Less than a week ago, I was sharing links to watch “Sword and Fairy” 又见逍遥 with English subtitles online, and now I find myself writing a review! I couldn’t help but binge-watch all 40 episodes in under a week—I was completely hooked!
As a longtime fan of the original DOS/Windows 95 version of “The Legend of Sword and Fairy” and the 2005 Chinese Paladin drama, I was excited and nervous at the same time. Would this adaptation do justice to the beloved classic? Could this relatively new cast truly embody the characters we’ve cherished for so long? Thankfully, I was not disappointed!
The characters, relationships, and storyline differ so significantly from the 2005 adaptation that I found it easy to immerse myself without constant comparison. Deeply rooted in the game version I grew up with, I embraced this as a standalone adaptation. “Sword and Fairy” (2024) is the most faithful rendition of the original game we’ve seen, and it was executed brilliantly.
To me, a great adaptation doesn’t need to be a perfect replica of the source material. I appreciate when characters are fleshed out with deeper backstories and when plot elements are rearranged to enhance engagement and coherence. Since the mediums are different, the storytelling must adapt accordingly for television.
What truly resonated with me was the wave of nostalgia this show evoked. Fans of the original game are in for a delightful surprise, as it features actual OSTs from the game! The visuals, character designs, settings, monsters, and items are meticulously crafted, making me smile with every detail I recognized. Plus, the series incorporates some inspiration from the first drama, sprinkled with Easter eggs and references that dedicated fans will surely enjoy!
Please note: The review below contains spoilers. I recommend watching the show first if you want to experience it without any reveals!
What did I think of the cast of ‘Sword and Fairy’?
At first, like many fans, I had my doubts about the cast. I wasn’t familiar with any of the actors, and I didn’t think the leads matched the charisma of Hu Ge, Liu Yifei, and Ady An. However, I decided to give them a chance, and I’m so glad I did! The actors quickly won me over, and I found their portrayals of the characters genuinely likeable.
He Yu as Li Xiaoyao
He Yu was surprisingly charming, delivering a remarkably natural performance that truly embodied Li Xiaoyao from the game. His personality was very likeable especially how faithful and loyal he was towards Zhao Ling’er portrayed by Yang Yutong. It was palpable how deeply he loves her and how much he fears losing her time and again. I really loved his chemistry with both female leads, and he does a great job with the comical aspects as well.
He Yu did an exceptional job portraying Li Xiaoyao, especially in the final moments of the show, where his hopelessness and despair as he watched his loved one die were truly heartbreaking.
Overall, He Yu’s interpretation of Li Xiaoyao left a lasting impression, beautifully blending charm, depth, and emotion.
Yang Yutong as Zhao Ling’er
While her expressions mostly ranged from smiles to frowns, she beautifully captured Ling’er’s innocence, embodying the character’s essence perfectly. She is thoughtful and clever. She radiates sweetness and vulnerability, making you instinctively want to protect her. Yet, she’s far from a damsel in distress; she’s so bad-ass in battle with her spiritual powers it was exhilarating to watch. She is so overpowered!
I was relieved that her character didn’t take the “I don’t love you anymore, Xiaoyao ge ge” route like in the first drama, as that felt out of character and was quite difficult to watch. Although she did end up leaving Xiaoyao multiple times, it felt like she had her reasons each time, and I really felt for her. I loved her chemistry with He Yu and I enjoyed watching all their tender sweet scenes together.
While Yang Yutong’s acting has room for growth, I genuinely enjoyed her performance as Zhao Ling’er. She brought a delightful charm to the role that made it memorable.
Xu Hao as Lin Yueru
The casting of Xu Hao as Lin Yueru was pretty solid. Her costume and hairstyle, often in red, gave off strong Ady An vibes. Her bickering with Li Xiaoyao remains though not as annoying as the 2005 version thanks to a more balanced temperament. She is loyal and has a strong sense of justice and feminism.
However, due to shifts in the plot, it felt as though Yueru never truly had a chance with Xiaoyao, making her presence often seem like that of a third wheel throughout the series. It felt a little uncomfortable watching her constantly longing for Xiaoyao, while pretending she’s okay…
She shared great chemistry with both He Yu and Yang Yutong, making their scenes together a joy to watch.
Li Chuan as Liu Jin Yuan
Liu Jin Yuan was so… perfect? I found myself genuinely enjoying Li Chuan’s portrayal from his very first appearance, which is not what I was expecting! He brought Jin Yuan to life as a caring figure for Yueru, embodying someone who loved her deeply without being overbearing or annoying. His thoughtful demeanor and genuine desire for her happiness, despite her lack of reciprocation, added a poignant layer to his character.
Jin Yuan was not only emotionally supportive but also played a crucial role in the story, helping the main gang on multiple occasions with his wit and status. His presence provided both wisdom and humour, making him a delight to watch. I particularly enjoyed his interactions with Li Xiaoyao, which were pretty funny, especially during the ‘thief arc’.
His chemistry with Cai Yi felt authentic, which made the entire ‘butterfly arc’ enjoyable. His unwavering defense of her showcased his loyalty and depth. Sad that he was alone in the end.
Hu Yixuan as A’nu
Hu YiXuan brought a refreshing spin to A’nu’s character, striking a balance between the first drama and the game. She perfectly embodied the cheerful, cute, and slightly mischievous vibe of a young lady. I loved how they gave her a staff weapon and showcased her using bugs in action, though I wished she were a bit stronger.
However, aside from her relationship with Tang Yu, her character felt underdeveloped and didn’t have much time to shine in battle, despite having plenty of screen time. I really enjoyed her scenes with Tang Yu in the first half of the series and wished she had a more substantial role overall. Not the fault of the actress of course.
Ye Sheng Jia as Tang Yu
Yu Sheng Jia was the weakest choice for the role among the main leads. His performance lacked depth, failing to convey the complex emotions Tang Yu should have experienced, often resorting to just frowning and shaking throughout the series. Although his relationship with A’nu started off cute, it quickly became dull as their romance lacked significant development. Unfortunately, the plot didn’t provide enough substance for their story to evolve meaningfully.
What they did well
“Sword and Fairy 1” proved to be a remarkably faithful adaptation of the game, featuring stunning visuals, beautifully crafted settings, costumes, and creatures. I was surprised that they retained Ling’er’s Nuwa form design —woah :O
- The main cast did a great job, with 5 out of 6 members delivering strong performances
- The use of the game’s soundtrack was super nostalgic— they even included the battle victory music which was hilarious XD
- Xiaoyao and Ling’ers relationship was simply adorable. I loved them so much, especially the way Xiaoyao acts around her. I think it’s really precious. I also liked that we don’t see Ling’er pushing Xiaoyao away like she did in the first drama. She wanted to be with him but had so many secrets she didn’t know how to tell him. There was less miscommunication. Xiaoyao’s unwavering love for Ling’er, even when he lost his memory of her, made me appreciate his character even more.
- All the nods to Chinese Paladin (2005)
- They used the SAME actress for Xiaoyao’s Aunt which just made my heart so happy seeing her!! *_* I loved her character a lot, especially when Xiaoyao visits her in the past from 10 years ago.
- Some OSTs from Chinese Paladin (2005) drama were featured in the show and the ending credits which made me squeal like a fangirl. Except for ‘Sha Po Lang‘ I think they somehow managed to butcher a really nice song there with their remix… :’)
- Xiaoyao’s subtle tap on Ling’er’s nose (only happened once)
- Main group happily watching fireworks and shouting out their wishes
- The jade pendant made it’s way in the show
- Fight scenes were really well choreographed and I loved all the magic and attacks being used! The CG was pretty well done… Looked really cool and made Xiaoyao and Ling’er appear so powerful! It would have been nice to see Yueru get some power-ups too, but that didn’t really happen. Still, there were some truly EPIC battles that I found myself rewatching countless times, especially when the original game music played in the background! See my top 8 favourite fight scenes ranked here.
- Liu Jin Yuan (read above)
- Addition of “Wine god” and “Thunder god” added so much epicness. I didn’t expect to see the summons! *_*
- Main cast had a lot of screen time, without other useless fluff added in which was great to see.
- Really liked how Li Xiaoyao got more time to process and mourn Yueru’s death (almost an entire episode), giving him much needed closure.
Plot changes
- Keeping Yue’ru around longer, by rearranging some events so that she was here for it. I always felt like it was a shame in the game she never got to face-off with Bai Yue at all, and the game didn’t feel the same without her around. Nice to see her more involved with the overall end-game plot.
- Introducing A’nu earlier into the plot, without breaking the storyline. I felt like it was done in a pretty clever way (who knew her character could’ve been around from the early zombie arc days)
- Incorporating more of Li Xiaoyao’s parents and backstory into the plot, and how it intertwines with Nan Zhao. Definitely added a lot more drama (and heartbreak) to the mix. Sadly he never end up seeing his father which was sad :<
- Really enjoyed Xiaoyao’s relationship and interactions with Drunken Sword Immortal. A shame he had to die in the series.
Overall, this adaptation brilliantly captured the essence of the original while offering fresh perspectives and deeper emotional connections.
What could’ve been better
- The love triangle between the three leads was altered in a way that it heavily favoured Ling’er. And don’t get me wrong, I totally ship Xiaoyao & Ling’er pairing but because of Xiaoyao’s unwavering love towards Ling’er from the beginning to the end, there was no room at all for Yueru to stand a chance. This was probably intentional, but because of these changes, her character can seem like a tag-along for most of the drama, as she has no real reason to stay with them. She witnessed over and over again how much Xiaoyao and Ling’er love each other (countless confessions, reunions..hugs…the way they hold hands and gaze into each other’s eyes) but she keeps saying she wants to be there as their friend. I almost want to say to her ‘Girl, have some self respect and get out of there’. It was so painful to watch because it felt like she knew she had no chance… but then kept holding out hope. Even during the arc when Ling’er erased both their memories of her, Xiaoyao still showed no real sign of returning Yueru’s feelings, despite her being blunt about how she feels.. He is constantly rejecting her indirectly or brushing it off. When Yueru’s father blatantly shouted “He doesn’t care about you at all!” Xiaoyao says…nothing to refute. I kinda feel bad for Yueru….
- Yueru needed some special effects for her attacks, I think her character really got the short end of the stick.
- Too many memory losses. I know they wanted to give Xiaoyao and Yueru a chance to be together with Ling’er out of the picture… but idea was feeling a bit tiring at that point since Xiaoyao has already forgotten Ling’er twice. Not sure what they could’ve done here instead! I get the sentiment.. Ling’er was going to be locked away forever at that point and it made no sense for her to put the two of them in danger again for her.
- Lots of hugging scenes between Xiaoyao and Ling’er… but only 1 kiss scene in the entire drama? XD Dammit!
- Killing off Drunken Sword Immortal was sad and a bit of a deviation from the original story, but at least it was still a touching moment. Still, I loved his character and glad he got more screen time during the “time travelling” arc.
- The ending…. I don’t understand why they never explained what Sheng Gu did with the worm Xiaoyao collected to ‘resurrect’ her. Seeing how the drama followed so closely to the game, I thought the ending would be the same… instead there is still no Yueru.. Xiaoyao is still all alone with Yiru :( I guess I feel like I was mislead into thinking she would be revived. Ahhhh.
- Some arcs felt a little too long, like the zombie arc and peach blossom storyline. I felt like it could’ve been condensed a bit.
- As mentioned earlier.. Tang Yu needed some working for sure. Could’ve done with a better actor who was more expressive and also given a better plot. I felt like Tang Yu and A’nu’s story was a bit too basic for 40 episodes. Their ending felt a bit disappointing…
Summary
I probably have more thoughts I have missed, but I hope you enjoyed reading my review! All in all, really enjoyed the entertainment from ‘Sword and Fairy’. Nice throw back to my favourite Chinese RPG, and a nice reboot of the 2005 drama. I wouldn’t say one is better than the other; they’re both unique in their own right and will resonate differently depending on the type of fan you are.
If you’re a fan of the 1995 classic game, you’ll absolutely LOVE this drama. It’s the most faithful adaptation yet, overflowing with nostalgia. However, if you preferred the 2005 adaptation of Chinese Paladin, you might not enjoy this one as much, as the characters and relationships are portrayed quite differently—especially Anu and Tang Yu’s storyline, which is entirely unique.
I’ve actually gotten back and rewatched many scenes multiple times, including the final battle. To me there is definitely rewatch value, but hey I’m obsessed with the main couple :’)
Let me know in the comments below what are your thoughts? You can watch the entire series ‘Sword and Fairy’ with English subtitles here.
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