The Deer and the Cauldron (2020)

Deer and the Cauldron 2020 review

We have come to the end of yet another remake of The Deer and the Cauldron TV adaptation. While this version went with a more comical direction than the previous versions, except for Dicky's version, which was based off of the Stephen Chow movie and was also comical, I enjoyed Zhang Yishan's 2020 version just the same. I think many didn't give this version enough time before they jumped the gun and bad mouthed it and gave it such a low score on Douban. The most common phrase I read that was used to describe the 2020 version was (烂) lan or messy/chaotic. Well that's what happens when you cut it from 60 episode down to 45. This is evident with the 2020 version starting off at a blistering pace with Xiao Bao entering the palace at around the 12 minute mark and meeting the emperor at around the 27 minute mark of just the first episode. It also had a Wei Xiao Bao that was not confident which didn't give off the vibe of previous Xiao Baos, but this version of Xiao Bao becomes confident and quick witted as the show goes on. The running joke was that everybody complains that Xiao Bao talks too much. The director came out and told the audience that Xiao Bao was still growing and to give it time. I did just that and ended up enjoying this a lot.

One of the things that I liked about this version was the fact that this didn't have a dub and actually had all the actors and actresses' own voice. It really bothers me when I hear the same voice for 2 or more characters and the .5 or 1 second delay between voice and mouth movement. So watching a series where the actors and actresses use their own voice is a nice welcome. There were some dub here and there but that's probably because they didn't catch their voice with the boom. The only ones I could tell that had a whole dub was Xiao Bao's mother and Ao Bai. As far as the music in this series, the opening and ending theme songs were nice and catchy, and the bgm were excellent. I don't know why people knock on the acting and the costumes? I thought they were good. The acting is a little over the top at times, but seeing as this is more of a comedic take, it fits. Even A'Ke cracks some jokes and is comical at times. Some of the costumes like the normal casual clothes for the 7 wives were cute. Not as colorful as one might have liked, but they looked simple and pretty. I probably have seen too many Chinese dramas at this point to care for beautiful clothes to be honest.

Whenever a new Deer and the Cauldron is announced, the first thing that people think about are the 7 wives and this version doesn't disappoint, well except for maybe A'Ke. The knock on her was that the Actress, Guo Yang, was too manly looking. People were saying that even A'Qi was prettier than A'Ke in the comments. Otherwise you have a cute and innocent Mu Jian Ping but not as naive like in other versions, a cold and smart Fang Yi but not as mean like in previous versions, a naughty and crazy Princess Jian Ning, a loyal and caring Shuang Er but with a bit of a jealous side like in the 2014 version, a sexy and mature Su Quan, and a pretty and sweet Zeng Rou. I have never thought that any of the versions got the perfect casting for the 7 wives, but I really like the 2020 casting for the 7 wives the most out of all the versions.

There are one and a half negatives I would give the 2020 version. The first is the obvious and annoying cuts that was done to this version. Unless you are familiar with the story, some of the scenes don't make sense when it jumps around due to the cuts. Like for example how did Mu Jian Ping injure her leg and how did Xiao Bao know Zeng Rou's name when she never told him her name. One of the biggest cut was the brothel scene and this causes a big plot hole. In the brothel scene they just had Xiao Bao say he'll let the girls sleep it off and that's it. They skipped any and all mentions of him sleeping with the girls. If I was new to the series, I would question how Su Quan and A'Ke got pregnant. They at least alluded to Xiao Bao sleeping with Jian Ning earlier. This cut to the brothel scene also caused the following scene in the jail cell to be a complete mess. The scene jumps several times like for example you will see A'Ke far away from Xiao Bao, but then suddenly she is holding on to his arm in the following shot. Other important scenes are also cut like the scene where the children are given their names. It just goes 3 years later and that's it for all the scenes on the island.

The half negative is that Jian Ning was involved in way too many scenes. Some scenes didn't need her involvement at all or were not necessary. Like for example when she was learning etiquette from Jiu Nan Shi Tai. This was not needed as it didn't grow her character at all and it didn't provide anything to the story. It just ends and that's it. I wouldn't have minded these draggy and extra involvements with Jian Ning, but it came at the expense of the other girls. Mu Jian Ping, Fang Yi, Ah Ke, and Zeng Rou suffered the most. Mu Jian Ping and Fang Yi had their scenes in the palace shorten or cut. Shuang Er had some of her scenes cut, but at least new scenes were added. Zeng Rou comes out the worst as she doesn't have much story bits in the novel and to have her introduction scene cut made it worser than worst. Su Quan came out the best as she got a new story scene that didn't require to have Jian Ning in it. Otherwise the only way any of the girls get a scene or new scene is if it involves Jian Ning. I love the old scenes as well as the new scenes and wished that they didn't cut so much out or involve Jian Ning so much. I thought the 2014 version staring Han Dong did a better job at adding extra story scenes for all the wives without cutting out any of their old scenes.

As a fan of the Deer and the Cauldron novel and all the TV adaptations I would give the 2020 version an 8.5 out of 10. If it wasn't for the cuts I would give it a 9.5 out of 10. I liked seeing a more comedic take of a familiar story. If I knew nothing about the story, then I give it a 5 out of 10. The cuts were just that bad as a new viewer. After watching, I can't help but find it funny that the ones who complained that TV series has started to get draggy and wanted TV series to be shorter are also the ones who complains when the story becomes a complete mess because of the cuts. I would rather have a story drag and let the writer(s) and director(s) tell a complete story than it being messy and chaotic due to cuts.

If you didn't like the 2020 version, I advise you to watch the older versions. The 2008 version is as close to the novel as possible. It is best if you can find the TVB or Amazon release of the 2008 version as it is uncut compared to the China release of it. If you are like me and wanted a new take on the story because you have read the novel or have watched all previous TV versions then you would enjoy this 2020 version. I was so ready for a new take on the story that I was excited for Dreaming of the Deer and the Cauldron starring Hu Ge after watching it in 2011, but sadly it was only a web short for advertising Bu Bu Jing Xin. Really if the 2020 version was the same as the other versions it would be boring because I would have no reason to watch it. Just pretend Jin Yong's work is like the Marvel comics universe.

Well, I will now be waiting for the 2 different  movie versions, one directed by Pang Ho Cheung and another movie version that is rumored to be directed by and starring Bao Bei Er. I hope they don't wait too long to do another TV series. I just love the story too much. See all you Deer and the Cauldron fans then.

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