The history of the development of martial arts dramas can be described in one sentence - thirty years of Hedong, thirty years of Hexi!
Once upon a time, martial arts dramas were surging and popular, becoming the carrier of Chinese culture to the world.
"Smiling Rivers and Lakes", "The Legend of the Sky and Dragon Slayer", "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", "The Condor Heroes".....
With the popularity of one martial arts theme after another, it has established the status of Jin Yong, Gu Long, Liang Yusheng, and Wen Ruian in the hearts of the audience.
However, in the past 10 years, the scenery of martial arts dramas is no longer there, classic IP adaptations frequently overturn, not to mention, shoddy manufacturing is not uncommon.
The reason is that the audience is tired of watching it.
Could it be that martial arts dramas have really declined?
I don't think it may be, there is a martial arts drama recently, and it is expected to sweep away the decline.
"The Legend of Yunxiang" premiered for six episodes, and the audience received continuous praise, and it has already rushed to the first position on the platform's hit list and soaring list.
The reason why there are such amazing results is that it wins in content.
"Wuxia", as the name suggests, is based on "Wu" and takes "Xia" as the core.
This is also the traditional routine of traditional martial arts dramas.
"The Legend of Yunxiang" is unusual, and has a new interpretation of "martial arts".
This "newness" is embodied in two aspects.
1. New rivers and lakes
In the rivers and lakes, there is more than just fighting and killing.
Although Shang Wu can, the quick revenge of holding the sword is obviously outdated.
Therefore, "The Legend of Yunxiang" focuses on a "wisdom" rivers and lakes.
"The Legend of Yunxiang" is adapted from Fang Baiyu's martial arts novel "A Thousand Doors".
The thousand doors in the title of the book are also the core of the whole story.
Since ancient times, there have been three religions and nine streams, so it has gradually extended to countless professions.
Of course, there are also some doorways that do not enter the world, among which the most legendary, representative and organized eight trades, known as the eight lines outside the rivers and lakes.
They are the Thousand Gates, the Theft Gate, the Suoming Gate, the Orchid Gate, the Divine Tuning Gate, the Demon Gate, the Red Handkerchief, and the Organ Gate.
According to legend, a thousand doors swear to wisdom the world.
As its power gradually grew, it was eventually besieged and suppressed by the imperial court.
Years later, the interior of the Thousand Gates was divided into two sects.
One is called Yuntai, Shang Zhi; The other is called Ling Yuan, Shang Wu.
And the male protagonist Yunxiang (played by Chen Xiao) and the female protagonist Shu Yanan, one is from Yuntai and the other is from Ling Yuan.
In the rivers and lakes, the sword light and shadow are terrifying, but the human heart is really chilling.
At the beginning, a conspiracy to kill people with a knife slowly unfolds the rivers and lakes in "The Legend of Yunxiang".
On a snowy night, a group of seafarers hijacked a caravan.
Outside the house, caravans and bandits fought fiercely.
Inside the house, the male protagonist Yunxiang was calm and calm, revealing the true identity of Haiko.
It turned out that this group of people disguised as bandits was a group of officers and soldiers.
They steal from themselves in order to obtain huge profits.
Who knows, after the mantis catcher and yellow finch, Yun Xiang knew the conspiracy in it, so he set up an ambush here, waiting for this group of officers and soldiers to throw themselves into the net.
2. New character
To be honest, the routine of male and female texts, the audience has long been tired of watching them.
So "The Legend of Yunxiang" just created a contrast, the male protagonist is unmatched in wisdom, and the female protagonist has unparalleled martial arts.
And this contrast between male and female martial arts is not only reflected in the character of the characters, but also in the entire story.
As a disciple of Yuntai, Yun Xiang went down this time for two purposes:
First, in order to investigate the truth of the extinction case that year;
Second, it is necessary to rescue the benefactor of the year from the prison of the imperial court.
However, he does not have peerless martial arts, so if he wants to achieve these two goals, he still needs some helpers.
Fortunately, Yunxiang met Shu Yanan.
As soon as Shu Ya man appeared, he showed the temperament of a chivalrous woman.
Different from the male protagonist Yunxiang's wisdom fighting, Shu Yanan likes to use force to solve problems.
In the face of the siege of many people, there was no slightest fear, but with a superb martial art, he easily resolved the crisis.
The first time the two met, the two happy and unhappy families of the young man and the vigorous woman involved the two sects for many years.
One second, Yun Xiang was still calm, and the next second, he asked Shu Yanan for help.
Especially the scene of Shu Yanan holding Yunxiang, it is simply ridiculous.
Of course, martial arts dramas must have martial arts dramas after all, otherwise they will be boring.
In my opinion, the action style of "The Legend of Yunxiang" has both the realism of fists to flesh and the beauty of happy revenge.
Although there is no shortage of highlights in martial arts, it is ultimately for the sake of the plot.
In the play, one of the plans of the male protagonist Yunxiang is to destroy the world's largest slot gang.
On the stage, by burning the Su family's silk warehouse, Qi Tianfeng, the leader of the trough gang, was attracted to the trough gang, and the two sides fought again and again, full of gunpowder.
Offstage, Yun Xiang and Qi Tianfeng fought wisely, and all forces mediated, and it was difficult to distinguish between good and evil roles.
The unguessable scheming, the deceitful rivers and lakes, the familiar taste has finally returned.
From all aspects of "The Legend of Yunxiang", it is not difficult to see some ideas.
The original "martial arts" can be filled with new bottles or old wine, but if the recipe remains unchanged, it will also be spurned by the audience.
Therefore, martial arts dramas cannot always profit by "gnawing the old".
In general, "The Legend of Yunxiang" inherits the consistent taste of martial arts dramas, and on this basis, certain innovations have been made.
As for whether the play can regroup for martial arts dramas, it will take time to test.