blame him. He's intelligent enough to know that the current King is surely going to led the country to ruin. I have a feeling we aren't meant to be on his side, but I can see part of his point. (The only being he really wants some demon-loving from the female demon.)

Mo Yin - She's in love with Crazy!King and that is making it hard for her to see what's really happening. Still, she seems smarter than half the people we've meet, so. . .yeah. With holding judgement.

Ting Qin - Mo Yin's student. Faithful and loyal. I have no opinion on her at this point.

Hu Ji - Sexy demon lady whose seducing Wei Liao to her side. Interestingly, she seems ready to betray her Demon King, because he's not really doing what he should. But, I got to wonder - does she like WL or is she using him for her own gain? Time will tell.


Eight episodes in, and I'm really enjoying the drama. The characters are more or less likeable, the dialogue is good, and the plot is fast moving. I'll keep it. (Also, what's interesting is that Yao Yao's Dad said she could have gone to one of nine different places/time periods. Anyone else feeling hints of an actual or semi-sequel with that one? Too bad Mainland China has decided to stop all time traveling dramas/films/novels/comics after 2011.)

Comments

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

The series was finished with a sequel already on the way-I think they were assured they'd have it and were already writing it.. (Supposedly the only reason they chose to end it the way it ends.) It'll be pretty sucky if they don't get to do it after all.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Really? I didn't know there was a sequel on the way. The last news I read about it was that they were thinking of one, and that was back in March. Glad to know something is coming soon. And by soon I been two-three years. (Well, I know that Inuyasha ends in a nearly similar way, then fast forwards three years for an little bit.)

Also - have you caught up on Strange Hero? The whole think is subbed at Viki, but I'm waiting for the downloads. I just have episodes 27-30 to go. Very excited for the ending. And, thinking of the next wuxia to watch, too. (I have a list)

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Last I heard it was still a go.

I caught up with JiangHu's eps this week, though after Xiao Mei's story ended, they mostly made me angry.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Why angry?

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Because Ruyi was treated like nothing but an object throughout and only existed throught the male POV, only got to have her own voice when she was being tortured and is treated as if self-sacrifice for the sake of self-sacrifice is what good wives do. (Not that it's the first time the series has pulled the last.) And then right after, San Niang is suddenly trying to be a conventional wife or whatever and gets Damsel In Distressed.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Because Ruyi was treated like nothing but an object throughout and only existed throught the male POV, only got to have her own voice when she was being tortured and is treated as if self-sacrifice for the sake of self-sacrifice is what good wives do.

Oh, yes! I had major issues with this, too.

But, I don't see San Niang as the damsel in distress. She got stabbed, but she was tricked. Until then - and even after, she more or less held her own. I think it will be interesting to see where they take her character during the final episodes, because she is showing shades of turning into the "wife" or of being made into a "woman" simply because she's fallen in love.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Based on the portrayal of other wives and mothers and that she suddenly washes and mends clothes (Previously, I'm pretty sure her response to being annoyed with the condition of the guys's clothes would be to go rob some tyrant and use his money to buy them new clothes and burn the old ones, but smiling shyly and washing and mending is more "wifely." The wine doesn't bother me at all, as she's been after him about that from the start.) I don't hve much faith, particularly when you take into account that, aside from her mother (also a warrior) the stories of the other women in the series have ultimately revolved around doing things for the men intheir lives. It's just that, aside from the loser cricket guy, we could understand why they did and the narrative still meant us to like them and see them as strong, so the approach to womem could be pushed aside as an annoyance because we were still meant to have high opinions of them, but Ruyi's treatment makes it all extremely glaring.

But I think San Niang is definitely being treated like The Girl in the last couple episodes, and one of the appealing things about the series to this point was that she wasn't.

TBH, the backstory ticked me off enough that I would have ditched the series if it was in the main plotline, or had occurred earlier.

BTW, regarding next wuxia...Have you checked out Warrior Baek Dong Soo? It's a fusion sageuk, but basically Korea's attempt at wuxia. Patriotic Knights (based on another Gu Long novel) is fun, and if you haven't watched it yet, Fairies of Liao Zhai, though not actually wuxia, is great. I'm assuming you've seen Young Warriors of the Yang Clan.

I was planning to watch Clothing the World or Legend of the Condor Heroes next, but will probably wait. Maybe I'll do Madame White Snake or The Legend and the Hero, even though those are actually fantasy instead of wuxia, instead or another based on a Jin Jong novel.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I see your points and share your fears about San Niang being turned into "The Girl". TBH: I agree about the backstory turning me off. I also would have stopped if that were the first episodes. I can actually see why they placed it toward the end.

I want to check out Warrior Baek Dong Soo, but I'm on the fence with it. I may go back and read your pimp post to decide. I have watched Fairies and really liked it, and of course I've seen Young Warriors. I'm not interested in Patriotic Knights, at all. I need to finish Kingdom of the Wind and Bi Chun Mu, too.

I've heard Clothing the World is fairly good, but it's much more about rebellions and clothes and not so much about adventures. Most people I know really love Legend of the Condor Heroes.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I've heard they are doing a sequel - I think any drama already in production is exempt from time-travel ban. Which - yay!!! I am only 4 eps in, but I adore it, and my thoughts pretty much align with yours.

And yes on there is no good ruler in dramaland. But usually they can rule OK, even if cruelly, but this one just has mush for brains and is utterly incompetent.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

So glad you are enjoying it. It's fairly fun and slightly addictive!


He's just so damn creepy! And, I hate that the drama wants his to feel sorry for him.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I know - we are supposed to find him pitiable but all I can think of is 'run, run away' whenever anyone gets within 10 ft of him. Ugh.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

lol. Same here. I know his brother is working with the demons, but I'm still rooting for him to have a successful rebellion. He'd make a better King, because he's not as creepy. And he wouldn't spend all his time mooning over a dead girl's actual corpse. Ew.