This is my first experience watching a Yin Jong/Louis Cha-inspired drama. I have to say, it’s easy to see why his works have become classics and been adapted multiple times. I can’t compare my experience with the previous iterations of Legend of Condor Heroes, but I thoroughly enjoyed my watch.

The main cast is extremely engaging. William Yang is a very likeable, earnest Guo Jing. I adore Li Yi Tong’s Huang Rong: she’s smart as a whip, impish, and endearing in all the right ways. You believed in the character’s wits and charm. I was also a big fan of Michal Miu’s Huang Yaoshi and Zhao Li Xin’s Hong Qigong.

The CGI and production aren’t always top, but they do the job. It’s a show you want to watch for the contrived plot twists, the epic fights, the endless quidproquos, the complex conflicts within the Jianghu, the romance, the dramatic reveals... The story has it all! I found that I’d watch it in increments of 2-3 episodes because so many things happen in a short arc. The over-the-topness is what makes the show so enjoyable.

If you want an entrypoint into Jin Yong, this definitely got me hooked and made me want to watch more dramas based on his novels.