As March is almost over, the domestic drama market has reversed its downturn and become increasingly lively. The drama When Yan Returns premiered suddenly and quickly climbed to the top of the national heat list. The suspense drama The Chess Player, in which Wang Baoqiang starred after a 12 - year hiatus, also received a lot of positive feedback.
These two dramas are already dark - horses, but the real highlight is yet to come. The Unparalleled Nian took the top spot on the hot list right after its premiere. Initially, people thought it was just another old - fashioned and bad (xianxia drama, a genre of Chinese fantasy drama), but after binge - watching 6 episodes, they were hooked. It seems that there's going to be a new hit in the xianxia drama genre!
1. Outstanding Plot and Stunning Visuals
The Unparalleled Nian tells the story of Ji Tanyin (played by Tang Yan), the unparalleled goddess, who is entrusted by the heaven to retrieve the divine artifact "The Left Hand of God" from Yuan Zhong (played by Liu Xueyi), the great priest of the Youhu Clan. The two go from scheming against each other to falling in love and finally join hands to restore order in the world.
The background of xianxia dramas usually involves the three realms and four seas, and the common people. To attract and retain the audience, a drama has to have something special. This drama manages to do so in two ways.
Firstly, it has a suspenseful plot full of hidden conspiracies. The opening of the drama is quite unusual, with a touch of spy - thriller. Ji Tanyin disguises herself as a maid of the human race's offering and infiltrates the Youhu Clan's fairy mountain to retrieve the artifact. She first overcomes various difficulties and passes the tests, doing her "undercover" job diligently. When she is about to get the artifact, she discovers that Yuan Zhong, who is half - divine, is wearing a sealed shackle. But Yuan Zhong is not an easy target. After noticing Ji Tanyin's odd behavior, he secretly investigates her identity. The two seem to be on good terms, but in fact, they are constantly scheming against each other. There seems to be a bigger secret hidden beneath their seemingly opposing stances, which piques the audience's curiosity.
Secondly, the special effects are amazing. We've seen many xianxia dramas with low - budget "50 - cent" green - screen (keying) effects. It's rare to see a xianxia drama with special effects that don't look cheap. In the opening battle between the Youhu Clan and the War Ghost Clan, the special effects make it look grand and spectacular. Yuan Zhong's hands continuously gather energy, and the golden light flows lightly like mist and ripples. With Yuan Zhong at the center, a powerful light spreads out in all directions when he strikes, and the golden rays are like sharp blades, dazzling the viewers. The Luofu Sea of the immortal clan is also very beautiful, with blue - purple auspicious clouds surrounding a colorful platform, looking dreamy and ethereal. The special effects in the drama, from large - scale scenes and fight scenes to small - scale spells and objects, are all very well - designed, without the cheap plastic feeling, making it a pleasure to watch.
2. Led by Tang Yan with a Strong Cast
The cast of this drama is quite a pleasant surprise, with each actor chosen to the audience's liking.
First, there's the leading actress, Tang Yan. Tang Yan became a top - tier actress among the 85 - flower generation after playing Miss Wang in The Blossoming Season. In this new drama, Ji Tanyin, played by Tang Yan, has a cold and elegant temperament. Dressed in white, she looks both immortal and beautiful, which is a huge contrast to the bright and charming Miss Wang. When Ji Tanyin makes her appearance in a masked outfit, it makes people recall Zi Xuan from Chinese Paladin 3. Tang Yan portrays the goddess Ji Tanyin in a way that makes her not seem untouchable but rather more approachable. When she discovers that the male lead is sealed, her eyes change from confusion to shock, and there is also sympathy for his situation. Tang Yan's performance of the character is very accurate.
Secondly, the male lead, Liu Xueyi. Liu Xueyi is known as the "professional immortal actor" because he has played many roles in xianxia dramas. His role as Hao Chen in Love and Redemption was very popular among the audience, and his performances in Flame of Love and The Changfeng Du were also remarkable. In the new drama, Liu Xueyi plays Yuan Zhong. His hairstyle is simple, with his hair all slicked back to expose his forehead, and only his good looks and unique temperament can carry it off. Yuan Zhong pretends to be relaxed and cynical on the surface. When he deliberately teases the female lead, he shows an unexpected smile and slightly squints his eyes, looking a bit sly. A small facial expression instantly brings the character to life. It's finally Liu Xueyi's turn to shine.
Finally, the second male lead, Wang Hongyi. Wang Hongyi gained popularity by playing Chi Shui Fenglong in Longing, and he is quite familiar with xianxia dramas. In the new drama, Wang Hongyi plays Tang Hua. Tang Hua seems cold - hearted, with a straight face and cold eyes. But in fact, he is a person who values love and loyalty. When he witnesses the death of his subordinate but is unable to do anything, his brows are tightly furrowed, and his face is full of grief and pain. Wang Hongyi's performance in this drama is particularly outstanding.
In addition, there are also actors such as Guo Xiaoting and Zheng Yecheng in the drama. All the actors have good looks and acting skills, and the group portrait of the xianxia characters they portray is also a major highlight of this drama.
3. Conclusion
In recent years, many costume dramas have failed for similar reasons, such as one - dimensional characters and homogeneous plots. Among them, xianxia dramas are the hardest - hit area with extremely similar routines. The Unparalleled Nian was not well - regarded at first, but it has brought unexpected joy to the audience. Since it's difficult to come up with new ideas for the background, the drama focuses on the plot and character design. The setting of the female lead as the "Goddess of Creation" is very down - to - earth, and the situation where the male lead is rumored and misinterpreted is also quite funny, giving the floating xianxia drama a sense of realism like a traditional costume drama. It is believed that this drama can become a new benchmark in the xianxia drama genre with its innovative plot.
