Wu Xin: The Monster Killer 2 (2017)

Reasonably good, but the weakest amongst Wu Xin 1-3

Of the three Wu Xin: The Monster Killer series so far, this is probably the weakest in terms of plot. It's almost as though there is some uncertainty as to how to proceed.

Season 1 ends with Wu Xin going into his once-a-century deep sleep--he wakes up and forgets everything, including his lover, who has died, and his friend. Season 2 begins some time after Wu Xin wakes up, but Season 2 features some of the actors from Season 1--apart from Elvis Han who plays Wu Xin, there is Ian Wang and Sabrina Chen (the villain in Season 1). One may notice quite early on that the characters are given a bit of a reboot. It's understandable for Wu Xin since most of his memory is erased after his deep sleep, but his relationship with Bai Liu Li seems rather different in Season 2. Wu Xin and Bai's frequent squabbling despite their deep friendship is actually interesting and Bai appears very little in Season 1, so this change is forgivable.

The odder change is with Sabrina Chen's role. Perhaps there was uncertainty as to whether to bring back the villain of Season 1 or to create a new villain (who may or may not be played by Sabrina Chen). Eventually, despite frequent references to the Season1 villain (with the suggestion that she may return), the story doesn't really involve her. Instead, Sabrina Chen plays a male character--she does a good job of it, though there is really no reason to use a female actress for the role, much less one who looks exactly like Season 1's villain. In the end, it feels like Sabrina Chen is used to tease the fans of Season 1 only to disappoint them.

The supernatural element in the second season is also somewhat disappointing. There is some self-reflexive recognition of the weakness of the first (the monster killer, Wu Xin, actually has no powers apart from using his blood to get rid of evil forces) and some attempt to make it more interesting. But we are left with a lingering sense of a more powerful villain who may appear, only to be disappointed. The story centers around two magic mirrors (of sorts), and there's no real reason for the monsters in the mirror to appear after the death of the villain.

Some of the uncertainty in the direction, however, give rise to potentially interesting characterization. Ian Wang, who plays Gu Xuan Wu in Season 1, now plays Gu Xuan Wu's son (Gu Ji). Wu Xin's vague recollections of Gu Xuan Wu causes him to treat the son as a friend easily. For a while, the friendship between Wu Xin and Gu Ji seems like a rehash of Wu Xin and Gu Xuan Wu's friendship in Season 1. Perhaps there is a deliberate attempt to avoid rehashing the same idea, so Gu Ji's character turns out to be a much more selfish person. This does become quite interesting.

The romance element in Season 2 is probably the weakest amongst Seasons 1-3. Wu Xin's love interest seems (actually she is) too young. She is not even 18, and appears more like Wu Xin's kid sister. The romance plot seems to be added in for the sake of having romance.

Despite its flaws, the series is still fairly interesting. Those who feel no compulsion to watch all the three seasons (so far) can, however, probably go straight to Season 3, which is more interesting.

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