It’s been a while since I have watched a true wuxia drama and Word of Honor delivered on all fronts. A bold BL adaptation, both leads Zhang Zehan and Gong Jun portrayed their roles convincingly, not selling this production as a “bromance” but rather a true love story as I was captivated by two gray characters who found redemption in each other. I was surprisingly shocked that this drama was not hindered by major Chinese censorship as viewers got ample amounts of flirting, affectionate hugs and uttered words of being soulmates from our two leading male protagonists. Embracing the romance was the usual wuxia elements of all sects and political factions coveting an armory of martial arts and medical knowledge as a presumed guarantee to sit atop the martial arts world. The drama unfolded slowly in connecting the sect players and their pursuit and the history of the five broken glazed shards and a key to unlocking the armory’s secrets.

Besides the not so typical romance, both leads were also not your typical wuxia heroes. Zhang Zehan’s Zhou Zi Shu was introduced as a man who slaughtered a political family and innocents on the instructions of Prince Jin (later disclosed as his cousin) to further the prince’s political agenda. With regrets and the desire to leave the faction, he was granted release but became a dead man walking with few years to live. What I admired about this character was that he did not live life based on the generally accepted moral code but on his own convictions. I really loved Zhang Zehan’s performance, appreciated his subtle expressions and the quiet demeanor he exhibited. He was always calm except in Wen Kexing’s presence; the “wooing” process was wonderful to witness, at first he was exasperated with his provocative manner but was still curious and drawn to Wen Kexing. I could not help but ponder how difficult it would be to depict this character and felt Zhang Zehan gave the character the right amount of restraint and touch to perfectly complement the lively and complicated Wen Kexing.

Gong Jun was equally praiseworthy as Wen Kexing, a grinning and flirtatious man that hid a painful and mysterious past. In fact, viewers were left guessing for a good part of the drama his true identity and his connection to Zhou Zi Shu. As bits and pieces of his background unveiled, viewers saw his struggle to live for Zhou Zi Shu - fearful of his leadership of the notorious Ghost Valley being disclosed yet tortured by the past in trying to right the wrongs he and his family suffered. Gong Jun was wonderful in his interpretation; he was so emotive with his eyes in demonstrating the many sides of his character and striking the perfect balance of jauntiness and vulnerability onscreen.

A great drama was not possible without an impressive supporting cast. Gu Xiang was delightful as a spunky, mischievous servant/sister to Wen Kexing and I enjoyed her romance with Cao Weining. The girl was outspoken and the man was noble and shy and they just fit wonderfully. Their last scenes were so epic and Gu Xiang’s rage was beyond my expectations! Must see episode! And my baby, Zhang Chengling! I just wanted to hug this innocent boy and nurture him. Absolutely adored the family dynamics of Zhou Zi Shu, Wen Kexing and Zhang Chengling and loved all their parts together. Ye Bai Yi was another notable character. His arrogant personality and unyielding attitude frequently collided with Wen Kexing but when push came to shove, they had the same goal. Last but not least, special mention to the Scorpion King. The character was a complete scene stealer; my eyes couldn’t help but follow him even if he shared the stage with the main antagonist. I was also slightly uncomfortable with the disturbing dynamic with his godfather but despite the creep factor, my eyes could not look away when he appeared. Superb performances all around from the supporting team!

If I were to name faults with this production, I did feel that it started slowly. I did step away a couple of times before continuing with my viewing experience. Although I enjoyed the courting and flirty development of the male leads at the start but I felt the drama was overloaded with many types of sects that did not necessary move the plot along. In fact I was overwhelmed by the sect names at the beginning, thinking they might have major roles later on in the drama but did not. The drama did not grab my full attention until episode 20 where the pace picked up tremendously and the storyline was gripping from that point forward. The fighting choreography was also very well done for the most part, though I felt that they were too many still, posing shots for my liking but this is at best a very minor criticism.

Fans of the drama urged me to watch episode 37 (an 11-minute epilogue) to Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Kexing’s story and I did. To be honest, I felt episode 37 was not necessary because I was perfectly satisfied with the ending in episode 36. Fate is cruel and yes, my eyes were brimming with tears at their outcome but I was left feeling their immense love for one another. There were sacrifices, a willingness to forsake their lives for one another and their continuous support of each other despite opposition from the martial arts world. Their love is truly admirable and the one last act at the end is so in line with both characters’ personalities and I personally found it very beautiful that their love is so enduring and that this kind of love is able to be shown in its full glory on screen. I’m not sure what the BL drama landscape will be in the foreseeable future with the recent crackdowns on this genre but I hope Word of Honor is the footprint for all future BL drama because love is love and as a viewer, I just want to be moved by the story regardless of gender. Bravo to the Word of Honor team! A very well deserved 9.0 out of 10.0!