Dongbo Xueying Land (2023)

A fresh and thrilling tale against demons.

Note: Snow Eagle Lord originated as a web novel and has since been adapted into multiple formats, including a live-action movie, a Chinese mobile game, and a donghua.

To begin with, I loved everything, the music (both modern and traditional, just like the drama itself), the costumes, the special effects, the drawings, the fights, the cinematography (especially the snowy territories, which were a pleasure to see), and the demons. The drama was cool and beautiful visually, despite not having as much budget as others. The cartoonish design, too, is great.

Speaking of the special effects, I was expecting anything but this, especially in view of the criticisms of this aspect? It looks even better than in the trailer. It's quality and I've clearly seen worse, forced criticism as usual... The fights were also superbly filmed and choreographed. This isn't a drama with huge production value either and I wish it was because it would have been even better, but I was fascinated most of the time. Xu Kai is way too cool and his mastery of the spear is impeccable, I can't even imagine how much he had to train.

Also, Snow Eagle Lord is neither a Wuxia or a Xianxia but a Xuanhuan, which appears to be uncommon. "Xuanhuan (玄幻 xuánhuàn) – literally means “Mysterious Fantasy”. A broad genre of fictional stories which remixes Chinese folklore/mythology with foreign elements & settings."

The story may not be original, but it still feels somewhat different from at least most Chinese historical dramas, allowing it to stand out in its own way. Watching it is pure pleasure, and its freshness makes it even more special. It's consistently dynamic and engaging—I’ve never felt bored for a moment. It reminds me of the animes I loved when I was younger, and honestly, it feels refreshing. While some might dismiss it as cringe-worthy, I find it epic. Not to mention that I've never seen this before in a real-life format.

The drama delicately alternates between sweet moments, drama, action... The story developped very well and was very captivating to my taste. As you can imagine, the theme of evil demons versus good humans and the hero becoming all-powerful is far from complex. Nevertheless, I'm glad the drama brought a modicum of nuance. In addition, I loved the diversity of the characters.

Of course, I’m not claiming that the drama is entirely shallow and simple. It’s not. Ironically, many of the people who criticize it seem to always miss the point. I've seen complaints about the plot all the way through to the ending, but it’s not that difficult to understand why things unfold the way they do, especially at the end. It’s also not just about the style or the lack of budget. And of course it won't be the same as the original.

Plus, I don't understand most of the criticism I've read about this drama. It really wasn't as bad as people made it out to be. Drama logic doesn't always need to align perfectly with reality—that's a given, whether it's for comedic, dramatic, or other storytelling purposes. The drama didn't feel as "dumb" as I had been led to expect (well, sometimes characters are criticized for being "dumb" when they are just being human but okay it's not all that here), even with these few moments and side characters. In fact, one of them actually made me cry at the end, and it was the first time I actually did. But I still teared up more than once, as there were some really beautiful and emotional scenes.

What stood out to me was how humans always managed to triumph in the end. The demons, who were supposed to bring chaos, took so much time to actually pose a threat. It's ironic to admit that I was almost disappointed because of how much I had braced myself for a "train wreck" based on what I read beforehand. That said, I loved how the drama turned out in the end—it was a pleasant surprise despite my initial expectations being shaped by another reviewer's headline.

Finally, claiming the romance is bad is immature. Tension is not the only form of chemistry, romance doesn't have to be intense. Sometimes romance is a sweet and subtle thing that can be built upon. I even found it beautiful.

If everything about Snow Eagle Lord gets you hooked from the first episodes just like me, and not only Xu Kai, you will have a lot of fun. Besides, we never really see him less as some people states here, maybe for a few little parts but it wasn't for no reason. It's true that there are a lot of characters. However, he's the character we see the most, and certainly the most important.

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