The Book and the Sword (2008 TV series)

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The Book and the Sword
The Book & The Sword -2008 intertitle (Shu Jian En Chou Lu 2008- Zhu Yao Biao Ti .jpg
The Book and the Sword intertitle
Also known asLegend of the Book and Sword
Traditional Chinese 書劍恩仇錄
Simplified Chinese 书剑恩仇录
Hanyu Pinyin Shū Jiàn Ēn Chóu Lù
Genre Wuxia
Based on The Book and the Sword
by Louis Cha
Screenplay byLiu Kuixu
Wu Jiuru
Li Yanbo
Liu Yuzhu
Directed byTan Youye
Wen Weiji
He Zhenhua
Starring Adam Cheng
Qiao Zhenyu
Niki Chow
Liu Ying
Liu Dekai
Lu Chen
Deep Ng
Opening theme"In the Human World" (在人间) performed by Adam Cheng and Wang Qi
Ending theme"It's Better to Let You Go" (还是让你走) performed by Niki Chow
"Give Up" (放弃) performed by Yang Yang
ComposerRen Peng
Country of originChina
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes40
Production
ProducersWang Pengju
Yin Lianhe
Au Chi-yan
Production locationChina
Running time45 minutes per episode
Original release
Network CETV-3
Release20 March 2009 (2009-03-20) –
2009 (2009)
Poster The Book and the Sword (2008 TV series).jpg
Poster

The Book and the Sword is a 2008 Chinese television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title, starring Qiao Zhenyu, Adam Cheng, Niki Chow, and Liu Dekai. First broadcast on CETV-3 in China in 2009, the plot deviates significantly from the original source.

Contents

Plot

The series generally follows the novels in terms of the flow of events. However, unlike in the novel and earlier adaptations, Yu Wanting is the primary antagonist in the series instead of the Qianlong Emperor.

In this series, "Yu Wanting" is the alter ego of the exiled prince Yintang, a half-brother of the Yongzheng Emperor. The power-hungry Yintang seeks vengeance and wants to usurp the throne from the Qianlong Emperor. Yintang knows the truth that the Qianlong Emperor is not a biological son of the Yongzheng Emperor, and constantly threatens the Qianlong Emperor with the evidence he holds. He secretly forms the Red Flower Society and instigates the society and some tribes in Xinjiang to oppose the Qianlong Emperor.

Yintang fakes his death at one point and allows his godson, Chen Jialuo, to succeed him as leader of the Red Flower Society. However, within the society, the Chang brothers, Wei Chunhua and Shi Shuangying are the only ones who know that "Yu Wanting" is still alive, and they serve as his spies by watching over Chen Jialuo and the others.

The series also feature a different ending from the novel, with many of the society's members meeting their ends at the hands of Yintang. The surviving ones, under Chen Jialuo's leadership, confront Yintang to put an end to his ruthless ambitions.

Cast

Reception

The series has been criticised on Guangzhou Daily by viewers, who feel that the story deviates the most from the original source among all the film and television adaptations of Louis Cha's works. [1]

References

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