The Legend of the White Snake (2019) [-]
Mar 20 2024
The Legend of the White Snake is a 36-episode Chinese drama-romance set in ancient China. It's loosely based on a Chinese legend of the same name.
The concept is that Bai Suzhen (Ju Jingyi), a 1000-year old white snake spirit, is commanded to mingle among humans in order to progress further into the Buddhist enlightenment. In the city of Lin'an she falls for a young physician, Xu Xian (Yu Menglong), and vice versa. But is opposed by Jin Ruyi (Yu Lang), daughter of Xian's employer and infatuated with Xian, though he doesn't feel the same. Bai also befriends a 500-year old green snake spirit, Xiao Qing (Xiao Yan), who is a lot more impulsive and careless than Bai. It's sort of an older/younger sister relationship.
The romance is good at times with Bai using her supernatural powers but secretly whilst Ruyi tries to sabotage them both and does so in more and more bloodthirsty ways as the series progresses. Both Bai and Qing are demons so they are constantly threatened by Fahai (Pei Zitian), a Buddhist monk Demon Slayer. But since they're both trying to be good he keeps appearing just in time to threaten or stop them from crossing the line.
Comparing with Who Rules The World (2022) which is also ancient China romance drama, I prefer the latter. The two main characters in Who Rules The World are fairly balanced in power and are more animated and alive. In this one Bai is much more powerful and even at times a better physician. Both Bai and Xian are very reserved so it's up to Qing and Ruyi to display emotions.
Who Rules The World the last few episodes seemed a bit meaningless. Here also the last two episodes are a bit of a letdown. Bai is finally forced to commit an evil act (could have been prevented if she communicated more with her by then husband Xian but there's a real lack of communication and constant misunderstandings throughout the series). There is a punishment from Heaven and a couple of decades of atonement before she is freed to be finally happy with Xian, although the final scene cuts short so we have to assume there is finally a happy ending... Oh, and I almost forgot that Qing has her own romance storyline that ends badly.
Anyway, I'd say this is a series to skip. There are a lot of good parts but in the end a bit disappointing so why spend the 20-odd hours watching it when there must be better stories out there.
The concept is that Bai Suzhen (Ju Jingyi), a 1000-year old white snake spirit, is commanded to mingle among humans in order to progress further into the Buddhist enlightenment. In the city of Lin'an she falls for a young physician, Xu Xian (Yu Menglong), and vice versa. But is opposed by Jin Ruyi (Yu Lang), daughter of Xian's employer and infatuated with Xian, though he doesn't feel the same. Bai also befriends a 500-year old green snake spirit, Xiao Qing (Xiao Yan), who is a lot more impulsive and careless than Bai. It's sort of an older/younger sister relationship.
The romance is good at times with Bai using her supernatural powers but secretly whilst Ruyi tries to sabotage them both and does so in more and more bloodthirsty ways as the series progresses. Both Bai and Qing are demons so they are constantly threatened by Fahai (Pei Zitian), a Buddhist monk Demon Slayer. But since they're both trying to be good he keeps appearing just in time to threaten or stop them from crossing the line.
Comparing with Who Rules The World (2022) which is also ancient China romance drama, I prefer the latter. The two main characters in Who Rules The World are fairly balanced in power and are more animated and alive. In this one Bai is much more powerful and even at times a better physician. Both Bai and Xian are very reserved so it's up to Qing and Ruyi to display emotions.
Who Rules The World the last few episodes seemed a bit meaningless. Here also the last two episodes are a bit of a letdown. Bai is finally forced to commit an evil act (could have been prevented if she communicated more with her by then husband Xian but there's a real lack of communication and constant misunderstandings throughout the series). There is a punishment from Heaven and a couple of decades of atonement before she is freed to be finally happy with Xian, although the final scene cuts short so we have to assume there is finally a happy ending... Oh, and I almost forgot that Qing has her own romance storyline that ends badly.
Anyway, I'd say this is a series to skip. There are a lot of good parts but in the end a bit disappointing so why spend the 20-odd hours watching it when there must be better stories out there.